Chapter 284: Jia's Request, Zhen's Difficulty

Jia Lian called out to his attendant in the corridor, and someone immediately ran in and handed him a gift box. Jia Lian did not let Chen Heng wait any longer, and he delivered the gift to the host while chatting and laughing.

Chen Heng opened the brocade box and saw that it was a folding fan wrapped in blue cloth. This thing was nothing new. He thought about Wang Xifeng's tactfulness and Jia Lian's sophistication. He took out the folding fan and played with it in his hands. He opened the fan and looked around, and exclaimed: "It turned out to be Mr. Dongpo's signature and painting."

Seeing Chen Heng's surprise, Jia Lian nodded with satisfaction. It is said that the way to give gifts is to cater to the preferences of the person. When giving gifts to officials, this is even more important. Jia Lian smiled and told Chen Heng the origin of this fan.

"When Mr. Dongpo was an official in Yuhang, someone in the area sued a citizen for owing 20,000 coins and refused to pay. Mr. Dongpo summoned the defendant to ask questions, and then he knew the difficult family situation of this person. It happened that Mr. Dongpo knew that this person's family made fans for a living, so he asked him to go home and bring 20 fans.

He wrote running script and cursive script, and painted dead trees, bamboos and rocks. He also ordered this person to take the fans out to sell, one thousand coins a fan. It didn't take long, and they sold all the fans. After hearing the news, people who came to buy them couldn't buy them, and they really regretted it."

Chen Heng naturally knew this allusion. Dongpo's fan painting is also often used to illustrate that parents love their people like their own children. Chen Heng always thought that the style of the sages was a folk story, and he only used it for admonition. Now, looking at the authentic brushwork on the fan, he knew that it was true. He immediately said: "This thing is too expensive."

Although he said so, he couldn't hide his love for this thing. Let’s not talk about the workmanship of the fan, which is an ancient technique. Add to that Mr. Dongpo’s handwriting and the origin of this fan. Even if Chen Heng guessed what Wang Xifeng and Jia Lian meant, he couldn’t let it go.

Seeing Chen Heng’s reaction, Jia Lian was even happier. When he discussed with Wang Xifeng about giving this gift, he wanted to use it to praise Chen Heng for being considerate of the people as an official, which was quite like Mr. Dongpo’s character. Second, he wanted to use it to point out his own difficulties. Good brother-in-law, Mr. Dongpo can help the people in the country out of righteousness, so you can’t just watch your relatives die.

I only ask you to raise your hand and write twenty ‘fans’ for our family.

Jia Lian looked at Chen Heng expectantly. At this point, it depends on the other party’s intention. As long as Chen Heng nodded to accept the gift, it means that this matter is possible. If Chen Heng refuses this fan, then there is no need to say anything. Everyone will have dinner today, and then... and then... go back to discuss it.

With just one gift, they said everything that was not easy to say on the table. This shows the humanity and wisdom of Jia Lian and Wang Xifeng.

"Cousin, please thank my sister-in-law for her kindness."

As soon as Chen Heng finished speaking, Jia Lian's face was already full of smiles, and he kept saying, "Your sister-in-law still understands you and your sister. When I left, I said that the gift was too light. She insisted that you and your sister would definitely like it. Well, I am not as good as her."

Chen Heng smiled, put the folding fan in the brocade box, and put it on the long table between the two of them, listening to Jia Lian continue to talk. Baoyu, who was sitting under the seat, watched from beginning to end, and was disgusted by Jia Lian's warmth and approach. If he had a choice, he really didn't want to do these things to make people laugh.

He suppressed the nausea in his heart and stood up and walked around deliberately. He remembered that when he left Beijing, the old lady told him to listen to Jia Lian when he went out this time. He also thought that Jia Lian was selling his smiles for his family. Jia Baoyu had no choice but to bite the bullet and continue to feel uneasy.

Since the topic was about literati poetry and painting through Dongpo fan, Jia Lian turned the topic around and talked about Chen Heng's calligraphy. This was also the master's skill. Jia Lian praised it a few times and suggested going to Chen Heng's study to see his calligraphy.

Chen Heng knew that Jia Lian wanted to create a space for the two of them to talk alone. So he left everyone and led Jia Lian to the study alone.

As soon as he arrived here, Jia Lian couldn't help but reveal his secrets after appreciating a few calligraphy works. He mentioned his own difficulties in his words. In fact, he shouldn't have said this. It's just that Chen Heng never took the initiative to ask about the situation of the Jia family from beginning to end, so he had to do so.

After enduring the other party's temper for a while, Chen Heng finally spoke up under Jia Lian's anxious look: "I didn't know there were so many difficulties at home..."

