[Red House] Ban'er's Road to Imperial Examination

As soon as the contents of the box were revealed, Wang Yue understood why Xue Baochai had asked him to come home.

At this moment, he hesitated a little, wondering whether he should accept the gift from Xue's family.

When he went back to the Wang family to pay his respects to his birthday, he intended to make friends with Wang Zhiteng. The news Zhou Runxin sent to him last time made him a little vigilant. In this life, he no longer has the protection of his grandfather like in the previous life. How to say that he was only relying on the strength of his family to show himself to the front, he didn't take it seriously, he just felt that those people were just jealous of him, using their tongues to tarnish his reputation.

But he had to admit that he was able to walk so smoothly, without being framed by villains, or deliberately suppressed by anyone, it was his grandfather.

Otherwise, even if he has the talent of shaking the world and crying ghosts and gods, he will definitely be buried. Just like Van Gogh, he only sold a painting before his death, and was sought after by others after his death. His life was wasted and he was trapped in poverty.

This situation has not changed even in the new era. Wang Yue is not those children from poor families who are really poor. He naively thinks that he can get ahead if he is talented. He stood by in his previous life and saw it more clearly. You also need a backer before you can walk out a smooth road.

Now he is just a young scholar, and he is only a small official when he meets him. Even so, it almost made his several years of planning efforts come to naught.

If he goes up further, his opponent will become stronger and stronger, how can he fight against it with his own strength?

It is imminent to find a backer. Although he is still young, since he has already taken the imperial examination and won the No.1 under pressure from everyone, he must be prepared to face suppression. At the same time, the reputation also makes the students who took the exam with him become his stepping stones. Those who are broad-minded just laugh it off and study hard, vowing to surpass him. Naturally, those who are narrow-minded regard him as an enemy , determined to suppress him.

The wood is beautiful in the forest, and the wind will destroy it. This is the experience accumulated over thousands of years. Originally, Wang Yue should hide his clumsiness, but he is impatient. This life has to be accompanied by chores, wasted at the bottom.

But since he had no patience to hibernate and chose a shortcut, he would naturally have to bear the risks brought by this shortcut.

It's not that he didn't know that he was too close to Jia Wang's family, and he might be involved, but these two families were the only ones who could lend a helping hand to him.

If it were any other family, the resources must be used closely by their own children first. Like him, he is just a pawn in the past and may be pushed out as cannon fodder at any time. Only the Jia and Wang families still have A certain force, with intertwined roots and deep connections, but the children of the younger generation will not live up to their expectations and have no successors, and I have relatives with them, this is the best choice.

Moreover, he himself thought about the consequences of getting closer to the Jia Wang family, but he was lucky, and always felt that with his insignificant status, even if the Jia Wang family suffered a blow, it might not be able to affect him, let alone What's more, even if he was implicated because of this, he himself had no intention of official career anyway. As long as his reputation for painting became known, at worst he would resign from office and return to the village to be a mountain dweller, which would instead win him a good reputation.

He planned to make friends with only Jia and Wang's family, but he planned to keep a respectful distance from Xue's family.

Jia Wang's family is now in full bloom, and the fire is cooking oil. It may be difficult to reverse the outcome of the future defeat, and even if there is a chance to change the outcome of Jia Wang's family, he will not be able to do it with his ability.

But now that he has accepted the favor of Jia and Wang's family, he has already made up his mind to do something for these two families?

Fortunately, although Jia's family was ransacked, only Jia Zhen and Jia She were exiled for thousands of miles, and the rest were fine. At that time, he would take in the Jia family and help Jia Lan. His meager strength.

As for the Wang family, Wang Ziteng has no sons, only two daughters who are already married. After his death, there may be only one wife left in the family. With Wang Ren as a person, Wang Xifeng is his own sister, who entrusted her daughter to the family. Given his uncle, he could still sell his own niece to the place of fireworks for money, how could such a person devote himself to supporting Wang Ziteng's family?

At that time, he will take over Wang Ziteng's wife to take care of him. With his ability, he can't change the outcome of the defeat of the four major families, but with his ability, he can only do so much.

