The Red Chamber begins with a bastard

Chapter 393: Custody
The moon is missing, the paulownia trees are sparse, the clock stops, and people begin to quiet down. As the night deepens, as the people who came to pay their respects leave one after another, the entire Salt Inspectorate slowly becomes quiet, and finally even the monks and Taoists who were chanting scriptures also rest, and everything returns to silence.

In the mourning hall, the candlelight in the middle of the night swayed in the chilly autumn wind. The white silks and elegiac couplets hanging all around were also rustling in the wind. Coupled with the coffin placed in front of the hall, it seemed even darker and more eerie.

At this time, the mourning hall was empty except Jia Huan. He knelt silently in front of the coffin, first burned paper money in the brazier, then stood up and lit a stick of incense in the incense burner, and bowed three times respectfully and devoutly.

According to custom, before the body is taken to the funeral procession, relatives must keep vigil at night, and the incense cannot be interrupted for a moment. Lin Daiyu was weak, so she could not bear to keep vigil all night, not to mention that she had not rested since yesterday, so Jia Huan coaxed and forced her to go back to her room to rest, and he stayed to keep vigil for her.

As a time traveler, Jia Huan naturally did not believe in ghosts and gods. Even if ghosts and gods really existed, Master Lin's ghost could not harm him. So although it was gloomy all around, he did not care at all. After burning incense, he sat on a stool and closed his eyes to rest.

At this time, a shadow appeared outside the mourning hall. The bleak moonlight stretched the figure out long. The person seemed hesitant. He took several steps forward and then stepped back. He lingered for a long time and was still hesitant.

After a while, the man sighed and was about to turn around and leave, but he bumped into another person standing behind him. He was startled and blurted out, "Tie...Hu."

The man who came was as strong as an iron tower, and he looked very majestic. It was Tiehu. However, Tiehu looked very unnatural at this moment. He coughed and said, "Qin... What is Master Qin doing here? I thought it was a wandering ghost!"

It turned out that the person wandering outside the mourning hall was none other than the female bandit leader Qin Hongyu. She had just bumped into Tiehu accidentally, and the latter subconsciously raised his hand to block it, but it just happened to touch her full breasts. No wonder Tiehu was embarrassed, and even felt a burning sensation on his face. Fortunately, he had dark skin, otherwise his face would have been as red as Guan Gong's.

Although Qin Hongyu was a little embarrassed, as a female bandit, she was naturally bold and aggressive. She was embarrassed for a moment and didn't take it too seriously. She said, "You are the wandering ghost!"

Tiehu frowned and said, "You want to find the Third Master?"

Qin Hongyu nodded.

"Then why don't you go in? Being indecisive is not like Mr. Qin's character."

Qin Hongyu hesitated for a moment and said in a deep voice: "This is a serious matter. I haven't made up my mind yet. Tiehu, you are also a man. If it were you, what would you do?"

Tiehu's heart moved, and he asked, "Is it because of what Lord Lin promised you before he died?"

Qin Hongyu nodded and said, "That's right. Lord Lin promised me that if I helped him drive away the Westerners who occupied Dulong Island and wipe out the remaining pirates on the island, he would allow us to atone for our sins. He also petitioned the court to set up a Dulong Island Inspection Office, with me as the nominal inspector, and my brothers could continue to live on the island. Now the foreigners on the island have been driven away, and the remaining pirates loyal to Kang Dayong on Dulong Island have also been wiped out, but Lord Lin has passed away. What should I do as the head of the family? Apart from Lord Lin, I don't trust any other officials. I have to think about my brothers and ensure their safety."

Tiehu said in a deep voice: "What is the plan of the Qin family?"

Qin Hongyu gritted her teeth and said, "Fly away!"

Tiehu nodded and said, "This is indeed the safest way, but you finally got the chance to redeem yourself, but you missed it. Don't you think it's a pity?"

Qin Hongyu said unhappily, "Nonsense, of course it's a pity, but compared to the lives of our brothers, safety is more important. Now that Lord Lin is gone, God knows if his previous promises are still valid. Few officials are good people. What if a new official in charge refuses to acknowledge his promises? We can't just sit there and wait for the court to send someone to come and destroy our bridges, can we?"

"It counts, of course it counts!" A clear voice suddenly came from behind. Qin Hongyu turned around and saw a young man walking out of the mourning hall. Under the moonlight, his temperament was calm and composed. Who else could it be but Jia Huan?

Jia Huan slowly walked up to Qin Hongyu and Tiehu and said solemnly, "I promise that all the promises that Master Lin made to you before will count and will be fulfilled. A gentleman's words are as good as his words."

Qin Hongyu raised her eyebrows and said, "Master Huan San has no official position and no title, how can you guarantee it? This concerns the life and death of hundreds of brothers, how can I believe your empty promise?"

Tiehu said dissatisfiedly: "The Third Master has promised, so there will be absolutely no problem. Don't be ungrateful, woman."

Jia Huan waved his hand and said, "Huzi, be patient. This is a matter of life and death. It is natural for the head of the Qin family to be worried. How about this? Since the head of the Qin family is worried, you should wait patiently in Yangzhou for a while. I believe that the official appointment from the court will come soon. If you take your brothers away at this time, wouldn't it be a pity?"

Qin Hongyu was skeptical and asked, "Are you serious? You are not deliberately saying this to reassure me, are you?"

Tiehu's eyes suddenly widened, and he angrily said, "Bullshit, Master Huan San always keeps his word, why would he lie to a woman like you?"

