Red Mansion: Fuyao River and Mountain

Chapter 12 Questioning
But after all, he is her grandson, which is also a good thing. Thinking of this, Grandmother Jia's face relaxed a little: "Since this is the case, you should study hard and don't let the noble man down."

These words were somewhat nonsensical, and it was unclear whether they were instructions to Jia Zheng or reminders to Jia Cong.

People like Wang Xifeng and Tanchun in the hall were smart and insightful, but they knew that Grandmother Jia was ultimately displeased with this grandson, and they were unwilling to even say a word to him in a proper manner.

Although Grandmother Jia was a little cold, it was just a grudge she had for many years and she didn't mean any ill will.

Seeing that Jia Cong had made such an outstanding achievement at such a young age, the other people in Rongqing Hall looked at him with more kindness, except for one person who had a gloomy face.

Mrs. Xing had just slandered Jia Cong in front of Lady Jia, saying that he was ignorant of etiquette, uneducated, and trouble-making, etc., but now she was slapped in the face in public.

When Mrs. Xing thought about the fact that this whore's son had given birth to a bad kid and brought shame to her family, her anger rose to her throat, but she suppressed it.

She felt so uncomfortable that she felt like she was on fire. The old lady was still there and she didn't dare to walk away. She could only sit there, thinking bitterly in her heart how to deal with this evil creature when she got back.

Grandmother Jia glanced at Jia Cong and frowned, saying, "Your wet nurse is also confused. She didn't discipline you and made you look like this, a lost soul. You don't look like a young man from a wealthy family."

Jia Cong, who had been standing there quietly, finally said, "Cong doesn't have a wet nurse now. She works in the laundry room."

Grandmother Jia was stunned: "What are you talking about? Your nanny went to work in the laundry room..."

"What's going on? How old is he and his wet nurse has been assigned out?" Jia Mu frowned and asked Mrs. Xing, who was a little restless.

Everyone in the hall turned their eyes to Madam Xing, and her face turned red with embarrassment.

A wet nurse in a wealthy family doesn't just nurse the children. She also has the responsibility of teaching and guiding the young masters and young ladies until they grow up and become sensible.

Generally, the maids would be sent out to do light work only when the master was thirteen or fourteen years old, or when the wet nurse was old.

The monthly salary of the teaching nanny is not low. Unless the brothers and sisters are grown up, or the nanny herself is old, she will not take the initiative to go out.

Jia Cong was only ten years old. It didn't make sense that he should even have a nanny sent away at such a young age, so Grandmother Jia asked this question.

Madam Xing replied with a frown, "I see he has grown up and doesn't need a wet nurse anymore. It just so happens that the laundry room in the East Courtyard is short of staff, so I'm sending him over to help out temporarily."

Grandmother Jia rubbed her brows and said, "There are plenty of people in this mansion who can be used. You can assign them as you like. If he goes to the Jiashun Prince's literary meeting in this state, it will be a disgrace to our Jia family.

If his nanny were here, it would naturally be her fault. But now that she has been transferred, if she makes a fool of herself outside, she will blame that person again.

These trivial matters are not my business. You, as parents, should take care of yourselves. I am tired too. Let’s all go.”

Lady Jia's words were neither too light nor too heavy, and Madam Xing was frightened. The young masters and young ladies could not hear the subtext, but people like Wang Xifeng knew everything and only cared about Madam Xing's good show.

Jia Cong, who was sitting below, admired in his heart that this old lady was truly a heroine in the rear house. Her words were flawless and there was not a trace of blame in them.

It was like a slap on the left and a slap on the right face to my wife.

They said that Jia Cong had brought shame to the Jia family outside, and that it was the wet nurse who had failed in her duty. But now that he had been taken to the laundry room by Madam Xing, who should be blamed for the shame? Of course, it was Madam Xing.

The old lady made a veiled statement, and all she said was just four words: "The stepmother is not kind."

Jia Cong's shabby and frail appearance is the best portrayal of his stepmother's unkindness.

