The Weight of the Red Mansion Walks the Road of Life

Chapter 55

This year's emphasis has always been on the so-called class distinction of the three religions and nine streams of scholars, farmers, businessmen, and businessmen.In other words, regardless of how brilliant the Xue family was in the past, and regardless of how many prominent relatives and rich assets the Xue family has now, as long as the Xue family is still a businessman, then it should be the last among the scholars, farmers, businessmen, and businessmen. One is right.

Even though Xue's family is actually an imperial merchant, which is not exactly the same as ordinary merchants, but this is not the reason why Xue's status in Jinling area is detached.

After all, the commerce in Jiangnan is one of the most developed in the country. There are hundreds of royal merchants in this area, and there are always dozens of them, which is not unusual.But among so many imperial merchants, only the Xue family was fortunate enough to be among the best in the official protection talisman. This was not something that could be achieved just by relying on the names and in-law relationships of the so-called four major families.

In fact, the ancestors of the Xue family also had several officials, but they turned to business because of some accidents.With the help of the family property saved by doing business, the Xue family gambled and dispersed most of the money when the dynasty was founded to support the prosperity of the dynasty. It really contributed to the career of Tai Zu. He became an official family.

Then the Xue family was attacked by others in the court, and seeing that it was about to end, they simply waved their hands and left the court, begged for grace to return to their duties, and continued to do business as an imperial merchant.Later, when Tai Zu secretly cultivated intelligence informants, he caught the eye, and also took over a secret identity—in other words, the Xue family became one of the eyeliners outside the temple of the Holy Spirit, which is why the Xue family has always been able to The reason for maintaining a relatively detached position.

Of course, this identity is not entirely just passed down from father to son. If it wasn't for seeing the Xue family's development has been good, and the identity of the merchant, it is indeed easy to collect more secrets, otherwise it wouldn't be just right. The Xue family has been passed down.And although the current sage also has the heart to take care of the old minister, if the Xue family really had an accident in some generation, there is no way to do it.For example, after the death of Xue Pan's father before, because of the young and unclear temperament of the Patriarch of the Xue family, coupled with his trust in the ability of the Zhen family, the Holy One actually stopped and watched for a while.Counting it, the Xue family has not received a secret order for many years since the death of Master Xue, but now that Xue Pan is growing up, he is not a dou who cannot be supported, and this time there is a problem with him. It was the Zhen family, the Holy One decided to give the Xue family another chance, and handed over the information collection this time to the Xue family.

It is trust, but also temptation.

After all, they also came from Jinling, so even if the Xue family and the Zhen family are not too harmonious, they can still know more, at least as local snakes, the Xue family is better informed than those in Yangzhou.

Xue Pan... In fact, he didn't know much about his father's life, especially at that time, the master of the Xue family knew his son's temperament, and Xue Pan was still young at that time, so he didn't know much about this kind of private life. He didn't say a word about the matter, for fear that the news would leak out after what he had said to his son, and he would be furious.In comparison, Aunt Xue, a female family member, knows more about the secrets of the Xue family.

If it wasn't for the fact that the Wang family had vaguely guessed some of the differences of the Xue family back then, no matter how rich the betrothal gift from the Xue family was, the Wang family might not have been able to nod and agree to the marriage—don't look at the Wang family back then. Perhaps it is indeed not as prominent as the historians of the Jia family, but when Mr. Wang was young, he was also fortunate to be in charge of the affairs of the foreign trade customs. Although this is not a job that is easy to make money, it is also a lucrative job that can make money. No matter how greedy you are for money, you won't really end up in the situation where you don't want to lose face for money.

In addition, after all, I have been with Mr. Xue and his wife for more than ten years, and they are married, even if Mr. Xue deliberately conceals it, he will still be able to detect it, not to mention that Mr. Xue still decided to trust his wife before he died. He simply explained a lot of secret things like this at home.

So when Xue Pan was at a loss and brought the so-called secret decree and the sender back to Xue's house, Aunt Xue still pretended to be ignorant after hearing what the other party said. , In fact, I already have the answer in my heart.

Counting it, this is the first secret decree received by the Xue family after the death of Master Xue.Now that Mrs. Fengsheng and the First Prince are still there, even if the Holy Majesty is dissatisfied with the Zhen family due to unknowing reasons, he will not really dispose of the Zhen family at this time anyway, so although the Holy Majesty may He also really wanted to know about the situation of the Zhen family in Jinling, but I'm afraid it was more likely that he didn't want to use this matter to test the Xue family.

