The Red Mansions

Chapter 783 Xue Baoqin: Thanks to Big Brother Heng this time...

Guangdong, Panyu

Listening to Jia Heng's questioning, the chubby face of Guangdong General Wu Tao kept changing, and he looked at the clerk beside him unkindly.

At this time, Xue Baoqin's white and greasy face was filled with excitement, her bright eyes flickered, and she agreed: "This lord is right, they are just taking this opportunity to extort money."

What this person said is too true, and the people like Yuehai Navy did it on purpose.

Jia Heng looked at Xue Baoqin gently, nodded, and asked, "Are you from the Xue family in Jinling?"

The Xue Baoqin in front of me does not have the facial features of a Western beauty, but her facial features are vaguely similar to Baochai's. She is dressed in a red dress, of medium stature, with delicate and picturesque eyebrows and eyes, especially her cheeks are almost pink.

Hearing the words "Jinling Xue's family", Xue Baoqin's heart trembled, she stared at it with surprise in her moist almond eyes, and asked, "How does this lord know?"

At this moment, Wu Tao also understood Wei'er, the Xue family where the girl in front of him seems to be the in-laws of the Jia family?
Damn, his Wu family also has an old relationship with the Jia family, isn't this a family?If you knew it was the Xue family's ship, why would you have people seize it?
A smile appeared on Wu Tao's chubby face, and he said, "Uncle Yongning, look at it, this is really flooding the Dragon King Temple, and the family no longer knows the family."

As he spoke, he looked at the clerk at the side, his expression darkened, and he said, "Hurry up and return Miss Xue's ship and goods, and apologize to her."

The scribe responded repeatedly as if he had received an amnesty, and then apologized to Xue Baoqin.

With a smile on Wu Tao's face, he looked at Xue Baoqin and said, "This is Uncle Yongning, the patriarch of Jia's family. I don't know which house of Xue's family in Jinling you are from?"

At this time, Xue Baoqin also understood what they said, and was surprised, turned to look at Jia Heng, and asked, "You are Yongning Bo?"

Along the way, she heard from her father many times that the Jia family recently had a great elder brother, who was named an earl because of his military achievements, and is also the minister of military affairs. Arrived in Guangdong, and just ran into it.

Xue Baoqin couldn't help sizing up the young man opposite, and saw that he was tall and tall, with a handsome face, wearing a vermilion python suit, wearing a mountain character wingless crown on his head, his eyes seemed to hide the divine light, and he was full of spirit. a sword.

Jia Heng's expression became more gentle, and he smiled and asked, "Sister Xue, where is your father now?"

Xue Baoqin's father's name is Xue Jun, because Xue's family is an imperial merchant, Xue Jun went to Nanyang countries to search for rare treasures, so that he could go all over the world to do business through the House of Internal Affairs as a merchant.

According to the original records, Xue Baoqin went to many countries with Xue's father and increased his knowledge. Xue Xiaomei wrote ten nostalgic poems.

Jia Heng looked at the girl whose facial features looked a little like Baochai's, with thin eyebrows of emerald feathers, moist almond eyes, and pink cheeks.

Secretly thought, there was indeed a problem with the casting of the [-] version of Dream of Red Mansions in the previous life, or there was a deviation in the understanding of Bao Qin, a character in the original work.

Even from the perspective of Baochai's face, Mingyue should not be given a Western makeup like that.

Unless Xue's father married a Western woman, but what happened to Xue Biao?
"Father is at the inn in the county seat. The housekeeper and I came to check on the boat because the officials detained it." Xue Baoqin revealed joy in his eyes, and said softly, "You are Brother Heng? Father often mentions Brother Heng recently."

Jia Heng smiled slightly and said, "Sister Xue, then I'll go down and visit Uncle Xue."

At this moment, seeing Jia Heng and the little girl from the Xue family talking, Wu Tao took over the conversation and said, "The second master of the Xue family is also in Panyu City. My niece wrote a letter like this before, or sent someone to my house to say that I will definitely There will be no such thing happening, it is really flooding the Dragon King Temple, and the family does not recognize the family."

At this time, the scribe ran over panting all the way, and said, "My lord, the ship and the cargo have been let go."

