Jia Lian of the Red Chamber

Pan You'an said: "It's hard to estimate the amount of money that will be mortgaged to the Ministry of Households, and it will definitely not be at the original price. It happens that there is [-] cash in the cabinet, let's count it together."

"Can you leave enough running water?"

Pan Youan nodded: "Barely enough!"

Jia Lian shook his head: "The difference is not big, it should be negotiable, let's keep another [-] on the cabinet."

Pan You'an is a businessman, but he still feels that the Ministry of Accounting is not easy to deal with: "If the mortgage is given to the Ministry of Accounting, we will not even have the right to bargain. Why don't we just let them kill us? We'd better wait a little while and discuss with Sifang. Delay for a few days."

Jia Lian shook his head: "There is no hesitation in things. I am afraid of changes. My Rongfu is not a nameless person. They dare not be too special."

Jia Lian looked at the time and found that it was Weizheng, so he ordered: "Go and get ready, before we leave."

Seeing that Jia Lian had made up his mind, Pan You'an stopped persuading him.He is very reliable in his work. Before the end of the day, he would line up on Rongning Street for a walk of 60 taels of silver cars.With a wave of Jia Lian's hand, these silver carts entered the mansion through the east gate and left the mansion through the west gate.

Jia She, the elder of the Rongguo Mansion, walked at the front of the line in a sedan chair, Jia Lian rode a tall white horse in the rear, and in the middle was a green mule and tin cart.

Usually half an hour's journey, because of the heavy weight of the silver cart, it took an hour to arrive at the household department.

At this moment, Shenshi is engraved, there are many guards on duty at the gate of the palace, and those who are familiar with Jia Lian can't help asking.

Jia Lian then talked about the debts, how to raise money, and even the matter of pawning the farm now that the money is not in hand.

Jia Lian bowed his hands to all his colleagues and begged: "If any family needs a farm, please take care of Jia, and I will repay you in the future."

When they arrived at the household department, Jia Amnesty got off the sedan chair, and five of them stood at the entrance of the household department hall, shouting loudly: "Is anyone there? Anyone out of breath come out and talk to me!"

With this yelling, six yamen servants with sticks came out from the yamen: "Who is yelling loudly, this is the yamen of the household department, you are not acting wild..."

Before the foreman of the yamen servant finished his sentence, he was frightened by the battle outside, oh my god, is this a silver car?

These days, the eyes of several officials in the yamen are green when they think about money, and the foreman of the yamen servant no longer dares to raise his voice, and while sending people in to report to the staring Shangguan, he himself nodded and bowed to Jia She to salute: "Oh, This official, please come in, our hall officials are looking forward to you every day!"

Jia She was so angry that he rolled his eyes and spat: "Damn, your family is in debt every day!"

The head of the yamen servants did not dare to quarrel with Jia She, so he hurriedly slapped himself: "Look at me, I can't speak, I just grinned when I saw you happy, don't mind, please!"

Hubu Shangshu is the head of the Gu family, a prominent family in the south of the Yangtze River. His sister is the birth mother of the fifth prince, the ninth concubine Gu Shuyuan.

Gu Shangshu is regarded as the emperor's eldest brother-in-law. These days, in order to raise money for the emperor and win face for his sister and nephew, his hair is really grey.

He didn't sleep last night, now he had lunch and fell asleep so badly, he was woken up when he was dazzled, and was about to lose his temper, when he opened the door, he saw his servant Fu was knocking on the door.

It's not easy for Fu Shilang to keep vigil with him these days, so Gu Shangshu suppressed his anger: "Why don't you go and stare at me for a while, what are you doing here?"

When Fu Shilang saw the door opened, he immediately danced and danced. He didn't care about the difference between the upper and the lower. He stepped forward and pulled Gu Shangshu and ran out: "Silver, silver, someone came to pay back the silver. I saw that there were sixty green cars. There are probably more than a million mule carts, ouch, I can sleep peacefully this time."

As soon as Gu Shangshu heard this, he was so sleepy that he flew to the country of Java. While tidying up his clothes, he asked, "Which family is it? The emperor said every day to catch a model and set an example. This can be counted."

Fu Shilang laughed loudly: "I told you that you probably wouldn't believe it, but this is the most famous old dandy in Kyoto, the grand master of Rongguo Mansion, the third-rank general Jia Shejia."

Gu Shangshu was taken aback: "It's him, an old dandy? I really don't believe it. He can spend two coins for one penny, and he won't let the money in the frying pan go unnoticed. Can he have money to pay off his debts?"

