The Red Mansion: From a Small Pawn to a Leader

The spring breeze is warm and everything is reviving. It is the season for outings and flower viewing. The Li family's back garden is also full of flowers and green willows.

Feng called a few little maids carrying food boxes to come in from the garden gate.

After walking a few steps, Feng saw her silly daughter and a few little girls sitting among a pile of flowers and playing with flowers, with silly smiles on their faces.

Feng smiled bitterly and shook her head. She was about to go up and say something to Xiangling, but then she remembered what the prince and princess said. She sighed in her heart: Forget it. After saying that to her once, the prince and princess specifically told her not to restrict Xiangling. Well, it's good this way. A fool has his own luck!
Feng continued walking forward and heard laughter coming from the other side of the lake which was hidden by clumps of weeping willows.

Following the stone path under their feet, passing by flowers and willows, and turning a few corners, Feng and others arrived at the lake.

Under a big willow tree by the lake, there was a large white fox fur mattress, and the golden hairpins were sitting there chatting and laughing with Lin Daiyu.

Jia Yingchun, Jia Xichun, Shi Xiangyun, Xue Baoqin and Xing Xiuyun were all there.

Wang Xifeng also came with her daughter, and the mother and daughter were fishing by the waterside pavilion.

Seeing Feng coming, Zijuan and others who were whispering nearby came forward, took the food boxes from the little maids, and placed plates of exquisite snacks on the white fox fur mattress.

Feng walked forward, bowed slightly to Lin Daiyu, and said, "Princess, Uncle San just sent someone to report that those properties have been acquired. In addition, several families want to transfer their restaurants, teahouses, and shops to our family."

Lin Daiyu nodded and said, "Tell Uncle San that he only wants the ones from Qianmen Street." As she said that, she picked up a piece of cake and handed it to Jia Xichun.

Jia Xichun immediately responded with a sweet smile.

Feng: "Yes." She replied, bowed to all the golden hairpins, and then left.

Shi Xiangyun swallowed the cake in her mouth and asked, "Sister Lin, why do you only want the ones from Qianmen Street?"

Jia Xichun, Xue Baochai and Xing Xiuyun also looked at Lin Daiyu curiously.

Lin Daiyu smiled and said, "Of course it's because Qianmen Street has a good market and can make money." As she said that, she glanced at Jia Yingchun and Xue Baochai. One of them didn't care, while the other knew what was going on.

Xue Baochai blinked her eyes a few times. The East and West cities were close to the imperial city and could easily be caught up in the war.

She thought of the rumors outside again, and her eyes flashed with light.

Ever since the news spread that Li Hu did not withdraw to the interior as requested by the cabinet, rumors have been spreading in the capital that Li Hu had ambitions to establish himself as king, that he had robbed tens of millions of property in Liaodong and had the confidence to confront the court, that the Li family would soon flee the capital, and even that Li Hu wanted to enter the capital and seize the Dashun kingdom!

Lin Daiyu knew that it was the bad guy Wang Ren who spread the rumor.

Even the palace knew that it was Wang Ren who was spreading rumors and causing trouble, but they did not stop him. In this situation, Wang Ren could not be touched.

Lin Daiyu waved her hand, bought up properties in the capital, spent money lavishly, and told everyone that the Li family would not leave the capital.

This is also what Lin Daiyu told the palace. The Empress Dowager has to believe it even if she doesn't. This is a way out.

Seeing that Shi Xiangyun wanted to ask something, Lin Daiyu smiled and said, "You have finally got what you wished for."

Shi Xiangyun blushed: "You are so bad."

Everyone laughed.

Shi Xiangyun suddenly sighed: "It's just a pity for Third Sister. The Second Master of the Zhenguo Mansion is not a good match!"

Xue Baoqin answered: "What do you mean?"

Shi Xiangyun: "Who would take a concubine first? She gave birth to a son and a daughter. They will definitely favor the concubine over the wife in the future!"

When these words were spoken, everyone was shocked and fell silent for a moment.

Even Jia Yingchun frowned.

Jia Xichun looked at Shi Xiangyun: "Sister Yun, why didn't you say so earlier?"

Shi Xiangyun: "I also heard about it from my aunt a few days ago."

Jia Xichun tugged at Lin Daiyu's sleeve: "Sister Lin"

Xue Baochai spoke up for him: "This is a marriage granted by the emperor, no one can change it. Unless..."