What a pity, what a pity. If the brother-in-law had used "there are so many difficulties at home" in this sentence, then the big deal would be settled. Jia Lian sighed sincerely: "Who says it's not true? Everyone thinks that the family's pomp and circumstance looks rich. But to manage such a large family, your sister-in-law doesn't know how much thought and energy she has to spend. It's really a headache every day."

This is strange, didn't Baochai marry in? Chen Heng asked, "Is the mansion still managed by Sister Feng?"

"Yes." Jia Lian knew what Chen Heng was wondering about, and explained happily, "Originally, the old lady wanted my sister-in-law to learn how to manage the household. But Second Aunt said that the new bride had just entered the family and was not familiar with the family situation. She also said that your sister-in-law was in charge of the household and everything had been very proper. If someone changed for no reason, if my sister-in-law made any mistakes, she would be compared. The old lady also approved, so she let your sister-in-law continue to manage the household."

What a ghost, is Baoyu's mother still so wise? Chen Heng immediately felt that there was something fishy, ​​and he understood it after thinking about it carefully. Without the Lin family's windfall, the Grand View Garden almost emptied the cash in the mansion.

You have to know that the Lin family's windfall is more than the accumulation of four generations of marquises in the Lin family. There is also Jia Min's dowry when she got married. This is Jia Mu's biological daughter. It can be seen how much her dowry will be.

Under such a situation, Mrs. Wang was able to suppress Baochai from taking charge of Rongguo Mansion. It's just that the current situation is too dangerous and terrible. He had to rely on Wang Xifeng's ability to settle the accounts before he could be so tolerant.

Chen Heng wanted to understand this. When he saw Jia Lian saying this, his eyebrows were slightly raised, and he couldn't help showing his joy. He also speculated that the other party may not be unaware, but that one of the couple was greedy for money and the other was lustful. They are all arrogant people, and they may not have the intention to use this to gain power and let their families see what they are capable of.

Human hearts are so interesting. Chen Heng chuckled secretly, uncovered the mystery, and went straight to the topic. "Cousin, do you want to make a living in Songjiang Mansion?"

"Good brother-in-law, that's exactly what it is." Jia Lian was overjoyed when he heard this, and even praised him, "Everyone knows that where my brother-in-law is, there must be gold hidden underground. I am so shameless as to come here to seek a chance for fate."

Chen Heng laughed. Li Zhi wanted to show them a way out and stabilize the situation between the government and the opposition. There was no need for him to deviate from this matter, and he said directly: "The shopping street will be completed at the end of the month, and I really need some shops for people to settle in. I wonder, cousin, what kind of business do you want to do?"

"I'm afraid that my brother-in-law will make fun of me if I tell you." Jia Lian's face changed, and he said with a slightly consultative tone, "Our family is in such a difficult situation, so of course, cousin, I want to make as much money as possible. But my cousin doesn't have enough education, so he can't speak for a while. I can’t figure out what to do for a living.”

Listen to this, how can I make an honest living? I came to Songjiang with the intention of making a lot of money. Chen Heng narrowed his eyes slightly, put his hand on the case, and said with a half-smile: "Brother Jia is joking, if I really have such a business, I'm afraid I will be tempted."

Hearing the disgust in Chen Heng's words, Jia Lian immediately hesitated. He knew that he was testing the bottom line and testing the horse's hooves. He quickly made up for it and said: "Hey, how could I not know my brother-in-law's temperament? You are going to be an official in the court in the future, how can you care about making a living? What I just said was definitely not my brother's intention. I just ask my brother-in-law to be considerate of the family. If you have any difficulties, please give me some advice."

Knowing that Jia Lian had given up, Chen Heng nodded. He was also thinking about what kind of business in Songjiang would be suitable for the current Jia family. Business gangs from all over the country immediately gathered in Songjiang. There were Fujian and Zhejiang merchants selling tea, and Zhejiang and Jiangsu merchants selling silk. Shanxi merchants and Huizhou merchants are even more capable and do business. They can really sell anything and make a living.

Compared with these people, apart from their family relationship, there is really nothing worth mentioning about the Jia family. If you really want to make a living, you only need some hard-earned money, and slowly add up.

Seeing Chen Heng's thoughtful expression, Jia Lian hurriedly lowered his voice and looked at him expectantly. Good brother-in-law, you must use your magical powers to save our family.

Looking the luxuriously dressed Jia Lian up and down, Chen Heng's eyebrows suddenly lit up and he said: "I think about it carefully, there is really something suitable for my cousin to do. It's just..."

"Just what? My dear brother-in-law, please come to me quickly." Jia Lian said eagerly with a look of joy on his face.

"Heh." Chen Heng chuckled and asked, "Cousin, are you willing to go to sea?"

"Ah?!" Jia Lian was immediately dumbfounded. Such a thing was not something a good person would do. There are bad storms on the sea, and if you are not careful, you will die without a burial place. That's... that's...

