Dream of the Red Chamber

Chapter 230 Hot
They sat side by side, their eyes meeting, both with smiles on their faces. Chen Siyuan suddenly said, "Oh, right, I almost forgot."

Having said that, he took an incense burner from his sleeve and lit a tinderbox. In a short while, wisps of smoke rose into the air.

The smoke was milky white, and the aroma gave it an otherworldly quality.

Xing Xiuyan was astonished after only two sniffs. After a moment's thought, she said, "Sitting amidst the dust, yet the heart remains serene... Is this the fragrance of transcendence?" Seeing Chen Siyuan nod, Xing Xiuyan was even more surprised and asked, "Where did you get the recipe?"

"I found it in an ancient book," Chen Siyuan replied with a smile. That was true. Earlier, Daiyu had sent Zijuan to deliver the Kaicheng Stone Classics. Chen Siyuan had only glanced through it briefly when he glimpsed the recipe for the incense for removing dust, recorded by the Song dynasty person who owned the book.

Curious, he sought out agarwood, sandalwood, golden cinnamon, borneol, ambergris, and musk, and brewed them according to the recipe, finally creating this "Chuchen Incense" today. Having not seen his cousin for several days, he packed a box of it for her.

Xing Xiuyan smelled the ethereal fragrance and suddenly chuckled, "She used to wear this fragrance often, but later she got tired of me and said that even the most ethereal fragrance couldn't get rid of the vulgarity on me."

The "she" he was referring to was naturally Miaoyu. Chen Siyuan then took her soft hand and stroked it, saying, "She's always been a bit of a stubborn person. Since you've already seen through her, why bother arguing with her?"

Xing Xiuyan let him stroke her hand, and frowned slightly, saying, "You always say I'm a hermit, but actually I have some things I can't let go of."

Take Miaoyu, for example. The two were originally teacher and friend, but when the Chang family encountered trouble, Miaoyu immediately turned against them. Even with her unassuming and non-competitive nature, Xing Xiuyan could not forget the friendship she had shared over the years.

Chen Siyuan comforted her, saying, "If you really let go, wouldn't you become a hermit? I'm afraid even I, a mortal, can't hold you back."

Xing Xiuyan snapped out of her daze and smiled sweetly. She gently squeezed Chen Siyuan's hand and said, "Let's be good friends. You're not allowed to be like her." Then she chuckled and covered her mouth, saying, "Fine, you definitely won't be like her."

Today she wore a round-necked robe with a bright red base and light blue magnolia embroidery, with a white collar underneath, and a light red long skirt. At this moment, she covered her mouth with a handkerchief in her left hand and laughed. A smile rose on her fair and delicate oval face, and her starry eyes sparkled, making her look like a hundred flowers blooming.

Chen Siyuan was momentarily mesmerized, thinking to himself that spending every day with such a girl was the greatest joy in the world.

A moment later, Xing Xiuyan's smile faded, and she blushed again under Chen Siyuan's gaze. Her pretty face turned pink, and she said reproachfully, "What are you staring at me for?"

"Of course it looks good."

Xing Xiuyan retorted, "Nonsense... I'm neither as demure as Sister Bao nor as lively as Sister Lin, so how am I beautiful?"

Is she jealous? Given Xing Xiuyan's gentle nature, it's already quite remarkable that she could feel even a little jealous; it's clear she's secretly in love with him. Chen Siyuan immediately pulled her soft hand to his chest and said, "Cousin, why belittle yourself? In my heart, your character is unique."

Chen Siyuan was just trying to comfort her, but seeing the certainty on his face, Xing Xiuyan felt incredibly comforted. Her heart pounded, and her blood rushed to her head. Before she knew it, he had pulled her into his arms.

When she came to her senses, Xing Xiuyan felt embarrassed, but she didn't struggle to break free. Instead, she simply reached out and wrapped her arms around Chen Siyuan's waist, pressing her cheek against his chest.

After a moment of tenderness, Xing Xiuyan suddenly said leisurely, "Next time something like this happens, don't ask me to step in. It's never good to make a big fuss."

Chen Siyuan frowned and said, "How could I just stand by and watch you be bullied by two old women?"

