Daiyu of the Red Chamber

Chapter 12

After the first day of junior high school, she was about to go out to visit relatives and friends. Daiyu hesitated all day and finally found a chance for Lin Ruhai to be alone in the study at night on the first day of junior high school.Lin Ruhai saw Daiyu, who was wearing two buns on her hair and wearing a pink silk home jacket, looking around outside the study, she couldn't help laughing and said: "Don't come in yet, be careful, it's cold outside because of the strong wind." Daiyu listened Then he ran in "bouncingly", looked at Lin Ruhai with a pair of watery eyes, and then grinned, revealing a row of cute millet teeth.Lin Ruhai saw that her heart melted, and said with a soft smile, "Yu'er came here by herself? But do you miss Daddy?" Daiyu was almost soured by herself, but she still said loudly: "I want to!" Then Laughing again, seeing Daiyu's reaction was also a little strange, Lin Ruhai knew that she was smart, and knew that her schemes were getting more and more, so she couldn't help pulling herself together and deciding to go straight to the point, and asked, "Is Yu'er looking for something to do with your father?" Daiyu didn't hide anything, she nodded her head vigorously and said: "Mother explained that from the beginning, it was a day to visit relatives and friends. According to the rules, I was going to visit my grandfather's house, but if it is too far away, I should visit first." The elders in the family, then relatives and friends of the same generation, and then classmates and colleagues, is what mother said right?" Lin Ruhai nodded in agreement with Daiyu's statement, and asked, "Whose house does Yu'er want to go to?" Daiyu Yu nodded quickly without hesitation, but tears were running in her heart, and continued: "Will Daddy bring Yu'er with him when he goes to the clan?" Out of five clothes, and nothing close to others.In the early years when her father was still alive, she stopped doing much and asked: "Who told Yu'er's father that Ming'er will go to the clan?" After hearing this, Daiyu opened her eyes and asked in bewilderment: "It doesn't mean that according to the rules, we should Going to visit my grandfather's house, but if it's too far away, should I visit the elders of the clan first, then relatives and friends of the same generation, and then classmates and colleagues? Naturally, there is no way to go to Yu'er's maternal ancestor's house in the capital , so shouldn’t it be time to visit the elders of the clan tomorrow? Our family has been from Gusu for generations, so if the elders of our clan are not in Gusu, it should be no problem to visit.” Then he continued to look at Lin Ruhai with shining eyes , Lin Ruhai was speechless for a while, and he didn't know how to start. After thinking about it, he said: "From the father of our ancestors to my generation, it has been a single lineage for five generations. There are no clansmen who are close to the blood of the first branch and the commoner branch." Daiyu knew What Lin Ruhai wanted to say, but he came here today to let Lin Ruhai rebuild his relationship with the clan, how could he give up?So without waiting for Lin Ruhai to finish speaking, seeing him pause, he hurriedly asked, "Is there no one in that clan?" Daiyu interrupted what Lin Ruhai originally wanted to say, but she was not annoyed. He was still very happy, so he explained: "There are still people in the clan. My great-great-grandfather had an elder brother and a younger brother, so there were two branches of the cousin clan. Although their two branches were also small in population, they were also handed down. Now the oldest person in the clan is father's grandfather, Yu'er's great-grandfather's brother, and father's great-uncle." Daiyu interrupted Lin Ruhai again decisively, she had to name him!Although it is indeed far away, it is no wonder that Lin Ruhai died in the original book, Jia Lian took away so much property of the Lin family, and no one from the family came forward.But there is no guarantee that it is not the reason why Lin Ruhai is not close to others, Lin Ruhai must let Lin Ruhai know that he still has a family!So Daiyu asked: "Is the surname of father's uncle also Lin?" In a word, Lin Ruhai's heart was also shaken, yes, they are also surnamed Lin!Seeing that Lin Ruhai was distracted, Daiyu shook his arm, and asked again: "Daddy hasn't answered Yuer yet, are they also surnamed Lin?" "Naturally, their surname is also Lin." Then he found that Daiyu seemed to be relieved, and the expression on her face was relieved all of a sudden.All the anxiety disappeared, and a pair of eyes looked at him brightly.Daiyu really breathed a sigh of relief, pretending to be cute for a long time, isn't it because of this sentence?So he happily announced to Lin Ruhai: "Then let's visit Daddy's uncle and uncle tomorrow!" Lin Ruhai was stunned for a moment before realizing what Daiyu meant, and after thinking about it, he said, "Our family has not been with them for many years. If you come back and forth again, it's very impolite to come to the door." Daiyu sighed in her heart, and continued to pretend to be cute: "Aren't they also surnamed Lin? Daddy's uncle is not considered an elder?" After speaking, she frowned Staring at Lin Ruhai, Lin Ruhai hadn't figured out how to talk to Daiyu in detail, so Daiyu sighed and said to herself like a little adult: "I don't know if they are doing well, so I can't go and see." After finishing speaking, he pouted and was ready to go out.Lin Ruhai hugged Daiyu very curiously and asked, "Yu'er really wants to go to the clan?" Daiyu lowered her head and seemed to be very depressed and nodded, without speaking.Lin Ruhai hadn't seen Daiyu like this for a long time, and felt a little distressed for a while, so he asked, "Why does Yu'er want to go to the clan?"