Wu Tao ignored the scribe, but looked at Xue Baoqin, and said with a smile: "If there is any damage or loss, just tell me and let them double the compensation."

Jia Heng looked at Wu Tao and thought to himself, this Wu Tao really knows how to do things, or in the original book, the Wu family is just trying to curry favor with the Jia family.

Jia Heng suppressed the thoughts in his heart, looked at Xue Baoqin, and said: "Sister Xue, I have something to do here, I can't accompany you to pick up the boat, if there is any problem, send someone to look for me."

Seeing a smile on Xue Baoqin's face, he hurriedly said: "Brother Heng, go and do your work first. I'll come to Brother Heng after I have received the boat and goods."

Jia Heng turned to look at Chen Xiao who was at the side, and said, "Xiao Qianhu, you accompany her to pick up the ship and the cargo, and go to the post house to rest first."

Chen Ling nodded, cupped her hands, said nothing else, and then went looking for Xue Baoqin.

Jia Heng's face was silent, and he was speechless for a moment.

Wu Tao accompanied him with a smile and said, "Uncle Yongning, this is really a misunderstanding, but it's a coincidence that we met the old Xue family."

Jia Heng pondered for a moment, and said: "Whether it's a misunderstanding or a coincidence, General Wu, the Yuehai Navy should not blackmail merchants in this way. If it falls into the eyes of the Nanyang Fanguo, it will also damage my Han nationality and the emperor's sanctity. I am not an example. "

Wu Tao breathed a sigh of relief when he heard the words, and quickly said: "Yes, yes, I will keep this in mind."

Jia Heng glanced at the sky and said, "Let's go have lunch together, it's getting late at this time."

After lunch with Wu Tao, Jia Heng led his retinue to the post house, and planned to inspect the Guangdong Navy in the afternoon.

And in the post house——

Xue Baoqin and her elder brother Xue Biao were talking after lunch.

It turned out that Xue Biao, who was going to the pharmacy to grab medicine, heard from the servant that his younger sister Bao Qin and the steward Ning Bo were going to the anti-smuggling office of the Yue Hai Navy. Worried about something, he quickly led people to look for Bao Qin. My younger sister who was escorted by the guards.

When the two brothers and sisters met, they briefly explained what had happened, and then followed Chen Xiao to the posthouse.

Xue Biao is a gentle and handsome young man, fourteen years old, with a handsome face and a simple blue shirt. He is still whispering about his younger sister, saying in a low voice: "Why is my younger sister so reckless to argue with those officials? If she is framed by gangsters It will be even more troublesome if you are arrested for the crime."

Xue Baoqin didn't care about her face, and said softly: "Brother, the sky is bright and the sky is bright, they dare not mess around. Besides, if I don't go, I won't meet Brother Heng who is in Yuehai."

Xue Biao sighed softly, and said: "I can't say no to you, anyway, next time you can't be so reckless."

My younger sister has always had her own opinions, and sometimes my father is willing to ask her opinion, and it is difficult for him to persuade her.

Chen Xiao was sitting at the side, sipping tea, flipping through a book of materials, listening to the words of Xue's brothers and sisters.

This pair of Xue family brothers and sisters are much smarter than the pair in Beijing.

Xue Biao said: "You saw Brother Heng, what did Brother Heng say?"

Baoqin put down the teacup and said softly: "Brother Heng had a few words with that Guangdong General, and said that the imperial court has never said that it would ban passenger ships and seize the cargo, and it didn't take long for them to be released."

"This is when I met Brother Heng, and I don't think he would talk so well." Xue Biao said in a low voice.

Bao Qin nodded, and couldn't help but think of the boy in the python suit just now. Brother Heng doesn't seem to be much older than her, right?
At this moment, the guard in brocade clothes under the eaves said loudly: "The governor is here."

The two brothers and sisters who were anxiously waiting in the house were all refreshed when they heard the words, and quickly got up to greet them outside the courtyard.

In the courtyard, under the escort of a group of brocade-clothed guards, the young man in python descended the steps of the second gate and walked to the courtyard along the path paved with blue bricks.

