The Red Chamber begins with a bastard

Chapter 475: Capital Increase and Production Expansion
The annual family reunion dinner of the Jia family was held in the main hall of Jia's mother's courtyard, and this year was no exception. The lights were bright, as bright as day, and Jia's mother sat in the middle with vigor and energy. First, the men of the Jia family with the literary generation, such as Jia Jing, Jia She, and Jia Zheng, came forward to kneel and kowtow, then the men of the jade generation, such as Jia Lian, Jia Baoyu, and Jia Huan, and finally the great-grandsons of the grass generation, such as Jia Rong, Jia Qiang, and Jia Lan, came forward to kowtow.

After the ceremony, the men sat in the east and the women sat in the west, and then the New Year's money was distributed. All unmarried people got a share, and Jia Huan naturally got one - twenty taels of silver. If it were Jia Huan in the past, twenty taels would naturally be a huge sum of money, but now, it's better than nothing.

After distributing the lucky money, the family reunion dinner officially begins. The first dish is the Hehuan Soup, which symbolizes family happiness and joy.

Grandmother Jia was obviously very happy tonight, and said with a smile: "It's rare that we have such a complete family this year. Auntie, Bao and Qin are also spending the New Year with us. It's really rare."

Everyone agreed, but Jia Baoyu suddenly said, "The only thing missing is Rong's daughter-in-law."

Grandmother Jia smiled and said, "Yes, I actually forgot about her, Zhen's daughter-in-law. Is your daughter-in-law still living in the nunnery?"

Zhen's daughter-in-law is Jia Zhen's original wife Youshi. She has recovered from her illness for some time now. Seeing Jia's mother asking, a trace of unnaturalness flashed across her face. She smiled and said, "She is still in the nunnery. I wanted to let Rong'er take her home for the New Year, but this child is stubborn and insisted on waiting for 49 days before going home."

Grandmother Jia couldn't help but praise: "Brother Rong's daughter-in-law is really filial. It's thanks to her chanting and praying in the nunnery that your illness has really recovered. Since it was originally scheduled for 49 days, you must stay for the full day. This is the way to respect Buddha. Don't neglect the Buddha just because you have recovered from your illness."

Madam Wang clasped her hands together and said, "Amitabha, that is exactly what should be done. One must be sincere when worshipping Buddha. If one is not sincere, it will not work."

Youshi nodded and said, "What the old lady and the lady said is very true. But the child has suffered a lot. Because of my illness, she has been by my side every day, serving me medicine, but it has never improved. Now she has to go to the nunnery to suffer for me."

Grandmother Jia smiled and said, "She is your daughter-in-law, and it is only natural that she should respect you. This child is also very lovely, so you should love her more in the future."

"That's right. Her father-in-law and I have always treated her as our own daughter." Yu replied.

Upon hearing this, Jia Huan glanced at his deskmate Jia Zhen, and felt even more disgusted when he saw that this guy looked so calm. He even extended his lustful claws to his daughter-in-law and treated her as his own daughter. As Jia Zhen's bedmate, Youshi probably knew what her husband did, but not only did she not stop him, she also openly covered up for him. She was undoubtedly an indirect accomplice.

Jia Rong was from the Cao generation, and sat at the table below Jia Huan. At this moment, he was secretly clenching his fists, and his face was flushed. No one knew whether it was because he drank too much or for some other reason, and the people sitting at the same table didn't care.

At this time, Grandmother Jia said again: "Brother Rong, your wife is a very gentle person, and it is rare for her to be so filial. You must treat her well."

Jia Rong quickly stood up and said with a smile: "Don't worry, old ancestor, Rong'er is saving it, and worshipping her like a bodhisattva."

Everyone laughed, and Jia Zhen said, "If Rong'er dares to treat his wife badly, I will break his legs first, without your punishment, old lady."

Jia Rong sat down awkwardly, a trace of humiliation flashing across his eyes. His younger brother Jia Qiang beside him also had a gloomy face.

Jia Rong was not Jia Zhen's biological son, but an adopted son. He was originally a member of the Jia family, but his parents died when he was young, so he was adopted by Jia Zhen. He was very handsome, with a powdered face and rouge lips, but too feminine, a bit like a boy with a girlish look, so there were rumors that Jia Zhen adopted him for other purposes, and that he was a male prostitute in name only, but Jia Rong and Jia Rong had a very good brotherly relationship.

Let's get back to the topic. After the Jia family finished their reunion dinner, they dispersed and it was time for everyone to have fun.

Grandmother Jia was old and naturally very tired after a hard day's work. She sat for a while and then went back to her room to rest. Jia Baoyu enthusiastically invited Bao, Dai, Qin, and the three sisters to go to the Yihong Courtyard to play, and for the first time he even invited Jia Huan to go with them.

Jia Huan couldn't help but feel "flattered". The sun was rising from the west, and Da Lian Bao actually took the initiative to invite him. Seeing that all the girls were looking at him, Jia Huan readily agreed. He had never been to Da Lian Bao's Yihong Courtyard, so he could take this opportunity to visit it.

However, just as everyone was about to return to the courtyard, Jia Rong caught up with them, smiled and saluted, saying, "My nephew greets my uncles and aunts."

The girls hurriedly bowed in return. Jia Baoyu asked in surprise, "Rong'er, why are you here instead of going out to have fun? Could it be that Brother Zhen asked you to come?"

Jia Rong smiled and said, "That's right. We have invited an opera troupe to our mansion, and we would like to invite Uncle Bao and Uncle Huan to come over for a drink. I hope you two uncles will do us the honor."

