Dream of the Red Chamber

Chapter 125 Change of Thoughts
Today is a great banquet and the joy is beyond words.

The wine and food were ready, Jia She raised his glass and invited everyone to drink, and Jia Mu gave the order, and then for a while, there was a lot of drinking and chatting, and it was very lively.

Chen Siyuan thought the flower mushroom and duck feet were delicious, but when he raised his chopsticks, he found that he couldn't pick them up. Just as he was about to stand up, a maid came over to serve him the food.

The banquet was extremely luxurious. In Chen Siyuan's eyes, every bite cost him a lot of money.

In Rong Xi Tang, people would raise their glasses to invite people to drink from time to time, and Feng Jieer and others would make jokes, and Baoyu would present treasures one after another. For a while, there was laughter and joy, and the whole place was really happy.

In such an occasion, Chen Siyuan, a distant relative, did not want to stand out, so he just buried his head in eating and drinking. When the hour of Xu passed, Jia Mu, who was old and could no longer bear it, said a word and led the maid back to Rongqing Hall.

After seeing Lady Jia off, Lady Xing and Lady Wang discussed the matter. Lady Wang said, "I think we should all stop being so restrained here. Instead of having people send the wine and food around, why not go back home and eat and drink?"

Most of the elders were reserved. Jia She and Lady Xing left first. Before leaving, Lady Xing gave Chen Siyuan a glare, which made him feel strange. Later, Jia Zheng, Lady Wang, and Aunt Xue also left. Li Wan, because Jia Lan was young, also left first.

Only Jia Lian and Sister Feng were left to look after the family. Perhaps because the New Year's Eve banquet had suited his taste, Jia Lian was enjoying himself and had no time to care for the children.

As soon as the elder left, Baoyu, Sanchun, Daiyu and Baochai no longer felt restrained and gathered together to tell funny jokes.

Just as Chen Siyuan was about to get up and leave, Tanchun blushed and waved, "Brother Yuan, don't go. We'll have fireworks later."

Xichun also said, "Yes, Brother Yuan is not much older than you, why not invite him over to play with us?"

Everyone turned to look over. Chen Siyuan stopped and walked towards them with a smile. When he got closer, he smiled and said, "What are you talking about?"

Baochai said, "Brother Bao was just talking about the sisters' names..." Suddenly she glanced at Daiyu and said, "Sister Lin, you've omitted it. Who doesn't know Pin'er?"

Everyone burst into laughter. Daiyu said angrily, "If you keep talking nonsense, watch out for your hide!"

Baochai laughed and said, "It wasn't me who named it, so Sister Lin should go find whoever named it, hahaha..."

Daiyu immediately looked at Baoyu angrily. Baoyu was full of disapproval and said, "I think the character 'Pin' is the best. Look, isn't this character prepared for Sister Lin?"

Daiyu was about to refute when she heard Chen Siyuan say, "Pin? That's not a good word."

Baoyu frowned and said, "Why is it not good? Look at Sister Lin's eyebrows, don't they just look like a frown?"

Chen Siyuan said, "She tries to sing but then frowns, tries to laugh but then frowns, which is the most heartbreaking. I don't like this word, how can it be suitable for Lin Daiyu?"

Baoyu was confused for a moment, and Sister Bao beside him said, "Speak of your true feelings and your eyebrows."

The word "pin" has always been used to describe a woman with a frown and sorrow. How can it be a good word?
Baoyu was dissatisfied and said, "I just named her Pin because of Sister Lin's facial features, but I didn't think too much about it."

Chen Siyuan nodded and said, "I think so too. Brother Bao should study more in the future."

Baoyu choked. Daiyu burst out laughing, and a deep sigh of relief filled her heart. Meanwhile, Xueyan brought a chair over and said, "Master Yuan, come sit down and talk too."

"Yeah." Chen Siyuan lifted his robe and sat down.

Xichun said, "Since the word 'Pin' doesn't suit me, I wonder what word would suit 'Sister Lin'."

Good Xichun! Chen Siyuan secretly praised in his heart. Seeing that everyone was in deep thought, he said after a moment: "I think this word is the most appropriate."

As he spoke, Chen Siyuan dipped his index finger in tea and wrote a word on the table.

"Allow?"

Tanchun called out, thought for a moment, and then smiled, "Brother Yuan, that's a good idea."

The word "Rong" is used to praise a woman's appearance and to imply a broad mind. Isn't it a hundred times better than that damn "Pin'er"?
Baoyu wanted to refute him, but for a moment he didn't know how to refute him. Daiyu glanced at the handwriting on the table, and a little shyly turned her head away, not daring to look at Chen Siyuan.

Because of the marriage certificate, Chen Siyuan dared to give Daiyu a name, and even if it got out, outsiders would not be able to say anything.