Qin Hongyu also got angry, and glared at him, "Speak up, woman, shut up, woman, so what? When I was roaming the sea, you, Tiehu, were still wearing open-crotch pants. If you don't accept it, fight with me."

Tiehu folded his hands in front of his chest and said disdainfully: "I, Tiehu, will not hit women with my fists, unless they are really too cheap." Qin Hongyu was furious, and she took a stance and shouted: "I only hit men, especially self-righteous men like you. Come on, come on, I will let you use three moves."

Jia Huan's face darkened, and he scolded him harshly, "How dare you! How can you act wildly in front of Master Lin's mourning hall? Qin Hongyu, if you are really determined to change yourself and let your brothers live a normal and stable life from now on, then you should restrain your banditry and stop shouting for war and killing at every turn. Otherwise, even if you are cleared of all charges this time, the good times will not last long."

Jia Huan was usually gentle and polite, but once he got serious, he had an awe-inspiring aura. Qin Hongyu didn't dare to act rashly. She just curled her lips in dissatisfaction, put away her posture, and muttered, "He was the first to speak rudely. It has nothing to do with me. It's too obvious that he is protecting his child!"

Although Qin Hongyu spoke in an old-fashioned manner and called people "auntie" all the time, she was actually not that old. She was only about twenty-one or twenty-two years old, which was considered an old girl in ancient times, but in modern times it is just college age. It was the beautiful time of her youth, and her sullen look at this moment was inexplicably cute.

Jia Huan couldn't help but laugh and cry, and waved his hand and said, "You can go back now, don't disturb Lord Lin's rest here. If there is an appointment from above, I will naturally inform you."

"Well, since Master Huan San has made a guarantee, I will believe you this time." Qin Hongyu turned and left. When she passed by Tiehu, she glared at him and snorted coldly.

"This bitch..." Tiehu couldn't help but complain.

Jia Huan fell into deep thought. Qin Hongyu had come to him and said that she wanted to cooperate with the officers and soldiers to retake Dulong Island from the foreigners. Her purpose was to go to the island to collect the body of her adoptive father Gu Sanmaizi. After the task was accomplished, they would go their separate ways. She would continue to do business on the sea with her brothers, but promised to stay away from the coast of Dajin.

At that time, Jia Huan felt that this was inappropriate, so he persuaded Qin Hongyu to accept the court's amnesty and promised that she could continue to live on Dulong Island, but she was not allowed to do business without capital. At that time, Qin Hongyu was a little hesitant and said that she wanted to negotiate with Lin Ruhai in person.

So Jia Huan acted as a go-between and arranged for Qin Hongyu to meet Lin Ruhai. As the provincial examination was about to begin at that time, he had to rush to Nanjing immediately. Therefore, Jia Huan did not participate in the negotiations and did not know how Lin Ruhai and Qin Hongyu talked about it. Anyway, they reached an agreement in the end, and Qin Hongyu assisted Lin Ruhai in sending troops to Dulong Island.

Now Jia Huan finally learned that Lin Ruhai agreed to set up the Dulong Island Inspection Office, and let Qin Hongyu serve as the inspector, leading his brothers to settle in Dulong.

This compromise method is undoubtedly very clever, and Master Lin's wisdom is indeed not to be underestimated. On the one hand, it prevents Qin Hongyu and his gang from continuing to be pirates, and on the other hand, it allows Qin Hongyu and others to guard the island, which is better than being occupied by foreigners. It can be said to kill two birds with one stone.

It's a pity that Master Lin fell critically ill just after returning triumphantly. The resettlement measures for Qin Hongyu and others have not yet been implemented. No wonder this woman is anxious. Fortunately, Master Lin must have submitted a memorial to the court in advance. Although Master Lin has passed away now, his achievements are still there. It can even be said that he died in the line of duty and devoted his life to the country. In view of this, Emperor Qiansheng will definitely approve his memorial.

Jia Huan was deep in thought, but Tie Hu couldn't help asking, "Third Master, there shouldn't be any unexpected changes, right?"

"what's up?"

"It's about that... the establishment of the Dulong Island Inspection Office." Tiehu asked a little embarrassedly.

Jia Huan looked Tie Hu up and down as if he had discovered a new world. Tie Hu looked down at himself and asked, "What are you looking at, Third Master?"

Jia Huan coughed and said, "It's nothing. Don't worry. The official appointment should be announced soon."

"Hey, why should I be worried? I was just asking casually." Tiehu pretended to be indifferent.

Jia Huan reached out and punched Tiehu in the chest, saying contemptuously, "Keep pretending, kid. Since you've chosen her, why are you being so coy?"

Tiehu's face flushed: "Third Master, what are you talking about? Look...what do you like?"

"Men should get married when they are old enough, and women should get married when they are old enough. Why are you being so nagging? Huzi, you are not a child anymore. If you don't dare to speak up, I will help you."

"No, no, no, I... I'll do it myself, hehe!" Tiehu grinned.

Jia Huan patted Tiehu on the shoulder and said, "Okay, brother. I'm looking forward to drinking your wedding wine. But this fierce horse is not easy to tame. You have to take good care of it. If something goes wrong in the future, the court will not show mercy."

Tiehu immediately puffed out his chest and said proudly, "Don't worry, Third Master, I will make sure he is tamed!"

Jia Huan nodded and turned back to the mourning hall.

(End of this chapter)