Red Mansion: Fuyao River and Mountain

Chapter 75: The Words in the Book
Ping'er's face flushed, and she said, "Madam, you are so boring, saying such crazy things. It's just a child, what's there to be scorned about."

Wang Xifeng teased a few times and then said, "No one could have imagined that such a person would appear in our family.

The old lady only cares about Baoyu, and even our Second Master has to stand aside. But with Baoyu's temper of hanging around in the backyard, it will not be easy for him to set up his own household in the future."

Ping'er was smart. Although Wang Xifeng only spoke half of her words, she couldn't understand what she meant. Anyway, she looked down on Baoyu and was speaking up for her man.

But she would never dare to respond. She had a gentle nature and just wanted to live a stable life. Those trivial matters were not something she should be concerned about with her status.

Wang Xifeng added, "This Cong brother is a brother of the Second Master. Their relationship is the closest. He will definitely be a help in the future."

Ping'er knew that Jia Cong had a miserable life in the East Courtyard when he was young, and it was with great difficulty that he moved to the West Mansion to live a peaceful life.

If I were to be used as a tool by others and get involved in those things, my future in this mansion would be in danger.

Ping'er has always been kind-hearted. Although she lives next to the shrewd and ruthless Wang Xifeng, she treats people kindly and has a good reputation in the mansion.

Although she and Jia Cong did not have a very deep friendship, she felt some sympathy for this illegitimate son who had been discriminated against since childhood. She also knew that he was a hardworking and motivated child and did not want him to fall into these things.

Then he added, "I think the Second Master thinks highly of him, and he seems to care about him more than Baoyu. Cong-ge'er also seems to be very grateful to the Master, but we don't usually interact with him."

Wang Xifeng sneered, "You are right. The master values ​​Brother Cong so much. Brother Cong is grateful to the master and will definitely favor Baoyu in the future."

Wang Xifeng did not say the rest of the words because it was not convenient to tell Ping'er.

My aunt was so foolish that she held the master back.

Just because Baoyu was hit with a ruler by the master, she instigated the old lady to exempt Brother Cong from the filial piety etiquette and prevented him from even entering Rongqing Hall.

If Jia Cong knew the whole story, the master's favor would probably be cut in half, and by then her man would have a brother to help him.

……

The fourth day of the fourth month of the tenth year of Jiazhao.

Early in the morning, Qingwen boiled a pot of soapnut water and helped Jia Cong wash his hair carefully. She used several pieces of cotton cloth to wipe the water off his hair and let it air dry, and then combed his hair carefully with a comb.

Jia Cong's freshly washed hair was shiny black, with a faint scent of grass leaves. Qingwen combed his hair gently, holding the comb firmly in one hand and holding the combed hair with the other.

Jia Cong thought of how Zhishao had combed his hair in the past.

Qingwen looked at Jia Cong's handsome face with picturesque features in the mirror, his watery eyes holding a smile, and the movements of her hands became more gentle.

Jia Cong will go to Qingshan Academy to register tomorrow. Everyone's luggage has been packed, and four or five boxes are neatly pushed around the room.

Wu Er came in from the courtyard and saw Qing Wen's appearance. She chuckled and said, "You should comb Third Master's hair properly. Why are you staring at the mirror like a lunatic?"

Qingwen blushed and made a face at Wu'er: "You talk as if you have never been crazy about the Third Master."

Jia Cong smiled and pretended not to hear anything. They were just the little thoughts of two little girls who were just beginning to understand.

Wu Er's face turned red, and she said to Jia Cong, "Third Master, I have collected the snow lotus roots and herbs. I can make white jade soup for Miss Lin today. We can't do it tomorrow when we go to Luocang Mountain."

Bai Yu Tang is the name Wu'er gave to this medicinal food. It is not very elegant, but it is easy to remember.

"Well, you can send it over today and tell Zijuan the recipe. If Sister Lin wants to eat it, you can ask Zijuan to tell the kitchen to make it."

"When you went there these few days, did Sister Lin look better?"

Since that time when he and Tanchun went to see Daiyu, Jia Cong never went there again. He could not go to Rongqing Hall, and he had not seen Daiyu for some time.