Daiyu didn't look up, and waited for a while before whispering in a soft voice: "Daddy said that the relatives in the clan are far away, and Yu'er understands, but Yu'er's younger brother has gone, and there is no brother or sister." Now, even if there is another younger brother or younger sister in the future, Yu'er is from a daughter's family, so it won't be of much help if you think about it, if there are a few brothers and sisters in the clan who are close, it's always good, isn't everyone surnamed Lin?" After finishing speaking Staring at Lin Ruhai with his eyes and looking very annoyed, he said, "But Daddy doesn't want to! Daddy despises them and stay away!" After speaking, he got out of Lin Ruhai's arms and ran away without looking back. Lin Ruhai seemed to see Daiyu shrugged her little shoulders.I suddenly felt uncomfortable in my heart.

That night, Lin Ruhai didn't go back to the room, and spent the whole night thinking about it alone in front of the desk, especially when he remembered the story Daiyu told on New Year's Eve and what Daiyu said when he left, he gradually made up his mind.Before dawn, Lin Ruhai hurried into the upper room and woke Jia Min up.

Jia Min woke up in a daze and saw that it was Lin Ruhai who was about to get up, but Lin Ruhai didn't stop him and said, "Prepare some gifts for the master. Hurry up. Let's go to the Hui family to see together at dawn. Young and old, and Girls, daughter-in-laws, aunts and aunts, make more preparations." Jia Min was very puzzled when he heard this, but he didn't say anything, it seemed that Lin Ruhai had already made up his mind, and it would be useless to say anything else.

Jia Minli's family is a good hand. Although there are many people and things are mixed, Jia Min brought two orders and showed Lin Ruhai in a short while: men's and women's clothing, twelve pieces of pomegranate silk, twelve pieces of fragrant cloud gauze, and twelve pieces of flower satin. There are twelve pieces of Fuguang brocade.Twelve bolts of fine cotton and twelve bolts of snow cotton.Two hundred knives of raw Xuan, two hundred knives of cooked Xuan, ten boxes of fragrant ink, ten sets of Langhao, ten square inkstones, two sets of Baiyun paperweight, three sets of Qingyu paperweight, and five sets of Moyu paperweight.Ten sets of new books.Ten pairs of gold collars, ten pairs of jade bracelets, a box of agate rings, a box of pearl flowers, and a box of silk flowers.Ru kiln white porcelain phoenix gall vase, a pair of hundred-year-old ginseng, ten blood swallows, ten official swallows, and some other medicinal materials.Lin Ruhai nodded in satisfaction and said, "Mrs. Hardworking is thoughtful. There are not many people in the clan, so this is enough." Jia Min smiled and asked people to seal the car and load the car.Only then did I have time to sit next to Lin Ruhai and asked, "I haven't moved much since I got married, why do I want to go to the clan all of a sudden?" Lin Ruhai thought for a while and said without hiding it: "After all, you can't write two words in one stroke. Lin Zi, our heirs are weak and I am the only one left in my generation, and Yu'er has no brothers or sisters to support, even if there is another son in the future, Yu'er is a girl's family after all, and she will always get married. A son will eventually die I don’t even have a brother to help me.” After finishing speaking, he paused and said, “I just wanted to go and have a look first, and if it’s okay, I’ll build a school for the clan. Those two branches are not densely populated, so if you can help Help me, maybe my son will have someone to help me in the future." After hearing this, Jia Min nodded in agreement, although he was disapproving.

