Dream of the Red Chamber: Daiyu and I swapped clothes

Chapter 21 Rich and Generous

Li Chen never expected that the private conversation between Xue Baochai and Lin Daiyu would be related to him, and even worse, that it was about him, which threw him off balance.

Although the tea that had just entered her mouth did not spray onto Xue Baochai's face, it still managed to wet a large area of ​​her gauze dress at the chest.

Xue Baochai suffered from a fever, so even in winter, the clothes she wore next to her skin were very thin. Her honey-colored gauze dress was soaked with water and clung tightly to her skin, vaguely revealing the voluptuous and proud curves of her body.

Xue Baochai, however, paid no attention to her own predicament. Instead, she stood up and moved closer to Li Chen, gently patting his back.

"Sister, what happened?"

As Xue Baochai exerted her strength, a strange fragrance wafted towards her nose.

But Li Chen felt his face burning; faced with such beautiful scenery, he was truly overwhelmed.

This is one of the perks of being a girl.

Li Chen subconsciously closed his eyes, forcibly composed himself, and reminded himself that he was Lin Daiyu at this moment.

Xue Baochai is much more clever than Zijuan and Xueyan. Her behavior is different from Lin Daiyu's, which may arouse her suspicion.

"No, nothing." Li Chen turned his head slightly, wiped his mouth with a handkerchief, and found the safest excuse. "It's just that I didn't expect my sister to suddenly bring up a man outside the room."

Upon hearing this, Xue Baochai looked enlightened and, with a hint of guilt, said softly, "It was my fault; I was too abrupt."

He then stepped back slightly, but his clothes were still not straightened.

"Ever since my sister mentioned his real talent and learning, the Xue family has sent a visiting card. Although they were unable to meet with the Marquis of Zhenyuan, they made contact with the household's finance clerk."

"And the day before, my elder brother came home drunk and, for the first time ever, praised the second young master of the Zhenyuan Marquis's mansion in front of my mother and me."

After a slight pause, Xue Baochai said helplessly, "You know my brother's character. Those who have won his favor and become his close friends have all been playboys who indulge in cockfighting and dog racing in the past."

Li Chen's lips curled into a slight frown.

It turned out to be the case.

It wasn't that the Xue family was only acting out of self-interest; the reason the two families suddenly became acquainted was actually due to Lin Daiyu's secret instigation.

She actually took the plight of the Zhenyuan Marquis's mansion to heart, and even went so far as to use her connections in the Jia family to connect the Zhenyuan Marquis's mansion with the Xue family.

This understated protection and planning seemed to stir and tug at Li Chen's heartstrings.

“I built walls for her in the Rongguo Mansion, and she paved the way for me in the Hou Mansion. Isn’t that a way of holding hands and going through thick and thin together? If this continues... it will probably be another kind of holding hands.”

"However... the path she chose, though well-intentioned, was perhaps a bit naive. No matter how declining the Zhenyuan Marquis's mansion may be, it is still a noble family. How could it easily accept financial assistance from merchants? The political taboos involved are ultimately beyond her comprehension as a sheltered young woman."

"However, if we can take this opportunity to make a deal with the Xue family and become the Hou family's 'white glove' in the business world, it would be a brilliant move. We shouldn't get involved in the murky waters of the business world so easily."

"However, the Marquis's power at present may not be enough to make the Xue family wholeheartedly curry favor with him..."

Li Chen's thoughts raced, but his face remained expressionless. When he opened his eyes again, his mind was clear.

Meeting Xue Baochai's probing gaze, Li Chen said slowly, "Sister, isn't it a bit too hasty to judge the character of a complete stranger based solely on Brother Xue's words? Perhaps that Young Master Li is simply easygoing and sociable, able to have pleasant conversations even with someone as straightforward as Brother Xue?"

He paused slightly, a faint smile playing on his lips, and Li Chen's gaze fell on Xue Baochai. "Isn't there someone like that, so adept at navigating social situations, right beside me?"

Upon hearing this, Xue Baochai's expression changed slightly, and her composure froze instantly.

She abruptly withdrew her hand from Li Chen's back, her voice tinged with embarrassment and annoyance, "I sincerely came to discuss this with my sister, how could she tease me like this? Such...such frivolous words, is that something you and I should be saying?"

Upon hearing this, Li Chen suddenly realized that Xue Baochai was probably overthinking things.