The main reason was that he didn't want to cause any unnecessary troubles to himself and Daiyu before going to the academy. After all, there was a long time to come. "Miss Lin looks much better. She looks better than before she got sick. Third Master's White Jade Soup actually has such a miraculous effect."

"This White Jade Soup can moisten the lungs and nourish Yin, and is effective for coughing up blood, but it won't have any miraculous effects, and it's not a panacea."

"How is Sister Lin feeling these days?"

"Miss Lin has been in a good mood recently. Every time she sees me coming over, she smiles and talks a lot. Every time I go over, I see her writing, and there is a pile of papers on the table."

"White Jade Soup is made with medicinal herbs and snow lotus root, and it replenishes Qi. You always send it to her at night. Sister Lin has always been thin, and this evening meal is the most nourishing.

It may also be that Lin Daiyu has been in a good mood recently. The heart is the source of all diseases, and if the mood is good, the complexion will naturally be good. "

I heard Juan'er's voice in the yard outside: "Miss Lin, Sister Zijuan, hello."

"Is your Third Master home?"

Jia Cong quickly asked Qingwen to tie her hair into a bun and went out to greet her. He saw Daiyu standing gracefully in the yard, followed by a pretty maid in green clothes and red jacket. She was Zijuan from Daiyu's room.

Wu'er was right. Daiyu's complexion was indeed much better. Her face was rosy, like warm jade reflecting the clouds, or the bright moon shining, so charming and beautiful.

"Why is Sister Lin here? Are you feeling better now?"

"Thank you, Third Brother Cong, for having Wu'er bring me medicinal food every day. I am much better now. Zijuan, bring the food here."

Jia Cong saw Zijuan holding a small Xiangfei bamboo bookcase in her hand, and Daiyu took out two brand new books bound with blue thread from it.

Daiyu smiled and said, "I really liked the calligraphy that Third Brother Cong gave me last time. I'll give these two handwritten copies to Third Brother as a return gift."

"These are some notes on the Four Books written by my father based on his own experience when he was studying. My father taught me the Four Books when I was a child. When I came from the south, I brought this notebook with me.

When I have free time, I take it out and read it, just like seeing my father. Third brother Cong is going to study in the academy, and these should be useful, so I hand-copied a copy for him. "

It turned out that Wu'er said that every time he went to deliver medicinal food, Daiyu was writing there, and it turned out that she was copying this thing.

These two manuscripts were very thick. When you opened them, you could see that they were filled with delicate and beautiful handwriting. It must have taken Daiyu a lot of effort to copy them. Jia Cong felt a warm feeling in his heart.

Mr. Jing'an once gave him a collection of annotations on the Four Books. Although it was precious, for someone like Liu Jing'an, this collection of annotations was mostly written from a scholarly perspective, and was not written specifically for use in the imperial examinations.

Jia Cong read an excerpt of it yesterday. It does provide insightful guidance on the imperial examinations, which is thought-provoking and perfect as a foundation for learning. However, it was not written entirely to accommodate the imperial examinations.

However, the handwritten copy that Daiyu gave him was actually the thoughts and experiences of Lin Ruhai, the top scholar in the imperial examination, when he was studying for the imperial examination. Every word and sentence was based on the path of the imperial examination.

The fact that Lin Ruhai was able to win the title of Tanhua in those days proves how refined and profound his understanding of reading was. This manuscript is simply a secret book to pass the imperial examinations.

Daiyu was educated by her father since childhood and was well-read. She naturally understood the role of this handwritten copy to Jia Cong, and this gift also touched his heart.

Jia Cong looked grateful and said, "Thank you, Sister Lin, for your kindness. I will definitely cherish this copy of yours."

Daiyu smiled and said, "Brother Cong, there is no need to be polite. I hope that you will make progress every day and win the first prize in the imperial examination soon."

The entire Jia family was clearly on the decline, but everyone was still obsessed with wealth and glory and was unwilling to extricate themselves. Only Jia Cong would cherish this thing.

If it were Baoyu or Jia Lian, they would just treat it as the corrupt words of a ghost and waste paper to pad the table.

There are lush bamboos in Qingzhizhai, and the warm spring sun shines on two beautiful women in the courtyard. It is a peaceful and quiet time.

(End of this chapter)