Chapter 221 Progress
Shen Ning didn't want to delve too much into what kind of person Xue Baochai was.
The Jia family is no longer the Jia family in Dream of the Red Chamber, and Baoyu is no longer the phoenix egg of the entire Jia family.
As for Lin Daiyu, she has both parents and a smart and lovely younger brother, Lin Chang'an. Her life trajectory has been different long ago. To be honest, Xue Baochai is not qualified to be her sister.
But these are Jia Min's business.
Shen Ning didn't intend to interfere with what their final outcome would be.
Personally speaking, Xue Baochai actually has what she likes.
If she didn't have so many little thoughts, if she wasn't so ruthless...
Shen Ning felt that she would like her very much.
Unfortunately, there are not so many ifs in this world.
"Mrs. Xue raised a good daughter."
Don't hit someone who smiles at you, especially when they come to visit you as relatives.
Shen Ning smiled at the girl who looked like a young girl.
In the Grand View Garden, Sister Bao's erudition and talent are obvious to all.
He has extensive knowledge in literature, art, history, medicine, as well as various schools of thought, Buddhist classics, etc.
But she is also sophisticated, smooth, hypocritical, treacherous, ruthless, indifferent, and manipulative.
The former made Shen Ning appreciate it, while the latter...
The smile in Shen Ning's eyes faded a lot, "I wonder what book you can read?"
“I’ve read the Four Books!”
This time, Xue Baochai did not mention the Four Books for Women.
She had already inquired about it. Mrs. Shen herself came from a scholarly family. Because she loved reading, she specially invited a female teacher to come and let Yingchun and the others study there.
If possible, she also wants to come here to study.
Although her background was not as good as those young ladies from noble families, Xue Baochai felt that she could crush them all in her studies.
"I heard from my cousin that Sister Yingchun and the others are studying here..."
"Oh, they are still helping me with the household."
For some reason, Shen Ning didn't want her to come over.
If Baoyu is no longer the target of Xue's pursuit, who will be the next one? Rong'er's age and background may be more attractive to Xue's family.
Shen Ning interrupted what Xue Baochai was about to say, "I heard from Feng girl that Madam Xue wants your son to study in the Jia family?"
Huh? "Yes!"
Aunt Xue immediately forgot about her daughter and focused on her son's affairs. "I've heard a lot about the Jia family's famous school. My son Pan is a naughty boy. I wonder if he can join the school?"
"Mrs. Xue, you are too polite. We are all relatives. Your son's admission into the Jia family school is just a matter of a word from Miss Feng."
In the Red Mansion, both the mother and daughter looked down upon Wang Xifeng. In many cases, Xue Baochai simply called her "Feng girl".
It seems as if she is not a cousin but an elder.
Shen Ning loves Fengjie very much.
After a series of misfortunes in the family, Feng Jieer and Jia Lian were eager to survive. She watched them from afar and found them quite funny and cute.
"Although the Jia family and the Wang family are no longer related, Feng girl is a good person. We, as elders, naturally see it. You go and tell her that she doesn't need to report everything. Just let her do whatever she wants."
Shen Ning said, "But, has Mrs. Xue inquired about the situation of the clan school? It's not a place where you can fish for three days and dry your nets for two days. Once you enter, you can't be lazy. At least within three years, he can't drop out."
"I asked around."
In fact, I didn't ask carefully.
Aunt Xue was more concerned about Jia Rong, the heir of Ningguo Mansion, who was studying there.
It is said that Aunt Jia Min's son Lin Chang'an will also go in next year.
If her Pan'er also goes, she will be their classmate in the future.
"I heard that the school organizes children to do eye exercises every day?"
This is something new.
Xue Pan was very interested in what he heard.
"Oh, children, reading hurts your eyes. Choose a fixed time every day and massage them according to the method recorded in the Shengji Zonglu. It is very friendly to the eyes."
She saw the "Shengji Zonglu" compiled by the Imperial Hospital during the Song Dynasty when she was searching through her original body's memories.
Of course, it must be arranged for the children.
Shen Ning smiled and said, "As long as your son likes it, I wonder if he will go to school before the New Year or after the New Year?"
There is no such thing as winter vacation here.
However, Shen Ning hopes that Xue Pan will go in again next year.
Otherwise, what if he doesn't want to learn anymore and escapes during the New Year to visit relatives? Shen Ning is still planning to see more jokes.
Of course, transformation is also her goal.
The Xue Pan here has never killed anyone, and he doesn't have a maid named Xiangling by his side.
It is always good to let him read the Dazhao Vinaya more and have more respect for life.
Xue Pan is a typical dandy boy.
He is wanton, arrogant, domineering, indulges in lust, and even does not take human life seriously.
