Chapter 142 The Xue Family’s Luck

The light in the room had dimmed.

Xue Baochai and her maid Ying’er were sitting on the kang doing needlework.

A gust of wind blew, and the sound of bronze horses “ding-dong-dong” came from under the eaves outside.

Xue Baochai: “Ying’er, light the lamp.”

“Yes.”

Ying’er quickly put down her needle and thread, lit the tinder, and lit the lamp on the table on the kang.

Seeing Xue Baochai still doing needlework with her head down, Ying’er advised, “Miss, take a rest for a while.”

Xue Baochai did not raise her head and continued to sew: “Not much left, I’ll talk about it after I finish it.”

Ying’er dared not say anything more and continued to do her needlework.

At this moment, the door curtain was lifted and Aunt Xue walked in.

Xue Baochai looked up and saw Aunt Xue coming in. She quickly stood up and said with a smile, “Mom is back.” As she spoke, she helped Aunt Xue sit on the edge of the kang and ordered Ying’er to pour tea.

Aunt Xue smiled at her, then glanced at the needlework and said, “It’s so dark now, don’t do needlework, it’s hurting your eyes.”

After a pause, he said, “Your brother said that the family business is getting better and better.”

Ying’er came in with tea.

Xue Baochai said “hmm” and handed the tea to Aunt Xue personally.

Aunt Xue took a sip of tea, put it down, and looked at Xue Baochai in a trance.

Xue Baochai: “Mom, what’s the matter?”

Aunt Xue: “I just came back from your aunt’s place.”

Xue Baochai paused and asked: “Is my aunt all right?”

Aunt Xue: “You’ve caught a cold again. You need to rest for a while.”

Xue Baochai nodded.

“What do you think of Baoyu?” Aunt Xue suddenly asked.

Xue Baochai remained silent.

Aunt Xue: “Baochai.”

How could Xue Baochai not understand? Suddenly, she felt inexplicably irritated and blurted out, “You also said that he is a child!” After saying that, she was also startled and slowly sat down.

How could Aunt Xue not see what her daughter was thinking! After a moment of silence, she sighed and said, “The family business has improved, and because of the caravan, our family has established a relationship with the Li family, as well as the eldest wife. We’ll talk about it later.”

After a pause, he said, “Maybe there will be something better.”

Xue Baochai said nothing, but picked up the needle and thread and started working.

Aunt Xue suddenly remembered: “I just heard a piece of news from the old lady, saying that Master Xiao Rong of the East Palace has inherited the title of General Weilie, a third-rank nobleman.”

Before he finished speaking, Xue Pan came in excitedly. He was startled when he saw Aunt Xue, and then said, “Mom is here too, that’s great.”

Aunt Xue glared at him and said, “Damn you, this is your sister’s room, and you just barged in without saying a word?!”

After hearing this, Xue Pan laughed and said, “Damn it, damn it. I forgot the taboos when I was happy.” Then he bowed to Xue Baochai and said, “Good sister, please forgive me this time.” After saying that, he turned around and prepared to leave.

Aunt Xue was stunned for a moment: “What are you doing now?!”

Xue Pan: “I’m going out, just make a sound!”

Xue Baochai burst out laughing, but quickly held it back.

Aunt Xue smiled and nodded at him: “Shameless. Why don’t you tell me what’s going on?”

“Hey.”

Xue Pan dragged a chair over, sat down next to the kang, and said with a smile: “I just made a big deal!”

Aunt Xue: “What big deal?”

Xue Baochai also looked at him. Xue Pan smiled and replied, “A restaurant on Qianmen Street and the house behind it, plus three courtyards in Zhengnanfang, a cloth shop in the West Market, and a grocery store in the East Market. How much do you think the other party pawned it for? 20,000 taels!”

Aunt Xue was surprised and happy.

Xue Baochai frowned and asked, “Why is it so cheap? Is there any problem? Whose property is it?”

Aunt Xue was reminded and said quickly: “Your sister is right.”

Xue Pan waved his hand and said, “Don’t worry, mom and sister. Xue Ke and I took people to check it out. There is no problem. It is the property of Bai Hongzhi, who was stripped of his official title because of his ‘romanticism’. The court is going to sign a contract with the Jurchens, and he plans to organize a caravan to Liaodong to do business. Their money is tied up in fabrics, and they can’t take out so much cash at the moment. They are a little tight on money now, so they mortgaged these properties.”