Xing Xiuyan said, "It's just a temporary stay anyway; we might have to move out at any time."

Chen Siyuan pondered for a moment, then put his hands around Xing Xiuyan's slender shoulders and asked earnestly, "What does Cousin think of things in the garden now?"

“It’s wonderful,” Xing Xiuyan said with a smile. “After getting to know these sisters, we can recite poems, read books and write calligraphy every day. Sometimes we play the zither, play chess, paint, and recite poems. Sometimes we paint phoenixes, embroider flowers, play games, and wear flowers. You know I live alone. I’ve long wanted to have some sisters and close friends. Now my wish has come true.”

Chen Siyuan laughed and said, "That's it. Although I want to take my cousin to her home right now, a young lady's happy life is only lasting a few years in her boudoir... I would like to let my cousin enjoy herself for a few more years."

Hearing this, Xing Xiuyan felt even more comforted, but she frowned and said with melancholy, "How many more years can I be happy? Father and Mother can't wait for me to get married."

Chen Siyuan laughed and said, "It's alright. Can your uncle and aunt go before your aunt? I'll talk to your aunt about it later, and I'm sure your uncle will have to hold back no matter how eager he is."

Xing Xiuyan immediately laughed, nodded vigorously, and then nestled into Chen Siyuan's arms like a fledgling swallow returning to its nest. After a moment, she whispered, "Actually, I've been wanting to be with you sooner rather than later."

Upon hearing this, Chen Siyuan could no longer restrain himself. He reached out and lifted Xing Xiuyan's chin. Her delicate oval face initially showed confusion, then flushed crimson with embarrassment. Their eyes met, but she didn't turn her head away. Instead, she slightly withdrew before closing her eyes and slowly meeting his gaze.

The two kissed passionately. After a while, their lips parted, and Xing Xiuyan, her face flushed and panting, finally calmed down and whispered, "I was wondering why that Master Bao liked to eat rouge. Now I know what it tastes like."

Chen Siyuan asked in surprise, "Cousin, have you seen this before?"

Xing Xiuyan said, "I saw him secretly eating Jin Chuan'er's rouge in the garden a few days ago."

Chen Siyuan laughed and said, "I don't have any rouge on my lips, so I don't know what it tastes like?"

Even though Xing Xiuyan was very perceptive, she couldn't give a proper reply, so she turned her head away and said, "I won't tell you, you can guess for yourself."

Just as Chen Siyuan was about to confront them, he suddenly heard voices coming from outside. Then a maidservant whispered through the lattice door, "Master Chen, Miss, it's the eldest mistress leading two maids to till the soil and water the plants."

Upon hearing this, Chen Siyuan knew that the two had to part ways. He exchanged a glance with Xing Xiuyan and, seeing that the young lady's eyes were also full of reluctance, he said, "I will come to see my cousin again when I have time."

Xing Xiuyan replied, "You have many responsibilities these days, including writing books and running a latex business... You can come find me when you have time."

Chen Siyuan smiled and agreed. After a few polite exchanges, Chen Siyuan went first. Some time later, Xing Xiuyan and Zhuan'er returned to Zhuijin Tower.

Upon entering the building, one sees the Second Miss Yingchun, the Third Miss Tanchun, the Fourth Miss Xichun, Daiyu, Baochai, and Xiangyun all present.

Knowing about Xing Xiuyan and Chen Siyuan's affair, Baochai got up to greet them and took their hands, saying, "You were bullied, why didn't you tell us?"

Xiangyun said, "That's right, they're just two unskilled old women. What right do they have to ask for money for Sister Xing?"

Yingchun looked ashamed and said, "It's my fault. I didn't know those two old women were in such a state."

Tan Chun then said, "It's fortunate that Sister Feng punished her. Otherwise, if this continued, the master would no longer be a master, and the servant would no longer be a servant. Wouldn't that be outrageous?"

Although Daiyu didn't speak, her eyes subtly revealed concern. Xing Xiuyan's carefree and unconventional nature suited Daiyu's tastes perfectly; Xiao Xichun remained silent as well, having witnessed countless instances of servants bullying their masters since childhood. What was strange, however, was why the First Madam had suddenly stood up for Xing Xiuyan.

