Dream of the Red Chamber

Chapter 9 Benefits
After finishing a cup of tea, Chen Siyuan looked over and saw Xiangling standing alone in the courtyard, her figure graceful.

The maid Yunxiang came to pour tea again. Chen Siyuan sighed and pointed at Xiangling outside. "Never mind. What does this have to do with her? Go and bring her in."

Yunxiang agreed, and in a moment she led Xiangling, who was carrying the bag, back. Xiangling, with her head down, bowed again and called out softly, "Uncle Chen."

Chen Siyuan nodded, pointed to a chair beside him, and said, "Please sit down and wait."

Xiangling thanked him and carefully took her bag and sat down.

Chen Siyuan was eager to investigate, but knew now was not the right time, so he simply sipped his tea in silence. Xiangling was incredibly obedient, observing her heart and nose. After a moment's pause, she caught sight of a poem inscribed on the snow-white wall opposite her. She briefly recited it mentally, and then her eyes brightened.

Yes, Xiangling was educated and literate. She was kidnapped when she was young. The kidnapper, seeing her outstanding beauty, raised her as a skinny horse. If Feng Yuan and Xue Pan had not spotted her a few years ago, the kidnapper would have kept her for a few more years to sell her at a high price.

If she had really been raised to this day, Xiangling would probably be proficient in music, chess, calligraphy and painting.

As the sun set while I was lost in thought, I suddenly heard a flurry of footsteps outside. Then a maid came forward and knocked on the door: "Yuan... Is Master Chen here? Madam is here to see him!"

The person knocking on the door was Wang Shanbao, the housekeeper, and the person who came was naturally Mrs. Xing.

Knowing him as his adopted nephew, Chen Siyuan naturally didn't dare to be disrespectful. He quickly stood up, shook off his robe, and went out to greet him. The maid Yunxiang opened the door, and sure enough, she saw Madam Xing leading several maids and old women to stop in front of the door.

Mrs. Xing was a money-grubbing woman. Having just acquired the gold filigree, pearl-inlaid, and white jade Guanyin statuette, she was naturally delighted and rushed over eagerly. But upon seeing Chen Siyuan, his slender figure and sinister expression, she was slightly moved.

He sighed, "Brother, I'm wronged."

Chen Siyuan bowed and said, "Aunt is here, please come up and chat with me."

Madam Xing explained, "Madame Wang came with a message earlier, and I wanted to come see my brother right away, but the old lady couldn't leave her alone. So, I just came back from the old lady's place, and I came here."

"Nephew thanks aunt."

As they entered, Madam Xing caught sight of Xiangling standing uneasily. A glance at her immediately gave her a silent compliment, "Good character." Then she caught sight of the neatly arranged bundles on the table, and a startled expression crossed her face. A literate maid spotted the poem on the wall and hurried over to whisper something in her ear. By the time she heard it, Madam Xing's expression had changed.

She couldn't help but think to herself, this Yuan brother is really determined. He wants to leave the house just because of a disagreement! Aunt Xue had naturally promised a lot of benefits just now. Mrs. Xing thought Chen Siyuan was easy to fool and had the idea of ​​intervening. Now she thinks it's not appropriate.

If Brother Yuan really left the house, regardless of whether it would be good or bad, it is possible that he would become mortal enemies with the Xue family from then on.

In this mansion, women fight with each other, and the old lady is there to suppress them, so they always fight but never break up. If they really fall out, and it comes to the old lady, everyone will be embarrassed.

Having made up her mind, Madam Xing took the first seat. Before the maid Yunxiang could offer her fragrant tea, she said, "I know everything. The Xue family has really gone too far this time. Just now, my concubine came to me to complain, saying that Yuan-ge was completely angry and begged me to explain. But how can I explain it?"

Wang Shanbao, who was standing by, chimed in, "That's right. No matter how you look at it, it's Madam's responsibility to help you. You don't know, Madam didn't treat my concubine well just now. It was my concubine who begged her so hard, and Madam, mindful of their kinship and wanting to avoid disturbing the peace in the mansion, reluctantly agreed." Chen Siyuan frowned and bowed, "Aunt..."

Before he could continue, Madam Xing interrupted him, saying, "Brother, listen to me. If I tell you something that doesn't satisfy you, then we can report this to the old lady."

Chen Siyuan paused, then listened as Madam Xing said, "Of course, I won't mention the visit to express my displeasure. My concubine has promised to bring Xue Pan to apologize to my brother tomorrow morning." As she spoke, she glanced at Xiangling and continued, "The Xue family took my brother's personal maid, so naturally they must compensate him... I think this girl is a very good one."

