Red Mansion Huacai

Chapter 119
But it was said that Aunt Xue persuaded and Baochai played the drum, so Mrs. Wang became interested.

In her heart, she felt that Baoyu was extremely smart. Even Li Weijian had made a fortune by relying on practical learning. If Baoyu was a good student, wouldn't he be able to support the family business when he reached Li Weijian's age?

It was hard to say this to Jia's mother, so Mrs. Wang waited for half a day for Jia Zheng to return in the afternoon. Then she found Mengpo Zhai and spoke out her thoughts.

Jia Zheng was an upright and old-fashioned person, and because of his childhood experience, he believed that filial sons would emerge from under a stick.In his heart, he just felt that Baoyu was acting recklessly and was out of control.Since he was a child, he had been beaten once every time, and then he would let it go. One day, when he saw Baoyu making another mistake, he would give him another beating.

Because Mrs. Wang asked Baoyu to learn practical knowledge, although Jia Zheng was not happy, he did not say much because of the current situation in the court.

He just said: "I don't ask him to learn anything, I just ask him to cause less trouble. The last time it was my mother who stopped me. If there is another time, both crimes will be punished. Let's see if I don't give that beast A good one!"

Having said this, there was no objection inside. Mrs. Wang came out of Mengpo Zhai and sent her maid to ask if Li Wan was back. If he came back, she would invite him to come and talk.

Jin Chuan took the order and took Li Wan back after a while.

Li Wan was worried, fearing that he would make Mrs. Wang unhappy by showing up in public, so he stayed with her carefully.Unexpectedly, Mrs. Wang looked very kind today. She took her to sit down and ordered the maid to make maple dew tea.

After saying some things about yes and no, Mrs. Wang brought up the topic and said: "After all, it's not an option for Baoyu to continue to be naughty like this. I saw Brother Jian's future and wanted to let Baoyu learn from it." Practical learning. But I really don’t know whether practical learning is right for Baoyu’s temperament... Brother Zhu’s daughter-in-law, if you let Brother Jian teach Baoyu for a while, if Baoyu succeeds in the future, it will be easier to take care of you and Brother Lan.”

Take care of yourself and Jialan?Li Wan felt uncomfortable. Over the years, Mrs. Wang had ignored him and her grandson Jia Lan. Baoyu and Jia Lan's uncle and nephew were not much different in age. Seeing that Baoyu was not as close to Jia Lan as he was to his personal servant Ming Yan. , can we still count on Baoyu in the future?
She was disdainful in her heart, but could not refuse, so she said casually: "My mother-in-law also knows that brother Jian is about to leave in autumn now. It is the time when he is studying, so he should not disturb him too much."

Mrs. Wang said: "I know it, so I don't ask Brother Jian for regular guidance. I only ask him to teach me once and see if Baoyu is interested."

After Mrs. Wang said this, Li Wan could no longer refuse and said, "Then I'll talk to Brother Jian later."

Mrs. Wang started to laugh, and then asked Li Wan about Jia Lan's daily life in a hypocritical manner before letting Li Wan leave.

Coming out of Mrs. Wang's courtyard, Li Wan had a stern expression but felt bored.Mrs. Wang, her mother-in-law, only cared about the precious jade that was born from the jade in her mouth. How had she ever cared about her grandson Jia Lan?
She has been visiting the palace these days, but she has failed to teach Jialan. Yesterday, she randomly checked his endorsement, and found that he was stumbling, and even the calligraphy he practiced on weekdays was much worse.

Lan'er has always been well-behaved, but how come she has become like those bastards from the Jia family in just a few days!Li Wan got angry yesterday and managed to teach Jia Lan a lesson.

She couldn't sleep at night, thinking about how the errands of the prince's palace had delayed taking care of Lan'er. At first, she thought about whether to resign, but she felt a little reluctant to give up, so she was in a dilemma.Now after hearing Mrs. Wang's words, Li Wan's heart moved.

Brother Jian said early in the morning that practical learning will be popular in the future. Once Lan'er becomes enlightened, Brother Jian will teach Lan'er.This time is a good opportunity. Let Lan'er go and listen to it together. Maybe from then on, she will be yearning for practical learning?

So Li Wan, who was about to turn towards his home, stopped and immediately led the two maids out of the east corner gate and headed towards the northeast upper courtyard.

At this time, Shenshi was about to pass, and not long after dinner, Li Wan entered the small courtyard and was led into the room by Hongyu. He saw that the maid next to the second girl, Siqi, was talking to Brother Jian and was leaning towards him. Fortunately, he resigned and left.

Li Wan couldn't say whether he liked the second girl or not, he just regarded her as an ordinary relative.After glancing at Siqi's back, Li Wan said: "Brother Jian, you——"

"Sister, please sit down quickly." Li Weijian smiled and invited Li Wan to take a seat, and then said: "Sister, don't worry, I know it well."