As for the Xue family, it was not in his plan, not to mention that he hated Xue Pan's behavior, what's more, Xue Pan committed the crime of murder, that is, he has a powerful uncle who can protect him , Wang Ziteng fell down, not only the crimes in front of him will be liquidated, but even the crimes he committed before will be settled by Qiuhou. Even a fool can see that there is something strange in it, and he, a young student, can not intervene.

Although he appreciates Sister Bao's way of doing things, this kind of appreciation has not reached the point where he can risk approaching Xue's family for it. I also took it over, usually I can help a group of Xue Baochai, as for other things, forgive him for being helpless.

Therefore, he was a little hesitant in the face of the Xue family's good intentions. To accept these things was to inherit the Xue family's good intentions and to repay the Xue family's kindness. He must repay the Xue family, but the Xue family released the kindness to him. The only purpose is to let him establish a good relationship with Xue Pan so that he can help Xue Pan in the future. Although Aunt Xue loves Xue Baochai the most, Xue Pan is the most important thing in her heart. For Xue Pan, she can give her daughter to him without hesitation. Hastily married off.

After hesitating, he didn't speak immediately. Xue Baochai saw that he didn't show surprise as he expected, so she asked suspiciously: "Brother Yue, what's the matter? But you are not satisfied?"

Wang Yue quickly shook her head: "How come? It's just too expensive?"

Xue Baochai laughed and said, "It's not expensive. Although red sandalwood is rare, this statue is not big and doesn't use much material. It is said that it was carved from leftover scraps. Although it was also made by a famous artist, The price is not too high. You also know that there is a pawn shop in my family. This statue was pawned to death by a customer who needed money urgently. The customer did not redeem the statue within the time limit. The customer never showed up again, so it became my family's stuff. But this thing is not high or low, the rich look down on it, and the poor can't afford it, so it stays in the warehouse to collect ashes. Today you go to your aunt to ask When I got up, I thought of this statue, which is just right for you to send as a birthday present."

Seeing that Wang Yue wanted to refuse, Xue Baochai said again: "Since my aunt said that she is going to hold a family banquet, she will naturally not accept heavy gifts, but after all, it is the first time for you to go back, so if you only send some calligraphy and paintings drawn by yourself, it will inevitably be a bit thin. Uncles and aunts are fine, but other people will inevitably feel a little... If it is really an expensive gift, my aunt will not accept it. I am afraid that you can't afford it with your family strength, let alone if you really went bankrupt to buy expensive gifts. In the past, I was afraid that people would look down on me. This gift is just right for you. Besides, tomorrow is your birthday. If you go looking for a gift now, it may be too late, so you might as well accept this gift. What's more, it's not like you don't charge money .”

In fact, in the opinion of Xue's mother and daughter, it is best to give this statue directly to Wang Yue, but they have always known that scholars have the most important character. If they really give it away directly, they will offend them. She lost his face and sold his favor.

Xue Baochai has already said that, if Wang Yue still refuses to accept it, he will directly offend the Xue family. Besides, Xue Baochai said that he will collect money. Good excuse.

Sighing inwardly, Wang Yue couldn't help admiring Xue Baochai's methods. She deserves to be the last sister Bao in the original book who appeared most respected by the sisters in the garden.

Shi Xiangyun, the lady of Lord Hou's family, also respects her very much. When she quarreled with Lin Daiyu, she told Lin Daiyu that you dare to pick on sister Bao's shortcomings. Even if you are good, I am not as good as you. Why is he not as good as you?

This shows Shi Xiangyun's respect for her in his heart, and Lin Daiyu will only show jealousy on Xue Baochai. The two jades have quarreled and quarreled so much because of Xue Baochai. There may be jealousy in it, but Lin Daiyu is also indispensable. inferiority complex.

Even Sister Lin's kind of clean-eyed person was jealous of Xue Baochai, but later Lin Daiyu turned her heart to Xue Baochai and regarded her as a confidant.

But now, Xue Baochai just listened to Mrs. Wang's few words in Mrs. Wang's room, and she wanted to win him over. She brought him home under the pretext of asking his family to bring him what he needed urgently, and then said a few words to make him happy. His refutation was so speechless that he had no choice but to accept the favor willingly.