At this moment, the little girl Xichun started to make a noise, saying, "Since you've already given Sister Lin a name, why don't Brother Yuan give everyone one too?"

Chen Siyuan blinked and quickly rejected it: "This is not appropriate."

Tanchun had drunk two glasses of wine. She was cheerful to begin with, and now she said, "It's just a joke between brothers and sisters. Who can take it seriously? Brother Yuan, just get up."

The two little ones started to make a fuss, Daiyu was shy and didn't say anything, Yingchun never spoke at this time to spoil the fun, Baoyu wanted to save face, and Sister Bao wanted to refuse, but she was curious about what names Chen Siyuan would give to everyone.

The clamor grew louder, and Tanchun pushed Yingchun out, saying with a smile, "Let's start with the second sister."

Yingchun was anxious: "Third sister, don't make trouble."

Xichun laughed and said, "Second sister, why bother spoiling the fun? It's just a joke."

Yingchun glanced at Chen Siyuan, but because of her previous girlish thoughts, she never said the words of rejection.

Chen Siyuan thought for a moment and wrote another word on the table.

"Xin?" Tanchun asked curiously, "Why this word? Is there any basis for it?"

Daiyu calmed down and said with a smile, "But Su Xin?"

Chen Siyuan nodded towards Daiyu: "Sister Lin really knows."

Forsythia is also known as jasmine, so Chen Siyuan took the word "Xin" from it.

Xin means fragrance that spreads far and wide.

Although the second girl Yingchun was shy in her heart, she was also quite proud of this word.

Baoyu forgot about the argument for a moment and said with a smile: "Okay, okay, Second Sister and the word Xin complement each other very well."

Xichun clasped her hands and praised for a while, then said, "Second sister's is done, and next is Bao sister."

Baochai said hurriedly, "If you want to get a name, just ask Brother Yuan. Why do you have to take me along?"

Tanchun came over and hugged Baochai and said, "Sister Bao, aren't you curious about which name suits you best?"

Baochai said, "If Third Sister is curious, why don't you ask Brother Yuan for a name?"

Tanchun stood up, raised her little face and smiled, saying, "What's the big deal? Then I'll ask Brother Yuan for a name."

Chen Siyuan readily agreed, thought for a moment, and then wrote the word "Qiong".

Everyone was puzzled. Baoyu speculated, "Could it be taken from the Qionghua?"

Chen Siyuan smiled and said, "Although it is taken from flowers, it is not Qionghua."

Baochai thought for a moment and said, "That must be apricot blossoms."

Baoyu suddenly understood and clasped his hands together and said, "Yes, the apricot blossom is also known as the jade friend."

Qiong means beautiful jade. Tanchun happily agreed and felt that this word really suited her.

Little did she know that Chen Siyuan named her Qiong because he remembered that Tanchun in the book married far away to the South China Sea, and because she was born when the apricot blossoms were blooming.

Everyone exclaimed in admiration again, and Xichun said, "Since Sister Bao isn't taking it, it seems I'm the only one left."

The little girl looked up at Chen Siyuan. Chen Siyuan thought for a moment, then raised his hand and wrote the word "Xin".

Without waiting for anyone to speak, Chen Siyuan said, "Since Fourth Sister is still young, I am giving this calligraphy to you. I hope that Fourth Sister will be happy and at ease in the future."

Baoyu said, "Brother Daoyuan has certain rules for choosing a name."

Chen Siyuan smiled and said, "It's just a joke, just follow your heart."

Just then Sister Feng came over and said, "You little ones should go back early. The maid said it's windy outside. Wrap yourself up tightly to avoid catching a cold during the New Year."

Baoyu said excitedly, "I was just about to set off the fireworks. Why don't we watch them first?"

Chen Siyuan also understood what was going on and stood up and said, "Then I'll go back first. You guys can just have fun."

Sister Bao also said, "I've had a few drinks, and now I'm suddenly tired. I won't look at it anymore. If there's anything interesting, you can tell me about it tomorrow."

Baoyu ignored Baochai, asked the maid to dress him, and urged Sanchun and Daiyu to go ahead to set off fireworks.

Chen Siyuan and Baochai left Rongxi Hall together, went out from Neiyi Gate, walked east through the hall, and saw Mengpo Zhai in front of them.

The two walked side by side, half a step apart, with the maid Ying'er following behind.

Although Sister Bao had refused, she was still very curious. She was thinking about how to start the conversation when she suddenly heard Chen Siyuan say, "Luo."

"Ok?"

Chen Siyuan glanced down at her and said, "If I were to give Sister Xue a name, I think it would be Luo."

"I don't know how to solve it?"

"Taken from Luohua."

