Red Mansion: Bastards rule the roost

Under night, dozens of large and small ships took advantage of the tide to land at Clam Harbor in Huai'an Prefecture.

There were hundreds of people on the boat. One person on the bow saw three lanterns hanging in the shape of a glyph on the treetops on the shore. He smiled and waved his hand, and the others rushed ashore.

There were already three or four people on the shore holding lanterns to greet him.

"But General Treader?"

In the shadow of the lamp, you can vaguely see this group of people wearing strange clothes and strange expressions. Some are wrapped in pieces of cloth, and some are wearing exotic colors;

Although some were wearing Han Chinese clothes, they were women's clothes, colorful, crooked and inappropriate; some were barefoot, some wore clogs, some wore straw sandals, and some wore leather boots.

Most of them had ugly haircuts, exposing their half-moon bald heads, which looked like toilet bowls.

"I am, who are you?"

The general who stepped on the wave was wearing a foreign warrior uniform, with a long sword hanging from his waist. He spoke in blunt Chinese and looked at the visitor up and down.

"My master specially ordered me to greet the general and present a map of the coastal area, which marked the distribution of troops at each coastal defense station and the location of each wealthy market town, for the general's advice.

Two other boys who are familiar with the place are sent to guide the general. "

The words were a bit complicated and the man couldn't understand them, so a Han man next to him hurriedly translated them for him.

"Hey Xi, that's great. Have you prepared your retreat?" General Treading said.

"When the general arrives, my master will prepare the ship at the agreed place. In addition, as agreed, the general is asked to keep 30% of the proceeds from this robbery as a reward."

General Treading the Waves nodded slightly and said, "It's a deal."

"Just ask the general to start hunting from this port."

Looking at the lights coming from the Han settlement near the port not far away, General Treading a smile appeared on the corner of his mouth and led hundreds of people to sneak over.

In an instant, fire broke out in the port market, and screams and sinful laughter tore through the night sky.

In the blazing fire, it was clearly visible that this group of bandits were short and powerful, had strange weapons, and looked crazy. Their descriptions and behaviors were very different from those in the Central Plains. They shouted in the language of birds, and they were actually Japanese pirates.

There were also many Han people among them, who mixed in and helped the tyrants.

Almost at the same time, banditry suddenly broke out in Yangzhou, Suzhou, Changzhou and other places.

Overnight, the fertile and prosperous land in the south of the Yangtze River was devastated by military disasters and wailed everywhere.
-

In Jinling City, there are still a group of orioles singing and dancing, silk and bamboo are melodious on the Qinhuai River, cruise ships are weaving, the fragrant wind is floating, and the boundless wind and moon are swaying.

In Rongguo Mansion, the atmosphere dropped to freezing point.

Jia Cong laughed and said, "What are you doing sitting here, moving chopsticks? Sister Bao, try this crappy duck letter to see if it matches your aunt's craftsmanship."

Li'er, try your favorite squirrel mandarin fish, does it have the flavor of Yangzhou?

I was afraid that the food would be stale, so I ordered the chef of Xuanwu House to bring the ingredients and cook it freshly in our kitchen. "

Baochai was calm and Daiyu was lazy, saying nothing and not moving his chopsticks. They just looked at him, which made Jia Cong look embarrassed and shut up.

Sister Feng covered her mouth and snickered, standing on the bank with great interest, not speaking, only watching Jia Cong's jokes.

Qingwen smelled the aroma of the vegetables and moved her index finger long ago, but the two mistresses did not move their chopsticks. She dared not move, so she could only glare at Jia Cong. It was all the fault of the third master, who was always picking flowers and messing around, causing me to starve.

Chu Chan had expected it, and her emotions were brewing in an instant. Her beautiful eyes were suddenly covered with mist, and she was about to cry. She bit her lips tightly, with a miserable look on her face, a pitiful look, which was touching.

Seeing that she was about to start performing, Jia Cong quickly waved his hand and ordered the girls to leave.

"Miss Bao, Miss Lin, it's just me who is shameless and shameless in pestering Brother Cong. Please listen to me. If you want to be beaten, punished or kicked out in the future, please do as you please. I will obey your orders." Chu Chan said slowly. .

Jia Cong said hurriedly: "Sister-in-law, why do you say this? Sister Bao and Li'er are both well-known and educated. If you have anything to say, it's okay to say it." Although his acting skills are not good, he can still be a sitter.

