Pingyang Fu of the Red Chamber

Chapter 348 Jia Lian arrives in Yangzhou
After a few days,

In early spring, after the rain, Yangzhou is more like a gentle woman, gentle and moist, attracting attention everywhere.

In Yangzhou City,

Jia Lian and his party rode horses and walked on the streets of Yangzhou City, and were immediately attracted by the bustling scene of the water city on the bank of the canal.

The ancient roads and long streets, the small bridges and flowing water, and the people's homes. Looking at the wind and moon in it, it seems to be better than many in Beijing.

It seemed that there had just been a light rain, and the ground on the street was still a little wet. After looking at the houses around, Jia Lian was in trouble.

There was something strange in Yangzhou City, and the atmosphere was indescribably depressing. As for Lin Ruhai's mansion, I didn't know it myself. I sent my man Lai Wang to go to the vendors on the street to find out where the Yanzheng Yamen was. , and then took Zhaoer and others to prepare to go.

Halfway through, Lai Wang whispered;
"Second Master, something doesn't feel right. When I asked for directions, those people's eyes were full of fear. I don't know why?"

"Well, there is such a thing."

Jia Lian was suspicious, but after seeing the personal guards and escorts following him, he no longer worried. At this time, it had only been four days since Jia Lian set out for Yangzhou.

At noon that day, Jia Lian took people to the pier in Beijing, chartered a fast boat, and headed south along the canal without stopping day and night.

Traveling day and night, with a favorable wind, we arrived in Yangzhou on the morning of the fourth day. After getting off the dock, we went to the carriage and horse shop to buy some crossbow horses for transportation.

Just after entering the city, I found that the guards were guarding the city gate. When I heard Lai Wang's words, I felt strange. Where were the people from the government army?

Before they could figure it out, Jia Lian and others slowly came to the front of Xunyan Censor's Yamen. The door was wide open, and white cloths were hung around it. Many servants wore sackcloth and mourning to greet the mourners. When they saw this place, Jia Lian knew the place. When you arrive, get off your horse.

On both sides of the gate, white sails were hung high, blowing in the wind.

When the steward came out to guide him, Jia Lian followed the steward and led people to the concierge. He received a white cloth, put on hemp and wore mourning, and then heard the faint sound of chanting sutras and chanting Buddha's name within the high wall.

Jia Lian and others came to the back hall, and a large group of people naturally attracted the attention of the old butler Fu Bo. The old man in white came over, bowed respectfully, and then asked;

"I am the housekeeper of the house. I don't know who this young master is."

Uncle Fu was also surprised. When he saw a group of tall people, they didn't look like people from the south of the Yangtze River, but looked like they were from the north. Of course, by their appearance, he knew that they were here to express their condolences.

Moreover, more than ten days have passed since the obituary announcement of the death of Lin Ruhai and his wife. Even if it is later, it is still almost the same. The arrival of Jia Lian and his entourage is really unexpected.

Besides, all the relatives and friends of the Lin family are in Jiangnan. If they are not close relatives and nephews, they only need to wear white clothes when they come. When they enter, they will wear a filial piety belt, which is enough respect. How could they be like Jia Lian, wearing sackcloth and wearing filial piety? A lot of the same.

Uncle Fu must have become suspicious when he saw this. He had known almost everyone in the Lin family in the past few days and had absolutely no impression of this person.

Although Jia Lian was unruly, he was a handsome young man. When he saw the old man, he behaved the same way as he did. He bowed his hands and said in a deep voice;
"Jia Lian, the younger generation of Rongguofu in the capital, came to pay homage to my uncle and aunt on the order of the ancestor of Rongguofu."

Even though Uncle Fu looked at Jia Lian, Jia Lian knew him. When his uncle Lin Ruhai married his aunt Jia Min in the capital, it was a sensation in Ningrong Street. His grandfather sent them off with red makeup, and after all, his uncle was married in the capital. After a few days in Hanlin, he was promoted to Lan Taisi, and finally he was transferred to Yangzhou Salt Patrol Censor.

