Dreams of Jianghu

Last time on Grafting Life: The Lin Family receives news about Lin Ru Hai.

This chapter has been brought to you by me and Smash10101.

Chapter 29 – Red Chamber (29)

The Jia Family was very happy that Yuan Chun had become a consort. The women had to go into the palace to give thanks for the grace. They became busy. Lin Yu Tong took Lin Dai Yu and silently left, going to their courtyard.

“Sister, I think that my maternal family overstepped in the past. Now, with this happy matter, I fear they will be even more so in their conduct. I am worried,” Lin Dai Yu sighed sadly, pulling her cloak closer.

“Yes! Anyone with clear eyes can see it, but the masters of the family are used to such extravagance. They do not know the saying ‘It is easy to go from frugality to extravagance, but hard the other way around.’ This is not something that we can explain in a word or two.” Lin Yu Tong had a small smile and stopped speaking.

“Then why is Sister so happy?” Lin Dai Yu looked at Lin Yu Tong and asked.

A sensitive girl was not very likable.

Could she say that I am scheming for your maternal family’s silver? Lin Yu Tong wanted to fool her, but looking at Lin Dai Yu’s clear eyes, she could not speak nonsense. She looked around, and saw that no one was present. She said in a low voice, “I am not happy, but laughing at the men for not having realized what is strange though they read so many books. Sister, you have read history books before. “Xiande”, virtue. Is such a title so easy to use? A consort. Disregarding that these two characters are never used in a title, just from the characters themselves, should people not be wary? I recall that this eldest cousin had been a female official in the empress’ palace. A person who served others, how can she use the title “virtue?” Then what should be used to praise the empress?”

Lin Dai Yu stilled and her expression grew ugly. “According to Sister, this is not good.”

“In any case, I’ve never heard of a consort praised for being virtuous. “Xiande” does not seem like a title, but a……” Lin Yu Tong paused at this point.

Lin Dai Yu panicked and asked, “Like what?”

“A posthumous name!” Lin Yu Tong softly said.

This exploded in Lin Dai Yu’s mind. Did Sister make sense? Yes. But could she tell her grandmother? Would the other believe her? Such a happy day, and she would say such things. What would they think? Wouldn’t she offend the entire Jia Clan?

Also, this concerned her sister privately pondering the intentions of the emperor and could not be rashly spoken off. This concerned the Lin Family.

Also, if others did not expose what the emperor’s intentions were and her family was dumb enough to do so, who would suffer the consequences?

Why had Yang Xiu died? Because of his smarts and his mouth. It was fine to be smart, but there was also a saying “see, but not say.”

“I understand, Sister,” Lin Dai Yu turned her head and said with difficulty, “Fate is set now the edict has come down. Everything else is useless. The mansion is about to collapse. No one can stop it.”

Lin Yu Tong nodded. “Yes, let’s return.”

“Sister, go first. I am bored and want to walk by myself.” Lin Dai Yu felt very depressed and said.

Lin Yu Tong nodded in understanding. She and Lin Dai Yu were different. She had nothing to do with the Jia Family and because of the two concubines, she even had a grudge. So, when she knew the results, she was calm, and felt like it was finally here. But these people were Lin Dai Yu’s blood relatives. She could not avoid feeling pain when her relatives were involved.

“It is cold outside, do not stay too long.” Lin Yu Tong instructed the servant girls, “Watch your miss, do not let anything happen.”

Then she sent someone to send a message to the storekeeper, telling him to be faster with his preparations. It was about to start.

Lin Dai Yu wandered aimlessly and happened to meet Jia Bao Yu face-to-face. His eyes were red, and he was in a daze, without any joy at all.

She sighed inside and asked, “Everyone is celebrating Consort. How come you are not there, and are dazing about here? If people saw you, they would think you are stupid.”

Jia Bao Yu saw Lin Dai Yu and was slightly better. He put away his sorrow and said, “I did not expect to meet Sister here.”

