Red Mansion, Ningfu Scholarly Family

Chapter 206 Engagement Process
……

After coming out of the grandfather's yard, he didn't rush to study, but went to the garden.

At this time, after more than half a year of construction, the garden has already taken shape. According to Mr. Shan Ziye's estimate, it will be completed in another half a year.

The originally estimated 300,000 taels of silver were basically enough. After all, it was not the original novel's family retreat, so some places did not need such high standards, so the cost was less. However, the scenery was not lost in any way where it should be.

Just as they reached a rockery, they saw Jia Qiang, Jia Qin, Jia Zao and others coming towards them with smiles on their faces, each waving a folding fan in their hands, looking very elegant.

"Brother Rong."

"Hello, Brother Rong."

"Brother Rong, come and play too."

"Haha." Jia Rong laughed and said, "I heard that the county school exam is here. Did you pass the exam?"

Jia Qiang smiled awkwardly and said, "I almost got it right...Brother Rong, can we not talk about studying? Why don't we go out and have a drink? I'll treat you, brother."

"Yes, we invite big brother."

"Hehe, I heard that there are two new prostitutes in Jinxiang Court. Brother Rong has been studying hard at home and hasn't heard about them yet. Do you want to..."

good good!
For the sake of this family, I studied very hard, and I was almost ready to study hard. But you guys are all having fun, right?

Jia Rong's face straightened, and he said in a cold voice: "Studying is useless, but you are all good at idleness, and you have even learned to visit brothels. You are all rich, right?"

"Ah, this..."

"Brother Rong, we are just having fun..."

"Yeah, let's go back to study now."

Seeing that Jia Rong looked unhappy, the three men tried to find excuses to cover it up.

Jia Rong waved his hand and said, "Go back to study quickly, or I will punish you one by one, without your help, Master!"

In the past two years, with the prosperity of Ningguo Mansion, each family in Beijing has been able to get a lot of benefits after the rent during the New Year and festivals as well as in spring and autumn. As a result, many families have gradually developed a lazy and gluttonous character, spending their days eating, drinking and having fun, just waiting for the Ningguo Mansion's share of the profits.

This cannot continue.

As the eldest branch of the Ningguo Mansion, although it has the obligation to take good care of the children in the family, it does not mean that they can indulge them in pleasure.

"Oh, there's one more thing." Jia Rong said seriously, "In a couple of days I'll ask the teachers in the school to organize a monthly exam. The top ten will get an extra 50% of the spring rent this year. The rest will get half the rent, and the last ten will get nothing this season."

"You guys go back and pass on the message."

"That's what I said."

Profit sharing is halved!

No profit sharing!

Several people had bitter looks on their faces.

Who would want to study hard when they can just play around? But this new rule is really too terrible.

The three of them walked to the back street with their heads down. Jia Qin said, "Brother Rong is too cruel. The annual rent of Ningguo Mansion is like a mountain of gold and silver, and what we get is just a drop in the bucket. And yet he still wants to deduct money!"

"Hehe, stop talking nonsense. Brother Rong is doing this for our own good. I'm going back to study." Jia Zao said as he turned and left.

Jia Qiang also quickly took two steps back, moving a little further away from Jia Qin, and frowned as he said, "Are you drunk? How dare you say such a thing? When Big Brother Xinrong finds out, he'll give you a good beating!"

Jia Qin hurriedly said, "I was just talking casually. Don't be upset. Just treat it as a fart. How about that?"

"Just pretend I didn't hear it this time." Jia Qiang left quickly.

You dare to be dissatisfied with Brother Jia Rong. You must be tired of living. You should stay away from him in the future and don't drag yourself down.

Jia Qin stood blankly at the door for a long time, then raised his hand and slapped himself in the face.

"I'm stupid!"

"Why can't you control your mouth?"

……

Not to mention how worried Jia Qin was.

Let’s talk about Jia Rong. He took a walk in the garden, relaxed for a while, and then followed the path to Rongguo Mansion.

He plans to go see Aunt Lin.

Long time no see, I miss you very much.

When he was almost at Lin Daiyu's yard, he met another person.

It’s Dabaoyu.

When Baoyu saw Jia Rong, he sneered, "Rong'er, what are you doing here? Be careful not to tarnish your knowledge!"

Jia Rong smiled and said, "Your place? Is this your home? How come I don't know?"

"You, huh! If this isn't my home, then whose home is it? Could it be your home as well?" Jia Baoyu said unconvinced.

Jia Rong smiled and said, "Isn't this Master She's residence? Of course, it is reasonable for you to live here, but don't confuse the primary with the secondary."

After saying that, he walked towards Lin Daiyu's yard.

Jia Baoyu was so angry that his face turned pale. He watched Jia Rong enter Lin Daiyu's courtyard and shouted anxiously, "Rong'er, do you know how to behave?"

How dare you, a young man, do this!
Jia Rong turned his head and smiled: "You want to tell me about etiquette? Second uncle, go back and memorize the Book of Rites first."

"What the hell!"

Jia Baoyu took off the jade from his neck and threw it to the ground!

After a long while, no one came.

