The head of the Red Mansion

Chapter 221 Ambition
Shen Ning didn't want to investigate too much about what kind of person Xue Baochai was.

The Jia family is no longer the Jia family in Dream of the Red Chamber, and Baoyu is no longer the phoenix egg of the entire Jia family.

As for Lin Daiyu, she had both parents and a smart and adorable younger brother, Lin Chang'an. Their life trajectories were already different. To be honest, Xue Baochai was not qualified to be her younger sister.

However, these are things that Jia Min needs to handle.

Shen Ning didn't intend to interfere with how things ultimately turned out for them.

Personally speaking, Xue Baochai also has qualities that I like.

If she hadn't been so scheming, if she hadn't been so ruthless...

Shen Ning felt that she would really like her.

Unfortunately, there are not so many ifs in this world.

"Mrs. Xue has raised a good daughter."

You can't hit someone who's smiling, especially when they're visiting as relatives.

Shen Ning smiled as she looked at the girl who had a very youthful appearance.

In the Grand View Garden, Baochai's extensive knowledge and talent are evident to all.

He has a wide range of interests, including literature, art, history, medicine, the various schools of thought, and Buddhist classics.

However, she is also worldly, shrewd, hypocritical, cunning, ruthless, cold-hearted, and adept at using underhanded tactics.

The former impressed Shen Ning, the latter...

The smile in Shen Ning's eyes faded considerably. "I wonder what books you've been reading?"

"I've read the Four Books!"

This time, Xue Baochai did not recite the Four Books for Women.

She had already inquired and learned that Madam Shen herself was a scholar, and because she loved reading, she had specially invited a female tutor to come and let Yingchun and the others study here.

If possible, she would like to come and study here.

Although her family background was inferior to those of the noble ladies, Xue Baochai felt that she could surpass them all in academics.

"My cousin told me that Yingchun and the others are studying here..."

"Oh, these two girls are now helping me manage the household."

For some reason, Shen Ning didn't really want her to come.

If Baoyu is no longer the object of the Xue family's pursuit, then who will be next?
Rong-ge'er's age and background were probably more attractive to the Xue family.

Shen Ning interrupted Xue Baochai, who was about to speak, "I heard from Feng'er that Madam Xue wants her son to attend the Jia family's affiliated school?"

what?
"Yes!"

Aunt Xue immediately forgot about her daughter and focused on her son's matter. "I have long heard of the Jia family's great reputation for scholarship. My son Pan'er is naughty. I wonder if he can attend the school?"

"Mrs. Xue, you're too kind. We're all relatives. Getting your son into the Jia family school is just a matter of a word from Feng'er."

In the Dream of the Red Chamber, neither mother nor daughter thought much of Wang Xifeng. In many cases, Xue Baochai directly addressed her as "Feng Yatou" (a nickname implying she was a girl named Feng).

It's like she's not a cousin but an elder.

Shen Ning is very fond of Sister Feng.

With one misfortune after another befalling their family, Feng Jie and Jia Lian, the young couple, were full of the will to survive. She watched from afar and found it quite amusing and endearing.

"Although the Jia family and the Wang family are no longer related, Feng'er is a good girl, and we elders can see that. You should tell her that she doesn't need to report everything, and she can do whatever she wants."

Shen Ning said, "However, has Mrs. Xue inquired about the situation at the clan school? It's not a place where you can work hard for three days and rest for two. Once you're in, you can't be lazy. He can't drop out for at least three years."

"I've inquired about it."

Actually, I didn't inquire in detail.

Aunt Xue was more concerned about Jia Rong, the heir of the Ningguo Mansion, who was studying there.

It's said that Aunt Jia Min's son, Lin Chang'an, will also be imprisoned next year.

If her son Pan'er also goes, then he will be their classmate.

"I heard that the school organizes eye exercises for the children every day?"

This is something new.

Xue Pan found it all very interesting.

“Oh, children’s eyes are hurt from reading. Choose a fixed time each day to massage and press their eyes according to the method recorded in the ‘Shengji Zonglu’. It’s very good for their eyes.”

The "General Record of Sacred Cures" compiled by the Imperial Medical Academy during the Song Dynasty was what she found while searching for her original body's memories.

Of course, we should arrange that for the children.

Shen Ning smiled and said, "I'm glad your son is happy. May I ask whether he will start school before or after the new year?"

There is no such thing as winter vacation here.

However, Shen Ning hopes that Xue Pan will go back to prison next year.

Otherwise, what if he doesn't want to study anymore and runs away while visiting relatives during the Chinese New Year?
Shen Ning was planning to see more jokes.

Of course, transformation was also her goal.

Xue Pan here has never killed anyone, and he doesn't have a maid named Xiangling by his side yet.

It's always good to encourage him to read more of the Great Zhao Code and develop a greater reverence for life.

Xue Pan was a typical playboy.

