Red Mansion: Fuyao River and Mountain

Chapter 121 Where is the Love?

While the two were talking, the kind-looking Mrs. Qin served them fresh dates, cherries, red water chestnuts and other food.

Qin Ye talked about it and found out that Mrs. Qin was from Jinling and her family had always liked these Jinling snacks. This time, Mrs. Qin and her daughter took the opportunity to follow Qin Ye back to Jinling to visit their relatives.

Qin Ye was quite talkative, and his topics ranged from court anecdotes, official affairs, to old friends in the city.

Jia Cong just listened with a smile. The boat trip was boring, and having someone to chat with could help kill some time. During the chat, he would also say a few words about his own thoughts.

Qin Ye was surprised to hear this. Although he was still young, his words were often profound, with wonderful ideas that were thought-provoking and refreshing.

Qin Ye was born in a poor family. Although he obtained an official position by studying hard and passing the imperial examinations, it was not easy to live in the capital, and it was even more difficult to be an official in the capital.

He was a scheming and calculating person. He spent all his family wealth on various operations. Relying on his ancestral construction skills, he actually climbed up to the position of Construction Officer in the Ministry of Works. Although it was a blessing, it had emptied out his family's wealth.

On the surface he was a palace official, somewhat respectable, but in reality he could only make ends meet on a salary, yet his ambition was hard to extinguish.

This daughter was not his biological daughter, but was adopted from an orphanage by his wife. It was said that when his wife saw the girl in her cradle that day, she was so beautiful that she insisted on taking her home to raise.

He was fine, but his wife loved their daughter more than her own life and treated her like her own daughter. Moreover, their daughter was a natural beauty and was stunningly beautiful when she was in her teens.

If not for this, Master Zhen of Ningguo Mansion would not have chosen to hire her as his daughter-in-law. You have to know that Rong Ge'er is the legitimate grandson of Duke Ningguo, and it was originally impossible for him to marry into such a family.

When Qin Ye saw Jia Cong's knowledge and demeanor, he turned the topic to Jia's family tradition, saying that Jia's family tradition was extraordinary and could produce someone like Jia Cong who topped the imperial examination.

Jia Cong held back his laughter, as he could clearly understand what Qin Ye meant.

He said: "Although I studied in the clan school for a few years when I was young, I only knew a few words there. The children of the Jia family have been like this since they were young. In fact, they also played a lot there.

Mr. Dai Ru, who had been teaching in the clan school for decades, was a scholar during the Hongxuan period. Later, I received instruction from Master Liu and studied hard in Qingshan Academy for several years before I accumulated some knowledge.

My elder brother Xianzhu and Master Jing from the East House all passed the imperial examinations and became scholars, but they did not study in the clan school, but in the Imperial Academy or academies.”

Qin Ye was dumbfounded by Jia Cong's words. Although Jia Cong's words were downplayed and there was nothing wrong with them, he actually belittled the Jia family's learning and made it worthless.

It is said that the people in that place are only worthy of knowing a few words and are always playing around. The person in charge is a scholar from the Hongxuan period, which is a scholar from forty years ago, because Hongxuan was the reign title of the current emperor's grandfather.

After forty years of being a scholar, he has not made any further progress in the imperial examinations. Just think about what kind of person he is.

Qin Ye originally wanted to send his son Qin Zhong to study at the Jia family after his daughter got married, so that both his children would have a connection with the Jia family.

Now that Jia Cong, the top scorer in the college examination, has made such poor comments on the Jia family's studies, it is really a wake-up call.

If I still force my son into the Jia family school in the future, wouldn't it be obvious that I have other intentions, which would be too embarrassing.

He didn't know what Jia Cong said. He meant well. He wanted to save Jia Cong from pushing his son into the fire pit of the Jia family and ruining a young man in vain.

At this moment, Jia Cong suddenly noticed that the sliding door of the cabin had been opened slightly, and he could vaguely see a plain dress swaying.

Seeing that it was getting late, Jia Cong said goodbye to Qin Ye.

The ship will dock in Baoying County for one night today. He also plans to go to the city in the evening to get some herbal medicine for Wu'er. Wu'er was a little seasick in the past two days, and was also exposed to the river breeze, so he has been feeling unwell.