Xue Biao immediately walked a few steps quickly, bowed his hands to Jia Heng, and said respectfully, "Xue Biao has seen brother."

"Brother, you are back." Xue Baoqin also came forward to salute, but compared to Xue Biao, she was a little more cautious. This girl with fair complexion and moist and lively almond eyes spoke in a much more natural tone, and looked curiously at the python suit on the opposite side. juvenile.

Jia Heng cast his eyes on Xue Biao first, and in Baoyu's words, "It looks like Sister Bao's brother."

At a glance, he is indeed elegant and elegant, with delicate eyebrows and eyes.

He is wearing a slightly thin blue shirt, and his hair is fixed by a wooden hairpin. He has a handsome appearance and a gentle temperament like jade.

Jia Heng hurriedly reached out to support her, and said with a smile: "There is no need to be too polite. When I was in Beijing, my aunt often mentioned that there is a nephew in the family who likes to read and treats people politely. Today I can be regarded as seeing him."

Counting from Baochai's side, Xue Biao can also be regarded as his brother-in-law. If he can be cultivated, he may take it for his own use.

As he ascended to a high position, the problems of his shallow foundation and fewer manpower were also exposed, and the young children of the Xue family, since Xue scorpion is useful, can be cultivated.

Under Xue Baoqin's curving eyebrows, her moist starry eyes stared at the boy in the python suit with sparkling eyes.

Seeing the enthusiastic attitude of the high-ranking "cousin" opposite him, without the airs of a high-ranking official, the tension in Xue Biao's heart also eased a lot, and he said modestly: "I don't dare to be a brother to praise, I don't know, auntie, how is she in Beijing with her brother and sister?" ?”

The three members of Xue's family arrived in Beijing in the middle of the year, and the letter had been circulated to Xue Yun in the southern province earlier.

Jia Heng smiled and said, "Everything is fine."

It's hard to say that Xue Pan is already in prison, and it's actually okay to be in prison now.

Jia Heng said: "Okay, go into the room and tell me, Sister Baoqin told me what happened just now."

As he spoke, he and his brother and sister sat down in the flower hall.

Under Xue Baoqin's eyebrows, her apricot eyes blinked, and she couldn't help feeling suspicious.

no?She didn't seem to tell Brother Heng about her boudoir name just now?Could it be that the aunt in Jingli told Brother Heng?
The two parties are divided into guests and hosts.

Xue Biao sighed, and said, "I used to walk this route a lot in the past. I didn't expect to encounter such a thing. My father fell ill because of it."

Jia Heng heard the words, put down the teacup, and asked with concern: "Have you invited a doctor? Is it urgent?"

Xue Biao said: "Brother Lao, don't worry. I have asked the doctor to look at it. He said that it is a rush, and there is nothing serious about it. I just took a few medicines."

"That's good." Jia Heng said softly, and asked, "What's going on?"

"The ship was detained by the officers and soldiers, and all the goods on board were confiscated. In the past few days, many passengers in the same company have been talking about this. Father, he rented a ship from a local friend. He originally brought some money to redeem the ship. He didn't want me. When I went to get the medicine according to the prescription, my little sister went straight to the official office of Weigang, the Guangdong Marine Adviser." Xue Biao explained.

Jia Heng took a look at the fair-skinned and radiant girl, said to Hu Niu secretly, pondered for a moment, and said with relief: "Just now the Yuehai Marine Division has said that the ships and cargo will be returned, and there is nothing wrong with it."

Xue scorpion said gratefully: "It is also thanks to my brother. If my sister hadn't met my brother, I really don't know how much effort it will take."

"Wu Tao, General of Guangdong Province, used to be a general of the Rongguo Mansion. He had a close relationship with our family. My uncle wrote a letter like this before, or visited him with a famous stab. I thought he would not lose face." Jia Heng smiled lightly. He stopped, looked at Baoqin, and said, "Sister is so bold, she led the family to ask for a boat."

Of course, there are some twists and turns in this kind of relationship between people and others, and the brothers and sisters may not necessarily want it out of their eagerness.

After Jia Heng said, Xue Baoqin's white and greasy cheeks had a faint blush, obviously a little embarrassed, and said: "Father fell ill all of a sudden, and we were all in turmoil. We couldn't be angry, so we didn't think so much."

