The Royal Merchant of the Red Chamber

Two people came to meet them, they were exactly the two youths who had a quarrel with Xue Pan at Rouge Goufen and Xue Pan that day.One is as gentle as jade, and the other is arrogant and arrogant. Although I have only met once, Xue Pan has left a deep impression on her.So when they met again, they immediately recognized it.

The good-looking young man snorted coldly, glared at Xue Pan with a nose that was not a nose and eyes that were not eyes, and said with a sneer: "It really is a celebrity in front of the Holy Majesty, relying on the Holy Majesty's favor, he really doesn't take others seriously .”

Xue Pan, who smashed two "really" in succession, became dizzy for a while, not knowing how he offended someone.It's just that he didn't have a good impression of this person at first, but now hearing his indiscriminate responsibilities, he cupped his hands even more impatiently, and said with a smile: "Xue Pan has urgent matters at home, so I can't accompany you."

After finishing speaking, turn around and leave.

Seeing this, the sly man widened his phoenix eyes, and shouted angrily: "Xue Pan, you vulgar merchant, how dare you despise the imperial power—"

The gentle man at the side shook his head helplessly and sighed, and said aloud: "Young master, please stay a little longer, my younger brother is just a little irritable, and there is absolutely no malice."

Xue Pan looked at the appearance of the two with cold eyes, as if he saw an arrogant and indulgent daughter causing trouble in the front, and a generous and gentle man in the back.He quickly shook his head to get rid of the unreliable thoughts in his mind.

He heard the gentle man say: "Actually, my younger brother also likes the way of economics. Knowing that Mr. Xue is good at this way, I can't help but want to make friends with him."

These big characters flashed in Xue Pan's mind, and he quickly cupped his hands and said with a smile: "The two young masters show love, but Xue Pan has important matters to worry about today, I'm really sorry, I'm sorry."

After finishing speaking, he ignored Mr. Wen Run who wanted to persuade him, and hurriedly got up and left.

Seeing the back of Xue Pan leaving in a hurry, the shady young man curled his lips in disdain, and said, "I thought he was so courageous, but now he looks like everyone else."

Mr. Wen Run said with a smile: "This is a measure of advance and retreat."

As he spoke, he laughed again: "It's hard for you to pester the emperor for an accompanying translation. Now it seems that he doesn't appreciate it."

Hearing this, the shady young man laughed and said, "This is the holy decree. Where can he escape if he is on the run? He is the money bag of the fourth brother. Without him, I am afraid that the fourth brother will not have such confidence in doing things!"

As he spoke, he looked up at the porridge shops in the streets and alleys, and frowned upsetly. "Dirty and messy during Chinese New Year, really..."

Mr. Wen Run shook his head, and said meaningfully: "Under this mess, it can be regarded as the real prosperity."

The shady young man looked thoughtfully at the gloomy Young Master Wen Run, sighed softly, reached out and took hold of Young Master Wen Run's palm hanging by his side, his fingers intertwined, and a trace of warmth passed along the clasped palms.

After a while, the two looked at each other and smiled.No matter how big the wind and snow is, walk with me.

Let's say that after Xue Pan hastily dumped the two of them, he slowed down thoughtfully.Just now that shady boy of prey once said something about barbarian translation...

Xue Pan blinked his eyes, realizing in his heart.I'm afraid this young man is the rumored Sixth God of Wealth, Tu Huang, the sixth prince named Prince Zhongrui.That gentle young man was probably inseparable from Tu Huang since he was a child, and later he was rejected by the emperor during the seizure of the throne, and was adopted by the fifth prince Tu Huang of Prince Zhongyu.Tu Zhen once said that the fifth prince, who was adopted by the emperor and could still encourage the emperor to bestow the throne of Prince Zhonglian, was a difficult person to deal with.Its party members spread all over the country, and when its power was at its peak, it could almost influence half of the country.Because of this, he was feared by the emperor. He not only reprimanded the courtiers for being unfaithful and unfilial, but even disregarded the ancestral family law and insisted on adopting him to Prince Zhongyu, who is known as the virtuous king... The two found themselves on their heads. I'm afraid it's not as simple as eating and drinking tea.

