The head of the Red Mansion

Chapter 343 Liu Xianglian

Jia Huang had always been seen as a kind-hearted person in the back alley, so when he was suddenly beaten, it didn't take long for even Grandmother Jia to find out.

Logically, men's affairs should be managed by Jia Zhen. Even if he doesn't have time now and isn't home, he can do so when he returns in the evening or on his day off.

But now the Shen family is directly in charge...

“My younger sister wrote to me the other day saying that my elder brother Huang was rude at the Marquis’s residence, which angered my third aunt.”

Seeing her expression, Wang Xifeng quickly said, "Grandma, you know Third Aunt's temperament. If Brother Huang hadn't done something extremely outrageous, Third Aunt certainly wouldn't have been angry with him."

My third aunt has a good personality, and since returning home, she often speaks up for her father-in-law and mother-in-law.

Wang Xifeng received the letter and immediately sent someone to investigate.

You wouldn't believe it until you looked it up, and what you found out made me so angry I almost jumped out of my skin.

None of the younger sisters-in-law in the mansion had ever caused her any trouble, nor had they ever shown her any disrespect because of her aunt or the Wang family.

Since they took over the management of the East Mansion, they often bothered her, but Wang Xifeng was never afraid of trouble. Moreover, when her sisters discovered loopholes in the management of the household that she couldn't solve, they would directly ask the elders to solve the problem at its source. They would also tell her any money-saving tips they had and would occasionally send her snacks, needles and thread, and the like.

Because of them, many of the compradors in the outer courtyards of the two mansions were dismissed. Wang Xifeng discovered that she could save several hundred taels of silver a year just on cosmetics alone.

So even if the pastries they brought were mostly unappetizing and unpalatable, and impossible to finish, she would laugh and have her maids help her finish them if they asked for her help.

There was nothing we could do; it was the eldest aunt of the East Mansion who forbade any waste.

Not wasting food is a really good habit.

Even the old lady became more cautious.

Wang Xifeng, the housekeeper, was well aware of the habits that had gradually taken hold, and now she had saved the household nearly a thousand taels of silver a year.

We learn from each other and support each other.

So when she saw that her husband, after failing to marry You Erjie, had actually set his sights on Min Mei, she immediately ordered Wang'er to find the time when those two scoundrels met again, and then let Xiao Jinshi see with her own eyes what her good husband and good cousin were doing.

Fortunately, this woman wasn't too stupid; she knew to look for her aunt.

Wang Xifeng was busy, but she didn't want the old lady, who was always soft-hearted when it came to matters concerning male offspring, to get in trouble. "Now he has angered the eldest aunt of the East Mansion. You know the eldest aunt's temperament. She doesn't get angry easily, but once she does, even Brother Zhen has to put up with it."

Jia Mu: "..."

Thinking of how someone had beaten Jia Zhen, and how Jia Zhen had fought tooth and nail with the Russians at the negotiating table to reclaim a large tract of land, she finally sighed, "Fine, let's find out why!"

For what?
Now that my aunt has taken action, it won't be long before everyone who needs to know will find out.

Wang Xifeng was overjoyed to have an elder in the family who couldn't tolerate any wrongdoing.

Otherwise, she would have to find another way.

She had read the Great Zhao Code and knew that if she wanted certain scoundrels to suffer, she could only let them reap what they sowed.

In short, her hands had to be completely clean.

For Jia Lian's sake, Wang Xifeng was very obedient.

At this moment, the men of the Jia family in the back street watched Jia Huang, who was being paraded on the bench, barely breathing, and their lips twitched involuntarily.

They meant to ask, "Where is the doctor?"
But no one dared to say it.

Both prefectures now have their own physicians.

Sometimes, when they fell ill in the middle of the night and asked for help, the local doctors would quickly come to their aid.

They're not coming now...

"Are you really going to watch him die?"

Jia stared at the blood slowly dripping from under the bench, and his legs trembled uncontrollably.

