Red Mansion Huacai

Chapter 379 Nowhere to turn
But Xue Pan went to talk to Aunt Xue and Baochai in the morning, and said that the itinerary had been decided, and they would go south in a few days to buy southern goods, ship them to Tianjin by sea, and then transport them to the capital.

This round trip might take about half a year, and one could earn two to three thousand silver dollars.

Aunt Xue was delighted to hear this, and said to Baochai, "Your brother has regained his spirits now." Then she turned around and warned Xue Pan, "But you are away from home, so don't drink too much and delay your work."

Xue Pan responded vaguely, pointing to the front yard and said, "If that woman causes trouble again, mother, just lock her up, and I will deal with her when I come back!"

Although she said this in a firm tone, Aunt Xue and Baochai did not believe it.

Baochai thought of Leng Zixing and said, "Brother, listen to the old shopkeeper in everything. Leng Zixing is quite cunning. If you only believe him, you will be fooled."

Xue Pan agreed and immediately went out to discuss with everyone. When Xia Jingui heard that Xue Pan was going south again, she immediately made a scene. However, Aunt Xue and Baochai were used to it and just ignored her. Xia Jingui was furious and stood in the yard cursing for a long time.

Without mentioning the situation of Xue's family, let's say Xue Pan left home and went straight to the outskirts of the city. The most important southern goods are silk and satin, and this trip to the south is not empty-handed. Xue Pan asked Zhang Dehui to prepare various medicinal materials early in the morning. This round trip will take about half a year, and he must earn 5,000 silver dollars to spend.

Living in the capital was not easy, and the housing prices in the capital were getting more and more expensive, so Xue Pan found a place outside the city to store medicinal materials. He arrived at the place before noon that day, first made a random inspection, and then consulted with Leng Zixing and others to discuss the departure date.

It was mid-morning, so the group chose a tavern to drink. Xue Pan recalled that Leng Zixing had taken the lion's share of the profits when he went south last year, and recalled Baochai's instructions in the morning. He felt aggrieved and inevitably a little unhappy.

Because Xue Pan had drunk too much, he started quarreling with Leng Zixing's men over a trivial matter.

The waiter was drunk and refused to budge. Xue Pan got angry and picked up the wine bowl and knocked the waiter to the ground.

Leng Zixing and the others were startled and rushed to stop him. The Dai Ba Wang lost his temper and hit Leng Zixing with his wine bowl. Leng Zixing was caught off guard and got a big bump on his head.

Leng Zixing covered his head and felt dizzy for a while. He forced a smile and said, "Brother Wenlong, are you really angry? Are you really going to do it for real?"

Just then, a waiter shouted, "Oh no! Brother Pang is in trouble!"

Leng Zixing turned his head and saw that the guy who was beaten had a large amount of blood flowing from his head. His face was pale, and suddenly his legs kicked up and he died!
Leng Zixing was not happy with this. He stepped forward and grabbed Xue Pan by the collar, shouting, "Everyone, go report to the police! Someone's dead!"

Xue Pan's servant saw something was wrong and turned and ran away. He went straight to Xue's mansion in the inner city and quickly found Ying'er to meet Aunt Xue and Baochai.

As soon as Xue Pan left that day, Xia Jingui felt bored and locked herself in her room. Aunt Xue and Baochai did some needlework to pass the time. When she heard that Xue Pan's servant was in a hurry to return, she hurried out to meet him.

When the clerk saw the two men, he knelt on the ground in panic and pounded his head, saying, "Oh no! The master has killed someone and is now being turned over to the government!"

Aunt Xue felt dizzy when she heard this. Fortunately, Baochai was there to support her, or she would have fainted. Baochai was also very flustered. She tried to calm herself down and asked, "What's the reason? Tell me in detail."

The servant immediately explained the reasons one by one. Aunt Xue calmed down at this time and cried out, "How could you be so foolish and cause such a big disaster!"

The capital is not like Nanjing. If a case happened in the local area, some cases could be covered up. At most, they would lose money to avoid disaster. The noble families always had ways to avoid disaster. But the capital is different. Under the emperor's feet, if someone died, it would have to be reported directly to the emperor.

Aunt Xue was in a panic and pulled Baochai, saying, "My son, what should we do now?"

Sister Bao thought for a while and said, "If you kill someone, you must pay with your life. I'm afraid I can't escape this lawsuit."

Aunt Xue was unwilling to do so. She said, "I will go and ask your aunt, and then ask the Jia family. We are relatives for generations, and we cannot just stand by and watch someone die."

