Red Mansion: Bastards rule the roost

Chapter 8 Asking for a Host
  Gritting his teeth and stretching all the muscles in his body, Jia Cong's face was covered with sweat in pain. Fortunately, Qingwen was there to wipe his sweat with a fragrant handkerchief from time to time, which comforted him.

No wonder the scholar likes reading at night. If he had Qingwen beside him when he was practicing, his martial arts achievements might have been even higher.

Then he squatted on horseback for another half an hour. With his strong willpower and experience, he finally got through it. It was daybreak, and a girl brought breakfast.

Qingwen helped Jia Cong, who was almost out of strength, to sit down in the outer hall.

Jia Cong couldn't help but frown when he looked at the food on the table. There were two bowls of porridge, two plates of pastries, the same mung bean and red date mille-feuille cake, the same steamed stuffed buns with tofu skin, two plates of porridge and side dishes, plus one plate. Small dumplings about an inch long. Is this enough?
  He quickly stopped the girl and said, "Wait a minute, this is our breakfast? Is there any more?"

"In reply to Third Master Cong, the old lady's instructions to you are the same as Third Master Huan's. The same is true for Third Master Huan's breakfast, nothing more."

Jia Cong cursed in his heart, how could he compare to that boy Jia Huan? He doesn't practice martial arts. I know that Sister Feng is deliberately making things difficult for me. She knows that she eats a lot now, but she uses the portion as an excuse to choke her.

He waved the girl away and asked Qingwen to sit down and eat.

Qingwen hurriedly waved her hands and said: "How can it be reasonable for a girl to eat at the same table as the master? I can't eat and walk around when people see me. I will eat after you finish."

Jia Cong didn't force it. He wasn't used to eating snacks, but in order to fill his stomach, he had no choice but to do it. He picked up a tofu skin bun and was about to put it in his mouth. Suddenly he thought that Qingwen seemed to love this stuff the most, so he put it in his mouth. He put the chopsticks back, pushed the plate aside, and said, "It seems you like to eat this, I'll leave it to you."

After that, I drank a bowl of porridge, ate a plate of side dishes, a plate of pastries and half a plate of dumplings.

Qingwen felt warm in her heart. How did he know that I like to eat this? Could it be that he also secretly inquired about my preferences? Thinking of this, his face felt a little hot, and looking at Jia Cong's handsome and clear profile, he felt a little more pleasing to the eye.

Jia Cong was just an adult taking care of a little girl. He didn't have any other ideas. He put on his leggings and went out to practice.

After leaving the gate of Sister Feng's Courtyard, there was a large pink screen wall. After thinking about the route in my memory, I turned right and passed through the wide north-south corridor. After passing through the east-west hall, I found the backyard of Jia Mu's upper house. When I left the backyard, I saw a straight corridor. Directly leads to the west corner gate.

Jia Cong jogged along the road, passed Jia Baoyu's outer study room, Qixiezhai, and passed four wet nurses' homes. He turned left at the end, passed through the main courtyard of Rongguo Mansion inside the three animal-headed gates, passed the horse stable in the south courtyard, and then Turn north, pass through a moon gate, pass by Mengpo Zhai, Jia Zheng's study, and then pass by the courtyard of Mrs. Wang and her two aunts Zhao and Zhou. I see Yingchun, Tanchun, Xichun and Jia Huan coming out of Mrs. Wang's courtyard. , go to Lixiangyuan. Seeing Jia Cong running towards him, everyone greeted him.

"Brother Cong, where are you going?"

"Brother Cong, why are you running around so early in the morning? Carefully, the master and wife will see you and scold you."

Jia Cong didn't answer for fear of disturbing the rhythm of his breath. He just nodded and ran past. Everyone behind him was left looking at each other.

"Brother Cong, wait for me." Jia Huan was curious and hurriedly chased after him.

Jia Cong passed the Lixiang Courtyard, turned left, passed the East Courtyard, passed the door of Zhou Rui's house, then turned south, passed through the aisle, and arrived at Dadaiji, the back building of the newly built Flower Hall. He ran around the inner and outer courtyards of Jia's mansion. After completing a lap, it was estimated to be 1000 meters. After running down in one breath, I felt that my hands and feet were weak and my heart almost jumped out of my mouth.

