Dream of the Red Chamber

Chapter 12 Uncle Chen is a good man
But on the other side.

Chen Siyuan had just finished his late lunch and shared the remaining plate of crab dumplings with his two maids. He was about to go to the study to pack his bag when Wang Shanbao, the housekeeper, brought him the shop deed.

He continued to talk nonsense for a long time, relying on his seniority. Chen Siyuan could not stand his nagging any more, so he rewarded him with a dime of silver. Only then did Wang Shanbao leave satisfied.

After sending the maid Yunxiang to tidy up the desk, Chen Siyuan went to the study and unfolded the documents. He took one glance and frowned. The documents in the shop were fine, but the problem was that there was no document for Xiangling among them.

What was the meaning of this? Was she deliberately holding back, waiting for Xue Pan to wake up and come looking for trouble? Even if Aunt Xue was unwise, she wouldn't be so foolish. Thinking about this, Chen Siyuan called Xiangling to the study in the east corner.

Seeing Xiangling's reserved demeanor, Chen Siyuan asked gently, "Do you have a real name? How old are you now? When did you come to the Xue family? Are you literate?"

Chen Siyuan knew Xiangling's origins very well, so he asked this question knowing the answer.

As expected, Xiangling whispered that she had been kidnapped as a child and adopted by the kidnapper's family as his daughter. When she was a little older, she hired an "aunt" to teach her the arts of music, chess, calligraphy, and painting. When she was twelve or thirteen, the kidnapper's family ran out of money, so they sold her to Feng Yuan.

The next day, Xiangling was sold to Xue Pan, a dull and naive man. This led to Xue Pan's murder of Feng Yuan, Jia Yucun's miscarriage of justice in the gourd case, Xue Pan's fake death, and the Xue family's refuge in the Rongguo Mansion.

After Xiangling finished speaking, Chen Siyuan said, "So that's the case... then do you have a bond?"

Xiangling said bewilderedly, "There was one. Daddy wrote it to Master Feng that day... but I don't know if it's still there."

It turned out to be the case.

Xiangling's real name was Zhen Yinglian, and she was from a respectable family. The kidnapper, unwilling to enslave her, adopted her as a daughter. The document sent to Feng Yuan that day should have been a letter of engagement for a concubine. Regardless, Xiangling was now considered a daughter of a respectable family.

Chen Siyuan's thoughts wandered, and he suddenly recalled his past life. He had seen the engagement letter before. It basically stated the woman's age, the willingness to be taken into a certain family as a concubine, the amount of betrothal money, and the request for a guarantor. After that, a sedan chair would carry the girl into the house through the corner gate, and the ceremony was complete.

Those with a conscience would invite a few relatives and friends to a banquet, while those without a conscience would go straight to the bridal chamber and save everything.

Although there was a gift for a formal marriage, the woman also had a dowry, which was often doubled. However, taking a concubine was different; the woman did not have much dowry, usually just a small bag with some personal belongings.

From this perspective, the marriage in the previous life that clearly stated the price of the bride price and was called a formal marriage, was actually no different from taking a concubine today?
Tsk, poor Jiangxi cousin for a second!
After collecting his thoughts, Chen Siyuan asked again, "Is there a fixed rule for monthly allowance?"

Xiangling replied, "My Lord, the concubine has set a monthly stipend of one tael for me."

Chen Siyuan nodded and said, "As the saying goes, 'People go to higher places, and water flows to lower places.' Now that you've come to my place, it's better not to fall behind. So, from now on, I'll set a monthly salary of one tael of silver, paid on the fifth day of every month."

At that time, silver was expensive and copper was cheap, and private money was rampant. The streets were full of small coins that were made with less lead and inferior coins with more lead and less copper. Therefore, one or two taels of silver could be exchanged for about twelve or thirteen hundred copper coins.

Xiangling responded in a low voice, but her expression remained calm.

