Red Mansion: Fuyao River and Mountain

Chapter 13 The Rich Family is Too Deep

Rongguo Mansion, Mengpo Zhai Study.

Jia Zheng took a sip of the tea handed to him by the maid and looked up at the two young men in front of him.

Jia Cong stood tall and still, his breath calm and silent.

Baoyu lowered his head, not daring to face his father, and his back was a little hunched, with none of his usual handsome demeanor.

Jia Zheng put the teacup down heavily, making a loud bang, which frightened Baoyu.

He snorted coldly at Baoyu, "Look at you, not only do you not study hard, but you also don't know how to stand properly. Look at your brother, he is the same age as you and has already made a name for himself. I am ashamed for you."

These words made Jia Cong feel a little embarrassed. Baoyu was the apple of Jia's eye, and Jia's mother disliked him the most.

If Grandmother Jia knew that Jia Zheng was taking advantage of her and scolding Baoyu for being incompetent, wouldn't she hate herself too if she got to her ears?

In fact, Baoyu's heart is still pure and kind, and his usual behavior is simply that of a noble young man.

However, he was born with a jade in his mouth, had a strange and noble status, grew up in a wealthy family, and was doted on by his grandmother, which is why he developed a playful and unstudy nature.

For a person who is already at the pinnacle of wealth and honor in the world when he is born, what is the point of studying and going to school for him?

However, Jia Zheng had an obsession with fame and success in his life. Since he failed to achieve it himself, he hoped that his children and grandchildren would make up for it. First, there was the ambitious Jia Zhu, but unfortunately the eldest son was unlucky and died early.

The second son, Baoyu, was gifted. He had achieved everything he put his mind to since he was young. Jia Zheng had high hopes for him, but Baoyu hated official career and economics and tried every means to avoid his studies.

It is said that father and son are enemies in their previous lives, and this is probably the case with Jia Zheng and Baoyu.

Seeing that Jia Zheng was about to continue scolding, Jia Cong was afraid that he would bring hatred upon himself again, so he quickly said:
"Second Master, Baoyu is actually kind-hearted and is the best among the young masters of your family.

It is said that it is easy to change the country but difficult to change one's nature. Knowledge can be acquired through reading, but a good character is innate and cannot be found with any money.

Baoyu is just young and has not yet calmed down. When he grows up in two years, he will naturally study hard. With Baoyu's aptitude, it will not be difficult for him to go to school and become an official in the future."

After hearing this, Jia Zheng's expression eased a little. He was also surprised that Jia Cong could say such a profound and enlightening statement as "It is easy to change the country but difficult to change one's nature." However, he didn't know that the world was missing a person named Feng Menglong.

Baoyu looked at Jia Cong and Wang explaining to him, a look of gratitude showing on his face.

At this moment, Jia Cong suddenly heard the sound of footsteps gradually moving away from the door, and his heart moved slightly. The water in this wealthy mansion is still very deep.

……

In Grandmother Jia's room, the old lady was leaning on the couch, and Mrs. Wang was sitting beside her, with a string of sandalwood beads in her hand.

A maid opened the curtain and came in. Grandmother Jia asked hurriedly, "Has Baoyu been beaten or scolded by the master?"

The maid said, "The master just started by saying that Third Master Cong was a good person and scolded Second Master Bao for not studying and not being able to show his worth."

When Lady Jia heard this, she became furious and was about to lose her temper; Lady Wang's face also tightened.

The maid said, "Master Cong said that Master Bao has a kind heart and is the best among the young masters of your family.
They also said that Master Bao was young now, and when he was a few years older and had calmed down, he would know how to study. They also said that Master Bao was smart, and it would be easy for him to go to school and become an official in the future.

After hearing what Third Master Cong said, the master stopped scolding Second Master Bao. "

After hearing this, Jia's mother finally breathed a sigh of relief. Mrs. Wang, who was standing by, smiled and said, "That child is quite sensible."

Grandmother Jia said in disgust: "He is still polite and considerate of his brothers."

"I heard earlier that Baoyu's uncle beat him to death for breaking a jade ruyi. It was just a broken object, why did it come to this?"

Although no one in the East Courtyard dared to tell anyone that Jia Cong had been severely beaten, Grandmother Jia had been in charge of the mansion for half her life, and there were few things in the mansion that could be hidden from her.