After a pause, she continued, "Brother, you have come to the capital from afar, of course, to pursue a career. Auntie will not hide it from you. Although I am the second wife of the first wife in the Rongguo Mansion, I have to consider the eldest master's wishes in everything and dare not disobey him in the slightest. Although Sister Feng is the housekeeper, it is my sister-in-law who is in charge of the household... As for your son's future, I can say that I am powerless."

Housekeeper Wang Shanbao sighed, "My dear, you don't know how hard it's been for Madam these past few years." She glanced at the maids, even Madam Xing's two servants, Yunxiang and Xiangling, and sent them outside to wait on her. When only Chen Siyuan, Madam Xing, and Housekeeper Wang Shanbao were left inside, she continued, "Madam and the second wife are called sisters-in-law, but in reality, there's a generational difference in age. Half of the housekeepers in this household are from the second wife's concubines, and our Madam has to depend on her for everything!"

Chen Siyuan nodded. Madam Xing before him was well-maintained. Although in her early thirties, she looked like she was in her prime. Madam Wang was a decade older than Madam Xing. Even without going into details, wouldn't it be obvious from the outside that there was a generational difference?

Mrs. Xing said, "Your mother and I are not blood sisters, but we are better than blood sisters. Now that Yuan'er has come home, I must find a future for him. My concubine just promised that if this matter is resolved, she would transfer the three-room silk shop in Zhubao Market Corridor in the outer city to Yuan'er."

Wang Shanbao smiled and said, "My brother has come from afar, and with Madam here, you won't be short of food or clothes. You can just live comfortably in the mansion until you get married. But Madam can't help too much with other expenses... My brother also knows that your third aunt is still unmarried. As the saying goes, an eldest sister is like a mother, so Madam will always make some plans for the third sister.

The Zhubao Market Gallery is located at the foot of Zhengyang Gate. Even the shops in the inner city can't compare to it. They can earn at least this much in a whole year!"

As he spoke, Wang Shanbao raised three fingers.

Earning three hundred taels a year was a lot! At that time, a family of five could live comfortably with an annual income of just over twenty taels. An ordinary rural landlord with several hundred acres of fertile land might not even earn three hundred taels in a year.

Mrs. Xing said, "This business is the foundation of our livelihood. If we have a business, we will have money. Then we can ask the master to find relatives and friends to help him make connections. If nothing else, at least we can get into the academy and become a scholar."

(Note: Hongmen means school, and in this era it refers to the Imperial Academy.)
Other things would be fine, but upon hearing this, Chen Siyuan couldn't help but feel moved. As the saying goes, "All things are inferior, only officialdom is superior." Without an official position or a backer, even if he was extremely wealthy, he was nothing more than a piece of fish on someone else's chopping board.

Only by studying and becoming an official can you protect yourself!
The Dashun Dynasty, founded over a hundred years ago, has seen its decline since Emperor Taizong Li Guoding conquered the Central Plains and passed through four emperors. Although the Taishang Emperor has abdicated and the new emperor has reigned for over a decade, the court is still filled with former ministers. All major matters require the Taishang Emperor's approval, a phenomenon some enthusiasts call "Double Suns Hanging Together"!
Now that the Grand Lord was aging and Emperor Yankang was gradually consolidating power, there was no telling when he would purge the Grand Lord's followers. How could Chen Siyuan miss such an opportunity to advance his career? That was why he agreed to Liu Yan'er and the others' request, traveling thousands of miles to the capital, pretending to be Madam Xing's nephew. Wasn't this the only opportunity he was after?
Seeing Chen Siyuan remained silent, Madam Xing continued, "Besides, the concubine has already convinced Yan'er, and she will be taken into the family tomorrow. I know that Master Yuan and his servant have a deep bond, so even for Yan'er's future, Master Yuan shouldn't make too much of a fuss."

Chen Siyuan was surprised and asked, "Did Yan'er agree?"

Wang Shanbao smiled and said, "Now that things have come to this, how can Yan'er not agree? Brother, Yan'er is outside now. I'll call her in so she can talk to you."

Chen Siyuan thought to himself, this Liu Yan'er is used to coaxing people, so it's normal for her to go along with the situation now. Knowing that he can no longer control it, he sighed and said, "Since my aunt has said so, what else can I say? I will just follow my aunt's wishes."

Mrs. Xing was immediately overjoyed and said with a smile, "Don't worry, my dear. After this incident, if anyone dares to provoke you again in the future, I will stand up for you even if it means sacrificing my dignity!"

　Um, I forgot the time, sorry~
　　
　
(End of this chapter)