The head of the Red Mansion

From now on, Aunt will no longer concern herself with the Xue family's affairs?

But does ignoring it mean I can pretend I don't know she's trying to kick me out?

Wang Xifeng frowned slightly, about to say something, when Jia Zhu spoke up gently, "Sister Xue is getting older and it's time for her to get married. Didn't Liu Tang take his whole family to take up his post after he became an official? His family's old house is for sale, and it happens to be close to Ningrong Street. Brother Xue is planning to buy it, tidy it up, and move there. It will be convenient for him and his sister to go to school here in the future."

what?
to go?

A smile quickly appeared in Wang Xifeng's eyes. "That's great. Others may not know what his old house looks like, but we do."

The Chen family still had the delusion of repairing their relationship with Liu Tang, and even more so, the delusion that Liu Tang was not at home, so they took back the house.

As a result, perfectly good houses are left hanging there, unable to be rented or sold.

Every time they wanted to rent or sell, the second son of the Chen family would make a scene.

Outsiders, unaware of the details, had no choice but to give up.

Among the long-time residents of Baishui Street, there weren't many particularly wealthy people willing to buy that house.

When Liu Tang and Jia Yan left, they came over specifically to ask You Shi and then to ask her to take care of the two households.

It would be best if they could sell it. Even if they return to Beijing in the future, they should choose a place far away from the Chen family.

Now that the Xue family wants to buy it, that couldn't be better.

"Don't worry, I'll have Wang'er go over there a few more times and also let the eldest sister-in-law of the East Mansion know. She'll most likely send Xing'er over too. With them there, the Chen family won't dare to cause trouble."

After Wang Xifeng assured Xue Pan that the house was for sale, she asked, "But does Aunt know about the house purchase?"

"...I know."

Actually, I don't know.

However, when his cousin Zhu mentioned the house there, Xue Pan thought it was a good idea.

The Xue family's house is in the southern part of the city, which is too far from here.

It's inconvenient for him and his sister to go to school.

Moving to Baishui Street next door won't affect anything; it's still my own home.

Even though they are relatives, it's impossible to live in someone else's house all the time.

"Then shall I have Wang'er accompany you to take a look at the house now? To see if there's anything that needs to be changed?"

Wang Xifeng was exceptionally hospitable.

She guessed something from Xue Pan's slightly hesitant answer and felt it was best to make a decision quickly.

"Then I'll have to trouble you, little sister."

This time, Xue Pan did not hesitate.

Now that he has his own home, he can invite his classmates over to play during holidays.

The first person Xue Pan wanted to invite was Min Jianbai.

Everyone in the school praised Min Jianbai.

He admired him quite a bit.

He wanted to ask him for some advice.

So Aunt Xue waited anxiously at home, waiting for her first son to come home, then waiting for her second son to come home, and just as she was thinking that Jia Zhu and Wang Xifeng were making things difficult for her sons without regard for their kinship, someone came to see the house. She was very satisfied and called the real estate agent to go to the yamen to buy the house.

But Aunt Xue didn't know that!

She felt terrible for her son, and wanted to go to her daughter several times to discuss whether something had happened. But when she thought about her daughter's appearance today, she stopped herself each time.

Baochai was well aware that her mother was pacing outside her room.

But if she goes out now, the determination she made today by threatening suicide will probably be shaken by her mother's coaxing.

Baochai didn't move.

Although my brother has been away for a long time, my cousin Zhu is a good person.

He had agreed to go see his cousin Zhu first, and then go to see his cousin Feng.

He hasn't been back for so long; he must have been staying with his cousin Feng.

She wanted to kick the whole family out of the house.

Baochai was also conflicted.

My aunt has passed away, so the second wife is basically staying with us.

Although Cousin Feng is my cousin, she doesn't have a good relationship with the Xue family.

When we moved in, we agreed that we would leave once the house there was repaired.

But... I've been staying here for more than half a year, so it's time to leave.

But if they really leave, will the shopkeepers and employees think that their relationship with the Jia family is just so-so, and that they have lost that respect?
And if they really move away, it won't be convenient for her to go to school, let alone for her brother to go to school.

How to do?
Baochai's heart was also like oil being fried.

She was also worried about her brother, fearing that he might suddenly lose his temper and argue with her older brother Zhu or her cousin Feng.

If that happens, their family will be truly finished.

But it's been so long, there's no point in her going out now.

Everything that happened today stemmed from her and that gold lock.

Baochai closed her eyes, forced herself to endure, and passively awaited her fate.

Finally, her mother exclaimed with delight, "My son!"

Baochai suddenly stood up.

She wanted to stride out to greet her brother, but her legs were numb.

She hesitated for a moment, and when she tried to move again, Xue Pan had already led Aunt Xue over.

There was a knock on the door.

