The Royal Merchant of the Red Chamber

The curtain at the door shook for a while, Zhen Baoyu looked up and saw Xue Pan and Xue Baochai in men's clothes came in one after the other, his eyes lit up, and he praised: "It's like two twin brothers." of."

When Xue Baochai heard this, she delightedly deepened the curve of her lips.Xue Pan became interested, took Xue Baochai's hand and said, "Go, go to Ruirong Hall and show your parents, so that they will be shocked."

Saying that, everyone walked out of the yard towards Ruirongtang.

When they arrived at Ruirong Hall, a boy guarding the door said that Xue Zhizhang and Zhen Yan went to the back study to discuss important matters.Xue Pan dragged Xue Baochai into the inner room of the backyard. Mrs. Xue was sitting on the kang and calculating this month's accounts. The account books left on the kang table.After taking a closer look, he recognized Xue Pan's brother and sister, and said with a smile: "Which play is this again? Did Hua Mulan join the army?"

"Mom, do you think I look like a man?" Xue Baochai walked up to Mrs. Xue with a smile, took advantage of the situation, bowed long like Xiaosheng in the opera, and sang: "Xiaosheng Baochai Xue, I've seen Mrs.—"

"Oh, what a handsome scholar!" Mrs. Xue laughed heartily, and hugged Baochai in her arms, screaming, and finally wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes, and asked: Has your father ever seen it?"

"Not yet! I heard from the guard at the door that Daddy and Uncle Zhen went to the study to discuss matters, so we wanted to come to say hello to Mom first." Xue Pan replied with a smile, and finally added: "This is also our Caiyi Amuse yourself?"

"Forget it, forget it!" Madam Xue nodded lovingly, "Go to your father and tell him to take a look, he will definitely love you very much."

"The son (daughter) is leaving." The two brothers and sister Xue Pan saluted Mrs. Xue and slowly left the room.After meeting Xue Zhizhang in the study, there was naturally a lot of laughter and laughter.By the time they found Fourth Master Long and the others to leave the mansion again, it was more than four quarters.

Xue Pan's original intention was to take Xue Baochai to the rouge shop to have a look. It happened that Fourth Master Long also wanted to know about the business situation in Jinling, so they all walked to Qilin Street.

Although it is already spring in February, the spring breeze is still cold and hard, blowing on the face as if cut by a knife.Xue Pan rubbed his aching face, and said to Xue Baochai: "This season is the most damaging to the skin. Our rouge shop is currently researching a kind of cream, which is specially used at this time, and has the effect of moisturizing and repairing. I guess It's about the same time now. Let's go and have a look first, if it's really worked out, at least the family will use it first. It's like being delayed by going out for a stroll."

"Really?" Baochai's eyes lit up, and she said, "It would be great if there is such a cream. Every year at this time, the wind makes my face very wrinkled. In previous years, I had to rely on rose nitrate to support myself. But the effect of rose nitrate is the same. After washing my face every day, I still feel hot, dry and astringent, very uncomfortable."

"This thing is much better than rose salt." Xue Pan said with a smile.Glancing over the disapproving Long Siye and Zhen Baoyu, he explained: "Don't look at these rouge and gouache items that are not very conspicuous. In fact, this kind of business is the most profitable, and there is no risk. Compared with selling The business of salt and iron is much easier."

"Really?" Zhen Baoyu didn't believe it, "Don't be so rude, I know the business of salt, iron and tea bricks, and that's the most profitable."

"What did I lie to you for?" Xue Pan curled his lips and said, "In this world, men are in charge of making money, and women are in charge of spending money. Then where women spend the most money, of course it is rouge, gouache, clothes and jewelry. You Think about it, men will buy this for women to please women. Women are born to love to dress up, needless to say when they are girls, after they get married, they dress up even more for the sake of favor and face, not to mention this rouge Gouache is no match for clothing and jewelry, which are consumables that are used everywhere, and you need to use a box for ten days and half a month, so how much can you use in a year. There are so many women in the world, how much do you need to use?"

What's more, their Xue family is now on the road of high-end cosmetics.On the one hand, internal affairs supply guarantees income, and on the other hand, it is also the best advertisement.One must know that the things in their shop are all used by the empresses in the palace. How much is this reputation worth?

