The Red Mansions

Chapter 222 Between the women, you come and I go
early morning.

The sun shines through the mist and gently sprinkles on the earth.

The gentle breeze brings a little coolness and makes people feel refreshed.

On Ningrong Street, gongs, drums and suonas were played in unison, the sound of firecrackers was deafening, and the mighty wedding procession began to set off.

Jia Rong rode on a tall horse, smiling and bowing to people on the side of the road from time to time.

Jia Yun and Xue Pan stood on the side of the road and watched.

Xue Pan wondered: "Brother-in-law, take a closer look, Brother Rong is smiling on the surface, but in fact there is melancholy in his eyes, why is that?"

"Huh? Brother Xue can even see this?" Jia Yun asked in surprise.

Xue Pan chuckled and said, "Well, I don't know if I saw it right. When I looked at Brother Rong for the first time just now, I thought he was afraid of something. Is he afraid of the Xia family girl?"

"Keep your voice down." Jia Yun patted him on the shoulder, looked back at Jia Rong, and muttered:
"Brother Rong's smile is a bit stiff, and there is helplessness in his eyes, maybe he is really afraid of Miss Xia?"

After a pause, he continued: "Let's not discuss this matter, by the way, where are your cousins?"

"My cousin and my mother went to Mrs. Jia's place together, and my cousin went out early in the morning to do some errands, and said that he must be back before noon to attend the wedding banquet in Ningguo Mansion." Xue Pan replied.

Jia Yun nodded, talked with Xue Pan for a while, and after the welcoming team left, she didn't rush into Ningguo Mansion, but turned around and walked to Sanfang Free School, ready to go and have a look.

"What's so good about Yixue? Besides, isn't Yixue also on holiday today?" Xue Pan asked suspiciously.

Jia Yun smiled and said: "Just go for a walk, and besides, the divorce banquet is still early, so we could only sit and sit. If you are willing to sit, you can go there first!"

"Hehe, forget it, I'm the one who can't sit still." Hearing this, Xue Pan smiled and waved his hands.

Along the way, I met many clansmen who saluted Jia Yun one after another.

"You clansmen are quite polite, unlike those offshoot clansmen of our Xue family, all of them have nothing to say, they always want to come to our house to play the autumn wind, and they are not well-intentioned." Xue Pan said.

Jia Yun pondered and said: "You can't pass a favor. If you give a favor, you won't continue it. If you don't follow it, you will have resentment. If you don't keep it close, you won't continue it. If you don't continue it, you will create a gap."

Xue Pan thought about it for a moment, then nodded and said: "This statement makes sense."

righteous school.

The environment is beautiful and quiet.

Today, the teachers and students are all on vacation and went to Ningguo Mansion for a banquet.

Surrounded by a team of personal guards, Jia Yun and Xue Pan came to the playground.

"Drink! Since when is another training ground set up here?" Xue Pan asked in surprise.

On the edge of the playground, many training facilities such as stone locks and archery targets are neatly placed.

Jia Yun smiled and said: "The children who study in the Sanfang Free School not only practice writing, but also practice martial arts."

"In the future, when these boys grow up, even if they can't pass the imperial examination, they can still be sent to the army for training. After all, there will be a place for them."

Xue Pan clicked his tongue twice, and asked, "Isn't it a lot of money? Besides, it's not a one-year or two-year expense, but a lot of money is thrown into it every year."

"For ordinary people, this is a big expense, but for us, it is an excellent way to win over the tribe, and it is also a way to give back to the tribe." Jia Yun said with a smile .

The free school spends less than 1000 taels of silver every year.

Now that Jia Yun's family has a big business, not to mention the ice charcoal and silver received by the officials, but only the annual output of more than one hundred thousand taels of silver from his own farm, it is easy to supply righteous schools.

Compared with the Jia family spending a lot of money to raise slaves, Jia Yun is more willing to give some benefits to the clansmen.

The unity and strength of the tribe will be beneficial to him in the future.

Jia Wenlin, who was behind her, answered, "My lord has done a great job by setting up a free school."

"On the way home last night, my subordinates heard the people chatting, saying that in our room, because of the free school, it is much easier for many younger generations to marry their wives."

"Not only that, but the desire of the clansmen to have children is even higher."

Xue Pan wondered, "What does this have to do with how many children you have?"

Jia Wenlin said, "Uncle Xue, you don't know that the free school not only offers free tuition, but also provides a sumptuous lunch."

"If anyone in the family has a child, no matter how poor the family is, as long as they are five years old, they can come to study, and they are not afraid of starving to death without food."

Jia Yun frowned and said, "Aren't all the errands arranged for every household in the clan? Now, is there anyone whose family can't solve the problem of food and clothing?"

"No, there is no one in the clan who can't get enough to eat now. The subordinates are just making an analogy." Jia Wenlin replied.

When Jia Yun heard this, her expression eased.

