The Red Chamber begins with a bastard

Chapter 502 You are the housekeeper
The charcoal fire in the inner room was burning very brightly. As Jia Huan came in, he felt the warmth on his face. He saw Grandmother Jia half lying on the bed, her upper body propped up with a pillow, her eyes slightly closed, as if she was half asleep. Only her personal maid Yuanyang was standing by her side, her eyes slightly red, revealing her true feelings.

As the saying goes, it is rare for a person to live to be seventy. Due to limited medical and health conditions, the life expectancy of ancient people was generally short, and it was very rare to live to the age of seventy. For someone like Lady Jia, who is seventy-five, it is definitely considered a long life.

Grandmother Jia is undoubtedly a very blessed person. She has enjoyed wealth and splendor in her life, with children and grandchildren around her and four generations living under the same roof. At the same time, Grandmother Jia is also a shrewd person. She is usually energetic, and it is easy for people to ignore the fact that she is already in her seventies. Now she has encountered a huge change in her family. Under the continuous blows, this hard-working and lucky old woman finally fell down. Her skin is wrinkled and her hair is gray. She looks like a candle in the wind, dying.

Jia Huan hesitated for a moment, then stepped forward, knelt down and saluted, saying, "Huan'er pays his respects to the old ancestor."

Grandmother Jia did not move, her eyes still slightly closed, as if she had fallen asleep. Yuanyang bent down, leaned close to her ear and whispered twice: "Old lady, Third Master Huan kowtows to you."

Grandmother Jia finally woke up from her dream, slowly opened her eyes, and looked at Jia Huan with cloudy eyes. After a while, she slowly focused her eyes and said weakly, "Huan'er is here, get up quickly, the ground is cold, be careful not to catch a cold!"

Jia Huan stood up as he was told, thinking to himself that this was not good. Grandmother Jia's condition was similar to that of Lin Ruhai back then. If she passed away at this time, he would not have to take part in the next imperial examination. He could just go to bed!
Because according to the rituals and customs of the Jin Dynasty, if one's parents passed away, one had to observe mourning for three years, and if one's grandparents passed away, one had to observe mourning for nine months. During this period, one was not allowed to marry or take the imperial examinations.

"Brother Huan, come here and sit next to me. I have something to tell you." As Grandmother Jia spoke, she gestured for Jia Huan to sit on the edge of the bed to show her closeness.

Jia Huan walked to the bedside and stood still, but did not sit down. To be honest, he really could not get close to Lady Jia. Although the old lady had been very nice to him since he returned to the capital from the south, the treatment he received was far different from before.

However, Jia Huan understood that what Grandmother Jia called kindness to him was just a means of appeasement. Before he traveled through time to become Jia Huan, the illegitimate son of Jia Huan was just an insignificant and transparent person in Grandmother Jia's eyes.

Similarly, after being exiled to Jinling, if I was not ambitious enough, failed to successfully break through the layers of shackles, make a big fuss, and finally pass the imperial examination, I believe that Grandmother Jia would continue to treat me as an insignificant and transparent person, and let me fend for myself in the south.

Therefore, Jia Huan does not have much affection for Grandmother Jia. The relationship between the two is more like a relationship of interests. Grandmother Jia is the actual person in charge of the Jia family, and as a descendant of the Jia family, Jia Huan needs Grandmother Jia's approval for many things to be legitimate. But for Grandmother Jia, Jia Huan is a rare seed of learning with potential and future, who can glorify the family and bring benefits to the family.

Seeing that Jia Huan was unwilling to sit on the edge of the bed, Jia's mother did not force him and asked, "The Spring Examination will be held in about ten days. How is Huan'er's study going? Are you sure you can pass it?"

Jia Huan wanted to give a conservative answer, but after taking a look at Jia's expectant eyes, he said, "I'm 90% sure."

Hearing this, Grandmother Jia said with a sense of relief: "That's good, my dear child. I feel relieved when you say this. I, an old woman, will not hold you back even if I have to. I will wait until you finish the exam before I die!"

Jia Huan was slightly startled, and Yuanyang turned pale. He said hurriedly, "The old lady is confused again. It's unlucky to talk about birth and death in the first month of the year."

Grandmother Jia sighed, "There is a saying in the streets: If an old man does not die, he will become a thief. I am almost seventy-six years old. I have lived enough. Why should I be afraid of death or life? If it were not for Huan'er's upcoming competition, I would have died cleanly now. The only thing I am afraid of is not being able to face my ancestors."

As Grandmother Jia spoke, she burst into tears. Yuanyang was both shocked and uneasy. She whispered consolation to her while wiping her tears.

Seeing the tears flowing from Grandmother Jia's cloudy eyes and sliding down her wrinkled old face, even Jia Huan couldn't help but be slightly moved. This scene was indeed very shocking.

Grandmother Jia was born into the Shi family of Baolinghou. Both the Jia and Shi families were founding heroes of the Jin Dynasty. When Grandmother Jia married into the Jia family, it was the heyday of both families. The marriage between Jia and Shi was a strong alliance and it was a glorious period.

However, as the saying goes, no one is good for a thousand days, no flower is red for a hundred days, and the kindness of a gentleman will be cut off after five generations. As time went by, the Jia and Shi families turned from prosperity to decline, and now their titles have been stripped, they are heavily in debt, and are in ruins.

Perhaps, living too long is not a good thing. After experiencing prosperity, one will naturally feel more sad when things go downhill. At the age of 75, Jia's grandmother witnessed the destruction of the family business that her ancestors had worked hard for with blood and sweat. The blow can be imagined.

Jia Huan hesitated to speak, and after a moment's silence, he consoled her: "Old lady, rest assured and take care of yourself. Don't let your imagination run wild. You can live to be a hundred years old, and you still have many days to enjoy happiness."

