Uncle Lai in the Red Chamber

Chapter 348
Rongfu East Cross Courtyard.

In the side hall, Jia She and Mrs. Xing, who were looking forward to it, were already anxious and were about to send someone to Lai's house to inquire.

I heard a call from outside: "Master, Uncle Lai is here!"

Jia Amnesty greeted him quickly and smiled, "My nephew is here, hurry up, please come inside!"

As he spoke, he waved to the servant who was passing the message.

Lai Shangrong said politely: "Uncle Shi has something to do, just send someone to pass a message, why are you so polite."

"Our two families have always been close to each other, and now we are relatives again. It's time for us to have a warm and friendly relationship."

After finishing the courtesy, Lai Shangrong stepped into the side hall at Jia She's greeting.

"Hey! The eldest lady is here too!" Lai Shangrong said doubtfully.

Seeing Mrs. Xing's attire in the hall, Lai Shangrong once thought she was one of Jia She's concubines. Her fragrant shoulders were half exposed, and the translucent gauze tried to cover up but was still shy. It wrapped Mrs. The wife of the mansion is more like a brothel girl.

This is not to blame Mrs.

Seeing that Lai Shangrong was in a daze, Jia She couldn't help but feel complacent, and said with a smile: "We have to be served by someone when we drink, and it's not convenient for us to talk, Shangrong thinks she can still serve?"

Lai Shangrong didn't think much about it. After all, Jia She had a reputation for being bohemian and he had very little contact with her. How could he know how his wives and concubines dressed up at home?

Lai Shangrong secretly complained that it was not convenient for you to borrow money.

He said, "That's really embarrassing for my nephew!"

Seeing that he accepted it readily, Jia She was secretly happy and said with a pun: "How could it be possible! My nephew, you have a bright future and you are in charge of several important offices. It is her blessing to be able to serve my nephew."

"That's right! What the master said is true." Mrs. Xing quickly echoed: "Shang Rong, don't disappoint the master's kindness, and use me as a maid today. Don't be polite."

With that said, she actually started to do her job as a maid, stepped forward and took Lai Shangrong's arm, and pulled him to the table.

Lai Shangrong secretly gasped, feeling the softness in his arms while looking sideways at Jia She.

I saw that he did not look sulky at all, but instead squinted his eyes, stroked his beard, and smiled very obscenely.

When Lai Shangrong saw this, he couldn't help but wonder about Jia She's true intention.

Could it be that these two brothers are the same as each other? He actually has the same hobby as Jia Zheng?
At the beginning, Jia Zheng repeatedly pretended to be drunk during banquets, and pushed and pushed Mrs. Wang and Aunt Zhao, which made him have to suspect that Jia She was like him.

Mrs. Xing, who pulled Lai Shangrong to the table, was already in the middle of the show and asked Jia She, "Sir! This dish is a little cold. Can I ask someone to heat it up again?"

"What kind of blind idea are you coming up with? It's such a hot day, and it's just the right time to cool down."

Jia She felt that Mrs.

"The eldest lady is bothering you. It's a waste of time to come and go again and again. This is just right!"

"Yes, yes! What are you doing to waste that time!"

Jia She agreed, then turned to Mrs. Xing and said, "Why don't you pour some wine for Shang Rong!"

Mrs. Xing is not like Mrs. Wang and Aunt Xue. Although she has some scale, she is not outstanding.

She was similar in stature to Xing Xiuyan, both tall and slender. When she turned around to pour wine for Jia She, she almost threw her back into Lai Shangrong's face, whether intentionally or not.

"Uncle Shi asked my nephew to come over, but what are your instructions?"

After drinking for three rounds, Lai Shangrong began to test Jia Amnesty's purpose.

"I heard that Shang Rong was impeached by a traitor a while ago, so I wanted to ask Shang Rong to come over and ask if there was anything our family could do to help. However, I just asked this stupid woman to go over. I never saw Shang Rong, and she I'm afraid of worrying my niece. I don't want to delay this, but everything on your side has been solved. If there are any difficulties in the future, don't be afraid of trouble. With our relationship, if I can help, sir Absolutely nothing!"