But Shen Ning remembered that when he went to Jiangnan, he also remembered to bring some toys from his hometown for Lin Daiyu.
He is a man of loyalty and affection, and knows how to be there for his sister and mother when they are sad.
If Shen Ning were to say, it was a complete failure.
Aunt Xue doted on me blindly, pampered me, without any restraint, and was seduced by someone...
“It wasn’t very good before the New Year.”
Aunt Xue didn't know how much was going through Shen Ning's mind at this moment, but she was still very happy that others cared about her son. "He hasn't been to Beijing for many years. His relatives have to leave, and the shopkeepers have to meet. The things that should be done after the New Year are almost done. He can go to school peacefully to study."
But whether visiting relatives or meeting the shopkeeper, he could say that Pan'er was going to study at the Jia family school.
“…That’s right!”
Shen Ning smiled and chatted a few more words before sending the guest away.
"Mother~"
You brought over the gift list and said, "Look, the Xue family sent quite a few gifts."
"Well, tell the guards on duty at the clan school to be strict with Xue Pan when he goes to school."
Shen Ning only took a glance and said, "When Mr. Wen can't control it, they come."
Huh? You was a little stunned.
"Children are disobedient. Just spank them more."
Shen Ning smiled, "Although Xue Pan is older now, it is precisely because he is older that he needs to be taken better care of."
After she came through, she always wanted to beat Jia Zhen, but unfortunately she never succeeded.
She wanted to beat Baoyu, but the little guy was still young and looked pitiful.
It's a rare opportunity for a Xue Pan to come along, maybe his wish will come true.
"……oh!"
You seemed to be thinking about something.
Regardless of anything else, it is true that the mother-in-law wants to discipline Xue Pan.
Just take care of it!
Letting go one sheep is letting go, and letting go a flock of sheep is also letting go.
The guards have experience in this matter.
They happily decided Xue Pan's future, but when Xue Baochai returned to Rongguo Mansion, she couldn't help but look back at Ningguo Mansion.
Everyone says that Mrs. Shen likes girls very much.
But why does it feel like that’s not the case today?
She didn't seem to like her... much.
Xue Baochai didn't know what she had done wrong.
If she wanted to enter the palace, she would need Madam Shen's help.
She was a first-rank lady of honor and was said to have a very good relationship with the Queen. When Prince Jin was still very powerful, she didn't give him any face at all and slapped the Princess in the face in front of many other ladies.
To the emperor and the empress, he is undoubtedly one of their own.
The news that the brother brought back last night shocked both mother and daughter.
The Zhen family, which was once thought to be very powerful, may be about to fall.
Unfortunately, their family has already given out this year’s New Year gifts.
However, the Zhen family has fallen, and they moved into the Jia family. No matter who rises in Jiangnan in the future, they should be more polite to the Xue family.
Xue Baochai sighed softly.
"My son, do you also want to go to the East Palace to study like Miss Min and Miss Lin?"
"Hmm~"
Xue Baochai's voice was muffled.
She wanted to go to school, but Mrs. Shen clearly supported her brother to go to the Jia family school, but pretended not to hear her implication.
Baochai suspected that this was related to her background.
She comes from a merchant family.
But those who studied in Dongfu, even Min Mei’s father was an official.
She is the legitimate granddaughter of the Jia family.
she……
"Don't be in a hurry!"
Aunt Xue patted her daughter's hand and said, "Haven't you heard that they will be carrying the coffin back to their hometown next year? I will talk to your cousin then. You should also visit Yingchun and Tanchun more often. When they go to school, I will ask the old lady for help. It will definitely work."
For the sake of her two children, what does it matter if she loses her face? Besides, her Baochai is so good, Aunt Xue believes that if Mrs. Shen sees her more, she will definitely like her.
"Yeah, I listen to my mother."
Baochai nodded.
Her mother's plan was actually her plan as well.
The Jia family is the only place that can elevate her status.
The daughters of the Jia family are now very respected in the capital, and studying with them..., regardless of whether she can enter the palace as she wishes, it will be a hundred benefits to her and no harm.
Xue Baochai was looking forward to coming earlier next year. When she returned to the courtyard with her mother, Xue Pan had already returned home.
"Why don't you stay in the shop longer?"
The shop owners are all capable, and Aunt Xue wants her son to learn more from them.
"It's the New Year, and the shopkeepers are very busy."
Xue Pan hurriedly asked: "Mom, do you know what they are busy with now?"
"What are you busy with?"
"My son heard that the imperial guards were dispatched today and raided the home of a senior official from the Ministry of Revenue."
Xue Pan lowered his voice, "We have seized so many things, so we must release them! Today, Manager Li and his men were called to the Ministry of Internal Affairs for an appraisal."