Grandmother Jia joked, "Then I really have become an old bastard."

Yuanyang smiled and said, "Whether she becomes a spirit or an immortal, I will also share some of the good fortune and become a guide fairy, a fortune-bringing boy, or something like that." Grandmother Jia was amused by what she said, and then looked at Jia Huan and said, "Brother Huan, you don't want to move your aunt back to the Jia family's ancestral tomb. You must be still angry. I know that."

Jia Huan said calmly: "Huan'er wouldn't dare!"

Grandmother Jia sighed, "I'm not afraid of getting angry if I say something you don't like to hear. Your aunt is also a restless person. If she were smart, it would be fine. Unfortunately, she loves to do stupid things. I don't like her, but she gave birth to a boy like you. It's her blessing."

Jia Huan felt a little uncomfortable, but he had to admit that Grandmother Jia's evaluation of Aunt Zhao was very pertinent. In order to monopolize the Jia family's property, Aunt Zhao tried to kill Lady Wang and Jia Baoyu. Although her method was stupid, her murderous intention was unyielding, so she was not a kind person. However, Aunt Zhao's love for Jia Huan was also unyielding, otherwise she would not have chosen to commit suicide by hitting a pillar when Lady Wang was planning to send her to the official for fear of implicating her son.

Grandmother Jia glanced at the silent Jia Huan and said, "Brother Huan, no matter how angry you are, the blood of the Jia family is still flowing in your body. This is a mark that you will never be able to erase. As the saying goes, a broken family is worth a thousand dollars. If the big tree of the Jia family falls, you will become a scattered monkey, a rootless duckweed... cough cough!"

Suddenly, Grandmother Jia started coughing violently. Yuanyang hurriedly picked up the spittoon and spat a mouthful of bloody phlegm into it.

Yuanyang put down the spittoon to help Lady Jia calm down, and gave her a sip of water, and the latter slowly calmed down.

While wiping the corners of Lady Jia's mouth with a handkerchief, Yuanyang secretly glanced at Jia Huan. Seeing that the latter had a calm expression and it was hard to tell whether he was happy or angry, she couldn't help but sigh inwardly that Third Master Huan was a little too hard-hearted.

At this time, Jia's mother said, "I heard that you sent away Sun Shaozu and Manager Qi who were collecting the debt, so Huan Ge'er must be very clear about the current situation in the mansion.

Dongfu Zhen'er had lost his ancestral title in his early years, and now not a penny was left in Dongfu. The ancestral house, fields, and servants were all confiscated by the government. You, Master She, also lost your title. Fortunately, the emperor showed mercy and only confiscated the wealth of this family, while the fields, houses, and servants are still there.

However, the two governments owed a debt of nearly 200,000 taels, and the ungrateful Lai family ran away with the money. This shows that outsiders are unreliable after all. Your father is busy with official duties, and there is no man in charge outside.

Huan'er, you may be young, but you have experienced a lot. You handled your uncle Lin's funeral very well, which is better than Baoyu. What I mean is that you have taken on foreign affairs during this period of time, and you have also shared some of the worries of your parents. If you can get through this, it will be a blessing for our Jia family."

After a long journey, Grandmother Jia finally revealed her purpose, which was clearly to have Jia Huan come out to temporarily manage the household, hoping to use Jia Huan's abilities to resolve the current predicament.

It has to be said that although Grandmother Jia is old and sick, she still has a clear mind. She also understands that in the whole mansion, Jia Huan is the only one who can shoulder the burden.

Jia Zheng had to go to court and had no time to manage the household. Even if he had time, Jia Zheng was not cut out to be a housekeeper. Grandmother Jia knew very well that she was such a mediocre son. She was too foolish and thin-skinned. When Sun Shaozu made a scene, he gave him money to settle the matter. When the first wife cried, he also gave her money to settle the matter. How could this be acceptable?
Not to mention anything else, the mansion now owes a huge debt. If the creditors come to collect the debt, Jia Zheng will definitely not be able to cope with it. Only someone with a decisive and ruthless character like Huan'er can turn the tide and help the Jia family overcome this crisis. As for Jia Baoyu, Jia Lan and others, they are not even considered by Grandmother Jia!

Jia Huan had already understood Jia's grandmother's intention at this time, and could not help but secretly admire the old lady's vision and courage. She actually dared to hand over the power of housekeeper to her illegitimate grandson. Although Jia She, Jia Lian and others were in prison now, there was still Jia Zheng and Jia Baoyu, the legitimate grandson, in the family, and Jia Baoyu was older than himself.

"What do you think, Brother Huan, you don't agree?" Grandmother Jia looked straight at Jia Huan.

Jia Huan shook his head and said, "As the saying goes, no egg can be left unbroken when the nest is overturned. Now that my family has been hit by a catastrophe, how can I stay out of it? However, I am young and a concubine's daughter, so I am afraid I cannot convince the public."

Grandmother Jia snorted, "If anyone disobeys, tell him to come to me. Although I am only half dead, I still have the energy to scold people."

Jia Huan said calmly: "In that case, Huan'er will give it a try. If it doesn't work, please don't blame me, old ancestor."

Grandmother Jia nodded and said, "Brother Huan, go ahead and take care of it. If you can make it through, everyone in the mansion will thank you."

At the same time, Grandmother Jia asked Yuanyang to call everyone in and announced in person that Jia Huan would be the manager of the household. She also explained that she could only take out 20,000 taels of silver from her own pocket at most, no more. Whether the hundreds of people in the family would be able to have food to eat in the future depended on whether Jia Huan had the ability to do so.

(End of this chapter)