The Red Chamber begins with a bastard

Chapter 482 Happy
Jia Huan asked calmly, "Did Ronger tell you about our business partnership?"

Jia Qiang lowered his head, not daring to look Jia Huan in the face, and answered cautiously, "My eldest brother and I have always had a close relationship. I never hide anything from him, and he never hides anything from me. The only thing he didn't tell me was the honeycomb coal. Later, I found out that he frequently went in and out of the coal workshop, so he told me the truth."

Jia Huan sneered and said, "I believe this statement for now, but you shouldn't try to be clever."

Jia Qiang was stunned for a moment, then said awkwardly, "Nephew... nephew doesn't understand what Third Uncle Huan means."

Jia Huan sneered, "If I'm right, you told Jia Zhen this secret not because you had no choice, but because you took the initiative to tell him. You just wanted to use this to force me to take action and not stay out of it."

Jia Qiang looked up at Jia Huan in surprise and said admiringly, "Uncle Huan is indeed very discerning. No wonder Lian Lian's Second Madam kept her distance from him. Yes, it was my nephew who deliberately told that person about the honeycomb coal. But my nephew had no ill intentions. I was just worried that Uncle Huan would stand by and watch, so I resorted to this desperate measure."

Jia Huan shook his head and sighed, "Jia Qiang, you are much smarter than Rong Ge'er, but you are just being too smart this time. If you came to me sincerely to ask for help, I might have lent a hand, but you are being too smart and trying to drag me down. Little do you know that I, Jia Huan, hate being tricked the most. Go back now."

Jia Qiang's face turned pale, and he stammered, "Nowadays, the honeycomb coal business can make a profit of 40 taels of silver a day. If we open a few more workshops, it will not be a problem to make a fortune every day. If that person knows that there is such a profitable business, he will definitely join forces with the eldest master and find a way to snatch the business, or even force Uncle Huan to hand over the secret recipe of honeycomb coal. Does Uncle Huan want to sit there and wait for it to be tied up?"

Jia Huan pretended to be disdainful and said, "If coercion worked, the Lin family's inheritance would have been divided up by them long ago."

Jia Qiang shook his head and said, "This is different from the Lin family's inheritance. After all, it is the property of their relatives, and they still have to consider their face. The honeycomb coal business is a partnership between Uncle Huan, Uncle Lian and Brother Rong. In the final analysis, it still belongs to the Jia family's assets and is an internal affair of the Jia family. He is the patriarch, and the eldest master is Uncle Huan's uncle. If they want to interfere in this business, they can do it openly without any scruples, and they can even be in the right if they go to the old lady.

Now the two houses are running out of money and have a lot of debts. Having this way of making money will naturally help alleviate the difficulties. Besides, it is only natural for men to support the family. I am afraid that even if the old lady knew about it, she would let Uncle Huan hand over the business and let the clan manage it. By then, the money earned will naturally be confiscated into the public treasury and will have nothing to do with Uncle Huan anymore. "

There was a hint of imperceptible surprise in Jia Huan's eyes. He had always thought that the Jia family was full of scum and lewd people like Jia She and Jia Zhen, or mediocre and pedantic people like Jia Zheng. He didn't expect that there was such a talent as Jia Qiang with clear thinking and strict logic. He could be used in the future.

At this moment, Jia Huan could not help but feel a little admiration for Jia Qiang. However, since this kid dared to play tricks in front of him, he naturally had to give him a warning, otherwise it would be difficult to control him. So he said lightly: "Even if what you said is reasonable, I, Jia Huan, don't care about such a small honeycomb coal. Even if it is confiscated, so what? I have plenty of ideas to make money. I will hand this one over and find another one."

Jia Qiang was dumbfounded. Jia Huan was just going to give up such a profitable business? He didn't really believe it, but Jia Huan's confident look didn't seem like he was bluffing. It was said that the ice cream that suddenly became popular a few years ago was also made by Jia Huan. This kid seemed to have a lot of golden ideas for making money.

"Go away, I still have to review my lessons. I won't care about this matter anymore!" Jia Huan walked to the bookshelf, reached out and took out a book to read.

Jia Qiang was so regretful at this moment that he fell to his knees in front of Jia Huan, kowtowed and cried, "I was wrong. I shouldn't have been so clever in front of Uncle Huan. Please forgive me this time. As the saying goes, you should save people to the end and send Buddha to the west. Since Uncle Huan has taught my elder brother and sister-in-law, please help them again. Your kindness and virtue will never be forgotten by me and my elder brother. If you need me to do something in the future, even if it means going through fire and water, I will not refuse!"

Seeing that Jia Huan was still unmoved, Jia Qiang hugged one of his thighs and cried bitterly.

Seeing that the time was almost right, Jia Huan put down the book in his hand and said calmly: "It's okay for me to help you, but you have to tell me the truth when I ask you, otherwise you'd better give up this idea as soon as possible."

Jia Qiang was delighted when he heard this, and hurriedly said, "Uncle Huan, if you ask me anything, I will tell you everything I know."

Jia Huan coughed lightly and said, "Let go first."

Jia Qiang let go of his hand awkwardly. Although Jia Huan was older than him in terms of seniority, he was four or five years older than Jia Huan. It was really embarrassing to hug his legs and cry like that. But now, apart from Jia Huan, he really didn't know who to ask for help.

Jia Huan pondered for a long while before asking calmly, "Brother Qiang, do you hate Jia Zhen in your heart?"