Coincidentally, he remembered several prescriptions for dispersing wind and expelling evil spirits in his previous life, which were very effective. After Jia Cong left, Madam Qin came in and said, "Master, according to what Master Jia said, the Jia family school seems to be a bit unbearable. Master is planning to let Zhong'er go there to study, which will delay him."

Qin Ye said, "Jia Cong is Liu Jing'an's student and the top scorer in the college examination. He is very talented and has high standards. Those he dislikes may not necessarily be bad."

The sliding door of the inner room was pushed open, and the girl as beautiful as a rose came out. She said, "Dad, I heard everything behind the door just now. There was something earnest in Mr. Jia's words, as if he had good intentions.

He himself also studied in the academy. If the Jia family's education was really good, why would he need to go to school outside? He said that the family academy was only good for recognizing a few words, so why bother to let his brother go there? "

Qin Ye frowned and said, "What does a girl know? Dad has his own ideas. Aren't you feeling uncomfortable after being blown by the river wind? Why don't you go and rest yourself?"

The girl snorted in dissatisfaction, bent her slender waist and went back to the inner room in a sullen manner.

Madam Qin said, "Master, what Keqing said is not without reason. Also, I always feel that there is something wrong with Keqing's marriage."

Qin Ye frowned again: "What's wrong with that?"

Madam Qin looked worried. "A few days ago, I was drinking tea with some wives of officials in the capital and heard some rumors about my son-in-law. He said that he was not studying hard, but was riding horses and fighting cocks every day, and he often went to places of entertainment."

"Keqing will be getting married next year, and I feel a little uneasy."

Qin Ye's face changed when he heard this, but he remained silent.

Madam Qin said, "This Fengyilang today, how old is he, but he has been selected as the first in the case, and has been awarded an official title by the emperor. Moreover, his appearance and character are rare in the world. They are all from the Jia family, but there is such a big difference."

Qin Ye's eyes flickered: "Jia Cong studied abroad for the past two years, without making any noise, and suddenly he rose to prominence. Who could have thought that even the emperor would look favorably upon him? Young people are truly formidable."

Madam Qin added, "This young man is upright and righteous, and he is pleasing to the eye. He is a good match in age, character and appearance. If we had arranged a marriage for Keqing with him..."

Qin Ye was of course tempted. How could Jia Rong be compared with a figure like Jia Cong? But now the matter is done and it is a foregone conclusion.

"Madam, what's the point of saying these things now? The engagement letter has been exchanged, the four gifts have been prepared, Keqing is already a member of Ningguo Mansion, and she will marry next year."

Madam Qin sighed worriedly, blaming her husband for only paying attention to the Ningguo Mansion's prominent family background before the marriage proposal, and not thoroughly investigating the son-in-law's character. By the time she found out, it was already too late.

In fact, what she said about Jia Rong's behavior was reserved, because there were some things that a woman could not say. It turned out that Jia Rong was a homosexual and even had an affair with a man in a brothel.

Otherwise, she wouldn't have mentioned Jia Cong out of sheer fantasy, and she would have been desperate to find a cure.

But what the master said was right. The four rituals have been completed and it is a foregone conclusion. The word "breaking off the engagement" is a taboo in officials' families and is absolutely impossible. This is also my daughter's fate.

The couple lowered their voices and talked for a few words, and then stopped talking. Marry a chicken, follow the chicken; marry a dog, follow the dog. Things have come to this, what else is there to say.

They didn't notice that the inner door was slightly open. If you didn't look carefully, it would be hard to notice that the beautiful girl behind the door had tears on her face.

The husband she was going to marry was a playboy who was indulging in prostitution and had no education. If her father had not coveted his wealth and status, how could she have ended up like this?

Is she going to spend her whole life with such a person? But the answer is obvious, she has no way to escape. For a moment, she was confused and dazed.

I don't know why I thought of what my mother said just now, and my heart was beating. As if possessed by a ghost, I remembered the young man standing at the bow of the boat, with his sleeves flying, like a banished immortal.

(End of this chapter)