They were unrestrained, arrogant, and indulged in lust, even disregarding human life.

But Shen Ning remembered that when he went to Jiangnan, he remembered to bring Lin Daiyu some local toys.

He is a man of great loyalty and affection, and he knew to comfort and support his sister and mother when they were sad.

In Shen Ning's opinion, it was entirely due to a lack of proper management.

Aunt Xue spoiled and pampered her without any restraint, and then she was tempted by someone...

"It's not going to be good before the new year."

Aunt Xue had no idea what Shen Ning was thinking, but she was still happy that people cared about her son. "He hasn't been to the capital for many years. He has relatives to visit and shopkeepers to see. He's almost done with everything he needs to do after the New Year. Now he can go to school and study with peace of mind."

Whether visiting relatives or meeting the shopkeeper, one could say that Pan'er was going to study at the Jia family school.

"...That makes sense!"

Shen Ning smiled and chatted for a few more minutes before seeing the guest off.

"Mother~"

Madam You brought over the gift list, saying, "Look, the Xue family sent quite a few gifts."

"Hmm, I'll tell the guards on duty at the clan school to be stricter with Xue Pan once he starts school."

Shen Ning glanced at it and said, "They come when the Wens can't control things."

what?
Ms. You seemed a little dazed.

"Kids will be kids, if they misbehave, just give them a good spanking."

Shen Ning smiled and said, "Although Xue Pan is a bit older now, it is precisely because he is older that he needs to be managed even better."

After transmigrating, she always wanted to beat up Jia Zhen, but unfortunately she never succeeded.

She wanted to hit Baoyu, but the little guy was still young and looked pitiful.

It's rare for Xue Pan to appear; perhaps my wish will come true.

"……oh!"

Yu seemed to be deep in thought.

Putting everything else aside, it's true that the mother-in-law wanted to discipline Xue Pan.

Then let's manage it!

Whether you herd one sheep or a flock of sheep, it's still herding.

The guards are experienced in this matter.

They happily decided on Xue Pan's future, but Xue Baochai, upon returning to the Rongguo Mansion, couldn't help but glance back at the Ningguo Mansion.

Everyone says that Mrs. Shen really likes girls.

But today, it doesn't feel the same way.

She seems...not to like her very much.

Xue Baochai didn't know what she had done wrong.

She aspires to enter the palace, and thus greatly needs Madam Shen's assistance.

She was a first-rank noblewoman, and it was said that she had a very good relationship with the Empress. When Prince Jin was still very powerful, she showed no respect whatsoever and slapped the Princess Consort of Prince Jin in front of many noblewomen.

They were undoubtedly one of their own in the eyes of the Emperor and Empress.

The news that her brother brought back last night shocked the mother and daughter.

The Zhen family, which was thought to be very powerful, may very well be about to collapse.

Unfortunately, they've already given their New Year's gifts. But now that the Zhen family has fallen and they've moved into the Jia family's residence, they should be more courteous to the Xue family, no matter who rises in Jiangnan again.

Xue Baochai sighed softly.

"My son, do you also want to study at the East Mansion like Miss Min and Miss Lin?"

"Hmm~"

Xue Baochai's voice was muffled.

She wanted to go to school, but Madam Shen clearly supported her brother going to the Jia family's affiliated school, yet pretended not to hear her unspoken meaning.

Baochai suspected that this was also related to her background.

She came from a merchant family.

However, even though Min Mei's father was an official, all the students studying in the East Prefecture were from there.

She is, after all, the legitimate granddaughter of the Jia family.

she……

"Don't worry yet!"

Aunt Xue patted her daughter's hand. "Haven't you heard that they're going to escort the coffin back to their hometown next year? I'll talk to your cousin about it then. You should also visit Yingchun and Tanchun more often. Once they start school, I'll ask the old lady again. It'll definitely work."

What's wrong with losing face for the sake of my two children?
Besides, her Baochai is so wonderful, Aunt Xue believes that Madam Shen will definitely like her once she meets her more often.

"Okay, I'll listen to Mom."

Baochai nodded.

My mother's plan was, in fact, also her plan.

The Jia family was the only place that could elevate her status.

The Jia family's daughters are now very prestigious in the capital, and studying with them... regardless of whether she can enter the palace as she wishes, it will be entirely beneficial for her.

Xue Baochai looked forward to next year coming soon. When she returned to the courtyard with her mother, Xue Pan had already gone home.

"Why don't you stay in the shop a little longer?"

The shopkeepers were all capable, and Aunt Xue wanted her son to learn from them.

"The shopkeepers are all very busy at the end of the year."

Xue Pan hurriedly asked, "Mom, do you know what they're all busy with right now?"

"What are you busy with?"

"I heard that the Imperial Guards were mobilized today and ransacked the home of another official in the Ministry of Revenue."

