Red Mansion: Bastards rule the roost

Chapter 56 The Changing Heart
  "Okay, come and take your seats." Li Wan greeted everyone.

Jia Mu, Jia Zheng, Mrs. Wang, Aunt Xue and others were at one table, and the juniors were at another table.

Jia Cong naturally sat next to Baochai, while Lin Daiyu sneered and sat on the other side of Baochai, watching coldly, making it clear that she would not let the two of them have an easy time. Jia Baoyu and Jia Huan sat down next to Lin and Cong respectively, and then It was Miharu and others.

Baochai glanced at Daiyu and then at Jia Cong, with doubt in his eyes.

Jia Cong chuckled and said, "I just asked Miss Lin to tell me about the Spring and Autumn Period."

Baochai rolled her eyes at him, obviously not believing that he was so simple.

Lin Daiyu glanced at the two of them, tugged on Baochai's sleeve and said, "Brother Cong is not a good person, don't be deceived by him."

Baochai smiled when he heard this, gently twisted Daiyu's cheeks, and whispered: "I know he is not a good person."

"Then you..." Daiyu was puzzled.

Baochai smiled and said nothing, little girl, you will understand in two years.

"Sister Lin, what are you talking about? Tell me?" Jia Baoyu came over with a cute expression.

"It has nothing to do with you, this is a matter of your daughter's family."

"Oh." Jia Baoyu retreated. During this period, she felt that Sister Lin was a little strange, and she was not as close to her as before.

After three rounds of wine and five tastes of food, the words of respect, polite words, and compliments that need to be said are almost done.

Jia Zheng suddenly said: "Brother Cong, what are your plans for the future?"

Seeing that business was about to happen, everyone stopped their chopsticks and looked at Jia Cong.

Jia Cong was concentrating on dealing with the mountain of dishes that Baochai and others brought him. Seeing Jia Zheng asking questions, he quickly wiped his mouth and stood up, cupping his hands and saying, "Cong has decided to take the martial arts examination this year."

Jia Zheng was stunned: "If we, the martial arts disciples, want to join the army, why do we need to take part in the military examination? And now that you are a noble, it seems that there is no need for this."

"What I'm saying is, brother Cong now has a title conferred by the emperor, why does he need to take the martial arts exam again? Even if he is a martial arts scholar, he can only be awarded a military rank of seventh or eighth grade. How can he be as valuable as your Enqi Lieutenant? Why bother with those If you have mud-legged people, you have to fight for it, and you have lost the dignity of a noble family." Mrs. Wang said.

Jia Cong was too lazy to explain to them and said: "Master, this is just like ordinary scholars taking the scientific examination. Regardless of whether they want to be an official or not, they always want to gain fame. Only by competing with the world's elite can you test whether you have the qualifications." genuine talent."

Jia Zheng nodded and said, "That's a very good thing to say. If you want to take the test, just take it and let the world see the demeanor of our Jia family men."

"Don't worry, sir, Cong Bi will not dare to disgrace his ancestors."

Jia Baoyu pouted on one side and murmured in a low voice: "So what if you get a good name? Can you live forever? After all, it's just the words of someone who is motivated by profit."

Jia Zheng didn't hear it, but Jia Cong heard it. He smiled slightly, sat down and said, "Baoyu, someone told me that all kinds of incense and favors, family status, and the shadow of ancestors are all empty. Only fame and title are valuable." The foundation of a man's life.

Now I also send this sentence to you. I don’t know when you will understand it. Maybe by the time you understand it, it will be too late. "

Baochai looked at Jia Cong and nodded happily. If Cong'er is so sensible, he will surely soar to the sky.

Jia Huan hurriedly helped: "What third brother said is reasonable. I will also take the martial arts examination in the future."

Jia Baoyu sneered and laughed softly: "How can you regret the talk of corrupt scholars? If a person can only scheming and fighting with each other all his life, what's the point? Even if he is an extremely popular minister and has all the power in the world, in my opinion, he has nothing. value."

Jia Cong chuckled. He was too lazy to debate this kind of value issue. Jia Zheng beat him so many times but couldn't change his temper. Is it useful to say a few plain words on his own?

"Sister Lin, do you think so?" Jia Baoyu refused to give up and asked Lin Daiyu beside him.

Lin Daiyu was thinking about Jia Cong's words just now, and felt that they were quite meaningful. She didn't know how to answer Jia Baoyu for a while. Jia Cong couldn't help but shook his head and said with a smile: "Baoyu, you are usually smart, why are you so stupid now? Think about Uncle Lin's background? How could Miss Lin slander her father because of you? Could it be that the dignified imperial court's concubine has not been there yet? Do you understand?"