Jia Xichun asked anxiously: "Unless what?"

Shi Xiangyun was a person who spoke what was in her mind: "Unless there is a change of dynasty." As she said this, she suddenly reacted and hurriedly covered her mouth.

Lin Daiyu immediately glanced at the housekeepers and maids who were surrounding her: "What did Miss Shi say just now?" The housekeepers and maids immediately knelt down and said: "We didn't hear anything."

Lin Daiyu: "If this gets out, not only will the palace be implicated, but you servants will also be in trouble, as will your families. Do you understand?"

All the housekeepers, wives and maids said: "Yes."

Lin Daiyu then said to Zijuan, "Take them to Nanny Wang to receive the reward money, two months' salary for each person."

Zijuan: “Yes.”

All the housekeepers, wives and maids said: "Thank you, Princess, for the reward." They all bowed their heads, stood up and followed Zijuan out.

The golden hairpins looked at each other. It was the first time they saw Lin Daiyu dealing with the servants in the palace. With both kindness and force, it was no wonder that Lin Daiyu could manage such a large palace in an orderly manner!

Xue Baochai's eyes flashed. One had to leave his name when receiving the reward money.

Shi Xiangyun was a little embarrassed: "Sister Lin, I said the wrong thing. I should pay for it."

Lin Daiyu: "Did your aunt give you pocket money?"

Shi Xiangyun blushed: "The old lady gave it to me."

Lin Daiyu looked at her and smiled: "She is really my grandson's wife."

Shi Xiangyun was embarrassed and hurriedly covered Lin Daiyu's mouth.

All the golden hairpins laughed.

Lin Daiyu smiled and nodded at her: "Since you have received the old lady's personal money, I will not be polite to you."

Shi Xiangyun suddenly remembered: "Sister Lin, those rumors outside..."

Lin Daiyu smiled and said, "He is just a clown."

Shi Xiangyun nodded.

"What is Brother-in-law Lin busy with now?" Jia Xichun suddenly asked.

The golden hairpins were slightly startled. Yes, what was Li Hu busy with?

Xue Ke did not lie. Li Hu was indeed not in Shengjing City, but in Jilin.

At this time, Jilin was still cold and snowy.

After walking along the Songhua River for a while, until his ears and nose turned red due to the cold wind, Li Hu returned to Jilin City after being persuaded by Wang Daniu and others.

On the big white horse, Li Hu recalled the folk song from his textbook in his previous life: hit roe deer with a stick and scoop fish with a ladle; a pheasant flies into the rice pot.

Northeast China is a good place. The Songhua River, Heilongjiang River and other major water systems pass through this land, with abundant water resources to support agricultural irrigation. In addition, the black soil layer in Northeast China is fertile, which is very suitable for agricultural planting, especially the production of important food crops such as corn and soybeans.

Secondly, the natural resources in the Northeast are quite rich. The vast forests have a large amount of timber resources. There are many kinds of wild animals and plants in the forests, and there are countless treasures; mineral resources are also very rich, such as coal mines, iron ore, and oil.

The Northeast is so rich in resources, but unfortunately the Jurchens only know how to burn, kill and loot, and they are also on guard against the Han people in Liaodong, so they are left guarding a treasure trove without getting anything, and it is wasted.

Li Hu came here not only to wipe out the remnants of the Jurchens in the north, but also to see the situation here in person. The natural environment is indeed harsh, but not as bad as imagined. He can slowly immigrate and develop here in the future.

As for the counterattack of the Jurchen remnants in the north on Liaodong, this was actually a trap carefully planned by Heshen, and the deputy governor of Heilongjiang was Heshen's man.

Li Hu wants to take this opportunity to wipe out the remnants of the Jurchens in the north!
In addition, Heshen made a small request to Li Hu, the Tenth Princess. However, Heshen was not greedy for the Tenth Princess' body, but asked Li Hu not to embarrass the Tenth Princess, not to give her to his generals at will, and to give her freedom if the situation allowed in the future.

Li Hu didn't understand, and Heshen himself couldn't explain it clearly. Perhaps it was because the Tenth Princess almost became his daughter-in-law.

Just as he was thinking about it, a scout came riding over.

The sentry said: "Your Majesty, the imperial envoy has arrived."

Has Jia Lian arrived?

Li Hu squeezed his legs together and rode his horse towards Jilin City. (End of this chapter)