Seeing that all her sisters had come to show their concern, Xing Xiuyan felt a little embarrassed and quickly curtsied to everyone, saying with a smile, "I'm sorry to trouble you all with this. It was just a trivial matter, but somehow my aunt found out about it, and now it's caused quite a stir."

Tan Chun said, "It's not Sister Xing who's wrong, why are you acting like this?"

Xiangyun chimed in, "If you ask me, it's Sister Xing who's too weak and kind. If it were me, I'd slap her across the face, and I don't believe those two old women would dare to rebel!"

Daiyu glanced at Xiangyun sideways, inwardly scoffing. Now that she was favored by the old lady, she naturally wouldn't be so foolish as to give Xiangyun a meaningful look or trip her up. What could she do even if she hit someone in the future if the old lady stopped favoring her? It would only earn her a reputation for being unruly and rude.

The sisters gathered in the room, chatting amongst themselves, which made Xing Xiuyan smile and fawn over them. They didn't disperse until quite a while later. Just before parting, Baochai whispered to Xing Xiuyan, "If anything like this happens again... just tell me, and I'll handle it. These kinds of family matters should be handled subtly and quietly. It's best not to make a big fuss. Once or twice is fine, but if it happens too often, those good-for-nothings might ruin your reputation."

Knowing that Baochai meant well, Xing Xiuyan smiled and nodded, saying, "Alright, if anything happens in the future, I will definitely go to Sister Baochai for advice. Sister Baochai, please don't find me annoying."

Baochai said with a playful smile, "I love your personality the most, and I wish you would come often."

After speaking, Baochai took her leave. Among the young ladies, Baochai already knew about Chen Siyuan and Xing Xiuyan's affair; Daiyu only thought about it briefly and then knew the reason; Tanchun, Xichun, and Xiangyun were still young, especially Xiangyun, who was currently favored by Grandmother Jia and was the most innocent and naive, so she put the matter out of her mind after speaking about it.

Leaving these people aside for now, let's talk about Yingchun returning to her room. While Xiuju was making tea, her head maid Siqi came over and said, "Miss, look, it's really different when someone is protecting you."

Chen Siyuan had been going to the side room outside the third-floor ceremonial gate every few days recently. Siqi's maternal grandmother, mother, and aunt were all working in the east wing, so how could they keep it from her?

Yingchun kept her head down and eyes closed, engrossed in searching through the books. Siqi added, "It's a pity that Granny Wang escaped this time. If the First Madam had punished that old hag as well, that would have been truly wonderful."

Yingchun glanced at her and said, "Although Granny Wang has some minor flaws, she is still loyal, so Mother will not punish her arbitrarily."

Siqi frowned and said, "Where is the loyalty? You borrowed the girl's gold filigree hairpin last time and haven't returned it yet. You might have used it to pay off gambling debts again!"

Yingchun said softly, "I have more than just that. What's wrong with borrowing a little more time?"

Siqi said angrily, "It's precisely because of your temperament, Miss, that Granny Wang has become so demanding!" After saying that, she snorted coldly and left.

Yingchun glanced at her retreating figure, but she had her own thoughts. That Granny Wang was the wet nurse left to her by her deceased stepmother, and her two maids, Siqi and Xiuju, were assigned by her current stepmother.

These two groups clashed from the moment they came together. Yingchun carefully maintained the balance between them. When Granny Wang gained power, she favored Siqi and Xiuju more; conversely, when Siqi gained power, she favored Granny Wang more.

Thus, she, who was previously an insignificant nobody, was finally able to command the people around her. Although those outsiders said she was a blockhead, they never lacked anything in terms of food, clothing, or daily necessities.

Although she has been adopted by Madam Xing, Yingchun still can't figure out what her stepmother's intentions are. Therefore, she naturally has to protect Granny Wang to keep Siqi and Xiuju in check. Otherwise, once Granny Wang is gone, Siqi might really become the mistress, and then how will she be able to command anyone?

Just now, Siqi's words, in essence, were all about praising Brother Yuan's son. Yingchun will be sixteen next year, a time when a young woman is in the throes of first love. But given her circumstances, how could she dare to make her own decisions about marriage? She must obtain her parents' approval before she can make up her mind…

The day passed quickly. Because Xing Xiuyan had taken two rough maids, Jia Mu, Wang Furen, and others only inquired briefly and didn't take it seriously.