After resting on Taiji for a while, he gritted his teeth and started running again.

Rikain

Ying, Tan and Xi were sitting and talking and laughing with Xue Baochai.

Tan Chun smiled and said, "I just met Brother Cong. He was wearing leggings and practicing his leg strength in the courtyard. He ignored us when we talked to him."

Xue Baochai has a dark and glossy bun on her head. She is wearing a honey-coloured cotton jacket, a rose and purple gold and silver rat shoulder jacket, and an onion-yellow silk cotton skirt. They are all of the same color, not old but not new. She does not look luxurious, and her whole body exudes demure and tranquility. With a relaxed breath, he pursed his lips and smiled: "I once heard someone say that martial arts practitioners do not talk casually when practicing, lest they disturb their breath and harm themselves."

"I see. I'm just saying that Brother Cong is not such a high-minded person." Yingchun said.

Tanchun said: "Sister Baobao came here today to discuss Brother Cong's affairs."

Xue Baochai changed his mind and said with a smile: "Let me guess, do you want to invite Brother Cong to be your host?"

"Sister Bao is really good at predicting things," Tan Chun said, "I was thinking about Brother Cong before he moved here. We, Baoyu and Zhuer, got together and asked him to be our host as a token of our sisterhood. Brotherly love cannot be disrespected."

Xue Baochai nodded and said: "The third sister is right. I am willing to join Jiwei, but I have to invite Brother Bao and Zhuer to come and discuss it together." Then he ordered Ying'er to invite him.

Not long after, Bao and Dai came hand in hand. Everyone stood up and gave way, then sat down to watch the tea.

Jia Baoyu wears a bright red jacquard cross-collar forged quilted jacket, a cloud fox fur double-breasted jacket, half exposed pine flowers on the lower trouser legs, elastic ink socks with brocade edges, thick-soled red shoes, and a necklace, jade pendant, name lock, and amulet. The lips and teeth are more and more red, the nose is like hanging gallbladder, and the eyes are like autumn waves.

I just heard him smile and say: "Sister Bao, what are your instructions?"

Lin Daiyu rolled her eyes at him and said, "I'm so stupid. I couldn't even guess this. Looking at this battle, it must be something big that Sister Bao is going to do. Please invite me to be a witness." She said, On one side, she took off her cloak made of red feather gauze, revealing her silver squirrel waistcoat and moon-white embroidered fur jacket. She was wearing a Yang Fei-colored embroidered cotton skirt, and she was wearing gold-plated cloud-digging sheepskin boots, which made her look even more beautiful and charming.

Xue Baochai stretched out her hand and gently pinched Daiyu's cheeks, and said angrily: "What a clever mouth, it makes people either love it or hate it. I invited you here because the third sister said that she wanted all of us to invite you to cong." I am a host to my brother to congratulate him on his move to a new house. It is just a sisterly relationship. But you said that I want to start a career."

Lin Daiyu dodged with a smile, turned her head to look at Tanchun, and said, "Girl Tan has always been shrewd, maybe she wants to hold a Hongmen Banquet?"

"Bah, you know that Lin Yatou doesn't have nice things to say," Tan Chun said, "If I host a Hongmen banquet, I will definitely let Zhu Er dance the sword in front of the banquet."

"You're just talking, don't bring it upon yourself." Lin Daiyu said with a smile, "Let's be honest, what do you want?"

Tan Chun smiled and said: "You are so smart, brother-in-law Lin will have to suffer a lot from now on. I can't hide anything from you."

"Ah, I've ruined your mouth, and I won't let you go now." Lin Daiyu's cheeks turned red, and she stood up and rushed towards Tanchun.

Tan Chun hurriedly stood up and hid behind Jia Baoyu, smiling and saying, "You get anxious when you talk about Brother Lin. What are you afraid of if you don't have anything in your heart?"

"Bah, you only know how to talk nonsense. I will definitely tear your mouth apart today. No one can protect you."

"Okay, stop being stubborn, be careful of falling." Xue Baochai hurriedly came up to persuade him.

