The Red Chamber begins with a bastard

Chapter 543 Private decision for life
Lin Daiyu's heart had long been set on Jia Huan, and she regarded him as her lifelong support. But yesterday she unexpectedly heard the news that Jia Huan and Xue Baochai were about to get married. It was like a bolt from the blue, as if the sky was falling. She recalled the scene when her father held her hand and handed it to Jia Huan before his death. She felt heartbroken and self-pitying, and almost cried until dawn. When she saw the sky getting brighter, the grief in her heart was beyond relief, so she carried the flower hoe and the brocade bag of flowers and went to the place where she usually buried flowers.

At the end of March, the peach and plum blossoms are about to fade, and the ground is covered with fallen petals, which evokes the melancholy of spring and autumn. Thinking that people are like spring flowers, with a short youth, faded beauty, and fleeting life, and ultimately nothing more than the withering of flowers and the death of people, this poet composes this sad and moving "Song of Burying Flowers".

Lin Daiyu was filled with sorrow and melancholy. She buried the brocade bag full of fallen flowers with soil, and sang "Burial of Flowers" with tears in her eyes. Her sincerity and heartfelt words seemed to move those who heard it. Even the birds in the trees seemed to be infected. They stopped singing and just turned their heads to look at the girl burying flowers under the tree.

Jia Huan had been familiar with this poem "Song of Burying Flowers" in his previous life, but now that he was personally experiencing it, he truly felt the sadness and sorrow in Lin Daiyu's heart when she recited this poem. He couldn't help but feel wet in his eyes. He felt heartbroken and puzzled at the same time. He didn't know what had happened to cause Lin Daiyu such a blow.

"Sister Lin, what are you doing here?" Jia Huan came out from behind the tree and called softly.

Lin Daiyu was burying the soil in the pit. When she heard the sound, her body trembled. She turned around and saw Jia Huan standing not far behind her. There seemed to be tears in his eyes, and he was looking at her with pity and heartache.

Lin Daiyu's heart trembled, and the grief and indignation in her heart suddenly burst out like a dam, and tears welled up in her eyes. She spat, "I was wondering who it was, it turned out to be you, the cruel and short-lived one..."

When she mentioned the word "short-lived", Lin Daiyu hurriedly stopped talking and turned her head to wipe her tears silently with her handkerchief. Seeing this, Jia Huan felt even more distressed and guilty. He stepped forward and gently hugged Lin Daiyu's shoulders, which were slightly shaking due to sobbing, and said softly: "My dear sister, what happened?"

Lin Daiyu twisted her waist and shook Jia Huan's hand off, saying angrily, "Don't touch me. What do you think I am?"

Jia Huan stood there in embarrassment, while Lin Daiyu felt even more miserable. She picked up her hoe and was about to leave. Jia Huan hurriedly stopped her and said, "Sister Lin, you can leave, but you have to tell me why you are angry with me, right? Even if you want to be executed, you have to read out the charges in public, right?"

Lin Daiyu was originally filled with grief and indignation. Seeing Jia Huan's anxious face flushed, he was far from his usual calm and composed self. She couldn't help but feel moved and bit her lip and said, "You really don't know?"

Jia Huan said anxiously: "If I knew this, I would be struck by lightning and would be in great trouble..."

"Don't talk nonsense. If you don't know, then you don't know. Why make such a vicious oath to humiliate yourself?" Lin Daiyu interrupted nervously.

Jia Huan smiled bitterly and said, "If Huan'er hadn't sworn an oath, how could Sister Lin believe me?"

"Who said I don't believe in you? You... will bully me." Lin Daiyu turned her pretty face to the side and wiped her tears silently.

Jia Huan held Lin Daiyu's hand and said distressedly, "Sister, what happened? Please tell me first."

Lin Daiyu pondered for a moment before she told him about the private conversation between Caixia and Feng'er that she had accidentally heard. She blushed and said, "I thought you knew, brother Huan, but you didn't know either. It seems that the elders made the decision."

Jia Huan suddenly realized what was going on. It turned out that Mrs. Wang had actually offered Sister Bao to be his wife. Wasn't Sister Bao her designated daughter-in-law? This turn was really puzzling. Did the sun rise from the west?

"I really don't know about this. Sister Lin, don't worry. I will ask the madam later." Jia Huan comforted her softly.

Lin Daiyu's pretty face flushed red, and she said lightly, "Who's impatient!" Then she lowered her head in a lack of confidence.

Lin Daiyu was so sad and miserable, how could Jia Huan not understand her deep love for him, so he opened his arms and hugged Lin Daiyu into his arms, saying softly: "Don't worry, sister Lin, I won't let you down. What's more, Uncle Lin entrusted you to Huan'er before he died. Sister will be Huan'er's for the rest of her life."

Lin Daiyu's face was flushed with shame and her heart was sweet. This time she did not break free from Jia Huan's hand. All the sorrow in her heart disappeared in an instant and she subconsciously put her pretty face in Jia Huan's arms.

Lin Daiyu had always been worried about losing something, but now after hearing Jia Huan's words, she felt as if she had taken a reassurance pill. She was so moved that she forgot her shyness and hugged Jia Huan tightly with both hands, murmuring softly, "Huan - brother!"

At this moment, flowers were falling and there was no one around. Jia Huan could not help but lower his head and kissed the two petals that were as fragrant as peach blossoms. Lin Daiyu felt dizzy all of a sudden, as if she had been electrocuted, and fell into Jia Huan's arms.

After a long while, the two separated. Lin Daiyu's pretty face was flushed as if she was drunk. She gently pushed Jia Huan away and said shyly, "Brother Huan, you... 嘤!"

