Red Mansion: Fuyao River and Mountain

Chapter 52 Qingzhi Side Courtyard
When Mrs. Wang saw Jia Zheng's proud expression, she knew that her master would be pleased with Jia Cong's study at Qingshan Academy.

He also wanted to raise Jia Cong in the West Mansion, but given Cong's background, it would be of no use even if he went to study in some academy.

Even if he passes the imperial examination and becomes the top scholar in the future, he will be a poor Hanlin at best, and will end up leaving the palace and living separately.

And judging from the old lady's appearance, she didn't change her mind just because he had some abilities. Instead, she was annoyed and disgusted by his trouble-making temper.

It’s good this way. With his background, he can never surpass my Baoyu.

Mrs. Wang has always been kind and generous to those who she feels are not a threat.

Looking at Jia Zheng's attitude towards Jia Cong, he always has to save his master's face.

Otherwise, how can you gain a good reputation of being magnanimous and kind-hearted, and treating others with respect?

Besides, the old lady has already agreed to let Jia Cong come to the West Mansion to be raised, so this matter is a foregone conclusion.

So he said, "Old lady, since the master said it was a good thing, it must be right. Since Mr. Liu helped, it is also a favor.

I have also been inquiring these days to see what kind of elegant gifts would be appropriate. This man is a great scholar, and if the gifts are too flashy, it would make us look vulgar.

When Cong'er's injury is healed, I will send him there."

After hearing this, Jia's grandmother's brows relaxed. She felt that her second daughter-in-law was a good person. Although she didn't like this grandson, he was a flesh and blood of the Jia family after all.

To the outside world, they are always united. If someone helps him, it means that the Jia family is given face, and all necessary etiquette should be taken into consideration. This is the way of aristocratic families.

Grandmother Jia said, "Madam, you are very thoughtful. We will do this according to your wishes."

Madam Wang added, "There is one more thing. Since Cong-ge'er is to be brought to the West Mansion for recuperation, the outer study can only be used to temporarily recover from his injuries. We have to arrange another place for him to live."

Then he asked Wang Xifeng, "Is there any suitable place to live in this mansion?"

Wang Xifeng rolled her eyes and said, "Next to the Lixiang Courtyard in the east, there is an empty Qingzhizhai side courtyard, with a main house and five side rooms, and it looks very smart.

When Grandpa was recuperating in Lixiang Courtyard, that courtyard was originally where his servants lived. After that, it has been empty. After tidying it up, it is just right for Brother Cong to live there."

Wang Xi was the most meticulous and astute person. He knew that Lady Jia had always disliked Jia Cong.

So the courtyard she arranged for Jia Cong was next to Lixiang Courtyard. Although it was also in the inner courtyard, it was in the northern corner of the inner courtyard.

It is far away from Rongqing Hall and Rongxi Hall. Living far away from them also prevents Lady Jia from seeing Jia Cong often and feeling annoyed.

Wang Xifeng added, "That courtyard is next to the corner gate on the north side, and when you go out it's the back street. When Brother Cong wants to go to the academy to study, that place will be convenient for him to go in and out."

Naturally, Grandmother Jia and Mrs. Wang knew that place, and they knew it clearly in their minds. Wasn’t it there that the old Duke was living in glory?

The location is a bit remote, otherwise how could Lixiangyuan become the guest residence for relatives like Aunt Xue? However, it is also suitable for Jia Cong to live there.

Daiyu had only been in the Rongguo Mansion for a few years, and the Lixiang Courtyard had been vacant all this time with no one coming and going. Naturally, she didn't know where Qingzhizhai, next to the Lixiang Courtyard, was.

But she took to heart the news that Jia Cong was going to study at Qingshan Academy. When she was still in Gusu, she heard her father mention the great reputation of Qingshan Academy.

It is naturally a great thing that Brother Cong San can be recommended to study there.

Ever since Daiyu saw Jia Cong's calligraphy and read the poem "Bu Suan Zi", she knew that he was a talented person.

Such a person may be able to enter a university if he studies hard in the academy for a few years.