Fu Shilang nodded in agreement: "Yeah, who doesn't know this person, he changed as soon as he said it, oh, his son is also here, and he is behind the car."

Gu Shangshu stopped in his tracks: "Is that the imperial guard appointed by the emperor?"

Fu Shilang said: "That's right, it's him. I can see it for real. He is wearing a blue robe and riding a tall white horse. He is not in the same way as his father with his breasts and belly. He is really a handsome and handsome man." .”

Gu Shangshu sneered: "What's the matter, Jia's house can't do anything else, that face is really good."

There was one in the palace, who flirted with the emperor on the first day, and wanted to take the top position. That girl was clever and slick, and she couldn't catch her easily, and the queen was involved in it.His sister would spit sour water on him every time they had a kiss.It made him curious about the big girl from the Jia family.

When I arrived at the lobby, I saw that Jia Amnesty sitting in the main hall with a golden knife, and he didn't get up when he saw Gu Shangshu, but lazily cupped his hands: "Excuse me, Gu Shangshu, our family sent money, hurry up and send someone to count it." , I still have things to do, I'm very busy."

Gu Shangshu's nose was crooked when he heard the words, and he thought to himself, you are an old dandy, it's fine if you don't salute yourself, but you actually put on a show, saying that you have something to do, you are very busy?

What are you busy with, a despised old dandy?

Ha, get busy drinking and sleeping with your little wife!

At this time, all the silver carts had already entered the courtyard of the household department, and Jia Lian hurried into the lobby, and saw his father and Gu Shangshu at odds, and hurriedly stepped forward and bowed to salute: "The fourth-rank belt in front of the lower official." Guarding Jia Lian with the sword, I pay my respects to Lord Zhongtang."

Gu Shangshu was furious at first by Jia She, what kind of bullshit sir, he is just a bastard waiting to die, how dare he show off his power in front of Lao Tzu?

Jia Amnesty is only the third rank, and Shangshu is the second rank. Logically, Jia Amnesty should greet Gu Shangshu first.

Because Jia Amnesty has a title, everyone can talk about the level.

But Jia She is not stingy, because he hates these sour literati, so relying on his status as a lord, he openly despises them, no wonder Gu Shangshu's heart is full of evil.

Gu Shangshu was about to get angry and scold here, but Jia Lian overtook him, and he couldn't vent his anger anymore.

Although Jia Lian is not a big official, but he is serving the emperor personally, it is better not to offend this kind of person. Besides, as the imperial guard, he is polite and modest, as the saying goes, do not hit a smiling face, Gu Shangshu thought If you want to find fault, you can't open your mouth.

Gu Shangshu couldn't take it too seriously, and bowed his hands in return: "Guardian Jia is polite."

Jia Lian was very obedient, took three steps back and followed Gu Shangshu, and only waited for Gu Shangshu to sit down before bowing his hands again and telling him about his coming to pay off the debt.

Gu Shangshu was very happy, but he didn't show it on his face, he sat peacefully in the front office like a mountain, drinking tea and chatting with Jia She and his sons.

As for the silver carts, the servant of the household department led the warehouse soldiers to count them one by one.

Jia Lian took advantage of the time when he came out to explain the matter, and persuaded Jia She to go home. There is no need for a father to come forward if you have a son. Now Jia She can retire as the head of the family, and Jia Lian, his son, will do the rest.

In fact, Jia Lian disliked the strange atmosphere of his father's presence, making it hard to talk.

After the counting was completed, an hour passed.It was the 1105 million taels reported by Jia Lian.

Gu Shangshu took a look at it, and his own clerk presented the relevant evidence.

Gu Shangshu has read these dossiers countless times. At this time, he just went through a preface and checked them for a long time. Gu Shangshu handed the dossiers to the clerk, but said to a man in his thirties next to him: "Zhang Yuanwailang, come here. explain!"

Zhang Yuanwailang took over the dossier and read it carefully, everything was correct, nodded and said: "Rongguo Mansion owes a total of 140 million taels of debt. According to the emperor's order, those who repay in advance will be exempted from interest. Rongguo Mansion should return the principal of 140 million. The current bank is 1105 million taels, and 25 taels are owed. According to the regulations, the Rong Mansion can make a contract to repay it in five years without charging interest." Jia Lian smiled and cupped his hands: "I am going to discuss with the hall officials, but my family really can't make up the money. The money has been paid out, so my grandmother understands the righteousness and is willing to sell the farm that the ancestors bought to pay off the debt." She said and presented the box with the contract.

Gu Shangshu didn't pass his hand, but he beckoned, and his own servant and Yuanwailang stepped forward to check.

