The Red Mansions

Chapter 899 Li Wan: Well... that's really thanks to Ziyu

Grand View Garden, Qichiyuan

It was mid-afternoon, and the winter sun was shining on the snow on the eaves, reflecting bright and harsh light.

Jia Heng was talking to Zhen Xi, gently hugged the girl's shoulders, and said softly: "Go on an urgent errand, and I'll be back soon."

Zhen Xi asked cautiously: "What is Brother Heng doing in Jinling?"

Jia Heng laughed and said, "First, I went to the Jiangnan camp to view the military appearances, and second, I came to preside over the affairs of the Jiangnan sub-provinces. Sister Xi'er didn't read the mansion newspaper?"

In fact, he prefers to talk to Zhenxi, mainly because the little girl has a gentle temperament like water, and the youthful beauty that belongs to the cardamom girl does have a wonderful effect on relieving emotions.

In fact, to put it bluntly, Jia Heng and Zhen Xi talked without using their brains, which is incomparable even for Miaoyu and Daiyu.

Zhen Xi said softly: "My sister usually likes to read mansion newspapers, I don't read those very much, but recently I heard my sister mentioned that Jiangnan Province seems to be divided into provinces, and my sister also said that it is not good to get the name Jiangsu. Jiangning, Suzhou, Changzhou, Songjiang and other prefectures are not mentioned."

Jia Heng rubbed Zhenxi's bangs lightly, and said, "Both places are important towns in the same province, so it's nothing to be named after them."

Zhen Xi said, "I think it's pretty good too."

Zhen Lan came back from under the eaves, holding a steaming copper basin in her hand, and called: "Brother Heng, the hot water is here."

Jia Heng got up, looked at Zhen Lan who was holding a copper basin of hot water in her hand, and said softly, "Sister Lan, I'll do it myself."

It's really embarrassing for Zhen Lan, I guess she has never done such things of serving others at home.

Jia Heng stood up, took the basin of footwashing water from Zhen Lan, lowered his head to remove his boots, looked at the girl, and said with a chuckle, "Sister Lan'er, just leave the rough work to the servant girl below."

Zhen Lan raised her pretty face, with curved eyebrows, and said with a smile: "It's right to serve Brother Heng."

As he said, he picked up the towel and wanted to wash Jia Heng's feet.

Jia Heng said: "Don't be too busy, I'll do it myself, you sit next to me, let's talk."

Upon hearing this, Zhen Lan put down the towel in her hand, said "um", and sat down beside Jia Heng, and suddenly stretched out her bare hand to hold Jia Heng's hand, her narrow and clear eyes overflowed with concern, and asked: " Why did Big Brother Heng drink so much wine today?"

Jia Heng held Zhen Lan's hand, and said in a low voice, "I have an appointment with Mr. Zhao from the household department to talk about a business."

This is the difference between Zhen Lan and Zhen Xi. Zhen Lan is really like a millstone. Although she is young, her temperament has already shown one or two sharpness.

Under Zhen Lan's curious eyes, Jia Heng said, "It's the coal business, and I'm thinking about who will take it over."

Zhen Lan's heart moved slightly, and she asked, "Brother Heng, what kind of coal business is it?"

Jia Heng said: "The Ministry of Household Affairs and the Ministry of Internal Affairs are going to hand over a batch of coal to merchants and transport them to prefectures and counties in Hebei, Shandong and other places. These things can only be done by merchants. Give it to some merchants."

In fact, this is more like the coal version of the eight major salt merchants in Yangzhou, but now it is dominated by Jia Heng, and it will be another time to reform the old problems in the future.

Many times, there is no one-size-fits-all law in the world.

When Zhen Lan heard this, her phoenix eyes shone slightly, and said in a low voice: "Brother Heng, this business is good. It can not only solve the difficulty of the imperial court's transportation and sales, but also enable the common people to use cheap coal."

Zhen Lan's father, Zhen Xuan, came from a businessman background, and was regarded as the purse of the Zhen family in Jiangnan. Zhen Lan had been well-informed since she was a child, and she also had a good business talent, so she immediately understood the prospect of profit.

Jia Heng turned to look at Zhen Lan, and said, "Your sister also thinks it's a good job?"

Zhen Lan nodded, and said: "Brother Heng is short of someone to take care of such a mess. A few days ago, my father wrote a letter saying that the case with the imperial court has been closed. He has been in prison for three years. After he is released, Brother Heng will If you still feel that your father still has the ability to run a business in the way of commercial production, can you let your father help Brother Heng do things?"

