I'm in the Red Mansion

Chapter 176: Pure and Smooth
The finishing work at the villa has already begun.

The entire Jia Mansion began to become lively.

Not to mention the villa where the imperial concubines come to visit, maids and old women have to be arranged to work in each courtyard.

Just talking about Wang Xifeng's side in Rongguo Mansion, it was also very lively.

It turned out that he had bought twelve girls from Suzhou, hired a tutor, and brought them along with their belongings and other items.

Aunt Xue moved to a quiet house in the northeast. She had vacated the Lixiang Courtyard and renovated it, and ordered the tutor to teach female plays there.

The family also sent some women who had learned singing in the past - now all old women - to lead the management.

Lin Zhixiao's family came back and forth: "We have interviewed and hired ten young nuns and Taoist nuns, and even have twenty new Taoist robes made."

"There was a monk who was still nun. Because this girl was born, she was sick since she was young. He bought many substitutes but none of them worked. Finally, this girl became a monk herself and finally got better."

"So I am a nun with my hair untied. I am only eighteen years old this year. My Dharma name is Miaoyu. Now my parents are both dead. I only have two old maids and a little girl to serve me."

"He is also very good at writing. He doesn't need to learn scriptures anymore. He is also very good-looking. He followed his master here last year and now lives in the Muni Courtyard outside the west gate."

"Her master was very good at performing innate divine numbers, and he passed away last winter. Miaoyu wanted to take the coffin back to her hometown, but her master's last words before his death said that it was not suitable for her to return home for food and clothing, and that she should stay here quietly, and there would be a natural outcome for you in the future. So she did not return home."

Without waiting for the reply, Wang Xifeng said, "In that case, why don't we take her in?"

Lin Zhixiao's family member replied: "Invite her. She said, 'The Duke Hou Men's Mansion will use his power to overwhelm others, and I won't go there again.'"

Wang Xifeng smiled and said, "Since she is a daughter of an official, she is naturally proud. Why not send her an invitation?"

Lin Zhixiao's wife agreed to go out and ordered Shu Qi to write an invitation to invite Miaoyu.

By the end of November, fortunately, everything was ready: all supervisory departments had submitted their accounts, and all antiques and collectibles had been displayed.

As for the birds, including cranes, peacocks, deer, rabbits, chickens, geese and other species, they have all been purchased and placed in various places in the garden for breeding.

The girls also performed twenty variety shows, and the little nuns and Taoist nuns also learned to recite a few scriptures.

When Jia Zheng saw it, Fang Lue felt relieved, and invited Jia's mother and others into the garden. He carefully considered the details and decorated them properly, without any omissions or inappropriateness.

So Jia Zheng chose a day to write the title.

On the day of the memorial, Zhu approved the memorial: On the fifteenth day of the first lunar month of the following year, the Jia family was allowed to visit their parents. The Jia family received this decree and became even more busy day and night, and they never had a good year.

However, Jia Cong's Ningguo Mansion was not affected at all.

Also unaffected were women like Lin Daiyu.

Ever since Jia Cong hosted a banquet for them last time, they have often come to visit the mansion.

This time, Lin Daiyu did not invite Xue Baochai, Sanchun and other girls, but came to Ningguo Mansion alone.

After meeting Jia Cong, Lin Daiyu could not help but bow and say, "Thank you, Third Brother Cong. My father took the magic medicine that Third Brother Cong sent over, and in half a month, his health has improved greatly."

"I feel much better now, and my diet is better than before. This is all due to the magic medicine given by Brother Cong."

"I have another question for Brother Cong. I wonder if my father's condition has improved after taking the magic medicine for half a month?"

"Does it mean that I don't need to take the magic medicine anymore and my condition will gradually improve?"

Lin Daiyu's visit this time was not just to express her gratitude.

She also wanted to ask for clear details and whether she should continue to take this miracle medicine in the future.

If I need to take it, how much does this miracle medicine cost? Since its efficacy is so amazing, it must be very expensive.

Lin Daiyu must find out everything clearly.

After hearing this, Jia Cong couldn't help but say, "Sister Lin, the medicine I gave you is not some magic medicine."

"Also, this medicine is only effective for the first time. If you take too much, the effect will gradually decrease."

"I haven't seen how your uncle is feeling, so I can't guarantee anything." "If possible, Sister Lin should persuade your uncle to come to Beijing to recuperate."

Penicillin is indeed a miracle drug in this era.

But it is not omnipotent.

And you can't take penicillin every day, right?

Moreover, Jia Cong felt that Lin Ruhai was more likely to be poisoned than to be sick.

As long as he stays in the salt tax in Jiangnan, I'm afraid this disease will never be cured.

Only by leaving there and slowly recuperating your body can there be hope of recovery.

Therefore, Jia Cong asked Lin Daiyu to persuade Lin Ruhai to leave Jiangnan and come to the capital.

Hearing Jia Cong's words, Lin Daiyu said with a sad face: "I'm afraid my father won't want to leave."

"If my father was willing to leave, my mother and brother might not have died."

"Father has already made up his mind to sacrifice his life for the country. He entrusted me to the Jia Mansion, which is really like entrusting an orphan to him!"

Hearing Lin Daiyu's words, Jia Cong's heart sank.

Indeed, Lin Ruhai is a model of the idealistic scholar-official in ancient times.

For the sake of their ideals and ambitions, and to repay the emperor's kindness, why would they fear death?
They have even become indifferent to the life and death of their family members.

And since Lin Ruhai had already made up his mind to sacrifice his life for his country, Lin Daiyu was determined not to persuade him.

Thinking of this, Jia Cong could not help but comfort her: "Sister Lin, it's okay. Since you can't persuade her, I'll think of another way."

Lin Daiyu sighed helplessly.

Brother Cong San certainly means well, but I can’t persuade him, so what else can Brother Cong San do?

……

When Prime Minister Kou took a day off for the second time, Jia Cong went to Kou's house as usual to learn from Prime Minister Kou.

After Kou Xiang finished his lecture, the master and his disciple chatted.

Jia Cong suddenly said, "Master, I see that you are alone in the court, with little support."

"Why don't you get a few more assistants to help you?"

Hearing Jia Cong's words, Kou Xiang's heart was startled, but he asked calmly: "Oh, don't you have a suitable candidate?"

Jia Cong nodded and said, "Of course there is. Master, what do you think of Lin Ruhai, the Yangzhou Salt Inspector?"

"Although this person is my disciple's uncle, as the saying goes, one should not avoid enemies when recommending people from outside, and one should not avoid relatives when recommending people from within."

"I think my uncle Lin Ruhai is not only a talented writer, but also has great achievements as the Yangzhou Salt Inspector, and his practical ability is also very strong."

"If we can mobilize them back to Beijing, they will definitely be a great help to Master."

Hearing the name Lin Ruhai, Prime Minister Kou couldn't help but laugh, and the trace of vigilance in his heart disappeared.

Kou looked at Jia Cong with a half-smile and asked, "Brother Cong, you recommended Lin Ruhai, maybe you have some selfish motives, right?"

"You two are indeed pure and gentle, and the love between you two is deep!"

As pure as ice and as smooth as jade, it comes from Shishuo Xinyu and actually refers to the relationship between father-in-law and son-in-law.

Liu Yiqing of the Southern Song Dynasty quoted the Biography of Wei Jie in his book Shishuo Xinyu (A New Account of Tales of the World) by Liu Xiaobiao: "Pei Shudao said: 'The father-in-law of a wife has the appearance of ice and purity, and the son-in-law has the appearance of jade and smoothness. '"

(End of this chapter)