The splendor of the Red Chamber, the power that reigns supreme.

Chapter 60 Taking Over the Silk Shop

Upon hearing this, Sister Xue wondered how this lecherous fiend had changed his ways.
She quickly said, "Oh, my sir! If you want to inquire, go ahead and inquire! Everyone in the neighborhood praises Sister Meng's character and conduct. Her family's property is all clearly documented and documented! If you don't believe me, I can secretly take you to her cloth shop another day, or ask some familiar merchants to find out more about her. I guarantee you'll be satisfied!"

Ximen Qing waved his hand to stop her from nagging further: "It does make some sense. But I'm busy with things at the shop right now and can't spare the attention for a moment. Let me think about it and make a decision later."

Aunt Xue was a seasoned veteran; upon hearing "think it over" and "it's somewhat promising," she knew that the matter was at least on the verge of success! The fact that Master Ximen hadn't immediately refused was incredibly good news!
Her face lit up with a smile, and she hurriedly replied, "Of course! Of course! What kind of person are you, sir? Of course you must consider this carefully! I'll come back in a couple of days to hear your instructions."

Meanwhile, Ximen Qing and Xue Sao were chatting about Meng Yulou.

Wu Dalang was calculating the cost of the steamed buns with a customer, standing on the street corner with a few coins in his hand.

Suddenly, Ximen Qing appeared, riding a tall horse, wearing a dark brocade robe with dark patterns, and his leather boots gleaming as the stirrups jingled.

Wu Da clenched his fists, his nails digging into his palms, thinking to himself, "This bastard stole my betrothed, and now he's so arrogant!"

The fruit vendor next to him tugged at his sleeve and whispered, "My brother! Your eyes are bloodshot and your fists are clenched. Are you looking for a fight? You can't beat him."

Wu Da gave a bitter laugh, loosened his clenched fist, and shook his head:
"Yun-ge'er...don't talk nonsense. Offense?...On what grounds?"

He let out a long, heavy sigh, as if he wanted to expel his internal organs: "What kind of person am I, Wu Da? A tiny dwarf, a mere tree bark! I'm afraid of blocking the way of noblemen when I walk, and I'm afraid of startling their carriage when I breathe... I'm a complete country bumpkin!"

He paused, and the last spark of anger in his eyes as he looked at Master Ximen had completely died down: "I've already figured out what I'm angry about since I ran out of that Zhang family mansion. That Lady Jinlian... she's like a fairy, what kind of filthy thing am I, Wu Da? How could I possibly be worthy of her? And why drag my brother into this?"

He raised his hand and hastily wiped the dust and flour off his face: "A hemp rope cannot bind gold and silver stakes, and a thatched hut cannot keep a beautiful lady! Look at this Master Ximen, so handsome and dashing. Every woman on the street who sees him pass by doesn't steal a glance, throw a flirtatious look, or wave her handkerchief. The two are truly a perfect match! How can I compare to him or compete with him?"

"Lady Jinlian followed Master Ximen, and she wore fine silks and satins, adorned herself with gold, silver and jewels, had maids and servants at her beck and call, and ate delicacies from land and sea. This is the good fortune she has received! It is far better than following me, a poor pancake seller, eating cold pancakes for the rest of my life and suffering from filth for the rest of my life!"

He shook his head, said nothing more, forced a smile, and, with his short, hunched back, pushed his creaking pancake cart, saying as he walked, "We're not a good match, a toad dreaming of swan meat. Having enough to eat is the most important thing. Once I've saved enough money, I'll find a wife to settle down with."

After saying that, he pushed the cart step by step, gradually blending into the bustling crowd of people in the city, and suddenly disappeared.

The man was unaware that Wu Dalang had been watching him. He bid farewell to the old woman, cracked his whip, and soon his horse arrived at the silk shop of the wealthy Zhang family in the south of the city.

But the already bustling street was now packed with people.

Looking into the distance from horseback.

Zhang the wealthy man's first wife, Yu, was dressed in heavy mourning clothes, her white linen clothes as white as snow, and was surrounded by a group of people!

The sedan chair beside them had been smashed to pieces, and the sedan chair bearers and servants were nowhere to be seen. Each of them was dressed in fine silk, but their faces showed no trace of sorrow; instead, they exuded a greedy, wolf-like aura!

This scene was crystal clear to Master Ximen, who had seen it all before!
It's simply a matter of: having horses in front of the door doesn't make you rich, and having no one at home doesn't make you strong.

Upon hearing that a man in a family had died suddenly from an illness, leaving behind orphans and widows, the relatives would swarm around like vultures smelling blood.

While claiming to be helping with the funeral arrangements, their eyes had already thoroughly examined the family's belongings, plotting how to use the guise of "adoption" or "temporary management" to actually seize the family's property.

as predicted.

One person said, "Sister-in-law! When a person dies, it's like a lamp going out; crying won't bring them back! You should accept this and move on! But life in this world still has to go on, doesn't it? My brother left in a hurry, leaving behind such a vast fortune. There should be a way to divide it up and establish some rules!"

Behind him, a nephew with a pointed face chimed in, "That's right! Aunt, you're just a woman, guarding this mountain of gold and silver. Isn't that like a child carrying gold through a bustling market? You're bound to invite disaster and trouble! You might as well bring out all those land deeds, shop deeds, and the piles of silver stored away in the granary, and have everyone in the clan discuss and divide them up! That way, we can help you share the burden and save you from worrying day and night!"

Yu raised her tearful eyes, looking at these relatives who used to fawn over Zhang the wealthy man like lapdogs, but now acted like wolves and tigers. She trembled with rage: "You...you have no conscience! My grandfather's body is barely cold, his coffin is still in the house, and the seven-day mourning period hasn't even passed! And you...you're already thinking about taking a piece of his flesh?! Those fields and shops were all earned by my grandfather through a lifetime of hard work; there are accounts to prove it..."

A cold laugh came from the crowd: "Flesh and blood? Madam! We need to make sure we know whose flesh and blood this is. This is the flesh and blood of the Zhang family. Who are you? What is your name? Are you surnamed Zhang?"

A burly man beside him roared, "What kind of nonsense accounts are these? Isn't it all because of you, woman, who has two faces and can make up whatever you want? You, the White Tiger Star, have brought misfortune upon our elder brother! Now you want to monopolize the family property! Those are all clan property of the Zhang family. If you don't obediently hand over those land deeds, house deeds, and documents today, don't blame us for disregarding kinship and tearing off all pretenses!"

After saying that, the crowd started shouting and jeers. Several hotheaded nephews and nieces rolled up their sleeves, revealing their rough, black, and unruly arms, and made a move to pull and shove each other!

Yu was so frightened that her face turned ashen. She stumbled backward and fell with a thud onto the cold, icy floor tiles.

The few items he was tightly clutching in his arms tumbled to the ground with a "whoosh".

A sleek, glossy abacus made of rosewood with gilded corners and black beads.

A small, exquisite water pitcher wrapped in gold and silver.

There was also an old measuring tape, worn smooth and shiny.

The moment this thing appeared, it was like blood attracting flies!

The eyes of those wolfish relatives immediately gleamed with thieving intent!
They no longer cared about pulling Yu Shi aside; they pounced on her like hungry tigers.

(End of this chapter)