The Royal Merchant of the Red Chamber

Ten miles outside Jinling City, there is a Xuejiazhuang.Surrounded by mountains and rivers, it is just in the middle of the mountain.Originally, this Zhuangzi was just an abandoned manor with not very rich land under the Xue family. The tenants in the Zhuangzi were often out of order.

Although this kind of place is not poor, it is also poor.Not to mention rich and noble families, even ordinary people with a little bit of money are unwilling to go so far.But a few years ago, after the uncle of the Xue family gave Zhuangzi a severance pay and moved the tenants in Zhuangzi to other manors, things changed quietly.

First of all, the uncle of the Xue family spent a lot of money to repair the road from the manor to the official road leading to Jinling City. The road is covered with bluestone slabs, and the width of the troika side by side makes this road a bit more grand. .Trees and flowers are planted on both sides of the road, and the colors are bright.

Then the ground was broken to repair the manor, clanging, dusty and noisy for several years, until it was completely completed a year ago.After another auspicious day was chosen for the "opening ribbon-cutting", the manor immediately became prosperous.

Although ordinary people are not allowed to enter, standing on the top of the mountain and looking down, you can see many magnificent and exquisite buildings, palaces and pavilions.The bright yellow tiles and vermilion walls are hidden among the mountains and forests, but they can't conceal the overflowing luxury.

A carriage came up slowly from the foot of the mountain, followed by about thirty strong men, Xue Pan was also strolling leisurely beside him on a tall horse.Looking at the scenery along the way from time to time, I am very proud.

When they reached the gate of the manor, they stopped in front of a jade archway.Looking around, there are countless luxury carriages, which are parked steadily in a large open space in front of the archway in the order of first come, first come.

A maid dressed as a servant came forward and said in a low voice, "You two, please get out of the car!"

The door curtain on the carriage was lifted, and Lin Daiyu, who was dressed in azure Confucian costumes, and Xue Baochai, who was also dressed in the same attire, bowed their heads and got out of the carriage with the support of the "boys".Standing still in front of the car, I raised my eyes to look at the archway above my head. I saw that the archway was about three feet high, with the words "heaven and earth" written on the top, and the sign on the plaque was...

Lin Daiyu looked at it intently, and couldn't help being surprised.Because the place where the signature was signed turned out to be the personal seal of the Holy Majesty.I also thought about how I heard my father accidentally mention at home how the Xue family won the favor of the sage and was conferred the title of Marquis in the name of an imperial merchant. So spoiled to such a position.

Xue Pan stepped forward, put on a show and begged, "Young Master Yu, Young Master Bao, please!"

When Lin Daiyu heard this, she subconsciously touched her face.I just feel that the touch is the same as usual, and I never imagined that there is an extra layer of leather on it.Immediately, he became interested, imitating the way in the play, he cupped his hands and said: "Brother Xue, please."

"Let's go!" Xue Pan joyfully led everyone into the Zhuangzi, and saw that the scenery along the way became more and more magnificent, rockery, flowers and rocks, exquisite houses, towers, pavilions, green blue waves...

A group of people walked through flowers and willows, caressed stones and springs, and meandered to a beautiful building about three feet high.I saw that the architectural style is very different, and the whole body is made of dark blue transparent materials.Lin Daiyu studied it intently for a long while before she said uncertainly, "Is this glass?"

"My sister really has good eyesight, isn't it just glass!" Baochai replied with a smile.Then he introduced in a proud tone: "I want my sister to know that these are not ordinary glasses. My brother specially invited experts from the other side of the sea to come over. After three years of research and development, it was hard to get the 'tempered glass'." Glass'. This glass is stronger and stronger than ordinary glass vessels, and almost less than marble."

"So?" Lin Daiyu opened her mouth slightly in astonishment, and looked at Xue Baochai in disbelief.

"That's right!" Xue Baochai replied with a smile. "Not only that, the scenery here is even more rare and expensive than ever before. Today, our sisters are blessed. In order to let our sisters have a good time, my brother specially asked someone to seal this Crystal Palace, and only let us two go in!"

Lin Daiyu subconsciously smiled at Xue Pan when she heard Xue Baochai's words, and nodded in thanks, "Thank you, Big Brother Xue."

Seeing the idol talking to him like this, Xue Pan was so happy that he opened his mouth and waved his hands again and again: "You're welcome, you're welcome."

