The Red Chamber begins with a bastard

Chapter 470: Snowy Wind Waiting for the Return of the People

In the afternoon, the northwest wind outside the house blew up snow all over the sky, as if countless moths were flying up and down, and the extreme cold penetrated the bones and skin. This might be the last snow in the seventh year of Qiansheng. Although it was not particularly heavy, the northwest wind was particularly strong, howling across the roof like ghosts and wolves howling, blowing the trees in the yard toppled.

Mrs. Wang was dressed warmly, with a foot warmer on her feet and a string of golden nanmu Buddhist beads in her hand. She chanted "Amitabha" a thousand times, but she was still uneasy and her eyelids were twitching.

Earlier, there was a rumor in the palace that the imperial concubine would return home to visit her relatives after the New Year, but this morning there was news that the visit was cancelled. Moreover, at noon, the imperial concubine sent the eunuch Xia Shouzhong to deliver 120 taels of silver and ordered a three-day peace ceremony to be held at the Qingxu Temple. She also asked Jia Zhen to lead all the men of the Jia family to kneel and burn incense and worship Buddha. No one knew what had happened, so for the whole afternoon, Mrs. Wang was frightened and restless, fearing that some disaster would befall her.

"Oh, this is terrible, my little ancestor, it's windy and snowy outside, why are you here?" Jin Chuan'er's exclamation suddenly came from outside, and then Jia Baoyu, wearing a bamboo hat and a straw raincoat, flashed in.

Jinchuan'er, Yuchuan'er and others, while scolding her, hurriedly helped her take off her straw hat and raincoat, brought her hot wine, handed her a hand warmer, and took care of her like a treasure.

Mrs. Wang beckoned Jia Baoyu to her side, hugged her beloved son and called him, scolding him, "Why did my son come here in such a heavy snowstorm? What if he gets frozen? Xiren has always been a prudent and steady person, how dare you do this this time?"

Jia Baoyu smiled and said, "It's none of Xiren's business. I was playing with Sister Lin, and when I got out of the house I went straight to Madam's place. Xiren didn't know anything about it."

Mrs. Wang frowned and said, "Your sister Lin didn't even try to stop me."

"It has nothing to do with Sister Lin. She just thought I went back to the Yihong Courtyard and didn't ask much." Jia Baoyu hurriedly explained.

"What are you doing here in such a windy and snowy weather? There's no one with you. If you dare to do this again next time, I'll make your father beat you." Mrs. Wang said angrily.

"Don't be angry, madam. I won't dare to do it again next time. Don't tell the master." Jia Baoyu went into Mrs. Wang's arms and "twisted" and begged for mercy, which finally made the latter laugh.

Mrs. Wang laughed and scolded, "You are getting older day by day, but you are still naughty. Tell me, why are you looking for me so urgently?"

Jia Baoyu said cautiously, "I heard that my second sister's marriage has been decided?"

Madam Wang nodded and said, "That should be the case. The Sun family sent a matchmaker to propose marriage yesterday, and the eldest wife also asked the old lady for permission. They will choose a date for the wedding ceremony after the New Year."

Jia Baoyu said anxiously, "No, my second sister cannot marry Sun Shaozu."

"Why?" Mrs. Wang asked back.

"Not to mention that Sun Shaozu is ugly, he is already thirty years old, and my second sister is not even eighteen. The difference in age is too big, and they are not a good match at all."

"It doesn't matter if a man is ugly, he doesn't make a living by his looks. As long as he is capable, it's fine. And he knows how to care for others when he's older. An old man with a young wife will have a better life."

"But...Sun Shaozu has a very bad reputation and a very violent temper. He even beat two concubines to death. How can my second sister marry such a man?" Jia Baoyu argued with his face flushed.

It has to be said that although Da Lian Bao is a bit useless, he is genuinely kind to his sisters. He ran here in the wind and snow just to speak up for his second sister Jia Yingchun.

Mrs. Wang frowned and asked, "Who told you that?"

Jia Baoyu hesitated and said, "That's what people say outside. How can marriage be a joke? It's better to believe it than not. If Sun Shaozu is really so bad, wouldn't he ruin my second sister's life?"

Madam Wang said calmly, "Since you know about marriage, you naturally know that marriage has been decided by parents since ancient times. As long as the eldest master and the eldest mistress agree, outsiders have no right to interfere."

Jia Baoyu said anxiously, "Even so, Madam, you can also give some advice. You can't just watch Second Sister fall into the fire pit? Although Second Sister is not Madam's biological daughter, she grew up in front of Madam. How can you just ignore her?"

Madam Wang's face darkened and she shouted, "How dare you! I'm your mother. How dare you speak to your mother like that?"

Jia Baoyu hurriedly apologized, his eyes red and he shed tears silently.

Mrs. Wang sighed and said, "Not only have I tried to persuade the first wife, your father has also tried to persuade the first master, but he just won't listen. What else can we do? This kind of thing is not something you can worry about. Go back and study hard. Be careful, your father will check your homework during the New Year."

Jia Baoyu was so disappointed when he heard this that he was about to leave with his head down. Mrs. Wang stopped him and said, "Wait until the wind and snow stop before you go back."

Jia Baoyu had no choice but to sit down again and be in a daze. Mrs. Wang was already restless and had no time to take care of him. She just closed her eyes and continued to recite the scriptures.

Jin Chuan'er stole a glance at Mrs. Wang and saw that she had her eyes closed. She then leaned close to Jia Baoyu's ear and whispered teasingly, "Second Master, the rouge on my lips is freshly applied. Do you want to eat it?"

