The head of the Red Mansion

Chapter 57 Fake Argument
Jiangnan, Sanzao Saltworks.

Jia Lian, who personally worked alongside the salt workers to boil and fry salt, felt as if he was being pickled through.

This job is absolutely inhuman!

I don't know if my aunt offended my uncle, which is why she's making things so difficult for him.

Poor thing, he had promised his uncle that he would produce two hundred catties of salt.

Jia Lian felt like crying.

I really want to give up.

But no.

His aunt had been away from home for so many years, and he finally managed to come to see her, only to go back on his word in front of his uncle, turning a coward into a deserter...

Just thinking about the consequences of running home made Jia Lian's legs tremble.

He gritted his teeth and persevered day after day.

Fortunately, his 200 jin of salt is almost ready.

Seeing the supervisor strolling over, Jia Lian grabbed a bit of the finished product and went to greet him. "Lord Chen, my salt is almost done," he said with a big smile. "Please try it and see if it's up to standard?"

"Hmm~"

Chen Jingtian tasted it carefully, and after a long while, he spat it out. "If you boil it again, it can be called refined salt."

It's rare to see the eldest son of the Duke's mansion manage to hold on for so many days. "Would you like to fry some more?"

"……fry!"

Jia Lian gritted his teeth and finally agreed.

He's worked so hard all this time, he should strive for perfection and give his aunt some face in front of his uncle.

Jia Lian vaguely sensed that his uncle's insistence on him admitting his interest in salt and his personal involvement in salt production had a deeper meaning.

However, he wasn't at the level of his uncle, a cunning old fox, and couldn't guess the answer; he could only wait for his next instruction.

"Brother, you're this guy!"

Chen Jingtian gave him a thumbs up and was about to say a few more words of flattery when the sound of horses' hooves came from afar.

Looking up, I saw a dozen burly men and a horse-drawn carriage coming this way.

……

In Yangzhou, Jia Min had already helped her nephew buy the sacrificial land. The two adjacent estates were not enough money for Jia Lian, so she took it upon herself to borrow 1,800 taels.

The land is there, but the nephew has vanished.

The situation in Jiangnan is complicated, and she is really afraid that her husband will ruin her nephew here.

"lady!"

When Lin Ruhai entered the room, he found her standing there in a daze. He waved to the maids, signaling them to leave, and then handed them the booklet he was holding. "This is what Uncle Lin Shan asked me to give you before he left."

The contents were shocking.

He was somewhat incredulous and sent someone to check again, saying, "Take a look!"

Jia Min took it, turned to the first page, and her expression changed immediately. "Husband... has already read it?"

"Not only did I look at it, I also investigated it."

Lin Ruhai sighed and sat down next to her. "Min'er, I'm sorry, I've dragged you into this."

Jia Min: "..."

She flipped through the pages a little faster, but the further she flipped, the more frightened and terrified she became.

Especially the last page, which is full of people around the son, Chang'an.

Jia Min stared at the two names she trusted most on the list, feeling a tightness in her chest.

On the 27th day of the ninth month of the fifth year of Emperor Xiaomu's reign, Tian Youlan and her husband Zhang Cheng received 3,000 taels of silver from salt merchant Li Zhong. On the 11th day of the eleventh month, they received a 100-mu farm from him. On the 15th day of the first month of the sixth year of Emperor Xiaomu's reign, they received 100 taels of gold and a two-courtyard house in the southern part of the city.

Why would someone give so many things to two servants?

Moreover, Li Zhong is backed by the wealthy salt merchant Li Haimu. That man... they almost turned against each other when they first arrived in Yangzhou.

Thinking of the two so-called Li family girls she had sold, Jia Min's hands couldn't help but tremble again.

She never mistreated anyone, especially those around her.

Thinking of how everyone had followed her away from the wealthy Duke's mansion and left their hometowns, and how the annual rewards for them, except for the monthly ones, had become more and more generous each year, she thought that after experiencing such a wealthy place as the Duke's mansion, they would never be blinded by the temptations of the outside world. But now she saw that... not a single one of them was reliable.

Some people even eat at one house and then another, wishing they could be slaves to three masters.

No, including her, some people have three different masters, don't they?
"My husband... I'm so sorry."

Overwhelmed by shame, anger, and heartbreak, Jia Min was about to kneel down before her husband, who had always trusted her.

"It's not your fault." Lin Ruhai hugged the trembling Jia Min, feeling very guilty. "It's my fault. My identity is too sensitive, which is why they were targeted."

Throughout history, countless officials have succumbed to greed, let alone their lackeys.

It was him; he was too naive.

Surprisingly, after so many years in officialdom, he's still so muddle-headed when it comes to family matters.