When Daiyu came to the room, Lin Ruhai and Jia Min were already waiting. Daiyu didn't know Lin Ruhai's plan and decision, so she had obvious displeasure on her face. Li, she snuggled up to Jia Min and didn't speak. Jia Min didn't think much, thinking that she was tired and didn't have a good rest, so she asked someone to prepare a meal, but Lin Ruhai knew that her daughter was in a mood, but also Without explaining, just smiled and the family went to the flower hall for dinner.

Daiyu was a little angry because she didn't talk to Lin Ruhai yesterday, so she didn't serve Jia Min porridge and serve Lin Ruhai vegetables as usual. She just picked chopsticks from her own bowl and didn't eat much. Feeling listless after eating, he asked, "Is Yu'er uncomfortable there?" Daiyu didn't answer, and Jia Min said to Lin Ruhai, "Why don't you invite a doctor to come and have a look?" Lin Ruhai sighed and didn't answer Jia Min said to Daiyu: "You still have to eat well, and I won't take you with you when you go to the clan in a while." Hearing this, Daiyu immediately looked at Lin Ruhai with bright eyes, and asked, "Daddy?" Are you talking about going to the clan?" Lin Ruhai laughed and said: "Yes, go to the clan, it will take some time for the clan to go outside the city, and if Yu'er doesn't eat well, she will not be able to catch up." It was funny after saying that Looking at Daiyu, who can't stop nodding with bright eyes.Although Jia Min felt a little strange, but Daiyu seemed to be in better spirits, so she didn't think about it any more.Daiyu seemed to have regained her vitality suddenly, she clipped one for Jia Min and another for Lin Ruhai, the couple shook their heads helplessly and said nothing more.

Daiyu quickly finished her meal, and urged Lin Ruhai to leave quickly. Lin Ruhai was originally scheduled to go to Shangfeng's house to pay New Year's greetings, but she also handed over the post, so she didn't dare to delay any longer.

The population of the clan is small, only a dozen or so families. It seems that the descendants of the Lin clan are very thin, not just Lin Ruhai.Seeing Lin Ruhai's arrival, most of the people in the clan were surprised, and because everyone was white, but Lin Ruhai had an official position, so they invited the ancestors of the clan, one of Lin Ruhai's uncles.The old man was over 80 years old, and he walked out tremblingly supported by his two grandsons.

Lin Ruhai met this great-uncle when he was a child. At that time, his grandfather would ask people to send property to the clan every year, or to buy sacrificial fields to repair the ancestral house, and the clan would also send earthen rituals to the family every year.Most of them are managed by this great-uncle.And when I was young, I sat on the shoulders of this great-uncle.Seeing that the old man now has white hair, white eyebrows and white beard, although he looks energetic, his eyes are already cloudy.Lin Ruhai couldn't help but sighed and stood up, then knelt down and kowtowed to the old man respectfully: "Cong nephew Lin Hai, I pay my respects to Cong uncle." After thinking for a long time, he said, "Are you the grandson of Brother Xiuyuan? Xiao Haizi?" After hearing the old man's words, Lin Ruhai felt sour for a moment. How many years has anyone mentioned his grandfather Lin Xiuyuan again?How many years have no one called me Xiao Haizi?When I think of my childhood, my uncle would bring me some gadgets from the market every time he came to the house, and I feel warm in my heart.Then he choked up and said, "Yes, uncle, it's Xiao Haizi who came to see you." Then he called Jia Min and Daiyu over, pointed to Jia Min and introduced, "This is Xiao Haizi's daughter-in-law, Mrs. Jia " Then he pointed to Daiyu and said, "This is Xiaohaizi's daughter, whose baby name is Daiyu." The two kowtowed to the old man in a proper manner, and the old man smiled and said, "Okay, okay! Hurry up Get up and let me see." After speaking, he turned to look at Lin Ruhai and said, "Where is the kid? Why didn't you bring the kid?" In a word, Jia Min's heart tightened, and Lin Ruhai said sourly: " Last year, I was ill and didn't stay." After finishing speaking, he lowered his head and did not speak.When the old man heard this, his eyes seemed to sharpen a little bit and he said: "What's going on? I know the situation in your family. It won't be left alone to take care of it. Why did it disappear?!" Daiyu and Jia Min met, stared at Lin Ruhai with a serious face and said, "Brother Xiuyuan can't lose his inheritance!" After finishing speaking, he gave Jia Min a hard look, Jia Min felt aggrieved and bitter, but he couldn't say no. Daiyu saw it, and couldn't help but clenched Jia Min's hand. Jia Min felt better from Daiyu's comfort and support.Lin Ruhai also had bitterness in his mouth, but he lowered his head and said nothing more.At this moment, the old man's son came out, supported the old man himself, and said, "The child feels bad without Xiao Hai, so father, stop talking. If it's Chinese New Year, let's go home first." After speaking, he winked at the two nephews , The old man didn't say anything else, nodded and pointed to his son and said to Lin Ruhai: "This is my eldest son, your uncle Tao, you met him when you were young, and even hugged you." After seeing Lin Ruhai and Lin Tao With the support of his son, Li Cai took a step ahead.