Aunt Xue suddenly remembered: “Hey, I heard that Bai Hongzhi’s eyes were shot blind by General Li. Is there any conspiracy behind this?”

“Hey, Mom is too worried.”

Xue Pan waved his hand, “Not to mention that our family has no relationship with the Li family on the surface, even if Bai Hongzhi plots against us, what can we do? It’s written in black and white, signed and sealed. When the date comes, if you can’t pay to redeem the property, all these properties will belong to our family.”

Aunt Xue hesitated for a moment, but finally nodded.

Xue Baochai was still a little worried: “Then why did he choose our family?”

Xue Pan patted his chest and said, “Which restaurant manager on Qianmen Street doesn’t know me? Don’t worry, sister. He is a good-for-nothing who has been stripped of his official title. No matter how he makes trouble, he won’t be able to cause any trouble.”

Xue Baochai was stunned for a moment and had to nod.

Xue Pan: “Oh, by the way, the manager of a restaurant said that they have some properties outside the city. If they don’t have enough capital, they will pawn them at our pawnshop.”

Aunt Xue smiled and said, “It seems that we have made the right decision to come to the capital. Our family’s fortunes have begun to change.”

Xue Pan also smiled and said, “We can earn a lot this time. The weather is getting colder, so it’s time for mom and sister to buy some clothes.” Then he said to Xue Baochai, “Tell me what color and pattern you want, sister.”

At this time, a woman came in with a letter and said, “Miss, this is a letter from the Li family.”

Xue Baochai took the letter, opened it and read it. Then her eyes lit up and she said to Xue Pan, “General Li is back.”

Xue Pan: “Oh? Do you want Xue Ke and I to go over tomorrow?”

Xue Baochai’s brows suddenly frowned.

Aunt Xue: “What’s wrong?”

Xue Baochai was silent for a moment, then said, “Miss Lin’s letter only mentioned Xue Ke, asking him to go over tomorrow afternoon. She didn’t mention my brother.”

Aunt Xue: “This”

Xue Pan was stunned for a moment, then he stood up suddenly and shouted: “What does he mean? Does he look down on me?! What qualifications does he have?”

Xue Baochai quickly interrupted him: “Brother, be careful with your words!”

Aunt Xue slammed the table and said, “Shut up! Get out.”

Xue Pan held his head high.

Xue Baochai folded the letter and put it into her sleeve, saying, “Don’t be angry, brother. Xue Ke is in charge of the caravan, so it’s normal to let him go. Besides, the pawnshop can’t do without you. Who knows, there may be a big deal waiting for you tomorrow. Go quickly, okay!” As she said that, she stood up and pushed Xue Pan.

Xue Pan snorted, turned and walked out.

Seeing that he still looked unconvinced, Aunt Xue sighed and said, “This evil creature will suffer for his mouth sooner or later.”

“Mom, don’t be angry. Your health is more important.”

Xue Baochai picked up the tea bowl on the table and said, “Have some hot tea.”

“Xue Ke is young and hasn’t experienced much. I’m worried that he will make a fool of himself.”

Aunt Xue lowered her head and thought for a while before she said, “Losing face is a small matter, but offending the Li family is bad. I mean, you should go with me tomorrow. If there is anything, you can ask Miss Lin to help speak a few words.”

Xue Baochai nodded.

Aunt Xue glanced out the window, then stood up and said to Xue Baochai, “It’s getting dark, so don’t do your needlework. Read a book or play Go with Ying’er.” At this point, she suddenly remembered, “I’ll give Xiangling to you as a maid.”

Xue Baochai: “Why, brother, are you making trouble for mom because of Xiangling again?”

Aunt Xue: “Put it in your room and see if that evil creature has the nerve to take it back!”

Just as Xue Baochai was about to speak, Aunt Xue spoke again: “The night is long, and it will be more lively if there are more people in the room. I won’t say more. You should rest early if you have nothing to do.”

Xue Baochai said “hmm” and helped Aunt Xue out.
(End of this chapter)