With that said, everyone entered the "Crystal Palace"

As soon as Pu entered, Lin Daiyu felt her eyes darken.A faint blue light with a sense of mystery shone softly in front of him.I saw a half-moon-shaped arched channel in front of me. The upper, lower, left, and right sides of the channel are covered with blue sea water. I don’t know what light is shining on the sea water. I can see all kinds of fish swimming leisurely in the sea from time to time. , colorful and colorful.

Xue Baochai walked forward staggeringly.After taking two steps, she felt that there was no one behind her, and when she turned around, she saw Daiyu still standing at the entrance, staring at the deep blue sea with wide-eyed eyes in disbelief.

Baochai greeted with a light smile: "Why is my sister so dumbfounded, come here quickly!"

"Sister Bao, wait for me." Lin Daiyu subconsciously said after recovering from Baochai's call.It's just that when I walk, I lower my head and look at the transparent sea under my feet. The blue water, the swimming fish, and even the various algae and corals planted in the sea are so clearly visible.Lin Daiyu stopped in panic.

"Sister, don't be afraid, it's blocked by tempered glass, so you can't fall in." Baochai said, stepped forward with a smile, pulled Lin Daiyu past her, and walked inside.

"Ah!" Lin Daiyu called subconsciously, and then realized that she was fine.He was attracted by the surrounding scenery again, and unconsciously touched everywhere.

A fun-loving Youyu saw Lin Daiyu's hand on the glass, and swam over curiously and kept kissing through the glass. Lin Daiyu giggled and called Baochai repeatedly.

So the two walked happily for a while while playing, and I don't know how many hours passed.I just feel sore and tired, and the soles of my feet that usually don't like to walk feel like they are being pricked by needles. They can't help but support each other and lean against the glass beside them.

Baochai looked around and asked in amazement, "What about brother, isn't he with us?"

Lin Daiyu also remembered at this time, and quickly asked the maidservant beside her who had been stupefied: "Where is Mr. Xue, did you see it?"

"This……"

A group of people waited and looked at each other, and finally said cowardly because of the strange scenery, they were all stunned, and no one paid attention to what Uncle Xue was doing.

Baochai couldn't help becoming anxious, and said, "What should I do, my brother must have lost his way!"

"My sister is really concerned, but I'm in chaos. I'm in my garden, how can I get lost?" Xue Pan's voice came from the other side of the passage.Chai and Dai looked over, and sure enough, they saw Xue Pan approaching calmly.

"I went to prepare meals for you. I think you are tired and hungry after walking around for a whole morning?" Xue Pan smiled and bowed, and sang, "Young masters, please--"

Chai and Dai couldn't help laughing, and covered their mouths to smile.Supporting each other, they walked slowly behind Xue Pan.After only thirty or fifty steps, I turned a corner, and I saw a square table and chairs covered with lake blue brocade, on which steaming meals were arranged.The aroma is overflowing.Gou De, Chai and Dai feel more and more hungry.

"Sit down quickly!" Xue Pan hurriedly sat down the two of them.He ordered the servant girl to wait for the two of them to wash and wipe their faces, then pointed to a table of seafood and said with a smile: "Eating seafood in the Crystal Palace is a good occasion!"

Chai and Dai smiled knowingly.Xue Pan first picked a piece of garlic scallop for each of them, and said with a smile: "This scallop is grilled over charcoal fire, and the taste is slightly different from steaming. Do you like it?"

The two tasted it as they said, only to find that the taste was really different.In addition to the original freshness of the seafood, the peppers and other things sprinkled on top are two points more exciting, making it more refreshing to eat.Daiyu couldn't help but said, "Not bad."

Baochai also said: "I like this method, it is much more delicious than steaming."

Xue Pan became more and more happy when he got the praise.Immediately stood up and introduced the cloth dishes to the two of them, such as spicy crab braised in spicy oil, emerald fresh shrimp thread, spicy crayfish... Half of the food is very spicy and the other half is light. It turned out to be fired according to the eating habits of Baochai and Daiyu.It didn't matter if Xue Baochai got used to it, but Lin Daiyu repeatedly lamented that the brother of the Xue family looked carefree on the surface, but she didn't expect to be such a thoughtful and meticulous person.She also thought of the box of gadgets that she had given her before, and they were all fresh and elegant, things that were very in line with her taste.Then she understood Xue's family's intentions for her, she lost a lot of caution in the past, opened up her emotions, and even her health improved a lot.This is something for later, let's not mention it for now.

