The Royal Merchant of the Red Chamber

On the 25th day of the twelfth lunar month, it was a beautiful day with a beautiful wind and a warm sky.As early as two days ago, Tian Yangsheng returned all the business of Fuyuan Hall according to Xue Pan's order.And all the young men arranged the meeting place with lights and festoons, and they will be busy until the evening of the 24th before everything is considered complete.

On the 25th, just after three o'clock in the morning, the closed door of Fuyuan Pavilion was opened immediately.Boys in bright clothes came out of the carved wooden doors, those who hung firecrackers hung firecrackers, those who set up fireworks set off fireworks, and the guys who had been booked early for dragon and lion dances were also hiding in the entrances of alleys to dress up. Well, just wait for the auspicious time to arrive, and the firecrackers of Perak Bala will sound, drums, gongs, singing and dancers, all of a sudden, the gongs and drums are loud, and it is very lively.

The merchants who had been waiting outside also came over with red faces at the moment, and bowed to Tian Yangsheng, Tian Wenjing and his son who were in charge of the reception at the entrance of the Fuyuan Pavilion.While exchanging warm greetings, they thoughtfully inquired about the bidding meeting.Tian Yangsheng and the others answered vaguely, and after seeing that all the merchants had signed and registered, they asked the staff to lead them inside.

It is also good for people with decent status and strong capital to get a natural position.From the private room upstairs to the front row of the lobby, within half an hour, a room full of people sat in darkness.The rest of the scattered small merchants who had a little capital but no connections and could not even talk about dominating one side had to sit in the back.However, the reception of tea, melon and fruit was not neglected at all.

When the time was almost up, Xue Pan also arrived with the two princes, Tu Ju and Tu Huang.The merchants present here and the representatives of the dignitaries naturally recognized these two princes who had been unparalleled in their early years.It's not bad for self-assessment, so I went up to say hello and say a few gossips.Those who are not qualified enough can only stand around from a distance and watch the excitement.

Just a few words here, there was another noise at the door.Xue Pan pursed his lips impatiently, and asked in a low voice, "What's going on?"

Tian Wenjing immediately pulled out.But after a while, he turned around and leaned up to Xue Pan and said, "It's the people from the Tong family who want to come in and have a look."

After a pause, he continued: "It's the second son of the Tong family, Tong Kecha, and beside him is Tong Shizhong, the head of the Shengshi bank who troubled us a few days ago, and his son-in-law, Sun Yao."

Xue Pan sneered: "I really think of myself as a person. With what status he is, he dares to be rampant in front of me. After ordering, the most important thing for the Xue family is the word rules. Don't say that our Xue family is deliberately targeting him. At the beginning, their family refused to buy the ticket. Now our Xue family has no reason to let him in. Tell them, if the trouble continues, we will directly report to the officials and throw him out, then who will be shameless?"

Tian Wenjing responded in a low voice, and immediately turned around and left.After a short while, he hurried in again, leaned into Xue Pan's ear and said, "People from the Tong family have agreed to buy tickets to enter. It's just..."

Xue Pan sneered, and said disdainfully: "He bought it when he said it, but you just told him that the tickets are all sold out. There is no place for him to get it now. If you really want to come in, you will directly give the gold 500 Two, I will grant him a privilege."

Tian Wenjing heard the words and asked, "What if they don't agree?"

Xue Pan raised his eyebrows in a leisurely manner, and said with a smile: "Since the Tong family dared to come, it must be because they were not kind. I am afraid that they have waited for a long time to find this opportunity. In order to provoke us, he will definitely agree. If he If you don't agree, you can raise the price to 5000 taels. If you don't agree again, you can raise the price to 5 taels of gold. And tell him, if you don't have this capital, don't think about clamoring all day long. My Xue family is busy with affairs , but I don't have the heart to fight with those poor people."

This is quite sharp.

