Dream of the Red Chamber: Daiyu and I swapped clothes

Chapter 53 I'm Here to Read

The word "serious" seems completely unrelated to Xue Pan.

Li Chen didn't point it out, but Xue Pan spoke first, "Good brother, I've heard everything. The day you came to Rongguo Mansion, you and Baoyu got into a fight in the hall, not even giving face to the old lady and the madam. I truly admire you."

Then he lowered his voice and said mysteriously, "Brother Chen, you've come to scout out the enemy's situation, haven't you? Indeed, because of your provocation, Baoyu has really settled down and started studying seriously in Mengpo Studio. The tutor from the Imperial Academy he hired even arrived on the fifth day of the month."

Shifting his tone, Xue Pan became concerned again, "Speaking of which, Brother Chen, don't you need to study? If you lack anything, just ask your brother."

Upon hearing this, Li Chen took a sip of his wine, his mind clear with confidence. "What's the use of cramming at the last minute? Can you pass my system test? You're kidding."

Setting down his wine cup, Li Chen spoke leisurely, "Brother Xue, becoming a top scholar isn't something you can achieve by spending your whole life studying."

Xue Pan laughed heartily and said cheerfully, "That's right! I like your character; you're destined for greatness! I'm looking forward to throwing you a celebratory banquet."

Waving his hand, Li Chen lowered his profile and suppressed his smile. "Then, can we talk about serious matters now?"

Seeing that Li Chen's expression was not joking, Xue Pan immediately straightened his expression and waved his hand without hesitation to send the two beauties serving him away to fetch wine. He then stepped forward and said earnestly in a low voice, "A brother's business is a brother's business. Why be so formal? If it's just a few coins, there's no need to be so nervous. It only makes your brother anxious."

Li Chen said, "Don't worry, it's not a difficult thing. It's just about finding a good business for my brother."

"make a living?"

Xue Pan was even more puzzled, and his face became slightly unnatural. "Forgive me for speaking frankly, brother, but despite my ancestors being imperial merchants, I am truly not good at economics. Mother doesn't even allow me to look at the accounts of the Feng Company, let alone my sister. If you have a legitimate business, why don't you ask my sister? I really don't want to implicate you."

Seeing that this domineering man from Jinling had become cautious after entering the capital, Li Chen was ashamed and pointed out the key point: "Brother, you are the pillar of the Xue family. How can you not get involved in anything and just enjoy yourself? Everyone has bad deeds, but if you don't try, how will you know the shortcomings?"

“My brother really has a practical way of making a living.” Li Chen said as he took out his study notes and placed them on the table.

"This book is a primer for elementary education that I have carefully compiled. It covers the Three Character Classic, the Hundred Family Surnames, the Thousand Character Classic, calligraphy, and rhyme. Although it may not be a book full of gems, it is still quite substantial."

"Brother, you can take over a few bookstores soon and renovate them in preparation for printing."

"Brother, if you believe I can achieve fame in the imperial examinations, then you'll understand why I, born into a noble family and considered a spoiled brat by the world, with neither family learning nor instruction from great scholars, have managed to obtain official rank. Who wouldn't want to find out?"

"This……"

Xue Pan hesitated for a moment, then awkwardly reached for the book to read it.

Li Chen slapped his hand away and asked, "Brother, do you also want to learn and find out what it's all about?"

Xue Pan chuckled foolishly, "I don't know many words, so it's really unnecessary for me to take a few more glances."

Li Chen grabbed his wrist, preventing him from playing dumb. "Brother, do you know why the salt merchants of Yangzhou are so wealthy, yet they love to donate to academies and organize literary gatherings?"

"Why?"

"Isn't it to wash away the stench of money, to feign refinement, and to gain respect? Brother is now rolling in money, but even Aunt doesn't allow you to get involved in the family business. Isn't this bookstore your chance to reinvent yourself?"

“Every month, there are bookstores in the capital that are not doing well. It would only cost less than a hundred taels of silver to buy a few of them. That would just mean that you would have to go out and have some fun one less time.”

Li Chen laid out the pros and cons in detail, and Xue Pan naturally had no choice but to agree.

Just then, the two beautiful women returned. Xue Pan nodded repeatedly and patted his chest, saying, "Since my good brother has spoken, how can I, as the elder brother, refuse? It's just a matter of a few hundred taels of silver. It would be too disloyal of me to refuse you."

"Don't worry, Brother Chen, I'll definitely find the most capable manager of the Feng family business in the capital to handle it." "Regardless of profit or loss, I'm willing to gamble with you, Brother Chen!"

"That's great, brother, drink up!"

With the major matters settled, Li Chen calmly drank with Xue Pan.

As the wine flowed freely, Xue Pan's actions of embracing the two beautiful women became increasingly indecent. Li Chen noticed this and truly felt that he was being superfluous and hindering Xue Pan's performance.

Just as he was about to get up and take his leave.

But just then, a commotion arose downstairs, mixed with the clanging of armor.

It was truly rare to see soldiers barging into a restaurant.

Although Xue Pan was quite drunk, upon hearing the voice, he first comforted him, saying, "Brother Chen, there's no need to worry. It must be the city patrol officers, because of that recent case of the thief."

"A thief?" Li Chen asked, puzzled.

Xue Pan patted the beautiful woman beside him and said, "Tell my brother what you think."

Meiji obediently offered fruit and poured Li Chen a cup of wine. She sat down between Xue Pan and Li Chen at the table and said with a smile, "It's quite a strange thing, really."

“Since New Year’s Eve, a despicable flower thief has appeared in the capital, targeting lone women. If it is an ordinary woman, he will commit evil deeds. If it is a girl from a respectable family, he will only steal a lock of her hair and pretend that he has ruined her chastity. Now that the Lantern Festival is approaching, it has caused panic among the people.”

Li Chen nodded in realization, "I see. No wonder my father has been transferred to patrol the inner city these past few days."

Xue Pan downed a cup of wine, embraced the beautiful woman beside him, and scoffed at the womanizing behavior, saying disdainfully, "This kind of despicable act truly disgraces the word 'romantic'! If you really have the ability, why not come to this open and aboveboard place? Seeking the Orchid Girl would be a wonderful thing."

The girl beside him covered her mouth and chuckled, "The old man must be confused. How can we judge such a thief by common sense? Otherwise, wouldn't we all become thieves?"

Everyone burst into laughter, thoroughly enjoying themselves.

Li Chen was about to ask, "Then why look in brothels?"

But then, with a loud bang, the most familiar face pushed open the door to the private room.

Xue Pan's eyes widened, and he was about to get up and lash out.

Li Chen hurriedly pressed it down.

With a wry smile, Li Chen asked, "Father, why are you here?"

A burly man with a bushy beard stood at the door. Upon seeing Li Chen, he first looked puzzled, then glared at him, his face darkening as he asked, "Why are you here?"

Xue Pan was quite adept at dealing with people. His angry brows quickly turned into a fawning smile, and he bowed deeply, saying, "So, so you are the Marquis. I was unaware of your identity. Brother Chen is here to keep me company while I drink, and these two beauties are here to serve me. They have nothing to do with him."

Feeling guilty, Li Chen knew he was about to be taken back to the manor for a lecture, so he picked up the manuscript on the table, hoping Xue Pan would put it away safely.

Marquis Zhenyuan said coldly, "Chen'er, you don't mean to say that you came here to study the scriptures, do you?"

(End of this chapter)