It is only said that Xue Pan felt more energetic after being so gratefully watched by Sister Lin.He simply snatched away the work of the maid on the side.I personally changed dishes for the two of them, and after a lot of tossing, I felt satisfied, not to mention how comfortable I was.He didn't eat much of this meal. On the contrary, Chai and Dai who "served" ate an extra bowl of rice. Be a sister-in-law."

Xue Pan waved his hand disapprovingly when he heard the words, and said casually: "Why are you talking about such unreasonable things? Anyway, it is the order of the parents and the words of the matchmaker. Parents will see who they will marry in the future. I don't need to worry about it."

Xue Baochai heard the words and saw that Xue Pan was really meaningless, so he didn't mention it.She and her elder brother grew up together, and they couldn't understand each other best.This brother looks very mature on the surface, and his business methods are very stable, but in fact he is just a child who can't grow up.What's more, what my brother said is right, for a family like theirs, the marriage is not their own business, but the joint efforts of the two families, so it is natural for their parents to be able to do everything around them.If you think about it carefully, it really has nothing to do with them.

And Xue Pan in this room even said it and then forgot it.He has nothing against this kind of family marriage.It's just because in his previous life, when he was still a dandy in that family, his father had set him a fiancée whom he had never met.It was the granddaughter of a certain boss in the system, because he himself wanted to climb a step up but lacked the funds for activities, and his father was eager to find a backer.So the two hit it off, and the two juniors became a contract that couldn't be clearly stated but both parties were relieved.To some extent, their combination is also a "collusion between officials and businessmen".

Here, even though he doesn't know what the other party's daughter thinks, Xue Pan personally has no opinion.As a member of the family, he can spend the resources of the family wantonly without any worries. It is precisely because of the steady development of the whole family that it is thriving day by day.Now that you have enjoyed preferential treatment, you must know how to give.After all, those heterogeneous people who are squandering family resources and delusional to do nothing and "pursue true love" are still a minority.After all, for useless dandies like them who are "in the country and at home", the only thing they can contribute is marriage.

It's a pity that I "died young", I don't know what happened to the fiancée who didn't have the fate to meet...

Shaking his head, Xue Pan dismissed the memories that did not belong to this era, got up and said to Chai and Dai, "Why don't we go to the racecourse to see the horse races?"

"Horse racing?" Baochai and Lin Daiyu looked at each other, and finally Baochai asked, "What's there to see about horse racing?"

"It's a horse race, it's very intense." Xue Pan said casually, and then led the two of them out of the "Crystal Palace" with the maids who looked like servants.

When they arrived at the racecourse, Baochai and the two only felt that the shouts resounded through the sky, the gongs and drums were blaring, it was very noisy, and they became more and more confused.

Xue Pan led the two of them directly to the private room on the third floor from the VIP passage.When I opened the door, I saw a large floor-to-ceiling window in front of me, and the transparent glass was covered with a layer of dark gauze.The outside is still very clear from the inside, but the inside cannot be seen at all from the outside.

A scarlet Persian carpet was laid on the floor, and the whole room was luxuriously decorated.There is a table and chairs in front of the floor-to-ceiling windows, on which tea and pastries have been placed, and two black cylindrical objects are also placed.

Xue Pan led the two of them to their seats and sat down.Then he handed the black tube-shaped things to Chai and Dai respectively.To avoid suspicion, Xue Pan just pointed out what to do next to Baochai, while Daiyu on the other side saw her, and she understood like Baochai.

"...Put the thin end in front of the eyes, and close the other eye. Then look out along the through hole, yes, look..."

"Ah!" Baochai was taken aback by the sudden sight, and hastily put the black tube on the coffee table. "Why did I suddenly see—"

"This thing is called a telescope. It means that you can see things in the distance with it. How about it, is it still clear?" Xue Pan asked with a smile.

"It's more than clear, it's almost completely uncovered." Lin Daiyu said in admiration.Can't help but pick up the black tube and look at it again and again.Baochai here is also very fond of it.

Seeing this, Xue Pan curled his lips, waved and said, "Since the two sisters like it, let's take this home and play with it!"

"This is not good!" Lin Daiyu said hastily.

But Baochai nodded excitedly and said, "Then thank you brother."