Lin Ruhai dared not imagine what those people outside would do if they suffered another loss at his hands. "Min'er, thank you so much. If you hadn't thought of that in advance..." they might not even know how their family died.

Throughout history, many people have fallen from this position.

"Husband...!"

Jia Min was both pained and angry, her tears soaking his clothes. Just as she was about to say that it was her sister-in-law from the East Mansion who had reminded her, she suddenly realized something, "Oh no, Daiyu and Chang'an..."

"I sent someone to keep an eye on it yesterday."

After investigating, Lin Ruhai no longer trusted the Jia family's servants. "Don't be afraid, no one dares to harm our children."

His voice was incredibly firm, “Min’er, it just so happens that Uncle Lin Shan went to Lian’er’s place. Using him as an excuse, we can pretend to have a fight and replace Daiyu and the people around Chang’an.”

Come and don't go indecent.

This time, if he doesn't skin a few people alive, he's not even a Lin.

"And those around us..."

The Jia family is completely rotten, and those around him...

Although Lin Ruhai had checked before, after this incident, he felt it was better to check every three months.

After all, people's hearts are fickle.

"For the sake of our children, and for our own sake, we should at least be extra careful, if not check every month."

"Hmm~"

At this point, how could Jia Min dare to refuse?
The maids who accompanied her, whom her parents personally selected, and the servants who grew up with her, were all bribed by outsiders in various ways.

Who can she trust? Who can she dare to trust?

"Min'er!" Lin Ruhai embraced his wife, whose eyes showed fear but who was still worried about him. "Once Lian'er's matter is settled, you can take the two children and go back to the capital with him!"

"Husband..."

Jia Min looked at her husband with teary eyes; how could she bear to part with him?

"You and the two children will be safe if you go to Beijing."

Although the Duke's Mansion has declined, the legacy of the four generations of Dukes Ning and Rong still exists, and the lady and her two children can be taken care of with a little attention.

Lin Ruhai's eyes were burning with determination. "Besides, only after you leave can I work with full force."

Salt administration is a matter of vital importance to the nation, and the quality of salt is directly related to the health of millions of people.

As the Salt Commissioner, Lin Ruhai knew all too well that although the bitter-tasting salt was cheap, it contained trace amounts of toxins.

Consuming small amounts is fine, but long-term consumption can be very harmful to health and lifespan.

However, the salt cannot be detoxified simply by adding frying or boiling steps.

But if they abandoned the toxic salt, the salt from the other salt fields wouldn't be enough to supply the entire Dazhao region.

Lin Ruhai and all the previous salt officials were troubled by this problem.

He originally thought that he could only help the Emperor and the Emperor Emeritus protect the country's salt tax in his life, but he never expected that his sister-in-law from the Ningguo Mansion would give him two unimaginable hopes.

One method is to remove impurities as quickly as possible, and possibly reduce toxins; the other is to increase sea salt production.

Whichever of these two succeeds, it will be a major event that benefits the country and its people.

Lin Ruhai wanted to focus on his work without distractions. "Min'er, it's easy to dodge a spear in the open, but hard to guard against an arrow in the dark." He didn't want her to live in fear anymore. "Your greatest support for me is to take care of yourself and our two children." His wife's health was not as good as before.

He didn't want to worry about her either.

"Come on, let's think of ways to argue..."

He wiped away her tears, saying, "Remember, we were just arguing. Whatever we said was fake. I didn't really want to hurt you."

"……Um!"

Jia Min wiped away her tears. "Me too. No matter what you say, my husband, don't take it to heart." At this point, her voice suddenly rose. "Lin Ruhai, what do you take me for? All these years, we've already agreed that you'll manage the outer courtyard, and I'll manage the inner courtyard. You listen to Lin Shan's instigation. What is Lin Shan anyway?"

"you you……"

Lin Ruhai stood up abruptly, "He's someone I have to call 'uncle.' What is he? What inner courtyard? What outer courtyard? This is my Lin family..."

His voice was filled with exasperation, "Chang'an and Daiyu are children of the Lin family. You're controlling them and preventing any member of the Lin family from getting close. I haven't even asked you yet, what are you trying to do?"

"They are my children, what do you mean by 'I can do whatever I want'?"

Jia Min smashed a cup with a 'smash'.

From afar, they could hear that Daiyu, whose father was with her mother, was coming this way with her younger brother, Lin Chang'an.

Hearing the faint sounds of arguing, the two stopped in their tracks.

"Sister~"

"fine!"

Daiyu took her younger brother's hand and said, "Let's solve the nine-linked rings!"

Although she was very worried about her father and mother, the door to their room was closed, clearly indicating that she didn't want them to know.

Moreover, in normal arguments, the father usually gives in to the mother in the end, and then the mother gives in to the father in return, and the two admit their mistakes to each other.

