The Overlord of the Red Mansion

Chapter 123 Comfortable Days
Jia Rong secluded himself for many days and the world was at peace.

The family misses Jia Rong.

"If you count the days, it's been two months already. It should be out in less than a month."

When Jia Yuanchun was chatting with the old lady and others, she talked about Jia Rong.

Xiao Hong, who was serving on the side, interrupted and said, "When we delivered the meal a while ago, we asked the master about something, but the master didn't allow us to ask, so we didn't dare to ask. Now we just put down the meal and go out, and leave after taking something."

Jia Yuanchun said: "He is very busy, and we dare not disturb him. It is good to know that he is at home."

Shi Xiangyun asked curiously, "How did you spend last year? I forgot."

Jia Yuanchun smiled and said, "You didn't move in last year, so it's not surprising that you didn't know."

Wang Xifeng is not here today. Perhaps it is because she has been helping and telling jokes with the old lady Mrs. Wang frequently recently. After a long time, she suddenly realized that this is not the original Jia Mansion.

So she didn't come over to be a filial granddaughter-in-law, but instead lay on a chair with her legs crossed in her own room and acted like a second grandmother.

Jia Yuanchun is willing to accompany the old lady and Mrs. Wang, that is her own business. Wang Xifeng is now playing by herself with the three sisters of the You family, Qin Keqing and others.

It turned out that Wang Xifeng always came over, and It was difficult for Youshi and others to stop her or talk to her, but it was also difficult for them not to come over.

Now that Wang Xifeng has come to terms with it, with her as the leader, the others will naturally be happy and at ease.

It's not that Youshi doesn't have any ambition or ability, but because of the ideological education she received since childhood and her own sense of risk, she doesn't want to be the one who charges forward.

She and Wang Xifeng, on the contrary, cooperated very well. Even if Wang Xifeng did something inappropriate, Youshi, who had been trained by Jia Rong for many years, did not care about such a small matter and was very broad-minded.

The second and third sisters and Qin Keqing also don't like to stand out, and are unwilling to abide by the annoying etiquette and rules of the old lady. They have long been led astray by Jia Rong's rebellious gentleness, and are incompatible with the old lady.

However, the education they received since childhood, especially the second sister who wanted to be a good wife and mother, prevented her from doing something as reckless as Jia Rong.

Therefore, even things like not coming to greet the old lady and have dinner together required Wang Xifeng to take the lead.

Wang Xifeng was the talent that Youshi needed most, and the most suitable woman to be the manager of their courtyard. She took up an important position as soon as she arrived there.

Wang Xifeng, who is the most eloquent, is not here, so some polite words can only be said and explained by the old lady, the head of the family.

The old lady explained to Jia Yuanchun: "You are confused. She spent the whole last year at your place."

Mrs. Wang explained, "I remember that Lord Shi lived here when he was away as an official, and he has lived here ever since."

When the topic of conversation turned to the Shi family members who were about to be beheaded, Jia Yuanchun said hurriedly, "I am confused. Time flies. Almost two years have passed in the blink of an eye."

Xiaohong said: "I have been here for more than two years. I remember that I came here after the New Year, which should be less than a year earlier than Miss Shi. I have been here for two and a half years now."

Grandmother Jia nodded, lowered her head and sighed, "The sign of Rongguo Mansion has been taken down for more than two and a half years."

Xiaohong can't say comforting words. It's true that she has a good memory and quick reaction, but that doesn't mean she can compare with the battle-hardened Wang Xifeng in comforting people and ability to change situations.

This kind of thing is very tiring. After Wang Xifeng found out that she didn't need to please the old lady at all, she became more and more annoyed and simply withdrew in time and went back to manage her own yard.

As a housekeeper now, she doesn’t need the old lady’s support, Jia Rong’s support is enough.

Besides, the ones in the Jia family are sisters, and so are the ones in You’s courtyard!
The people in the East Courtyard are the real elders of the Ning Mansion. It would be fine if Jia Yuanchun didn't go over to serve them, but does she also want Wang Xifeng to bring the people in the East Courtyard to pay their respects every day?
Without Wang Xifeng, the lively treasure, although Jia Yuanchun has been in charge for a long time, she does not need to flatter others in some aspects. Naturally, she has little experience, and the words she can say to comfort others are just like that.