“I always stroll in this park in the daytime, and never meet you. I want to ask what you have been so busy with these days.” Lin Dai Yu turned around, a bit vexed.

Jia Bao Yu had been with Qin Zhong in his rooms with the excuse of studying, and rarely roamed around the residence recently. After Lin Dai Yu asked, he could not help but feel a bit guilty and said, “Not busy. But Master is home, and I do not dare to roam about. Even if I pretend, I have to stay in the study.”

“How come you are so free today and came out again? Is Second Uncle busy with the matter of Eldest Cousin and has no attention to spare for you?” Lin Dai Yu asked with a smile.

Jia Bao Yu smiled. “Nothing is a secret from you. However, you only got half.” Then he thought of Qin Zhong and his eyes turned red. “The Qin brothers are good people. His sister passed away, and so did his father a while ago. Now, he does not look well. He and I are good friends, and I am sad upon seeing him.” As to how Qin Zhong killed his father through angering him, and the relation with Zhi Neng, he did not dare to mention it at all.

Lin Dai Yu was dazed. So it was because of this. She thought that he had seen the danger hidden behind the prosperity. She sighed. Bao Yu was a very soft-hearted person. She urged, “You can send people to visit frequently, and do not delay seeing the physician. If money is short, just help out some. This is your good will. If you do not have enough silver, I can give you some. If you fear that the old mistress and your mother knowing about this, just send Ming Yan to find the back door of my family. If you tell the door keeper, I will deliver you the silver.”

“Good sister.”Bao Yu grabbed Lin Dai Yu’s hand. “Only you know my heart.”

Lin Dai Yu pulled her hand back and scolded, “Just speak properly. You are grown up, you can’t keep on touching and pulling.” She of course was very careful now, but Bao Yu still had not grown up. She glared and turned to leave, not in the mood to keep strolling.

Before she managed to leave, Xi Ren was standing by the side of the path and calling, “My second master, it is so cold here. How come you are here? If you get sick, how can we explain to the old mistress?” Then she said to Dai Yu. “Miss Lin is also here. It is so cold. If you want to talk, come to our rooms. Here, outside, it is not good if people get sick.”

Lin Dai Yu immediately changed expression. The other was implying that she had delayed Bao Yu and shouldn’t talk to Bao Yu outside. Telling a girl to go to a man’s room to talk was even more extreme.

Zi Juan was flushed red but did not speak. The servant girls from Bao Yu’s rooms were a level higher than the rest.

But Zhi Lan and Fang Hua were not for nothing. Zhi Lan snorted, “Our miss strolls in the park everyday. Who doesn’t know that our miss has a habit of strolling? What? Our Lin Family is living in your family so we must move three paces aside when meeting your masters?”

Fang Hua laughed. “You don’t know. This Sister Xi Ren is a very virtuous person. If Second Master Bao is not with her, in less than ten minutes, she will come search for him. They can’t be apart for more than a minute.”

If Xi Ren was a servant girl, or her affair with Bao Yu had not been discovered, it would be nothing to hear this. But, they all knew that she was no longer a girl. If she could not leave Bao Yu for a minute, it implied that she could not live without a man.

Such mockery caused her to turn purple.

“Miss, we are returning. Eldest Miss is missing you.” Zhi Lan supported Lin Dai Yu and was going to leave.

Jia Bao Yu seemed to think of something and ran around Xi Ren in front of Dai Yu. He took out a string of fragrant beads. “I got these a few days ago, from the Beijing Prince. I kept it just for Sister. Take it to play.”

Lin Dai Yu was caught off guard and he shoved it into her hand. She immediately grew angry. “A man touched this already, I do not want it.” She threw it to Jia Bao Yu and left.

Jia Bao Yu looked at Lin Dai Yu’s back, dazed for a while.

“Second Master, let’s return,” Xi Ren said softly.