Baochai heard this and said, "Distant water cannot quench a nearby fire. If it were up to me, I would immediately prepare some money and send it to the magistrate, saying that my brother accidentally killed someone and that he should be exempted from the death penalty first, and then we can talk about other things."

"Okay, okay." Aunt Xue agreed immediately and hurriedly told Tongxi to look for the silver and money.

The Xue family didn't have much money, and most of the remaining money was converted into shares, which was now in Xia Jingui's hands. Aunt Xue sent someone to ask for it, but Xia Jingui said she didn't know where she had put it and couldn't find it for a while.

Aunt Xue could no longer bear it and stepped forward to curse, "If anything happens to my son, it's all because of you, this vicious woman!"

Xia Jingui said angrily, "Master, something bad may happen and he won't be able to come back tomorrow, leaving me to suffer alone! Grandma, do you think I'm not anxious? But I really can't find him now!"

At this time, Baochan came out of the side room and cursed, "What kind of person is grandma? You want me to expose her? What do you mean by can't find it? It's obvious that grandma has lent out all the shares she has and is earning the interest!"

The stock exchange has been around for several years. At first, the imperial court borrowed water supply shares to manipulate the stock price. Later, some people noticed it and followed suit. Xia Jingui had about 100,000 silver coins in his hands. Someone came to him and promised to lend him the shares at a monthly interest rate of 2%.

Xia Jingui was greedy for interest, and with the help of an elderly relative from her family who came with her to act as a guarantor, they immediately hit it off and lent out all her shares.

Xia Jingui's past was exposed, and she immediately started to fight with Baochan. Although Baochan did not dare to fight back, she was very aggressive, and in her haste, she even told him that Xia Jingui had chosen Li Weijian and volunteered to go to the Bo's mansion to be a concubine.

Aunt Xue was so angry that she felt dizzy. Baochai hurriedly told Ying'er and the others to separate the two. Then she went to Aunt Xue and said, "The most urgent thing is to get some money together to pay for everything."

Aunt Xue had some savings of her own, but she had only about 1,000 taels in cash; Baochai's factory had just expanded a lot before the New Year, so she had only 2,000 taels left. The mother and daughter were in a dilemma, but Xia Jingui managed to get another 2,000 taels of silver notes.

Without further ado, the mother and daughter hurriedly found the old shopkeeper Zhang Dehui, handed him five thousand taels of silver, and asked him to go to Shuntian Prefecture to make the arrangements.

Zhang Dehui took the order and left, and Aunt Xue and Baochai hurried to the Wang family to seek help.

After a while, they arrived at Wang's house. When they entered the main room, they saw that Wang's aunt looked sad. Even Wang was frowning. Wang Yunping had just returned home two days ago. She had also met the son-in-law of the Zheng family. He was very dull. In private, Wang Yunping said that her husband did not treat her very well, but rather loved the pretty maid in the room more.

Wang Yunping went to the pretty maid to set rules, but her husband always protected her. The day before returning home, the pretty maid retched constantly, and the imperial physician was invited to find out that she was already three months pregnant.

Aunt Wang was a woman with high aspirations. She felt that the marriage she had chosen for her daughter was not good, but Wang Ziteng pushed for it. Now Wang Ziteng has not returned yet. Aunt Wang is worried about her daughter and is so upset that she has to use her family members as a pretext.

Seeing Baochai and her daughter coming to visit, Aunt Wang asked, "Sister, how did you find time to come here today? Yunping asked about Baochai the day she came home, and said that it was thanks to Baochai that she was relieved, otherwise she would still be upset now."

Aunt Xue didn't care about anything else. She just begged, "Sister-in-law, Pan'er is in trouble. Please help her!"

Aunt Wang hurriedly asked about the reason. After Aunt Xue explained, Aunt Wang frowned. If it was just an ordinary lawsuit of bullying men and women, it would be fine. With money and bribes, it could always be covered up. But it turned out to be a murder case! She remembered that Wang had mentioned before that Wang Ziteng was now walking on thin ice and had no hope of entering the cabinet. He might even be abandoned by the emperor. So she thought about refusing.

He just said, "I told you long ago that the capital is different from other places. We must be careful when we are under the emperor's rule. How did you get into a murder case again? Which government office took the case?"

"Shuntianfu."

Aunt Wang ordered Wang Dao: "Go to Shuntian Prefecture and ask what the situation is."

Wang took the order and left, while Aunt Wang and Aunt Xue pretended to be polite. But half an hour later, Wang returned with a frown, saying that the case had been heard in court, Xue Pan confessed, and was now in custody.

Aunt Wang sighed hypocritically: "It's not that I don't want to help, it's just... in this situation, I can't help even if I want to."

