Gourmet Red Chamber: A Chronicle of Baochai's Rebirth

Chapter 106

With a slight thought, Xue Baobao transferred a golden Pixiu from the Jie Niu Dao space to his sleeve, then took it out unhurriedly, held it in his hand and shook it towards Jia Huan.

The golden Pixiu is about the size of a child's fist, and its eyes are inlaid with rubies in a forbidden-step style. A bright red silk ribbon hangs from below, making it look exquisite and expensive.

Jia Huan was a good judge of goods and immediately reached out to grab it.

Xue Baobao shrank back, tilted his head and smiled, "Hey, I can give it to you, but you have to promise me that you will do well wherever I am during the New Year.

If you can do it, I will give you a pair of beautiful lanterns on the night of the Lantern Festival."

It's just that during the Chinese New Year, it's still Xue Baobao's presence. Such conditions are too easy to achieve.

Jia Huan and Jia Baoyu were in the same heaven and earth in Jia's house. They rarely got any good things on weekdays, so they happily agreed and then reached out to grab the golden Pixiu.

Tanchun failed to stop him several times. He was angry, annoyed and ashamed, and kept telling Xue Baobao that he was not with him.

Xue Baobao waved his hand, "You don't have to be polite when visiting my sister. It's just a small object. It's not worth much. It's just for brother Huan to play with. You are so polite, but it makes us feel alienated."

Tanchun couldn't say anything anymore, so he only asked Jia Huan to thank him, and secretly thought about how to repay the favor.

Xue Baobao waved to Jia Huan, who was happily playing with the golden Pixiu, "Brother Huan, sit next to me, and I'll let Ying'er peel the fruit for you."

Jia Huan took advantage of her and sat down next to her obediently. Tiantian smiled at her and lowered her head to play with the golden Pixiu.

Wang Xiluan couldn't help but snorted coldly, "The Xue family is indeed the Xue family. Such things can be given away casually, and they say they are just small items and not worth anything!"

Xue Baobao, "...well, cousin, I know you are poor, and everyone knows it, so you don't have to say it every day, right? How about I give you a golden Pixiu, so that you won't be jealous of Brother Huan?"

Jia Huan immediately acted as a supporter and made a face at Wang Xiluan, "Sister Bao, please ignore her, she is just short-sighted and jealous that I got your golden Pixiu!"
If you want other people's things, you have to have an attitude of asking for them. She is so yin and yang, Sister Bao, don't let her spoil you! "

Xue Baobao, "..."

Just by saying this, the golden Pixiu she gave her today was worth it!

Wang Xiluan was so angry that he said angrily, "Who wants your broken Pixiu! Stop spitting blood here!"

Xue Baobao looked like a good gentleman and coaxed helplessly, "I know, I know, you don't want something bad, you just can't stand that I have money!"
You have made your attitude clear, and we all know it. Can you listen to the book now? "

Zhen Yinglian glanced at her angrily and signaled her to stop being angry. She pulled Baobao Xue to stand up and said, "Sister, when I came here just now, I saw a plum blossom blooming very well nearby. Please accompany me to have a look."

Tanchun also stood up and said, "I'll go too."

Jia Huan continued to be a compliment, "I'll go too, I'll go too, let this hottie listen to books here, who cares about listening to her books!"

Zhen Yinglian definitely wanted to calm down the matter sincerely. As she said this, she dragged Xue Baobao out and walked very fast. Tanchun and Jia Huan also followed quickly.

Wang Xiluan wanted to reply but couldn't make up the time. He couldn't keep his face and chased them to argue. He was so angry that tears flowed out.

She secretly hated herself for being useless, wiped it off ferociously, and scolded the maid, "Every one of you is dead. I asked you to call a female first, but she hasn't come yet! I won't bother you anymore!"

This year is really a rare good year. After the [-]th day of the twelfth lunar month, the weather is sunny and the temperature is not too low. The girls are all wearing coats and it is not cold outside.

Zhen Yinglian and Tan Chun were both elegant people. After wandering outside for a while, they suggested going to the palace's garden to have a look.

Last time Wang Xifeng took Xue Baobao around the palace's garden, there were indeed some rare plants and trees. There was nothing left and right, so it was good to go for a walk.

A few people hired a maid from the palace to lead them on the way to visit the garden.

The garden in the palace is larger and more beautiful than the garden in Jia Yuanchun's palace.

In addition to the common plum blossoms, ink orchid, cold orchid, magnolia, amaryllis, cassia, etc. are also in bloom, which is very artistic against the background of rockery and flowing water.

After Tanchun admired it for a while, he couldn't help but think of Jia Yuanchun's small, bare garden in the palace, and sighed, "Whether it is our house, your house, or my uncle's house, no matter whether it is winter or summer, the garden There are always flowers to enjoy, but the empress—"

She paused when she said this, but did not dare to say any more.

She didn't dare to say this, and Zhen Yinglian didn't dare to answer it. She could only pretend that she didn't hear her, looked around and asked, "Where is Sister Bao? Why did she disappear in the blink of an eye?"