Chen Siyuan stood up and said, "You can read too. I have quite a few books in my bookcase. Please sort them into different categories."

Xiangling responded again, walked over, squatted down, opened the bookcase, and took out the piles of books inside.

Chen Siyuan turned around, found a bundle, and placed it on the desk, stacking the bottles and jars inside. He was learning the methods of the Quezi School, which required him to impersonate a prince, a noble, or the son of an official. Not only did he have to act noble, but he also had to have a certain literary mind.

Although he disliked the Four Books and Five Classics, he had read them thoroughly, and he frequently browsed through the remaining pretentious books. As for this small bundle, it contained his master's secret illusions...or rather, tricks to harm and scare people.

Things like catching the moon in a well and flowers blooming on leaves are considered mysterious by those who don't understand them, but in fact, they are not worth mentioning once they are exposed.

Chen Siyuan packed up the things briefly, thinking that he would need to find a box to lock up these things later to avoid revealing his whereabouts to outsiders. Suddenly, he noticed that Xiangling was motionless. Chen Siyuan turned his head and saw Xiangling holding a book in her arms, staring blankly.

Chen Siyuan stood up and walked over to take a look, and saw that the book was "Poetry Talk" by Yang Cheng and Yang Sanshan. Chen Siyuan's heart moved slightly, and he sighed to himself that Xiangling was indeed a girl who admired elegance.

"This is Yang Sanshan's 'Poetry Talk', which consists of ten volumes. If you don't have a solid foundation, it might seem obscure. Yang Sanshan also has a five-volume 'Poetry Method'. If you want to learn how to write poetry, you can start with that."

Chen Siyuan's sudden voice startled Xiangling. She quickly stacked the books on the shelf and whispered, "Master, you're joking. I'm just a servant, how can I learn to write poems and essays like you? Besides, it's too late now—"

Although she said this, Xiangling stared at the book with burning eyes and reluctance.

Chen Siyuan smiled and said, "If your heart aspires to something, why fear the long and difficult road ahead? Talent isn't something only possessed by daughters from wealthy families. How many daughters from wealthy families possess talent? Since you can read, you should read it more often. Who knows? Maybe in a few years you'll be able to compose poetry."

Xiangling turned her head and looked at Chen Siyuan with joy, saying, "Master, do you allow me to look through it?"

Chen Siyuan said, "Just read it if you want to. It won't be a single page missing if you read it."

Xiangling was overjoyed and bowed quickly, saying, "Don't worry, sir. I will be very careful and will not damage or stain the pages."

Chen Siyuan smiled and nodded.

By the time the master and servant had finished, it was already late at night. Chen Siyuan, exhausted from his journey to the capital, couldn't help yawning. Xiangling attentively helped Chen Siyuan wash up and fetched water for his feet.

While squatting and rubbing Chen Siyuan's feet, Xiangling said happily, "I was a little rushed today. I just asked Aunt Qiao for a bathtub, and Aunt Qiao said I had to look for it in the storeroom. I'm afraid it won't be delivered until tomorrow after it's cleaned up."

After a pause, she continued, "The fumigation basket was delivered, but only ten pounds of black charcoal were brought. Madam Qiao said that the silver frost charcoal is limited, and you must ask Second Madam before you can use it. Don't worry, sir. I will ask Miss Ping tomorrow."

Chen Siyuan smiled and said, "Why does Xiangling sound so happy?"

The white and tender hands that were rubbing her feet paused, Xiangling raised her little face, smiled, and said, "Master is a good man."

Allowing her to read books and learn to write poetry makes her a good person? This girl's requirements are really low. It seems that her life in the Xue family was not smooth.

After bathing his feet, Chen Siyuan leaned on the bed and read a book. Xiangling went to pour the water first, and then hurried back to light the incense burner.

The charcoal fire lit up, Xiangling covered it with a hood, and placed some sandalwood on top. After a while, the room would be filled with fragrance. However, the charcoal was really bad. As soon as it started burning, black smoke rose up. Not only Xiangling, who was standing by the incense burner, but even Chen Siyuan, who was lying on the bed, was choked and coughed repeatedly.