So when everyone grabs the title of imperial merchant, most of them grab word of mouth. The real supply of internal affairs is to make money, and how much can they earn?

Zhen Baoyu didn't understand what he said, but Fourth Master Long looked at him frequently, apparently taking it to heart.

Everyone walked and stopped all the way, it was very leisurely.From time to time, Xue Pan would stop in front of a roadside food stand, or buy some candied haws, or take two packs of sugar-fried chestnuts, and stuff them all for Xue Baochai, who kept looking around.He also introduced how delicious and sweet it was, but after a while, even Zhen Baoyu and Fourth Master Long felt a little hungry.

"I said you are too dishonest, Big Xue, why don't you just feed your sister and not take us?" Zhen Baoyu said with some dissatisfaction.

"Huh?" Xue Pan pretended to be surprised and said, "So the two aristocratic masters also like this kind of roadside food? I thought you would be the most disdainful to eat this kind of food."

"I didn't want to eat it at first, but I heard you say it's amazing, just try something new." Zhen Baoyu said, licking his face and said to Yinger who was behind Baochai: "Sister Yinger, give me a taste." !"

Ying'er couldn't help laughing, and took out a bag of fried chestnuts in sugar and handed it to Zhen Baoyu, "Uncle Zhen killed Ying'er, how dare you be a master, just call me Yinger."

"It's fine, it's fine." Zhen Baoyu took the bag of stir-fried chestnuts with sugar, and felt a strong sweet smell coming out of his nostrils.I couldn't wait to peel one off and put it in my mouth, chewed it twice, my eyes lit up, and I praised: "It's really delicious."

Then he turned his head and handed it to Fourth Master Long and said, "Fourth Master, you can have a taste."

Fourth Master Long looked down at the bag of fried chestnuts, hesitating for a while.

Seeing this, Xue Pan rolled his eyes helplessly, stepped forward and peeled a chestnut, held it to Fourth Master Long's mouth, and said, "You can try it, Fourth Master, even though it was fried with charcoal fire, but the flesh inside is not at all fleshy. dirty."

Fourth Master Long lowered his head and watched as the golden chestnut flesh was pinched between two almost transparent white fingers, exuding a seductive aroma.Eyes lowered, he pondered for a moment, finally leaned down and took the chestnut into his mouth, chewed for a while, and said in a deep voice, "Not bad!"

Xue Pan smiled smugly when he heard this, and finally said: "Well, not bad! In fact, these grocery stalls don't look like much, and the taste is pretty good. There is a wonton stall at the gate of Nancheng, which is run by an old man. Three tables, looks simple, right? In fact, it’s more delicious than those made in some big restaurants! If you don’t believe me, I’ll take you to taste it after inspecting the shop later?”

"Then go!" Zhen Baoyu said indifferently: "Knowing that you are the most proficient in eating, we will leave this mouth to you."

Baochai also nodded with great interest.

Xue Pan turned his head to Fourth Master Long again, looking at him expectantly.

Seeing this, Fourth Master Long thought about it for a while, and finally nodded reluctantly.Gao Wei and the others, who were watching from behind, clicked their tongues in amazement. They never thought that my uncle, who has always been a bit of a clean freak, would agree to eat at such a place.

So Xue Pan was very satisfied and led everyone to continue to inspect his shop.It's just that this time, taking care of Long Siye and Zhen Baoyu, Xue Pan enthusiastically introduced all the shops passing by to them. Both of them listened with gusto.And Xue Baochai looked at her brother with increasing admiration.

After walking for about half an hour, Xue Pan stopped in front of a very luxuriously decorated shop.Then he said to Baochai, "This is our rouge shop, what do you think?"

Hearing this, Xue Baochai looked at the shop carefully.Xue Pan said it was a shop, but it was actually a house built in a busy city.The former owner was demoted and exiled because he was convicted of a crime. Because he needed money urgently, he sold the house at a low price.After Xue Pan received it, he repaired it a little bit, and opened a rouge shop with it.