In the original book of the Red Chamber, because Xue Pan's reputation as the overlord spread all over Jinling, he was a dandy, so all the care of the Xue family was limited to allowing the Xue family to still occupy the position of the imperial merchant, which is impossible. Then hand over the important task of collecting information in private to the Xue family - the Holy Majesty did not have any doubts about the Zhen family at that time, so naturally there was no such thing.

Aunt Xue's heart is also like a mirror, this time is not so much an unannounced visit to the Zhen family, but a test of the Xue family.Although there are inevitable risks, there are more opportunities.

The Xue family and the Zhen family lived in Jinling, so it was inevitable that they had some contacts, and they naturally knew more about the Zhen family than the Lin family in Yangzhou.Even when the two families communicated, because the Xue family's status as a merchant was always lower, they had to become one of the people who curry favor with the Zhen family.

It would be fine if the manager of the Xue family was replaced by someone else. After all, Aunt Xue was born as a daughter of the Wang family. So far it has been prominent.Compared with them, although the Zhen family's power is great, it undoubtedly seems a little superficial and superficial. Now Aunt Xue is not very comfortable being suppressed by the Zhen family.

Although the status of Xue's family is the lowest in Jia Wang Shi Xue's four families, but because the main branches of Jia Wang Shi Xue's three families have already moved to the capital, those in Jinling are basically out-of-power branches or slaves, and These people dare not provoke the Xue family no matter what, so apart from the Zhen family, no one can really do anything to the Xue family.

If it's just the main branch of the Zhen family, that's all. After all, Mrs. Fengsheng's position is detached. Even if Zhen Yingjia is not very good at being an official, at least she can't make any big mistakes. Aunt Xue has nothing to say even if she bows her head to her. .But if the concubine branches of the Zhen family also want to bully the Xue family... Not to mention Aunt Xue is feeling uncomfortable, even the offshoots of the Xue family will inevitably be a little unhappy.

Think about it, no matter how bad Jia Wang Shixue is, after all, he is still a big family that has been passed down for several generations. After so many generations of influence, even the upbringing of the branch family is not bad.In fact, the fortune of the Zhen family started more from Mrs. Feng Sheng. If it wasn't for being disliked when he was young, otherwise the Holy Majesty would not be so dependent on the wet nurse, and he would be able to be a wet nurse who would not favor the prince. One can imagine the origin.

In other words, although Jia Wang Shixue is not considered to be a family with such a profound background, even compared with them, the Zhen family undoubtedly seems to be a bit upstart. It's quite difficult to say.

That is to say, Jiangnan would not say anything for the sake of the eldest prince. If the Holy Majesty really wanted to, just find someone to go to Jiangnan to have a look and probably know everything.If anyone other than the Zhen family dared to be so arrogant, they would probably be killed by the Holy One in a matter of minutes.

Because this is the first time the Xue family has received a secret decree since it changed the head of the family. If the deceased master of the Xue family followed the rules, the Xue family should know nothing about these things now, so this time At the time of the decree, the Holy Majesty also specially sent someone to Xue's house to make some explanations, and by the way, see if Master Xue has done anything beyond the rules, and has he privately revealed any information that should not be disclosed to the family. .

Xue Pan really knew nothing about this matter.Even though he is indeed more sensible now, and has even become more mature than his peers because he has taken over the management of the family business, but his nature is really not a shrewd person, so when he came into contact with this completely unfamiliar news At that time, the surprise was really undisguised.And although Aunt Xue knew something in advance, as an adult, she has stronger self-control, and the unexpected look is decent.

Naturally, it is impossible for the Holy Majesty to send any imperial officials to the Xue family for a stroll. Firstly, the officials cannot leave their place of duty casually without specific errands. The reason to go and visit merchants casually.Therefore, the one who can be sent to Xue's house without any suspicion is naturally the kind of person who is like a wild crane, the kind of person who runs around the world without any suspicion.

For example, the one who came here today, although he can be regarded as coming out of Beijing, but in name he is just a student who has not become an official, perfectly avoiding everyone's suspicion.

Since she came here for the affairs of the Xue family, Aunt Xue thoughtfully arranged for people to live in her guest courtyard, and agreed that if someone from outside asked about it, she would just say that she had hired a teacher for Xue Pan to teach him a little bit. The family does not need to study for the imperial examination, but if Aunt Xue wants Xue Pan to learn something, no one can say anything.

Although Aunt Xue's status as a widow is not suitable for entertaining outsiders to live in her own home, but Xue Pan is still half a teenager, and in addition to being Xue Pan's husband in name, no one can say anything.

The author has something to say:

My grandpa passed away today... As the only one in the younger generation who can drive, he has already been arrested and accompanied by a strong man to the burial ceremony. Basically, there is no need to count on updates within the next three days....

I feel like I've been feeling really bad lately...