Alas, sometimes he can't help but sigh, why are these respectable and lovely women who are countless times stronger than men born in ancient times when men are superior to women? If these women were born in modern times, I'm afraid everyone Goddess, she showed all her talents and made all the men look up at the mountains and convinced them.

Seeing off Wang Yue, Xue Baochai walked into the room. Aunt Xue was sitting on the kang and scolding Xiangling. What's the matter? But what did brother do, it's not like you don't know Xiangling's temperament, how can she stop what brother is going to do?"

Of course it's hard to tell Xue Baochai, an unmarried girl, what Xue Pan did, so Aunt Xue said to Xiangling indifferently: "You young people are ignorant, and there are times when you forget the rules for a while, but you must know that everything must be done properly. Proper, Pan'er is ignorant, you, the people in the room, naturally have to persuade him well, and you must never mess around with him again in the future."

Xiangling knew that she had passed the test this time, so she nodded her head quickly, and Aunt Xue let her out.

Xue Baochai sat next to Aunt Xue and said, "Mom, are you so optimistic about Brother Yue?"

Wang Yue thought that Xue Baochai did what happened this time, and it’s no wonder he thought so. Aunt Xue didn’t make many appearances in the original novel of A Dream of Red Mansions, and her performance was relatively kind. A daughter with a rough heart, she is naturally much inferior. According to her past impressions, Wang Yue naturally thought that this matter was Xue Baochai's idea.

But unfortunately, this time he really guessed wrong. This matter is really not what Xue Baochai is going to do, but Aunt Xue's idea.

"I have to do it."

"Mom, what does this mean?" Xue Baochai immediately realized that there were some stories in it, and couldn't help asking.

Aunt Xue hesitated for a while, then sighed, and said: "That's all, this matter originally involved some privacy of the Wang family, I didn't want to say it to the outside world, but your brother's temper will not make things happen in the future. If you can persuade him, I will tell you about this matter, and let you have a bottom line."

When Aunt Xue said Xue Baochai in this way, she realized that it might not be simple, so she said seriously: "Mom, tell me quickly!"

Aunt Xue sighed again, waited for a while, and finally said: "Your second uncle is in charge of the Wang family now, you know that?"

Xue Baochai nodded. Of course she knew this. Although outsiders said that the eldest uncle returned to Jinling to guard his hometown, those who knew the inside story knew that although the Wang family said that their ancestral home was Jinling, the old house and ancestral hall were still in Jinling. Many clansmen stayed in Jinling, but Wang Ziteng's lineage had already moved to the capital for decades, and had already taken root in the capital. Why would he, the head of the royal family, be needed to guard an old house?

The reason is nothing more than that Wang Ziteng, the second son, controls the power of the Wang family, so the eldest son who is well-known in righteousness naturally becomes a stumbling block for Wang Ziteng, but Wang Ziteng can't do anything to his elder brother, he can only drive him away. to Jinling.

The outsiders don't know this, they just think that the Wang family also follows the old rules, as the eldest son's heir keeps the family business, and the second son goes outside to open up the family business.

Xue Baochai didn't know this before, and Aunt Xue wouldn't tell her about it, but after coming to the capital and interacting with the Wang family a lot, she naturally found some strange things in it, and also noticed some strange things in her mother's usual words. It is not difficult to deduce the reason with her intelligence.

"It's not so easy for the second son to surpass the eldest son to control the family power, and the eldest son who was originally the heir, how can he be reconciled to having his own interests taken over by the second son? The battle cannot be finished in a day or two. of."

Hearing this, Xue Baochai was startled. She already realized that what she heard today was indeed the deepest secret hidden by the Wang family. It's like being able to get close to the core of the Wang family.

Aunt Xue didn't notice the secret change in Xue Baochai's heart, she just thought she was surprised by these words, so she instructed: "I will only tell you these words, and you must not spread them to the outside world. It is related to the reputation of the Wang family, and it is also related to the future of your second uncle, as well as the future of our Xue family, so you have to be careful."

Xue Baochai hurriedly nodded solemnly, and then Aunt Xue continued: "I was born with the same mother as your uncle, second uncle, and your aunt. Your uncle and aunt were the eldest son and daughter, and they were highly valued by your grandfather. They were taken to the capital shortly after they were born, and were brought up by your grandfather, while your second uncle and I are the second son and second daughter, and we followed your grandmother to take care of your great-grandmother in Jinling’s hometown.”

