I'm in the Red Mansion

Chapter 178 Yuanchun Visits Her Parents
The things Wu Jinxiao sent were kept for offerings to his ancestors, and Jia Cong kept some for his own use at home.

The main things that were kept were the few pairs of living creatures, including two pairs of live deer, four pairs of live white rabbits, four pairs of live black rabbits, two pairs of live golden pheasants, and two pairs of live ducks.

The deer can be raised in the villa where the mother comes to visit her parents, and the four pairs of white rabbits and four pairs of black rabbits can be distributed to the sisters.

By the way, there is also this guy Jia Huan, you can also give him a pair.

As for the two pairs of golden pheasants and two pairs of Western ducks, they can also be raised in the Grand View Garden.

Jia Cong ordered his men to pile up the remaining things under the platform one by one, and called all the nephews and nephews in the clan to distribute them to them.

Next, Jia Cong asked people to invite Xue Baochai, Lin Daiyu and the three sisters.

After arriving, Xichun smiled and said, "Third Brother Cong, I saw that things were being distributed in the mansion today. You asked us to come. Do you have any good things left for us?"

Jia Cong couldn't help but laugh and said, "You are so clever. You guessed it right. I do have something good for you to play with."

"Look, here are a few pairs of rabbits. You can each pick a pair and raise them."

"Oh, right, there are only four pairs of white rabbits, but there are five of you. It's hard to divide them, so you can divide them among yourselves."

Hearing Jia Cong's words, Xue Baochai hurriedly said, "Let the four pairs of white rabbits be divided among the four sisters. I only want one pair of black rabbits."

Xichun also said hurriedly: "I still want a pair of black rabbits!"

At this time, Tanchun stepped forward decisively and said, "Sister Bao, Sister Lin, you are all guests, and there is no reason for you to be wronged."

"The second sister is older and the fourth sister is younger, so you two should stop fighting. Just divide the four pairs of white rabbits. I only want one pair of black rabbits."

After saying this, Tanchun did not give the four girls a chance to refute and took the initiative to select a pair of black rabbits.

Next, each of the four girls chose a pair of white rabbits and happily prepared to go back and build a nest for them to raise.

Then, Jia Cong called Jia Huan over again.

When Jia Huan arrived, he asked with a smile, "Third Brother Cong, do you have anything good in mind for me?"

This guy is still as wretched as ever.

Jia Huan smiled and said, "It is indeed a good thing to raise. I have three pairs of rabbits here. You can pick a pair to take home and raise them!"

All the white rabbits had been picked, leaving only three pairs of black rabbits.

When Jia Cong saw this, a look of disgust immediately appeared on his face.

He couldn't help but say, "I saw it all when Sister Lin went back. She clearly took back a pair of white rabbits."

"You are such a good fellow, Cong. You gave all the good ones to others and left me with a few bad ones to choose from!"

"Several heartless people treated me like this. Have you forgotten all the kindness I showed you in the past?"

This guy is still as annoying as ever.

Jia Cong was too lazy to pay attention to him and asked, "You just want it or not? If not, I will give these three pairs away!"

Jia Huan said hurriedly: "Yes, it's free, why not?"

After saying that, he carefully selected a pair and left happily with them.

Soon, it was New Year's Eve again.

The door gods, couplets, and plaques were replaced in both mansions, and the peach charms were repainted with new oils, making them look brand new.

The Ningguo Mansion's main gate, ceremonial gate, hall, warm room, inner hall, inner three gates, inner ceremonial gate and inner gate all the way to the main hall was wide open.

At the foot of the steps on both sides, there were huge vermilion lanterns that looked like two golden dragons.

On New Year's Eve, it is customary to worship ancestors.

Jia Cong had experienced this in previous years.

However, in previous years he was just a small transparent person blending into the crowd.

But now, he has become the patriarch of the Jia family and the chief priest.

After the sacrifice was completed, people from the two governments returned to their homes.

Next, according to etiquette, Jia Cong should go to Rongguo Mansion to pay respects to Jia's mother. However, Jia Cong had already said that he would never set foot in Rongguo Mansion in his life.

Therefore, he did not go there.

When Lady Jia saw this, she was unhappy, but there was nothing she could do.