The top priority for wealthy families is to reproduce offspring. It is not enough to rely solely on the wife to give birth to sons. There are many wives in the world who cannot give birth to sons.

For the sake of bloodline continuation, it is a righteous act for a legitimate wife to treat her illegitimate son well.

For example, Mrs. Wang never scolded Jia Huan directly, and when she had free time, she would ask him to copy a few pages of Buddhist scriptures, which was considered as an education, so that she could have a good reputation. But Mrs. Xing always mentioned the beating to death, extorted money, tripped him up, and used all kinds of methods to discipline him.

An unkind stepmother is equivalent to being a jealous woman in the Seven Difficulties for Women, which is a crime enough for the husband's family to divorce the wife.

Besides, Mrs. Xing had been Jia She's second wife and had no children, so she couldn't stand up straight. Now that she was exposed as an unkind mother, her reputation would be ruined.

Mrs. Xing had no intention of punishing Jia Cong at this moment. She left alone, feeling very depressed and extremely disgusted with Jia Cong.

She just felt that this pervert, raised by a prostitute, was the evil star in her life. Being around this evil creature would definitely lead to some terrible misfortunes.

When everyone in Rongning Hall had left, only Tanchun and Xichun stayed behind. Daiyu walked a few steps, and seeing that they had not left, she also stopped.

Tanchun walked up with a smile and said gracefully, "Thank you for the calligraphy you gave me yesterday. I also love calligraphy. I'd like to ask you to give me some advice when I have time."

Jia Cong smiled and said, "I also want to thank my third sister for giving me the book and the fine rice paper. They are both excellent things."

Daiyu was watching the two people talking with great interest, with a peaceful smile on her face, like an elegant lotus.

Today's story shows that Jia Zheng is very satisfied with his nephew Jia Cong.

He was happy to see that he could chat with the sisters.

Although he is a bit pedantic, he is not a stupid person.

Naturally, he could see that his elder brother and his wife disliked this illegitimate son, and his mother also had a deep grudge against him, so he sighed in his heart.

Fortunately, although this child doesn’t look good from the outside, he was humble and calm, with a dignified demeanor, and quite impressive when facing everyone in Rongning Hall just now.

This is what a member of the Jia family should be like, much better than those two evil creatures. It's a pity that this child is from the eldest wife's side.

When he thought of this, he turned around and glared at Baoyu who was following Daiyu.

At this moment, Baoyu saw Tanchun and Jia Cong talking. Although Yingchun was not good at speaking, she stood beside Jia Cong and listened quietly. Even his own sister Lin stopped.

Baoyu felt a little annoyed and lost. In the past, he should have been in Jia Cong's position, with the sisters surrounding him and talking to him.

My mind was just in a state of confusion when I suddenly felt two stern gazes at me. Seeing the dissatisfaction in my father's eyes, I shuddered in my heart and became half wilted.

"Cong'er, come with me to the study."

"And Baoyu, you come too, hum."

Before today, Jia Zheng knew very little about Jia Cong. This time Jia Cong was going to attend the Nanxi Literary Meeting, after all, it was a matter of face for the Jia family.

Although his calligraphy was outstanding, all the participants in the literary gathering were famous scholars and Confucian scholars. The classics and articles were the foundation of his learning, and calligraphy alone was a bit thin.

Therefore, it is only natural for Jia Zheng to ask about his nephew's studies. Although his own talents and abilities are mediocre, he has studied for many years after all, and is much better than Jia She, who is ignorant and incompetent.

When Baoyu heard Jia Zheng asking Jia Cong to go to the study, he was secretly happy. Without Jia Cong's interference, he could go and have fun with his sisters.

When he heard Jia Zheng asking him to go to the study as well, he suddenly froze and his eyes widened. At this time, Jia's mother was gone and there was no one to save him.

He did not dare not go, so he could only lower his head and follow behind Jia Cong, his feet stepping on cotton and his three souls wandering.

(End of this chapter)