A trace of humiliation flashed across Jia Qiang's eyes. He subconsciously clenched his fists and said with almost gnashing teeth, "I hate it to the core. That old beast is not a human being, he is worse than a pig or a dog."

Jia Huan secretly sweated. It seemed that his guess was correct. Jia Zhen, this beast, killed both men and women. He obviously had bad intentions in adopting Jia Qiang. He might have assaulted Jia Qiang since he was a child. Now he is seventeen or eighteen years old. Tsk tsk, it's horrible to think about it. Any normal man would not be able to bear it. No wonder Jia Qiang is so resentful. Thinking of this, Jia Huan was relieved and said frankly: "I advised Rong Ge's daughter-in-law to take shelter in the nunnery before, but it was just a temporary solution. If we want to completely solve this problem, we have to completely solve the person who caused the problem."

Jia Qiang was startled, thinking that Jia Huan was planning to assassinate him, so he asked cautiously, "How do we solve this problem? Previously, that person was stripped of his title and exiled 3,000 miles away. Unfortunately, the next year, Princess Yuan entered Fengzao Palace and that person was pardoned and returned to the capital. This time, Princess Yuan gave birth to a prince and was promoted to Imperial Concubine. I'm worried that that person might even be able to regain his title."

Jia Huan smiled coldly and said, "I'm afraid he won't have a chance this time. There was a lot of commotion outside the Meridian Gate today. Do you know what it's all about, Brother Qiang?"

"I heard that a candidate who went to Beijing to take the imperial examination died. Now those sour people are carrying the coffin outside the Meridian Gate to demand an explanation. They demand a strict investigation into the collusion between the Ministry of Revenue and the nobles in reselling salt permits..." When Jia Qiang said this, he shuddered all over and looked at Jia Huan in surprise. It was obvious that he had vaguely understood Jia Huan's intention.

"This kid is really smart, he knows everything!" Jia Huan nodded secretly and smiled, "This incident has caused a big disturbance, and people have died. The emperor can't just ignore it. I believe he will soon order an investigation into the case. Did Jia Zhen participate in the reselling of salt permits? I'm sure Brother Qiang must know something about it, right?"

Jia Qiang was surprised and delighted, and nodded vigorously, saying, "That man did resell salt permits. Once he got five thousand permits and made several thousand taels of silver by reselling them. He even boasted about it to me and Brother Rong afterwards."

As expected, Jia She and Jia Zhen reacted so strongly in Rong Xi Hall that day that Jia Huan guessed that they had participated in reselling salt permits, and now it was finally confirmed by Jia Qiang.

"That's easy. This time, I guarantee that Jia Zhen won't be able to turn things around. However, to achieve my goal, I'm afraid Brother Qiang will have to pay a certain price." Jia Huan looked at Jia Qiang and said solemnly.

Jia Qiang's heart skipped a beat, and he asked cautiously, "What does Uncle Huan want me to do?"

Jia Huan said bluntly: "It's very simple, for the greater good you should put your relatives before your own. You should take the initiative to report to the government that Jia Zhen is reselling salt permits. This way, Jia Zhen will definitely be at the center of public attention. He could be sentenced to exile at the least or beheaded at the worst. This way, Rong'er and his wife will be saved, and Qiang'er will be freed from his cage. Of course, this will also come at a price. From now on, Qiang'er will probably be expelled from the Jia family. You decide for yourself!"

Jia Qiang's whole body trembled, his expression changed constantly, and he seemed to be unable to make up his mind.

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"Go back and think about it carefully before making a decision." Jia Huan waved his hand and said calmly.

Jia Qiang gritted his teeth and said in a deep voice, "Don't think about it. I am willing to expose the crime. That beast should have gone to hell long ago. But which government office should I report it to?"

Jia Huan said calmly: "Go to the Jinyiwei Yamen and ask for Commander Yi Hong directly, and he will handle it."

Jia Qiang looked at Jia Huan deeply, nodded and said, "Nephew, I understand. I will go back and write a letter of denunciation right away."

Jia Huan nodded and said no more. Jia Qiang bowed deeply, respectfully left the study, and left Yueweiju.

At this time, the sun has already set, but the northwest is gloomy and covered with leaden clouds. It looks like it might snow tonight.

Jia Qiang took a deep breath and walked towards the south gate of the Grand View Garden, his steps gradually becoming firmer. Although he had lived a life of luxury for more than ten years, his life was dark and he wanted to escape from the Ningguo Mansion immediately. However, it was easy to escape from the Ningguo Mansion, but it was difficult to escape from the clutches of that man. He had no relatives and no one to rely on. Even if he escaped from the capital by chance, he would be caught and brought back soon.

This is a rare opportunity to bring that man down, so just go for it. What's more, it can save my elder brother and sister-in-law. Not to mention being expelled from the Jia family, it's worth it even if it costs my life. Thinking of this, Jia Qiang clenched his fists and strode out of the South Gate of the Grand View Garden.

When the sun set completely, the sky became even darker, the northwest wind became stronger, and when it was time to light the lamps, heavy snow finally fell like goose feathers.

This was the first snow in the eighth year of Qiansheng. Jia Huan sat behind his desk, wearing a light fur coat and a foot warmer. He read quietly while listening to the roaring wind and snow outside the window. He felt comfortable and at ease!
Emperor Qiansheng took advantage of public opinion to target the Ministry of Revenue, and I, taking advantage of Emperor Qiansheng's power, aimed at cleaning out Jia She and Jia Zhen, the two black sheep. How wonderful!

(End of this chapter)