The two of them looked around but didn't see anything. Zhen Yinglian hurriedly shouted and heard Xue Baobao respond from a distance, but it seemed to come from the rockery.

Tanchun laughed and said, "That naughty one actually ran into the rockery. Let's go see what she is doing."

Xue Baobao was looking at a plant that was definitely a weed to Zhen Yinglian and Tanchun with great interest. When he saw them coming, he hurriedly waved to them to look at it and said happily, "I can't believe that when I went to the Wang family's garden to visit, I would see them. This is such a good thing! You will never guess what it is!"

Seeing that she was so happy, Zhen Yinglian and the others became a little curious and asked what it was.

"It's green peppercorns! It's best when grilled fish!"

Xue Baobao excitedly announced that the green pepper-flavored grilled fish is definitely her and her brother’s favorite!

It's a pity that there are no green peppercorns in this world of red buildings, but now she encountered them in this rockery. How could she not be excited? How could she not be excited!

Zhen Yinglian and Tan Chun looked at each other and both laughed.

"Originally, if my aunt was the only one at home, I would have secretly pulled it out and hid it in my sleeve and brought it back.

But now my uncle is at home, and if I ask him for it in front of his wife, he probably won’t refuse.

Let's go, let's get a shovel, dig it out, and don't kill it."

Seeing that she was happy, Zhen Yinglian and her husband also accompanied her.

Sure enough, Wang Ziteng agreed happily and asked his mother-in-law to help, so as not to hurt himself by doing it himself.

Mrs. Wang was very thoughtful and said hurriedly, "Master, when peppercorns were first introduced to Beijing, the price was as good as gold.

This green peppercorn, since Sister Bao said it tastes great when made into fish, maybe it’s worth a lot of money too——”

"So what if it's expensive? Do you still want to compete with your niece for some interest?"

Wang Ziteng was displeased and looked at Xue Baobao with a smile, "If that green peppercorn is really as valuable as gold as peppercorns, that will be Sister Bao's good fortune.

If it’s not Sister Bao, we don’t know anything about green peppercorns and red peppercorns. Most of them will be pulled out as weeds! "

Xue Baobao was very satisfied with his attitude and smiled sweetly at him, "Don't worry, uncle, when it comes to food, whether it tastes good or not, the most important thing is that everyone can eat it and afford it.

After I take this green pepper plant home, I will work hard to keep it well, and then carefully study how to promote its planting and consumption. I will never let it go the same way as peppercorns, otherwise it will violate the original intention of it growing in the place where I pass by." . Wang Ziteng didn't expect that she would say these words, and couldn't help but marveled and said, "I didn't expect Sister Bao to be so knowledgeable and broad-minded. She was a little better than Sister Feng at the beginning. My sister and brother-in-law brought Sister Bao to Very well taught.”

When Mrs. Xue saw Wang Ziteng praising her daughter, she was so happy that she twisted her handkerchief and said in a loud voice, "Brother, you are so complimentary. She is a little person who knows a lot about her views and broadmindedness. She is just talking casually. Brother, I hope you don't take offense."

Wang Ziteng laughed loudly and said, "Sister, there is no need to be modest. I see that of the next generation of girls from our Wang family, Sister Bao is the most outstanding. She will definitely be a good person in the future."

Mrs. Xue was even more happy and hurriedly asked Xue Baobao to thank Wang Ziteng.

Wang Ziteng was obviously interested in Xue Baobao and asked her what books she read and what she liked to do at home.

If it were Xue Baobao, she would have just said a few perfunctory words, but Mrs. Xue couldn't help but admire her brother and was happy that his brother appreciated her daughter so much, so she poured out all Xue Baobao's little hobbies like beans.

Wang Ziteng smiled and said, "I like reading, playing with flowers, trees and herbs, and cooking. Do you also like to use herbs in dishes? These are all good habits!

One day, if there is an opportunity, Sister Bao will also show her skills as a snack and soup maker to uncle, so that uncle can also see Sister Bao's craftsmanship."

At this time, most of the ladies' so-called cooking consisted of making two kinds of snacks and two kinds of soup, and most likely Wang Ziteng thought that Xue Baobao was one of them.

Mrs. Xue said hurriedly, "I was just about to tell my brother and sister-in-law that the children are planning to go to Rongguo Mansion tomorrow to pay New Year's greetings, and the day after tomorrow to Uncle Lin's house to pay New Year's greetings.

On the fifth day of the Lunar New Year, I invited my brother and sister-in-law to bring Sister Luan to our house to have wine and watch a show."

Wang Ziteng said thoughtfully, "I have some official colleagues to entertain that day, so I can only go there in the morning to have a look, and I can't stay there to have a drink."

Mrs. Xue did not dare to delay his errand and said hurriedly, "That's okay, business is important."

Wang Ziteng asked again, "Sister Bao, didn't you and Sister Luan go to Nuange to listen to books? Why didn't Sister Luan come with you?"

Naturally, Xue Baobao would not say something bad about his daughter in front of a father. He only said vaguely, "We couldn't sit still. After listening to the book for a while, we went to the garden."