The words awakened the dreamer, and a thunderbolt sounded in Lin Daiyu's mind, as if she had been led astray by Baoyu all along. Yes, my father also lived in poverty for ten years and became an official with a reputation for success.

Baoyu's words are clearly the theory of a wealthy and humble person who has no worries about food and clothing, has no ambition to make progress, and only wants to live comfortably and enjoy himself. For people like Dad or Cong Geer, who have no way out and can only work hard to earn a future. On the body, it is simply nonsense.

It's ridiculous that I used to think that Baoyu was outstanding, did not seek fame, and was regarded as a confidant.

No matter who is surrounded by the shadow of the Duke's palace above, pampered by the Rongguo's wife in the middle, and welcomed by the charming maids and luxurious children below, he can stand out and not be vain.

Thinking of this, Lin Daiyu felt her vest become cold and her clothes were wet with cold sweat. She seemed to be living her life all over again. Many thoughts in her mind were shattered and many more were born.

"Sister Lin, sister Lin." Seeing Lin Daiyu in a daze, Jia Baoyu hurriedly called out softly.

Lin Daiyu came back to her senses, smiled slightly and said, "Baoyu, you are wrong. Brother Cong is right."

Everyone was shocked. Why did Li'er, who had always been close to Baoyu, suddenly turn against him? Didn't she always appreciate this set of words?

Only Baochai took a deep look at Lin Daiyu, smiled and nodded, her eyebrows seemed to have grown up suddenly.

Jia Cong also looked at Lin Daiyu in surprise, what's going on? Why did Sister Lin suddenly rebel? Didn’t she always look down on us stinky men?

Seeing Jia Cong's eyes widening with an exaggerated expression, Lin Daiyu snorted arrogantly and glanced at him disdainfully, looking like a toad.

"Sister Lin... you..." Jia Baoyu felt that the whole world collapsed. His closest confidant suddenly changed his mind. He felt sad and painful, feeling aggrieved, helpless, lonely, desperate, ashamed, and all kinds of emotions at the same time. It came to my heart and broke my heart into seventeen or eighteen petals.

I just feel that the world is so big that no one can compare with it. Is life really destined to be as lonely as snow? Thinking of this, I felt stunned and tears were already flowing down my face.

Seeing that he was emotionally unstable, everyone looked at Jia Cong with some concern. This was such a familiar scene.

Baochai quickly winked at Lin Daiyu and asked her to comfort Baoyu with a few words, so as not to cause trouble again and Jia Cong would suffer again. She didn't want to see this.

Lin Daiyu shook her head slightly. There are some truths that you have to understand by yourself. Others can't help after all.

Jia Baoyu kept looking at Lin Daiyu in the corner of his eyes. Seeing that she had no reaction, he felt a pain in his heart. Now even sister Lin is not getting along with me. What's the point of living for me? His right hand subconsciously grasped the psychic jade on his chest. .

Baochai looked worried. Seeing that Baoyu had lost his temper again, she wanted to persuade him, but suddenly she heard Jia Cong smile coldly.

"Baoyu, if you want to break the jade, wait until the master is gone before throwing it, otherwise I'm afraid you will inevitably get a good beating."

Hearing the word "Master", Jia Baoyu was excited and his soul returned to its original position. He subconsciously glanced back and saw Jia Zheng looking at him, hurriedly putting on a respectful and polite smile.

"Brother Cong, don't spit out your blood. When did I say that I would throw jade?" Jia Baoyu scolded in a low voice, then turned to look at Lin Daiyu: "Zi'er, you... aren't you stubborn with me? ?”

Lin Daiyu rolled her eyes at him angrily. Why didn't she notice that Baoyu was so childish before? Then she shook her head and said, "We are all close sisters. When did I say I won't be naughty with you?"

Baoyu was slightly relieved and began to softly beg to please.

Jia Cong touched Baochai, waited for her to turn slightly, and then whispered: "Baoyu has spent more than ten years in a pile of makeup and powder in vain. He doesn't even know that a girl's heart is the most changeable."

Baochai couldn't help laughing, glanced at him, and said, "It seems like you understand your daughter's family's concerns very well?"

"I only understand Sister Bao's thoughts." Jia Cong smiled dryly, almost stumbling into a cocoon.

Baochai smiled slightly and ignored him.

(End of this chapter)