"Good sister, for my sake, please spare her this time." Jia Baoyu stood in the middle and acted as peacemaker.

After everyone laughed for a while, Lin Daiyu sat back with a sigh, took a sip of tea, and waited for the next chapter.

"What do you think of the two poems yesterday?" Tanchun asked.

"After my grandpa became an immortal, his poems became better and better, especially the poem "Die Lian Hua", which is so awesome! This morning, the old lady was still reading it while wiping her tears." Jia Baoyu said with a smile. .

Everyone nodded and Tanchun said: "My grandpa's poems are certainly excellent, but can Brother Cong know how to compose poetry? Judging from his speech and behavior last night, there was no trace of the dull and gloomy look he had before. It must be my grandpa who gave me the gift." He got the idea. Besides, we have been reading the same books since we were young. Since we can do it, he can do it too. I'm sure he will do better than us after getting some enlightenment from me."

Jia Baoyu chuckled and said, "Third sister, you are wrong. My grandfather said that Brother Cong is dull and not the material for studying, so he was asked to practice martial arts. How can he write poetry?"

Tan Chun smiled and said nothing, just looking at Xue and Lin.

Daiyu glanced mockingly at Jia Baoyu, who felt good about herself, and said, "It's okay to say that Brother Cong's qualifications were not good before. But after being enlightened by the master, who dares to say that his qualifications are not good? Besides, human beings Once the spiritual acuity is opened, it doesn't matter what you do, whether it is reading, practicing martial arts, writing poetry, doing business, or engaging in politics, isn't it easy to do it? Although Brother Cong keeps saying that his own reading is useless, it is just that the true inheritance of Sister Debao is hidden. , In fact, I know better than anyone else. Seeing the way he begs Qingwen, you can tell that he is a traitor in his heart."

Baochai laughed angrily and said: "What a pretty girl, she doesn't spare anyone's words when she opens her mouth, and she takes me with her when she speaks. How can I be called my true successor? I hope that one day you will be conquered by someone who is more eloquent than you. I am Amitabha." "

Everyone laughed, Lin Daiyu blushed, stamped her feet and said: "You are all bullying me, I will sue Aunt Xue."

Everyone hurriedly stopped her and looked at Xue Baochai.

Baochai smiled and said, "It all depends on what I do."

"Who doesn't know that you have good eyesight? You know who has gold and jade in his body. You must have seen Brother Cong clearly last night, right?" Lin Daiyu said with a smile.

"Young girl is seeking death again, let me spare you." Xue Baochai couldn't bear it any longer and stretched out his hand to scratch Lin Daiyu's waist. The two of them twisted into a ball and didn't let her go until she repeatedly begged for mercy.

After taking a breath, Xue Baochai said: "Based on what I saw yesterday, Brother Cong can speak such a large article from beginning to end in an orderly manner. No one can find fault with him. It shows that he is not a memorizer." He had a bad intention, but he just said at the end that he couldn't remember the second half of the poem. Isn't this trying to cover up? Moreover, after meeting Qingwen, he could immediately adapt to the situation and thought of using the poems of Xianrong Guogong to deceive Qingwen. This change of timing is almost the same as Cao Zijian's seven-step poem."

Annoyed by Jia Cong's rudeness and a little curious about his adventures, Baochai, who had always been calm and quiet, kept silent about his own business, also added fuel to the fire for the first time.

"What a treacherous brother Cong! Give me back Qingwen." Baoyu couldn't help but slap his thigh, stood up and shouted.

Tanchun said, "Second brother, you'd better sit down. Qingwen was praised by the old lady herself, so don't think about it." Seeing Baoyu sit down with a wry smile, he smiled at Baochai and said, "Sister Bao has a sharp eye like a torch. Cong Even if I stick to the monkey hair, it won’t fly out of Sister Bao’s hand.”

A slight blush appeared on Baochai's face and he said, "I'm just guessing, I don't know if it's accurate."

"Then we'll teach him to show his true colors. That's it. I'll treat Brother Cong as a host at Sister Bao's place tonight," Tan Chun said.

(End of this chapter)