Lai Shangrong didn't believe his words. How could Jia She have such good intentions?

Besides, even if you want to invite me, you are right next door. Like today, the next post will be like this, why bother to seek far away?

However, since Jia She didn't speak, he was happy to pretend to be confused.

He raised his glass and said, "Thank you so much, Uncle Shi!"

After drinking two more cups, Jia Amnesty stood up and said, "Nephew, wait here for a while, it's convenient for me to go out."

He then winked at Mrs.

Seeing that Jia She was about to leave for an excuse, Lai Shangrong suddenly became alert and stood up and said: "Shibo, wait a moment, let's go together!"

He had originally guessed that Jia She was short of money, Mrs.

This sudden change caught Jia She unexpectedly, so he could only bite the bullet and go out with Lai Shangrong to make trouble.

When he came back again, within less than a cup of tea, Jia She made another excuse to leave.

Lai Shangrong was convinced at this time that the couple must have some kind of conspiracy.

He stood up and said, "Thank you for your hospitality, Uncle Shi. It's getting late. Since Uncle Shi has something else to do, Shang Rong won't bother you."

"Wait a minute, nephew!"

Jia Amnesty immediately stopped Lai Shangrong who was about to leave, and he finally saw that he was on guard.

Thinking that if things came to pass, he would be allowed to come and go often, and there was no need to pretend to be confused in front of him, so he solemnly nodded to Mrs. Xing.

Mrs. One push.

Lai Shangrong fell onto the chair behind him.

Of course he was not so helpless, but Mrs. Xing was so bold in front of Jia She, which made him doubt the two brothers' hobbies.

Therefore, I sat back on the chair half-pushed.

Sure enough, Mrs. Xing immediately turned her back, sat on his lap majestically, and twisted her waist twice without shyness, changing to a more comfortable position.

Lai Shangrong's heart was surging, and he said calmly: "You two, what do you mean?"

Upon hearing this, Mrs. But now that I have said it, it has spread outside, and you are good at it."

After hearing what Mrs.

He is not Liu Xiahui, how can he sit still and calmly?

Mrs. Xing immediately turned her head and gave Jia She a proud look.

Jia Shexi smiled and said: "Nephew, don't be too polite. We don't have as much appetite as our daughter-in-law. As long as you can earn ten thousand taels of silver every year, you can rest assured that this place will be your home in the future."

He understood Mrs.

Only then did Lai Shangrong suddenly realize that he had thought that Jia She had sold his daughter, but now he was so cruel that he wanted to sell his wife as well.

However, he really dared to open his mouth, even ten thousand taels of silver a year, and he was not afraid of the wind flashing his tongue.

From Jia Amnesty's words, he heard the clues. With the experience of pulling with Jia Lian, he knew that it was probably Wang Xifeng's rubber business that aroused their suspicion. do not understand?"

"We Ming people don't tell secrets. We don't want to care about what you and your wife have in private. As long as Shang Rong agrees, not only can we come and go often in the future, but Lian Er on the other side of the wife knows about it, and I will suppress it for you." On."

Lai Shangrong sneered: "It turns out there was a misunderstanding here. I'm afraid the eldest master doesn't know! The imported rubber is the way of the Wang family. This is the emperor's intention. Where does the connection come from? This is because Uncle Tian Guo has no channels and borrowed it. The way the Wang family works, it’s just a dividend, what does it have to do with me?”

"What?" Jia She and Mrs. Xing exclaimed at the same time, looking at each other.

The reason why they dared to speak loudly was because they referred to Wang Xifeng's rubber business.

Before he could recover from the shock, Lai Shangrong continued: "Did the master fall in the eyes of money? Am I stupid for the rubber business worth ten thousand taels a year? I used it to please a woman." He This is a deliberate attempt to lower the profits of the rubber business, subtly paving the way for subsequent bargaining.

