2.22 Xue Baoqin: Why is my aunt nowhere to be seen?

Volume Two

2.22 Xue Baoqin: Why Haven't I Seen Aunt?

The phrase "double happiness" could well describe the current state of the Lin residence.

The following noon, just as Jia Min arranged for invitation cards to be sent to the Rongguo Mansion and received replies setting the time for the visit, a sudden commotion stirred outside the main gate. A line of carriages and horses came to a halt.

"Brother Rui!" One carriage went straight through the main gate into the front courtyard. Before it stopped, the door swung open, and Xue Baoqin, dressed in men's clothing, did not shy away at all. With a smiling, lively face, she jumped down, playfully looking up at the tall figure approaching.

"Sister Qin!" Seeing the little boat girl return, Lin Rui could not help but feel a surge of excitement.

Even though he had long known she roamed about since childhood, after all, this was a feudal age; for a woman to act as a man was never entirely reassuring. It was only natural to be anxious when she was out of sight.

"Is everyone at home well?" Xue Baoqin took the initiative to link her arm with his.

"Although I didn’t expect you to return now, everyone happens to be here," Lin Rui glanced at the servants busily tidying up; seeing them all heads down in work, he gave the little boat girl a helpless glare. "Let’s go. Everyone’s actually missed you these past few days."

"Hehe!"

"I remember you said it would take at least half a month to finish," Lin Rui said as they entered the hallway, leading her straight toward the back garden. Pausing, he looked at her. "That’s only about ten days, right? Why the early return?"

"That’s thanks to news from the court," Xue Baoqin pulled him along, her delicate face showing disdain. "Everyone knows now that next year is the retired emperor’s birthday celebration, a grand event, which will inevitably affect many things."

"Silk brocade?" Lin Rui had already pieced it together.

"The finest silks and embroidery from Jiangnan are mostly controlled by the three major weaving houses," Xue Baoqin nodded. "Next year, they will prioritize palace demands. Available goods will either be insufficient or of lesser quality—neither is what merchants desire."

"What about the 'latest fashions'?" Lin Rui was still uneasy. "If this year’s goods are stored till next year, won’t the styles be outdated? Will they still sell?"

"Not that quickly!" Just as they reached the embroidery tower’s entrance, Lin Mei, waiting inside, heard this and couldn’t help but laugh. "Even in the prosperous weaving regions of Jiangnan, they don’t change patterns every year, right?"

"Sister Lin!" Xue Baoqin immediately ‘heartlessly’ abandoned someone, smiling as she hugged the proud little lady, then nodded at the other proud one beside her before continuing, "Exactly! No matter how fast styles change, it takes at least two or three years! Whoever buys my goods and stores them till next year will still make silver. Delaying too long only benefits others. If it weren’t for other delays, I should have returned a few days earlier."

Lin Rui gave her a speechless look, only to have her pull a cute mischievous face in return.

"Is it still not enough?" Xing Xiuyan, taking on the role of a maid, smiled while pouring tea. "I recall that your fleet carried more than just silk brocade. Could other goods sell as well?"

"Naturally not," Xue Baoqin’s face showed unabashed pride. "The delay I mentioned is because anyone wanting my silk must also take the other goods, with the former having a ten percent markup. Whether they like it or not, they must comply."

"Forcibly spreading the burden?" Lin Rui teased with a smile.

"If no one wants it, they don’t have to take it. Anyway, there are buyers," Xue Baoqin was not indulgent. "Besides, I only ship top-grade goods and won’t cheat friends. At worst, those who don’t usually deal in other trades can resell after receiving shipments and earn from the transit. This trip brought in over sixty thousand taels, twenty percent more than expected. Though silk price hikes contributed, the saved inventory silver is the major gain. Once news spreads that Jiangnan will have no goods next year, market prices will rise at least thirty percent. Who wouldn’t want that?"

"Capital entering the world, from head to toe, drips blood and filth from every pore," Lin Rui mockingly ‘praised’ the great Hayek. "Sister Qin, you may be young, but you’re quite shrewd."

"Hmph!" Xue Baoqin tossed him a coquettish eye roll. "Thanks for the compliment!"

"And the ships?" Lin Rui was actually more concerned about another matter.

"That’s also part of the delay," Xue Baoqin finally showed a helpless look. "Every berth at Tianmen Port is already taken. To dock, you must pay. The problem is, my fleet is not small and will likely stay a long time. How much silver will that cost? Moreover, up north, anyone with connections knows our Xue family’s Fengzi brand hails from Jiangnan, and they’re all waiting to fleece us. How could I let them have their way?"

After speaking, she scanned the group, her face full of an adorable ‘ask me’ expression.

"How did you solve it?" Lin Rui naturally went along.

"I secured a small fishing village south of Tianmen," Xue Baoqin said proudly, downing her tea in one gulp before tapping the empty cup in front of someone. "Anyway, these are all river-sea hybrid vessels. Otherwise, parking would really be difficult!"