Yuanwailang, surnamed Zhang, looked through the contracts one by one, and then discussed with Fu Shilang for a while, and then discussed with Gu Shangshu. After a while, Fu Shilang said: "There are a total of 14 acres of land here, of which 12 acres of rice fields are discounted according to the market price. , the highest value is [-], but now it is a mortgage, not a price for the yamen officials to sell, the household department cannot lose money, it can only be sold as much as it sells, but [-] silver will not be less."

Jia Lian hurriedly said: "So let's convert it to 12."

"The remaining 20 is dry land. According to the market price, it can be converted into 5 silver, but now the mortgage can only be converted into [-], and the total is [-]. The Rongguo Mansion still owes the Ministry of Households [-] taels."

Zhang Yuanwai spoke loudly and handed the dossier to Jia Lian: "Your Majesty Jia, you can check the calculation and see if the calculation is correct."

Jia Lian waved his hand: "No need, I'm listening, the number is correct."

Afterwards, Jia Lian bowed to Gu Shangshu and said: "The remaining 5 taels of dismissal is really hard for me. I would like to ask Lord Zhongtang to give you some time to dismiss."

Gu Shangshu agreed very readily: "That's no problem. As for your Jia family's taking the lead in repaying the debt, I still have to make up for it and ask the Holy Majesty to praise it."

Jia Lian was busy thanking him: "Thank you, Mr. Zhongtang, for your kindness. I have another merciless request. I want to withdraw the previous mortgage and IOU. The remaining [-] yuan will be re-signed. I wonder if it is possible?"

Gu Shangshu was slightly taken aback. There were very few people who asked for IOUs and collaterals before the accounts were settled. However, now the Jia Mansion opened a debt collection job for him, and it was a big hit. His pressure in front of the emperor dropped sharply.

Logically, he should give this convenience, and Jia Lian is willing to sign a new IOU, which is also reasonable.

However, Gu Shangshu frowned, why bother?Could it be that there is something special about Rongguo Mansion's collateral?

Gu Shangshu's eyeballs immediately became active, but if he forcibly seized it, it would be unreasonable, so he said: "It's no problem to re-sign the IOU. You must have paid off most of the debts, so there are some problems in recovering the collateral. After all, your debts Haven't settled it completely?"

Jia Lian had long guarded against his curiosity: "It's just because the collateral was the honor my grandfather got from following the emperor. Now that my grandfather is gone and my grandmother is getting old, I hang up the diary every day to urge the younger generation to get the grandfather's relics earlier. Redeem it back, don’t be an unfilial son.”

"The younger generation can't do anything about it. In addition, there are many wars and disasters, and the treasury is empty. The younger generation has been favored by the emperor. Even if it is a gift from the people, the younger generation should return something. It's just that the younger generation is ignorant and can't do big things, so they can only worry about the emperor's urgency." , Pay off the debts of the family, with a little care, this junior is also a coincidence, not only fulfilling grandma's wish, but also repaying the emperor's favor."

Gu Shangshu was moved when he heard the words, Jia Lian's words were reasonable and loyal.

Gu Shangshu's heart became hot, and he said with a smile: "This is also possible, but according to the regulations, you must have fifty thousand silver as collateral."

Jia Lian had been prepared for a long time, and took out a kit from his sleeve pocket and offered it with both hands.

This time, Gu Shangshu took it personally, and when he opened it, he was startled. It turned out to be the house deed of Rongguo Mansion.

Gu Shang wrote embarrassingly: "This is too expensive, and your mansion was built by the imperial pen, and the mortgage of [-] silver may not be overkill."

Jia Lian smiled wryly: "To tell you the truth, this junior is worth some money except for this. There is no collateral worth [-] silver. To put it bluntly, this junior repays the debt, even the dowry of my grandmother and my wife." I also borrowed it, and I would like to ask my lord for convenience, this junior promises that I will repay it within two years, so I won’t embarrass my lord.”

Gu Shangshu was silent for a moment, then clapped the case: "Okay, for the sake of repaying your family's debts, I agree!"

Jia Lian wept with joy when he heard the words, and bowed in a big gift: "Thank you for your mercy, it is a gift from the adults that the younger generation's grandmother can enjoy her old age in peace, this kindness, the younger generation will keep it in my heart, and I will never forget it."

When Shang Shu spoke, the people below naturally did not dare to defy obedience and procrastination, but in a moment, Jia Lian signed a new IOU, and took back the IOU signed by his grandfather and grandmother for the pledge.

As soon as Jia Lian's wish was fulfilled, he left immediately: "Thank you for your kindness, my lord, for allowing this junior to fulfill my grandmother's wish for many years, and I will repay you after my lord's kindness."

