Xue Baochai, the belly of the Red Chamber

March is the best time of the year when the spring is warm and the flowers are blooming, the willows are soft and the peach blossoms are burning.

The Xue Mansion located in Ronghua Lane, because the eldest daughter of the Xue family loves peach blossoms, thousands of peach blossoms are planted in the mansion, which are in full bloom at this time, and the fragrance can be smelled several miles away at this time.Walking around Xue's mansion, one can see petals occasionally popping out of the wall, red, pink, or white, blooming in full bloom.But it can also be regarded as a rare beauty in Jinling City.

Speaking of the Xue family in Ronghua Lane, his family was just an ordinary merchant's house in Jinling City at the beginning, but because of the unique vision of their ancestors, when the dynasty opened, it used to spend most of its family property on Send grain, grass, and money for marching and fighting with the ancestors of the Kai Dynasty.Therefore, later on, the world was settled, and Gaozu rewarded meritorious deeds.The ancestor of the Xue family was conferred the title of Ziwei Sheren, a first-class public. Although he died in only one generation, the family hereditary led the palace to buy positions, and he was an imperial merchant.

With the support of the royal family, the Xue family's business is getting bigger and bigger. In less than ten years, the family's shops have opened all over the country, becoming the number one business in the country.In addition to the subsequent two generations, Xue's family also produced one or two well-educated talents.And the three families of the Wang family, the Shi family and the Jia family who were also heroes in the opening of the dynasty were married to each other and took care of each other.

Therefore, although this Xue family is said to be a merchant's family, it is not comparable to ordinary merchants.In Jinling City, even Ying Tianfu Yin had to be polite when he met the Patriarch of the Xue family.

It's just that in today's bright and beautiful spring days, the Xue family is now gloomy and gloomy, and there is no joy at all. It is because the current head of the Xue family, Xue Jian, died of a serious illness half a month ago.

The Patriarch of the Xue family, whose name is Huanjian, is not yet forty years old, and married the younger sister of Prince Teng, the Jiedu envoy of the Jingying, who is a mother and sister. The husband and wife have always treated each other with respect, and they have a son and a daughter.

The eldest boy is only 13 years old, and his name is Xue Pan. Because Xue Jian is busy with family affairs, he has no time to discipline him.Xue's mother doted on him too much, and she always wanted the stars to dare not give the moon, so she developed Xue Pan's arrogant and domineering temperament.In addition, he has a good talent in martial arts, and he has been studying with a famous teacher since he was a child. Although he is young now, his boxing skills are so ordinary that three or four men can't get close to him.He is a little overlord that no one in Jinling City dares to provoke.But fortunately, he still knows a little bit of propriety, although there are many small things, but big mistakes have not yet been made.

Her daughter is still young, she is only in her early tenth year of age, and her nickname is Baochai. Although she is not very old, she is well-known in Jinling City as a smart, good-natured, and open-minded person.He is even more talented in business.This made Xue's father look at Xue Baochai more than once and sigh, how can he be born as a daughter?If it is a man, the Xue family can also have successors.That's what it says though.However, Father Xue still loves him like a treasure. He not only enlightens him personally, but invites famous teachers to teach him carefully, so that everything he learns is cultivated according to the future Patriarch.This caused people in the Xue family to criticize, but no one else could interfere with how Father Xue disciplined his daughter, so he had to mutter a few words to finish the matter.

This girl from the Xue family lived up to her father's expectations, not only was she dignified and generous at such a young age, she was also keen in business, and at the age of five or six she was already invincible in counting beads.When she was seven years old, she began to learn account management from Xue's father. When she was nine years old, Xue's father gave her a rouge and gouache shop to practice, and within half a year, the profit doubled. Properly posted, without the slightest mistake.

Xue Baochai gathered the flat square used to fix it between her temples, picked some pearl ointment from the balsamic brocade box, spread it evenly on her green hands, and asked, "Yunjuan, what time is it?"

"If you go back to the girl, it's already a quarter of an hour." A delicate maid, about fourteen or five years old, wearing a moon-white embroidered silk gown with embroidered cloud patterns, neatly wrapped a string of white pearl chains around Xue Baochai's head. replied.

Xue Baochai nodded: "Well, it's almost time. It's time to go to greet mother. After all, there are still many things to deal with." Those blood-sucking locusts in the mansion have enough to eat and drink. It's west.I have already admired enough of their greedy faces here.

Yun Juan nodded, but now there was an inexplicable excitement on his usual handsome face, his eyes were shining brightly, and even the tone of his answer was two points higher than before: "Yes, girl .”

Xue Baochai stood up, touched the non-existing dust on her body with her fingers, and said in a clear tone, "Yun Juan, pay attention to your own expression, you are a little too smug."

"Yes, girl, I know I'm wrong." Yun Juan immediately blessed his body, lowered his head slightly, and when he raised his head again, both his expression and tone became calmer.

Xue Baochai nodded, as expected she was the servant girl she had trained, a child could be taught, and soon took Yun Juan and a few little girls to the Fushou Hall where Xue's mother was.

"Hi, young girl." As soon as I entered the Fushou Hall and walked to the door, I saw a beautiful girl wearing moon white walking over. It was the big girl in front of Xue's mother, Ji Xiang, who was blessed when she saw Xue Baochai. She turned around and pursed her lips: "My wife was still talking about it just now, but it happened that the eldest girl came."