"..."

Lin Chang'an didn't want to leave.

He heard something break again.

Lin Daiyu heard this too, and her worry deepened. "Granny!" she called to her wet nurse, Wang, and then to her younger brother's head nanny, Tian: "Granny Tian, ​​go over there and see. If Father and Mother notice you, tell them that my brother and I are outside."

"Yes!"

Tian Youlan and Granny Wang exchanged a glance and went over together.

Both of them were Jia Min's dowry maids, and now they are by the young master's side, so they have always been well-liked.

When the master and mistress quarrel, the master loses ten times out of ten.

Even if the old lady were still alive, on the surface the master would win, but in the end he would apologize and beg for forgiveness from his wife.

Now that he has two young masters, even if Lin Shan gains face, it's still...

Their footsteps were heavy, but before they got close, they heard something break again.

"Stop smashing it."

Lin Ruhai seemed to be short of breath, unable to do anything about his mad wife. "Be careful your hands don't hurt."

"I don't need your interference..."

Jia Min's voice was trembling with tears.

"Madam, Madam, please give me some face," Lin Ruhai pleaded. "Uncle Lin Shan is getting old. He followed my grandfather and father, watched me grow up, and took care of me for so many years. Now he just wants to place a few of the Lin family's servants around Daiyu and Chang'an. Why can't that be? Can't you just do it for my sake and put his mind at ease?"

"no……"

"Madam~"

Lin Ruhai seemed extremely helpless. "It's just a temporary measure. Uncle Lin Shan won't last more than a few months. Let's go along with him for now, and you can always switch back later."

The servants of the Jia family outside all became somewhat serious.

It really can't be anything but serious.

The outer courtyard has always been controlled by the Lin family's servants.

That old bastard Lin Shan guarded the outer courtyard like an iron barrel.

Now they actually dare to act like they're old and powerful, forcing the master to extend his reach into the inner courtyard. How can this be allowed?
Everyone's ears perked up.

Although with his wife around, everyone can basically come back, but what if something happens?
Everyone has a guilty conscience; they know why these people receive gifts from the powerful and influential outsiders.

The master and mistress are both very good, and the two young masters are also very good, but no matter how good they are, it is impossible to reward them with hundreds or even thousands of taels of silver.

And it wasn't just a hundred taels.

That's wealth that you couldn't earn in several lifetimes.

With that money, estate, and courtyard, their families and descendants would no longer have to worry.

"Madam~~~"

Lin Ruhai's voice trailed off somewhat.

"Zhenzhen, you are my celestial demon star."

Jia Min gritted her teeth, "Summon your men here, I want to see them first."

"Eh~"

Lin Ruhai agreed very loudly.

Lin Daiyu and Lin Chang'an, who had moved a little closer, heard this and were speechless.

Father is still the same as always.

The two exchanged a glance, and Lin Chang'an grinned as he pulled his sister back a little further.

Half a day later, Li, the salt merchant who was most concerned about the Lin family, received the news that all the maids and servants in the Lin family's backyard had been replaced by servants born into the Lin family. However, the former maids and servants were not left idle; they were simply given a three-month leave by Jia Min.

It's still a monthly holiday.

It seems to be fine.

But...

Li Haimu, the wealthy salt merchant, always felt that something was amiss.

"Go and find out more clearly why the Lin family did this."

He was too worried.

The master above sent a letter, hoping that he would cause Lin Ruhai some more trouble.

In fact, he had this idea himself even without his master's permission.

If we don't find something for Lin Ruhai to do soon, the batch of goods he stockpiled might be in danger.

But Yangzhou is different from other places. Lin Ruhai has two ducal mansions behind him. In an emergency, they can directly request the garrison to send troops without going through the government.

This is the most troublesome.

Li Haimu, through roundabout means and painstaking efforts to befriend the Lin family's servants, was actually after Jia Min from the Duke's mansion.

Although the risk is great, if it succeeds, everyone will thank him afterwards.

"master!"

The steward was also anxious, "What if Lord Lin has already discovered it..."

This?
Li Haimu's brows were deeply furrowed.

It is not impossible.

Lin Ruhai is a master of acting; if he discovers anything...

As he paced back and forth in circles, sweat gradually began to bead on his back.

"Notify Seventh Brother..."

After thinking for a long time, Li Haimu still dared not take the risk. "Take more people to the east, west, and back streets. If anything seems amiss, immediately raise the alarm!"

The Li family's success today is certainly not as simple as it appears on the surface.

"Also, keep a close eye on the Lin family. If they dare to lay a hand on my Li family, the Lin family... will never have peace."

"Yes!"

The butler left to make the arrangements, but Li Haimu was still uneasy. He immediately ground ink and wrote a long and fluent letter.