I stayed in the capital for a few years, and then brought my family to Yangzhou with me. They were thousands of miles away. Except for one meeting when I returned to Beijing to report on my work, I didn't stay in the capital at other times. However, this Uncle Fu had met many times. Of course we recognized each other, but as time went by without seeing each other, we forgot them quickly.

Uncle Fu thought for a while, but couldn't remember it. People don't remember it themselves, but how could Mrs. Jingcheng's natal family not remember it? He said something unconsciously;
"Rongguo Mansion in the capital."

After the old housekeeper finished speaking, he thought about it and realized that he was from the Jia family, who was thousands of miles away. He thought it might take a few days for the urgent letter to arrive, but he never thought it would be so soon, because these days, Watching the days being buried,

"It turns out that Second Master Lian is here. Please come in quickly. I'm finally looking forward to seeing you."

After speaking, she shed tears and was too excited to speak. When Mrs. Lin was still alive, she often talked about her two brothers and mother, but she never saw them until her death. Now that her mother-in-law is here, she only hopes that Mrs. Lin has someone underground. I know it can be more comforting.

Jia Lian had nothing to say for a while. He just followed Uncle Fu into the mourning hall in the backyard. He looked at the coffin in the hall, his eyes filled with sadness. He knelt in front of the coffin, kowtowed to Lin Ruhai and his wife, and burned paper. Jingcheng brought a memorial inscription and read it in front of the soul.

After reciting, he put the paper money together in a brazier and burned it. After watching the ritual words burn out, he kowtowed heavily again.

He raised his eyes and glanced at the mourning hall. There were young people kneeling down and keeping vigil inside and outside, and monks were doing rituals outside. The female family members were also crying on one side. Because they were all wearing hemp and mourning, it was impossible to tell who was Lin Daiyu, who was in charge. No one saw it either
After the worship, I came out and asked Uncle Fu,

"Uncle Fu, may I ask where my sister Lin Daiyu is?" Uncle Fu wanted to answer, but he remembered that the second master had told him that as long as someone from the Jia family came here, he would be informed that the noon hour was almost here and everyone was busy. I'm not here because of the burial.

"Second Master Lian, wait a minute. Today is the time for the master and his wife to be buried. We must not delay the time, so we are all preparing in the back hall."

"Okay, I'll go and have a look."

How can Jia Lian wait? Now that the Lin family's property has not been seen, who can he look for when they are buried? Thinking of the property left by the Lin family, he is afraid that it will be occupied by the Lin family, so he is eager to go to the backyard, but he has just walked a few steps. , he was blocked by people from the Lin family in the courtyard.

Lin Ruhui came over with his third son and many younger members of the Lin family, and Lin Ruhui shouted;
"Everyone, please be careful. The time is coming soon. We can't delay the burial. The fourth and fifth brothers go and keep an eye on it."

"Yes, brother."

After speaking, the fourth and fifth sons took people to the main room to seal the seal. When Jia Lian saw this, he understood that it was the Lin family members or the person in charge who was now here, so he asked without any nonsense;

"Jia Lian of Rongguo Mansion in the capital comes to pay my respects. May I ask those in front of you who is in charge of the Lin family?"

Lin Ruhui then looked over and knew that he was from the Jia family in the capital. He knew who Jia Lian was in advance and replied with a face on his face,

"It turns out that Second Master Lian is here. I am the second brother-in-law of the Lin family and Daiyu's second uncle. I can just call out to my second uncle. I'm not the boss. I brought the Lin family here to bury my eldest brother. Just a helper."

Jia Lian didn't care, he was just a relative who couldn't be beaten with eight poles, so he immediately responded;
"It turns out to be Second Uncle Lin. Thanks to your help for my uncle and aunt's funeral this time, I will definitely thank you all properly when the work is over."