Ying'er was chased outside by Baochai.

All she could say was, "Brother, the door isn't locked."

Xue Pan excitedly pushed open the door and entered. "Mom, sister, I have some great news to tell you."

"No matter what it is, you should have sent someone back to let me know."

Aunt Xue didn't believe her son could have any great joy.

Her heart was pounding.

Suspecting that her son had been tricked by Jia Zhu or Wang Xifeng, Aunt Xue was afraid that her son would be lured out of the mansion.

"I came back and said it's the same thing!"

Xue Pan grinned and pulled out the property deed from his pocket. "I've bought the house belonging to Liu Tang on Baisui Street."

what?
Aunt Xue and Baochai's expressions changed simultaneously.

Aunt Xue immediately clutched her chest with the handkerchief in her hand, looking as if she was about to faint.

“That place is close to Ningrong Street, so it will be convenient for my sister and me to go to school in the future.”

This?
Baochai looked at her brother, and the corners of her mouth slowly turned up. "It's fine."

Living on Baishui Street is better than living in the southern part of the city.

Her brother seems to have grown up and become more sensible.

Baochai's eyes welled up with tears.

Xue Pan knew he had acted on his own initiative and didn't dare look at his mother, but he could see his sister's expression clearly. Seeing that she was about to cry, he quickly said, "We agreed that we would move in, fix up a house, and then leave."

Even though they are relatives, there is no reason for them to stay at each other's house indefinitely.

Don't worry, little sister, once we move in, your brother will find you a good family to marry into.

His family is wealthy, and his sister is excellent in every way; she's a good match for him.

"Hmm~"

When Baochai nodded, she bowed solemnly and said, "Thank you, brother."

"What are you thanking me for? I'm your brother." Xue Pan rarely heard his sister thank him, so seeing her thank him so earnestly and solemnly, he immediately straightened his back and his voice brightened, "Isn't it what I should do?"

"you……"

Aunt Xue felt incredibly distressed seeing her two children make all the decisions in just a few words.

She wanted to make a scene, to faint, to cry for her deceased grandfather…

But with her voice trembling in her throat, seeing her children like this, she could only try her best to swallow it back down.

The deed is done, and it's no use whether she cries or makes a scene.

Aunt Xue resigned herself to her fate and shed tears.

While she was grieving, Jia Min, who knew everything, happily asked Xing Shi for Jia She's treasured imperial wine, wanting to have a drink with her sister-in-law and mother.

Fortunately, Jia Zhu handled this matter quite well.

I didn't let her down any further.

Xing Shi was enjoying the rare moment when her sister-in-law was acting coquettishly towards her, so she didn't care about Jia She at all.
He immediately brought over all his fine wines. Even the fine imperial wine that Jia Lian had presented as a gift was brought over, saying that since Jia Min liked it, it would all be given to her.

His imposing manner left Grandmother Jia completely stunned.

Isn't her eldest daughter-in-law usually incredibly stingy?
Could it be because this wine belongs to She'er and not hers?

It's just that my daughter benefits, so never mind.

Jia Min found her sister-in-law incredibly adorable, and that evening, she pulled Wang Xifeng aside and drank a few cups with her.

Several days later, Shen Ning finally learned that Aunt Xue was moving out.

The Xue family, who lived in the Red Mansion until their property was confiscated, are now leaving?

Why do I feel so incredulous?
Shen Ning was both happy and puzzled, so she specially asked Qing Ping to come and inquire about it.

When he learned that it was Wang Xifeng who had Wang'er take Xue Pan to buy a house on the spot, he immediately waved his hand and ordered Qingzhu to send over the set of filigree gold jewelry that the Empress had bestowed upon him.

Although Wang Xifeng was happy to receive the reward, after seeing Qingzhu off, she couldn't help but say to Ping'er, "Ping'er, you know, it's not a holiday, and my birthday has long passed, so why did my aunt from the East Mansion give me such a nice set of jewelry?"

This stuff isn't cheap.

Moreover, judging from Qingzhu's words, it's only for her alone.

"Pfft~"

Ping'er couldn't help but laugh, "Second Madam, haven't you noticed that lately you and Madam have been able to sit down and eat at the Old Madam's place?"

Do you even need to tell me?
The mother-in-law gave all of her father-in-law's good wine to her fourth aunt.

When Fourth Aunt was happy, she spoke up for the old lady.

She insists that it's more lively with more people, and that she can eat half a bowl more when eating together.

The old lady felt sorry for her daughter. Ever since they drank together that day, she and her mother-in-law would set out the dishes and chopsticks for her so that they could eat together.

But what does this have to do with the jewelry that her aunt from the East Mansion gave her?
"Tell me, what great thing has your second grandma done recently?"

Seeing Ping'er's expression, Wang Xifeng said directly, "Stop laughing and hurry up and tell me so I can do more things like this and get more rewards."