Baoyu silently walked forward, picked up the jade, and put it in a random rock corner.

"Baoyu, Baoyu."

"Now I am no longer Baoyu, and no one cares about Baoyu anymore. Just go back to where you came from!"

"Our fate has ended!"

……

Lin Daiyu's courtyard.

Zijuan was standing on tiptoe to hang out the clothes. When she saw Jia Rong coming in, she smiled and said, "Master Rong, how come you have time to come out today?"

Jia Rong smiled and asked, "Where is your daughter?"

Zijuan pointed and said, "Inside, Miss Bao is here, playing chess with our girl."

The "Miss Bao" usually refers to Xue Baochai.

The Miss Qin was referring to Baoqin.

When he walked into the room, he saw the two men playing chess under the window. They all looked at Jia Rong and said with a smile, "What a strange day! How come they came out after studying so hard behind closed doors?"

Jia Rong sat on the chair, looked at the two of them and said, "It's done. You don't have to stay in seclusion anymore. If you stay in seclusion any longer, it will be too much and you might even become a nerd.

Then he made a blank expression.

Lin Daiyu burst out laughing, and put the chess piece in her hand down randomly, covering her mouth and saying, "He is just playing tricks! Sister Bao, please make fun of him."

Baochai smiled, threw the chess pieces into the chess box, stood up and said, "I have something to do at home, you two can talk."

"what's up?"

Lin Daiyu stood up, held Baochai and said, "Sister Bao didn't tell me what happened at home when you came here. Besides, the game of chess hasn't been finished yet, how can you leave halfway?"

Jia Rong said, "That's right, why are you leaving right after I arrived?"

"Ah."

Baochai nodded, looked at Jia Rong and said, "You come today, and I'll come tomorrow."

"As for this game of chess..." Baochai looked at Lin Daiyu and smiled, "Your heart is no longer in the game of chess. My victory was unfair. Let's play again tomorrow."

Having said that, he lifted the curtain and walked out.

Jia Rong and Lin Daiyu looked at each other.

"How did I offend her?"

Jia Rong said in confusion.

Lin Daiyu said, "I was just wondering, how did you offend Sister Bao? Did you offend her at any time?"

"Absolutely not." Jia Rong said seriously, "As you know, I have been studying hard in the Imperial College recently. I just came back yesterday and came to see you today."

Lin Daiyu listened and nodded, "Did he come back last night?"

Jia Rong said, "Noon."

Lin Daiyu: "What did you do this afternoon?"

Jia Rong: “…”

"I was called over by the master to question him all afternoon. When I came out, it was already dark. I had planned to come and see you, but I was afraid you wouldn't let me in because it was getting late."

"Oh?" Lin Daiyu chuckled and said, "When did you become so polite?"

Jia Rong smiled and said, "Of course you will understand it naturally because you have read so much." As he spoke, he was about to put his arm around Daiyu's shoulders.

Waist, I dare not start.

Lin Daiyu tapped Jia Rong lightly and said, "I just said you were polite, but now you are making trouble again. If you want to talk, sit down and let's talk properly."

Jia Rong: "Okay, please come in, aunt."

Lin Daiyu gave Jia Rong a glare and said, "Be serious!"

Is there a nephew who treats his aunt like this?

What book are you reading?

Jia Rong said seriously: "Sister, please!"

Lin Daiyu was satisfied then. She sat on the chaise longue under the window, rubbing the hair on her chest in silence.

Jia Rong didn't say anything either, just looked at Lin Daiyu.

"What have you been watching me for?"

Lin Daiyu said this with some dissatisfaction.

He usually talks so much, but now he doesn't say a word, which makes people feel awkward.

Jia Rong smiled and said, "I haven't eaten yet."

Lin Daiyu said, "Why didn't you tell me earlier? I asked Zijuan to ask for it."

"No need." Jia Rong shook his head and said with a smile, "You are also well-read. Haven't you heard that beauty is a feast for the eyes?"

Lin Daiyu's face turned red.

He lowered his head and said nothing.

As she gets one year older, the girl in her prime has become a little more sensitive.

She felt that Jia Rong was going to do something bad.

Sure enough, Jia Rong left his seat and walked over.

Lin Daiyu looked up and asked, "What are you doing?"

"nothing."

Jia Rong sat down next to Lin Daiyu and said seriously, "There is something you don't know yet." Seeing that Jia Rong was serious, Lin Daiyu asked quickly, "What is it?"

Jia Rong said, "The engagement process."

Lin Daiyu said, "How could you not know? You underestimate me. Don't think you are the only one who has read a lot of books."

Some time ago, she accidentally flipped through a book that contained a relatively detailed explanation, and she took note of it.

Of course, she shouldn't read such books, but it doesn't matter when she tells Jia Rong.

Jia Rong said, "Then tell me."

Lin Daiyu said: "First, we need to propose marriage."

Jia Rong: "And then?"

Lin Daiyu: "Then we asked for the names and exchanged the marriage certificates."

"Oh."

Jia Rong nodded: "And then what?"

Lin Daiyu said: "Then there are small gifts and big gifts."

Jia Rong: "And then?"