Jia Heng nodded and said with a smile: "Forget it this time, Sister Baoqin shouldn't be so reckless next time, people in the government are used to being arrogant, sometimes it's not easy to deal with."

The first impression this Baoqin gave him was that it looked like a tiger. It might be because he traveled all over the world with Xue's father, traveled around the world, dealt with many people, and gradually developed a hearty and fearless temperament.

Hearing this, Xue Baoqin became more and more shy, lowered her head, and said in a low voice: "Brother Heng, brother was still talking about me just now, this time it's really thanks to Brother Heng."

Jia Heng looked warmly, changed the subject, and asked, "You brothers and sisters take me to see Uncle."

Xue's father fell ill here. As the head of the Jia family in the in-law family, he had to ignore him, and he had to go to visit him anyway, which was considered a courtesy among relatives.

"Brother, come with me." Xue Tiao said softly with grateful eyes.

While talking, Jia Heng, accompanied by Xue Biao and Xue Baoqin, led Jinyi Fuwei to an inn called "Tianya" in Panyu County.

After a while, a mighty group of people came to the inn. The shopkeeper of the inn was fiddled with the abacus behind the counter. He heard that the clerk panicked and said that the official in Jinyi was here.

The shopkeeper looked at the guards of the Jinyi Mansion who came in with fresh clothes and angry horses, his face was pale with fright, and he thought he had committed something, and said in a trembling voice: "My lords, this small shop operates on its own duty, and has never done anything wrong. Crime, I don't know..."

Jia Heng said in a gentle voice, "Don't be alarmed, the shopkeeper. I'm just here to find a friend, and I don't have official business."

As he spoke, he waved his hands and asked Li Shu, a hundred households in brocade clothes, to lead a dozen or so personal guards in brocade clothes to guard outside.

At this time, Xue Biao hurriedly stepped forward to explain the situation to the shopkeeper, and the shopkeeper nodded dubiously.

On the second floor of the inn, in the wing room, there is a bed with a mosquito net hanging on the side near the window.

Father Xue was lying on the bed under a pillow and a quilt. This middle-aged man over forty years old had a fair complexion and a refined manner, but at the moment he had a sickly face and his brows were tightly knit. He was worried about going to Weigang, Panyu. own daughter.

Suddenly, he heard the commotion below, and was about to order the servants to check the situation.

The servant had already entered the wing room and said, "Master, there are quite a few Jinyi guards outside."

Father Xue's complexion changed suddenly, and he said in surprise, "Why does this involve Jinyi Tiqi?"

He just brought some goods with him, so why would it be worthwhile for Jinyi Mansion Guards to come and arrest them?Make up your mind, the Xue family is an imperial merchant, as long as it is said to go to Nanyang to buy rare treasures for the palace, it should not be a big problem.

No one expected that they would meet relatives of the Jia family in Guangdong, thousands of miles away.

The servant said: "Master, that Jinyi Tiqi seems to be a friend of the young master and young lady."

Father Xue was stunned for a moment when he heard the words, and then a bright light flashed across his heart.

Not long after, I saw a tall and straight young man in python suit enter the wing room, father Xue quickly propped himself up with one hand, got off the sick bed, looked at the python suit boy opposite, and tentatively called: "Uncle Yongning ?”

Jia Heng quickly stepped forward to help, and said with a smile: "Uncle, my family members don't have to be so polite, just call me Ziyu."

Father Xue secretly thought that sure enough, he couldn't help but look at the boy opposite, and then his eyes fell on the faces of Xue Biao and Bao Qin who were on the side.

Xue Baoqin looked at her father worriedly, and explained: "Father, Ning Bo and I went to Weigang to ask for a ship, and happened to meet Brother Heng, the ship and the goods are already coming back."

Father Xue's expression froze slightly, he couldn't help but smile wryly, and blamed him: "You, you are not afraid of any danger, it's thanks to meeting your Big Brother Heng, so there is nothing wrong with it."

Xue Baoqin blushed, stuck out her tongue, and said softly: "Brother Cai said the same thing just now."