Jia Bao Yu snorted and turned to leave. Returning to the courtyard, he was even more bored. He felt that he was being controlled everywhere he went. If he wanted to use some silver, Xi Ren would keep on asking questions. If she did not get to the bottom of it, she would not give him silver. Even if he spent it outside, when he came back, she would interrogate Ming Yan.

He just felt that Xi Ren’s charms had disappeared, and she grew just as dislikeable as Granny Liu.

Now, he wanted to help Qin Zhong and had to borrow silver from Sister Lin.

Seeing Xi Ren wanting to get close, he immediately twisted and laid down inside. Xi Ren was rebuffed, and the servant girls in the room looked at her like they were laughing. She was very sad, and felt that no one understood her. It was time for Second Master to work hard. If he did not educate himself, what about the future? But these servant girls just knew to encourage him to have fun, causing Second Master to see her like she was a monster.

Lin Dai Yu returned to the courtyard and saw what appeared to be Wang Xi Feng’s servant girls playing outside. She asked the servant at the door. “Has a guest come?”

The servant woman said, “Second Miss, Second Missus Lian has come.”

Lin Dai Yu felt uncomfortable, and could not stand Wang Xi Feng’s talking so she went back to her rooms with her servant girls, sending someone to notify others, she was tired after her walk, and would not keep Sister-in-law company.

Wang Xi Feng had just entered. Tea had been served but not drank. She said to the servant girl, “Tell your miss to rest. I just came to visit, and won’t disturb her.”

Seeing the servant girl leave, she said to Lin Yu Tong, “Luckily you are able to keep her in check. Now that she walks, she looks healthy. In the past, she was like a beauty on a lamp, worrisome to see.”

“She is much better now. In the past, after walking for a quarter of an hour, she would pant. Look at her now, she walked half an hour and is just sweating slightly. Slow progress.” Lin Yu Tong pushed the peeled chestnuts in front of Wang Xi Feng. “You should be at your most busy right now. How come you have the spare time to come here?”

“I just saw the old mistress and the mistress out. They are going to the palace to give their thanks. They won’t come back so quickly. So I came to visit you for a while.” Wang Xi Feng saw that the chestnuts were just the size of a pinky and asked, “How are you able to find such little ones?”

“These chestnuts do not get bigger. There is only a few pounds from a tree, but it is very good in taste.” Lin Yu Tong smiled. “Taste them.”

She had the storekeeper buy a few of the stone mountains near the capital in order to quarry them. The mountain had a thick layer of dirt and wild chestnut trees had grown. Lin Yu Tong was planning to move a few into her own space.

“You are one to enjoy yourself.” Wang Xi Feng ate and then nodded. “It is because of someone wise like you in charge. Otherwise, the days would not be so comfortable.”

“Do not praise me. In the Ning and Rong establishments, who does not say that Second Sister-in-law is capable?” Lin Yu Tong’s compliment was right on point.

She saw the other have a smug expression but the other said modestly, “I am so stupid. Other strike me with a club, and I think it a needle.”

“Do not be humble. In terms of the household, ten of me together is not equal to one of you,” Lin Yu Tong praised and then said in a low tone, “But Second Sister-in-law, let’s speak from the heart. Do you really not know the situation of the residence? Anyone with eyes can see this. It cannot be hidden. For these years, how much silver did you put in?”

Wang Xi Feng looked around and saw they were the only people in the room before she said, “Sister has a clear mind.” She frowned. “The days are tighter and tighter. But the servants all say that I take silver to supplement my paternal family. Let’s not say that my paternal family has mountains of gold and silver, but who will I supplement? My uncle and aunt?” She was angry when this was mentioned. She could not even defend herself.

“So I say you are stupid. People try to get silver, but you only spend silver. How do you benefit maintaining this family’s respect? The servants are not forgiving.” Lin Yu Tong took a sip of tea.