Lin Daiyu: "Please wait."

Jia Rong: "And then?"

Lin Daiyu: "To welcome the bride."

Jia Rong: "And then?"

Lin Daiyu: "Bow to heaven and earth."

"Ha ha ha ha."

Jia Rong laughed.

"What are you laughing at!" Lin Daiyu tapped Jia Rong lightly: "That's what the book says, don't laugh!"

"Okay, I won't laugh anymore." Jia Rong stopped laughing and said, "What about next? Is it in the book?"

Lin Daiyu waved her hand: "...no more."

Jia Rong: "You don't know?"

Lin Daiyu blinked: "You know?"

In fact, she also knew.

But she just didn't say it!

I said, I fell into Jia Rong's trap.

Jia Rong said: "Of course!"

Lin Daiyu: “What?”

Jia Rong: "Husband and wife bow to each other."

Lin Daiyu hit Jia Rong again: "Your behavior doesn't count. When a couple bows to each other, they are bowing to heaven and earth."

Jia Rong: "Then let me tell you another one."

Lin Daiyu: “Speak!”

Jia Rong smiled and said, "Does this count as a wedding night?"

Lin Daiyu picked up the handkerchief, covered her face and said, "Bah, you are not ashamed."

Jia Rong took the opportunity to hug Aunt Lin's slender waist.

Lin Daiyu froze for a moment, moved her handkerchief down, and only looked at Jia Rong with her big eyes.

Jia Rong took a deep breath and said, "I know what's next."

Lin Daiyu: "Anything else? What?"

Jia Rong: "Give birth to a child."

Lin Daiyu was so ashamed that she buried herself in Jia Rong's arms, not daring to look up.

"No, Rong'er."

Jia Rong held her for a while without moving, until Daiyu recovered. Then he gently let go of her hand, pulled her sleeve and said, "What a nice smell! What's that?"

Lin Daiyu breathed a sigh of relief.

"What kind of fragrance? I don't use any incense."

Lin Daiyu snatched the sleeve.

Jia Rong didn't let go: "Let me see."

Lin Daiyu let Jia Rong do as he pleased and said, "Look, she doesn't take any fragrant pills, so where does the fragrance come from?"

Jia Rong pinched Lin Daiyu's little arm. It had been well maintained in the past two years. Although not as plump as Baochai's, it was fair and tender.

"Hehe, stop looking up!"

Lin Daiyu was ticklish and pulled her hand back.

"Shy."

"Just go away, you just come here to bully people!"

Jia Rong smiled awkwardly.

That’s right, they come here to bully people.

Did nothing else.

"Crash."

The curtains outside rustled a few times.

The two knew that Zijuan was coming in.

If someone else came, Zijuan would definitely shout: So-and-so is here.

Lin Daiyu adjusted her hair and saw Zijuan coming in.

"Master Rong, Ping'er came to see you just now and said that your classmates from the Imperial College are waiting in the study outside."

"Oh."

Is Xie Jiwen here? Does he really want to study with me at night?
Yeah.

Only by learning from each other can we make progress.

"I gonna go see."

"Ah."

Lin Daiyu nodded.

"By the way, this is for you."

As he said this, he went to the bedside and took out a fan pendant and handed it to Jia Rong: "Last year's one is old, change it to this one."

"Thank you."

Jia Rong took it and put it in his arms.

Zijuan chuckled and said, "Mr. Rong is so polite. Is this respectful to each other?"

"Pooh!"

Lin Daiyu spat and said to Zijuan, "If you don't know how to use words, don't speak. This is a waste of time."

"Who needs him to thank?"

After saying this, he glanced at Jia Rong.

Jia Rong suddenly understood.

"Yes, yes, this is what you should do."

"You're welcome."

Lin Daiyu pushed Jia Rong and said, "Go, go, meet your classmates, and stop bullying others."

……

Outside study.

Jia Rong looked at the person who came, surprised and suspicious.

Xu Lian!

Jia Rong: “…”

Xu Lian smiled gently.

"Brother Shunzhi, I'm sorry to come and visit you."

"Um, Brother Xu, sit down."

"Come here, serve some tea."

"No."

Xu Lian waved her hand and said with a smile: "I have something to ask Brother Shunzhi today, please come with me."

"what's up?"

Jia Rong asked.

Xu Lian smiled and said, "You'll know when you get there."

"Ok."

Jia Rong agreed.

Xu Lian has devoted herself to Qingshe. If she has any problems, I have no choice but to help her.

"Brother Shunzhi, please."

"Brother Xu, please."

As the two of them walked out of the door, they saw a person standing in the opposite corner, dodging and evading. Who else could it be but Xie Jiwen?
Jia Rong looked at Xu Lian: "You two came together? Why didn't he come in?"

Xu shook his head: "I'm not with him, why does Brother Xie look like..."

Got beaten!
His nose was bruised and his face was swollen.

No wonder he's hiding in the corner.

"Thank you, brother!"

When Xie Jiwen saw the two of them going out together, he was a little hesitant at first, but he quickly covered his face and turned around.

"Xie brother, what's wrong?"

……

(End of this chapter)