Before Lin Daiyu finished her words, her mouth was occupied again, and she finally closed her eyes resignedly. Jia Huan savored it for a long time, and then he relaxed contentedly, saying softly: "Don't worry, Sister Lin, I will take care of this matter."

Lin Daiyu nodded shyly. Out of trust in Jia Huan, she did not ask him how he was going to deal with the situation. After all, Brother Huan was omnipotent.

After this experience, the last layer of window paper between Jia Huan and Lin Daiyu was broken, and their relationship was confirmed. Lin Daiyu's sorrow was swept away, and was replaced by sweetness and joy, and the late spring scene before her eyes became sunny and bright.

"Sister Lin's poem just now was very well written. It should be her masterpiece. Why not call it "Song of Burying Flowers"?" Jia Huan chuckled.

Lin Daiyu nodded and said with a blushing face, "I only wrote this because of you. Don't you think it's sad now? I can't write such a heroic phrase as 'Good winds often lend me strength and send me to the blue sky'."

Jia Huan laughed and said, "Sister Lin is so stingy, she still remembers this!"

Lin Daiyu snorted, "Your sister Bao is very generous. Anyway, the elders have already arranged everything. Why don't you..." Then her eyes turned red again. Jia Huan smiled bitterly and said, "Why do you keep mentioning sister Bao?"

"Why can't I mention it? I have to mention it!"

"You're anxious again when I mention her. Why don't I go tell the old lady that the person I want to marry is you, Sister Lin."

Lin Daiyu spat softly, then turned her eyes and said, "What about your sister Bao? She has you in her heart and thinks of you everywhere. She even helps you to drive away mosquitoes when you sleep and embroiders your bellyband."

Jia Huan said thoughtfully: "That's true. How about I marry you both?"

"You wish." Lin Daiyu tapped someone's forehead lightly.

Jia Huan laughed and said, "Who told you to tease me? I am not allowed to tease you back!" As he said this, he blew on Lin Daiyu's diaphragm.

Lin Daiyu was so amused by the squeak that she begged for mercy, "Brother Huan, please stop making trouble. Forgive me. I won't dare to do it again."

Jia Huan then stopped, Lin Daiyu smoothed her hair, glanced at him and said, "Bury the flowers and go back, Zijuan should be here soon."

As soon as she finished speaking, she heard the faint voices of Zijuan and Xueyan calling from afar: "Miss Lin!"

Jia Huan and Lin Daiyu looked at each other, hurriedly buried the fallen flowers, and then left the peach blossom forest talking and laughing.

Little did they know that not long after the two left, a person flashed out from behind the tree. Her face was like a silver moon, her lips were red without any makeup, her eyebrows were green without any makeup. She was dignified, elegant, gentle and generous. It was Xue Baochai.

It was obvious that Xue Baochai had seen what happened in the peach forest. Her pretty face was a little pale and her eyes were thoughtful. She stood there quietly for a moment and then went towards the direction of the Pear Fragrance Garden.

"Bao girl is here, I was just looking for you." Aunt Xue said happily when she saw Baochai, "The old lady agreed. In the future, your second son with Huan'er will be adopted by the Xue family to inherit the incense, so your marriage with Huan'er is settled."

Xue Baochai shook her head and said softly, "Mother, let's forget about this marriage... and don't mention it anymore!"

Aunt Xue was surprised and asked, "Why?"

"My daughter... doesn't want to get married anymore!" Xue Baochai's nose felt sore as she said this. Tears welled up in her eyes and she quickly turned away to hide them.

Aunt Xue was panicking and said, "What's wrong with you, Bao girl? You were talking so well before, why did you suddenly change your mind? But what did your brother, that bastard, say?"

As soon as the voice fell, Xue Pan jumped out from behind the screen, as if his tail was stepped on, staring and crying: "Mom, please don't wrongly accuse me. I didn't say anything this time, and the Jia family has already agreed to adopt the child, so the child can't object."

Aunt Xue thought so too, and hurriedly grabbed Xue Baochai's hand and said, "My child, what happened? Why do you suddenly say you don't want to get married?"

Xue Pan rolled his eyes and said angrily, "But Jia Huan doesn't want to? Yes, this kid has won the first place in the imperial examination and is now a sixth-rank official. He looks down on our Xue family, a merchant family. How dare he bully my sister, bastard? I'm going to settle the score with him right now."

Xue Pan's eyes were wide open and he was furious. He rolled up his sleeves and was about to go out to fight Jia Huan. Aunt Xue and Xue Baochai were so scared that they quickly stopped him.

Although Xue Pan was a rough man, he truly loved his sister. Seeing Baochai crying in grievance, his temper came up and he shouted, "Don't hold me back. If I don't beat the Third Brother to death, I won't be named Xue."

Xue Baochai was embarrassed and anxious, and cried, "Brother, please stop making trouble. It's me who doesn't want to get married. I don't like him!"

Xue Pan was stunned and asked suspiciously, "Really?"

Xue Baochai nodded with tears in her eyes and said, "Brother, can you please stop making trouble?"

Xue Pan couldn't bear to see his sister crying so hard, so he sighed and said, "Well, if you don't want to marry, then don't marry. With your good looks and character, you won't have to worry about not finding a good match. Fine, fine, let's not marry. Jia Huan is nothing, he is not worthy of you, my sister."

Then he said fiercely: "One day, when I, Master Pan, become successful, I will make this kid Jia Huan regret it!" After saying that, he turned around and left.

(End of this chapter)