I'm in the Red Mansion

Chapter 72: Grandmother Jia scolds Lady Xing

When Jia Cong heard Qingwen's question, his childishness suddenly came to him and he decided to whet her appetite.

He didn't know that Yuanyang had actually been there a long time ago, and now everyone in the room knew that he had won the first place in the exam.

Now, seeing that he was still pretending and acting like he hadn't done well in the exam, the girls held back their laughter and joined him in the act.

"Master Cong, is that so? Did you really not do well in the exam? Actually, it's nothing. After all, you have only been studying for a few months."

"Now that you have passed the county exam for the first time, you have already won the first place. This is already an extremely rare thing. What else can you not be satisfied with, Third Master?"

Qingwen's words left Jia Cong dumbfounded.

He couldn't help but ask, "Qingwen, you, you guys knew about this a long time ago?"

Qingwen couldn't help laughing and said, "Yes, Third Master, Sister Yuanyang came just now and told us the news that Third Master had passed the imperial examination!"

Jia Cong said speechlessly: "Since you already knew it, why are you still asking? Are you deliberately trying to tease me?"

Qingwen smiled and said, "I saw that Third Master wanted to act, so I came here specially to cooperate with him."

"By the way, Third Master, the old ancestor asked you to go to the front after you come back!"

"By the way, Sister Yuanyang also said that the old ancestor was very unhappy because you did not tell her the news before the county exam!"

Jia Cong nodded and said, "I understand. I'll go to the front right away."

"Oh, Qingwen, find someone to tell the master and the mistress the good news. Don't go by yourself. Don't let the master see you."

Jia She was a lustful and absurd man. Even Yuanyang, who was beside Lady Jia, almost couldn't escape his clutches.

If Qingwen were seen by him, old Bi Deng might cause trouble, so it is better not to let Jia She see her.

When Qingwen heard Jia Cong's instructions, she immediately understood his good intentions, and a layer of mist covered her eyes.

She nodded and said, "Third Master, I understand. Please go to the front quickly."

Jia Cong nodded and walked towards the front yard.

Soon, Jia Cong arrived in front of Rongqing Hall.

Immediately, a little girl opened the curtain and shouted, "Master Cong is here."

As soon as these words were spoken, there was a moment of silence in Rongqing Hall.

Jia Cong walked into Rongqing Hall and bowed to Grandmother Jia, saying, "Grandson pays homage to the old ancestor. I kowtow to the old ancestor and wish him the best of health and happiness."

Looking at the tall and handsome Jia Cong standing in the hall, Grandmother Jia suddenly felt dazed.

After not seeing him for a few months, I feel that Brother Cong has grown up a lot and has a good appearance.

Grandmother Jia couldn't help but ask, "Brother Cong, I just want to ask you, why didn't you inform me in advance of such a big thing as the county exam?"

"We didn't know about this until the people who were reporting the good news came to our house. It almost made the whole Rongguo Mansion look bad!"

"Don't you think highly of us elders?"

Lady Jia's accusation is both serious and light.

Everyone in the room couldn't help but look at Jia Cong, wanting to hear how he would answer.

Jia Cong said, "My dear, how many days have I studied? I just wanted to gain some knowledge this time, and I never thought I could pass the exam."

"I thought that if I told my ancestors in advance, it would be almost impossible for me to pass the exam. After the results are announced, not only would my ancestors be disappointed, but I would also lose face."

"So I decided not to tell the old man and take the exam quietly. If I fail, I will just pretend I never took the exam."

"If you pass the exam, it won't be too late to report to the old ancestor and make him happy."

"Unexpectedly, the person who brought the good news arrived before my grandson came back from checking the list, which made the old ancestor feel embarrassed. This is all my grandson's fault. I hope the old ancestor will forgive me."

What Grandmother Jia wanted was just a step. Hearing Jia Cong say this, Grandmother Jia could not help but change her anger into joy and said: "You have good intentions, but it is not worth anything."

"When you go back, just study hard and try to pass both the provincial and academy exams in one go, and get the title of a scholar first."

"If you need anything, just come to me and ask for it. Don't be distracted by these trivial matters."

Jia Cong hurriedly thanked him and said, "Yes, the old ancestor ordered me to do so. I have taken note of it."

After talking for a while, Jia Cong stood up to leave, and Grandmother Jia did not try to keep him.

On the way back, Jia Cong couldn't help but think that he had ranked first in the county examination, which had improved the old lady's attitude towards him.

But the situation didn't improve much. For one thing, he wasn't even invited to have dinner.

Although Jia Cong was not interested in such a meal, it could explain many things.

In Rongqing Hall, not long after Jia Cong left, Mrs. Wang got up and left.

Jia Baoyu then felt uncomfortable and left.

The rest of the people dispersed.

Grandmother Jia sent someone to call Jia She and his wife over.

After Jia She and his wife arrived, Grandmother Jia drove everyone out of the room.

Grandmother Jia looked at Madam Xing and asked, "Old lady, I called you here because I want to ask you something."

"Have you paid the full amount of the monthly allowance to Cong'er and his mother over the years?"

Mrs. Xing wanted to say that they had all been distributed to them.

But the old lady called them over and asked them about the matter in person, so she must have known something.

Therefore, after thinking for a while, Mrs. Xing had no choice but to kneel on the ground and said guiltily, "Mother, I want to save the monthly allowance from their house for Cong'er so that he can use it when he gets married."

"Therefore, more than half of their monthly allowance is kept with me."

Grandmother Jia asked with a sullen face, "Is that so? Then when you go back, give all the money you have saved to them. You won't need to save it for them in the future."

"Also, from now on, I will give Congge'er 20 taels of silver every month so that he can study well. You are not allowed to think about this money."

Hearing this, Mrs. Xing was so ashamed that she couldn't raise her head.

Jia She was also extremely ashamed and angry. He glared at Mrs. Xing fiercely, knelt down and said:

"Mother, no matter how wrong I am, it's all my fault for not managing the household properly. Don't worry, mother, this kind of thing will never happen again."

Grandmother Jia couldn't help but say, "Brother Cong is a promising scholar. I don't ask you to pay too much attention to him. I just hope you don't delay his studies, and I will be satisfied."

Jia She and his wife nodded quickly in agreement.

On the way back, Mrs. Xing was extremely ashamed and angry.

Her mother-in-law pointed out to her in person her behavior of embezzling the concubine's son's monthly allowance, which left her with no dignity at all.

If he had any shame, he would have no choice but to hang himself when he returned.

How could Mrs. Xing not be angry?
She didn't dare to resent Lady Jia, or even if she did, it would be useless.

He took out all his anger on Jia Cong.

After returning to the big house, Mrs. Xing couldn't help but fan the flames to Jia She:

"Master, Cong-ge took the Tongsheng exam without telling you in advance. It's obvious that he doesn't care about you."

(End of this chapter)