Jia Heng listened quietly to the conversation between the father and daughter, and asked with concern: "Uncle, where did you come back from? But you want to go back to the ancestral house in Jinling?"

"Coming from Zhenzhen country, I plan to go to Jinling first, and then go to Shenjing. I think I brought some western items to send to the old lady in Beijing and Ziyu's mansion." Father Xue invited Jia Heng sat down, said softly, and finally sighed: "I don't want to encounter such a thing."

As he spoke, he sighed.

Jia Heng reassured: "Uncle, the ship and the goods have been brought back, there is no order to follow in the seizure of the goods in Guangdong Sea."

Father Xue nodded, thanked Jia Heng again, and asked curiously, "Isn't Ziyu in Beijing, why did he come to Yuehai?"

Jia Heng is Yongningbo, and also the Minister of Military Affairs, it has long been passed on to Jinling, and Father Xue also heard Jia Heng's name mentioned in letters from Xue's family and friends in Beijing and China.

Jia Heng said softly: "I came here to Guangdong for business, to inspect ships in Panyu, and I didn't want to bump into Sister Baoqin all of a sudden."

Father Xue smiled and said with emotion: "That's really a coincidence."

He secretly sighed for his daughter's good luck, if he hadn't met this important court official of his in-laws in Beijing, I am afraid that the matter of the ship being detained would not be easy to solve.

Jia Heng looked at Father Xue who looked a little weak, and asked with concern: "Uncle, what did the doctor say just now?"

Father Xue said: "The doctor said that I was overworked, and I was overworked. I just took two medicines to recuperate and recuperate. I have been traveling all year round, and I often have headaches and brain fever. These are not big things."

Jia Heng nodded and said: "Uncle, if there is anything wrong, you can send Brother Xue Biao to come over and tell me that relatives should not talk outsiders."

Father Xue nodded his head emphatically, and with gratitude in his eyes, he said, "Then there will be Lao Ziyu."

In the past letters, as long as he was mentioned by Uncle Yongning, he was said to be the first-class young handsome man of the Jia family in recent years, with the style of Ning and Rong.

Jia Heng sat down and had a conversation, and said with a smile: "It's not getting too early, uncle will take good care of himself, I have some official duties to deal with later, I leave a few guards in brocade clothes here, what's the matter, uncle can Tell them."

"Ziyu is going to be busy with official business." Father Xue said hastily when he heard this.

Jia Heng nodded, then got up, went outside, and left the inn, it was already afternoon.

At this moment, a rider came from the end of the street, and a captain in brocade clothes got off the saddle, cupped his hands and said, "Captain, Bujialu of Haojing sent an envoy to ask to see the commander."

Carlos, the envoy of Bujia Road, originally planned to go to Guangzhou to visit Jia Heng, but when he arrived in Panyu, he was overjoyed when he heard that Jia Heng was inspecting officers and soldiers in the Guangdong Navy, so he immediately transferred to Panyu.

Jia Heng's face was silent, and he said in a deep voice: "Let him go to the post house, and I will meet him there."

Hearing this, the captain in Jinyi cupped his hands in a salute.

At this time, Bao Qin who came to see him off asked: "Brother Heng, what is the governor of Haojing Folangji coming to see Brother Heng for?"

The girl had obviously heard the name of Governor Haojing Bu Jialu, and even knew the family members of Governor Haojing before, and she was surprised when she heard Jinyi's report.

Xue Biao frowned and said, "Sister."

As he said that, he looked at Jia Heng with an apologetic face and said, "Brother, please forgive me for being reckless and rude."

Jia Heng smiled and said: "Sister Baoqin is innocent and straightforward, it's nothing, besides, they are all relatives of my family."

Bao Qin also apologized, and explained: "Brother Heng, I have met the governor's wife and the youngest daughter Nona, and I just heard the name, and I fell in love at the moment. I hope Brother Heng will forgive me."

Jia Heng's eyes were fixed, but his heart moved slightly. He smiled and said, "How does my sister know the wife and daughter of Bujialu?"

Xue Baoqin said softly: "In the past, I followed my father to do business in Haojing. By chance, I met Mrs. Haili and Nona. I even went to their house as a guest."