“Sister, in the end, your Second Brother Lian will inherit this residence. I can’t let it fall like this.” Wang Xi Feng grimaced.

“What you get is yours. Right now, it is just an entire family using up your future silver. They know that it does not belong to them. If it was me, I would waste as much as possible. If you do not spend now, it will not reach your hands in the future. Think about it from the other side, isn’t it true?” Lin Yu Tong lowered her voice and said, “They all say that people who are distant do not involve themselves in matters of people who are more closer. But today, I will meddle. Your aunt, is she able to treat you better than she treats her own daughter and son? Most of the expenses of the residence are for the palace, in trade for a future. You know this. But the future is gained. Will Second Brother Lian get more than Bao Yu. In the end, what does it have to do with you? If you do not believe me, just watch how the consort will act in the future. Disregarding if she can put the eldest master and madam on the level as the second master and madam, if she remembers the existence of the eldest branch, it is not too late then for you to get close to them.”

Wang Xi Feng’s heart shook at the direct words. But she increasingly felt that it made sense. Her husband would inherit the title, so whose silver was being used now?

“It will not be the two of you who will get good things. You are the people who are managing the work that is hard and offends people. The di grandson has ended up a steward. You are so smart, what are you thinking?” Lin Yu Tong asked Wang Xi Feng in confusion.

“The old mistress……” Wang Xi Feng’s gaze was panicked. In the end, the reason was the old mistress’s attitude. The residence still had the plaque of the ducal establishment because the old mistress still had a super-ranked title. With this, they did not have to switch out the plaque.

So the old mistress was the respect and face of the family.

“The old mistress is good if Bao Yu is good.” Lin Yu Tong said with a smile, “Also the old mistress is old. How much longer can she be? Do not tell me that with your skills, you have never fooled the old mistress?”

Wang Xi Feng pointed at Lin Yu Tong. “Your mouth is lovable and hateful.”

Lin Yu Tong stopped once the point was made. With Wang Xi Feng’s smarts, she should be on her guard now. She said, “If you do not have enough money, do not let people use you. I have a good business right now. Just come find me.” In any case, this couple was in charge of the purchasing for the residence. She would think of it as kick backs for the couple. That way, Wang Xi Feng would not end up committing usury. Once she started on this business, she would not want to get the little earnings from the loans.

Wang Xi Feng was moved by what she said. Who would dislike having more money? She ask about what business it was.

Lin Yu Tong only said, “It is not time yet. You will know when it is time.”

“If there is three to five thousand profit, I will do it,” Wang Xi Feng probed.

“Times ten.” Lin Yu Tong leaked.

“Thirty to fifty thousand!” Wang Xi Feng jumped in fright and lowered her voice. “Do not bluff me.”

A Grand View Garden did not need so much silver, it was all embezzled by the servants. If she did business directly with Jia Lian, without the intermediaries, there would be more than thirty to fifty thousand saved. Just the fine decorations and actresses from Jiangnan was budgeted fifty thousand silver. But if the Lin Family did it, they would not need even five thousand in cost. Of course, the Lin Family had their roots in Jiangnan, their own shops and people and also the director-general up high. Lin Yu Tong did not plan to squeeze other people’s profits, but the price that others gave her was the base cost. Adding on the transport cost, she really did not spend a lot.

She smiled and said, “What will I bluff you for? With the silver, you can manage it yourself, or give it to other people. Each year, you will get eight to ten thousand silver.” In the future, you will not have to pawn your jewelry because you could not gather a few hundred silver.

Wang Xi Feng immediately agreed. “Regardless of whether I lack silver or not, when the time comes, just come find me. I will try to get the capital together no matter how much.”

Lin Yu Tong did not say that no capital was needed and agreed with a nod and smile.

In reality, Lin Yu Tong did not know that Wang Xi Feng had started with usury already. Wang Xi Feng was happy and charged back to her rooms. Ping’er came over and whispered, “Just now Sister-in-law Wang’er delivered the interest. But Second Master was here. She is more and more unreliable. I managed to find an excuse.”

