Red Mansion: I am Jia Lian

Chapter 308 Nosy
Because of his fairness, Li Heng gained the support of a group of middle-level clan members. Then Li Heng proposed to set up a trading company to manage clan trade, the name of which was yet to be determined.

The advantage of doing this is that you can completely bypass the crap in the clan affairs office and effectively prevent them from abusing their power to do whatever they want.

If they were to say that they were convinced in their hearts, the elders would certainly not accept it. However, this matter was rather special. The emperor was paying attention to it, the prince was in charge, and he was directly recruiting people from the middle-level clan members. It was difficult for them to do anything bad.

After two days of hard work and finalizing the preliminary framework of the team, Li Heng approached the R&D department and, under the guise of discussing business, asked what name to give to the new business.

"Everything is easy with the bank. We'll make an appointment to go to the bank and sign the contract and pay the money directly. We have limited experienced people at the moment, so we'll first take over the business in the five provinces of Zhili and Liaodong. We haven't decided what to call the new business. Most people would like to call it the Imperial Clan Merchants Bank, but we're afraid people will think we're competing with the people for profits."

During working hours, Jia Lian only had tea. He poured a cup for Li Heng and said with a smile, "Let's call it the Imperial Clan United Mutual Aid Company. The agency rights are easy to get and can be done at any time."

"Company? This is a good name. Every household is a shareholder, so let's use this name. By the way, how to manage and operate in the future, please help me think of some ways to manage these articles. I am worried that those people in the clan office will not be reconciled and will make some tricks in the future. Now there are common interests that unite the middle and lower clan members, and because of the interests, the clan members will unite to oppose the current policies. This is human nature!"

Jia Lian never expected that Li Heng could say such a thing. The surprised expression made Li Heng somewhat proud.

"The system is static, but people are alive. Since it is a company, the person in charge is the manager. You don't have to decide who wants to be the manager. Let everyone nominate him. Each person has one vote. The term is five years, and re-election will be held after five years. In addition, the clan government cannot be completely bypassed. The power of supervision and auditing should be given to the clan government. The company's accounts should be audited once a year, and 10% of the profits should be paid to the clan government as management fees. A special supervision department should be set up so that ordinary clan members can have a place to file complaints anonymously. This department has the power to report to the emperor."

Jia Lian will not go into the details, just give a framework. The ancients were smart enough, and all the modern checks and balances were inherited from the ancient times. How to find a balance between efficiency and checks and balances has been a game played by the ancients for more than a thousand years. Those who are familiar with the history of the Song Dynasty know that the so-called separation of powers is nothing in front of the almost perverted system of the Song Dynasty.

The backwardness of modern China has led to a trend of total negation, which is normal. Before you get your girlfriend, she is the most beautiful.

After helping Li Heng solve some problems, Jia Lian entered a short period of having nothing to do. It's not that there is nothing to do, but if you want to do something, you will be exhausted to death. It's just that you don't want to do it.

In fact, even if Jia Lian wanted to do something, he would not be welcome anywhere except the Wucheng Bingmasi and the R&D Department, including Lin Ruhai's Inspectorate.

This was not because of his reputation as a bad star, but because of his age. Given Jia Lian's rank, officials who were a dozen years older than him or even older did not want him to make decisions.

This is also good. Jia Lian is not in a hurry anyway. Things cannot be accomplished in one day, so he should take a good rest.

After lunch, Jia Lian skipped work and went to the Lin family with his entourage.

Daiyu, who had not been seen for a while, was the first to come out to greet him. Jia Lian offered some tonics and chatted casually: "How is your health, aunt? Have you found a midwife?"

Whether or not a son can be born is a big deal for the entire Lin family. Even Daiyu is looking forward to having more brothers. After all, whether there are people in the mother's family is very important to the ancients.

"Mother is in good health. She has recently been arranging for father to take a concubine." Daiyu answered casually, seeming a little absent-minded. Her cousin did not even ask about her health.

Fortunately, Jia Lian made up for it in time: "By the way, how is your health? Do you exercise every day?"

Daiyu was immediately happy, and walked in front with a little joy in her steps: "Sister, are you in good health?" After saying this, she realized something was wrong, and immediately stopped and returned to the state of a lady from a noble family.

Jia Lian couldn't help but complain in his heart that etiquette was cannibalistic. How old was Daiyu? She was only eleven years old, just the right age to love playing.

"A few days ago, my grandmother sent someone to invite my sister to visit the Jia Mansion, but my mother turned her down for me." There was something behind Daiyu's words, and Jia Lian understood it. He couldn't help asking, "It's good that she turned him down."

At this time, Jia Min was helped out by a maid and started to complain: "I understand my mother's thoughts best. I think Baoyu is a loser, but I dare not let Yu'er go over and let people gossip."