Xue Biao was a little surprised when he heard his sister talking, and asked, "Sister, when did this happen?"

Why doesn't he know?
With a smile on her face, Xue Baoqin said, "It was the summer before last. My brother went to help his father deliver the goods. In Uncle An's shop, he saw Aodu's wife and daughter. They came out for shopping. The guards called Afterwards, I chatted with Nona for a few words, and then met a few times and became good friends, and then I went to her house twice."

The Uncle An that Xue Baoqin said is also a Portuguese, called Andrew, who had formed a friendship with Xue’s father in Siam because of doing business, and some of the goods carried by Xue’s family entered Haojing for sale, and they were all handed over to Andrew. sold to the Portuguese.

Jia Heng stared at Xue Baoqin and said with a smile, "I don't want my sister to recognize Bujialu's wife and daughter."

"Brother Heng, why don't you... take me to have a look?" Xue Baoqin blinked her moist almond eyes under her curved eyebrows, because she was worried that Jia Heng would disagree, so she quickly explained: "Brother Heng, I will Some of their languages ​​can be translated for Brother Heng."

Jia Heng looked at the girl with fair complexion and plump face, and joked: "Then, my sister will finish the translation later. If the translation is wrong, it may cause diplomatic disputes."

The Portuguese do not speak English, but Portuguese. Of course, the Portuguese nobles and officials must be proficient in English, but if they sign leases and memorandums, most of them are in two languages, Chinese and Portuguese.

As for Xue Baoqin, this temperament is really generous and not shy, but if she really gets to know the family of Audu Bujialu, maybe it can also play a role in easing the tension?

Seeing Jia Heng's face was silent and his eyes were thoughtful, Xue Biao said: "Brother Heng, my sister is young, she doesn't know the importance, and she doesn't know much barbarian language."

Now all we are talking about are important national diplomatic affairs, how can my sister participate in it?
Xue Baoqin said coquettishly: "Brother, don't underestimate people, I can speak several barbarian dialects?"

Jia Heng smiled at Xue Biao, and said in a warm voice: "Sister Baoqin can indeed help me, and I will talk to your father when I go back."

Chen Xiaoqing glanced at Xue Baoqin, then at the boy in the python suit, thinking nonstop.

Jia Heng was talking on this side, and returned to the second floor of the inn with Xue Biao and Bao Qin, intending to talk to Xue's father.

At this time, Father Xue had just drank the boiled herbal medicine and leaned on the pillow. He was obviously much more energetic. The main reason was that he had asked for all the goods from the ship, and his heart sank with a big stone.

Holding a copy of the travel notes of the predecessors in their hands, Jia Heng and his two sons and daughters, who suddenly saw them going back and forth, looked surprised and said: "Zi Yu is not going to handle official business, why?"

Jia Heng simply explained the reason, and said: "Uncle will stay here for a while, why don't brothers Xue Biao and Baoqin help me with some business affairs by my side, if uncle is not in a hurry, When things are over here, we can go back to Jinling together."

He shouldn't stay here for long, and Father Xue might be able to help him with some purchases of firearms.

Father Xue was very surprised, and turned to look at his daughter, doubting: "Zi Yu is busy with business, can the two of them help you?"

Jia Heng smiled and explained: "During this period of time, I have to deal with the Hongyi of Haojing, and I heard sister Baoqin speak some words of Hongyi, and uncle seems to know the Hongyi of Haojing very well?"

Father Xue was stunned when he heard the words, smiled and said: "I did some business there a few years ago, and I know a little bit about it. Ziyu also knows that the Guangdong government sometimes sends officers and soldiers to restrain the sea, but Tiao'er and Baoqin can help Ziyu. Yu, then follow Ziyu first."

Jia Heng nodded, turned to look at Xue Baoqin, smiled and said: "Then there will be sister Lao Baoqin later."

Xue Baoqin's sweet voice was charming, she was overjoyed, and said with a light smile, "Brother Heng, don't worry."

After discussing this matter, Jia Heng didn't linger much, and left Tianya Inn, under the guard of Jinyifu, went to the posthouse with Xue Baoqin.

(End of this chapter)