In order to solve the work of the clansmen, he didn't worry too much, in order to solve the problem of survival of the clansmen.

If you have enough food and clothing, you will know honor and disgrace.

If the people of the tribe want to really develop, the first thing is to solve their food problem, and then they have the time to cultivate their offspring and seek better development.

Of course, the people of the tribe will become dragons and phoenixes in the future, and Jia Yun can't control that much.

But he has already provided such a good platform, out of a thousand clansmen, as long as there are 50 to [-] people who will be promising in the future, that is not a small force.

Everyone came to the teaching dormitory and looked from the window. The desks inside were neatly arranged and cleaned spotlessly.

"Now these children are really blessed to meet our master." Jia Wenlin sighed.

"Think about when I was a child, if I could study for a few more years, I wouldn't run around in the market until I met the master, and my future development potential would be even greater."

"I really didn't tell a lie just now, because our clan has Yixue, now the younger generation in the clan don't have to worry about finding a wife, even if they are disabled, as long as they can do human affairs, they will have a matchmaker to come forward to marry them."

Jia Yun gave him a sideways look and said, "You said that you read less when you were young, but it's actually not too late to read now."

"Before I saw you urging the guards to read and write, it was unambiguous, but when it came to you, you were perfunctory."

"Since this is the case, I will also give you an order. Before the end of the year, you must memorize "The Analects of Confucius" and be able to write silently. Otherwise, not only will your bonus be deducted, but you will also be placed in confinement!"

Jia Wenlin was dumbfounded, and then showed a bitter face, but she didn't dare to refute, so she had to agree aggrievedly.

But I thought in my heart, why do I have so many things when I have nothing to do?
Wouldn't it be nice to be a handsome man quietly?
Now it's too late to get angry, but it's too late!

While he was talking, he saw two big and three rough tribesmen emerging from the east end with a load of water each.

The two walked side by side while talking, and didn't notice Jia Yun and the others at first.

After walking for a while, one of them suddenly found someone on the playground.

When she took a closer look, her face was filled with joy. Seeing that it was Jia Yun, she quickly stopped, put down the bucket, and was about to step forward to salute.

The other person was stunned for a while, then turned his head to look, suddenly stopped, and put down the bucket.

"Don't be too polite!" Seeing that they were wearing the bodyguard's tights, Jia Yun roughly guessed their identities.

"You two are on duty here today?" Jia Yun stepped forward and asked.

The first person cupped his hands and said: "There are ten people on duty, and eight more are here at the back. Come here soon."

Jia Yun nodded, pointed to the water they carried, and asked doubtfully, "What are you carrying the water for?"

"It's for watering flowers and trees. It's just entered the dog days, and the autumn tiger is really fierce. The flowers, plants and trees around Yixue are a little dry, so we picked some water to water it."

Jia Yun nodded slightly, and told Jia Wenlin, "I can't easily come here once. The people on duty today will each be rewarded with two taels of silver, which is a reward for their dedication."

……

Rongguofu.

Rongqing Hall is very lively today.

Early in the morning, Aunt Xue brought Xue Baoqin over.

At the same time, Mrs. Xing's brother and sister-in-law brought their daughter Xing Xiuyan to Beijing to vote for Mrs. Xing.

It happened that Sister Feng's brother Wang Ren was also going to Beijing, and the two parents came to help each other.

Halfway to berth the boat, I met Li Wanzhi's widowed aunt, who was also going to Beijing with her two daughters, Li Wen and Li Qi.

Everyone talked about it, and they were relatives again, so the three families walked together all the way.

In addition to Xue Biao and Xue Baoqin, they all arrived in the capital yesterday, and today they are reunited with Jiamu in Rongqingtang at the same time.

Jia Mu laughed and said, "It's strange that the lanterns exploded and exploded last night, and then knotted again. It should be today."

Jia Baoyu, who was sitting next to her, had even brighter eyes, looking left and right, dazzled.

But when he saw Xue Baochai, Lin Daiyu, Sanchun and Shi Xiangyun all murmuring together, Jia Baoyu frowned again.

Now that he saw Xue Baochai and Lin Daiyu, he didn't know what was going on, and avoided them as if he had encountered mud.

Both Gain Xue and Lin exuded a disgusting fragrance, which disappointed Jia Baoyu.

"In the past, they were such pure and delicate girls. After leaving Jia's mansion, they were stained with the world of mortals and became filthy." Jia Baoyu mused in his heart.

Looking at Xue Baoqin, Li Wen, Li Qi, and Xing Xiuyan, all of them beautiful, Jia Baoyu finally felt better, and thought to himself:
"Sister Bao is a stunning figure. I can't even describe her sister, and the two sisters-in-law and sister-in-law."

"My God, my God! How many essences and talents do you have to give birth to these superior people!"