The girls initially shared a common indignation, but since they didn't truly understand the situation, they quickly forgot about it. However, the servants in the garden never dared to underestimate Xing Xiuyan again.

It was only after the servants in the east wing spread the word that it was because Master Yuan had pleaded with the First Madam that she forced Sister Feng to take down Yang Liu and the other two rough-working women.

Upon hearing this, all the servants in the Grand View Garden fell silent! Who didn't know that Master Yuan was the most capable? He seemed kind on the surface, but deep down he wasn't a good-tempered person. Just think of the maids around the Madam, and then think of the Xue family and the Lai family. Which of them had gotten away with it after falling into Master Yuan's hands?

Since Miss Xing has Master Yuan protecting her, we should treat her with respect from now on and not dare to offend her casually!

The situation changed drastically in a single day. Usually, when Zhuan'er went to fetch the food box, the old woman in the small kitchen would always grumble inwardly. But now, when she went, Sister Liu greeted her with a smile, and the food box was even more lavish. She also spoke highly of her fifth son.

All daily necessities were delivered to the warehouse well in advance, and not only were they not lacking, but extras were often secretly added. This was because Zhou Rui's wife did not dare to offend Chen Siyuan, which is why she instructed her husband to take extra care of Xing Xiuyan.

In just two days, Zhuan'er became increasingly happy and couldn't help but privately complain to Xing Xiuyan, "Sister, you said I was being silly, but look at me now, isn't this happy life good?"

Although Xing Xiuyan remained silent, she felt a great sense of relief. Coming from a humble background, she was naturally gentle but also accustomed to flattering others. Now, however, because of Chen Siyuan, she was being fawned over by all the servants in the garden. She had never experienced anything like this before, and while feeling strange, she couldn't help but think of her cousin's kindness.

A few days passed in the blink of an eye, and it was already the fourth day of the third month.

Yesterday was the day Tan Chun gave birth to a son. This morning, she specially came to Jia Zheng's place to kowtow, expressing her gratitude to her parents. Jia Zheng was naturally very pleased. This morning, when he arrived at the yamen, he was flattered by his colleagues, who all said that Bao Yu's poems were excellent, drawing praise from all sides.

Jia Zheng, always upright and honest, felt even more pleased after a few words of modesty. He thought that Baoyu was now of age and should be more ambitious. When they returned to the Rongguo Mansion after late afternoon, Mr. Wan came to complain again. Jia Zheng said, "Baoyu is still too young, so we shouldn't be too restrictive... I think we should give him a five-day break from now on. This way, Mr. Wan can visit relatives and friends, which is beneficial to both sides."

Mr. Wan was indifferent; he simply fulfilled his duty and took his leave.

After Mr. Wan left, he asked the guest, "Where did Baoyu go this afternoon?"

A guest replied, "Second Master received an invitation from Prince Bei Jing this afternoon and seems to have gone to the Prince's residence."

Prince Bei Jing is a hereditary prince, and now he is the head of the Four Princes and Eight Dukes. Jia Zheng is naturally happy to have Bao Yu associate with him more.

Therefore, Jia Zheng nodded slightly and said nothing more. After a while, another scholar brought over a copy of the official gazette. Jia Zheng took it in his hand and glanced at it. He saw at the end of the first page that: Ai Yuanhui, the supervising censor of Shandong Circuit, submitted a memorial stating that tires made of latex save animal power and have the effect of protecting the wheel hub. He requested the court to investigate so that they could be widely used throughout the country.

Then a censor from Guangxi Province submitted a memorial, suggesting that latex tires could be used on artillery vehicles… The Emperor was overjoyed upon hearing this and ordered the Ministry of Works to purchase 30,000 latex tires for military supplies…

Jia Zheng put down the official gazette and immediately frowned in thought. He had known about Chen Siyuan's involvement in the latex business for a long time, and Jia Yun had even been granted the title of Light Cavalry Captain because of it. However, he did not expect that it had alarmed the Emperor. Judging from the current situation, the latex business was likely to flourish!
However, Jia Zheng was not Jia She. He never bothered with household affairs, so after a brief sigh, he got up and went to Lady Wang's courtyard.