Let's say that Jia Amnesty went back to De's mansion here, thinking about the carloads of silver, his heart hurts and he is very depressed.Thinking about that year, it was precisely because the old man held him to discuss raising money for Prince Zhongyi. As a result, his eldest son died in an accident. Although the eldest son was not killed by the old lady and the old man himself, it was because of their meddling.

Now, Lian'er and his family have been forced to repay the debt. The old lady borrowed the national debt to redeem the dowry, but forced Sister Feng to take out the dowry to pay the debt.This is nothing more than the friendship between husband and wife, and I owe the foreign debt of the Wang family. Although it is a gift, Lian'er must pay it back in the future, but friendship is not easy to pay back!

Thinking that the Rongguo Mansion owed a whole lot of debt, all these people in the mansion have been eating and drinking to enjoy the wealth and wealth, but their grandson will be poor when he is born, why?

Jia Amnesty suffocated an evil fire in his heart. He entered the mansion without going home. He rushed into the Rongqing Hall like a gust of wind. When he entered the door, he knelt down in front of Jiamu, beat the ground and cried loudly: "Old lady, I I lost my face today. You go to Sijiu City to listen to it. Everyone knows that I borrowed my daughter-in-law's dowry from Lian'er to pay off the debt. Old lady, you said that I, an elder, didn't give it to my children and grandchildren. Leaving half of the family property, but causing such disasters to my children and grandchildren, I am not a person, I am useless, I only know how to fight in the nest, other people's families are full of food and drink, and my grandson will be poor when he is born, old man Ma'am, do you think that my old age is a drag on my children and grandchildren, is it useless for me?"

Jia's mother turned pale when she heard the words. Jia She was scolding her. The old man signed 80 yuan, and the rest were all IOUs signed by her. , Dragging Jia Lian down.

Mother Jia was so angry that she threw the things in her hand at Jia She indiscriminately: "Sinister, beast, disobedient and unfilial, five thunders strike the top!"

"Oh, I'm so mad!"

"Mandarin duck, mandarin duck, we can't live here anymore, pack up, I'm going back to Jinling..."

Here, Mother Jia was rolling in the mandarin duck's arms, crying and crying, when she suddenly heard Jia She let out a cry: "Ouch, Ouch..."

Mother Jia looked up and saw Jia Amnesty holding his head and collapsed.

Jia's mother didn't expect Jia She to have a body like a calf, and she fell down as soon as she said it, and was frightened for a while, and she was at a loss for what to do.

Jia She loves and pets Shuxiang, and Mo Xiang was so frightened that he hugged Jia She and started crying, and the other said, "My lord, don't die, don't die..."

One cried: "Didn't you say that it doesn't matter if the family is poor? Second Mistress has money in her hand, so she doesn't worry about the whole family starving to death. Why do you always die of anger first?"

Here, when Jia Amnesty fainted, Mother Jia was frightened and stopped crying.

She stared at Jia She who was standing upright as if she was dead, and panicked in her heart, she is not dead yet, Jia She is actually dead?

Mother Jia didn't dare to think deeply, she trembled all over, and stretched out her hand to push the mandarin duck: "Help me over there!"

Yuanyang said: "Slaves, let's go!"

Mother Jia's legs were weak, and she nodded upon hearing the words: "Okay, hurry up and touch your old man, let's see..."

All the girls were terrified, Yuanyang was also very afraid, but she stepped forward boldly, stretched out her jade hand to poke under Jia She's nose, but it was cold and there was no heat, Yuanyang screamed: "Old lady, Grand Master, Grand Master, he, he, he..."

Mother Jia turned pale with fright, and Jia Amnesty died!

And die in front of oneself, how can this happen?

Mother Jia was so frightened that she didn't know what to do!

Muttering to himself: "Imperial physician, imperial physician, called imperial physician..."

Wang Shanbao and his followers tied the horses and unloaded the car behind, and when they came a step late, they heard the room full of crying, and heard the mandarin ducks say that the old man had died. Seeing this, he touched his hands with hot sweat, and his heart froze, but he called out: "My lord, my lord, wake up?"

Sure enough, Jia Amnesty opened his eyes and winked at him, signaling him to run away quickly and leave the scene, he almost scolded the old lady unconscious, this is disobedience and unfilial piety.

Wang Shanbao understood, got up and kicked Shuxiang and Moxiang alone: ​​"Howling, the old man fainted and didn't call the imperial doctor, do you want to kill the old man?" Shuxiang came to his senses now, and rushed out: "It's not good, The elder has fainted, please call the imperial physician."

