While the Duke of Xiu was enjoying the wine, the other Baochai had been carried into the Rongguo Mansion.
At this moment, in the inner courtyard of Rongguo Mansion, everyone in the Jia family, including Jia's mother, were waiting in the corridor against the cold wind.
"Old lady, Miss Xue has entered the house!" A girl came to report.
Nodding, Jia Mu looked out expectantly, as did Aunt Xue beside her.
"This time Bao Ya comes back, let her stay for a few more days!" Mrs. Wang said with a smile.
However, when she finished her words, she heard Mrs.
At this time, Jia Mu sighed: "Yes... Bao Ya is deeply loved by the Queen. I'm afraid she won't be able to stay here for long when she comes back this time!"
After hearing this, Aunt Xue was the happiest person. She was proud that her daughter was really outstanding.
After hearing these words from her elders, Daiyu, who was standing behind, couldn't help but feel sad. She originally thought she could stay with Baochai for a few more days.
"Sister Bao is here!" Tan Chun reminded in a low voice.
Daiyu looked around and saw Baochai walking through the hall wearing a cloak and holding up her skirt.
"Oh...Sister Xue is finally back!"
Wang Xifeng took the initiative to greet her, followed by the plainly dressed Li Wan. The two of them pulled Baochai towards Jia Mu, one on the left and the other on the right.
Seeing Jia's mother waiting, Baochai quickened his pace and said with fear as he approached, "How can our ancestors wait outside in such a cold weather? If they are frozen... wouldn't it be a big mistake for the younger generation!"
With a smile on her face, Mother Jia said, "Baby girl, my body is strong, so it's okay..."
At this time, Aunt Xue reminded: "Baochai... hurry up and say hello to the old lady!"
At this moment, someone had already placed a mat. When Baochai heard this, he knelt down and saluted, saying, "Old ancestor, I am blessed!"
"Get up, get up...the ground is cold!"
At this time, Jia Mu also said: "Quick, say hello to your mother, she will always remember you!"
So Baochai turned around again and kowtowed to Aunt Xue: "My daughter pays homage to her mother!"
"No gifts, no gifts!" Aunt Xue walked down the steps and personally helped her daughter up.
After Baochai stood up, Jia Mu stretched out her hand to pull Baochai. The latter immediately came forward and joined the crowd in surrounding Jia Mu into the living room.
After entering the living room and taking a seat, Baochai was pulled to his side by Jia Mu and sat down, with Daiyu on the other side.
Everyone first asked about Baochai's life in the palace, then asked whether he got along well with the princess, and also asked about the affairs of several attendants...
Everyone was asking questions, and Baochai answered them one by one, making Jia Mu nod her head.
About half an hour later, when Jia Mu felt weak, she let everyone disperse.
Baochai was able to follow her mother back. Everyone was chatting and laughing, but mother and daughter didn't say a few words.
Compared to others who asked broadly, Aunt Xue asked in a much more detailed manner. She was first concerned about her food and clothing expenses, and then asked if she had been wronged.
Sitting in the living room at this moment, holding the waist badge of Kunning Palace and looking at it repeatedly, Aunt Xue couldn't help but sigh: "It's really not easy for you to be an errand in Kunning Palace and to see the Queen all the time!"
Even a high-ranking wife with a real job in her family had to queue up to be summoned if she wanted to see the queen. It was even more difficult for the Jia family to enter the palace once.
Aunt Xue had just finished sighing when she heard Baochai ask: "Mom...has our house been tidied up?"
"It's already been packed out. Brother You also bought a lot of furnishings in the past two days!" Aunt Xue replied.
Seeing his own mother, Baochai said slowly: "In that case, we can move there at any time!"
Aunt Xue had a look of astonishment on her face, but she only picked up the teacup and took a sip, without responding directly to the question.
"Mom...you should say something!"
Aunt Xue could only reply: "This...your aunt has repeatedly tried to persuade you to stay, saying that even if you stay for a few more days, I can't shirk it!"
"Moreover, you and I have no close ties in Beijing. We will have to rely on your uncle and the others for help in the future. Now staying here for a few more days... might not be a bad thing!"
Aunt Xue has this idea, which is actually not too outrageous. After all, Baochai is one of the few who can see the subtleties.
Baochai could only continue to persuade: "Mom...even if you want to live there, can't you go to my uncle's house?"
In Baochai's opinion, if he really wanted to cling to someone, his uncle, who was leading a senior position in the army, would be much more useful than the Jia family.
However, the problem is that after coming to Beijing, apart from basic ceremonial exchanges, the Xue family rarely contacted the Wang family.
"Your uncle's house...well, there are some things you don't know!" Aunt Xue sighed.
"What don't I know?" Baochai asked curiously.
Sighing, Aunt Xue explained: "When your father was here, your uncle borrowed money from our family, but your father refused!"
"Ah? Is this happening? Why doesn't dad borrow it?"
Baochai was even more curious. In her impression, her father was not a stingy person.
"Your uncle is in a hurry to get 50,000 silver. At that time, our family had just bought a thousand acres of land and purchased a large amount of goods from the West. The current silver is only more than 30,000 yuan..."
"Your father took out the 30,000 yuan, and your uncle asked your father to borrow 20,000 yuan from the internal bank account. Your father did not agree... and your uncle walked away!"
In the era of Butler Xue Zhen, the Xue family's working capital was around 150,000 yuan, even if it did not count the internal funds in banknotes. Normally, they could easily lend out 50,000 yuan.
However, Wang Ziteng's arrival was indeed unlucky. A lot of the cash flow was used by Xue Zhen to buy a family business. It was not easy for the latter to still spend 30,000 yuan.
Xue Baochai really didn't know about this matter. She only knew that she and her uncle's family had not been so close since then.
"Why does uncle need so much money? Is the Wang family so short of money?" Baochai asked again.
"He is running for office. Alas...it's all old stuff, no need to mention it again!"
After Aunt Xue finished speaking, she heard someone outside reporting: "The second wife is here!"
Now that Jia Qingtai has become the second master, Mrs. Wang naturally becomes the second wife.
"Your aunt is here, go and greet her..."
When Baochai walked to the door, Mrs. Wang had already gone up the steps. She immediately smiled when she saw her niece.
"Aunt, it's my niece's turn to visit you. Why are you here!"
"I have some silver fox skins there. Now that it's cold... I can use them to make you a coat!"
Looking behind Mrs. Wang, sure enough, the girls following her each held a brocade box in their hands.
"Aunt... this is too expensive, or..."
Before Baochai could finish speaking, Mrs. Wang interrupted: "Hey...what's precious or not? You are my niece. Shouldn't I love you?"
"Let's go in and talk!"
This is called kindness, and if Baochai insists on refusing, it will appear that she is not very humane.
But in her heart, she was really reluctant to accept her aunt's kindness.
On the one hand, he doesn't want to owe any favors, and on the other hand, he doesn't want to have anything to do with Jia Baoyu.
"Aunt please!"
Baochai stepped aside, and Mrs. Wang entered the room and started joking with her sister again.
Of course, this time Mrs. Wang came mainly for Baochai, so she always directed her words towards Baochai.
After asking Baochai for details, Mrs. Wang couldn't be more satisfied when she saw that Baochai behaved generously and responded thoughtfully.
Baochai won't be able to leave the palace for at least two or three years, and Baoyu will have grown up by then. It would be perfect for the two to get married... Mrs. Wang thought so.
Aunt asked too many questions... However, Baochai's mood was completely different from Mrs. Wang's.
She felt depressed staying here, so she thought of finding a way to go out for a walk and visit Daiyu on the way.
(End of chapter)
