The Red Mansion: From a Small Pawn to a Leader

Chapter 305 Uncle, Save Me
The sun has set to the west.

Grandmother Jia was a person who cherished the elderly and the poor. After the little actors had been singing for most of the day, she had people bring various fruits and snacks to the little actors to eat so that they could take a break and have some peace and quiet and chat about family matters.

After eating some snacks and fruits, the young actors took a break and listened to the instructions of the troupe leader, preparing for the next performance.

Just then, a man's voice came from outside the courtyard gate: "Hey, why don't you sing?"

The troupe leader, the little actors and the musicians all looked over.

Li Hu, dressed in casual clothes, strode over and said, "Keep singing, keep singing!"

Everyone looked at each other, who is this person?

Walking to the stage, Li Hu stopped, thought for a moment, and then said, "Let's do a 'Luxury Banquet'."

This opera troupe was sent by Wang Ziteng to congratulate Lady Jia. They had never been to Rongguo Mansion before, and had never met Li Hu. They didn't know what to do for a moment and just stood there in a daze.

Just then, Lin Zhixiao's wife came out with a few housekeepers' wives.

Lin Zhixiao's wife bowed and said, "Greetings, Uncle."

Li Hu looked at her with a smile. Everyone said that Lin Zhixiao and his wife were "deaf and dumb", honest and not good at speaking, but in fact they were wrong about them. This couple helped Wang Xifeng hide a lot of things.

In order to make a profit, Wang Ren not only secretly withheld the payment for goods that should have been paid to the Ministry of Internal Affairs, but also withheld the wages of the craftsmen. The hole was getting bigger and bigger and it was almost impossible to conceal it.

Lin Zhixiao's family: "What kind of play does Uncle want to listen to?"

Li Hu: "Let them sing 'The Banquet'." Then he turned and walked towards Lady Jia's room.

Lin Zhixiao's family immediately walked to the stage and said, "Sing!"

Everyone came to their senses at this point, and in a flurry of activity, a small drum began to sound, followed by a melodious flute sound that entered the upper room.

As soon as Li Hu came in, everyone present stood up except Lady Jia.

Li Hu walked forward with a smile and saluted Jia's grandmother. Before he could say a few words, Wang Xifeng came over with Jia Baoyu and Ping'er.

Wang Xifeng: "You are late and you have to drink a penalty drink."

"Second sister-in-law is right, give her three glasses of wine as punishment!" Big Face Bao followed suit.

Grandmother Jia looked at them with a smile but said nothing.

Li Hu looked at Wang Xifeng and smiled. This woman is becoming more and more daring. When Wang Ren's plan explodes, you'll be the one crying.

Seeing that Li Hu didn't say anything, Wang Xifeng became even more excited and waved her hand at Ping'er, "Mr. Li has a big appetite, change to a bigger bowl."

Before he finished speaking, Jia Baoyu asked the old woman for three large bowls and said with a sly look on his fat face, "Drink from this!" As he said this, he helped Wang Xifeng fill the three large bowls with wine.

Wang Xifeng smiled complacently: "Please."

Lin Daiyu glared at her.

"It's too big, change the cup." Even the honest Jia Yingchun couldn't stand it anymore.

Wang Xifeng probably didn't hear who was talking, so she just replied, "Why, are you feeling sad?"

Jia Yingchun's face turned red and she lowered her head in panic.

Wang Xifeng then reacted and was secretly regretting it when she saw Li Hu pick up the big bowl and drink three bowls in a row without blushing or breathing hard.

Shi Xiangyun clapped her hands and jumped up, shouting happily: "Brother-in-law Lin has a huge appetite!"

Everyone applauded and cheered, and the atmosphere instantly became lively.

Wang Xifeng was honored and offered a glass of wine to Lady Jia, then drank a glass with Lin Daiyu, and left triumphantly.

After talking to Lady Jia for a few words and greeting Lady Xing and Aunt Xue, Li Hu walked straight to Lin Daiyu and sat down.

Lin Daiyu blinked: "Why are you here?"

Li Hu smiled and said, "I'll accompany you to the opera and take you home."

How could Lin Daiyu not know that he was teasing her? But she was still very happy in her heart. She picked up the chopsticks and gave him a piece of meat. "This meat is delicious. Try it."

Li Hu took the chopsticks from Zijuan and ate the food while saying, "On the way back, I ran into Wang Ziteng. Baoning Hou and others were also there. I didn't offend him. I didn't go to Rongxi Hall. I went to sit with the eldest master for a while."

Lin Daiyu nodded and picked up some more dishes for him: "Those Western barbarians have been arranged."

Li Hu: “It’s arranged.”

Shi Xiangyun had been paying attention to this side. When she heard the words "Western barbarians", she immediately leaned over and asked, "Brother-in-law Lin, are there any Western barbarians?"