Wang Xi Feng got news from Lin Yu Tong and naturally did not want this business of just a few hundred taels each month. She also had to gather capital so she said, “Let’s end this now. This is not good for karma. While I do not fear ghosts, I have not had good news. Even you have not had a pregnancy. No wonder there is so much gossip outside. Maybe this is because it harms karma.”

Ping’er spat and said, “Missus, where did you hear this that you come to joke with me?”

“I am not joking with you.” Wang Xi Feng smiled inside and said, “I just realized after seeing the Lin Family’s situation. Say, if Uncle-in-law Lin did not find Cousin Lin back then, the family has no son, who will inherit it all? I scheme around all day, all I spend is my own dowry. What remains is enough to be Eldest jie’er‘s dowry. No matter how much silver I make, who can I give it to? Even if you give birth, if they are raised by us, we will have support when we grow old.”

Ping’er’s eyes turned red. “What happened today that you come back and say such things?”

“Silly girl, this is the truth.” Wang Xi Feng sat down on the bed and said.

“But if Mistress asks……” Ping’er said uncertainly. “What should we say?”

Mistress!

Wang Xi Feng shook.

“…… Do not be used by others and have devious thoughts……”

“…… Your aunt, can she treat you better than her own daughter and son……”

Lin Yu Tong’s words were still in her mind. Sweat came down. Why didn’t Aunt do this business? There must be something wrong.

She insisted, “Just for children. Just end it, and I will tell Mistress later myself.”

Ping’er saw that Wang Xi Feng’s expression was not good and did not dare to ask, thinking that it was because of children. This mistress was strong in personality and better in many aspects, but the children was her shortcoming. She had suffered a lot for this.

She quietly left. She thought, for the sake of children, she had to be more careful to end the loans and not leave anything behind.

Wang Xi Feng thought of everything that had happened in the past and felt that she was even more stupid. She cried and raged by herself, feeling better after.

They all say that those in the situation were blind while the onlooker saw clearly. But there were so many onlookers but who pointed it out to her?

She thought of Aunt Xue and Xue Bao Chai who had come to the Jia Family before Lin Yu Tong. They were blood relatives of hers. While she called the other maternal aunt due to her husband’s relationship, she was actually the paternal aunt. Bao Chai was her paternal cousin.

Other people may not have seen. Dai Yu, she understood, but she never cared for mortal matters. She did not blame Dai Yu. But Aunt Xue and Xue Bao Chai were people with ledgers in their hearts. Even if they were not biased towards her, just say something, and she would get a clue. That was nothing.

She had a tantrum by herself. When Jia Lian returned and came to eat, he saw that her eyes were swollen. A person who was usually so domineering was now like this. She looked even more moving like this. His voice softened. “What is it? Someone offended you?”

“Nothing.” Wang Xi Feng shook her head. “I became sad again thinking that I could not give you a son.”

“Oh that,” Jia Lian shook his head, “just rest and recover well. We are still young, we first had our daughter. It is not that we can’t have children. It will come sooner or later.” Without a son, he was a step lower than others, and also in a hurry. But thinking that he had something to discuss with Wang Xi Feng, he suppressed his words.

Wang Xi Feng’s expression changed. Seeing that Ping’er was not in the room, she said, “I want to discuss something with Second Master.”

Jia Lian said curiously, “What matter can’t you decide, it is a wonder that you want to discuss with me today.”

Wang Xi Feng pushed him. “I was thinking of having a dinner and making an announcement for Ping’er. I don’t believe that with the two of us, we won’t get a son.”

Jia Lian was stunned for a while and reached to touch Wang Xi Feng’s forehead. “You are not having a fever. How come you are speaking nonsense now?” When the tiger in his home changed personality, his first reaction was not joy and surprise, but fear. Usually, he and Ping’er were like thieves when they wanted to get close. He was not used to this sudden generosity.