Jia Heng looked at Zhen Lan's beautiful and beautiful face, and was silent for a while. In the latter's uneasy mind, he took Zhen Lan's hand, hugged her in his arms, and said softly: "Sister Lan'er, this proposal is good, I will think about it later. consider."

The change to Zhen Lan didn't happen overnight, he had no intention of changing Zhen Lan's character background, but just like Zhen Qing, he couldn't think about himself in everything.

Hearing Jia Heng's praise, Zhen Lan blushed and said, "Thank you...Brother Heng."

Jia Heng said: "Once the business is completed, if my sister is free, she can help me look at the account books or something."

Judging from Cai Cai's posture just now, Ke Qing doesn't seem to like these things either, so Zhen Lan can exercise slowly.

Upon hearing this, Zhen Lan seemed to hesitate and said, "Brother Heng, I..."

Jia Heng said: "Sister Lan comes from a famous family, she can do it."

Zhen Lan lowered her head, responded softly, and said, "Thank you Brother Heng, then I will try."

Under Zhen Xi's slender eyebrows, there was a hint of shame in her aura-like eyes.

Looking at it like this, the four sisters will follow Brother Heng from now on.

Jia Heng took the towel and wiped his feet, and said to Zhen Lan: "I'm a little sleepy right now, take a nap with Sister Xi'er, and call me again when it's time to apply for cards."

Zhenxi got on the bed here, changed Jia Heng's clothes with a blushing face, then took off the dress on her body, hugged Jia Heng, leaned her face against the boy's arms, and slightly closed her eyes.

Jia Heng also hugged Zhen Xi.

Unknowingly, the sound of even breathing gradually sounded on the bed.

When Jia Heng and Zhen Xi slept until evening, the pitch-black night dispelled the sunset, dusk fell, and the lights came on.

Jia Heng woke up, called the servant girl to prepare hot water, took a bath, then changed into a Su brocade robe, and just sat behind the desk.

Zhen Lan made hot tea at the side, handed it over, and said, "Brother Heng, drink tea."

Jia Heng thanked her, picked up the teacup, took a sip, looked at the girl who was hesitant to speak, and asked, "What's wrong?"

Zhen Lan took an invitation card and handed it to Jia Heng, and said, "Grandma Zhu from Daoxiang Village has handed over an invitation card, inviting you to the banquet tonight."

Jia Heng accepted the invitation, nodded, and said, "I'll go there right away, you and sister Xi'er have dinner first."

After speaking, put down the invitation card and head to Daoxiang Village.

Daoxiang Village

In the wing room, the candles were brightly lit, as bright as daylight, reflecting several slender and beautiful figures on the screen.

Li Wan and Cao Shi are preparing a table of dishes, and the two sisters Li Wen and Li Qi are also helping out.

Li Wan put on a light blue dress, although he didn't have the appearance of emerald green, but there was a pearl hairpin with tassels hanging between his buns, and a thin layer of powder was applied on his beautiful and gentle face, and the two earrings he was wearing were illuminated by the lights shining brightly.

Cao said with a smile, "Wan'er cooks these dishes well, with the characteristics of Jiangnan."

After all, watching Li Wan grow up, the address of a woman is kind of kind.

Li Wan was a little embarrassed, and said softly: "Auntie, this is the dish I learned when I was in the boudoir. After I married into Rongguo Mansion, I haven't cooked it for the past two years, and my hands are a little rusty."

Cao sneered and said: "I see that this is very well made, that Uncle Heng tasted it, he must like it."

That Uncle Heng, she doesn't seem to be someone who can sit still, and his relationship with the two concubines of the Zhen family seems a bit unusual.

If you stay in Jinling for a while, all the little girls can't see the tricks between Jia Heng and the concubines of the Zhen family, but Mrs. Cao is a rare person who doubts it.

Jia Heng and the two concubines of the Zhen family stayed in the study for a long time, Cao Shi was secretly suspicious, but he didn't dare to ask for proof.

Seeing a look of unnaturalness on Li Wan's jade face, he said in a low voice: "He is a first-class Marquis of Wu, who is used to eating delicacies from mountains and seas, as well as royal tributes. Ours are too simple, and it is not an exaggeration to say that they are simple and unremarkable."

Mrs. Cao looked at Li Wan's figure with a smile, and said, "If you eat too much fish and meat, you'll get tired of it. It's not unusual to try some wild fried food once in a while."

Li Wan didn't say another word, because he faintly felt that there was something wrong with what he said.

But at this moment, the servant girl Suyun lifted the curtain and entered the room, with a smile on her face, she said: "Grandma, the uncle is here."