Xue Baochai asked: "Auspicious, how is mother's health today? Is it better?" After Xue's father passed away, Xue's mother couldn't bear the shock of losing her husband for a while, and her body became a little bad. Father Xue's funeral was held, and Father Xue was buried here for peace.She couldn't take it all at once, and fell ill.After taking medicine for the past two days, it gradually improved.

Auspiciously blessed, Fushen replied: "Back to the eldest girl, my wife has improved a lot here, and her face has become a little more lively, and she added a stack of crystal shrimp dumplings and half a bowl of millet soup for breakfast."

Xue Baochai nodded after hearing this, and Jixiang and Yunjuan picked up the curtains on the left and right, and surrounded her into the room.

Because Xue's mother was not yet safe, she didn't get up at this time, and was still half lying on the bed.Xue Baochai bowed his body when he entered here, and before he had time to speak, he heard Xue's mother say: "My son, I don't need to perform these vain rituals in my own family. My body is not up to date, and these days have been hard work, you and my son." Pan'er." Although she has not yet come out of the pain of losing her husband, but seeing her two children so upbeat, the pain in her heart has been reduced by three points, and her hope for the future has increased by three points.

"Mother, what are you talking about? Sharing worries for mother is what a daughter should do. There is no such thing as hard work." Xue Baochai lowered her eyebrows and said so.

Mother Xue beckoned Xue Baochai to come to her. Looking at her newly grown daughter, she patted the back of her hand with some relief. During the past few days when she was seriously ill, the family depended on Pan'er and Chai'er. The older child is propped up.Pan'er communicates externally, while Chai'er controls internally, the two cooperate seamlessly, and the second elder brother also sends someone to help, although there are some small disturbances in the mansion, but the general situation is stable.

He opened his mouth and asked a few homely things and concerns about Xue Baochai's body.

Xue Baochai also answered one by one with a smile.

After talking about these things, Mother Xue pondered for a moment, with a look of hesitation and a trace of intolerance, and said, "Chai'er, I know they have gone too far this time. How dare you treat your father like you?" They should be punished more severely for making troubles above funeral ceremonies, but they are all old people in the mansion and have served in the mansion for generations. Over the years, they have worked hard without credit. Besides, all the main personnel have The hair sale has been dealt with, and if the leftovers are dealt with harshly, Yu's reputation in the mansion will not be good. Therefore, when you and your brother pass by, you must consider being merciful. Those who can save their lives Just save your life. It can be regarded as accumulating some merit for your father."

When Xue Baochai heard Mother Xue's words, her almond eyes flickered for a moment, but she said: "Madam, please relax your mind. Both my daughter and my brother have a fixed plan in their hearts. Besides, my father has only been buried for a long time, and the house is still in the house." During the hot filial piety period, it is not appropriate for the mansion to go to war." For something like them that is a 'slave bullying the master', she will naturally consider it carefully and be merciful.It would be too cheap to kill them directly.Of course she will send them to a good place.

"That's exactly the reason." Mother Xue nodded in satisfaction.Looking at Xue Baochai's body that has already lost weight in less than half a month, she felt infinite love, thinking that Xue Baochai was only 11 years old, and she should have been carefree and happy at the knees of her parents, but her But Baochai has to shoulder the heavy burden of the family early.As soon as the eye sockets became hot, tears were about to roll down immediately.

Xue Baochai is a smart person, seeing Xue's mother like this, how can she not guess what Xue's mother is thinking, immediately took the brocade handkerchief, wiped the teardrops from the corners of her eyes with her own hands, and spoke softly, trying to comfort Xue's mother.Xue Baochai is eloquent and eloquent, so it is easy to comfort Xue's mother.

Seeing the tired look on Mother Xue's face, she had already forgotten what she had thought before, and knowing that she was not in good health, she ordered Mother Xue's personal servant girl, Ji Xiang Ruyi, to take good care of Mother Xue, and took care of her. With Yunjuan got up and left.

As soon as she walked out of Mother Xue's room, Xue Baochai's smiling face suddenly turned cold, and her delicate and pleasant voice also carried a chill: "Ruyi, I have already ordered you to My wife is not in good health recently, so I don't want outsiders to disturb my wife's health. Who is talking to my wife?"

As soon as Ruyi came out, she knelt down without any hesitation.He lowered his head and said in a low voice: "If you are talking about the eldest girl, it is Tonggui. The servant has already guarded her and is waiting for the girl to deal with it." As he spoke, his head drooped even lower.

Xue Baochai's beautiful almond eyes narrowed slightly, and she lowered her head to look at Ruyi: "Nian, this time it wasn't a big accident, and you handled it properly. I won't hold you accountable here. If there is another time, You don't need me to ask, you can go to Yun Shu to receive the punishment yourself. As for that Tonggui, since she thinks Fushoutang is small and doesn't want to stay here, then send her out of the mansion to find another way of life. Our mansion I can't tolerate such a big-hearted girl." After saying that, without looking at anyone, she lifted her foot and left.

"Yes, girl." Ruyi lowered her voice even more respectfully.