The Red Chamber begins with a bastard

Chapter 528 A sudden sense of belonging
There were waves of happy events, gongs and drums were beating, firecrackers were blasting, and the noise from Rongguo Mansion soon attracted everyone on Ningrong Street, blocking the street and making it even more lively than the Chinese New Year.
"Tsk tsk, what a grand ceremony! I heard that the son of Master Zheng, the second son of the Rong family, won the first place in the imperial examination. It's true that a noble son is born in a rich family."

"As expected of a noble man born with a jade in his mouth, he carries auspiciousness with him. It's not surprising that he won the first prize."

"Haha, wrong, wrong, the winner of the imperial examination this time is not that person, but the illegitimate son, who ranks third. Didn't you hear the messenger announce that Master Jia Huan passed the imperial examination? The one you mentioned is called Baoyu. Although he is a legitimate son, he is not good at studying. He spends all day hanging out with women in the backyard. He has not even passed the county examination yet. How can he win the imperial examination?"

"So that's how it is. Haha, I thought it was Baoyu, but it turns out to be a piece of stone. But then again, the East Mansion was confiscated some time ago, and the West Mansion's eldest house was also confiscated and stripped of its title. It is also rumored that the Jia family owes hundreds of thousands of taels of foreign debt and has to dismiss the slaves and stop paying them monthly wages. I was just thinking that the Jia family was going to be ruined, but I didn't expect such a remarkable person to appear."

"That's because you don't understand, brother. A powerful family like this that has existed for hundreds of years has deep roots, so how could it fall so easily? Let's not talk about anything else. There is also a royal concubine in the palace. Unless they are plotting a rebellion, they will be in danger even if they die. But then again, this Jia Huan is an anomaly. It is said that he was very naughty and didn't like to study since he was a child. Who would have thought that he would suddenly be enlightened by a god. Just one month after he started writing, he took the county examination and won the first place. Then he couldn't stop and won the first place in the prefectural examination and the imperial examination in one go. Then he won the first place in the provincial examination and the first place in the metropolitan examination. He won five yuan in a row. Tsk tsk!"

"This person might have been enlightened by the gods, or it might be the spirits of the two Dukes Rong and Ning. If it weren't for the protection of the gods, how could such a family of founding dukes and marquises produce two dukes? It shows that the Jia family is not doomed yet, and there is divine help!"

The crowd of onlookers were whispering and discussing the merits of the Jia family, when suddenly someone shouted, "Make way, Master Zheng, go back home."

It turned out that Jia Zheng had returned, and Li Shier and four other followers were arrogantly leading the way. The Jia family servants guarding the door also hurried forward and drove the onlookers to both sides of the street.

At this moment, Jia Zheng was sitting in the carriage, looking at the crowds of people around him and listening to the words of praise floating out of the window. He couldn't help feeling happy and proud, and all the gloom since the beginning of the year was swept away.

The carriage finally arrived at the door, Jia Zheng got off the carriage with a solemn look, and a group of people immediately surrounded him. They were the group of retainers that Jia Zheng had kept, such as Zhan Guang and Shan Pinren. Since the Jia family was raided, this group of people had disappeared, but now they appeared one by one, like frogs that had just ended their hibernation.

"Congratulations, Master Zheng!"

"Great joy, great joy, congratulations, old master. I have long seen that Huan Ge is extraordinary. The voice of a young phoenix is ​​clearer than that of an old phoenix. He will be something special in the future. Now it has come true."

"That's right, Huan'er won five prizes in a row. He is a gifted scholar from heaven. Of course, it is also due to Master Zheng's good teaching."

Although Jia Zheng had seen through the true colors of these guys, he still felt a little flattered when he heard the disgusting compliments, and he stroked his beard and said a few humble words.

At this time, the housekeeper Lin Zhixiao hurriedly came forward after hearing the news, bowed and said, "Congratulations, sir, congratulations, sir, the wedding attendant has been welcomed in, shall we open the ancestral hall to offer sacrifices to the ancestors next?"