Seeing that the old man left first, the grandson of the old man came up and bowed to Jia Min and said, "Hi, sister-in-law, don't mind if you don't listen to me when I'm old." Jia Min nodded and squatted down as a return , Daiyu was very well-behaved without being introduced and said: "Hello, Uncle Tang!" The voice was crisp and very pleasant.The man returned with a smile, walked up to Lin Ruhai and said, "Brother Hai hasn't come home for many years, go home first, sit down and talk if you have anything to say." Lin Ruhai could only nod and pat him on the shoulder, sighing. He took a deep breath and followed him.

Jia Min and Daiyu were taken to the backyard to meet those female clan members, but Lin Ruhai herself went to the main hall.There were not many people in the main hall, there were only about twenty people, but it was the male members of the Lin family who had already arrived. Seeing this, Lin Ruhai couldn't help feeling a little bit sad that the loss of the Lin family had nothing to do with the lack of children.Lin Ruhai saluted first with his uncles, and then sat down with everyone after receiving the courtesy of his juniors.

Most of the people in the family are also sensible people. They have been with Lin Ruhai's family for five years and have not moved around for many years. There must be a reason for today's visit. However, seeing that the ancestors did not speak and the people did not mention it, they only talked about daily life. This is also Lin Ruhai. What he wanted to know, so he asked the boys present about their studies one by one. The Lin family is a scholarly family, and although no one in the family except Lin Ruhai has become an official, the accumulation of hundreds of years should not be underestimated. It is not bad to be rich and powerful, and all the disciples in the old family have studied. Lin Ruhai was very satisfied after hearing this, and then asked how to study, and learned that it was just an inheritance from father and son.Then he stood up and bowed to his uncle, saying: "Ruhai knows that today's visit is very abrupt, and my uncle and all the uncles and brothers also have a lot of guesses in their hearts, Ruhai doesn't beat around the bush. , but Ruhai’s surname is still Lin, and I can’t write two characters of Lin in one stroke, and my Lin family has few children, so we should help each other. Moreover, most of the children in the family are eager to learn and make progress. In a school, invite famous teachers to teach the children of the clan, no matter whether you become an official or heir to the family in the future, it is all right. I don’t know what the uncle thinks." After finishing speaking, he did not get up.

Everyone in the hall was surprised when they heard Lin Ruhai's words, but the old man sat in the hall with tears in his eyes, watching Lin Ruhai say three good things in succession!Seemingly too excited to be a little breathless, the children and grandchildren stepped forward to hold their chests and handed water, and it took a long time to work smoothly.Seeing that Lin Ruhai was still standing bowed, he asked his grandson to help him up and said, "It's so good that I can't write two characters of Lin in one stroke! Everyone in the family must also remember this!" After taking a breath, he said: "Little Haizi wants to establish a school in the clan to teach his children, this is a good thing, and I have no reason why I shouldn't."

Seeing that the old ancestor agreed, the young Lang Ju in the hall was overjoyed, and even the middle-aged people were all smiling.Lin Ruhai also said: "It doesn't have to be the children of the clan, but relatives and old relatives. All the diligent and motivated children in the neighbors' families can go to school, regardless of whether they are rich or poor. If the poor children are exempted from all training, those with excellent grades will be subsidized."