Tian Wenjing curled his lips uncontrollably, and hurriedly turned his head away. It took him a long time to go back, about a stick of incense, before he brought Tong Kecha and others with ashen complexions into the room.

In front of Xue Pan, Tong Kecha said to Xue Pan with contempt on his face: "As expected of the family of the imperial merchants, they are really blind to money, and extremely vulgar. If you have a way, vulgar things are hard to find in the elegant hall. I think your Xue family's Therefore, the reason why you can't integrate into the elite circle of the capital is because you can't hide your shallow and vulgar behavior habits on weekdays."

Xue Pan hooked the corners of his mouth in a good-tempered manner, and said with an innocent face: "Second Young Master, what you said is wrong. As the saying goes, there is no rule without rules. The state has state laws, and the family has family rules. My Xue family made the decision two months ago. On the day of the bid opening, there is a rule to enter the venue by ticket. If the Second Young Master doesn’t come, that’s fine, since he’s here, he should do as he pleases, and do as the Romans do.”

After a pause, he looked at the merchants in the lobby who were paying attention to the movement here and said with a smile: "Besides, everyone enters the venue with a ticket. If there is only the second son... then for other merchants, wouldn't it be a big deal?" How unfair?"

Tong Kecha snorted dissatisfiedly, and said sinisterly: "I didn't say I wouldn't buy tickets, but everyone else gave me 50 taels of silver, but you sold me Tong Kecha 5000 taels of gold. How... how does Mr. Xue explain it?"

Looking at the onlookers in the lobby whose ears were pricked up for a moment, Tong Kecha smiled triumphantly and said, "Xue Pan, don't think that you can be lawless if you have the support of the Holy Spirit. Everything is nothing more than a word of reason. You Today's actions are obviously unreasonable. Fortunately, my Tong family is magnanimous. As long as you come up with a reasonable explanation, my Tong family will let the past go. Otherwise, even if it is a big court meeting, my Tong family will not be afraid of you of."

Xue Pan looked at Tong Kecha who was filled with righteous indignation, and sighed helplessly.

A look of pride flashed in Tong Kecha's eyes.Xin said that you really think that my Tong family's money is so easy to get.Today I will teach you how to eat and how to spit it out for me, and I will make you look ashamed.

When Xue Pan saw this, a sneer flashed in his eyes, but he said more sincerely on his face: "Second Young Master really misunderstood. Sincerity is the foundation of businessmen, how could my Xue family do things that are dishonest or maliciously blackmailed. This move is also for the sake of the Tong family's reputation!"

Tong Kecha raised his eyebrows disapprovingly, and asked softly, "Oh?"

"Second Young Master doesn't know something. Since half a month ago, the tickets for the bid opening meeting have been sold out. However, in the past half month, there are still countless businessmen who come to me with various relationships and favors. I said that no matter what the price, I can get an admission ticket. I announced it as a rule, and I refused to change it as an excuse. After all, when I sold the ticket, I said it was [-] tickets and [-] Now that the bidding number is set, it should be obeyed. If not, how can I face the brothers in the hall? So even if the second prince far in the southwest and the emperor's nephew, Xu Guogong, or send someone to the door or You came to me personally to intercede, but I was so determined that I didn’t agree. This is also the sincerity of my Xue family’s reputation, everyone agrees, right?”

All the merchants in the lobby were excited when they heard this, and felt that the Xue family was indeed the number one merchant in the world, for the sake of the reputation of the merchant, they even ignored the pleadings of the prince and the emperor's family.In other words, no matter what the Xue family thought in their hearts, this action alone was the greatest respect and consideration for all the merchants, and instantly won everyone's favor and admiration.Hearing Xue Pan's question at this moment, they immediately shouted in unison: "Yes."

The loud voice made Tong Kecha frowned uncontrollably, and a trace of impatience flashed across his face.In the eyes of the merchants, they naturally felt that this distinguished and noble Second Young Master looked down on merchants like them.My heart was unconsciously alienated a little.