"Smart girl!" Lin Rui smiled as he poured her more tea, genuinely praising her.

True ocean-going ships have sharp hulls and deep drafts, requiring specialized deepwater docks; inland river vessels typically have flat bottoms, demanding much less from a berth—any pier would do.

"How long will Sister Qin stay?" Lin Daiyu asked with concern.

"At least a month," Xue Baoqin had already thought it through. "After the hard journey from Jiangnan, the ships can’t return empty. To gather enough goods to fill them takes time, and I’ve already arranged servants to handle it."

"No wonder you didn’t bring many people today, most of them were the guards I left by your side," Lin Rui finally understood. "You must have contacted those merchants who already bought your goods?"

"If I were unfamiliar with the place, it might not be a month but three to five months to gather enough," Xue Baoqin nodded. "Everyone knows buying low and selling high; that’s how goods are moved between north and south to make silver. If there’s profit, why not let our own people earn? Outsiders find it very hard to intervene. I only use our family’s name, which makes things much easier. Besides, I also arranged for people to check the Fengzi brand’s shops in the capital region that Brother Rui bought in Jiangnan."

"Thank you, Sister Qin!" Lin Rui saw she didn’t want to discuss it now.

Lin Daiyu paid no attention to such matters, but Miaoyu and her attendant exchanged surprised looks, fully aware of how famous the Fengzi brand was in Jiangnan.

"Why haven’t I seen Aunt?" Xue Baoqin promptly changed the subject.

"Mother was very happy to hear you returned but felt slightly unwell today and is resting in the back quarters," Lin Daiyu hurried to explain, not wanting any misunderstanding that she was reluctant to meet. "You will see her at dinner; please don’t find it awkward."

"Sister Lin, not at all!" Xue Baoqin was still somewhat puzzled but did not ask further.

Though Jia Min was an elder, due to the widespread early marriages and childbearing of the era, she was just over thirty, mentally young, born of noble rank, and under little pressure, often playing happily with the younger generation at home.

Back in Jiangnan, she frequently played with her daughter and nieces.

Today she didn’t come; others might wonder why, but Lin Rui understood what she was avoiding.

Since he had shown his feelings more openly, Jia Min had begun to avoid meeting him alone and reduced contact as much as possible, hoping he would give up.

Thinking of this, he couldn’t help but smile.

Run?

Can you really run away?

"Brother Rui?" Xue Baoqin looked at him in confusion.

"Nothing!" Lin Rui quickly shook his head and changed the topic. "It’s a pity you came in such a hurry today. The kitchen can’t adjust the dishes now. Luckily, most servants here were borrowed from your side, so the flavors should suit your palate."

"That’s nothing. I’m not picky," Xue Baoqin did not mind.

"Alright, have fun!" Lin Rui smiled and stood up.

After watching him leave, the young ladies resumed their playful chatter.

Rongguo Mansion, Grandmother Jia’s courtyard.

When Wang Xifeng entered the flower hall, she found the matriarch still playing with a red invitation card.

"Oh my, the old matriarch is still looking at it?" She immediately put on a mock jealous face, pouting and complaining, "Though Aunt has been away from the capital for years and finally returned, it’s not like you should be so obsessed with her. She hasn’t even arrived yet, and you keep staring every day, making us younger generations all confused. Could a distant aunt two miles away really be better than all these daughters and daughters-in-law? That truly hurts one’s feelings—"

After speaking, she pulled a handkerchief from her sleeve, shrinking her head as she wiped her eyes repeatedly.

But instead of sympathy, everyone else who arrived soon laughed.

"You!" Grandmother Jia put down the red card and pulled her to sit beside her. "Can’t you think carefully about why Min’er sent the invitation now and why it wasn’t sent a few days ago?"

"Matriarch, is something wrong?" Li Wan, who rarely spoke, suddenly asked.

"I’ve heard that their young Rui has secured a position," Grandmother Jia’s expression grew complex. "It came from the Duke of Zhen’s residence—an official in the Military Warehouse’s Inspection Department. From now on, he’ll dine at the Ministry of War’s office."

As soon as she said this, Tanchun immediately stood and gestured for all servants to leave.

"Near the Niu family’s place?" Wang Xifeng blurted out. "Isn’t that good?"

"But this matter was decided directly by the Ministry of Personnel without consulting the Ministry of War," Grandmother Jia frowned. "The Niu family only relayed the palace’s message—it still feels somewhat uncomfortable."

"What does the matriarch think?" Tanchun asked anxiously.

"After all, the Ministry of War belongs to the Niu family," Wang Xifeng suddenly chimed in.

"Right!" Grandmother Jia nodded slowly. "Once inside the temple, you must at least pay respects at the gate."

"Is the matriarch worried Aunt doesn’t understand?" Tanchun asked with concern.

"I’m more afraid the Niu family will misunderstand."