Hearing this, Li Wan's beautiful and elegant appearance showed joy, although he tried his best to keep his voice calm, he said, "Where is he? I'll go to meet him."

Seeing this "eager" scene, Mrs. Cao secretly smiled.

And at this moment, Jia Heng came down to the living room led by the maid Biyue, sat on a back pear wood chair, sipped tea, looked around the room with a thoughtful face.

"Brother Heng, you're here." Li Wan lifted the hanging bead curtain, came out from the inner room, and looked at the young man in the green shirt with a slight smile on his face.

Jia Heng put down the teacup, looked up at the beautiful woman with a gentle demeanor, and said, "I've kept Mrs. Zhu waiting for a long time."

Li Wan asked curiously: "Brother Heng, you haven't waited long, brother Heng finished working outside?"

"I didn't go to deal with official business in the afternoon, so I just rested in the mansion." Jia Heng said with a smile.

Li Wan nodded and said: "You can't be busy all the time, it's good to have a rest when you have time."

While the two were exchanging greetings, accompanied by a jingle of rings and a rich fragrance, Mrs. Cao led the two daughters to open the beaded curtain, entered the hall together, and said with a smile: "Master Heng is here."

Jia Heng turned to look at Cao Shi, smiled and said, "Aunt Cao, long time no see."

He came to Shenjing from Jinling by boat together earlier, and this lively and funny woman also left a deep impression on him.

Mrs. Cao looked at her two silent daughters, who had sparkling eyebrows, and said with a frown, "Wen'er, Qi'er, call someone."

Li Wen and Li Qi approached with graceful steps, saluted and said, "I've seen Big Brother Heng."

Jia Heng stretched out his hand to help, looked at the two beautiful and quiet sisters, and said, "Sister Wen and Sister Qi please get up quickly."

Li Wen and Li Qi got up, sat beside Cao Shi, and looked at the young man in green shirt quietly.

Jia Heng sat down, looked at Li Wen and Li Qi with warm eyes, and said with a smile: "Sister Erxi'er gave birth yesterday, why didn't sister Wen and sister Qi go to Qichi Yuan yesterday?"

Li Wen said in a soft voice: "Mother had some things to do yesterday, so I didn't pass them."

Li Qi was listening to Li Wen's reply, but she did not say "I am the same", but peeked at the young man with a pair of bright and clear eyes, and then looked at her sister.

Mrs. Cao looked at the young man in the green shirt, smiled and said: "My two girls don't usually play around with others, but like to read books. They are almost bookworms."

The two sisters, Li Wen and Li Qi, both like to read books, and they are relatively quiet. They probably belong to the good students in the class who are from poor families.

And the Lanxi sisters who are also a pair of sisters, although Zhenxi is also quiet and gentle, but because they grew up in a wealthy family like the Zhen family, they actually have a cheerful and lively personality.

As for Zhen Lan, not to mention her personality, she knew things early on.

Jia Heng nodded and said with a smile: "It's good to like to read books. I have a poetic spirit in my stomach. Sister Wen and Sister Qi are like Lan Ruju. They are indeed from a scholarly family."

Hearing the young Marquis Wu boasting about his daughter, Cao was very happy, and said with a smile: "In the past few days, they have been reading Uncle Heng's Three Kingdoms script for two days, and they also said that they are asking you for advice. What's the plot?"

"Really?" Jia Heng smiled, looked at Li Wen and Li Qi, and happened to meet her elder sister Li Wen who lowered her head shyly, not daring to look at each other, and said softly: "Then wait for these two days when you are free to meet with me." The two sisters talk about the follow-up plot."

Li Wen gave a soft "hmm" and said, "Thank you Brother Heng."

At this time, seeing this, Li Wan smiled and changed the subject: "Brother Heng, the dishes are ready, let's go and share some together."

Jia Heng nodded and said, "Please, Mrs. Zhu."

Everyone talked, entered the inner room, and sat down again.

Jia Heng asked: "Sister-in-law, where is Brother Lang?"

Li Wan said with a smile: "He is outside the garden where I lived before, and he is taken care of by the nanny. There are a lot of girls living in the garden, so it is very inconvenient."

It can be said that today's Grand View Garden is a real daughter's country. Baoyu thinks about it day and night, standing under the eaves, and often looks into the distance with tears.

And Jalan is obviously not easy to live in.

Even if Jia Heng is not usually in the Qichiyuan, he just comes to take a nap when he comes to watch the scenery. It was wishful thinking for Baoyu before to live in it.

Jia Heng nodded and said: "Brother Lan will be seven years old after the new year, you can try to enter school, but don't worry too much."

