Red Mansion: Picking up a Lin Daiyu

Chapter 231 Daddy Only Causes Trouble
Posthouse,

Xue Baochai was busy with official duties day after day.

Everything has been going smoothly recently. Without the obstacle of the Huang family, no one can compete for all the arrangements in Cangzhou City.

But since Yue Ling did not want the Xue family to dominate the market and become the monopolist of Cangzhou, Xue Baochai did not expand without limits, and her main business was still the business that was beneficial to Yue Ling.

This will make it convenient for Yue Ling to regulate the supply of commercial goods in Cangzhou City at the government level once a new situation arises.

Within the Xue family, Xue Baochai's power became increasingly greater.

The success of Cangzhou City is obvious. After obtaining the qualification to sell salt this year, the business under Xue Baochai is about to catch up with the total of all the shops of the Jiangnan Feng brand.

This is the greatest persuasiveness.

More and more Feng shop owners and some old friends at home wrote letters to ask about Xue Baochai's well-being. Their purpose was generally the same: they wanted to join Xue Baochai in doing some business.

But Xue Baochai herself knew clearly that this was not an easy job. What she needed was someone who could really get things done and would not hold her back, rather than a place to live in their old age.

Therefore, the shipping matter had to be handed over to the second branch of the Xue family.

Xue Baochai's second uncle died of illness shortly after her father's death. The situation of the second wife was no different from that of the first wife.

Xue Baochai then thought of helping the brother and sister as well. Besides, since they were young, they had traveled all over the country with their second uncle, and had even crossed the ocean to trade in countries such as India. So, doing business near the sea should not be a problem for them.

"Miss, I'm back. This is the reply from the Marquis. He advises you to keep an eye on your business outside the city. The prospects outside the city are better than inside the city."

Xue Baochai wiped her sweaty hands with a handkerchief and took it.

"Girl, I'm going to go wash up first."

Xue Baochai nodded, "You go."

After reading Yue Ling's reply, Xue Baochai felt more confident. She put the letter into a wooden box beside her and kept it together with all the previous letters.

Xue Baochai let out a long sigh, "I really need to make a detailed list of the goods I need for the winter..."

Just as Xue Baochai was hesitating, Ying'er came out holding a moon-white skirt.

"Girl, whose clothes are wet?"

Xue Baochai took a closer look and frowned, "Is it Xiangling's? She should be taking a bath."

Considering Xiangling's past record, Ying'er quickly threw her skirt to the ground.

"What a dirty girl! I can't keep this skirt anymore. I'll just throw it away."

Xue Baochai was puzzled. "It's just a little wet. Can't it be fixed by washing it?"

Ying'er's eyes turned, and she suddenly became a little angry, "This little girl didn't do anything shameful with the Marquis, right? No, I have to go question her!"

In front of Xue Baochai, Ying'er did not get angry, but smiled and agreed, "Okay, since Xiangling is wearing it anyway, I'll leave it for her."

Xue Baochai shook her head, not knowing what the two little maids were arguing about. Her eyes returned to the paper and pen, and she continued to think about what she had just read.

Soon, screams were heard from the next room.

"Ah! How did you get in?"

"Tell me, what did you do at the government office?"

"Send a message? What else can you do?"

"You little hoof, your skirt is wet while you're running the message?"

Xue Baochai shook her head helplessly. She seemed to be the girl in this room. Why were these two little maids jealous of each other for the Marquis?

Besides, is it their turn to be the Marquis?

……

The inner house of the government office,

The weather was getting colder, and although the heating had not yet been turned on in the room, Lin Daiyu was already enjoying the company of the stove.

Lin Daiyu covered her fingers and breathed softly.

"Girl, there is a letter."

Lin Daiyu asked happily, "Is it a letter from the capital?"

Xueyan said, "From Yangzhou Prefecture."

Lin Daiyu said "oh" and took it with little interest.

"This is a letter from my beloved daughter Yu'er. I miss you so much. Since you left for Beijing, I have been unable to sleep because of your safety and happiness. Although Marquis Anjing treats you very well, I am still worried about you."

"Now, your father has arranged everything and wants to take you back to my side. Although your home is not as prosperous and bustling as the capital, it has the warmth and peace of your loved ones. You have been smart since childhood, and I believe you also miss your hometown."

"..."

"After you return, your father will accompany you carefully and make up for the family life you have been missing for these years. The flowers and trees you planted when you were young are still in the courtyard of our home, and they are still waiting for you to return and bloom. I hope you will discuss it with Marquis Anjing as soon as possible and send a letter back. Your father will send someone reliable to pick you up. I sincerely hope you will come back soon."

Lin Daiyu read it from top to bottom and frowned frequently.

When it comes to family love, Lin Daiyu does miss it, and she also misses every tree and blade of grass in Yangzhou Prefecture, but if she really wants to go back, she is even more reluctant to leave here.

"Xueyan, bring a charcoal basin."

Xueyan returned with a charcoal basin in her hand, and asked in confusion, "Miss, what do you want this charcoal basin for?"

Lin Daiyu loosened her grip, and the letter fell into the charcoal basin, leaving only dust in an instant.

Xueyan didn't even react, "Miss, the letter!" Lin Daiyu woke up as if from a dream, "Oh, it's okay, I've already read it. I'll burn it after reading it, no problem."

Xueyan thought it made sense, "Well, what did the master say?"

Lin Daiyu was stunned for a moment, "What did you say? I don't remember."

"what?"

Lin Daiyu shook her dress, stood up and said, "Brother Yue is coming back. I have to wait for him outside."