"So I have the best relationship with your second uncle, and your aunt and your eldest uncle have the best relationship. Later, your great-grandmother passed away, and your maternal grandfather went home to observe filial piety. Your second uncle and I just met your grandfather. At that time, your eldest uncle was married. , your aunt has also engaged in a marriage, my second elder brother has grown to sixteen or seventeen years old, and I was the youngest, only 13 years old at that time, because the division between the two places has been going on for a long time, there is a bit of a gap in the relationship, your grandmother loves me and you the most Second uncle, your grandfather dotes on your aunt the most."

"What about uncle?"

"Your grandmother didn't have a close relationship with him, and your eldest uncle had already married and established a business at that time, and he only saw each other in the morning and evening every day, so the relationship was not deep. Your grandfather had high hopes for the eldest son who would inherit the family business, so he had high hopes for you. Uncle's requirements are quite strict, but your uncle has great ambitions and talents, and his qualifications are mediocre, but he can barely keep the family business. Although your grandfather is a little disappointed in him, compared with those dudes in the capital, your uncle's performance is already That's good, so although your grandfather often beat and scolded him severely, he was still satisfied with him in his heart, but your second uncle behaved too well."

"Is it because the grandfather is dissatisfied with the eldest uncle, so he supports the second uncle?"

Aunt Xue shook her head with a smile and said: "If your grandfather was so decisive in doing things, there would not be so many things later on. No matter how dissatisfied your grandfather is with your eldest uncle, after all, he is the child raised by him. How can the relationship for so many years be serious?" Just throw it away. In addition, the most important thing in a big family like ours is the word rules. If the rules are messed up, the family business will also be messed up. How can the heir change it? With the law of the imperial court, only the eldest son can inherit the title in the family, even if your grandfather wants to change it, he can't change it!"

Xue Baochai nodded, what she said made sense, but my grandfather was probably hesitant back then. One was the second son with outstanding talents who could lead the family to prosperity, and the other was the eldest son who was cultivated by himself but with mediocre qualifications and could only keep the family business. .

No matter how much the grandfather prefers, uncle, but the other one is also his own child, and he behaves so well, the grandfather's preference will inevitably shift a bit.

But for the eldest uncle, a younger brother who is better than himself in everything suddenly appeared, and he divided half of the father's love that belonged to him alone, but his father who spoke harshly to him often praised him. No matter how broad-minded he is, I'm afraid he will feel injustice, not to mention that according to his mother's usual evaluation of the uncle, the uncle is not such a broad-minded person.

If the grandfather can make a decisive decision, either simply support the second uncle, or separate the second uncle in order to protect the family, without giving him any hope, then the family can be stable.

But the palms and backs of the hands are full of flesh, so how can emotional matters be controlled by reason? The grandfather's hesitation will naturally bring civil strife to the whole family.

But this is better than the Xue family. Although the first uncle did not perform well, he is at least a person who can keep the family business, while the second uncle is talented and ambitious. No matter which of the two wins They can protect their family business.

As for their Xue family, Anwen is stable, but the future is really worrying!

"Then what happened later? What happened later?" Xue Baochai couldn't help asking. Aunt Xue paused for a while, as if recalling what happened back then. You hesitated for a while, your grandmother and I naturally supported your second uncle, and your aunt first supported your eldest uncle at that time, after all, the two grew up together, and their relationship is relatively deeper than that of your second uncle. "

"Then why did my aunt support the second uncle again?"

Aunt Xue glanced at her daughter, and was more satisfied with her intelligence, but for Xue Baochai, this kind of thing is not difficult to guess, just look at the attitude of the second uncle towards her aunt, and the relationship between her aunt and uncle's family for many years. I have never been in contact with each other, and I know that something must have happened so that my aunt supported the second uncle instead.

At this time, Xue Baochai couldn't help but sigh a little, she even secretly thought that it would be great if her aunt hadn't changed her position back then, now the second uncle would only support the Xue family, and with the support of the second uncle, the status quo of the Xue family would change Be better.

And as a woman in the back house, she can stay in the backyard in peace and order, without having to worry about things outside.

The author has something to say: there is another update tonight! !