Li Wan said with a smile: "Well, that's what I thought too. Brother Lang came over to me the other day and told me that the master in the school mentioned that it is not very good to start school too early. When you can't get used to it, you can't even take the exam. If you miss a few times, you will lose your spirit."

Jia Heng laughed and said, "Sister-in-law Zhu is right to think that way. Brother Lang is not very old, so let him win three yuan in a row, and go out to be an official when he is only a teenager. That is too hard."

When a mother likes to listen to outsiders talking about these praises for their children, let alone Jia Heng, an important court official, this is undoubtedly talking about the psychology of young women.

Li Wan smiled lightly, and said in a low voice: "He will be selected as a Juren in the future, and if he has an official, I will burn high incense. I have never thought about being the number one scholar."

When the young woman in Huaxin's smile blooms, the charming charm of the brows and corners of the eyes overflows silently, and under the light of the bright candlelight on the candlestick on the high table, there is a bit of thrilling beauty.

Cao Shi also said with a smile: "Master Heng, don't just talk too much, let's eat first."

Jia Heng said: "Sister Zhu, let's eat first."

Li Wan softly responded, then picked up the chopsticks, ate in small bites, then raised the wine cup, and said: "I toast Brother Heng, I have troubled you a lot about Brother Lan."

Jia Heng stopped his chopsticks, picked up the wine cup in his hand, and said, "Sister-in-law, you're welcome."

Then he clinked a glass with Li Wan, then raised his neck and drank it down in one gulp.

And Li Wan drank a glass of wine, coughed a few times, and his soft cheeks suddenly turned as red as peach pistils.

"Sister-in-law Zhu drink slowly." Jia Heng put down the wine cup and said with concern.

"I'm fine." Li Wan said.

At this time, Cao Shi looked at the two of them talking with a smile, and his eyes flickered.

Jia Heng put down the wine cup and said: "When I was in Jinling, I went to visit Mr. Li at his residence. Instead of talking about Lang Geer, the old man also had a lot of expectations."

"Father?" Li Wanyu was slightly stunned, and asked in surprise, "I heard from sister Wen'er that Ziyu saw his father in Jinling?"

Jia Heng's face was full of memories, and he said with emotion: "When I was in Jinling, I met the old man. The old man was a high-ranking man. He listened to what he said, and felt that he benefited a lot."

Li Wan pursed his pink lips, and said softly: "Father has taught the children at home since Ding You kept his filial piety at home. Speaking of which, I haven't seen my father for two or three years."

Jia Heng said: "This time going south, we may have to meet again. If Mrs. Zhu has any letters or other things to send, I can send them to Jinling."

Li Wan nodded and said: "Then I wrote an letter recently, why did Brother Heng go to Jinling again?"

When it came to the end, the young woman with Huaxin was probably because of drinking, Wen Ning's eyes were as bright as water under her willow-leaf eyebrows.

Jia Heng didn't talk much, but said: "There were some things a year ago, and I need to go again."

As he spoke, he looked at Li Wen and Li Qi who had stopped their chopsticks, and said with a smile, "If younger sister Wen and younger sister Qi are hungry, they can eat first, and don't need to look at me and your eldest sister."

Li Wan's cheeks blushed when he heard the young man's words. This big sister... made her look much younger.

Li Wen hurriedly said: "Thank you Brother Heng."

Li Qi also thanked.

Mrs. Cao also laughed and said: "Brother Heng, don't just talk, you can also use this food. These are all made by Wan'er. How about trying Wan'er's craftsmanship."

Ordinarily, with Cao's seniority, it is not inappropriate to call Li Wan a Wan'er, but now in front of Jia Heng, Wan'er...

If Cao Shi didn't drink too much, it was... on purpose.

Li Wan really blushed, and the bamboo chopsticks in his hand touched the porcelain bowl, making a crisp sound.

Waner?

How could Auntie address her like that in front of Brother Heng?
I don't know why, but I suddenly remembered the address in my sleep before, Xia Fei's cheeks were burning hot on her beautiful and jade face, her eyebrows and eyes were drooping.

But it's not easy to correct Cao's name.

Jia Heng couldn't help but glanced at Li Wan, and saw that the beauty with thin makeup was illuminated by the bright lights, the red glow on her face extended to her earlobes, crystal clear.

He paused for a moment, picked up the chopsticks to pick up the food cooked by Li Wan, and said, "I'll try Wan... Mrs. Zhu's cooking."

Fortunately, he reacted in time, and the words did not turn into "wan'er" when they reached his lips.