Xue Pan was bowing his head and pondering, when he suddenly heard someone shouting from behind: "Big Brother Xue, Big Brother Xue."

Xue Pan heard the sound familiar, turned his head, and saw Jia Baoyu sticking out his head from the carriage and calling out.Seeing Xue Pan looking back at him, he quickly asked, "What is Big Brother Xue going to do?"

"Nothing, I just came out of the palace and walked around casually." Xue Pan said with a smile.He asked again, "What are you doing?"

"Sister-in-law Zhen of Ningfu is free, so please let us go for a stroll." Jia Baoyu laughed.

While talking, I heard a female voice laughing inside: "It's Big Brother Xue outside, please forgive me for not being able to greet you."

When Xue Pan heard that it was Wang Xifeng's voice, he didn't take it seriously, he waved his hand and said: "There are many people on the street, so there is no need for those hypocrisy."

Jia Baoyu interrupted and said, "If big brother Xue is fine, why don't you go there with us? Their daughter-in-law Rong is a rare and wonderful person, with a good color and a good personality. You will like it when you see her."

Inside, Wang Xifeng quickly coughed twice in embarrassment, interrupting Jia Baoyu's words.Fortunately, both of them knew Jia Baoyu's temperament.It was only in the shape of a child, and absolutely did not have the crooked thoughts of the screwdriver, and they all silently pretended not to hear.

These days, if you want to visit anyone's house, you have to ask for invitations in advance.If you don't follow the rules, you will become an uninvited guest.What's more, Xue Pan was really impatient with those dirty things in Ningguo Mansion. Hearing Baoyu's words, he couldn't help shaking his head, and hurriedly said: "I have to go to the shop to see. Seeing that the New Year's Eve is coming, the shop is busy Take stock of last year and advance the next year. If I don’t go there, there will be many miscellaneous things that are difficult to reason about.”

Seeing this, Jia Baoyu had no choice but to put out that thought.He chatted with Xue Pan through the window of the carriage, and then told the coachman to go forward.

And Xue Pan in this room was also moved by the words just now, and turned his head to ask: "What day is today?"

Zhaocai laughed softly and said, "Twelfth lunar month is 23."

Xue Pan bowed his head to think about it, and said, "Starting from the 28th of the twelfth lunar month, all shops will be on holiday for the New Year, and they will not open for business until the fifteenth day of the next year. When I was in Jinling in previous years, my uncle would arrange these. My master and I just waited. When I turn 27, I can distribute many new year goods and year-end bonuses. This is the first time I have arrived in Beijing this year, so I don’t know who is in charge of it.”

Zhaocai and Jinbao looked at each other.After a while, Zhaocai said, "This habit only started a few years ago from the uncle, and it is Jinling that has such a rule. People in other places follow the trend, probably no different from other shops."

That is to say, no one has dealt with it.

Xue Pan frowned, but fortunately he thought of it today.Hastily walked in the direction of Fuyuan Hall.After arriving at the place, he called someone to call Tian Wenjing to Yajianer and said, "Put down everything in your hands now, I have an important matter to arrange for you."

Tian Wenjing's heart moved, and he quickly smiled and said, "I don't know what's important."