Someone saw Little Jin running out crying.

It's just for fun, isn't it?

The attraction between men has existed since ancient times, but it has now reached the aunt's side. Now look what's happened!
As Jia was inwardly grumbling about Xiao Jinshi, Xiao Jinshi was also on her way.

She was tempted by the offer of all the money, but what good would it do her if she lost the title of the young mistress of the Jia family and returned to her parents' home?

Now it's my sister-in-law who's in charge.

Madam Jin wanted to ask the local physician for help, but they said they couldn't handle the matter.

Helpless, she had no choice but to go outside to ask a doctor for help.

"Grandpa, you can't leave me behind!"

When Xiao Jinshi rushed over crying, she saw Jia Huang's appearance and was too frightened to lie down on him.

"Grandma Huang!"

When Xing'er saw that she had brought a doctor over, he bowed slightly and said, "Our madam said that Master Huang has done something wrong and is sorry to you. If he is unfortunate enough to die from his injuries, all his property will be yours. You... think it over now."

"..."

"..."

Everyone stared in astonishment.

Jia Huang, who was still breathing, quickly took a few more breaths and pleaded with Xiao Jinshi, "Save me, I'll do whatever you say from now on."

"...Help! Help! Doctor, please help!"

Seeing the doctor arrive, Little Jin cried and hit his hand, "I'll see if you dare bully me again, waaaaah~ waaaah~~~~"

"I'll never do it again!"

After saying this, Jia Huang finally fainted with relief.

Today's events have escalated quite a bit.

Not only did Sister You Er and Sister You San find out, but by evening, even Jia Wen and Min Jianbai, who were far away at the Marquis of Xinping's residence, knew about it.

"Tell me, did you do what happened today?"

Jia Wen was worried about her son, so she closed the door and interrogated him.

"Not a son."

Min Jianbai did want to teach those two bastards a lesson, but he had just beaten Jia Huang, and if they got into trouble again, it would be easy for suspicion to fall on him.

"So...when did you find out that the two of them had...that kind of improper relationship?"

Jia Wen asked with some difficulty, "Do you know that the man surnamed Ma was once on the same page with your sister-in-law You's younger sister?"

What she was most worried about was the latter.

If the son had known all along but had stood by indifferently...

Jia Wen's hands were trembling slightly.

After the divorce and return home, the East Mansion took the most care of the mother and her two children.

If the son had known this beforehand but had stood by indifferently, he would have been extremely ungrateful.

"My son learned about the flower-playing game by chance last year from some people in the back street, but when the woman surnamed Ma was looking for a husband with the sister-in-law You, I didn't know that the woman surnamed Ma was the young master."

Min Jianbai said aggrievedly, "Didn't Rong-ge complain to our son about the man surnamed Ma? Our son just looked him up on a whim, but by the time our son found out that he had a special relationship with Jia Huang, the marriage between the You family and the Ma family had already fallen through."

He felt even more aggrieved because he sensed his mother's suspicion. "I told Rong-ge'er, and we even discussed that once my sister-in-law and sisters finished their postpartum confinement, we would find someone to teach them a lesson. Who knew that bastard would actually bring that guy surnamed Ma to you and tell my sister?"

He was indignant and struck first.

"Mother, your son is not a heartless person."

If he had known earlier, he definitely would have told Sister-in-law You!

Min Jianbai's tears flowed down his face. "Don't say that Second Sister You and Sister-in-law You are sisters. Even if they aren't sisters, my son knows that the man surnamed Ma is my husband. I can't just watch an innocent girl be deceived and fall into a pit of fire."

"As long as you know."

Jia Wen's mind was at ease. "Women have a particularly hard time in this world. How pitiful were your sister and me back then? We had nowhere to turn for help. If you ever meet a woman like us, you must lend a helping hand if you can."

"Yes, son knows."

Min Jianbai nodded vigorously.

He made up his mind to spread the word that the man surnamed Ma was a young master.