Hearing this, Jia's mother breathed a sigh of relief, clutching her chest and panting: It's good that you're not dead!

Jia She secretly watched Jia Mu's words and deeds, seeing that she didn't feel the slightest bit of sorrow for her fainting, felt very sad!Even a pig knows how to hum a few times when it is beaten, let alone he is alone?

Wang Shanbao commanded several long-term attendants: "Hurry up and bring the spring stool, and take the old man home. The old man is not very good, he can't, hey!"

Wang Shanbao talked to himself without asking Jia's mother's opinion. He lifted Jia Amnesty onto the spring stool and returned to the Shandong courtyard amidst the wailing of scholars and ink.

Apart from the Rongguo Mansion, several people entered the dark gate of the East Courtyard. Jia She got up and sat on the spring stool, opening his mouth and scolding Shuxiang: "Cry, cry, cry, I'm so hot, I didn't see that my head was sweating, What use are you for silly things?" Looking back at Wang Shanbao: "Well, people are not as good as they used to be, or if you know the master, go back to the cabinet and get five taels of silver for wine!"

Wang Shanbao was busy thanking him: "Thank you for your praise, but it's just that slaves should serve the master, how dare you accept the reward!"

Jia She stared: "I said I should be rewarded, so what nonsense!"

"Yes!" Wang Shanbao agreed, and asked again: "My lord, what should I do when the imperial doctor comes?"

Jia She snorted: "What should I do? Of course I will see a doctor. The master is so mad, why don't you see a doctor and wait for death?"

Let’s talk about Jia’s mother, when she saw Jia Amnesty being carried away, she slowly came back to her senses, and immediately gritted her teeth and cried: “A disobedient and unfilial thing, does this dislike me for living a long time and block their way?”

The mandarin ducks and amber parrots were busy consoling, but Jiamu just kept crying, and the Yingchun sisters were alarmed for a while, hearing that Jiamu was not feeling well, she was so frightened that she couldn't go to school, and hurried back to visit Jiamu, In the end, I heard that the old man ran to Jiamu and cried, which made Jiamu angry.

It's about the elders, and it's not easy for Yingchun to intervene. Only by talking to Jia Mu, Jia Mu slowly shed tears.Later, Li Wan also got the news, and brought Jia Lan to visit. Baoyu was also recuperating at home because of inexplicable drunkenness a few days ago.

Thinking of Jia Amnesty fainting in her room for a moment, she was so angry that no one thought of calling the imperial physician. Jia's mother was afraid of telling the truth, saying that he was eager for his son's death and was busy ordering Yuanyang: "Isn't there still a century-old mountain in the cabinet?" Shen, you take it and send it to your elder, and see what the imperial doctor has to say!"

Yuanyang glanced at Jia's mother when she heard the words. The master and servant had been together for many years, and immediately understood Jia's mother's thoughts. Jia's mother wanted to see Jia Amnesty's situation before making sense.

Yuanyang sincerely hopes that the elder is really seriously ill. Firstly, he will not quarrel with the old lady again. Second, the old lady will not pursue the elder's disobedience because of the elder's illness. If the elder is fine, Yuanyang is really scared. This mother and child What are we going to do.

Yuanyang is worried that Jia Mu will not be able to bear the torment.

At such a time, Jia Rong went back to the mansion on duty, and learned that the old man had fainted, and his father Jia Zhen was about to visit the mansion. Er can inform Uncle Lian early in the morning to make preparations.

The father and son first went to Rongqing Hall to meet Jia's mother to report back, and then they arrived at the East Courtyard. The eldest wife was waiting in the hall, crying with Jia Cong.Seeing Jia Zhen, she pulled and cried: "Zhen'er, I'm afraid your uncle will die. Lian'er is not at home, and no one else cares. You have to make decisions for your aunt." Then he pulled Jia Cong: "Hurry up!" Kneel down for your brother, and beg your brother to take care of you."

When Jia Rong saw that this was a gesture of arranging funeral affairs, she panicked for a while, and rushed into the inner room ahead of his father Jiazhen.

But Jia She was lying on the bed, the imperial physician was taking Jia She's pulse, his face was serious and his brows were wrinkled.

Jia Rong was shocked.

At this moment, Jia Zhen also came in. After seeing the dignified imperial physician, his complexion was not very good.

Seeing his old man's expression, Jia Rong was so frightened that his heart jumped wildly, and then saw his uncle Jia She's face was pale and his eyes were closed, could it be that he is an old man?

Jia Rong was terrified: "How good is this? I'm afraid Second Uncle Lian won't see the old man for the last time?"