Aunt Xue burst into tears, and immediately left Wang's house with Baochai and returned to her own home. When they got home, the old shopkeeper Zhang Dehui had already returned and returned the five thousand taels of silver notes intact, saying that now that the new governor of Shuntian Prefecture has taken office, everyone is in a state of awe, and the magistrates dared not accept the silver.

Aunt Xue was in a panic and wanted to go to the Jia family for help again.

Baochai said, "Mother is confused. Even my uncle's family doesn't dare to interfere. How can the Jia family be in charge of this matter?"

Aunt Xue cried, "My son, you can't just watch your brother die, can you?"

At this time, Zhang Dehui said, "Miss Bao, if you listen to me, there are only two of you who can help me avoid the death penalty."

"Please speak, old shopkeeper."

Zhang Dehui said, "One of them is Jia Hua, the Grand Marshal of the Ministry of War, and Jia Yucun. The newly promoted Shuntian Prefecture Governor Wan Weishu and the Grand Marshal were both Jinshi in the same class, and they have a very good personal relationship. I heard that Wan Weishu was recommended by Jia Hua to become the Shuntian Prefecture Governor."

Baochai recalled Jia Hua's meaningful look that day, and suddenly felt a chill in her heart. She hurriedly asked, "What about the other person?" Zhang Dehui smiled bitterly and said, "Miss Bao, why do you have to ask when you already know the answer? This case in Shuntian Prefecture must be reported to the Ministry of Justice for review. That person... is the favorite disciple of Lord Yan."

Fourth brother Jian!
It was already dark, and after some thought, Baochai said to Zhang Dehui, "Thank you very much for your advice, old shopkeeper. I will find a chance to meet these two tomorrow."

Zhang Dehui sighed and left. Aunt Xue hugged Baochai and cried, "My child, the Wang family and the Jia family are both unreliable. Your brother's life depends on you."

Baochai was fed up. From childhood to adulthood, whenever her brother got into trouble, her mother would say this. Now she has become an old maid. Does she have to live for her brother all her life?

At that moment, I just said: "Do your best and leave the rest to fate."

Aunt Xue tossed and turned that night, sometimes sobbing under the quilt. Sister Bao, who slept on the same bed, naturally did not sleep well either.

The next day, Sister Bao went to look for Jia Yucun with the banknotes in her pocket early in the morning. In her heart, Sister Bao hated Jia Hua very much, but her only self-esteem would not allow her to bow her head and beg Li Weijian at this time.

Waiting outside Jia Yucun's house, Bao-sister sat in the carriage and looked out, wondering secretly, should Fourth Brother Jian marry Xing Xiu-yan by now?

After a while, the servant led Baochai to the left of the second gate, and then a maid led her into the inner house. At this time, Jiao Xing just woke up, and when she saw Baochai, she frowned and said, "Didn't we agree on this earlier? Why are you coming again now?"

Baochai said hurriedly, "Please forgive me, Madam. I have no evil intentions. I just have my own reasons."

He then told the story of Xue Pan's crime.

Jiao Xing was born as a maid in the Feng family. Although she was pretty, she was not very knowledgeable. Thinking that Jia Yucun had received a lot of money to help people get rid of disasters when he was the prefect of Jinling, he did not take Xue Pan's lawsuit seriously at all. He immediately said, "It's a murder case. It's hard to cover it up."

Baochai begged, "Please, Madam, speak a few words to the Grand Marshal. The Xue family is willing to give back all the wealth in return, just to spare my brother's life."

Jiao Xing said, "I can't take charge of this matter. I have to ask the master first. Sister Xue, you can go home and wait. I will send someone to inform you when I get any news."

Baochai thanked him profusely and left, returning home and waiting anxiously.

At noon that day, Jia Yucun returned home from office. He first scolded his son who had become increasingly naughty, and then went to talk to Jiao Xing.

Jiao Xing then took the opportunity to tell Baochai about her request, and Jia Yucun immediately frowned when he heard it.

Jiao Xing observed his expression and said, "Master, is this matter difficult to handle?"

Jia Yucun sneered, "Under the emperor's feet, I'm afraid even Prime Minister Chen can't cover up such a thing, let alone me."

Jiao Xing secretly felt lucky that she had not agreed to Baochai's proposal, and immediately said, "Then I will send her away and refuse her request, so as not to make things difficult for the master."

"Wait a minute." Jia Yucun stroked his beard and thought, then suddenly smiled and said, "No hurry."

Jiao Xing took a quick glance and immediately said angrily, "Master is really obsessed with that Miss Xue?"

Jia Yucun said shamelessly: "A beautiful lady is a good match for a gentleman."