He had a wide circle of friends, from noble young men like Liu Xianglian to beggars on the street. Within a few days, the news that Ma Juren was a young master spread throughout the area where he studied and lived.

Of course, the fact that Jia Huang was almost beaten to death because of him was also mentioned. But what caught everyone's attention the most was Shen Ning's statement that after Jia Huang died, all his property would go to Xiao Jinshi.

Oops!

While the Jin family was slapping their thighs and sighing, the men in Ningrong Backstreet had been unusually well-behaved lately.

Especially a few men who aren't very good to their wives.

How could you not be afraid?

If this goes wrong, we might be used as a tool to kill someone right away.
For the sake of their lives and wealth, they treated their wives much better.

When Madam You finished her postpartum confinement, the entire clan, young and old, were incredibly hospitable.

Oh dear, the First Madam is getting old. It would be best if Madam You took over the management of clan affairs in the future.

Shen Ning wasn't completely unaware of what was happening outside.

Such a consequence was exactly what she had anticipated.

However, at this moment, she was most concerned about Liu Xianglian.

The young man finally seized the opportunity to visit her.

"Aunt Shen!"

"sit!"

There are few good men in the Dream of the Red Chamber, but Liu Xianglian is an exception.

Like Jia Baoyu, Liu Xianglian was born into a prominent family, was of good birth and good looks, but disliked studying. The only difference was that Liu Xianglian broke free from the constraints of his family (likely due to the early death of his parents), and he could freely pursue his hobbies, engaging in swordplay, indulging in pleasures, and doing whatever he pleased.

Because of his love for opera, he often took on guest roles, which often led people to mistake him for a professional actor.

Of course, he had the ability to protect himself. When Xue Pan harassed him, he cleverly devised a plan, tricked Xue Pan into going to the outskirts of the city with a lie, and when no one was around, he grabbed him and beat him up, slapping him and whipping him with a horsewhip, and finally made Xue Pan drink muddy water.

Shen Ning smiled throughout the entire time she witnessed this.

However, he was also a man of great principle. When he met his "old acquaintance" Xue Pan in Ping'an Prefecture, the two should have never spoken to each other again, given their past grievances. But when Xue Pan was robbed by bandits and nearly lost his life, he did not hesitate to step in and save Xue Pan from danger.

Shen Ning liked him and also liked Sister You San, but she didn't want them to end up with bad endings.

"I heard that your grandfather's health has not been very good lately. If you have time, you should go back often and keep him company."

The Liu family had practically given up on him.

Otherwise, he wouldn't have fled the capital so hastily after beating Xue Pan.

Of course, this may not only involve Xue Pan, but Shen Ning, who is familiar with the plot, still hopes that Old Man Liu can give him more consideration when dividing the family property, considering that his grandson often comes home to visit.

"Yes!"

Liu Xianglian, in front of Shen Ning, said very obediently, "Today, I am actually acting on my grandfather's orders to make a request. I hope Aunt Shen can help my grandfather and me resolve some of our doubts."

"..."

When Shen Ning recalled what Yu Shi had said about buying a lot of the two books in the army, she didn't know what to say for a moment.

"If you're asking about Master Jin, then let's stop here."

She thought for a moment, then smiled and said, "I can't go back on my word when I promise others. As for other things, just tell me, and I'll tell you everything I know without reservation."

Liu Xianglian: "..."

"Haha, judging from your expression, you're also asking about Master Jin."

Shen Ning couldn't help but chuckle and said, "There's nothing I can do but disappoint you and your grandson. How about I find you a wife as compensation?"

Liu Xianglian was stunned for a moment, and exclaimed in surprise, "Ah?" His ears immediately turned red.

He's fifteen. If his parents were still alive, they would have arranged a marriage for him long ago.

But they were gone long ago.

The Duke of Liguo's mansion had nearly emptied its coffers to repay debts to the national treasury. Unfortunately, his mother had left behind a substantial dowry, and his aunts and uncles were scheming against him regarding his marriage. Left with no other option, he had several arguments with his grandfather and uncles.