A maid named Yu Chuan came to greet them at the door. After a short while, they went inside and saw Madam Wang talking with Aunt Xue.

The two rose to greet her, and Aunt Xue took the opportunity to bid farewell and leave. Only the couple remained inside. Jia Zheng then said, "Today, while I was in office, some colleagues came to congratulate me, saying that Baoyu had written a few pretentious poems, and now they're being spread everywhere?"

Lady Wang was proud and said with a smile, "Amitabha, he has finally seen the light. Just this morning, Baochai was saying that even Yuan-ge'er praised it highly after reading it, saying that Baoyu wrote it well."

"Oh?" Jia Zheng became interested and said, "When he comes back, I want to see what good poems he has written."

Madam Wang smiled and said, "He went to the Wang Mansion and we don't know when he will be back... If you would like to see it, I have a copy that Baochai made here."

As he spoke, he gave Jin Chuan a look, and the latter quickly fetched a piece of paper. Jia Zheng took it with a smile, glanced at it briefly, and his expression immediately changed.

This is supposed to be poetry for cultivating character and expressing aspirations through scenery, but who knew it would turn out to be just another flowery and ornate piece of writing! It's full of sentimental love stories, where is there even a trace of masculine spirit?
Jia Zheng was furious. He snorted and tore the paper to shreds.

Madam Wang, who had been watching with a smile, was immediately puzzled by this change and asked, "Master... what is the reason for this?"

"Why?" Jia Zheng stood up abruptly and said, "You raised such a fine son, yet he writes such flowery and sentimental poems, his words filled with romantic love. How old is he?"

Before Lady Wang could reply, Jia Zheng had already turned and left. Lady Wang frowned deeply as she looked at the shredded paper on the ground, but since she was illiterate, she could not discern the romantic feelings in the poems.

Because her eldest son, Jia Zhu, had died young due to his "indulgence in women," Lady Wang was extremely strict with Bao Yu regarding his relationships with women. Previously, when Bihen and Bao Yu were playing in the water, Lady Wang was afraid that it would harm Bao Yu's health, so she found a pretext to send her away from the mansion.

And then there was Qingwen, with her foxy, seductive look. She was also kicked out by Lady Wang for fear of corrupting Baoyu.

Upon hearing Jia Zheng's words, Lady Wang immediately became worried. After a moment's thought, she beckoned Yu Chuan to her and said, "Go and see if Xi is here. If she is, quietly call her here."

Yu Chuan'er agreed and headed towards Qi Xian Zhai. Madam Wang grew increasingly uneasy, frowning as she sat down to wait silently. Before Yu Chuan'er could return with Xi Ren, Zhou Rui's wife rushed in: "Madam, two officials from the Ministry of Works and the Ministry of War have arrived—"

Madam Wang said in surprise, "Master went to Mengpo Studio, you should have just gone to report it, why did you report it to me?"

Zhou Rui's wife replied, "Well... those two stewards aren't here to see the master, but to see Master Yuan—I sent a servant to deliver the message to the garden."

"Ah?" Madam Wang was even more astonished, completely bewildered. She immediately ordered Zhou Rui's wife to send a message to Mengpo Studio. But a short while later, Zhou Rui's wife returned and said, "Master said it must be because of the latex business. Today, an imperial censor suggested that the court should purchase more latex tires, and I guess those two officials came to see Master Yuan because of this matter."

Lady Wang sighed deeply, thinking to herself, "No wonder my sister praised Chen Siyuan for having the abilities of Tao Zhugong. I thought the latex business had died down, but who knew it would revive in just a few days? Even the imperial court is buying it; who knows, those latex tires will surely be a hit all over the world one day."

However, she was now preoccupied with seizing power and paid no attention to such business. She only instructed the servants to answer questions carefully. When she saw Yu Chuan leading the meek and obedient Xi Ren, Madam Wang called Xi Ren over to ask her questions.

Without going into the details, the two officials from the Ministry of Works and the Ministry of War arrived together, but the first to receive the news was not Madam Wang, but the housekeeper, Sister Feng.