Chu Chan nodded slightly, looked at the two girls, and said sadly: "Others say that I am the eldest grandma of the Zhen family. I wear gold and jade, have a lot of servants, enjoy all the glory, and have an honorable status. I must be the happiest woman in the world...

But I don’t know that I would rather be born in a poor family and eat chaffy vegetables than suffer this humiliation. "

This was a good start. Jia Cong secretly praised it. He glanced at Bao and Dai secretly and saw that the two of them were indeed aroused with some curiosity.

However, the two women were both extremely smart people. Although they were curious, they suppressed their silence and did not want Chu Chan to control the rhythm of the conversation.

Jia Cong didn't dare to be too obvious, so he glared at Sister Feng and signaled her to say something.

Sister Feng sneered slightly and ignored him.

Jia Cong's eyes moved between her chest and abdomen, showing a bit of warning, and a lewd smile appeared on the corner of his mouth.

Sister Feng blushed, knowing his "tiger and wolf nature", and if he didn't obey, he would be rewarded, so she had no choice but to surrender in shame and anger.

He opened his mouth and said, "I don't understand what Chan'er said. The Zhen family is one of the best in Jiangnan. You are the direct eldest grandma, so what else are you lacking?"

Chu Chan glanced at Sister Feng gratefully, lowered her head and shed tears: "Sister Feng should know that a daughter-in-law from a wealthy family may not always be as happy as she wants.

Ever since I married into the Zhen family, I have served my parents-in-law, sisters-in-law, and sisters. I have been cautious in everything and acted cautiously, for fear of breaking the rules and decency and making the old lady and ladies unhappy.

Zhen Ji, however, regarded me as if I was nothing, and continued to sleep among flowers and willows. At first, he would visit me once or twice in a month, but in recent years, he has stopped visiting me.

When old ladies and ladies asked about it, they said that I was jealous because I couldn't give birth. "

Jia Cong sighed: "Brother Zhen is really overdue."

Sister Feng felt the same way and sighed: "Which of our gentlemen is not eating from the bowl and looking at the pot? Even if you marry a fairy daughter at home, it will only last ten and a half months, and it will be like the wind in a stable."

Jia Cong nodded secretly. Sister Feng was very helpful. Seeing Baochai and Daiyu looking at each other, he hurriedly said, "Look what I'm doing. When did you hear that I was acting like a fool outside?"

It's not that he doesn't want to hang out outside, it's just that the sanitary conditions are poor these days. If he gets sick, he'll be doomed.

Bao and Dai ignored him, secretly thinking that you weren't hanging around outside, you were just messing around at home.

Chu Chan continued: "What Sister Feng said is that if it is just like this, I will grit my teeth and get over it.

Later, Zhen Ji didn't know how to control and take care of himself, and his health gradually deteriorated. On the outside, he still looked like a handsome young man, but on the inside, his temperament had changed drastically.

In the dead of night, he often beat me, scolded me, humiliated me and abused me. "As he spoke, he sobbed softly.

Jia Cong secretly laughed in his heart, Zhen Ji is so cowardly that he dares to beat and scold you? It’s true that the more beautiful a woman is, the better she is at lying.

According to intelligence, Zhen Ji did not dare to see Chu Chan in private for fear of being humiliated by her with a gun and a stick.

Daiyu couldn't help but ask: "Miss Chan, Zhen Ji's own health is broken. What does it have to do with you? Why did he beat you and scold you?"

After all, Baochai knew something about human affairs, so he guessed a bit. His face turned red, and he hurriedly tugged at Daiyu's skirt under the table.

Daiyu realized that she had made a mistake and quickly closed her mouth.

Chu Chan's face turned red and she looked like she was hiding something.

Only Jia Cong and Sister Feng here understand.

"Sister Feng, please explain to Qi'er." Jia Cong raised his eyebrows with a bit of a smirk.

"Bah, what bastard words do you want me to say? There's no need to taint the girl's ears." Sister Feng spat.

Jia Cong said sternly: "Although this matter is disgraceful, if we don't explain it clearly, wouldn't it mean that my sister-in-law would be innocent of her grievances? Sister Bao, Zhu'er, you are girls, but you don't know anything about husband and wife.

After some men's foundation has declined and their prowess has waned, they don't think about their own faults, but instead take their anger out on others. The most unlucky ones are their wives.