Then, he turned his head to Daiyu and said, "Don't be polite to my brother. When you arrive at our Xue family, you only regard this place as your own home. Since you call me sister, then my brother is your brother. Brother gives something to sister , what is my sister evading? Isn’t this heresy?”

What she said made Lin Daiyu smile in embarrassment.Looking at the "telescope" on the coffee table, after thinking about it, he picked it up and thanked Xue Pan: "Thank you, Big Brother Xue."

"It's nothing." Xue Pan waved his hand and said proudly: "My things belong to my sisters. If you like something, just tell me."

"Then I won't be polite." Baochai said hastily.It is September now, and although it is not as severe as winter, it is still quite cool at night.And as soon as she came in, she felt that the carpet under her feet was not only soft, but also very warm to step on, much better than the one at home.Immediately said to Xue Pan: "Good brother, where did you get this carpet, it is warmer than the one in our house."

"This is the cashmere carpet that the caravan just brought back from Persia. The ones that are put in the farm are all second-class, and the good ones are sent home by the caravan. Mom said that now is the time when the heat is rising. Don’t spread it now.” Originally, it was supposed to be laid immediately.It's just that most of the Persian carpets are bright red patterns, because Xue Baochai wants to tidy up Lin Daiyu's house, and Mrs. Xue is also looking at Mrs. Lin and the relationship between the two families, so she hasn't shown it yet.What's more, in September, the weather is really not cold.

Baochai Bingxue is smart, and only from Xue Pan's words can understand the cause and effect of the matter.I stopped mentioning it now, and instead brought the topic to horse racing calmly, just because I was afraid that Lin Daiyu would be overwhelmed.

And Daiyu's mind is also very clear, and she also vaguely understood that it was her own fault, which made Xue's family avoid making bright colors.I felt more and more grateful in my heart, and seeing Baochai change the topic as if he hadn't heard of it, I knew that I didn't want to embarrass myself, so I slightly curled the corners of my mouth, feeling warm all over my body.

"Brother, why do you draw circles with white lime powder on the horse farm, and those riders...why do you wear vests with fonts on their backs?" For example, this one wears a yellow vest with a A big "one" was written in red ink, and the words "Friendly Sponsorship of Chengdong Jinse Cloth Tour" were written in black ink below the number. When it arrived at another rider, the number and words obviously changed again.

"It's called horse betting, and it's also a kind of money betting. Ten horses are put on each time, and they are distinguished by numbers, so that people outside can place bets. If anyone betting on the horse wins, he can get a large sum of money." Bonuses... Many people have gotten rich overnight like this this year. And the black characters written on the back of the rider's vest are called sponsors. They are also our customers..." Xue Pan explained to Xue Baochai in detail.At the end, he said with a smile: "So that my sister can know that the horse betting, Cuju, bathing center and Crystal Palace are the most profitable businesses in our village now!"

When Xue Baochai heard Xue Pan's explanation one by one, she felt incredible, as if she was listening to the Arabian Nights.Baochai, who has always been worshiped only by his elder brother's means of collecting money in the business field, has become more and more confidant, and now he is looking at Xue Pan with the eyes of the God of Wealth.

Seeing such naked adoration from Xue Baochai made her face blush.Xue Pan coughed a few times uncomfortably, looked at Lin Daiyu, who was also looking at him with some splendor, and suddenly had a flash of inspiration, and asked aloud, "How about...shall I take you to ride a horse?"

"Is it possible?" Xue Baochai's eyes lit up. Although Lin Daiyu was a little scared, she couldn't help but eager to try when she saw the heroic riders below.

"There's nothing wrong with this. Let's go to the horse ranch at the back, and first persuade the rest of the irrelevant people to leave, only our own family. Besides, you all came here in disguise, what are you afraid of!" Xue Pan thought carefully about his response After making the policy, he said to Chai and Dai.

"That would be great." Baochai stood up excitedly. "That said, I haven't touched a horse for more than a year, and I don't know how my little Hongyun is doing now."

"You have a big temper!" Xue Pan shrugged and stood up, ready to lead everyone out.

There was a sudden knock on the door outside, and then Wu Yue raised his voice and said, "Master, it's the little Wu Yue."

"Come in!" Although Xue Pan was a little suspicious, he still said loudly.

After Wu Yue's figure entered the private room, he walked up to Xue Pan with a mysterious face, and said softly: "Master, there are people from Beijing, and the elder asked you to go back immediately!"