The New Year passed in a blink of an eye, and on the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, the Lantern Festival, it was the day when Yuanchun came to visit her parents.

Therefore, the Rongguo Mansion became increasingly busy.

Starting from the eighth day of the first lunar month, eunuchs would come out to check the directions: where to change clothes, where to sit, where to receive gifts, where to hold a banquet, and where to rest.

There were also eunuchs who came to inspect the local prime ministers and brought many young eunuchs with them to guard everywhere and block the curtains.

The people in the Jia residence were instructed on where to retreat, where to kneel, where to eat, and where to announce matters, with all kinds of etiquette.

Outside, officials from the Ministry of Works and the Five Cities Military Preparations Department were cleaning the streets and driving out idlers.

Jia She and his men supervised the craftsmen in making lanterns, fireworks, and the like, and by the fourteenth day they were all ready. That night, no one in the family slept.

At the fifth drum on the fifteenth day, all those who held titles, including Lady Jia, dressed in formal attire according to their rank.

In every corner of the garden, dragons danced in the tents, phoenixes flew in the curtains; gold and silver shone brightly, jewels competed for splendor; lilies were burned in the tripods, and evergreens were inserted in the vases; it was quiet and no one coughed.

Jia She and others were outside the West Street Gate, and Jia Mu and others were outside the Rong Mansion Gate.

The streets and alleys are all blocked by fences.

Soon, messengers brought in candles in loads and lit lamps everywhere.

Just as I finished ordering, I suddenly heard the sound of horses galloping outside.

At one moment, a dozen eunuchs came running over, panting and clapping their hands.

The eunuchs understood what it meant and knew that “coming, coming”, and they stood in the corresponding directions.

Jia She led all his nephews and nieces to greet them outside the West Street Gate, while Jia Mu led all the female members of the family to greet them outside the main gate.

Eight eunuchs slowly came over carrying a sedan chair with a golden top and golden phoenix embroidery.

Jia Mu and others hurriedly knelt down by the roadside.

Several eunuchs rushed over early in the morning and helped Jia Mu, Mrs. Xing and Mrs. Wang.

The sedan chair was carried through the main gate, entered the ceremonial gate and headed east. When it arrived in front of the gate of a courtyard, a eunuch holding a whisk knelt down and asked the people to get off the sedan chair and change their clothes.

After tea had been served three times, Concubine Jia took her seat and the music stopped.

He retreated into the side hall to change his clothes before preparing to leave the garden in the carriage where his mother was to visit him.

When he arrived at Lady Jia's main room, he wanted to perform the family rituals, but Lady Jia and others all knelt and refused to stop him.

Concubine Jia's eyes were filled with tears, and Fang came forward to see each other. With one hand supporting Jia Mu and the other supporting Mrs. Wang, the three of them had many things to say in their hearts, but they couldn't say them out, so they just sobbed and sobbed.

Mrs. Xing, Li Wan, Wang Xifeng, the three sisters Ying, Tan and Xi were all surrounding, weeping and speechless.

After a while, Concubine Jia managed to suppress her grief and forced a smile, comforting Grandmother Jia and Madam Wang, saying:
"You sent me to a place where I couldn't see anyone that day. I finally got home to spend some time with my mother today. Instead of talking and laughing, I started crying. I left in a moment, and I don't know when I'll be back!"

Having said this, she couldn't help but choke up again, and Mrs. Xing and others hurried over to comfort her.

After everyone returned to their seats, Concubine Jia asked, "Why are Aunt Xue, Baochai, and Daiyu not here?"

Madam Wang said, "Outside relatives have no official duties, so they dare not enter without permission."

After hearing this, Concubine Jia hurriedly ordered the invitation to be made, leaving only three or four young eunuchs to agree. The mother, daughter and sisters talked in depth about the separation and the family affairs.

After they talked for a while, Concubine Jia saw that Mrs. Wang wanted to say something but stopped herself several times.

I couldn't help but ask, "Mom, do you have anything to say to me?"

Mrs. Wang couldn't help but say, "There's nothing to say..."

After hearing this, Yuanchun stood up and said, "Grandmother and mother, come in with me. I have a few words to tell you."

(End of this chapter)