While sending Zhou Rui's wife to inform Lady Wang, Feng Jie also sent a servant into the garden to inform Chen Siyuan to take a look, and at the same time hurriedly urged Jia Lian to go forward to greet and entertain.

As they were about to part, Sister Feng had an idea and instructed Jia Lian, "Second Master, keep an eye on things. When Brother Ziyuan arrives later, Second Master, listen carefully from the side... Who knows, we might be able to get involved in this business."

Jia Lian had just been flirting with Duo Guniang and was about to enter the alley when he was suddenly summoned by Feng Jie. Terrified and flustered, he could not help but lose interest, so he only gave a vague reply and tried to go forward.

Upon seeing this, Sister Feng frowned and said, "Second Master, don't forget about the Hundred Herbs Hall!"

Jia Lian immediately looked embarrassed, then smiled apologetically and said, "Don't worry, I'll listen carefully and tell you in detail later."

Only then did he rouse himself and leave.

Seeing that Sister Feng was still frowning, Ping'er came over and said, "Madam, Second Master is in high spirits, I'm sure he'll come back after listening carefully."

Sister Feng scoffed, "Him? He's good as two when it comes to having an affair with his wife, but when it comes to doing anything serious, he's never succeeded." She paused, then glanced at Ping'er and said, "I don't believe you haven't heard the rumors!"

Ping'er said in a low voice, "If it's just rumors, I have heard them. But I don't have any real evidence, so how can I explain it to you, Grandma?"

Sister Feng snorted coldly, not bothering to argue with Ping'er, and muttered to herself, "Just you wait, I might have to go see Brother Yuan myself tomorrow."

............................................................

A small courtyard in Northeast China.

Ying'er bid farewell to the old woman at the door and hurriedly went inside. At this moment, Aunt Xue was talking with Baochai. Baochai was puzzled. She had praised Baochai's poem to her aunt, Lady Wang, and left the copy on a piece of paper. Why hadn't she heard anything from him all this time?
Because she had someone she loved and had stopped taking the Cold Fragrance Pills, she became increasingly impatient with Baoyu. She was now hoping that her uncle Jia Zheng would get angry and simply forbid Baoyu from coming to the garden, so that she could save herself a lot of trouble.

Ying'er entered the room, hastily curtsied, and said, "Madam, Miss, we just received news that two officials from the Ministry of Works and the Ministry of War have come to see Master Yuan about the latex business."

Upon hearing this, Baochai immediately smiled and said, "It was written in the official gazette today. I suppose the court has come to Yuan-ge to order tires. Mother can finally put her mind at ease now."

Aunt Xue smiled with feigned relief and said, "Thank God... that's 30,000 taels of silver. Even after deducting the loans, our family invested a full 20,000 taels. We can't be too careful."

These days, every few days she would say she was worried about making a living from latex, using the pretext of going to the workshops outside the city to secretly meet with Chen Siyuan in that large grid alley.

Although Aunt Xue had concerns about the latex business, she wasn't as anxious as she openly claimed. Now that she had received confirmation, Aunt Xue was both happy and troubled.

The good news is that things are settled, the court is on our side, and we won't have to worry about making a living from latex in the future; the bad news is, what excuse should we find to meet with my beloved in the future?
After the mother and daughter were overjoyed, Aunt Xue said, "That's right, the other day Yuan-ge told me that he doesn't have any capable help around him, so he was thinking of sending the old manager to Zheng He Island for a few years. I originally thought we could have some time to spare, but now it seems that we can't delay any longer. My child, what do you think about this matter—"

Baochai said, “The old manager is the most loyal, and our business relies heavily on him. Sending him to Zheng He Island so hastily will inevitably cause him to become disloyal. I think Mother should give him more shares in the family business, and then persuade him to go south.”

"That's how it should be. But with him gone, what will happen to our family's other businesses—"

Baojie said leisurely, "If Mother is worried, why not sell that not-so-profitable business as well?"

"This—" Aunt Xue was extremely tempted, yet undecided. Her daughter tried to persuade her, saying that the young master had also made grand promises, and by all accounts, the latex business was more promising. However, those businesses were all inherited from her deceased husband. Selling the lost assets was one thing, but how could she easily sell the profitable ones?