Fortunately, the old lady got over her sadness and said with a smile: "It's enough that Rong Mansion is still the Jia family now. Why didn't Ben come?"

Jia Yuanchun said, "Jia Ben is naughty again. I will punish him by making him write in his room."

The old lady asked again: "What about Jia Shu?"

Jia Yuanchun said, "Jia Shu and his brothers are playing. If all the children come in, they will make a lot of noise."

The old lady smiled and said, "It's better to have a lively atmosphere. I like lively atmosphere. It's not right for children to have no lively atmosphere. Call them over and let me see them later."

Seeing the old lady say this, Jia Yuanchun agreed and said, "Okay, I'll ask the kitchen to cut some fruit for you so that you can sit still if you have something to eat. Otherwise, you'll run around like a monkey if you come in."

The old lady smiled and said, "Okay."

Mrs. Wang said, “There were more than a dozen children. I still can’t remember all their names. I only know my grandsons Jia Ben, Jia Shu, Jia Yu, Qin’s Jia Pu, Jia Ji, Baoqin’s Jia Du, and two girls, Jia Tang and Jia Xing, as well as Jia Ying and Jia Qiaojie.”

Jia Yuanchun replied, "Second Sister You and Third Sister You's children are still young and don't come here often. There are also a few who have been taken care of by their wet nurses in the past few years and don't come out much. Yuanyang and Ping'er didn't have a good time and have always encountered problems in the past few years. It will be fine when the master comes out this time."

Mrs. Wang reminded her, "What about you? You should also have more children while you are still young."

The old lady also said: "Yes, you two are both in good health. We need more children to make life more lively. It's not like our family can't afford to raise those children."

Jia Yuanchun nodded and said, "Okay, that depends on you, Master."

Shi Xiangyun soon went out quietly to play and did not join the daily chat among the three generations of the Jia family.

Lin Daiyu and others also followed them out for a walk in the garden.

Shi Xiangyun exhaled, "I can't get a word in on what they say."

Xue Baochai was fanning herself. Although it was already four or five in the afternoon, it was still very hot and stuffy. It would not be cooler until the sun set after seven o'clock.

Xue Baochai smiled and said, "The old lady likes her grandson and wants the brothers and sisters in Ning Mansion to know her as their ancestor. You should stop getting in the way."

Shi Xiangyun didn't understand and hummed, "I already know them all, and a few kids still come to play with me every day!"

Her smug expression only showed that she didn't understand, but Lin Daiyu understood clearly.

The old lady doesn’t like grandchildren, she wants to maintain the image of an ancestor.

Jia Rong sometimes respects the old lady and Mrs. Wang, and sometimes disrespects them.

The old lady and Mrs. Wang could not move Jia Rong, but not everyone is as cold-hearted as Jia Rong. Jia Rong's children are all obedient children, and Jia Yuanchun, the mother of the family, is protecting the status of the old lady and Mrs. Wang.

Lin Daiyu vaguely sensed that the East and West Courts were competing against each other. Lin Daiyu quickly asked, "Xichun and the other three didn't come today, what's going on?"

Xue Baochai was a know-it-all in the garden and said directly, "Xichun went to play with her sister-in-law."

If Xichun goes, Tanchun and Yingchun will naturally follow.

Lin Daiyu sighed softly. Factions had begun to form in the garden again.

Shi Xiangyun looked at the fish in the pond and said with a smile, "Why don't you go over and take a look?"

Xue Baochai said unhappily, "That room is full of young ladies from official families. I think if you two go there, you will definitely be very popular and have a lot to say."

Lin Daiyu couldn't help but smile.

It turns out that it wasn't that I didn't go, but that after I went there I couldn't speak and was ignored.

Shi Xiangyun said, "Let's go and take a look. It's a good opportunity to see Xiren."

Lin Daiyu nodded and said, "Okay."

Xue Baochai naturally had no objection, and the three of them quickly took the maids to Youshi's courtyard.

You's courtyard was on the east side of Huifang Garden. The original servants' quarters were demolished and a larger courtyard was rebuilt.

There are few flowers, trees, or streams or rivers here. There is only ordinary clean ground and a large palace building that looks like a palace attic.

There was an old woman sitting under the eaves at the entrance of the main hall guarding the gate. When she saw a few people coming, she hurried over to greet them.