"You know I'm a frog in a well. Cheng Ri's family only said that these few people are unique. Who knows that you don't have to look far away. It's just the local scenery. One is like the other. Now I have gained a layer of knowledge..."

Thinking about it, Jia Baoyu went crazy.

Xue Baoqin, Li Wen, Li Qi, and Xing Xiuyan were not very comfortable seeing Jia Baoyu present.

Seeing him showing such an idiot again now, for no reason, the four daughters felt a trace of disgust in their hearts.

To say that this Jia Baoyu is quite famous.

Born with jade in his mouth, he is born extraordinary and has a good skin.

But meeting is worse than hearing a hundred times, which disappointed the four girls.

Sitting tall, Jia's mother saw that Xue Baoqin was so beautiful that she was even more outstanding than Xue Baochai and Lin Daiyu.

I can't help but feel elated, and I can't help but be happy.

If you open your mouth, you will force Mrs. Wang to admit her daughter, and you will have to keep Xue Baoqin by her side.

When Xue Baoqin heard this, her face paled.

Even though they only arrived in the capital yesterday, the preliminary news was also obtained.

Xue Baoqin's brother and sister came to defect to Xue Wang's family.

Xue Wang's son-in-law, Jia Yun, heard that there was discord with the Jia family.

This news is not a secret.

If it was normal, the Xue family and Jia's family were both the four major families in Jinling, so they were naturally close.

But now because Jia Yun is here, with the attitudes of Xue Wang, Xue Pan and Xue Baochai, Jia Yun is naturally closer.

Therefore, when Mother Jia asked Mrs. Wang to accept Xue Baoqin as her goddaughter, Xue Baoqin's expression was not surprised, but frightened.

No matter what the reason, Xue Baoqin postponed accepting, and politely declined Jia Mu's kindness.

Mother Jia's persuasion was fruitless, and she looked a little unhappy.

It's just that there are so many people at the moment, but it's not easy to get angry, so I have to suppress my unhappiness, change the topic, and talk about other things.

On the other side, Xue Baochai saw that Xue Baoqin was sweating anxiously on his forehead, so he whispered a few words to Lin Daiyu and Jia Tanchun, got up and said to Jia Mu and others that he was going to the inner house for a walk.

Mother Jia thought that today was Jia Rong's marriage in the Ningguo Mansion, and the mansion was more lively, so she didn't stop her, so she smiled and agreed to Xue Baochai and others to leave.

They also walked with Xue Baoqin, Li Wen, Li Qi, and Xing Xiuyan.

All the girls came out of Rongqing Hall and came to the corridor, they all covered their mouths and laughed lightly.

Only Jia Yingchun and Jia Xichun looked confused, not knowing what they were laughing at.

Shi Xiangyun raised his chest and said: "Brother Ai has changed, he is not as pure as before, and his eyes are not bright anymore, um..."

"You are going to die, talking nonsense here." Lin Daiyu stepped forward to cover Shi Xiangyun's mouth, and whispered.

Shi Xiangyun blinked his eyes, whimpered a few times, shook his head, opened Lin Daiyu's hand, and said with a grin:
"Sister Lin, why is she becoming timid now, oh, I found out, you are all becoming timid now, and your words are much more cautious than before, what happened?"

Xue Baochai shook her head, took Raja Tanchun's hand, and said helplessly, "Let's go and sit in your courtyard!"

"Don't go, go to my courtyard, it's close." Shi Xiangyun said anxiously.

Xue Baochai said with a smile, "Let's go to sister Tanchun's room, we know each other well there."

Shi Xiangyun pursed his lips, stopped arguing, paused, and suddenly stepped forward with great interest, touched Xue Baochai's belly and said, "Is this a baby inside? It's amazing!"

"Ah! Xiangyun, Sister Bao is pregnant with a child, so be careful when walking, don't step forward and touch it lightly!" Lin Daiyu said anxiously.

She was even more anxious than Xue Baochai, because that was Jia Yun's child.

Shi Xiangyun looked at Lin Daiyu strangely, then retracted his hand in embarrassment, pouted and sulked.

Lin Daiyu pursed her lips and didn't try to persuade her, anyway, the two of them didn't deal with each other very much before.

Xue Baochai, on the other hand, stepped forward and took Lin Daiyu's hand, smiling and nodding, the two had a tacit understanding.

Jia Tanchun on the side was also afraid that Shi Xiangyun would not distinguish between serious and serious, so he stepped forward without any trace, walked behind Xue Baochai, and blocked Shi Xiangyun.

Xue Baoqin, who came out from behind, saw everything, pondered for a moment, and followed slowly.

Many girls, including maids and women, dozens of people came to Jia Tanchun's room in Baoxia.

There are too many people, after several masters enter the room, they can only enter a personal servant girl, otherwise they will not be able to squeeze in.

After everyone sat down, Xue Baochai said to Xue Baoqin: "Don't worry..."

(End of this chapter)