"As long as you know what's going on. Brother Jian is causing such a big fight outside, so I don't need to mention it too much."

Li Weijian poured tea for him personally and asked, "Sister, are you here for something right now?"

"I have something to trouble Brother Jian."

At that moment, Li Wan told Mrs. Wang what she had asked him to do, as well as what he was thinking.Then he added: "Brother Jian will make his own decision on this matter. If it will delay his career, why not let this matter go and wait until the autumn is over?"

Li Weijian said: "Eldest sister also knows that for me, Qiu Wei is just within my reach. Moreover, this matter is reasonable and not very troublesome. Let me think about it for two days and prepare some teaching objects. How about starting class in the afternoon?"

"Brother Jian, just make up your own mind."

Li Wan thought for a moment and then said: "Brother Jian said before that it is too early for Lan'er to learn practical skills at her age. I don't know this lesson -"

"It doesn't matter," Li Weijian said with a smile: "The lesson I prepared this time does not talk about those profound principles, it is just to arouse people's interest in studying practical knowledge."

"That's good." Li Wan was slightly reassured, and in a blink of an eye he caught a glimpse of the four maids of different colors in Li Weijian's room. His heart moved and he said, "You guys, please step aside while I have a few words with Brother Jian."

All the maids retreated in response.

Li Weijian had a bad feeling in his heart, and as expected, he heard Li Wan murmur: "It's not my place to say this, but my third uncle and aunt passed away early, and there are no elders around Brother Jian to teach him."

"big sister--"

Before he could stop talking, Li Wan said, "Brother Jian is now old... but the maid next to me is... used?"

Even a man like Li Weijian would be so embarrassed that his face would turn red with embarrassment.He said vaguely: "I have never lost my virginity."

Li Wan frowned and said awkwardly: "This... is good, but it's not good either. Brother Jian is getting older, and it's harmful to his body to always feel depressed. Look at the old lady, the men in the house are here. As the years go by, two maids must be sent to serve him.

For what reason, I think Brother Jian also knows.If you like it and it is suitable for use, then leave it to the future and raise her as your aunt; if you don't like it, just turn around and send the girl away.

I know Brother Jian has a kind heart, but if he is really contaminated, I'm afraid he won't be able to let go.It's just that some things should be cut off. Those who are charming and have evil intentions will be a disaster sooner or later if they stay around.If Brother Jian is harmed again in the future, the gain will outweigh the loss. "

Li Weijian felt ashamed for his eldest sister Li Wan. He had to talk to him seriously about these things between men and women even though he had not yet received the flower letter... Oh, it was really difficult for his eldest sister.

Seeing the blush on Li Wan's face, Li Weijian hurriedly said: "Eldest sister is reminding me, but please rest assured, eldest sister, the maids around me are all good-natured, not those evil spirits."

"That's good."

After finally arriving so early in the morning, he originally wanted to ask some questions about his daily life, but now Li Wan felt uncomfortable, so he couldn't sit still, so he stood up and said, "In that case, I'll go back first. Lan'er has been a little slack lately, You have to watch over her more closely." Li Weijian stood up to see her off, and said as he walked away: "Brother Lan is really young, and it's a good time to be playful at this age. Big sister, don't push her too hard."

"Well, I have a clue."

When Li Weijian wants to prepare teaching aids, he always has to spend some time looking for them.In the past two days, I first went to the manufacturing office of the inner government and found a few items. Then I searched various foreign goods shops in the city and managed to get a few items together.

Thinking that it would be enough to arouse Baoyu and Jialan's interest, Li Weijian told Li Wan that noon that everything was ready.

Li Wan hurriedly went to find Mrs. Wang. After some discussion, the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law decided to set a date for the next day.There is no need for a nearby location, just in Li Weijian's small courtyard.

Mrs. Wang knew that Baoyu did not want to see Li Weijian, so she did not tell him, lest Baoyu would turn around and go to the old lady to start a fight with him again.

It was noon when Baoyu had just returned from studying alone. He was playing with Qin Zhong in Qixie Zhai when he was called to him by Mrs. Wang.

Baoyu and Qin Zhong arrived at Mrs. Wang's courtyard together. When they entered the door, they walked over and said excitedly: "Mom, are you looking for me?"

Mrs. Wang smiled and held Baoyu in her arms, and ordered her maid to show Qin Zhong his seat. After wondering for a while, she said: "Brother Jian is going to teach Brother Lan some practical lessons. He said he has prepared many interesting things." Son, why don’t you go over and take a look?”

Baoyu was unhappy and frowned: "They are just flies and dogs, what's so good about them?"

Mrs. Wang said patiently: "It's different this time. I heard that Brother Jian spent two days just collecting items."