This? Aunt Xue couldn't help but get excited.
Business is all about buying low and selling high.
The confiscated items sent out by the Ministry of Internal Affairs are lower than the market price. If the Xue family can get more...
"Did Shopkeeper Li tell you how much silver our family should prepare?"
“Not yet.”
Xue Pan shook his head. "He just said that the things that the Ministry of Internal Affairs is sending out this time are likely to be good and inferior goods, sold together."
So that's it! "Brother, you should be with Shopkeeper Li. Even if you don't know anything, it's good to gain some experience!"
My brother is back.
Baochai couldn't help but feel sorry for him.
"Did you hear me? If you encounter this situation again, just follow me."
"…What's there to follow?"
Not only is it extremely boring, but one also has to fawn over the people in the Ministry of Internal Affairs.
Xue Pan was not happy, "Didn't mom tell me to go to the Jia family to study as an attached school? Did it work?"
Instead of running around with Manager Li and the others, he would rather go to the school to play.
"Okay, you can go to school at the beginning of next year."
Aunt Xue saw that her son was unhappy, so she tried to comfort him, "Everyone is going to have a holiday soon..."
"I want to study, but you won't let me."
Xue Pan immediately said, "What do you mean by holiday? Aren't there still a few days left?" He would go and take a look first. If it doesn't work, he won't go next year. "Mom, either I go to study tomorrow, or..."
"Go if you want to!"
Baochai interrupted her brother's angry words and said, "But the Jia family's clan school is different from other places. You have to stay there for at least three years."
What? Xue Pan stared, "Why haven't I heard of it?"
"My mother and I just came back from the East Palace, and it was Madam Shen who said it herself."
Huh? Xue Pan looked at his mother.
Aunt Xue nodded, "Are you still going?"
Xue Pan backed out.
But my sister was watching, and she looked like she was waiting for him to reject her...
“I’ll go!”
“…All right then!”
Aunt Xue had no choice but to say, "I'll go tell Feng girl."
"Don't worry, Mom!"
Xue Baochai pulled her mother aside and said, "I vaguely heard yesterday that there was some kind of "recalling the bitter past and thinking of the sweet past" rice over there. Can brother get used to it? Why don't we find out more about it first?"
People say that you can't fish for three days and then dry the net for two days.
If my brother goes there and breaks other people's rules... I'm afraid he will even have a bad impression of her.
"What is this rice of remembering the bitter past and thinking about the sweet past? If the Jia family can eat it, then I can eat it too."
Xue Pan yelled, "Sister, don't look down on me."
Can you blame him for not making progress?
He finally wanted to make progress, but either his mother or his sister stopped him.
Xue Pan considered himself a man. If the sons of noble families could eat it, why couldn't he? "But... Madam Shen also said that we can't fish for three days and dry the net for two days."
Xue Baochai seemed to hesitate and said, "She is a first-rank imperial lady. My brother also said yesterday that she dared to hit even the Princess of Jin. If you pretend to be sick or lose your temper like before, I am afraid that even if I want to speak up for you, I will not be able to do so."
“Yes, yes, yes!”
Aunt Xue was secretly pulled by her daughter and quickly agreed, "Pan'er, why don't you go and ask around?"
"……Need not!"
Xue Pan gritted his teeth and said, "I'm going to study!"
Today, he was going to his uncle's house.
But my second uncle was not at home, and my cousin was not at home either.
Only two aunts were there.
This clearly shows that he looks down on their family.
Humph~ They look down on it, and he is not willing to go.
Although Xue Pan was a mixed up person, he could still sense other people's attitude towards him.
If he didn't go to school, his mother would definitely cry and ask him to go to his uncle's house.
Since he is studying, his mother will definitely put his studies first.
"Okay, I'll go find Feng girl right away."
It was rare for her son to want to make progress. Although Aunt Xue still had some doubts in her heart, she was mostly happy. "Baochai, help your brother prepare some gifts for his apprenticeship."
Although in the past this year, it would be equivalent to giving an extra gift of apprenticeship and tuition fees, but how could money be as important as Pan'er's progress?
Aunt Xue hurried to find Sister Feng.
"Gong Dongfu's aunt also had someone tell me."
Hearing her aunt relaying her aunt's praise for her, Feng Jieer smiled with pride, not to mention how energetic she was, "But didn't aunt say next year?"
“Oh, that’s what they said at the time.”
Aunt Xue was beaming with joy, "But isn't it because Pan'er heard that the Jia family's clan studies are good and wants to make progress?"
"That's fine. I'll ask Cousin Min to go to the school and tell the teachers."
Wang Xifeng didn't even ask the servants to leave.
Letting Min Jianbai go is a sign of respect. "It will be convenient to become a disciple with Cousin Min here."
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