Red tiles and blue bricks, a few branches sprouting buds can be vaguely seen protruding from the wall. On the front are two vermilion gates, which are wide open.On the top is a plaque made of fine fragrant wood, with the words "rouge gouache" written on it.Two white jade lions stand on the left and right, looking very grand and luxurious.Two rows of young girls dressed in blue satin stood on the left and right. When they saw Xue Baochai and the others, they bowed and said respectfully, "Welcome."

Xue Baochai nodded with a smile, and followed Xue Pan into the gate.Facing him was a painted wall, on which Tang Yin's ten beauties were painted, exquisite and beautiful, with a soft and charming atmosphere of makeup.Bypassing the painted wall, there is an open square, with a flat and clean bluestone floor in the middle, and fresh green grass on both sides. Xue Pan smiled and introduced: "It's not used here in winter, and there will be one when the weather is warmer." Raising a nanny to teach etiquette can be regarded as an etiquette training class! Some families who are poor and cannot afford to hire a nanny on their own will come to sign up for a period of time. Of course, the price is much cheaper than raising a nanny alone. But now it is In February, no women came to the class. The number of customers gradually increased after the class started in early March. At that time, everyone had handles at the gate, and men were not allowed to enter."

The three of them nodded in understanding, while Xue Baochai looked at it curiously.After walking through the square, everyone entered the main hall.Immediately, a young girl in blue satin came forward and greeted with a smile: "I have met you, I have met some guests. Welcome, what can I introduce to you?"

Xue Pan waved his hand and said, "Go and do your work, I'll bring them for a stroll."

"Yes!" The girl bowed, turned and left.

"This main hall is a showroom. We pack the finished rouge powder in exquisite cartons and put them on the shelf, and put the instruction manual and suitable for the crowd in the carton. Of course, you can also try it on the spot. There are cosmetics here. You can use the table for free, and there are even girls with good makeup to help you make up." Xue Pan said, pointing to the furnishings in the hall.

It was only then that Xue Baochai noticed that there were small shelves on the three sides of the hall against the wall. Each shelf was about two meters high, and different bottles were placed in each shelf.

As for the center of the hall, there are dozens of dressing tables, and each dressing table is filled with all kinds of rouge and gouache.

"This is the common area, and the VIP area is separated in the form of private rooms. It is for those distinguished guests." Xue Pan explained lightly. "When it's open, male customers are not allowed to come in. Now it's closed, so it doesn't matter if we come to shop."

Glancing at Baochai, Xue Pan pointedly said: "Actually, although this rouge gouache shop is a rouge shop, it is still related to our family's gold shop and clothing shop. Some officials who have a low starting point and are not good at dressing up People will come to this shop specifically to look for dressing girls, and the dressing girls will help them dress up according to their appearance and temperament. During the process, our dressing girls will promote some clothing shops and gold shops. Of course, They work so hard and get their own commissions. The past two years have been better, and the business in our shop was the busiest during the draft three years ago."

Xue Baochai looked around in a daze, the situation in the rouge shop was something she hadn't expected before, she didn't know that the business could still be like this.Even Zhen Baoyu and Long Siye, two big men, were a little surprised when they met.

Seeing this, Xue Pan smiled slightly.He said to Xue Baochai, "Baochai, from now on this rouge shop will be under your management. How is it? Are you still interested?"

"Me?" Xue Baochai's eyes widened in astonishment, and he pointed his index finger at the tip of his nose in disbelief.

"Yes!" Xue Pan nodded his head as a matter of course, and said, "Didn't we discuss it a few days ago?"

"But..." Baochai frowned in embarrassment.The reason why she agreed at the beginning was because she thought that this rouge shop was no different from other rouge shops in the family.Now it seems that this rouge shop is probably built by my brother with a lot of painstaking efforts.What's so good about her...

"It's nothing serious. I made this up for fun with you." Xue Pan smiled and shook his head.In this era, ladies like Xue Baochai don't leave the door, and don't step in the second door.The best thing is to go to the homes of a few sisters who are familiar with each other to chat, but there is nothing to do.Although she didn't feel bored, Xue Pan, who was accustomed to being free and free after time travel, found it uncomfortable.Although he couldn't lead his sister around the streets, he still came up with something like a beauty salon, which was just right to relieve his sister's boredom.