Just when Jia Lian should be neither, nor should he be. Suddenly news came from outside that Daiyu returned home early. Chen Heng quickly summarized what he was thinking. He left a sentence: "Cousin, go back and think about it carefully. If you intend to do it, we will discuss it later."

After speaking, he didn't wait for Jia Lian's reaction. He got up directly and went outside to greet his wife.

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After Chen Heng and Jia Lian slipped away to the study, Jia Baoyu, who was out of breath, started chatting with Liu Xianglian. The two of them had some friendship in the capital. It's just that Liu Xianglian was a libertine back then, and their friendship was not very deep. But this person is more pleasing to the eye than Chen Heng.

As long as Jia Baoyu likes anyone, he can mostly chat with them. Liu Xianglian didn't want to refute the Lord's face, so she immediately accompanied him and said a few words. He is now considered a member of the Chen family, and there is no need to betray Rongguo Mansion's reputation. When chatting, the interest was not high.

The two parties were chatting one after another when they suddenly heard the news that Daiyu was back. Jia Baoyu was so worried that he didn't even know where to put his hands. But this was not the Rongguo Mansion after all. Even if he had the intention to rush to the door to pick him up, the etiquette would not be appropriate.

Under Baochai's scrutinizing gaze, Baoyu, who began to feel uneasy in his heart, could not notice anything strange about his wife. He couldn't help but rub his hands together, looking restless. He was so heartbroken that Chen Heng had picked up Daiyu outside, and the couple came in laughing. When Jia Baoyu saw this scene, he immediately felt like a deflated rubber ball, half leaning on the back of the chair, with an unclear expression.

He took off his cloak slightly and handed it to Qingwen who looked solemn. Daiyu bowed lightly and said to Baoyu and Baochai: "Cousin, cousin."

Baochai did not sit still, but bowed directly to return the greeting, and then looked at the other person carefully. Different from the taciturn nature of Zhen Mansion, Daiyu today is quite radiant. Just by looking at Shu's relaxed features, she knew that Chen Heng would be good to him after marriage.

"Sister Lin, I just talked about you to my brother-in-law before, and I was worried that I wouldn't be able to see you today." After all, he was coming to ask for help, so Baochai reached out to express his kindness.

Daiyu did not treat the guests coldly. She stepped forward and held Baochai's hand. She looked at Chen Heng half-complainingly and said, "When I went out, I told my husband to let his cousin stay at home for dinner. Why did he do that?" Forgot."

"Sister, please don't wrongly accuse my good brother-in-law. He told us about this as soon as we met." Jia Lian returned to the hall and started to explain for Chen Heng.

Chen Heng moved his eyebrows and showed a look of "look at you" to Daiyu. The latter suppressed his smile, just pursed his lips, and looked at Baoyu who came up to greet him.

Jia Baoyu looked at their harmonious appearance, clasped his hands and saluted, and said with a complicated expression: "It's been a long time since I last saw you, Sister Lin, everything is fine."

His mentality is also complicated now. He is afraid that Daiyu will live a good life, and he is also afraid that Daiyu will live a bad life.

You shameless boy, have you ever asked my wife like this? Chen Heng rolled his eyes. He was a winner's mentality, and he was too lazy to argue with a sour fool. Daiyu nodded, shook her head, and said to Baochai: "I'm afraid that my good sister-in-law will have to worry about my cousin."

Baochai also sighed in her heart. Everyone knows their own difficulties and understands their own difficulties. Only Baoyu is single-minded and only thinks about the trivial things in his heart. It makes her angry and weird, and it is not understanding and helping others.

"He is just confused occasionally, but it is not worrying. To be honest, he takes care of me more on weekdays." Xue Baochai took Baoyu's face into consideration.

Even Chen Heng was moved by what he heard, and couldn't help thinking. If this girl was not in the Xue family, she should have a broad world of her own.

What a pity, what a pity.

Daiyu came back, and Jia Lian still sat next to Chen Heng. But Xinda and others moved down one position and led Daiyu to the left. Although the couple was some distance apart, when one of them started chatting with relatives, the other's eyes were always on the other.

This kind of appearance, even Jia Lian looked at it and wondered if he was too bad to Wang Xifeng on weekdays? But when she thought about Wang Xifeng's hot temper, she felt that everything was her own fault. The women of the Yong Dynasty would never care about their husbands raising concubines. She was so jealous that she deserved to suffer and be looked down upon.

When Lin Daiyu arrived, Baochai started to talk more. Everyone laughed for a while, and heard that Daiyu came back early because she was worried about Chen Heng. She even laughed at the other party's new bride's attitude, and Chen Heng was even more happy to hear it, saying: "My dear love me."

He had such a bad mind, and said this proudly three times in front of Baoyu, and Baoyu was secretly sad. When it was time for dinner, everyone moved their seats and went to the table to open the table.