Jia She originally thought that Lai Shangrong gave Wang Xifeng the rubber business, but he didn't expect that there was such a hidden secret.

One wrong step and the next wrong, Jia She was already being led by the nose by Lai Shangrong.

He licked his face and said with a smile: "Yes, yes! How can I leave ten thousand taels of silver this year to a woman to take care of?"

He didn't know how to speak at this time. After all, his previous judgment was wrong, and it was no longer appropriate to ask for a high price, but without him, it wouldn't be enough to make up for the shortfall.

Lai Shangrong said empathetically, "Master, you are short of money, right?"

"Yes, yes! Shangrong, what kind of house did you build for those mud-legged people? You are really hurting me."

Leave the blame for lack of money to Lai Shangrong, and you can be more confident when raising prices.

"Humph!" Lai Shangrong snorted coldly: "Master, did you forget how did you get that share? Besides, this is an imperial court decree, how can you blame me!"

"Don't blame Shang Rong. It's my fault for speaking out. But the shares are worth every penny to Shang Rong. Not only did he take a concubine, but now he has given birth to a big fat boy, right?"

After a pause, he then said: "I'm a little short of money now. Do you think you can lend some money first? In the worst case, I can use the dividends to pay off the debt. How about that?"

Seeing that Lai Shangrong had not expressed his position, he had lowered his expectations and changed the transaction to borrowing money.

"Ah!" Lai Shangrong sighed: "Originally, because of our relationship, the Elder Master has opened his mouth, so I always have to make sense of it, but that incident at the beginning has always been in my heart, and I can't express it!"

"Ouch! I've been wronged, right? The conscience of heaven and earth, I was really optimistic about you at the beginning, and wanted to promise the second girl to you, but the old lady made a hindrance. I really have no choice!"

He turned to Mrs. Xing and said, "What did the old lady say at the beginning? Quickly explain to Shang Rong."

Mrs. Xing was upset by the sudden change. She didn't know how to deal with herself for a while. She couldn't sit down or get up.

Hearing Jia She's pointing at himself, he explained: "Yes! Yes! Shang Rong, think about it, if we didn't mean that, why would we ask Lian Er to look for you? However, the old lady found out and called me over. It's a lot of scolding. Although we failed to promise the second girl to you, Xiuyan was also brought together by us, so there is hard work without credit, right?"

"Although that's the case, when I think of missing out on the second miss, I always feel hard to let go!"

"Uh..." Jia She immediately heard Xian's intention and asked tentatively: "Is Shang Rong interested in the second girl?"

Of course Lai Shangrong would not be seen through by him, and he said hypocritically: "I have heard what you said. The old lady thought that I had a bad background, and I have always been resentful in my heart."

After a pause, he continued: "I think she won't dislike me anymore!"

"How could it be possible!" Jia She said immediately: "The old lady's eyes were dim, but now..."

Speaking of this, I remembered that Lai Shangrong and Lin Daiyu already had a marriage contract.

He asked doubtfully: "But hasn't Shang Rong already made a marriage arrangement?"

"Master!" Mrs. Xing interrupted: "Shang Rong wants to take the second girl as a concubine, right?"

Yingchun was not born by her, and she did not raise her by her side. If she could exchange this stepdaughter for money, she would fully support it.

Therefore, I couldn't wait to express my guess.

Jia She glared at her and scolded: "Why are you still relying on Shang Rong? You are not afraid of suppressing him anymore!"

When he saw that Lai Shangrong ignored the conditions he proposed and instead kept staring at Yingchun to talk about things, he thought the rumors were wrong.

Mrs. Xing trembled when Jia She scolded her, and stood up in a panic.

Of course Lai Shangrong would not stop him. He looked at Jia She and said, "I wonder if the lord is willing?"

"I'm already optimistic about Shang Rong, so why wouldn't I be willing to do it?" Jia She then wondered: "How can I pass the old lady's test?"