"Miss Lin, Miss Shi, Miss Xue."

Shi Xiangyun smiled and said, "We are here to play with Sister Feng. Is she here?"

"Yes, they are all inside." The old woman quickly led a few people in.

Xue Baochai followed with a fan in her hand, her face not looking happy at all.

After walking a few steps inside, Wang Xifeng came out.

"What rare guests! You three are here."

Wang Xifeng, wearing a beautiful white dress, came out and greeted people with a smile, followed by five maids.

Shi Xiangyun smiled and said, "What rare guest? Isn't it enough to see you a hundred times a month? I came to see you, and you see, you already despise us."

Wang Xifeng laughed and said, "Isn't it because I want you to come more often? Look, as soon as I heard you were coming, I came out to greet you without even putting on my shoes."

Shi Xiangyun and Lin Daiyu looked down and found that Wang Xifeng was wearing a very strange pair of shoes.

"What kind of shoes are these? They don't look like they're made of cloth, they look like they're made of stone or glass?"

Wang Xifeng walked to one side and sat down. "These are high heels, also called crystal shoes. They are not comfortable for me to wear. My uncle got this when he was an official and gave it to me. It makes me look taller. I just wear them at home. Who would wear this when going out?"

Shi Xiangyun looked at the shoes on the ground, stretched out her hand and gestured under Wang Xifeng's feet, and said in shock: "This one finger is so high, she has to walk on tiptoe."

Shi Xiangyun quickly tiptoed and asked curiously, "It doesn't feel that high, does it?"

When Lin Daiyu saw Shi Xiangyun stretching her neck and walking on tiptoe, she quickly lowered her head and covered her mouth with her hands while laughing.

Xue Baochai also covered her mouth with her fan and laughed while bending over.

Even Wang Xifeng covered her mouth with her hands and laughed.

Lin Daiyu smiled and said, "Stop embarrassing yourself like a silly goose."

Shi Xiangyun didn't think it was a big deal. "These shoes are definitely not good. They are so awkward to wear. It's so painful for women to wear these shoes."

Wang Xifeng said, "You are wrong. Western noble men like to wear these shoes to make them look taller. From kings to nobles, everyone likes them."

Shi Xiangyun became curious and was about to try it when she saw Xiren coming in with her maid.

Xiren said happily, "You are here. I usually don't go to see you because I'm afraid I'll run into the ladies. If you miss me, please come and see me more often in the future."

Shi Xiangyun held Xiren's hand and sat aside, and asked with concern: "Are you okay? Are you living well here?"

Xiren smiled and said, "It's much better now. Second Madam and Madam Tai have been very kind to me. They have arranged a house for me to live in and maids to serve me. They have also given me clothes and various things to use. But I can't go back to see Second Master Bao. Now I can only wait until the Duke comes out."

Shi Xiangyun asked: "What did Baoyu and Madam say?"

Xiren sighed and said, "What can he say? He said nothing. In the eyes of the old lady, we are just maids, whether it's Yuanyang or Ping'er, it's the same. Yuanyang and Ping'er are no longer maids in Rongfu, but I am still one."

As I spoke, I couldn't help but burst into tears.

Although she is an aunt, she still signed a contract to sell herself as a maid, and her identity is still a maid.

Wang Xifeng comforted him, "That's enough, don't cry. I've told you all this. When the master comes out, just let him talk. You can talk until your lips are worn out, your knees bleed, and your head is broken, but it won't work. But our master has spoken, and that's all it takes."

Hua Xiren cried and said, "Thank you, Second Madam!"

Wang Xifeng looked at Shi Xiangyun and Lin Daiyu again, "You don't have to comfort her, this is not a big deal. Since the master has said so, he will definitely help. Don't think about it all day long. Come to my place and have fun. I'll show you the Western paintings that the master bought from the south this year."

Wang Xifeng quickly took the girls to visit, and Hua Xiren stopped crying and went in to play with them.

Not long after, Sanchun and the three sisters of Youshi also came over to join them. They called Qin Keqing to drink, compose poetry and play drinking games with them, making the whole night lively.

Compared with Jia Yuanchun and the old lady who loves liveliness, Youshi's place is more free and more in line with the preferences of young people. It is a lively and free place without rules.

(End of this chapter)