Xue Pan then told Tian Wenjing about buying New Year's goods according to grades and distributing year-end bonus packs and red envelopes.At the end, he asked: "Because this matter has become a common practice in Jinling in previous years, this year is the first time we have arrived in the capital. I want to find someone who can handle the matter properly and be flexible, and this person must be familiar with the affairs of Beijing and China. , I thought of you all at once. Everything is trivial and the time is tight. It has to be done on the 26th. Now there are only three days. All the shops under the Jingzhong Xue family, and all the managers in the shops, man , according to the level and the amount of profit each year, the New Year’s goods and red envelopes to buy are different. I can allocate money to you here, and whoever you need, just tell me, and I can make decisions for you here. "

That Tian Wenjing is the son of the steward of Fuyuan Guantian. He was smart and smart since he was a child. When he was studying, he was mentioned by his master countless times, but because of his status, he was not allowed to take the imperial examination.Later, I helped my father do things in the Fuyuan Pavilion, and there was more than enough time between welcoming and sending off.I have always felt sad that my talents were not appreciated, but I was reprimanded by my father a few times before I got down to earth.It's just that he has a quick mind, and the many guests and stewards who flatter him between Xu and mediation often mention things to him, and he is familiar with the affairs of Xue's many shops.Every time I am shocked by Xue Pan's various actions, I am overwhelmed.Hearing that Xue Pan has entrusted him with a heavy responsibility now, how could he not be unhappy.Nodding repeatedly in response to this matter, while thinking about how to act, he must do things in a thorough and proper manner before he can catch the eyes of the uncle.

Xue Pan didn't know Tian Wenjing's careful thinking. After leaving the fortune to Tian Wenjing, he gave Tian Wenjing a jade tablet to do things cheaply. Fuyuan Pavilion.

Fast forward to the 27th.

In the hall of Xue's house, Xue Pan looked at all kinds of well-prepared annual gifts and red envelopes, and even wrote the name of the shop and the recipient on the package, and nodded with satisfaction.

Tian Wenjing stood outside the hall, holding his breath and concentrating on it. Seeing Xue Pan's satisfied expression, he took a breath of relief.Xue Zhizhang stood aside and said with a warm smile: "The capital city is much bigger than Jinling, and the Zhuangzi outside is far away. These two days are enough for you to be busy."

Mrs. Xue frowned with some dissatisfaction and said: "Now that the master has been gracious and loyal to the Marquis, your identity has also changed. Why do you do these small things by yourself, I'm afraid that those in charge will be easier if they do it. It's really money I have given them all, and there is nothing to be dissatisfied with.”

"This is a problem of centripetal force and cohesion." Xue Pan shook his head. In his previous life, even though the old man in his family had achieved the position of the richest man in J City, he still personally gave New Year's gifts to employees every New Year. Later, as he grew older, the old man I will take him with me when I give the New Year's gift.So in addition to strengthening cohesion, he wanted to commemorate his relatives in his previous life.Therefore, Xue Pan did not intend to explain too much to Mrs. Xue.He ordered the people to load all the New Year's gifts into the car, and he also put on a fox fur cloak under the service of the maid.After saying goodbye to Xue and his wife, he was ready to go out.

Mrs. Xue chattered unhappily, and Xue Pan coaxed her with a playful smile.In the end, Xue Zhizhang sighed softly, and said, "Let him go! In fact, after Pan'er did this, our shops in Jinling have indeed made much more profit than before in the past two years, and the capable managers and guys It’s getting better and better.”

Only then did Mrs. Xue shut up a little embarrassingly.He also ordered the little girls to put more Tang Pozi and small hand stoves in the carriage where Xue Pan was walking.They also asked people to put on a few more pairs of boots and socks, because they were afraid that Xue Pan's shoes and socks would be uncomfortable if they were soaked by the heavy snow.

After another round of exhortations, Xue Pan was released.

The heavy snow for a month is like rubbing cotton, and you can hear the creaking sound when you step on it.The streets are bustling, with gongs and drums blaring, children running wildly and playing together can be seen everywhere, and the shouts of doing business are endless and noisy.Xue Pan lifted the curtain of the car and looked out through the glass, feeling better and better.

But after a while, the carriage stopped in front of the rouge gouache shop.This is the nearest shop to the Xue family's mansion, and Xue Pan got off the carriage with Zhaocai's service.The steward who had already had rouge and gouache came forward with a group of fellows, cupped his hands and said with a smile: "I have seen you, sir."