Jia Lian quickly took over the words: "Gossip? I'll see who dares to gossip about my cousin. I'll ruin his whole family."

It’s not that Jia Lian is so excited because he has feelings for Daiyu. It’s just that he worked so hard to rescue the Lin family, so what’s the big deal if they just fall into Baoyu’s hands?
Deep down, Jia Lian looked down on Baoyu.

Speaking of which, the East Palace is not as good as before, Jia Zhen is no longer pestering Qin Keqing, and the bad thing about Baoyu taking a nap in Qin's boudoir will not happen again. It is estimated that Xiren will delay going to bed.

How many things have I changed? I am proud! As for the fact that Qin Keqing and Jia Rong have no children, Jia Lian is very curious. Is it because Jia Rong touched a woman too early?
Maybe, but this has little to do with Jia Lian. Qin Keqing is indeed a beauty, but for Jia Lian, the last thing he lacks is beauty.

After helping Jia Min into the room and taking a seat, Jia Lian sat opposite and complained: "These days, my nephew went to the Inspectorate, but my uncle didn't like him very much. My nephew was so scared that he didn't dare to go."

Jia Min had no intention of agreeing, but warned Jia Lian: "Don't complain to me!"

Jia Lian kept complaining, which made the mother and daughter laugh. They rested here happily for half a day. Jia Lian went back without eating dinner.

Unexpectedly, just as he entered the house, he saw Yindie standing beside Youshi. After a greeting, Ping'er followed him in. While helping Jia Lian change his clothes, she whispered, "It is said that there was a letter from Youshi's family. Master Zhen is not in charge of the matter. Youshi asked Yindie to come and ask Master Er to help deal with it."

"Yes!" Jia Lian nodded to show that he understood. After changing his clothes, he came out and said to Yin Die, "Is the matter urgent? If not, go back first, I'll come over later!"

Yin Die said, "Don't worry, it depends on the Second Master's schedule. I'll take my leave!"

After Yindie left, Wang Xifeng saw Jia Lian holding Qiaoer in his arms again, and she suppressed her laughter and said, "The fact that the master calls himself a daughter slave is known to both the East and West Mansions."

"So what if they know? As the saying goes, I will face the criticism of thousands of people with a cold brow and be willing to be a slave to my daughter. Let them laugh at me!" Jia Lian didn't care and continued to hold his daughter and make faces.

The little boy, who was not even a month old, could already smile. He smiled at his trembling old father, and almost melted Jia Lian's heart. Wang Xifeng saw that his hand was shaking, so she quickly asked the nurse to take it and said to Jia Lian: "The old lady is thinking about strengthening the relationship, do you know that, sir?"

Jia Lian nodded: "I heard from my aunt that Baoyu is so useless, what good things can he dream of? My uncle has a good career and will enter the cabinet sooner or later. My second uncle is still a fifth-rank official, so it is not a match at all. Even if my aunt agrees, my uncle cannot agree." This is a precautionary measure. The Jia family's status is not low, and if they insist on competing, it has nothing to do with the second branch. The status of the family is the business scope of the first branch.

Grandmother Jia is definitely partial to Baoyu, but she doesn't look at the current situation. In recent years, the Jia family has actually been losing points with Emperor Chenghui. It's only Jia Lian who can hold on, otherwise the situation would be even worse.

Now Baoyu seems to have become the emperor's uncle, but this identity is of almost no value to the Lin family. The identity of a foreign relative has always been a hindrance to one's official career in the Great Zhou Dynasty.

Didn't you see how Empress Zhou restrained the men of the Zhou family? They were obviously from a scholarly family, but each one was more out of touch with reality than the other. They had high aspirations, and even a good sixth-rank Hanlin was not happy about it, and clamored to be sent out or to seek a real position. It was because Empress Zhou had been suppressing her and not agreeing, otherwise Emperor Chenghui would have thrown him out to show his weakness.

As for Baoyu, it was even worse. He was older than Daiyu, and he often skipped classes at the clan school.

"Second uncle wants to find a tutor for Baoyu. The old lady is always worried about the late brother Zhu, and is worried that the child will be too exhausted from studying, and is counting on him to become an official in the future. Sister Zhu cried privately for this matter several times. I heard that Sister Zhu is already teaching Lan'er to read. Speaking of which, Sister Zhu is the only one in the second house who has some ambition. Jia Huan, born to Aunt Zhao, must be a studious person."

Jia Lian wanted to laugh when he heard this, and couldn't help saying, "How old is Jia Huan? It's not good for you to make conclusions about him now."

Wang Xifeng looked down on Aunt Zhao and did not hide her opinion at all: "Like mother, like son. If you insist on raising the child yourself, I think Jia Huan will be ruined!"

It must be said that Wang Xifeng had a certain foresight, even though it was biased.