Baoyu still didn't answer, so Qin Zhong said: "The year before last, a foreign monk made two iron pots and buckled them together. Four horses pulled them against each other without pulling them apart. I don't know what kind of foreign trick it was. That Jian Si Si Isn’t my brother just like the foreign monks?”

Baoyu suddenly found it interesting and said, "If that's the case, I'd like to go and take a look. I'll ask later why the two iron pots can't be pulled apart." As he spoke, he clasped his hands together and said, "The house has not been lively for many days. Well, there was still a new baby born in May, but he went to Jinling again.

Since Fourth Brother Jian wants to perform tricks, why not ask the sisters to come and have a look? "

"This..." Mrs. Wang thought about it for a while, maybe it would work?He then said: "My son, then go ahead and organize the class. But don't be late. Brother Jian will start classes in half an hour."

Baoyu jumped up immediately: "I'm going to call someone right now!"

Baoyu was so excited that he announced the news widely, and soon he called Sanchun, Baochai, and Daiyu, and a group of people gathered in the small courtyard in the northeast.

Xichun was probably just joining in the fun; Tanchun had recently practiced a complete set of swordsmanship, and he was close to Li Weijian in his heart, so he followed him without a second thought; Yingchun couldn't come today, but he wanted to come over and see Li Weijian tomorrow. It suited her perfectly.

As for Baochai and Daiyu, they have other thoughts.There is no need to mention the former, I just hope that Baoyu will listen to it this time, so that he can be successful in the future; Daiyu is thinking that the fourth brother Jian is thoughtful and understands himself, but he accidentally uses practical knowledge to cause trouble. Big name comes.I don’t know what this practical study looks like, but I just want to take a look this time.

When Yingying and Yanyan entered the small courtyard in the northeast, Li Weijian greeted them with a smile and scratched their heads slightly. There were so many people that they might not be able to fit in the main room.So I discussed with Li Wan, who had arrived early in the morning, and moved tables and chairs into the courtyard. The sky was bright and it was cooler than inside the house.

Several maids started to move the tables and chairs into the courtyard in a moment.Li Weijian leaned against the main room and stopped in front of the desk. In front of him, Baoyu took Qin Zhong and sat down first, with Jia Lan beside him.Sanchun, Baochai, Daiyu and even Li Wan who were watching were all sitting at the back.

Li Weijian smiled and said: "I think you are all curious about what practical learning is. If I talk about it in vain, I'm afraid I won't be able to explain it clearly for a while. Why don't I show you a few interesting little experiments, and then tell you what practical learning is? .”

"Okay!" Baoyu applauded with his hands clasped together, which made Li Weijian unhappy.

I thought to myself, could this person be using himself as a show of force?
Li Weijian tilted his head and nodded at Qingwen, and the little girl first brought up a glass jar. In it were defective pearls connected with silk threads. They were plated in it. It was unclear how many there were.

But Qingwen knew that there were 170 three beads in total, and they were all threaded with needles and threads, and she knew it in her heart.

Li Weijian placed the glass jar on the table and said, "Let me first show you what mechanics is."

As he spoke, he pulled one end hard, and the bead string rose up half a foot like a long snake, making a clattering sound, and fell downwards. The middle end always stood high, and it looked like it was being held by invisible hands. generally.

There were exclamations everywhere, and the girls and maids whispered, not knowing why this happened.

Baoyu became interested, got up, reached out and made some gestures on the top of the glass jar, and said curiously: "It's strange, there is obviously nothing, why is this string of beads rising high?"

Li Weijian smiled and said, "Brother Ruobao, why don't you try it yourself?"

"Alright."

Qingwen hurriedly gathered the beads together again. Baoyu followed Li Weijian's example and pulled hard. As expected, the beads were just like before, with the middle section rising high all the time.

"That's weird!" Baoyu said strangely and couldn't help asking: "Fourth Brother Jian, what's the point of this?"

Li Weijian said: "The truth behind this involves mechanics. If Brother Bao is interested, he must study mechanics to understand it."

Baoyu nodded slightly, and then asked: "This trick is interesting, does Fourth Brother Jian have any other tricks?"

"Yes, I have prepared quite a few things today. Brother Bao, please sit tight."

Baoyu responded and hurried back to sit down.

It was the same glass jar just now. Hongyu poured half-full of water into it. Xiuying came out of the main room with the glass jar wrapped in a handkerchief and hurriedly handed it to Li Weijian.Li Weijian took the bottle and showed it to everyone. He saw that the mouth of the bottle was plugged with a stopper, and a several-inch reed pipe was plugged into the stopper.

The mouth of the bottle was immersed in the water upside down. After a while, water suddenly spurted into the bottle from the reeds.

"Weird!" Baoyu suddenly shouted.

(End of this chapter)