"This charcoal is burning fast, move it out quickly."

Seeing Xiangling struggling, Chen Siyuan simply got off the bed and moved the fumigation cage to the living room, then opened the doors and windows to let in some air.

Turning around to look at Xiangling again, he saw that she looked like she had done something wrong. She was biting her lower lip, her hands were twisted together, and she was trembling with fear, looking so pitiful.

"Master, I—"

Chen Siyuan was puzzled and said, "It's the charcoal fire that's bad, not you. Why is it like this?"

Xiangling looked up and blinked, feeling relieved. She thought to herself, "Yes, Mr. Chen is a reasonable and good man. He wouldn't act like Mr. Xue and lose his temper."

Xiangling then asked, "But without the charcoal fire, what will you do if you get cold at night?"

Chen Siyuan said, "It's still quite warm today, just cover yourself with a thick blanket."

The master and servant put out the charcoal fire. Chen Siyuan returned to his bed, and Xiangling washed up and went to the warm room in the north to take a nap in her clothes.

The night watch was the most grueling job. When the master fell asleep on the bed, the maid would pretend to sleep in the warm room, unable to fall asleep. If there was any movement or the master got up at night, the maid would rush to light the lamp and wait.

Chen Siyuan was tired from the journey and fell asleep in no time. He didn't know how much time had passed, but perhaps because he drank too much tea, he was suddenly woken by the urge to urinate. He had just moved when Xiangling rustled up and said, "Master, you need to get up to go to the bathroom."

"Ah."

"Wait a moment, sir. I'll light the lamp."

The toilet was placed in the corner, surrounded by a four-panel screen. It was a chilly night. Chen Siyuan hissed as he flushed the toilet, then groggily returned to his bed. He tried to fall back asleep, but the chill kept invading his scalp and cheeks, and for a moment, he couldn't fall asleep.

Cursing secretly at Madam Qiao for her contempt for others, Chen Siyuan tightened the quilt and suddenly heard a rustling sound.

Chen Siyuan gradually woke up and suddenly remembered that there was no fire in the warm room, and Xiangling was only wearing a thin quilt. How could she withstand such a cold night?
Chen Siyuan couldn't help but ask, "Xiangling, are you cold?"

Xiangling replied, "Don't worry, sir. I can handle it."

Chen Siyuan frowned, threw on his clothes, and stood up. Xiangling hurriedly lit the lamp again. Chen Siyuan glanced over and saw that Xiangling's face was pale and her hands were blue from the cold. She was still trying to endure it. She might get sick by tomorrow.

Chen Siyuan stepped forward, held his hands, frowned, and said, "If you keep enduring this, you'll get sick from the cold."

Xiangling said, "How about I go and light another charcoal fire and let it smoke in the hall for a while, then maybe it will be useful."

"It's so late, let's stop making trouble." As he spoke, Chen Siyuan pulled Xiangling towards the bed.

Xiangling was bewildered at first, but then she suddenly thought of something. A blush rose on her face as she stammered, "Master...Master, I..."

Chen Siyuan didn't allow her to argue. He pushed her onto the bed, pulled the quilt over her, and said, "Let's just make do with it for now. We can talk about other things tomorrow."

Xiangling's heart was pounding with fear. She knew she would have to face this sooner or later, and she had no idea it would happen today. Anyway, this Master Chen looked a hundred times better than Master Xue.

As she was lost in thought, she suddenly heard the sound of the person beside her snoring. Bewildered, Xiangling turned her head to glance over, but it was pitch black inside, and she could only make out a vague outline.

The previous fear, trepidation, and uneasiness faded away, and her heart suddenly felt at peace. Xiangling couldn't help but raise the corner of her mouth, thinking to herself: It's different, Uncle Chen is a good man.

(End of this chapter)