Wang Xi Feng snorted. “Ping’er is a good one. This will avoid a troublesome one coming into the family and disturbing the peace. Otherwise, I……”

“Okay, okay okay!” Jia Lian saw her glare and he was reassured. This was still the pot of vinegar. She hadn’t changed at all. “You can make the decision, I will listen to you.”

“Do not announce it now. I will tell the old mistress and Mistress before we celebrate. It will avoid her being embarrassed, and worry that I have opinions about her. She still has to keep helping with the family matters.” She would not be stupid now to do things that offend other people.

Jia Lian nodded. Sweet wife and beautiful concubine, a wonderful matter. What reason did he have to refuse?

Jia Lian then spoke of his milk brother who wanted to find a job. “He asked several times and I forgot. But when I came in, I saw Wet Nurse pass by. If she comes again to beg, it will not look good.”

“That’s nothing. Who can’t be put to work? You can just send a servant girl with a message and I will take care of it. Why do you have to come running like this?” Wang Xi Feng stood up and shot him a vexed look.

“So true, but I did not remember it at the time,” Jia Lian said guiltily.

“I will remember this. In a bit, I will send someone to tell Wet Nurse. Do not worry.” Wang Xi Feng sat in front of her mirror and started to organize her hair ornaments.

Jia Lian thought that Feng-jie’er was so easy going today and his heart softened. He went over to her.

“Just go, I fear that the people will be coming back from the palace soon. You will be busy, and I have no time.” Wang Xi Feng sent Jia Lian away. She had something on her mind and no attention to spare for him.

Jia Lian hit his forehead and went to hurry. “It is about time.”

Wang Xi Feng laughed softly, “If I didn’t know, I would think you are going to meet up with your little lover.”

From afar, she heard Jia Lian shout, “Nonsense!”

The news that an auxiliary building had to be constructed for a visit finally was confirmed as Lin Yu Tong anticipated.

“Silver can’t stand to be spent like this.” Lin Dai Yu sighed.

Lin Yu Tong thought, it had to be spent like this. Otherwise, where would your sister make money? She had sworn to get back the silver that the Lin Family had given the Jia Family.

The Jia Family members were gathered together and discussed how to build the park.

Wang Xi Feng thought of Lin Yu Tong’s message.

“The time has come.”

When she heard the words, she had a general understanding. Using the silver of the common accounts to build the park, the family basically had no more money left, with only an empty shell. What did she need it for? If she used the chance to take the silver for herself, then she would not be the idiot who worked for others.

She had to take the job. This could not go through another’s hands. Jia Lian had to take care of the outside matters, but she would not tell him all.

For example, he would buy things worth ten thousand from the shop that Lin Yu Tong arranged. The other would give him a benefit of five hundred. But coming back, Lin Yu Tong would give her two thousand as a kick back.

At the start, she had not understood Lin Yu Tong’s business, but after thinking for half a night, she recalled that Lin Yu Tong had said before that there was a chance to make money. In other words, the Lin Family had news of the visit. Thinking of this, she was shocked. This was the difference in having power and not having power.

Lin Yu Tong must have prepared long ago, just waiting for the news. If she guessed correctly, she probably had the only acceptable building material shop in the capital. A monopoly was the easiest business. While things from Jiangnan were difficult for others, it was very simple for the Lin Family. Who dared to earn silver from the family of the director-general of the two rivers? The costs must be very low. Even if she got a share of the profits, the Lin Family would get most of it. Also, she was not conducting business with the Jia Family only.

Thinking like this, she felt there were more benefits in working together with Lin Yu Tong. She would not take back the money she got, she would leave it with Lin Yu Tong to manage, and she would just take the gains. It was easier and more than the loans. Also, she trusted the character of the Lin Family, and they may not even want that bit of silver she had. She could draw on it at any time. It was more reassuring than leaving it at home. If Second Master Lian and she were of the same mind, it would be fine, but he had other thoughts. Men could not be trusted. Silver was more reliable than men.