Xue Pan smiled back and said, "Gong Xi Fa Cai."

The smile on the steward's face grew brighter, and he replied with some embarrassment: "Bring the red envelope."

Xue Pan hurriedly turned around, Zhaocai found the package for the steward from the carriage behind, took out a red envelope from it and handed it to Xue Pan.Then Xue Pan took it and handed it to the steward, and said with a smile: "I have worked hard this year. Under your management, the profit of rouge gouache is among the top three of all Xue's stores every year. This is all thanks to you. This red envelope is Your year-end bonus this year, I hope it will be better in the coming year. As for the other packages, there are some progressive pastries and dried fruits, which are full of noble people's luxury. As for the rare seafood and mountain delicacies, they are all from our own sea farm It’s just a wish for things that don’t cost much, just for you to try something new. I just hope that the coming year will be prosperous and everything will be fine.”

The steward nodded excitedly, and said again and again: "Master, please rest assured, Wan Baichuan's life is saved by faithfulness. The master treats me like this. From now on, Wan will go all out and dare not slack off in the slightest." .”

Xue Pan smiled and signaled his followers to bring down the steward's annual ceremony and hand it over to the steward.The steward nodded and bowed his thanks, and by the way ordered the buddy to move the things down.Then followed Xue Pan into the rouge and gouache.

When no one was looking, the steward quietly opened the red envelope, and saw a thin bank note inside.The steward looked back and forth, opened the bank note calmly, and was secretly speechless when he saw the words 1 taels on it.

Good guy, his annual salary is only 1000 taels, which is considered extremely generous among all the store managers in Kyoto.Now this banknote is worth ten years of his work.Sure enough, it was the royal merchant Xue's family, and they were too generous.Not to mention that the current Xue family has a strict system, and there are really few places to reach out.Even for other wealthy families, it will take ten or eight years to get 1 taels.There is also the risk of being sold and sent to jail after being discovered by the owner.

Xue Pan at the front said unintentionally: "The 1 taels of silver may seem like a lot, but compared to the profits you have created for the Xue family, it is just a drop in the bucket. In the future, there will be year-end dividends every year. And you will eventually get The dividends will be directly linked to your interests. If you can double the profit of Rouge Gouache next year, your year-end dividends will also be doubled."

The steward blinked, stretched out his hand to cover his throbbing heart, swallowed dryly, and spit out a faint green light from his eyes.This year has not yet passed, and the old gentleman is already thinking about what to do next year.

Xue Pan casually glanced at the steward, knowing that he might not be able to stop this year.

Seeing this, Tian Wenjing was secretly speechless.Xue Pan's generosity has already amazed him, but now it's only a few gossips, but he has so excited to seduce the iron rooster, his mental skills are obvious!

After entering the rouge and gouache, the guys everywhere hurried back to their posts and waited.According to the usual practice, Xue Pan paid New Year greetings from the door, then the lobby, and finally did not even leave the fire-burning woman in the back kitchen.Occasionally ask some questions for the guys to answer, and the guys are flattered.Naturally, there are those who are quick-witted and articulate, and there are also those who can't understand after stumbling and talking for a long time under nervousness.Xue Pan took the opportunity of handing out red envelopes to observe everyone, so as to prepare for the next year's position adjustment as a reference.

Except that the stewards earn a lot of money and get bank notes.The red envelopes received by the rest of the salesmen are all shining silver taels.It ranges from ten taels to 500 taels, all of which are scored according to how much the guys work on weekdays and their performance.The same is true for New Year's dried fruits.All the guys watched with keen eyes. Although they were jealous of others getting more, they knew what was going on.I secretly vowed to redouble my efforts in the coming year and so on.