They are often humiliated and tortured arbitrarily to show their masculinity and enjoy such perverted happiness. "It's really unreasonable!" The Zhen family is also a home of scholars and officials, which is disgusting! "Daiyu scolded with an angry look on her face.

Baochai also looked angry, obviously very angry at Zhen Ji's "evil deeds".

Chu Chan sobbed: "Thank you, Miss Xie, for speaking up. As the saying goes, when you marry a chicken, follow the chicken; when you marry a dog, follow the dog. I married into the Zhen family only to blame myself for my bad luck, and I don't blame others."

Bao and Dai felt sad after hearing this, and felt a little more sympathy and pity for Chu Chan. This is the sorrow of women in the world. The two of them looked at Jia Cong at the same time.

Jia Cong hurriedly shook his head and swore to the sky, indicating that he was definitely not like this.

Just listen to Chu Chan continue: "If it's just some beatings, scoldings and humiliations, that's it.

But lately, Zhen Ji has been harboring despicable and evil thoughts. I really can't bear it. I often think about dying, but I'm afraid that the Zhen family will anger my natal family, so I don't dare to die.

I just hope that if I can't survive and die, when I can't afford to fall ill and die, the sky will open my eyes and save me the suffering of life. "

As he spoke, he burst into tears and covered his mouth tightly with a handkerchief.

Everyone was busy comforting him.

Bao and Dai were pitiful, angry and curious, but they didn't dare to ask, they just looked at Sister Feng.

Sister Feng had no choice but to say: "Sister Chan, what kind of monster is Zhen Ji doing?"

Chu Chan shook her head and said: "It's really shameless to talk about this matter. I'm afraid it will insult the reputation of my sister-in-law and the girls, so I might as well not say it."

Daiyu was quite chivalrous and said angrily: "Just say what you say! If it is something that is harmful to nature, we will definitely...let Brother Cong make the decision for you."

Baochai smiled helplessly, silly girl, I've been waiting for your words. Although she knew it in her heart, she also sympathized with Chu Chan and wanted to help.

Jia Cong said hurriedly: "Qi'er is right, Cong should be the one to fight for his sister-in-law's injustice."

Chu Chan glanced at everyone, seemed to have made up her mind, and said softly: "Thank you for your great kindness.

Just because Mr. Zhen Ji has no heirs, he is anxious. He is afraid that when the master passes away, the family fortune will not fall into his hands, so he wants to have heirs first for the future..."

Everyone nodded, this is human nature.

Jia Cong said: "My sister-in-law said before that Zhen Ji is in bad health. I'm afraid it will be difficult to have an heir."

Chu Chan had a look of shame and anger on her face and said: "That's true. Zhen Ji knew that he was incompetent, so he made a crooked idea and actually asked me... to let me... borrow seeds from others."

After saying that, he fell on the table and cried loudly, his shoulders shrugged, and he burst into tears. I felt pity for him.

As soon as these words came out, it was like a thunderbolt from the blue, shocking Sister Feng, Baochai, Daiyu, Qingwen and others to the point of being stunned, ashamed and angry.

They never imagined that Zhen Ji would do such a shameless and shameless thing. It was really shameless! Not a son of man!

Only Jia Cong secretly admired Chu Chan's ability to tell stories, which was much better than his own. Such treasonous and unscrupulous things were really exciting.

"Human face and animal heart!" Baochai spat.

"Beast in clothes!" Daiyu gritted her teeth.

"Beast!" Sister Feng slapped the table.

"Not human!" Qingwen cursed with red eyes.

Seeing that everyone was filled with indignation, Jia Cong hurriedly said: "Sister-in-law, don't cry. How can we stand by and watch my sister-in-law fall into the fire pit?"

Chu Chan raised her head, her eyes were red, she wiped her tears and said: "Recently, there is not a day that goes by that I don't look forward to dying early and being reborn early, but ants still cherish their lives, let alone humans?

I was already desperate, thinking that if I could drag it out day after day, I would just take the medicine and die. Unexpectedly, Brother Cong suddenly arrived in Nanjing, which gave me another glimmer of hope. "

"What solution did Miss Chan come up with?" Baochai asked.

Chu Chan nodded and said: "The last time I came to visit, I begged Brother Cong for mercy. With his power, I finally got the Zhen family to relent and agree to make peace with Zhen Ji.

My father was afraid of offending the Zhen family, and said that I had dishonored the family tradition, so I was not allowed to go home.