"It was fine before, but now that he has been favored by Prince Jiashun and is going to attend some literary gathering, I think he has become quite impressive. I'm afraid more people will be watching him in the future. If something like that happens again at this time, it will be embarrassing for the Jia family. For a big family like us, we can be less unhappy and unhappy. We should be more open-minded. He is not young but still has such a bad temper."

Mrs. Wang knew that Lady Jia was complaining that her eldest son was troublesome, and she didn't know how to respond to this.

"After all, he is the grandson of the old lady. I think he is ambitious. My uncle is also strict in educating his son. He will be fine when he grows up."

Grandmother Jia said, "Let's get through this first. I wonder if your sister-in-law has listened to me. If there are fewer problems, everyone will have less to worry about."

Then he ordered the maid in the room, "Go and call Baoyu over. Tell him that I want to go for a walk in the garden. Ask him to help me so that he won't get scared in front of his father."

……

Jia Cong was talking to Jia Zheng, and Baoyu was feeling very uncomfortable standing beside them.

A maid came in and said that the old lady asked Baoyu to come over. Jia Zheng knew that his mother was afraid that he would embarrass her son, so he sighed helplessly and waved at Baoyu.

Baoyu felt relieved as if a heavy burden had been lifted off his shoulders, as if he had come back to life. He bowed to Jia Zheng, took a few steps back, and quickly rushed out of the study.

Jia Cong knew that the footsteps that had just left the door were most likely those of a maid sent by Grandmother Jia to find out what had happened. She was probably afraid that Baoyu had suffered at the hands of his father.

And what he had just said must have been conveyed to Grandmother Jia exactly.

In such aristocratic family, there are eyes and ears everywhere, and there can't be any mistakes. I couldn't help but feel a little cold in my heart.

Jia Zheng watched Baoyu leave like a dragon, shook his head helplessly, and asked again: "How far have you learned the lessons in school now?"

Jia Cong hesitated for a moment and said, "A few days ago, the master told Master Dairu in the school that I will not be allowed to go to school anymore."

Jia Zheng's face changed and he asked, "Why is that?"

Jia Cong replied: "The master said that I was lowly and vulgar, unworthy of studying, and wasted money in vain."

Jia Zheng's face turned red with anger, but since he was his elder brother, it was not appropriate for him to scold him in front of Jia Cong.

Today, he saw Jia Cong's outstanding calligraphy, and also saw that he was humble and polite, his manners were dignified and measured, and his words were sincere and meticulous, and he admired him very much in his heart.

He really couldn't understand what his elder brother was thinking. He had such an outstanding son, but he treated him so rudely without any reason.

Other fathers force their sons to study, but he doesn't even let his own son study. Does he dislike that his son is too ambitious? This is totally unreasonable.

Jia Zheng comforted him, "Don't worry, the school is closed for the New Year. After the Lantern Festival, I will talk to my elder brother and I will let you go back to school."

In fact, Jia Cong didn't want to study with Jia Dairu, but knowing that Jia Zheng had good intentions, he felt warm in his heart.

He was not tolerated by Jia She and his wife, and Grandmother Jia had disliked him as her grandson since he was a child. Other relatives, such as Lady Wang, also looked at Grandmother Jia's face, and he really had no good feelings towards the elders of the Jia family.

Only Jia Zheng, although a little pedantic and he had not had much contact with him before, but after what happened today, he could see that he treated him sincerely.

Before leaving, Jia Zheng gave him some fine writing brushes, ink, paper and inkstone. When he heard that he had started reading the Four Books, he praised him a few words.

He also gave him several treasured volumes of the Four Books, and told him not to waste them, saying that he would talk to him about his studies after the new year.

Jia Cong returned to the granary yard, read the Four Books for a while, and wrote a few big characters. Before it got dark, he saw Zhao Ma Ma enter the yard.

Upon asking, I found out that Wang Shanbao's wife had just gone to the laundry room and asked Zhao Ma to come back to take care of Jia Cong.

Although Jia Cong knew it was a matter of time, he did not expect that what Lady Jia said in Rongqing Hall today would take effect so quickly.

In the Jia family, the old lady is firmly at the top of the food chain.

(End of this chapter)