"After the yard was taken down, it was also repaired at a large price, and many beautiful scenery were specially built. You can invite your sisters to come and play if you have nothing to do. Don't you girls just like poetry clubs or something? Yes. There are also a lot of female gentlemen with high salaries hired here, you can learn from them if you like them. When you are free, let’s go to the spa together, make clothes for dolls, whatever." Xue Pan Recalling the life of his younger sister in his previous life, he suggested.

"Sipa?" Xue Baochai blinked in confusion, not understanding what Xue Pan said.

"It's all things you girls like." Xue Pan waved his hand casually, and it happened that Wu Yue's family, the steward of the rouge gouache, came in to entertain him. Xue Pan immediately pointed to the introduction of Wu Yue's family: "This is the current rouge gouache. The person in charge is from Wu Yue’s family. I’ll ask her to send you all the account books and materials related to rouge and gouache later. You can take a look first. If you don’t understand anything, just ask directly. If you still don’t understand Come and find me."

He turned to Wu Yue's family and said, "From today onwards, you must tell your sister everything about this rouge and gouache. If your sister has any ideas, you should actively cooperate. If you let me know that you are in private What the hell..."

The Wu Yue's family immediately bowed and smiled and said: "Don't worry, my lord, this servant is not such a slave who has lost his mind and betrayed his master. He absolutely dare not have any irresponsible thoughts. From today onwards, slaves treat girls like Treat me like an old man, I will only be extremely respectful, and I definitely don't dare to rely on the old to sell the old."

After speaking, he smiled flatteringly at Xue Baochai again.

Baochai looked at Wu Yue's family who was smiling flatteringly at her, and shook her head in a daze.This six-year-old girl never imagined that she would manage such a large stall one day.

"What's the matter?" Xue Pan pampered Baochai's hair, "Go with Wu Yue's family first, and let her lead you to the garden."

Xue Baochai looked at Xue Pan hesitantly, "What about brother?"

"Although it's not open yet, there are female customers just after the new year. They are all girls who are anxious to be elected next year. It's not convenient for us big men to go there. So I will take them to go shopping elsewhere later. Let's go shopping and come back to pick you up for dinner at noon." Xue Pan said with a smile.

Xue Baochai pondered for a moment when he heard the words, then nodded obediently and said, "Then I will follow Wu Yue's sister first."

"Go!" Xue Pan smiled and waved his hands.Watching Xue Baochai follow Wu Yue's family step by step towards the garden.He exhaled lightly.When he came out today, apart from handing over the rouge shop to Baochai, he also had a huge task on his shoulders.

Thinking of this, Xue Pan stretched out his hand to beckon Zhen Baoyu and the others to walk towards the back courtyard, and said mysteriously, "I'll show you something interesting again."

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The author has something to say:

Here it is written that Xue Pan has spent so much thought on Zhang Luo for Baochai.

He also told Xue Zhizhang to go to the palace to ask the foster mother, and he set up a rouge shop to let Xue Baochai get used to this kind of life first, just because a certain eight felt that

If you really like someone, you have to help her realize her ideals

Or use practical actions to make her think deeply, whether what she really wants is Baochai who likes wealth and glory. There is nothing wrong with it. It is up to Baochai to think about whether it is worth doing the femme fatale

O(∩_∩)O~

Xue Pan creates conditions for Baochai so that she can realize as soon as possible that the life she is about to face is not to impose her will on her

I think this should be something a qualified brother can do

After all, just like parents, many times, we don't agree with what they think is right. If we forcefully interfere, we will be very painful instead.

Xue Pan really cherishes his family, so even if he doesn't like Baochai entering the palace, he will not bluntly say what you have to do, but put all the reality in front of Baochai and let her choose by herself.

In the original book, Baochai wanted to enter the palace as a concubine, partly because she was forced by the declining status of the Xue family, which made her unable to choose a better one.

But now the Xue family is thriving, and even later there will be meritorious deeds from the dragon,

Then Xue Baochai has a lot of choice.Therefore, her vision will not be limited to being a small concubine in the harem, but to a higher level...

After all, with her status, if she can be the concubine of a prince, it is much better than being a concubine who can be manipulated by others O(∩_∩)O~