But Li Wan heard it keenly, her heart trembled, her delicate body trembled slightly, she didn't know what touched her, her cheeks became more and more flushed, but it was only as if she was drunk and flushed drunkenly.

Jia Heng didn't say anything else after that, but Mrs. Cao raised the wine cup and said with a smile: "Brother Heng, I would like to toast you. You said that I am a procrastinator and have nowhere to hide when I come to Beijing. You took it in, and let Wen'er and Qier live in the garden with the girls from the mansion."

Jia Heng hurriedly said: "Where did Auntie come from? They are relatives, so it's really hard to say whether they will take you in or not."

Mrs. Cao smiled, didn't say much, took a sip of the wine lightly, her fair face was flushed with alcohol.

After Jia Heng finished his drink, he looked at Li Wan who was holding dishes with his chopsticks, and said, "Actually, there is one more thing I want to tell my sister-in-law."

Li Wan raised a rosy and soft face, and asked in a soft voice from drinking, "What's the matter? Brother Heng, tell me."

Jia Heng smiled and said: "It's not that there are many things in the garden, and now sisters Xue and Tanchun are in charge. I think there will be someone from the West Mansion to take care of the things in the garden together."

Hearing this, Li Wan immediately understood that she was asked to be a housekeeper, and then her heart beat uncontrollably.

How many years, since the death of her husband, she has never cared about anything. The old lady and the wife said that they sympathized with her, but who would know the miserable feeling?

Even in the mansion, those maids and mothers actually didn't pay much respect, they just treated her as a widow.

Now is she in charge of the garden?

Li Wan's heart was beating non-stop, but when the words came to his lips, he declined, "Zi Yu, I'm a widow who is unemployed, so it's not easy to control."

Jia Heng said: "Sister-in-law Zhu doesn't need to say that, I think my sister-in-law is older and more thoughtful, so let my sister-in-law mention sister Xue and third younger sister together."

Of course, it cannot be said that there is an old man in the family, such as a treasure, otherwise, Li Wan would suddenly change his face and leave in a huff.

Hearing this, Li Wan's heart moved slightly, as if hesitating, and finally said softly: "Since Brother Heng said so, I will help the two of them."

Jia Heng said: "Then there will be Mrs. Lao."

Jia Heng was drinking and talking with the two widows, but at this moment, Cao Shi smiled and said: "Brother Heng, you chat first, I will lead Li Wen and Li Qi back to the backyard to rest first. , come back later."

Jia Heng looked up at Cao Shi, and said with a smile, "I see it's getting late, so I'll go back too."

Cao said with a smile: "It's still early in the day, you guys are talking, I have something to ask Brother Heng for advice later."

She will talk about her daughter's marriage later, this time when she goes to Beijing, she must find a good marriage for the two girls, if it is not possible...

Jia Heng heard the words, nodded, and sat down for the time being.

The maidservants also served tea, and Jia Heng drank tea and talked with Li Wan.

Li Wan picked up the teacup, took a sip of the tea, but didn't speak, and the atmosphere between the two fell silent for a while.

Jia Heng thought about it for a while and said, "Sister-in-law, Mr. Li has been idle in Nanjing for a few years, so it's time for him to come out."

When Li Wan heard the young man's address, he was a little surprised, and for some reason, he changed his address by accident, "What does Zi Yu mean?"

Jia Heng did not doubt it, and said: "Since this summer, many government officials in Jinling have resigned due to crimes, and there are many vacancies, and Mr. Li's reputation is well known all over the world. "

The officials of the six ministries of Jinling, Pan Ruxi, Minister of the Ministry of Households, and others were implicated in the incident of stealing and selling official food in the Huaibei flood. Now there is only one minister in charge of the government, and two ministers of the Ministry of War have been dismissed from office because of the rectification of the Jiangnan camp. There are many vacancies in the six parts.

This goes without saying about the candidate for the governor of Anhui.

Hearing this, Li Wan pursed his moist lips and said, "Father has an upright temperament and does not tolerate the worldly affairs. It was not that there were no shortages in Nan Province, but that his father was unwilling to ask for help, so Fang has been serving as an official."

Speaking of hunger, he looked up at the boy.

If her father recovers, then she... and Lang Ge'er will have a backer.

Jia Heng said: "Sister-in-law, don't worry about this matter. Last time I talked with my uncle, I saw that he is growing old and strong, and his ambition has not been fulfilled. When I go south this time, I will persuade him well."

Hearing this, Li Wan was overjoyed, looked at the young man gratefully, and said softly, "That... that's really thanks to Zi Yu."

(End of this chapter)