When she achieves fame, she will have a place to stay in the mansion, and will not live in such a difficult situation as she does now. Tanchun is different from Daiyu. She was born in the mansion, so she naturally knows where the courtyard next to Lixiang Courtyard is. That place is really a bit remote.

The old lady still disliked Brother Cong San, otherwise she wouldn't let him live in such a lonely place. As for the wife, it's hard to say, and she didn't dare to think too much about it.

At least Brother Cong has left the East Road Courtyard and can go to the academy to study. He won't have to live in such danger anymore. That's the first good thing.

The other things are not the most important. After all, there is still a long way to go in the future.

Mrs. Wang continued, “Madam, logically Cong-ge’er should follow the same rules as Huan-er, but Cong-ge’s aunt died a long time ago, so the situation is a little different.

It would be better to arrange more capable people to serve her. One Qingwen is probably not enough. We should also add a sensible maid and a few maids to do the rough work."

Grandmother Jia said, "You make the decision on this matter. You can discuss it among yourselves."

After hearing this, Wang Xifeng thought that Mrs. Wang wanted to place her own people in this mansion. There are many connections in this mansion, so they might want to prepare for a rainy day.

She said, "It's easy to get a few maids to do rough work, but there aren't many clever maids. Madam, do you have a good candidate in mind?"

Mrs. Wang said, “Years ago, I heard that the daughter of the kitchen family Liu had grown up, and her mother wanted to find a job for her. It happened that I met the child that day.
Her name is Wu'er, she has a good appearance and a good personality, and her family has been members of the Chen family for generations. Children born in such a family are the most reliable, and it is just right for her to be placed in Congge's room as a maid."

Wang Xifeng was stunned and realized that she had been wrong and had guessed the lady's thoughts wrongly. From the name, it seemed that the lady was a stranger, so if she wanted to place someone there, she must find someone she was familiar with.

It’s just that Liu from the kitchen was not very familiar with Madam Su, so why did Madam only assign her daughter to be a maid in Brother Cong’s room?

Although Wang Xifeng was puzzled, it had nothing to do with her. After thinking about it for a while, she gave up.

However, little did she know that Mrs. Wang had another reason for arranging Liu Wu'er to be Jia Cong's maid.

Because she heard some rumors a few years ago that the kitchen maid Liu had raised a daughter named Wu'er, who was as beautiful as Yuanyang, Xiren, Ping'er and other maids in the Jia family.

The Liu family couple usually love their child like a treasure, but their fifth child is born a little delicate and needs to take medicine every two or three days.

So she never got any assignment and just did some chores for her mother in the kitchen.

The Liu family's plan was firstly for their daughter, and secondly, they also had some plans to climb up the social ladder.

Hearing that there were many people and little work in Baoyu's room, and that Baoyu cared the most about his maids, she came up with the idea of ​​sending Wu'er to work in Baoyu's room.

Even if you can't keep the house in the future, you will have a foundation by selling it, and you will have more support in your life.

Mrs. Wang treated Baoyu as her dearest child and hated it most when someone tried to cheat on him. How could she not be angry after hearing these things?

It’s just that the Liu family’s owner has been in the kitchen for many years and has never made a mistake. Wu’er doesn’t have a job at the moment, so he can’t find any weakness.

Before the Chinese New Year, she and Wang Xifeng were checking the various mundane affairs in the mansion and happened to meet Wu'er.

Her appearance was indeed outstanding, but her figure was delicate and conceited, and she even had a bit of Daiyu's demeanor, which made me feel even more displeased.

If she were to enter Baoyu's room in this state, who knows what she would do to her son. I'm afraid even her parents would become estranged from her.

Now that Jia Cong's incident had happened, Mrs. Wang took advantage of Jia Cong and gave him Liu Wu'er as a maid to save her Baoyu from harm.

　The plot refers to the cultural background of Dream of the Red Chamber, but the Jia Mansion is only the place where the protagonist starts and accumulates. The subsequent plot will have an upsurge, and the scenes presented must go out of the Jia Mansion and face the larger world.

　　We received a lot of pertinent comments, some of which were very constructive. Thank you for your support and suggestions.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)