His grandfather eventually agreed that he could decide his own marriage.

He managed to secure the marriage, but in reality, Liu Xianglian was very uncertain about his future. His reputation was not good, and the subtle pressure from his uncles and aunts in front of outsiders had already eliminated any possibility of him marrying into a prominent family.

To pretend he didn't care, he indulged himself recklessly. Now that Aunt Shen wanted to arrange a marriage for him, he…

Having missed this opportunity, Liu Xianglian suspected that the Liu family had no intention of arranging a marriage for him, but rather wanted him to remain a widower for life so they could seize their wealth.

His face flushed, he stood up and bowed deeply, saying, "I took your words seriously, Aunt. Please treat me with more love and care."

Is this it?

Judging from his expression, Shen Ning had more guesses about his situation in the Duke of Li's mansion.

He smiled slightly and said, "Xianglian, I do have a girl here who is straightforward and beautiful, and is a perfect match for you."

She paused for a moment, then said, "You may have already met her. She is the third daughter of the You family. Although she doesn't come from a prominent family, she is upright and has her own opinions. If you are interested, I will accept this matchmaker's drink."

Upon hearing this, Liu Xianglian's heart stirred.

He had indeed met that Third Sister You.

He swallowed hard. "Auntie, my reputation isn't good. Do you think... this will do?"

Shen Ning waved her hand and chuckled, "Third Sister isn't the kind of person who's bound by worldly conventions. Find an opportunity later, and you two can meet. Maybe you're meant to be each other's soulmate."

"In that case, thank you for your help, Auntie."

He bowed deeply once again.

That evening, Madam You learned about the marriage her mother-in-law had arranged for her third sister.

The sisters chatted, and she learned that her third sister liked auspicious colors.

Liu Xianglian is absolutely capable in this regard.

only……

What are you worried about?

Jia Zhen looked at his youngest son's adorable sleeping face and was filled with joy.

Their family is finally no longer a single-lineage line.

"I'm thinking of Liu Xianglian."

Madam You sighed, "In terms of family background, our You family is not good enough for him, but his reputation..."

What is reputation?

His mother was even known as the most shrewish woman in the Great Zhao Dynasty.

Jia Zhen said, "Because the Duke of Liguo's family was repaying the national treasury's debts, the sons almost came to blows. Liu Xianglian's maternal family originally only had one daughter, his mother. Although they later adopted a son, most of the family property was quietly given to his mother as dowry."

It's no wonder his reputation was bad in a family like that.

He does enjoy having fun, but he never goes too far.

My third sister has a straightforward personality, and I think she's a good match for him.

If you're worried about their future livelihood, with Liu Xianglian's skills, and if you hire a skilled master to teach him, he could easily pass the martial arts examinations and become a martial arts scholar.

"Whether you want to be an official or not, you can still live a carefree life."

His mother doesn't like to meddle in other people's business, but now that she's personally arranging a marriage for Liu Xianglian, it's clear she likes him very much.

Jia Zhen trusted his mother's judgment in judging people, and of course, he didn't want his mother to lose face by getting involved in someone else's business.

"...Now that you mention it, I'm starting to envy and be jealous of my third sister."

Seeing his expression, Madam You couldn't help but laugh. "Alright, alright, I was just saying it casually. I may not trust others, but don't I trust my mother? Oh dear, in the blink of an eye, I've given birth to my child, and my two younger sisters' marriages are settled."

Heaven has been kind to her.

While she was feeling relieved, Sister You had actually overheard some rumors.

After all, this was a joyous occasion, and since it wasn't forbidden from being spread, the maids and servants couldn't wait to offer their congratulations.

Recalling that fleeting glimpse in the car that day, a hint of joy crept into her eyes.

"Hmph, just by looking at you, I can tell you like her."

Second Sister You tapped her on the head, also happy for her younger sister, "I heard his family is a bit complicated, but with your temper, I'm not worried."