"Of course I have to..." Jia Zheng suddenly remembered that the Jia family's ancestral hall was at Ningguo Mansion, and now Ningguo Mansion has been confiscated and there is a seal on the gate.

Jia Zheng was embarrassed now. Even if he had ten times the courage, he would not dare to remove the seal and go in to worship the ancestors. So he changed the topic and said, "Let's wait until Huan Ge'er comes back. By the way, has Huan Ge'er come back?"

"Not yet. Mr. Huan San is drinking with his classmates in Zuiyuezhai now. I'm afraid he won't be back until the afternoon." Lin Zhixiao replied.

Jia Zheng nodded and said, "It is time to invite my classmates. I will go to see the old lady. You can take care of the outside for the time being."

After Jia Zheng finished speaking, he entered the mansion and went straight to the back house to pay his respects to Jia's mother. Just after he said a few words, someone came from outside to report: "Eunuch Xia from Fengzao Palace is here."

Eunuch Xia was Xia Shouzhong, the senior eunuch who served Jia Yuanchun. Jia Zheng did not dare to neglect him and hurried out to greet him and personally invited Eunuch Xia into Rong Xi Tang.

This eunuch Xia was about fifty years old, with a fair face and no beard. As soon as he met me, he smiled and said, "Congratulations, Master Zheng. When the queen heard that Huan'er had won the first place in the imperial examination, she was very happy and specially gave him a pair of brush washers, two top-grade Hui inkstones, and two top-grade sheep-hair brushes."

Jia Zheng knelt down immediately to express his gratitude, and had someone give Eunuch Xia a reward of two hundred taels of silver. As the saying goes, it is easy to see the King of Hell, but difficult to deal with the little devils. This guy has an unusual appetite and usually sends people to the Jia family to extort money. Now that he has come in person, Jia Zheng naturally dared not give less.

Eunuch Xia received the reward and said with a smile, "In addition, the emperor also praised Huan'er in front of the imperial concubine. The imperial concubine took the opportunity to ask for the emperor's permission to allow the Jia family to offer sacrifices to the ancestral temple."

Jia Zheng was surprised and happy. He knelt down again to thank the emperor for his grace. At the same time, he quickly sent someone to tell his mother Jia the good news. Everyone was happy for a while, except for a few people, such as Mrs. Wang and Wang Xifeng.

…………

Let's talk about Jia Huan. After reading the list, he set up a banquet in Zuiyuezhai and sent fast horses out of the city to pick up the headmaster Sun Chengzong and the old headmaster Ye Gao. Finally, Sun Chengzong came, but the old headmaster Ye Gao declined on the grounds of his age. However, he asked Sun Chengzong to bring a handwritten calligraphy to Jia Huan as an encouragement.

This calligraphy is exactly the motto of Diecui Academy: Establish a mind for heaven and earth, establish a destiny for the people, carry on the lost knowledge of the ancient sages, and create peace for all generations.

Jia Huan naturally understood the purpose of Ye Gao giving him this calligraphy. He solemnly took it from Sun Chengzong and immediately gave it to Mu Ye to find someone to frame it. Jia Huan still had great respect for this wise elder.

The celebratory drinking lasted until the afternoon, when everyone dispersed. Jia Huan returned to the gate of the Jia Mansion, still a little drunk. The brothers Lin Zhong and Lin Fu had already received the news in advance, and had lined up in front of the door with the male servants to wait for him. As soon as Jia Huan's carriage arrived, a bundle of firecrackers with 100,000 bangs were immediately lit. It can be said that they had invested a lot of money.

Crackle, bang... Amid the deafening sound of firecrackers, the main gate of the Jia Mansion opened wide. A group of servants cheered joyfully and surrounded Jia Huan as he entered the mansion like stars surrounding the moon.

To be honest, Jia Huan has never had much sense of belonging to the Jia family, but at this moment he couldn't help feeling a little moved and even developed a sense of home.

As the saying goes, a friend in need is a friend indeed. After the Jia family has gone through this ordeal, the slaves who are able to stay at this time are undoubtedly relatively loyal. Traitors like Lai Da and Lai Er have been kicked out. Of course, the most important thing is that the black sheep like Jia She and Jia Zhen have been cleaned up.