I was homeless and desperate, and I thought that Brother Cong had the virtue of rebirth for me and had nothing to repay. I wanted to be a slave for the rest of my life to repay his great kindness, so I shamelessly came to ask the girls and sisters-in-law to be kind to me. "

After saying that, he stood up, walked to Bao Dai and bowed down, and presented a piece of Li Shu.

"Miss Chan, please get up quickly. How can this happen?" Bao and Dai were startled and hurriedly helped her.

Chu Chan cried and said: "I have no intention of breaking up. I just ask the two girls to show mercy and allow me to have a place to stand. My wish is enough to end this remaining life."

Bao and Dai hurriedly said: "What are you talking about? My sister has suffered so much. Are we heartless people? We are not allowed to say this again.

What's more, it's not our turn to make the decision regarding Rong Mansion. "As they spoke, they stared at Jia Cong, bastard, you haven't said a word yet.

Jia Cong looked "helpless" and sighed: "Every family has its own scriptures that are difficult to recite. Since my sister-in-law has nowhere to go, Cong should support her for the rest of my life, but he is not allowed to say anything about repaying his kindness. Isn't Cong trying to repay his kindness?" people?"

Sister Feng secretly spat, dirty seed, getting an advantage but still acting like a good boy.

Chu Chan quickly rolled her eyes at Jia Cong, and then said: "You two girls, although I am not an innocent person, I am at least free and will never cause trouble to Brother Cong. Please take a look."

"Sister's words are serious. How could we mean this? Even if sister doesn't speak, when we learn about this, we must let Brother Cong save our sister from the fire pit." Bao and Dai took the letter, glanced at it, and returned it. To Chu Chan.

"Thank you girls for your kindness." Chu Chan burst into tears of gratitude.

Bao and Dai hurriedly comforted her with gentle words. They sympathized with Chu Chan's experience, but also felt a little aggrieved. They couldn't help but glare at Jia Cong. This bastard knew how to take advantage.

Jia Cong hurriedly spread his hands to apologize, showing that he was innocent, and then glared at Sister Feng. Why not smooth things over?

Sister Feng rolled her eyes at him angrily, stood up and went to help Chu Chan.

He smiled and said: "Okay, okay, one day the dark clouds have dispersed. From now on, we will just live our lives. Why bring up the bad things in the past? Our happiness is more important." He helped Chu Chan back to her seat.

"What Sister-in-law Feng said is that we won't mention the past anymore. Sister Chan escaped from the fire pit. She should just laugh. Why cry." Jia Cong comforted her.

Chu Chan can be called a master of emotional management. She wiped away her tears, smiled like a flower in full bloom, and raised her glass: "Brother Cong said, I borrow flowers to offer to the Buddha, and give you a toast. I will be grateful to you for the rest of my life. "

"Sister, you're welcome." Everyone raised their glasses together.

Seeing Jia Cong's uncontrollable joy, Baochai and Daiyu couldn't help but roll their eyes at him, and the fox's tail was finally exposed. Little did they know, there were three foxes joining forces across from them.

Jia Cong was very happy when he saw that Chu Chan had played this scene from beginning to end and easily handled Baochai and Daiyu with her Oscar-level acting skills. He smiled and said, "I've been talking for a long time and I'm already hungry. Use your chopsticks."

Sister Feng smiled and said, "The dishes are already cold. I'll tell the kitchen to make new ones."

"Okay." Jia Cong smiled and nodded.

As soon as Sister Feng got up, she heard Yan Shuangying shout loudly outside the door: "Third Master, the Jinyi Guards are calling urgently!"

Jia Cong frowned slightly. If it wasn't an urgent matter, Yan Shuangying would never bother him while he was eating.

"Come in and talk."

As one of the two commanders of the personal soldiers, Yan Shuangying is qualified to enter the palace.

Sister Feng and others hurriedly took refuge in the inner room.

Yan Shuangying came in with Wen Youfang.

"What's the matter?"

"Your Excellency, I suddenly received an urgent report from thousands of households across the country. It was said that water bandits on Taihu Lake and the Grand Canal, green forest bandits such as Bison Ridge, Laohu Ya, Heifeng Village and Japanese pirates were looting and plundering everywhere. They destroyed the county, burned, killed, raped and looted. The force was huge and the disaster was severe. This is a detailed report." Wen Youfang submitted several secret reports. (End of chapter)