Li Hu swallowed the food in his mouth, took another sip of wine, and then replied, "Yes."

Shi Xiangyun said excitedly: "That's great!" Her voice was a little high, attracting the attention of Jia Mu and others.

Li Hu glanced at her: "What's wrong?"

Shi Xiangyun looked at Lin Daiyu.

Lin Daiyu stroked her forehead. She couldn't say such embarrassing words. Shi Xiangyun wrinkled her nose, then smiled and said, "I haven't seen the Western Yi people yet. Brother Lin, please call the Western Yi woman over and let me take a look."

As soon as these words were spoken, not only Yingchun, Tanchun, Xichun, Xue Baochai and Xue Baoqin, but also Jia's mother, Mrs. Xing, Aunt Xue and others looked at Li Hu.

Li Hu suddenly thought of the white meat and shook his head quickly.

At this time, Jia Baoyu came over with a smile: "Second Brother Li"

Li Hu said jokingly, "Why, you also want to see the Western Yi woman?"

Jia Baoyu nodded.

Li Hu looked at him and smiled: "Okay, I'll take you to see them in a couple of days, and let them teach you a foreign language."

Jia Baoyu nodded excitedly.

Shi Xiangyun was unhappy and hugged Lin Daiyu's arm coquettishly, "Sister Lin"

After spending nearly two years together, Lin Daiyu knew Li Hu too well and knew that something was going on. She didn't want to speak up, but Shi Xiangyun pestered her so much that she had a headache. After thinking for a while, she asked, "Is it inconvenient?"

Li Hu was in a dilemma.

Wang Xifeng's eyes flashed: "Don't lead our Baoyu astray!"

Li Hu raised his eyebrows. Lead him astray? This kid is really good at playing tricks.

Well, let them wear Hanfu and cover it up. Thinking of this, Li Hu couldn't help but give himself a thumbs up in his heart, so smart!
Li Hu: "What's the inconvenience? The weather is cooler now, and the little actors at home have almost finished their practice. In two days, we will host the old lady and the girls to visit the garden and listen to the opera. The first wife and concubines can also go!"

Mrs. Xing and Aunt Xue quickly agreed.

At this moment, Zhou Rui's wife came in and reported to Lady Jia, "Grandma, the eldest son of General Wu of Yuehai has come to Beijing. He has sent someone to present gifts and pay his respects." As she spoke, she handed over the gift list.

Wang Xifeng took it and unfolded it for Lady Jia to see.

Li Hu also remembered and said to Xue Baochai, "Miss Bao, where is your brother?"

Xue Baochai stood up quickly like a student whose homework was randomly checked by the teacher, and replied, "My brother has gone out of the city."

Li Hu: "Will he be back in the evening?"

Xue Baochai: "This."

Li Hu raised his hand and said, "Tell him not to go out these few days. I will find him anytime if I have something."

After a pause, he said, "Good thing."

Aunt Xue was delighted.

Xue Baochai agreed calmly.

Shi Xiangyun blinked her eyes, leaned close to Lin Daiyu's ear, and lowered her voice: "Sister Lin, don't you ask Brother Lin's husband?"

Lin Daiyu rolled her eyes at her and said, "Why are you worrying so much? What's there to ask? It's just about eating, drinking and having fun."

Although the words were soft, they clearly entered Li Hu's ears.

Li Hu was ashamed. Being too smart is not good!
In the twilight, Li Hu returned with a team of personal soldiers escorting Lin Daiyu's sedan chair.

From a distance, he saw a man first sitting in the corner of the wall opposite the mansion gate, and then standing up.

Li Hu: "Who is it?"

Wang Daniu was about to step forward but was stopped by Li Hu.

If there was anything wrong with this man, he would have been captured by the guards in front of the mansion gate long ago.

Li Hu walked closer and took a closer look.

The man was wearing a tattered long gown and a tattered bamboo hat on his head. His face was covered in dust and he looked extremely disheveled.

The man looked at Li Hu and didn't dare to go forward.

Li Hu thought about it and waved at the man, who then slowly walked over.

Li Hu tried to recall, but he couldn't remember the other person's identity, so he had to ask: "Who are you?"

The man took off his bamboo hat, knelt on the ground, and said excitedly: "Uncle, please save me, please save me!" Two lines of hot tears rolled down his face.

Li Hu frowned.

Wang Daniu: "Who are you?"

The man wiped the dust off his face with his sleeve, revealing his true face, and asked cautiously, "Master, do you still remember the post station at the foot of Mount Tai?"

Station?

Li Hu looked at him carefully again and suddenly remembered that this man was the bandit who strangled Zhou Kui to death!
(End of this chapter)