Xue Pan smiled again and said: "But I didn't expect the Second Young Master Tong to come this morning without invitation. I wanted to ask the staff to persuade the Second Young Master to go back, but who would have thought that the Second Young Master stood outside with a stern look on his face? Don't go. It's cold and windy, and I don't want the second son to get a cold or something. I'm also afraid that your Tong family will judge the belly of a gentleman with a villain's heart, and feel that your Tong family is against our Xue family. My family is so small-minded, I want to haggle over every detail with you. In fact, those rumors in Beijing that there are rumors that Xue Tong's two families are incompatible are really irresponsible. Other than that... my Xue family has a lot of big and small matters all day long. Above, the old man is busy with the food and logistics arrangements for the army. In the market, my Xue family's shops are scattered all over the country, so it is natural that I am so busy that my feet don't touch the ground. People who can't even wait for a meal on the road are naturally inferior to those A soft-fed family who is used to climbing up women's skirts is free. To say that we have nothing to do with your Tong family, really... don't know what it means!"

Tong Kecha was furious when he heard this, and shouted: "Okay, Xue Pan—"

"It's just telling the truth. The second son can listen to it if he wants to hear it, and just ignore it if he doesn't want to hear it. Why do you have to go to war like this? What should I do if others see it in public?" Xue Pan leisurely After saying a few words, he looked at Tong Kecha with some sympathy, and said again: "Yes, I must have spent 5000 taels of gold before and felt so distressed that I thought I would go crazy?"

Xue Pan raised his eyebrows.He nodded with some understanding, and said: "After all, Tong's family has more than three hundred members, and there are many female relatives, and most of the men are not capable. They only rely on the rewards from the court and the rewards from the queen mother and empress in the palace. Naturally, compared with Our Xue family is rich and mighty—maybe even ordinary merchants can’t match it, so it’s heartbreaking to take out 5000 taels of gold at this moment.”

"Xue Pan, you are so courageous. Are you able to argue with the Empress Dowager and Empress Dowager in the palace?"

"When did I mention the matter of the beak empress? It's really unreasonable and I want to stir up three points. I just feel sorry for the empress dowager and the empress in the palace who have been married for many years, and they have also implicated the mother's family. It is really bloody. Yu Shui, breaking the family bond that connects bones and tendons. It's not in vain that ladies always remember it. It's a pity that you don't seem to be proud of the appearance of your Tongjia boys." As he said, Xue Pan looked surprised Looking at Tong Kecha, he deliberately lowered his voice, and said in a very innocent tone: "Thinking of this, I really feel anxious, unwilling and wronged for the two empresses. You said that you are already married. She is also careful about the affairs of her natal family. This means that no one cares about being in the harem. If it is placed in the home of ordinary people... the married daughter does not want to share the worries of her husband's family all day long, but always thinks about how to help With her mother's family plotting against her husband's family... I am afraid she has been divorced long ago!"

"The most important thing is that the two ladies don't even care about women's morality and only want to pull on their mother's family. In the end, you seem to be ungrateful. You are really a mess... You are not human inside and out!"

"You, you..." Tong Kecha trembled with anger when he heard the words.However, he is not good at talking, and he is not as unscrupulous as Xue Pan.Therefore, after listening for a long time, he could only look at Xue Pan bitterly, and repeatedly said that he was rebellious, but he didn't know how to argue specifically.

Seeing this, Xue Pan gave Tong Kecha a contemptuous look.This rank was a little too low, and before he could make any moves, Tong Kecha was as angry as if he had gone epileptic.There are still so many means in the future... I only hope that after the bid opening meeting, Tong Kecha can walk out of the gate of Fuyuan Pavilion intact.

Thinking of this, Xue Pan frowned again, raised his voice intentionally or unintentionally, and said, "The reason why I asked for 5000 taels of gold from Tong's family is just an explanation to the big guy. It is also a reason to tell everyone that this exception It can be original. After all, they only spent 50 taels of silver for the entrance ticket, while the second young master spent 5000 taels of gold. I think everyone won't be unwilling after the news spreads."