Wang Ziteng frowned, "Then Sister Luan should accompany you to the garden. Why are you so ignorant of etiquette?"

Mrs. Wang said hurriedly, "Sister Luan was still complaining about feeling uncomfortable yesterday. How can she dare to blow more air at this time?
Sister Zuobao and Tanchun are not outsiders either. Wouldn't it be the same in their uncle's house as their own?It feels more comfortable this way! "

Although Wang Ziteng was still dissatisfied, he did not continue and ordered people to follow Xue Baobao to dig up the green pepper plant.

Perhaps Wang Ziteng beat Wang Xiluan in the end, but Wang Xiluan later stopped targeting Xue Baobao in a weird way.

Jia Baoyu was also obviously shocked by Wang Ziteng's questioning. He remained in a state of languor and did not pursue them to play with them.

For the first time, Xue Baobao felt that it was not bad to be a guest at Wang's house. He happily spent a day at Wang's house. After returning home, he happily transplanted the green pepper plant that somehow fell into Wang's garden into his own small vegetable garden.

After taking care of the green pepper plant, Xue Baobao suddenly remembered the meeting gift that Wang Ziteng gave him and asked Ying'er to find it.

The prince gave each of his nephews and nieces identical wooden boxes. The boxes looked not precious at all and had no unnecessary decorations.

Xue Baobao didn't have high expectations, but he was a little curious about what kind of greeting gifts a real ancient official would give to his juniors.

After all, Wang Ziteng was the biggest official she had seen since entering the world of Red Mansions.

Unexpectedly, the box looked inconspicuous, but when I opened it, there was a whole box of banknotes inside!

Xue Baobao hurriedly poured out all the banknotes and started counting them one by one - a total of 22 taels!

Wang Ziteng added a few thousand taels of silver that Mrs. Wang had taken from the Xue family, and gave it to her as lucky money!
Xue Baobao clicked his tongue, look, look, what is everyone's style!

Wang Ziteng is indeed one of the few remaining men with real power among the four major families!

If they were all like Mrs. Wang and Wang Xiluan, the Wang family would have collapsed long ago!

Xue Baobao went to find Mrs. Xue with the box in his arms. Mrs. Xue had to cry again and chatted with Xue Baobao for a long time about how Wang Ziteng had taken care of her and Mrs. Wang.

He was also deeply afraid that Wang Ziteng would be separated from him because of the 22 silver, so he had to send someone to send the box back immediately.

Seeing that she was determined, Xue Baobao followed her.

Sure enough, Wang Ziteng didn't accept it at all, and asked someone to bring it back as it was, with the words that it was the money he gave Xue Baobao as a blackmail, and he couldn't refuse it.

Mrs. Xue was ashamed, ashamed and touched. She hugged Baobao Xue and started talking about the benefits of Wang Ziteng...

……

……

Early on the third day of the Lunar New Year, the Xue family got up early to wash up and tidy up. After breakfast, they headed to Rongguo Mansion.

Jia Lian and his servants had already been waiting outside the gate, waiting attentively for Mrs.

Xue Baobao remembered that when Mrs. Xue brought him and Xue Pan to Beijing, they entered through the side door of Rongguo Mansion, but now, they used the main door.

When they arrived at the second gate, Wang Xifeng and the Sanchun sisters came over from a distance, surrounded by a large group of maids and servants.

As soon as Mrs. Xue got off the car, she hurriedly helped Wang Xifeng, who was about to salute, and complained, "You are still pregnant. Why did you run out so early in the morning? Go back and lie down!"

Wang Xifeng laughed and said, "I'm almost moldy from lying down every day. No, if my aunt hadn't come, I wouldn't have found an excuse to get up!"

Mrs. Xue glared at her angrily, "What's wrong with you? You're in luck! Your children are more important than anything else. Even if you can't lie down, you have to lie down as much as possible!"

The aunt and nephew talked and got on the slide. They wanted to pay their respects to Jia Mu first.

Mother Jia's house was busy, but the Wang family and Lin Daiyu's father and daughter had already arrived. Wang Ziteng was also there, talking to Mother Jia.

When Prince Teng came, Jia She, Jia Zheng, Jia Lian, Jia Baoyu, etc. naturally came to accompany the guests. They all gathered together, looking lively and happy.

When the Xue family is added to the mix, it becomes even more lively. It’s exactly what Jia Mu likes most, a gathering of friends and a wealthy family.

After the greetings, Jia Mu ordered breakfast to be served, and the Xue family followed suit.

After dinner, Wang Ziteng asked to go see Mrs. Wang.

Jia's mother only said that Mrs. Wang's cold was severe, unusual, and inconvenient. Seeing that Wang Ziteng was resolute, she did not stop her too much and only allowed the children to go to avoid spreading the disease.

Wang Ziteng insisted on taking Wang Xiluan to visit his biological aunt. Jia's mother didn't care whether Wang Xiluan would catch a cold or not, so she didn't care at all and ordered Jia Zheng to take Wang Xiluan and others there.

(End of this chapter)