Then she covered her mouth and laughed secretly and went to the outer room. Jia Baoyu was itching to do so. If it were any other time, he would have followed her and sucked her rouge mouth to mouth, but he was not in that mood at the moment.

When the snow outside the house died down, Jia Baoyu put on his bamboo hat and raincoat and left Mrs. Wang's room. Mrs. Wang was worried and sent two maids to escort him back to the garden. When Jia Baoyu returned to Yihong Courtyard, he found Lin Daiyu, Xue Baochai and Jia Tanchun were all there. He couldn't help but say happily: "Sister Lin, Sister Bao, Third Sister, why are you here?"

Lin Daiyu snorted coldly, "You are asking us, where did you go without saying anything when it was snowing so hard outside? And you got lost from me. If you don't come back, I will have no choice but to apologize to Sister Xiren."

It turned out that Jia Baoyu had come out of Xiaoxiang Pavilion in the wind and snow, and went straight out of the garden and went to Mrs. Wang's room. Lin Daiyu just thought he had returned to Yihong Courtyard and did not ask, but Xiren thought he was still with Lin Daiyu. When the wind and snow subsided a little, Xiren went to Xiaoxiang Pavilion to look for him, but found that he was not there. Now Xiren and Lin Daiyu were both panicked, and sent people to look for him all over the garden, which alarmed Xue Baochai and Jia Tanchun.

Just when everyone was discussing whether to tell the madam immediately, Jia Baoyu came back. Hearing that everyone was so worried about him, the big-faced Bao became crazy again and sighed, "I just came back from the madam. You are so worried that I am so happy that I am willing to die immediately."

Lin Daiyu and Xue Baochai were both speechless, but they also knew that this guy was always like this, so they didn't take his nonsense to heart. They were just a little embarrassed and blushed.

Jia Tanchun said with a smile: "Second brother, what is wrong with you again? When you go to the mistress, even if you don't tell Xiren, at least tell Sister Lin when you leave. This will make everyone panic and suspicious."

Jia Baoyu apologized, "I was only thinking of one thing and forgot this, Sister Lin. I'm sorry for causing you trouble."

"It's not a big deal that I got involved, but Xiren and the others were so panicked that they searched the whole garden in the wind and snow."

Jia Baoyu hurriedly apologized to Xiren, Qingwen and other maids.

Xue Baochai smiled and said, "It's good that you are alright. Brother Bao, please don't be so reckless in the future."

Jia Tanchun asked, "Why is Second Brother in such a hurry to find Madam?"

Jia Baoyu then told the story of how he had found his wife, then stamped his feet and sighed, "Master and his wife have tried to persuade him, but the eldest master still insists on having his own way. I'm afraid my second sister will marry Sun Shaozu. Alas, what can I do?"

Xue Baochai advised, "Marriage has always been a matter of parents' orders and matchmaker's words. Since the master and the mistress have made their decision, it cannot be changed. Brother Bao has done his best, so there is no need to blame yourself."

Ying'er couldn't help but interrupt, "Mr. Huan San may have a solution, but it's a pity that he's not here."

Xue Baochai quickly rolled her eyes at Ying'er, blaming her for being ignorant and talkative. The latter stuck out her tongue and lowered her head to play with the corner of her clothes.

Jia Baoyu felt uncomfortable and unconvinced upon hearing this. Neither the master nor the mistress could persuade him, and the old lady was of no use. How could Huan Lao San make the eldest master change his mind?

Xue Baochai was well versed in human nature. She knew from Jia Baoyu's expression that he was unhappy, so she said, "Since Brother Bao has nothing to do, we will go back as well, so as to avoid another heavy snowfall later."

"I'm coming back too, Sister Bao, let's go together." Lin Daiyu put on her cloak, took Xueyan with her, and left with Xue Baochai and her servant.

Jia Baoyu couldn't help feeling disappointed. At this time, Jia Tanchun also said, "Second brother, take a good rest. I'm going back too."

Jia Baoyu nodded and said, "Third sister, be careful on the road and be careful not to slip."

Jia Tanchun smiled and said, "I can save myself the trouble."

In the original novel, Jia Tanchun has always had a good relationship with Jia Baoyu, but her relationship with her younger brother Jia Huan is very strained. Now, naturally, her relationship with Jia Huan is closer.

"Wait a minute, third sister. If Huan'er comes back, tell me if he has a way to help my second sister. There's no harm in me asking him for help." Jia Baoyu suddenly said.

Jia Tanchun was stunned for a moment, then smiled and said, "If Huandi has a way, I will help him. Why would I need my second brother to ask for help? But it's good that my second brother has this intention. It's worthwhile for us to be brothers and sisters. I'll go!"

Jia Tanchun walked out of the Yihong Courtyard. The wind outside was much weaker now, and there were still small pieces of snow in the sky. Jia Tanchun wrapped her cloak tightly, looked up at the sky, and thought to herself: "It's already the 25th day of the twelfth lunar month. There are still four days left. Brother Huan should be back home. I wonder if he has gotten used to living in the academy, and whether his studies have improved."

……

On the twenty-ninth day of the twelfth lunar month in the seventh year of Qiansheng, Jia Huan finally finished his twenty days of tutoring before the New Year and rode back to the city on a horse.

During these twenty days, Sun Chengzong taught most of the time, and the old headmaster Ye Gao occasionally gave a few lessons. Sun Chengzong was a Jinshi, and he was the second place in the palace examination that year, so his knowledge was beyond words, and the old headmaster Ye Gao was even more knowledgeable, so Jia Huan benefited a lot from these twenty days of tutoring, and he also benefited a lot from discussing and learning with his senior brothers.

Therefore, Jia Huan became more confident about the upcoming Spring Examination and was even eager to try.

(End of this chapter)