Hearing what Lin Ruhai said, the old man was even more satisfied in his eyes, and everyone in the hall was also full of admiration.

Without waiting for everyone to think about Lin Ruhai, he changed the subject and said, "However, I will conduct spot checks on my studies every three months, and even if I can't come in person, I will send people to come to spot checks. After leaving the school, I will never teach again. If I learn well, I can also recommend you to go to Taowu Academy, or we don’t know if our own academy will grow up in the future." After speaking, he looked straight at Congzuzu.But seeing the satisfaction in his uncle's eyes was no longer on his face, his heart fell to the ground.

There was no one who refused in the hall, so Lin Ruhai took out a 3000 tael silver ticket and said, "First of all, find a piece of land and build a house. I don't want to be elegant, but I want it to be bright and clean." Handed it to Lin Tao, Lin Tao looked at the three silver bills of one thousand taels each, and hurriedly refused: "You can't use these! The land belongs to the clan. I thought that since you have such an idea, you might as well give up the house next to the ancestral hall. If you clean it up, it will be enough. Our family has a small population, and there are not many relatives and old relatives. Even if the children from the neighbors come, it is enough to expand two houses in the back."

Lin Ruhai's heart warmed when he heard this. Now that the money he got is not too much to refuse, and his expression is very sincere and serious. It doesn't seem like he is pretending to shirk, and he doesn't accept the money. He just said: "Just build the school spacious Liangtang, the materials are better used. I will spend 3000 taels each year for the academy to repair the buildings and buy books. When the academy is completed and the children are enrolled, I will send subsidies according to the number of poor children. "After finishing speaking, he took 2000 taels of silver notes from the housekeeper Lin Zhong and handed them over, saying: "Here, 1 taels are bought for the sacrificial land, and 5000 taels are used for the daily maintenance of the ancestral hall. Half of it will be used for the maintenance of the academy, and I will send people to send 1 taels every year in the future, as an addition to the land for sacrifice." After finishing speaking, before Lin Tao could speak, he bowed to the old man and said, "Uncle, please forgive me. Xiao Haizi is now in the officialdom and can't help himself, so he has to rush to Shangfeng's house for a while, so he can't stay longer, and he will come to see you when he has time." Hearing that Lin Ruhai is leaving, the old man's face is full of displeasure: "Why are you not here? Have a meal at home?" Lin Ruhai felt helpless, and hadn't planned to come here long ago, but he couldn't say that now, so he said, "You can't refuse an invitation from Shangfeng." Hearing what Lin Ruhai said, the old man also nodded helplessly and said: " Go, come back often. I'm old, and I don't have a few days to live." These words reminded Lin Ruhai of his long-dead grandfather. You must take care of your health, this time I came here to prepare some medicinal materials, if there is anything missing, just send someone to find me, but there is no one in the mansion for a while, Xiao Haizi also located his uncle to look for it." Seeing Lin Ruhai speak calmly and earnestly, only this After a while, everyone in the kung fu hall was full of affection for him.

Lin Ruhai resigned from the old man, and Lin Tao led him into the second gate to greet his aunts and uncles, and picked up Jia Min and Daiyu by the way.

After Lin Ruhai's family left, Lin Tao's daughter-in-law gave Lin Tao the gift list from Lin Ruhai's family for review. Lin Tao was shocked when he saw it, and hurriedly took the gift list to the old man. When Brother Xiuyuan was around, he also sent truckloads to the clan. It was only after Xiao Haizi’s father went to the capital that he lost contact with his family. They haven’t come over for so many years. The last time he came back in a hurry was also when his mother was buried. At that time, there were many obstacles in the clan. I don’t think Xiao Haizi didn’t bear any grudges when he came here now. He was giving generous gifts, running a school, and buying land for sacrifices to repair the ancestral hall. It must have been difficult. Take the things first, The things that need to be done are also done as soon as possible. If there is nothing to do in the future, everyone should move around frequently. Although our family does not cling to them, Xiao Haizi said it well. I have something to ask you, even if I'm not here, you have to help as much as possible." After speaking, the old man closed his eyes to rest and stopped talking, but the expression on his face was particularly sad.For a moment, Lin Tao didn't know what to say, so he had to withdraw quietly.

(End of this chapter)