Xue Pan lowered his voice a little, "Since so many things were confiscated, they definitely need to be released! Manager Li and the others were summoned by the Imperial Household Department for an appraisal today."

This?
Aunt Xue couldn't help but get excited.

Doing business is simply about buying low and selling high.

The items confiscated by the Imperial Household Department were sold at prices lower than the market value. If the Xue family could acquire more...

Did Manager Li tell you approximately how much silver our family needs to prepare?

"not yet."

Xue Pan shook his head. "He only said that the items that the Imperial Household Department is sending out this time are likely to be a mix of good and bad products, sold together."

That's it!
"Brother, you should go with Manager Li. Even if you don't know anything, it would be good to broaden your horizons!"

My brother actually came back.

Baochai couldn't help but feel sorry for him.

"Did you hear that? Next time this happens, just follow along."

"...What's the point of following along?"

Not only was it incredibly boring, but we also had to bow and scrape to the Imperial Household Department.

Xue Pan was unhappy. "Didn't Mom say I could go to the Jia family's affiliated school? Did it happen?"

Rather than running around with Manager Li and the others, he'd rather go to the school to play.

"Okay, you can go to school next year."

Seeing her son was unhappy, Aunt Xue quickly comforted him, saying, "Everyone else is about to have their holidays..."

"I want to go to school, but you won't let me."

Xue Pan immediately said, "What do you mean by 'holiday'? There are still a few days left!" He would go check first, and if it didn't work out, he wouldn't go next year. "Mom, either I go to school tomorrow, or..."

“Go if you want to!”

Baochai interrupted her brother's angry words, "However, the Jia family's clan school is different from other places; if you go there, you will have to stay for at least three years."

What?
Xue Pan stared wide-eyed. "How come I haven't heard of this?"

“My mother and I just returned from the East Mansion. It was Madam Shen who told us.”

what?
Xue Pan looked at his mother.

Aunt Xue nodded. "Are you still going?"

Xue Pan backed out.

But his sister was watching, and she looked at him with that expectant gaze, waiting for him to refuse...

"I go!"

"...Okay then!"

Aunt Xue had no choice but to say, "I'll go tell Feng."

"Mom, don't panic!"

Xue Baochai grabbed her mother's arm, "I vaguely heard yesterday that there's some kind of 'bitter-sweet meal' over there. Will my brother be able to get used to it? Why don't we find out more before we talk about it!"

As they say, you can't work hard for three days and then relax for two.

If her brother goes and breaks the rules... he might even have a bad impression of her.

"What 'bitterness-remembering-the-past-and-sweet-past-the ...' meal? If the Jia family can eat it, so can I."

Xue Pan exclaimed, "Sister, don't underestimate me!"

Can we blame him for not being ambitious?

He finally wanted to improve himself, but either his mother or his sister stopped him.

Xue Pan considered himself a man, and if the sons of noble families could eat it, why couldn't he?
"But... Madam Shen also said that we can't work hard for three days and then rest for two."

Xue Baochai hesitated for a moment and said, "She is a first-rank imperial lady. My brother said yesterday that she even dared to hit the Princess Consort of Jin. If you continue to pretend to be sick or throw a tantrum like before, even if I want to speak up for you, I'm afraid I won't be able to."

"Yeah!"

Aunt Xue was secretly tugged at by her daughter, and quickly chimed in, "Pan'er, why don't you go and inquire again?"

"……Need not!"

Xue Pan steeled himself and said, "I'm going to study!"

Today, he was supposed to go to his uncle's house.

But my second uncle wasn't home, and neither was my cousin.

Only two aunts were present.

This clearly shows they look down on their family.

hum~
They looked down on him, and he wasn't even willing to go.

Although Xue Pan was a scoundrel, he could still sense how others treated him.

If he doesn't go to school, his mother will definitely cry and beg him to go to his uncle's house.

Now that he's in school, his mother will definitely prioritize his studies.

"Alright, I'll go find Feng girl right now."

Although Aunt Xue still had some doubts, she was mostly happy that her son was showing such interest. "Baochai, prepare some gifts for your brother's apprenticeship ceremony."

Although this year is over, which means we have to give an extra gift and tuition fee for becoming an apprentice, money is not as important as Pan'er's ambition.

Aunt Xue hurriedly went to find Sister Feng.

"My aunt from the East Mansion also had someone tell me."

When she heard her aunt relay her aunt's praise of her, Sister Feng smiled with such pride that she couldn't be more radiant. "But didn't Aunt say next year?" she said.

"Yes, that's what we said back then."

Aunt Xue said with a beaming smile, "But isn't it because Pan'er heard that the Jia family's clan school is good and wants to improve himself?"

"Alright, I'll ask my cousin Min to go to the school and tell the teachers."

Wang Xifeng stopped calling her servants.

Sending Min Jianbai is a sign of respect; "It's much more convenient to have my cousin Min there for the apprenticeship ceremony."