"Haha, that's not easy."

There's only one Xue family member in this mansion.

Ping'er laughed so hard she almost fell over.

"You dare to keep me in suspense?"

Wang Xifeng pressed her down onto the couch and tickled her.

"Haha, I won't dare again, hahaha, Second Grandma, please spare me, hahaha~~~~ hahaha~~~~ I'll talk, I'll talk."

The two argued for quite a while before Ping'er finally told her about the Xue family.

"The Fourth Aunt and the First Madam of the East Mansion should both feel that you handled the Xue family's affairs very well."

Ping'er said proudly, "When Qingzhu came to inquire, she asked several people, and I was one of them."

"So that's it?"

Wang Xifeng let out a soft breath and couldn't help but laugh, "Since you're so clever, I'll reward you with this bracelet!"

She immediately took off the shrimp-shaped bracelet from her wrist.

……

At Ningguo Mansion, Baochai is still studying there, but she's busier now, and since they're quite far apart, she no longer has time to take Shen Ning for walks.

Shen Ning happily resumed her old habits.

Did Baochai in Dream of the Red Chamber have love for Baoyu?

Shit!

It would be strange if she liked a man who didn't like reading and had no ambition.

She had her own schemes against Lin Daiyu, but there might also have been some genuine feelings involved.

Otherwise, given Daiyu's intelligence, how could she have gotten along with her so well?

In the end... it was beyond their control.

In modern times, who would Baochai need to rely on?

She is beautiful on her own.

"I heard Xue Pan is going to arrange a marriage for his sister?"

After dinner, while Rong-ge was taking a walk with her, Shen Ning couldn't help but ask him.

"Hmm~"

Rong-ge nodded with a smile, "He's been getting close to Uncle Min lately, wandering around the school looking for a good brother-in-law."

That guy's appearance was too obvious.

Some people were terrified, while others rushed to get close to him.

"When he saw his grandson, he hesitated several times before speaking. Uncle Lin said that he felt the doctors we hired were all too old."

"is it?"

Shen Ning couldn't help but laugh, "Miss Xue is actually quite nice."

"..."

Rong-ge'er glanced at his grandmother.

He felt that his grandmother did not like Miss Xue.

She just didn't like it, but she also didn't want to offend anyone.

Otherwise, I wouldn't have been hiding in the yard practicing boxing a while ago.

"By the way, what do you think of Xue Pan as a person?"

Shen Ning was unaware that Qin Keqing had secretly told Rong-ge'er about her hiding from Baochai.

"He's a bit silly and not very good at studying, but he's a good person."

Rong-ge'er had no ill feelings towards Xue Pan.

There are some things he can't say to his grandmother.

That person likes to pave the way for making friends with money first.

If you encounter good people, that's fine, but if you encounter bad people, you're just waiting to be taken advantage of!

Several people in the school tried to frame him.

The school was very strict, and even though he finally got a day off, he was taken by his cousin Min to inspect the shops.

Uncle Min probably felt that they were in the same boat.

So please be considerate.

In addition, Uncle Bao and Uncle Lin often invited him to play, so no one dared to cheat him.

"Do you think he can find a suitable person at the school?"

Shen Ning asked him again.

"Disaster!"

Rong-ge smiled at his grandmother, "Hasn't our family rules been changed? Except for those in the Mengban class who are still too young, even if the others haven't been officially engaged, they've basically agreed on it in secret."

The Xue family were also merchants.

Xue Pan has very high standards, so finding someone in the academy won't be easy.

"That's it..."

Shen Ning seemed thoughtful. "I remember that among the men your second aunt was looking for, there was one named Qian Xiucai, right?"

Ok?
Does Grandmother really want to arrange a marriage for Miss Xue?

Rong-ge'er was somewhat puzzled by his grandmother's behavior.

"Qian Xiucai kept copying books in his mother's bookstore to earn money for his studies."

Rong-ge said, "Although we are poor, our conditions in all aspects are indeed quite good."

This person was personally nominated by the stepmother, Madam You.

Rong-ge felt that if her stepmother hadn't been a stepmother and You Erjie, she would have personally arranged this marriage for her.

However, Zheng Xiaoqi is doing quite well as an official now.

"Does Grandmother want to arrange this marriage for the Xue family?"

"What did I say, 'dear'?"

Shen Ning didn't mean that. "However, you can reveal this candidate to Xue Pan and let them make their own choice!"

The fact that Madam You listed Qian Xiucai as a potential husband for her second sister shows that she had high hopes for him.

The Xue family were merchants, so it wasn't appropriate for them to arrange a marriage. However, Baochai herself was indeed quite a good catch.

If Aunt Xue hadn't been so picky, she might have been able to secure an imperial title for Baochai in the future. (End of Chapter)