Uncle Lai in the Red Chamber

Chapter 147
That night, after Yuanchun was sent away, Jia Zheng's old waist could no longer straighten up. Mrs. Wang took the golden necklace and other maids to help him back to the room.

Jia Zheng was helped back to the bed, and after washing up under everyone's teasing, he asked impatiently: "What do you think the empress means by asking Shang Rong today? I was in front, and the eunuchs of the Sixth Palace, Mr. Xia and Yu Linwei, Captain Qiu also asked me about it."

While covering him with a quilt, Mrs. Wang explained to him: "Now he is a celebrity around the emperor. When I went to the palace to visit, the empress said that the emperor went to her place, but eight out of ten times he wanted to mention Shang Rong."

Jia Zheng asked in confusion: "What's the reason for this? The state-owned department is just doing business for merchants. Why does the emperor value it so much?"

"Didn't the master read the mansion newspaper?" Mrs. Wang said in surprise: "Last year, when there was a flood, he was the one who came up with the method of using work for relief. The lady said that the night he offered advice, the emperor went to Yuchun Garden and asked the lady to enter." Have you seen Shang Rong before the palace?"

"What?" Jia Zheng exclaimed, and explained with an embarrassed look on his face: "We are busy with official business over there, and I don't have time to read the newspaper."

He was not busy with academic affairs, but he managed to remain in charge for a year, which he regarded as a symbol of his integration into Shilin.

Therefore, I visited local literati and elegant guests, and had high-minded discussions with the so-called celebrities. Although the newspapers from the palace were spread to the yamen, they were kept under wraps.

Jia Zheng then complained: "Why didn't you tell me earlier!"

In the eyes of these rotten scholars, economics is just a trivial matter, but disaster relief is a serious government matter. Only those who can have unique insights on this can be considered to have a promising future.

He heard a lot about Relief from Work when he was talking about it, and he thought it was from some respected elder, but he didn't expect it to be Lai Shangrong.

"When Master Qianer came back, I said I wanted to invite Shang Rong, but..."

Jia Zheng knew he was in the wrong, so he waved his hand and said, "That's it! I haven't invited him to come over until I get back, so I'll do it tomorrow!"

Mrs. Wang worriedly said: "What kind of body is Master?"

Jia Zheng struggled for a while and said: "It doesn't matter! There is no need to move around!"

He spent half his life in the Ministry of Industry, and was rejected by scholars all the time. This time, he took up the position of Xuezheng, as the chief officer in charge of supervising local education work. Naturally, no one who didn't have good eyes made him look bad, so this year can be said to be a happy one. .

It's just that acting as an agent for academic affairs is just an agent after all. After one year, he never wants to return to the Ministry of Industry.

But even though he was Yuanchun's father, he could not reach heaven to hear it. Hearing that Lai Shangrong was highly valued by the emperor, he wanted to express his ambitions in front of Lai Shangrong and then hint to him to convey his good opinions to the emperor's ears.

Although Jia Zheng held on, Mrs. Wang was worried about his health.

So he suggested: "Maybe I'll ask Lian Er to accompany me tomorrow. If I can't hold on any longer, I won't be rude."

"Forget it! If we call Brother Zhen together tomorrow, we can show that we take it seriously enough."

It wasn't that he felt that he couldn't bear it, it was just that he didn't want to show too much eagerness for the sake of face.

After all, he just came back after a year. In order not to appear too eager for quick success and quick gain, this banquet was just to win over him.

When Mrs. Wang heard that he wanted to invite Jia Zhen, she suddenly felt confused: "Brother Zhen, it's better not to invite him!"

Then, Jia Zhen's evil intentions towards his daughter-in-law were revealed to Jia Zheng.On the sixteenth day of the first lunar month last year, after Jia Zheng left Beijing, Lai Shangrong took Qin Keqing into the palace. The matter was so secretive and such a troublesome matter that Jia Mu and Mrs. Wang certainly would not let anyone pass the message or put it in a letter. So Jia Zheng doesn't know either.

Today, after busying with his relatives, he didn't notice that Qin Keqing wasn't there.

"What? This happened?" After listening to Mrs. Wang's narration, Jia Zheng was so angry that he trembled and said thankfully: "Fortunately, Shang Rong handled it properly, otherwise my Jia family's face would be useless! Shang Rong understands the general situation like this, He is still resentful! No, I have to ask him to admit his mistake to Shang Rong."

As he said that, he wanted someone to call Jia Zhen.

"I've had a busy day today. I'm afraid Brother Zhen is exhausted. Besides, he's not our brother after all. Let's talk about it tomorrow!"

Mrs. Wang tried hard to persuade Jia Zheng to quit.

Seeing how much her husband attached great importance to Lai Shangrong, Mrs. Wang smiled and said: "Shang Rong is only 20 years old. He joined the state-owned company in less than a year, and he has become a doctor in charge of the department, and he has a holy family by his side. I'm afraid in the future. The third and fourth grades are all low. I mentioned to the old lady years ago that he is not young anymore, so we can help him find a match. This will not only make him grateful, but also show the friendship between our families!"

Jia Zheng pondered for a moment, shook his head and said: "Although with his current status, the three girls are worthy of it, but after all, they have been masters and servants, so they will inevitably be criticized."

When Mrs. Wang saw that he was mistaken, she smiled and said, "Did the master forget about precious girl?"

Jia Zheng's eyes suddenly lit up, and he nodded like a chicken pecking at rice: "Shang Rong's future is limitless. If so, he will be a good match, but your sister..."

After a long pause, he said: "It's not convenient for me to come forward in this matter. I have to deal with it. I need to explain it to them and make them willing to do it, so that we can match them!"

He has the best face in his life, after all, the Xue family is only relatives, and no one will say anything wrong with him if he marries Lai Shangrong. With this kind of relationship, is he afraid that Lai Shangrong will not help him?

But even if the Xue family fell, he could not forcefully make the decision and give the treasure hairpin to his former slave. However, Mrs. Wang's proposal really satisfied him, so he could only hide his ears and hint that Mrs. Wang had to convince the Xue family first. As for how to persuade, He, Jia Zheng, doesn't care about the affairs of the back house, as long as the results are satisfactory.

Mrs. Wang was familiar with his temperament and said with a smile: "Don't worry, sir, why should I worry about this matter? I am my niece, so naturally I will handle it!"

…………

While Jia Zheng and Mrs. Wang were following, Aunt Zhao was fidgeting in the house, rubbing her hands, taking small steps, and wandering around the house.

She saw the scene of Jia Zheng being supported today, and her original plan of robbing people through the chaos of the war tonight fell into the air.

If the plan failed, she wouldn't be so upset, but the key point is that Jia Zheng even has trouble walking.

She wouldn't be afraid if he was just paralyzed. After all, when the master had difficulty with his waist, she had learned many tricks without a teacher.

But the word "paralysis" has always been associated with each other. Seeing that Jia Zheng was on the verge of collapsing, how could she not trigger the association.

She couldn't blame her for overthinking it, after all, Jia Zheng had been away from home for a year, and when he came back, he uncharacteristically refused to let her get close to him, and instead lived in Mrs. Wang's yard.

It's not like those masters of mine don't know their tricks. Even if they really fail to live up to expectations, they shouldn't neglect themselves like this.

All her and her son's hopes are pinned on Jia Zheng's love for her. If this is lost, how will they be able to gain a foothold in the government in the future?
(End of this chapter)