Jia Lian likes this kind of life atmosphere when he is at home playing with his daughter and complaining with Wang Xifeng. In the busy modern society, even if couples are together, they either quarrel or have no interest in continuing the conversation. In this era, there are not so many entertainment and information channels, and people can get along more deeply with each other. Which is better or worse depends on personal experience.

All we can say is that the underlying logic of marriage is different in each historical stage. In a highly developed modern society, people, regardless of gender, will be unconsciously objectified as long as they are favored by capital.

It doesn’t matter if the dog-licking economy collapses, isn’t there still the male awakening economy to make up for it? In short, whether individuals are willing or not, in the face of the torrent of the times, they will be consciously or unconsciously involved.

After dinner, Jia Lian went to the East Palace alone with a lantern, without anyone accompanying him.

Jia Lian still knew something about the recent situation in the East Palace. Jia Rong basically controlled his father's supply of goods and had the upper hand in the confrontation between father and son. Jia Zhen, who had been taught many lessons, was now more concerned about tobacco. Although he still had lustful thoughts, he no longer dared to take advantage of Qin. Recently, he had been gathering a few handsome young men from the clan around him.

Due to her poor health, Youshi no longer lived in the main house and moved to a secluded courtyard in the northwest corner, which was only a hundred steps away from the corner gate along the wall.

Just as they passed through the round gate, Yin Die was waiting with a lantern. When she saw Jia Lian, she said with a twinkling look in her eyes, "Master, it's been a while since you came to see Grandma."

Jia Lian coughed twice to cover up his embarrassment and said, "Men have a hard time out there, you don't understand. If I couldn't get by out there, I wouldn't dare to come into the East Mansion."

In order to rest assured and take care of her pregnancy, Youshi only brought two servants, two maids, and Yindie with her.

These are all people whom Youshi trusts absolutely, and they are all reliable. Now Youshi doesn't take care of the family, but Qinshi knows the rules very well and will take time out every day to report big and small matters.

In addition, there has always been an impression in the East Palace that when Master Lian was young, Grandma took good care of him and left a lot of affection for him. Master Lian respected Grandma very much and had a deep impression of her.

In fact, Youshi's status in the East Palace has only increased. Qin's housekeeper's methods are quite effective, and everyone is convinced. Now the atmosphere in the East Palace is much better, except for Jia Zhen.

Jia Lian had never expected that Qin would actually be talking to Youshi. Seeing Jia Lian coming, Qin quickly stood up and greeted him: "Hello, second uncle."

Jia Lian leaned slightly to one side and folded his hands: "No need to be so polite!" Then he smiled at Youshi and said: "Sister Zhen has called me, what can I do for you?"

After hearing this, Youshi laughed happily. Qinshi stood aside and watched their conversation curiously.

"You are a fourth-rank official, and I am just an ignorant and stupid woman. How can I be worthy of being ordered around?" Yushi stood up and Qinshi hurried to support her.

After inviting Jia Lian to sit down, You Qi took out a letter and handed it to him: "Father has replied. He is not in good health and cannot travel far. He is afraid that he will die on the road. In my opinion, it is all the intention of the stepmother. She is the wife of an official in the northwest and can do whatever she wants. Even if she is promoted to the seventh rank in the capital, she is just an insignificant official."

From this statement, we can see that Youshi hopes that her family can rise. After a woman gets married, she will be bullied if there is no one in her family. Youshi's current status is entirely due to her own "struggle".

When Youshi and Qinshi stand together, it is not difficult to see that although Youshi has an advantage in appearance, she is only sixteen years old and still looks immature, and her charm is far inferior to Youshi's.

All I can say is that the ancients paid more attention to the face in terms of aesthetics, and it is difficult to see too many clues based on the body shape and clothing.

Jia Lian only glanced at it and then concentrated on reading the letter. The handwriting on the letter was weak, which showed that the writer's hand was not strong enough.

The content of the letter was that after You's father received the transfer order from the Ministry of War, he was unwell and after some activities, he exchanged his position with a local seventh-rank official. The details of how it was done were not mentioned, but the other party must have had a way. The other party also gave You's father a sum of money as compensation. After thanking the Jia family for their help, he said that he would find an opportunity to go to Beijing to thank them when he recovered.

Jia Lian was the one who arranged for Youshi's father to come to Beijing, so he knew the inside story very well. He didn't spend too much effort at the time, just asked the Beijing camp to submit a document to the Ministry of War, and no one made trouble for him, so the matter was done. Now it seems that Youshi's father is really sick. Jia Lian could not say anything even though he saw it, so he had to comfort Youshi.

"With me in the court, it won't be difficult for your uncle to come to the capital in the future. Just reply and let him know. Rest assured that you can come to the capital at any time in the future. I have the ability to do so."

(End of this chapter)