Xueyan looked at Lin Daiyu's departing back, then looked at the ashes in the charcoal basin, and thought to herself, "What on earth is written in this letter? The girl has a photographic memory, how could she not remember it..."

"Xueyan, take out the charcoal basin. Don't light charcoal in an empty room."

"Oh, I know."

When Yue Ling returned, the room was still tidy and the heater kept the room at just the right temperature, neither too hot nor too cold.

Lin Daiyu was sitting at the table with a book in her hand. When she saw Yue Ling coming back, she asked, "Brother Yue, was everything going well today? How was the harvest outside the city?"

Yue Ling nodded and smiled, "All good. If there weren't so many people suffering this year, I would have taken Sister Lin to see the cotton fields. Although the endless cotton fields are not a sea of ​​flowers, they are also a sight to behold."

Yue Ling went to the cotton field alone to inspect.

It’s different when we bring Lin Daiyu along, it’s more like amusement.

But now is not the time to enjoy ourselves. Cangzhou City has not yet gotten rid of its poverty, so we cannot act like this.

Lin Daiyu's heart was as clear as a mirror. Although she had some regrets, there was still a long way to go. Yue Ling would not return to the capital after the New Year, and she would not return to Yangzhou Prefecture. She still had many days to go out and have fun.

Lin Daiyu asked again: "When does Brother Yue plan to return to the capital?"

Cangzhou is closer to the capital and still far from Yangzhou, but Lin Daiyu feels that it is safer in the capital and she will not be dragged back home by her father.

Now her elder brother Yue still doesn't understand her feelings, and there are hungry wolves surrounding her outside, so how can she leave?

Xue Baochai also said that her mother and brother were a hindrance. Now from Lin Daiyu's perspective, her father was almost the same.

Yue Ling was puzzled. "Sister Lin wants to go back? Cangzhou City is not at peace yet. It may take another two or three years. I want to make Cangzhou City look brand new within three years. It won't be comparable to Suzhou and Hangzhou, but it won't be too far behind."

Lin Daiyu shook her head. "I am also looking forward to witnessing the day when Brother Yue's efforts will all come true. Of course, I don't want to go back to the capital. However, if Sister Ke'er and the others are separated from Brother Yue for two or three years, it seems a bit cruel to them... This..."

"Forehead……"

Yue Ling also thought of this problem, and then thought of Qin Keqing's personality. After not seeing each other for such a long time, she might have missed her like crazy.

But after all, he was doing disaster relief, not taking his family with him to take up the post of local official. Bringing Lin Daiyu with him was a special case, and it was even more inappropriate to bring a group of little maids with him.

"I can only let them down. When I return, I will make it up to them."

……

Beijing, Yue's house,
Qin Keqing was wearing a pink jacket with a gold-embroidered collar, a silver-red bodice, and an emerald-colored long skirt. Her skirt was like a blooming flower, her waist was like a slender willow, but no one was licking her fair face and red lips. She just leaned back on the bench, lost in thought.

Half a year had passed since Yue Ling left Beijing, and she had no idea how she had spent this half year.

It’s just that the dark purple sweat towel has faded a little, as if to confirm something.

Ruizhu Zhuzhu was embroidering in the room. Compared with the two needy little maids, Qin Keqing obviously needed more.

Ruizhu leaned out from behind the curtain and saw Qin Keqing staring at the door as usual, and she couldn't help but sigh.

"The girl is like a possessed person, waiting like this day after day, she will definitely get sick."

At that moment, Ni Ni ran in from outside the hall and reported to the room: "Sister Keqing, someone is looking for you."

Qin Keqing's eyes gradually brightened, "Looking for me?"

"Yes, looking for Sister Keqing. He said he was Sister Keqing's brother and seemed to have been to the mansion."

Qin Keqing frowned and said, "Okay, I'll go right away."

In the back hall outside the second gate, a handsome young man was led here by Ni Er.

She has a slim figure, with a fair face and rosy lips like Qin Keqing, and her appearance is even more delicate, even better than Baoyu's. Her timid and shy look is truly that of a girl.

"I've already gone to call Miss Qin. Please wait here for a moment."

Ni Er hated this kind of Rabbit Brother the most. It was really annoying. After saying something, he went out.

Qin Zhong stood up and said, "Thank you, Butler Ni."

After a while, Qin Keqing really came to the back hall. As soon as she entered the door, she frowned and looked Qin Zhong up and down, refusing to take another step forward.

Qin Zhong saw that his sister looked good. She looked more like a lady in Yue's house than when she was at home. He was delighted and said, "Seeing that my sister is doing well, I feel relieved."

"No one comes to visit you for no reason. Stop asking about my well-being. Tell me what's going on first. Did you come here on your own or did Daddy ask you to come? Let me be clear, it was Daddy who sold me out, so you shouldn't have come!"

Qin Zhong scratched his head and said embarrassedly: "I have another exam this month, but because my foundation is too weak, I can't keep up with the doctoral professor's lessons."

"You need to get eight points in the annual exam at the Imperial College to be promoted. I have only got half a point in the past half year, and I am about to be left behind... If my father knew about this, he would beat me to death. Sister, you are now the wife of the Marquis, and Marquis Anjing has made new military achievements and is famous in the capital."

"Even my classmates come to ask me about the Marquis. If I stay, won't it be embarrassing for the Marquis?"

"If the Marquis can say a few good words for me, or if my sister can write a letter to Si Zheng for me and ask him to take care of me, I..."

Qin Keqing's charming peach blossom eyes seemed to be spitting fire at this moment. Her face was filled with anger as she spoke angrily, "How can you be such an idiot? You have failed in your studies and yet you still have the nerve to come to the Marquis' Mansion!"

(End of this chapter)