I'm in the Red Mansion

Chapter 74: For Beauty, I Would Rather Not Die

Why were you laughing so happily just now?
Jia Cong suddenly said, "Master, in fact, I have passed the exam, and I am the first in the exam."

"As long as you pass the examination and get the first place, you will basically not be dismissed from the provincial and imperial examinations. You have basically stepped half a foot into the ranks of scholars."

After Jia Cong finished speaking, the scene fell silent.

The smiles on the faces of Zhao Shicheng, Feng Ziying and Liu Xianglian, the master and his apprentice, suddenly froze.

Zhao Shicheng glared at Feng Ziying and Liu Xianglian, and asked angrily, "Cong'er clearly passed the county exam and even won the first place."

"Why did you two evil disciples lie to the master and say that your junior fellow apprentice did not pass the exam? Are you two trying to betray your master and ancestors?"

Feng Ziying said quickly: "Master, we really didn't lie to you! No, it was Junior Brother who said he didn't pass the exam, Junior Brother lied first!"

Liu Xianglian also shouted: "Master, it's unfair! How dare we deceive you? This is clearly a conspiracy by Junior Brother!"

"Junior brother first lied to us and said he didn't pass the exam. When Master asked, he immediately told us the truth! Master, Junior brother was clearly planning to trick us all along!"

After the two of them finished speaking, Jia Cong spread his hands and asked, "I don't agree with what you two brothers said."

"May I ask you two senior brothers, when did I tell you that I didn't pass the exam?"

"Little Junior Brother, don't try to quibble. You clearly..."

"Humph! You still dare to deny it? When I asked you, you clearly..."

Feng Ziying and Liu Xianglian angrily accused Jia Cong, but halfway through their speech, they realized something belatedly.

It seemed as if the junior brother really never told them that he failed the exam.

It's just that he looked as if he had lost his parents. Any normal person who saw this would think that he really did not pass the exam, right?

It turned out that at that time, the junior brother was digging a hole for them, just waiting for them to jump in!

Feng Ziying and Liu Xianglian could not help but point at Jia Cong and said speechlessly: "Junior brother, you are so treacherous!"

Jia Cong chuckled and said, "Two senior brothers, same here, same here!"

Zhao Shicheng looked at Jia Cong and said with a complicated expression: "Cong'er, you passed the county exam and even ranked first. This is really cause for celebration."

"But you are from a noble family after all, and the path of imperial examination is not the right way!"

"Well, your path is ultimately up to you to choose."

"Come, let me see if your martial arts have improved in this month."

Next, Jia Cong practiced all the martial arts he had learned from beginning to end.

What made Master Zhao and his two disciples breathe a sigh of relief was that none of his martial arts skills were advanced.

Well, in fact, Jia Cong’s martial arts have probably reached a very high level at present.

How difficult is it to reach a higher level?

For most warriors, they may not be able to do it in their entire lifetime.

Secondly, in this month, Jia Cong had not gained much experience in martial arts in order to prepare for the imperial examination, so naturally he did not make much progress.

After spending most of the day with Master Zhao, Jia Cong invited his two senior brothers to be his host.

After he returned to Rongguo Mansion, Aunt Mei called him over, took out a bag of silver and said:
"Brother Cong, the madam sent me three hundred taels of silver, saying that it was originally intended to be saved for your marriage."

"Now that she has sent all the money over, she will no longer be involved in your affairs from now on."

"You can keep this money. You need it for your studies. Just spend it."

Huh?
Mrs. Xing actually spat out the money she had embezzled for so many years?

Jia Cong thought about it and decided that three hundred taels of silver might not be enough, but it was almost enough.

Given Mrs. Xing's stubborn nature for silver, there was no way she would voluntarily give it up.

He must have been coerced and had to hand over the silver.

After thinking about it, Jia Cong guessed that this was probably the work of Jia's mother. This was actually a favor for him.

However, Mrs. Xing has been withholding her monthly salary for more than just one or two days, or one or two years.

It’s not the first day that Lady Jia has known about this, so why did she have to wait until today to set things right?

It can only be said that all these changes originated from the results of his passing the county examination.

After passing the county examination, his status in the Jia family began to improve.

And after he passes the examination and becomes a scholar, his status will be further improved.

Jia Cong did not exchange pleasantries with Aunt Mei regarding the three hundred taels of silver. He took it directly back to his room and ordered Hongxiu to put it away.

Since Qingwen came, Jia Cong's daily dressing and washing tasks were all done by Qingwen.

Because Qingwen was more careful and clever, and Hongxiu was a non-competitive person, it was even she who facilitated Qingwen's promotion to power.

However, Jia Cong asked Hongxiu to keep his silver and other personal belongings.

First, Hongxiu had served him since she was a child, so Jia Cong naturally trusted her more, and he also wanted to give her this respect.

Secondly, Qingwen has a hot temper and is not as considerate as Hongxiu.

Now that I have passed the county exam, my status has improved slightly.

At this time, you can think about making money.

Of course, even if he wanted to make money, he would not do the kind of business that requires him to be in the spotlight, like selling paintings, as he did years ago.

Even if the Jia family did not object, Jia Cong would not do that.

Firstly, the money comes slowly, and secondly, it is not decent enough.

This moment, that moment.

At this moment, he doesn't need to be as cautious as he was years ago.

Jia Cong began to think about what business to start to make money.

Businesses that make huge profits are either written into the law or monopolized by the royal family and aristocratic families.

There are not many businesses that Jia Cong can do without having to show up himself, and he can be a hands-off manager and still make a lot of money.

The more restrictions there are, the narrower the road becomes.

Moreover, the businesses in which he can control and whose core technologies he must master are becoming increasingly fewer.

After much deliberation, Jia Cong finally decided to try the women's gouache business.

Because no matter in ancient times or today, women’s business may not be the most profitable, but it is definitely very profitable.

In this era, the foundation used by aristocratic women was all made of lead powder.

The foundation used by ordinary women is not real powder, but rice powder.

Although rice noodles can also be used, the effect is poor, and if not made properly, there may even be solid particles attached to them.

There is no need for lead powder, as it is fine, white, quiet and lustrous.

There is an idiom called "wash away all the makeup", which refers to this kind of thing.

Lead powder is certainly effective, but it has only one flaw: it is toxic.

Lead poisoning can affect the functions of the human nervous system, cardiovascular system, skeletal system, reproductive system and immune system, and cause gastrointestinal, liver, kidney and brain diseases.

Don’t these ladies know that lead is poisonous?

No, they do know.

But they would rather die for beauty!
(End of this chapter)