"Third Master, the master is waiting for you in the study." Lin Zhixiao said in a low voice.

Jia Huan asked curiously, "Master, are you dismissed so early?"

"Actually, the master returned home in the morning." Lin Zhixiao said with a smile.

Jia Huan immediately understood. This person probably asked for leave again. No wonder Lin Zhixiao dared to open the middle door to welcome him. It turned out that Father Zheng allowed it. An indescribable emotion surged in his heart.

"Hmm!" Jia Huan hummed softly and walked towards Mengpo Zhai. Suddenly he turned back and said to the servants, "I almost forgot to announce one thing. Starting from this month, the monthly salary will be restored."

The servants were stunned for a moment, and then burst into thunderous cheers, running around to tell each other, what a double happiness!

Jia Huan smiled comfortably, turned around and walked towards Mengpo Zhai. As soon as he reached the door, Li Shier came up to him happily, saying "Congratulations, Third Master" all the time, even omitting the word "Huan". This was the treatment of a legitimate son.

Although Jia Huan disliked Li Shi'er, he was in a good mood today, so he gave him a bunch of money and asked, "What are you doing, Master?"

Li Shier was flattered and said quickly, "The master is chatting with the guests. I will go in and report them now." After saying that, he went into the house in a flash.

Jia Huan couldn't help but be speechless. Didn't these guys who lived off the table run away? Why did they come back again?

In just a dozen breaths, Li Shier ran out again and said with a smile, "Master, please let the Third Master in."

The word "please" was obviously added by him himself. Not to mention Jia Zheng's strict father nature, even an ordinary person would not use the honorific word "please" to his son.

When Jia Huan entered Mengpo Zhai, he saw Zhan Guang, Shan Pinshi, Cheng Rixing, Bu Guxiu and other retainers, all of whom were present.

"Haha, Brother Huan is back." The guests stood up one after another, saluted with smiles on their faces, and congratulated Jia Huan.

Jia Huan had no choice but to entertain some guests, and then he walked up to Jia Zheng and saluted. Jia Zheng nodded leisurely and asked, "Have you had any drinks?"

"I had a few drinks with the dean and my classmates." Jia Huan replied.

"Well, go see the old lady and the lady first, and then go to the ancestral temple to burn incense. Fortunately, you, this evil creature, have done well and did not bring shame to our ancestors. Otherwise, you would not be ashamed to offer sacrifices to our ancestors now. Go quickly!" Jia Zheng waved his hand and said.

Jia Huan left Mengpo Zhai and went straight to Jia's mother's room. All the servants he met on the way were delighted and stopped to greet him. It was obvious that they were respectful and grateful from the bottom of their hearts. It was estimated that the news of the restoration of the monthly salary had spread.

"Master Huan San is here, hehe!"

As soon as Jia Huan stepped into Jia's mother's courtyard, he heard bursts of laughter like silver bells. Then he saw Chai, Dai, Qin, Yun, Sanchun and other girls coming out from the house. There were also maids serving them. It was really a scene of chirping birds, beautiful flowers and green willows.

"Look who is this? The Five Yuan Talent is back?" Shi Xiangyun giggled.

Jia Huan secretly broke into a cold sweat, luckily he wasn't a five-cent talent!
Lin Daiyu's eyes were full of tenderness, and she seemed to be hesitant to speak. Xue Baochai smiled without saying anything, dignified and gentle. Jia Tanchun excitedly stepped forward and held Jia Huan's hand, and said with red eyes: "Congratulations, brother Huan!"

The girls also congratulated him. Jia Lan, with a mature look, bowed and said, "Congratulations, Uncle Huan."

"Congratulations, Third Brother Huan!" Jia Cong also stepped forward to congratulate him. Although Jia Baoyu was reluctant, he could only reluctantly step forward and say, "Congratulations, Third Brother Huan!"

Jia Huan smiled and thanked them one by one, went into the house to greet Jia Mu and others, and then went to Ningguo Mansion to worship the ancestral temple.

(End of this chapter)