After being in the rouge and gouache for nearly an hour, Xue Pan came out.Walking along the street, there are a variety of shops next to you.Xue Pan wears a purple gold crown with hair inlaid on his head, a red arrow sleeve with big red flowers blooming rich and noble peonies clustered on his body, tied with multicolored silk and knotted with long spikes, and a fiery red fox fur cloak. A pair of small foundation boots on the soles of the feet.The indescribable richness and demeanor are compelling.Followed by a large group of large carts filled with New Year's goods, stop and go among the shops in Fangshi, and send New Year greetings to all the staff in charge.Novelty scenes and a wide range of New Year's goods attracted everyone's attention.Word of mouth spread it for a while, but within half a day, no matter whether it was the dignitaries of Gaohou or the refugees in the market, everyone knew that the Xue family was once again in the limelight.

In the private room of a certain restaurant, the shady young man sitting by the window watching the excitement snorted coldly, and said disdainfully, "Showing up the crowd."

The gentle young man at the side shook his head, and sighed: "This is even more generous than I used to win over courtiers. The Xue family in Jinling is well-deserved."

"Pearls are like earth and gold is like iron." The shady young man said thoughtfully, and said helplessly: "It's the new year again, and the purse of the fourth child is about to bulge again."

After all, he looked down with some distaste, and sighed: "It's a waste. Those who have a lot of money have nowhere to use them. They are all slaves of their own family. Why do such a gimmick!"

Xue Pan didn't have time to pay attention to the envy and jealousy of others.The Xue family is an imperial merchant with great power.He caught up with a few more shops during the battle against the Nan'an County Prince's Mansion a few months ago, and now this business has spread all over the streets and alleys of Kyoto.From south to north, from east to west, stop and go until the sunset, when the afterglow is shining, only half of the things on the car are distributed.One pair of legs was sore and swollen.

Zhaocai supported him and said distressedly: "Why don't you sit in the car, and when you get to the small ones, you can ask the uncle to come down."

"The front and back are only a few steps away. There may be three or four shops on a street. It is reasonable to say hello to the neighbors. When you get on the carriage, you have to get off if you don't sit still. Fei What do you do with that?" Xue Pan waved his hand and stepped forward.

"But sir—"

Before he could finish a sentence, someone shouted from behind: "Let's go, let's go."

The sound turned out to be Jinbao's movement.Everyone was surprised and hurriedly looked back.But he saw Jinbao walking in front, followed by four young men walking up quickly carrying a bamboo chair.Two thick layers of large leather mattresses were spread on the bamboo chair, and a boxy Mrs. Tang was also placed underneath.It turned out that Jinbao saw that Xue Pan was tired from walking, so he sneaked out and found this thing from nowhere - most of them were bamboo chairs used by the elderly with poor legs and feet, and they were always used in the inner house.It made him come here.

Xue Pan was amused for a while, and quickly said: "It's too public, it looks more and more like an opera singer."

Jin Bao smiled and said: "Uncle used to tell us a word, why go your own way, let others talk about it! Why are you suddenly shy today?"

Xue Pan was speechless for a while, and shook his head.Although I feel that this trick is really not good, but the weather is cold and the road is slippery, and my feet are really uncomfortable.And because it was getting late and everyone couldn't see the real thing, they had to sit down with their clothes on.The sedan chair started steadily.When he arrived at his own shop, he stopped, and Xue Pan continued to distribute New Year's goods and red envelopes.After a busy day, there were only two sets of carts left until it was more than five o'clock at [-]:[-] pm.Xue Pan turned around to ask, and then he heard Zhaocai beside him reply: "The others were distributed late, and now the rest are from the Fuyuan Pavilion."

This place was deliberately dragged down by Xue Pan until the final release.One Fuyuan restaurant is one of the best restaurants in Beijing, and there are many customers during the day, so it is really hard to disturb.Second, Xue Pan did have something to explain.

Just when Fuyuan Building was about to close, all the people walked in calmly.

Inside, Tian Yangsheng, who was waiting anxiously, led his fellows to greet him immediately.