Jia Baoyu had just invited his sisters to his home to celebrate the New Year, so he naturally refused to go. He waved his hand and said, "Thank you, Brother Zhen, for your kindness. The weather is very cold, so I won't go."

Jia Huan originally wanted to refuse, but when he saw Jia Rong secretly winking at him, he couldn't help but nodded and said, "Since elder brother Zhen has invited me, I will go and get two cups before returning. Second brother Bao and the sisters will go first." After saying this, he followed Jia Rong.

Seeing this, Jia Baoyu did not argue. He felt at ease when Huan Lao San did not come back, so he said to Bao Dai and the others, "Let's go. There is nothing interesting in this play. We might as well go back to the house and play drinking games."

Lin Daiyu looked at Jia Huan's back thoughtfully. When she turned around, she saw Xue Baochai looking at her. She felt dizzy. Xue Baochai took Lin Daiyu's hand and said with a smile, "Pin'er, let's go. Men have their own social activities."

Jia Huan and Jia Rong walked out of Rongguo Mansion from the west corner gate and headed east to Ningguo Mansion, asking, "Rong'er, what do you want to talk to me about?"

Jia Rong looked pleased and whispered, "We'll know when Uncle Huan comes. Let me keep you in suspense for now."

Jia Huan did not ask any more questions and followed Jia Rong into Ningguo Mansion. At this time, there were sounds of stringed instruments and drums in Ningguo Mansion. It was indeed a big show, but Jia Rong did not take Jia Huan to watch the show, but took him to a small flower hall.

There was a table of food and wine in the hall, still steaming. Jia Lian was already sitting at the table waiting with his horse and sword in his arms. As soon as Jia Huan saw him, he knew that they were going to discuss business.

"Uncle Lian, I'm sorry to have kept you waiting. Uncle Huan, please take a seat." Jia Rong warmly invited Jia Huan to sit down and personally filled their glasses with wine.

Jia Lian raised his glass with a cheerful look on his face and said, "Come on, come on, good luck in the new year, great achievements in your plans, let's drink first, three brothers, uncle and nephew."

Jia Huan understood what was going on when he heard this. He raised his glass to toast Lian Rong and the others, and said with a smile, "Brother Lian is full of energy and good luck. I guess he has made a fortune."

"Okay, okay, same to you!" Jia Lian said with a smug look on his face.

Jia Rong asked excitedly in a low voice: "Uncle Huan, do you know how many pieces of honeycomb coal we sell every day?"

Jia Huan opened his palm and asked tentatively, "Five thousand?"

Jia Rong shook his head and said, "More than that!"

"Could it be eight thousand?"

"Twenty thousand, a full twenty thousand!" Jia Rong said excitedly.

Jia Huan was slightly surprised when he heard this, and blurted out, "Really?"

Jia Lian said proudly, "Of course it is true. This is to be recorded in the account, how can it be false?"

Although Jia Huan expected honeycomb coal to become very popular, he was surprised at how popular it became. The workshop had been open for less than a month, but the daily sales had reached 20,000. If calculated at one yuan and fifty cents, 20,000 yuan would mean a revenue of 100 taels of silver. After deducting the cost, the profit would be about 40 taels. Wow, that means 1,200 taels in a month.

Jia Lian's heart was burning at the moment. He rubbed his hands and said, "Now 20,000 pieces of honeycomb coal a day are not enough to sell, so Rong'er and I decided to seize the time to expand production. Today, I asked Huan'er to come to discuss this matter."

Jia Huan nodded and said, "How much does Second Brother Lian plan to expand production?"

Jia Lian glanced at Jia Huan and said, "Twenty thousand pieces a day is already the limit of our workshop. I plan to open three more workshops to increase the daily output to sixty thousand pieces."

"Sixty thousand? Can you really sell it?" Jia Huan looked at Jia Lian with a smile, and his eyes seemed to be able to penetrate people's hearts.

Jia Lian was slightly startled, and secretly stepped on Jia Rong's foot under the table, and said confidently: "Of course, if you don't believe me, just ask Rong'er. There is a long queue outside our workshop every day, and the coal cakes are sold out as soon as they come out. We don't have to worry about selling them at all."

Jia Rong nodded in agreement quickly, but he didn't dare to look at Jia Huan. It was obvious that he felt a little guilty.

Jia Huan said calmly: "If that's the case, then let's expand production."

Jia Lian was delighted when he heard this, and immediately took out an account book and said, "I have carefully calculated that if we want to add three more workshops, I am afraid each person will have to pay another three thousand taels of silver."

Jia Huan frowned and said, "Three thousand taels per person, isn't that too much?"

Jia Lian shook his head and said, "Three thousand taels is not a lot. Only with high investment can there be high returns. Brother Huan is a scholar, so he naturally understands this."

Jia Huan said with embarrassment: "That being said, I'm afraid I can't come up with so much money right away."

Jia Lian was secretly delighted. He was waiting for Jia Huan to say this, so he said with difficulty: "The business world is like a battlefield, changing rapidly. After all, the market is limited. If we don't occupy it, others will. Therefore, it is urgent to expand production."

A hint of surprise flashed in Jia Huan's eyes. It seemed that this kid Jia Lian had some skills and even understood this principle. It seemed that it was no coincidence that he could quickly open up this business.

Seeing Jia Huan hesitate, Jia Lian took the opportunity to say, "How about this, since Huan Ge'er has no money, Rong Ge'er and I will pay your share, but you have to pay 20% of the dry stock. From now on, you will have 40%, I will have 40%, and Rong Ge'er will have 20%."

It is obvious that Jia Lian wants to dilute Jia Huan's shares by increasing capital and expanding production, which is a good plan.

(End of this chapter)