They thought Lin Daiyu was going to act as matchmaker for her and the second son of the Marquis of Zhenyuan.

This misunderstanding... seems plausible.

His gaze swept over Xue Baochai's voluptuous and generous figure once more, and Li Chen felt no repulsion. He reached out and grasped Xue Baochai's wrist; its texture was delicate and soft, and its temperature was higher than that of ordinary women, making it very comfortable to hold.

Li Chen spoke again to smooth things over, saying, "Sister, don't be angry. I was just joking. However, that young master Li is no ordinary person."

"It's easy to add flowers to brocade, but difficult to offer charcoal in the snow. He is not yet prominent, which is a good opportunity to establish good relations. Sister understands this well, doesn't she?"

Observing that Xue Baochai's expression gradually calmed down, Li Chen continued to delve deeper: "If I'm not mistaken, now that we've established a relationship with the finance clerk, shouldn't we do some business with the Feng Company?"

The blush on Xue Baochai's face faded, and as she followed Li Chen's thoughts, she became serious. "Sister Lin's prediction was correct; this is indeed the case."

"What kind of business is it? Would you mind telling me, sister?" Li Chen pretended not to know.

"It's the Zhenyuan Marquis's mansion that wants to add cotton-padded clothes for the soldiers of the Beijing Garrison in winter. In total, it's probably a business worth several thousand taels of silver."

Li Chen rolled his eyes inwardly. "Xue Pan can spend two hundred taels on a single meal. What kind of business is several thousand taels to the Xue family?"

However, a thought suddenly popped into Li Chen's head: "Lin Daiyu and Xue Baochai could be my wings."

When he spoke again, Li Chen already had a plan: "In my opinion, sister, why don't you give up all this profit and just try to make a good relationship? A few thousand taels is just a drop in the ocean for the Xue family."

Xue Baochai smiled wryly, "Sister, you really overestimate the Xue family. But then again, do you really think so highly of that young master Li?"

Li Chen nodded. "If you still don't trust me, how about this: let's make a bet."

"What are you gambling?"

"I'll bet that Young Master Li will pass the county examination next year and make the list. Then I'll owe you a favor. If you fail, I'll pay these several thousand taels of silver."

A hint of surprise flashed in Xue Baochai's eyes.

"The county examination is just around the corner, with only two months left. Li Chen is known for his dissolute lifestyle and his early education is not thorough. How can Lin Daiyu be so certain? This is illogical."

Xue Baochai looked up at Lin Daiyu, only to see that the other woman's eyes were clear and confident, as if she knew everything about that young master Li.

This made Xue Baochai even more confused.

Regardless, this bet is entirely beneficial to Xue Baochai. Even if she loses, how could Lin Daiyu possibly harm her by making a condition?
"Alright, we'll do as my sister says."

Li Chen couldn't help but smile, his small hands unconsciously kneading and rubbing Xue Baochai's wrist, finding it very comfortable.

Xue Baochai didn't mind this kind of girlish intimacy, and instead asked, "I heard that Baoyu came to your place and made a scene. He left looking unhappy. Did he have another argument with you, sister?"

Li Chen's expression immediately darkened, and he frowned, saying, "Speaking of this matter, it does have something to do with my sister."

"Oh?"

"He went to Brother Xue's banquet. During the banquet, someone said a few words about how a man should aspire to great things. He felt that this was corrupt and regarded the people around him as people who pursued fame and fortune."

Li Chen's tone turned cold, filled with undisguised contempt, "I did not comfort him. Tell me, what contribution did he make to the wealth and luxury that the manor enjoys today? He sits back and reaps the benefits, indulging in both civil and military pursuits, yet he considers himself superior. Isn't that laughable?"

These sharp and straightforward remarks took even the usually composed Xue Baochai by surprise.

However, upon hearing that Lin Daiyu's words implied an attempt to exonerate the Xue family, he couldn't help but feel indebted to her.

After a moment of silence, Xue Baochai finally followed up, saying, "What you say, sister... is not without reason. Baoyu is indeed spoiled and somewhat unaware of the hardships of the world."

After speaking, she thought of what her mother had said and her own future. Overwhelmed with mixed feelings, she couldn't help but sigh softly.

Where does the future lie? All I see is uncertainty.

"Is that Young Master Li of the Marquis of Zhenyuan really a good person...?"

(End of this chapter)