The Red Chamber begins with a bastard

Chapter 480 Dumplings and Cakes
Because he went to bed too late last night, Jia Huan did not wake up until the sun was high in the sky. He heard voices outside and called out, "Sister Ping'er."

Mandalin heard the sound and walked in, pouting and complaining, "The Third Master only has Ping'er in his eyes. He just calls her when she wakes up. Am I just a decoration?"

Jia Huan said with a smile: "You can eat this sour food? Did you miss breakfast?" As he said that, he lightly scratched Mandarin's tall and straight nose, and subconsciously reached out his hand to the straight chest of the foreign maid.

As a result, the foreign maid blushed and slapped away someone's hand that was trying to take advantage of her, and whispered a reminder: "There will be someone here."

Only then did Jia Huan realize that Caixia was standing next to Xianglian. She was now fiddling with the corner of her clothes with her head down. Her face was as red as a ripe apple. She must have seen what had just happened.

Jia was embarrassed. He had just heard someone talking outside and thought it was Mandalin and Ping'er chatting. But it turned out to be Caixia. He coughed lightly and asked as he got up, "When did Sister Caixia come?"

Caixia bowed shyly and said, "I have been here for quite a while. I came here specially to wish you a happy new year. I wish you good health, a happy new year, success in the imperial examinations, and a place in the imperial examinations."

"Thank you, Sister Caixia, you are so thoughtful. Mandalin, let Sister Ping'er take a look and appreciate it." Jia Huan ordered.

Mandalin shrugged her shoulders and said, "Sister Ping'er went out early in the morning to wish the girls a happy new year." She opened the box skillfully and took out a handful of copper coins to give to Caixia as a reward.

Caixia thanked him quickly, and seeing Mandalin helping Jia Huan get dressed, she rolled her eyes and took the initiative to get some hot water, wrung out a hot towel to wipe Jia Huan's face, and said with a sweet smile, "Third Master, please wash your face."

Jia Huan thanked him and took the hot towel. While wiping his face, he asked, "Sister Caixia is here. What if the Madam sends someone?"

Caixia smiled and explained, "I shouldn't have been serving the Madam today, and I've finished my work, so I had time to go to the garden to relax. Why did Third Master ask this? Do you think I'm annoying? Then I'll leave now, so as not to bother Third Master."

Jia Huan quickly smiled and said, "I don't dislike you at all. I'm just worried that you'll be punished. I wish you could come here more often to play."

Caixia was delighted when she heard this and smiled sweetly, "Then I will help Third Master comb his hair. I have nothing to do anyway."

Jia Huan subconsciously looked at Mandarin, worried that the foreign maid would be jealous. However, the maid was obviously lazy and clapped her hands, saying, "That's great. Usually, Sister Ping'er helps Third Master comb his hair. She's not here now, and my skills are not very good. I'll leave it to you."

After saying that, he sat aside and ate melon seeds with a clear conscience, which made Jia speechless. So Caixia happily helped Jia Huan wash and comb his hair, while asking, "Did Third Master hear about the big news today?"

Jia Huan shook his head and said, "I just got up, so of course I didn't hear anything. What happened?"

"It's incredible. This morning, the old lady and the mistress wanted to go to the palace to pay their respects, but they turned back halfway and didn't make it at all."

Jia Huan was surprised and asked, "Why is that?"

"I heard that a candidate who came to Beijing to take the imperial examination suddenly died. For some reason, those scholars were like crazy, carrying the coffin and running to the Meridian Gate to appeal for justice. It is said that more than 100,000 people have gathered here, and the imperial city is surrounded. No one can get in, so the old lady and the wife have to turn back. Tsk tsk, it's really incredible. It seems that such a ridiculous thing has never happened since the founding of our dynasty. The imperial city was surrounded on New Year's Day, and even the court meeting was cancelled. It's really strange." Jia Huan's heart moved, and he couldn't help but recall the last time Zhang Pu instigated scholars to demonstrate and petition in front of the Zuoye Gate, but they were dispersed by the troops commanded by Sun Shaozu, the wolf of Zhongshan, with a volley of water cannons. This time the momentum is so huge, it is estimated that the Donglin faction is fanning the flames again, taking the opportunity to attack the Ministry of Revenue and the noble group.

Caixia saw that Jia Huan was listening intently, and she knew that he had aroused his interest. Unfortunately, as a maid living deep in the inner house, all the information she got was hearsay, so she didn't know much, so she changed the subject and said, "There is another thing. Master Zhen of the East Palace beat Master Rong last night. It is said that the beating was quite severe. A doctor was called in that night, and he has not been able to get up yet."

Jia Huan frowned and asked, "Why is this?"

Caixia shook her head and smiled, "I don't know about that. I guess Master Rong did something wrong and offended his father."

The Jia family has always believed in the principle that beatings produce filial sons, so it is normal for a father to beat his son. Caixia didn't take it too seriously. After she finished speaking, she changed the subject while combing Jia Huan's hair seriously.

After about half an incense stick of time, Caixia finally combed Jia Huan's hair and put on a gauze crown. She smiled sweetly and said, "Okay, my handicraft skills are not as good as Sister Ping'er's, Third Master, please make do with it."

Jia Huan smiled and said, "I think everything is fine. Thank you, Sister Caixia."

Caixia looked at the handsome young man in the mirror. He had sharp eyebrows, bright eyes, red lips and white teeth, and a gentle temperament like a beautiful jade. She fell in love with him even more. Her heart was thumping. She said sweetly, "Then I will come to help you comb your hair when I have time. I hope you don't get tired of it."

Before Jia Huan could answer, he heard a familiar chuckle from behind him. Turning around, he saw that it was indeed Lin Daiyu, who was laughing secretly with her handkerchief covering her mouth. Caixia blushed, knowing that Miss Lin was always harsh with her words. After greeting her, she found an excuse and left as if to escape.

Lin Daiyu walked up to Jia Huan and circled around him, as if she were watching a foreign show. Jia Huan felt a little embarrassed and asked with a wry smile, "Sister Lin, what are you doing?"

Lin Daiyu said with a smile: "I just want to see where this delicious cake fell from."

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Jia Huan pretended to be stupid and said, "Where did the steamed buns come from? I still have some dumplings left from last night. They should be edible if I heat them up on the stove. Sister Lin, do you want to try some?"

Lin Daiyu rolled her eyes at Jia Huan and said, "Keep it for yourself. I don't want it."

At this time, a silver bell-like laughter suddenly came from outside the house, and a group of people walked in. There were many beautiful girls, except Chaiqin and Sanchun, the first one was Shi Xiangyun, who had not been seen for a long time, and Jia Baoyu also followed behind her.

Jia Huan and Lin Daiyu were delighted and asked in unison, "How early did Sister Yun (Yun'er) come?"

Xiangyun said with a smile: "I have been here for quite some time. I first greeted the old lady and the mistress and then came to the garden. What are Sister Lin and Huan'er doing? I just heard some steamed buns and dumplings outside. Are you discussing what to eat for lunch?"

Lin Daiyu smiled and said, "Brother Huan knew that you, Yun'er, would come to pay New Year's greetings to the old lady today, so he specially left some dumplings for you. Come and have a try."

(End of this chapter)