It is said that Jia Yucun was the prefect of Jinling at that time, and he repeatedly ran into Jiao Xing who had taken refuge in Feng Su's house. Seeing her good looks, he sent a secret letter to ask for her to be his second wife.

One year after Jiao Xing got married, she gave birth to a son. Half a year later, his original wife fell ill and died. Only then was Jiao Xing made the principal wife.

Having been married for so long, Jiao Xing must be familiar with Jia Yucun's temperament. When he treats you well, he is very good to you; when he treats you badly, even breathing in and out is wrong... Otherwise, how did his original wife die of illness?
Because Jiao Xing was naturally very cautious.

Seeing this, Jia Yucun said, "You also know that my Jia family is not very prosperous, but there is only one of us. If something happens to me in the future... Well, I think Miss Xue is quite virtuous and has a good figure and is easy to bear children, so I want to marry her as my second wife."

Jiao Xing said awkwardly, "Master is now the Grand Marshal, he can marry anyone he wants. Why did he choose Miss Xue?"

"A thousand miles of fate brings us together, just like you and me back then."

Jiao Xing asked, "Does the master really want to take care of Xue Pan's dirty business?"

Jia Yucun said with a smile: "I only said to go for a walk, but I didn't say it would definitely work. If this doesn't work out, can the Xue family still blame me?"

He immediately laughed out loud, found a pen and ink, picked up his pen and started writing a letter to Baochai, and sent the letter to the Xue family by a maid.

Baochai and Aunt Xue were waiting anxiously at home. When they heard that the maid from Sima's family had come to visit, they hurriedly welcomed her in.

The maid was eloquent and at the end she handed the letter to Baochai.

Sister Bao had already made up her mind, and now she just held the letter with a pale face. After the maid left, Aunt Xue said, "Maybe the Grand Marshal has pointed out the secret. My son, please take a look at the letter."

How could Baochai be willing to read it? She bit her lower lip and stammered for a while, then simply handed the letter to Aunt Xue: "It's the same if you read it for me."

Aunt Xue hurriedly unfolded the letter, read ten lines at a glance, and her face immediately turned red at the passionate words in the letter!

After reading the letter, Aunt Xue was shocked and said, "This...this...Jia Hua is taking advantage of someone's misfortune!"

Baochai lowered her head and said nothing.

Aunt Xue was desperate and tried every possible means to cure her illness. She said, "My son, Jia Hua is not even fifty years old now, and he is still the Grand Marshal. You..."

Baochai suddenly raised her head and asked, "Mother, are you trying to drive your daughter to death?"

Aunt Xue was stunned, and then she cried, "You must save your brother's life!"

Baochai also cried, "My brother's life is his life, but my daughter's is not, is it?"

The mother and daughter hugged each other and cried bitterly. After a long while, Aunt Xue suddenly came to her senses and said, "Yes, the old shopkeeper said that there is still Jian'er! My son, go and ask Jian'er for help!"

Baochai laughed bitterly and said, "Because of my brother's matter, our family has completely offended Fourth Brother Jian. How can I have the face to beg for help now?"

As soon as he finished speaking, he heard a thud and saw Aunt Xue kneeling on the ground.

Baochai could not bear the harassment any longer, so she quickly helped Aunt Xue up and promised, "Forget it, let's try our best. I'll go and ask Fourth Brother Jian for help right away."

It was already past noon. The carriage carried Baochai all the way to Ningrong Street. Outside, there was a lot of traffic, but inside, it was quiet. Ying'er, who usually loved to chirp, was now silent.

When they were about to reach Ningrong Street, seeing Baochai sighing and coming back to her senses, Ying'er could not help asking, "Miss, have you thought about how to tell Fourth Master Jian?"

Baochai said, "What can I say? Just tell the truth."

After entering the Jingling Marquis's mansion, Baojie felt uncomfortable again when she saw the lanterns and decorations everywhere. Although she knew that Xing Xiuyan was just a concubine, Baojie still felt jealous.

When she saw Li Weijian entering the room in auspicious attire, Baochai stood up and bowed, then said anxiously, "I have nowhere else to turn to, so I have to ask for help from my fourth brother. My brother has killed someone all day long!"

Li Weijian was startled when he heard this, and asked in surprise, "Why is Wenlong so reckless? The capital is not like the outside world. If a murder case happens, I'm afraid it will be hard to cover it up."

Baochai said anxiously, "It was all because of Leng Zixing, who secretly embezzled my brother's money. My brother drank too much and got angry, so he took the wine bowl and threw it at someone. He didn't expect it to hit the waiter's door by chance, and who would have thought that he would die just like that!"

(End of this chapter)