Seeing that Aunt Xue was undecided, Sister Bao said again, "If Mother is unwilling, why don't you discuss it with your sister-in-law?"

Aunt Xue's eyes lit up immediately: That's it! Her daughter-in-law, Cao, is always dignified and quiet, and she manages the old house very well—perhaps she can also manage those businesses?

Aunt Xue nodded and smiled, "That's right, I'll discuss it with your sister-in-law another day."

Baochai smiled and nodded, feeling very pleased with herself, thinking that she could finally help him.

............................................................

East Cross Courtyard.

Upon hearing that someone from the imperial court had arrived, Jia She was startled, thinking that another imperial edict had been issued from the palace. He hurriedly dressed and waited in the outer study. However, Yu Si turned around and reported that only two officials had come. Jia She was disheartened and couldn't help but frown and ponder.

Even Baochai saw the official gazette, so how could she hide it from her master?
The official gazette reported yesterday's events, and as a result, today the court sent people to look for Chen Siyuan... and it wasn't just the Ministry of Works that came, but also the Ministry of War.

Jia She pondered, "Surely, this latex business should be profitable no matter what, right? But the share price is too high, so it's really not worth it to buy now... So how can I make money without selling the shares?"
Just as he was pondering this, an old woman came in and said, "Master, Madam invites you to the back to have a talk."

"Hmm," Jia She responded, thinking to himself, "Women just can't keep their tempers up."

Having said that, he finally got up and headed towards the third-tiered ceremonial gate. A moment later, upon entering the main room, Madam Xing eagerly greeted him, saying, "Master, I heard that the imperial court has sent people looking for Yuan-ge'er?"

Jia She nodded, his face ashen, and said, "Yuan-ge'er is lucky. A supervising censor praised the latex tires as useful, and the Emperor was delighted, which is why he ordered the Ministry of Works to purchase 30,000 tires for trial use. I didn't expect the Ministry of War to send people as well... It seems to be because of the excessive expenses incurred in traveling to and from the Western Regions?"

The journey from the Central Plains to the Western Regions is more than ten thousand miles. After a single trip, it's already difficult for two out of ten vehicles to survive intact. If the latex tires were replaced, perhaps the cost would be slightly reduced?
Before Madam Xing could even rejoice, Wang Shanbao's wife came to report: "Madam, great news! Yuan-ge'er just met with the two magistrates, and now a clerk from the Ministry of Revenue has come looking for him. They're having a chat in the front hall right now."

"Ah?" Madam Xing asked, delighted but puzzled, "Master, why is the official from the Ministry of Revenue here too?"

After thinking for a while, Jia She said, "The Ministry of Revenue has to transport money and grain to various places every year, so naturally, it needs many horse-drawn carriages."

That little thief is quite skilled! Half of the six ministries have arrived, which shows that the latex business must have taken off!
"Oh my, this is wonderful news! Granny Wang, go and see what's going on. When Yuan-ge comes out, quickly invite him to the east wing!"

Wang Shanbao's wife smiled and agreed, then turned and quickly left.

Madam Xing was about to boast a bit, but seeing Master Jia She's gloomy face, she stiffened and said with a forced smile, "This... the imperial court is not easy to deal with. I wonder if Yuan-ge'er will be able to make a profit this time."

Jia She sat down and said, "Breaking even is easy, but making a fortune is difficult. Hmm...hmm?"

Jia She was stunned, then suddenly clasped his hands together and said, "That's right, how could I have forgotten about that!"

Who says you can't make a living from latex without investing? Latex is only four cents a pound right now, it's cheap. If the master invests in stockpiling a batch, he can sell it when the price is higher, wouldn't he be able to make a fortune without investing?
Oh dear, it's only four cents a pound. If it rises to six cents a pound, the master can make half of it!
Seeing his alternating expressions of gritted teeth and joy, Madam Xing grew uneasy. Concerned about the petty thief, she finally couldn't help but ask, "Sir? What's wrong—"

Jia She snapped out of his daze, slammed his hand on the table, and burst into laughter, "Hahaha, how much did Yuan-ge earn? With a little trickery, I might earn even more than Yuan-ge!"

(End of this chapter)