Because there was still a second wife in the family, Liu Xianglian and others were needed to accompany her. Today's family dinner was also divided into two places, front and back.

In the backyard, Baochai saw that Daiyu and Yinglian were like sisters. For a moment, she didn't know whether the other party was acting or was really like this on weekdays.

She deliberately asked Yinglian about her birth background. She heard that she was an orphan from Suzhou, with a poor family background and had fallen into the hands of evil people. Only then did she understand why Daiyu treated this girl like this.

It turned out that she was not a threat...

But Baochai also had doubts in her heart. For a family born like this, she should just find a concubine to get rid of her. Chen Heng was ignorant and came to the emperor to ask for the decree in a confused manner. Why didn't Sister Lin persuade and stop him, but let such a family sit on an equal footing with herself and share the title of Chen's wife.

Daiyu didn't know what Baochai was thinking. She was surrounded by the two and only thought about taking care of the guests. Behind them, only Zijuan, Ying'er and Xueyan were left to serve.

Hey, why is Qingwen missing? It turned out that this girl asked the lady for permission to go to the front to serve the master's table.

Hey, she is also a good watcher.

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Xinda is already the general manager of foreign affairs in the family and a blood relative. Before, the Chen family was not well-off, so it was difficult for Xinda to sit at the table when he was away from home. Now that he was at home, how could Chen Heng let Xinda do some chores to serve.

Tonight, Xinda and Liu Xianglian from their family accompanied the two young masters of the Jia family to drink together. The people standing by were Pan Youan and Qingwen.

Jia Lian and Jia Baoyu were familiar with these two people. But looking at Pan Youan, Jia Lian remembered another thing that happened today. While everyone was eating and drinking, he hurriedly took out two documents from his arms and handed them to his brother-in-law, saying: "This is what the old lady asked me to bring to my brother-in-law."

Chen Heng took it and looked at it. It was indeed the indenture of Pan Youan and Siqi. As soon as he accepted it, Jia Lian taught the old servant a lesson on behalf of the 'new master', saying: "Since the old lady has shown mercy and let you go to my brother-in-law, you still need to remember the teachings of the family in the past and do your best in everything."

"Yes, I will remember the teachings of the second master." Pan Youan didn't dare to say much, and hurriedly responded honestly, still with a servant's attitude.

"Siqi is on the way, we left in a hurry and didn't take her with us. When she arrives in Songjiang, remember to treat her well." Jia Lian used his status as a young master of Rongguo Mansion to teach him endlessly.

But his words made Pan Youan feel hot. After looking forward to it for a long time, his cousin finally came.

"Youan." Chen Heng suddenly called out, and Pan Youan, who had just woken up from a dream, stopped laughing and came to the master. The other party handed the indenture contract he had just obtained directly to Pan Youan, and said generously: "Take it."

"Brother-in-law, you..." Jia Lian was very surprised. If he directly gave the indenture contract to the other party, Pan Youan would become a free man in the future. Can you trust such a person?

Jia Baoyu blinked beside him, and he subconsciously looked at Qingwen holding the wine pot. Seeing that the girl did not look surprised, he knew that this was not the first time Chen Heng did this.

"It doesn't matter, I never say these things when I employ people." Chen Heng waved his hand. He really didn't have this ability to judge people. Even if he had the indenture contract, he would be stabbed in the back.

Qingwen's beautiful eyes were filled with ripples after hearing these words. She felt that her master had a kind of heroic spirit and willfulness that was different from that of ordinary scholars. Seeing that Chen Heng's glass was empty, she hurriedly came up to pour half a glass and advised: "Master, drink slowly, the lady is thinking about you."

Chen Heng nodded, and took advantage of Jia Lian's daze to ask him: "I have something here, I want to ask my cousin about it."

"What is it?" Jia Lian smiled and signaled Chen Heng to just ask. Now the two of them are at a good time. Not to mention asking about things, even if Jia Lian does something personally, he is willing.

"Cousin, can you tell me a little about the situation of the Zhen family, so that I can deal with them in the future." Chen Heng's fingers lightly tapped the wine glass. He has a good memory and can't forget the scene in the Zhen Mansion that day.

When Mao Daqing just committed the crime that day, the master of the Zhen family kept calling Bao Yong's name, and he was quite anxious. Only when Mao Daqing rushed towards Zhen Baoyu, Zhen Xi's voice paused briefly. The other party's eyes were wide open at that time, and most people would think that he was worried about his brother's safety.

But only Chen Heng saw the disappointment in Zhen Xi's eyes when Mao Daqing was stopped by Ma Yin.

This master of the Zhen family wanted to see Zhen Baoyu die.

I was busy working overtime yesterday and was really tired. I can't update. It's like this at the end of the year. Oh, it's hard to deal with. Friday and Saturday, I have to find a way to explode.