Lin Ruhui had a strange look on his face. This was obviously in charge of Mr. Hou. He is still accompanying Yu'er in the backyard. How could he be our helper? Since you are the person in charge of the Lin family, he felt unhappy and naturally spoke rudely.

"There's no need to thank you. We're all from the Lin family. My eldest brother left suddenly and everything was too late. No, our entire Lin family came here because we were afraid that outsiders would bully Daiyu. If there was any intention, I don't think so. It’s better to put that thought out as soon as possible.”

Looking at the smiling second uncle of the Lin family, Jia Lian felt strange. This man was talking with a gun and a stick, and there was something in his words. Could it be that he was planning to come to the Lin family? He didn't even look at their identities, and he snorted coldly in his heart.
"This is what the Rongguo Mansion wants to say. Although Daiyu wants to bully her, the Jia family behind her disagrees."

As soon as he said this, the guard behind him also touched the long knife behind him and was on guard. Lin Ruhui smiled contemptuously when he saw it.
"It turns out that these are people from the Jia family. They are really unreasonable. When my sister-in-law was alive, she often talked about you, but you didn't come to take a look. Why did you come so impatiently as soon as they left, and even brought some guards with you? The murder weapon is indeed an honorable one, it is very powerful, I advise Mr. Lian to think clearly about it."

The third child couldn't bear it and said without giving any face;
"Second brother, what are you talking to this pretty boy? It's not a good idea at first glance. My eldest brother and sister-in-law didn't come here until they were buried today. They didn't ask anything else. They just wanted to see my niece. At first glance, I don't feel at ease. Let me tell you. It’s just because I’m interested in my eldest brother’s wealth and returning it to the Duke’s Mansion in the capital, bah, what the hell is that?”

With this remark,
The surrounding Lin family members all had expressions of disdain on their faces, and of course they had forgotten that their direct descendants were still thinking about Lin Ruhai's family property.

Jia Lian squinted his eyes and looked over. Although there were many people, there was no official status. How could a commoner have the courage?

Lai Wang and Zhao'er around them were not willing to let their master be humiliated, so they started to curse;

"Where did the unruly people come from? They didn't even look at who Mr. Lian was. They blinded you. If they were in the capital, they would have been arrested long ago."

To speak like this is to stamp the Lin family's face on the ground.

At the corner of the backyard, Zhang Jinyu and Lin Daiyu happened to come behind the wall. The two of them watched what happened in the yard carefully. Lin Daiyu looked puzzled. Why did the Lin family and that Jia family have a quarrel? Today On such an important day, we are still discussing the Lin family's wealth. We really can't distinguish the importance.

Zhang Jinyu snickered, what a big drama, as the saying goes, it's better to come early than to come by chance, first expose the Jia family's face to Lin Daiyu, see their face clearly, and save herself from causing trouble in the future if she is not around.

That big-faced guy still needs to beat himself up a little more.

"Lang Jun, why do people from the Jia family keep talking about the wealth left by their father?"

Zhang Jinyu came back to his senses, coughed and explained;

"My father-in-law left a lot of money. I saw a total of 300 million taels of silver. Everyone was jealous. The Lin family didn't know it, but the Jia family will definitely make an estimate. When they see you, they will find ways to do it." I will take you back to the Jia family in the capital, and then persuade you to sell the Lin family’s property and mansion, and take the money to go north. As for the money, the Jia family will keep it and pocket it, and we will have nothing to do with you from now on."

Zhang Jinyu didn't shy away from it and directly stated the Jia family's plans.

Lin Daiyu didn't have a good impression of these yellow and white things, but after all, it was a dowry left to her by her parents. Her father made it clear to her before leaving, and secretly gave her 10 taels of silver notes. No matter what, it was reserved for her. When I think about it, I am remembered by so many people, and I can't help but feel angry at the people who care about me.

(End of this chapter)