"I've only heard that marriages are always ordered by parents. I've never heard that grandma can make the decision. The Eldest Master is now the head of the Jia family. Could it be that you can't make decisions about this matter?"

Lai Shangrong said seductively: "Besides, I wanted to marry the second young lady before, but the old lady was not willing. Now if I am willing to marry her, will the old lady still object?"

When he said this, Jia She immediately remembered that he was now the head of the clan and puffed out his chest unconsciously.

"What Shang Rong said is right!"

Then he changed his words and said: "But if this happens, I will inevitably break up with the old lady and bear the name of being disobedient and unfilial..."

The parents have the final say on their children's marriage, and it has nothing to do with disobedience and unfilial piety. Of course, it is inevitable that Jia's mother will not welcome her.

If he had been at the end of his rope, he might not have resisted Jia Mu's pressure and promoted the marriage between Lai Shangrong and Yingchun.

In the original book, why is Jia's mother willing to welcome the spring to fill in Sun Shaozu's house?
Didn't Jia She insist on going his own way and settle the matter?
He deliberately exaggerated the difficulty to increase bargaining chips in the future.

Mrs.

"You..." Jia She deliberately scolded her for talking too much, but was afraid that Lai Shangrong would misinterpret his meaning.

He could only look at Lai Shangrong eagerly and acquiesced to Mrs. Xing's words.

Lai Shangrong took out a stack of banknotes that he had prepared earlier, stared at Jia She with shining eyes, and said with a half-smile: "Buy it now! As long as the Elder Master writes down a written document to make the second girl my concubine, These 5000 taels of silver..."

Having said this, Jia She looked slightly disappointed and continued: "This 5000 taels of silver is the deposit!"

Although he knew that Jia She sold Yingchun 5000 taels to Sun Shaozu, there was still a difference between one to fill a house and the other to be a concubine.

In addition, he has other plans, so it is not unacceptable to raise the price.

Hearing that 5000 taels was a deposit, Jia She was immediately shocked and asked hurriedly: "What about when it's done?"

"After everything is done, I will put out another 5000 taels. If the master wants to buy shares, I can also buy it for you."

He made this price after careful consideration.

He couldn't believe Jia Amnesty's behavior. He might not be able to sell two husbands with one daughter. With the 5000 taels of silver hanging around, even if Sun Shaozu got in the way, he would have to weigh it carefully.

Originally, 5000 taels had already impressed Jia She, but when he heard that there were still 5000 taels left, and could even be converted into shares of a state-owned company, he immediately beamed.

For fear that he would regret it and say, "It's a deal! Let's make a written statement right now!"

Then he shouted at Mrs.

Mrs. Xing was staring at the banknote in Lai Shangrong's hand, her face flushed with peach blossoms. When she heard the scolding, she got excited and ran out in a hurry with small steps.

After a while, a panting man walked in with a pen and paper.

Jia She made three strokes, five divided by two, set up the receipt, blew the ink on it, handed it to Lai Shangrong with one hand, and was about to grab the banknote with the other.

Lai Shangrong took a step back and said with a smile: "Don't worry, Sir. Although you have signed a written agreement, after all, 5000 taels is not a small amount, so I still can't rest assured."

Jia She's lips twitched twice and said, "Then how can you feel relieved?"

"The eldest man is planning to use the eldest wife as a bargaining chip to get some money from me, right?"

Jia Amnesty, who was told to break his mind, didn't feel ashamed, he licked his face and said with a smile: "There was a misunderstanding, but Shang Rong laughed!"

"Crack!" Lai Shangrong slapped Mrs. Xing on the back, and said with a smile, "Hey hey hey! If that's the case, in order to prevent the old man from doing something wrong and making me lose everything, let's accept the next one first!"

Seeing Jia She's hesitation, Lai Shangrong made a gesture to leave and said, "What? You don't want to?"

"No, no, no!" Jia She hurriedly grabbed the bank note in Lai Shangrong's hand, threw the paper on the table, and hurriedly closed the door and left.

…………

(End of this chapter)