Regardless of the discussion and how much each person would contribute, she and her husband had to take the job. She did not care about other things.

But there was not enough silver at home. It was necessary to borrow from relatives and friends.

She thought and went to find Lin Yu Tong to avoid a situation where her good paternal aunt would ask and the other would be unable to refuse.

Lin Yu Tong said upon learning of Wang Xi Feng’s reason, “You are going there soon to ask for a reward. Just say that the Lin Family will be responsible for all the stones needed. You just have to send someone to transport them.”

After buying a stone mountain, she did not have much, but lots of stones. For such an enormous park, the main expense was stone materials. Taking on all the stone was very generous.

Wang Xi Feng laughed and scolded Lin Yu Tong for being clever. Other people did not know that Lin Yu Tong had a stone mountain and did not know that Lin Yu Tong had monopolized the business. Based on the market price, the stone materials were a great expense.

In the view of outsiders, the Lin Family was very generous.

Lin Yu Tong smiled and thought, if you are able to dig out a corner of the mountain, I can have a fishpond to raise fish there.

Sending away Wang Xi Feng and having perfectly resolved the problem of the Jia Family borrowing money, Lin Yu Tong was in a good mood.

Wang Xi Feng went to find Madam Wang and told her of the Lin Family. Madam Wang had a satisfied expression. “My child, only you understand my difficulties. Only you bear to put aside your face to help me.”

“We are aunt and niece. Consort is not just sister-in-law to me, but also a cousin. Can I not care?” Wang Xi Feng spoke movingly.

“I fear that I will have to trouble you and Lian’er for these matters.” Madam Wang knew Wang Xi Feng’s personality. She could not resist showing off her abilities.

As expected, Wang Xi Feng happily agreed, promising to make it respectful. “I will make the ledger clean. You won’t get any problems if you send someone to check.”

Madam Wang did not believe all of it, but she knew that no big mistake would occur. So many pairs of eyes were watching.

After Wang Xi Feng left happily with her mission, Madam Wang thought and hurriedly called Zhou Rui’s wife to spread the news that the Lin Family was going to provide all the stone for the park. First, she worried that the children did not know the price of the materials and the scale of the garden. They agreed, but when the expenses grew, they may retract their word. If they did go back on their word, it would be harmless as they were so young. Could she chase after her juniors to ask for silver? If the news was spread so early, Lin Ru Hai would have to fulfill the promise for his honor. Two, with the Lin Family as the example, the other families had something to study.

Aunt Xue was worried when she got the news. “Such a large sum of silver. The Lin Family does not care?”

Xue Bao Chai was much more clever. She said with a smile, “Depends how Mother calculates it. There are stone mountains all around the capital. Several thousand silver is enough to buy one. The capital is full of nobility. Not everyone can buy the land and the mountain. The Lin Family is different. Will a first-rank official be unable to buy such a place? Even if we know what is involved and bring silver to buy, we do not have a way. Even the Jia Family’s farms and land are mostly in the north and Jinling. They still do not rank high in the capital.”

“It is true. I just fear that your aunt will not calculate it like this.” Aunt Xue sighed.

Xue Bao Chai was also worried……

Translator Ramblings: In the Qing Dynasty, the consorts could receive titles such as Pure (shu), Virtuous (De), Able (Xian). However, no consort got two characters in their title when they were alive. Take for example Noble Consort Wenxi. Shen was the only noble consort of Kangxi when she was alive, and only after her death did she receive the Wenxi part of her name. Of course things were different for empresses and empress dowagers.

Table of Contents

• Grafting Life Chapter 28 – Red Chamber (28)
• Grafting Life Chapter 30 – Red Chamber (30)
• Grafting Life Chapter 31 – Red Chamber (31)