After hearing Xue Pan's explanation, the merchants in the lobby nodded with lingering fear and gloating.Such a price increase will only make them feel that their previous actions were extremely wise, not to mention how much money they saved.How can you be unwilling to watch a joke for nothing?

As for the Second Prince, Xu Guogong and others, after hearing what happened to the Tong family, they probably won't hold grudges anymore.After all, 5000 taels of gold is not something that anyone can afford.That is equivalent to 5 taels of silver.It would be better to just watch the excitement of Tong's house than to spend such a big price to buy such a false show!

Xue Pan looked at Tong Kecha's earth-colored face, sneered twice, and continued to attack: "Besides, admission tickets have always been by ticket only, and each ticket can only enter one person. Now the second son Tong brought such a Many people came in, but I didn't say a word, right? It's a pity that kindness is regarded as the liver and lungs of a donkey, and the second son of Tong doesn't seem to accept my favor. Even so, I don't dare to be affectionate and accommodating. Maybe it's more about face than face, the Tong family cares more What about the 5000 taels of gold?"

As he spoke, he waved his hand again, signaling to the boy behind who gathered up the money to bring up the 5000 taels of gold on the small tea tray filled with black lacquer and covered with red silk, held it up to Tong Kecha, and said, "I'm thinking, Since Second Young Master is in a difficult situation, let's follow the rules. Second Young Master, please take back the money. I don't dare to ask Second Young Master to enter the venue. You still come here and go back, so you don't have to explain it when you go home. The whereabouts of the 5000 taels of gold. After all... This money is really nothing in the eyes of my Xue family. Maybe it’s not enough for my sister to hold a poetry meeting. But it can be put on the Tong family, maybe it’s your family for a few months What about the cost of rations! If it is because of a moment of impatience that you, Mr. Tong, slap your face swollen to look fat, or ask your Tong family to tighten their belts for a few months, then it is really my fault. There are old and young, and the notoriety of abusing the harem pepper room, how can I bear it?"

Tong Kecha looked at Xue Pan with an uncertain expression for a while, then said in a cold voice through gritted teeth, "No, my Tong family...the money is still affordable."

Xue Pan looked at Tong Kecha in disbelief for a while, then asked hesitantly, "Are you sure?"

Tong Kecha's complexion turned dark, and he immediately said, "Sure."

"No regrets?"

This time Tong Kecha gave Xue Pan a vicious look, and didn't even say anything.

Seeing this, Xue Pan curled his lips disapprovingly, waved his hand to let the boy holding the gold back, and said with a casual smile: "Since that's the case, according to the rules, only one person can enter the venue with a ticket. Tong Er The young master spent 5000 taels to buy an admission ticket, so he can naturally enter the venue with the ticket. As for other people, they are not eligible. The second son Tong must continue to pay for a few followers to follow him in, or..."

Xue Pan sighed regretfully, looked at Tong Ke with a troubled face and said: "The rules are like this, Second Young Master Tong can only go in by himself."

As he said that, he also pointedly glanced at several large boxes that the Tong family had specially exchanged for cash in order to find fault.He said meaningfully: "May I arrange for a few boys to help Second Master Tong carry these boxes to the front. After all, Second Master Tong is delicate and expensive, and he is in public. You can carry your hands with your arms and sleeves rolled up." Carrying a box is also disgraceful, isn't it?"

After a pause, he added with a smile: "Second Young Master, you can rest assured that sending someone to help this time is purely my personal affair with Second Young Master, Xue Pan, and I will definitely not 'follow the rules' to ask you for money."

As he said that, he glanced at Tong Kecha with a warmer smile on his face, and said with a firm smile, "This time, it's absolutely free."

In an instant, Tong Kecha's face darkened, as if he had been beaten in embarrassment.

"Xue Pan, you are too deceitful!"