Luohua is the peony, graceful and rich, exactly what Sister Bao wanted, and it was exactly what she wanted. However, since the word came from Chen Siyuan, Sister Bao couldn't help but retort, "Brother Yuan, do you think I'm greedy for wealth and splendor?"

Chen Siyuan slowed down his pace and said, "Seeking wealth and honor to protect oneself, how can it be called greed?"

Baojie's heart suddenly soured. Yes, now seeking that golden marriage, isn't it just hoping to keep the Xue family's eldest branch after the marriage?

Now the Xue family's business is gradually declining, and it seems that they are on the verge of losing money. However, they still cannot afford to give up their business as a royal merchant. This will sooner or later drain the Xue family's wealth. Only by finding a strong backer can they stop the decline.

Baochai was silent for a long time, thinking to herself that nowadays it is true that 'everything is determined by fate and cannot be controlled by man'. If she could choose, why would she pretend to be nice to Baoyu?

After a while, they saw Lixiang Courtyard approaching. The large red lanterns hanging in front of the gate cast a bright red glow on Baojie's face. She suddenly stopped and said, "If I were in Brother Ruoyuan's place, what would I do?"

"Me?" Chen Siyuan said, "Maybe he'll sacrifice the car to save the driver." He paused, looked at Sister Bao and smiled, "Sister Xue, do you think Brother Wenlong is such a good businessman?"

Baochai remained silent.

Chen Siyuan said, "Instead of letting Brother Wenlong run the family business, why not let him be a playboy? Find a marriage as soon as possible. Regardless of family background, he must find a good wife to support him. Otherwise, how can I take care of Brother Wenlong for the rest of his life?"

Baochai mumbled in silence, her voice a little horrified as she grasped the underlying meaning of Chen Siyuan's words. As the saying goes, a child's character can be seen from the age of three. Her brother, Xue Pan, was originally a scoundrel, but he managed the family business out of filial piety. However, over the years, the family business had not only failed to hold on, but had actually declined.

Is it that Xue Pan is not paying attention? Aunt Xue and Bao-jie personally check the accounts, and the old housekeeper Zhang Dehui tries to maintain it, but this downward trend cannot be stopped.

There is a saying from ancient times that wealth cannot last for more than three generations. The Xue family has been rich and prosperous for the fourth generation. The Xue family is struggling to survive, but no matter how hard they try, it is all in vain.

Before Sister Bao could come to her senses, Chen Siyuan bowed and said, "Sister Xue is here. Let's say goodbye now."

Baochai hurriedly bowed and watched Chen Siyuan turn and leave. Standing in front of the gate of Lixiang Courtyard, she watched Chen Siyuan enter the small courtyard next door before she withdrew her gaze.

Ying'er, who was standing by, said, "Why are you so concerned? His last name... He's just talking nonsense."

Sister Bao glanced at him sideways and said, "Every word you just said is spot on. If you don't understand, don't make any nonsense."

Ying'er suddenly became embarrassed and speechless.

Baochai, a private reader, was well aware of the rise and fall of dynasties in history books. The sayings that a gentleman's grace is cut off after five generations and wealth cannot last beyond three generations all proved that the Xue family's prosperity could no longer continue. Chen Siyuan believed that he should go with the flow, stop worrying about Xue Pan, and focus on the next generation of the Xue family.

If the next generation could produce someone with both literary and military skills, the Xue family would naturally prosper again. Even if not, at least they could maintain a comfortable life and continue the Xue family bloodline.

Sister Bao was clever and understood everything immediately. But even if she understood, how could she convince Aunt Xue who was still stuck in a rut?
Without mentioning what Baochai was thinking, let's say that Chen Siyuan entered his own courtyard and was immediately greeted by Xiangling and Hongyu.

The three of them went straight into the main room. Xiangling helped Chen Siyuan take off his cloak. Hongyu brought a basin of water and said, "The wind suddenly picked up last night. I'm afraid there will be some work to do in the mansion."

New Year's Eve is the most prone to flooding, and with a northwest wind blowing, the wind fuels the fire, and the fire fuels the wind. If a fire really breaks out, it will burn the entire street. Tonight, the masters of the East and West Mansions can stay up all night and sleep soundly, but the stewards must lead their servants to patrol the area, fearing that there will be a flood.

Chen Siyuan had just drunk some wine, and the sight of the wind gave him a headache. Xiangling hurried to the small kitchen to make some hangover soup, and a few moments later, the maid brought in a food box.

When Xiangling returned, Chen Siyuan said, "We were so busy drinking that we didn't really use the food. Let's set it up and have a New Year's Eve dinner."

Xiangling and Hongyu agreed, heated up the wine and food, set up a kang table in the warm room, and the three of them sat together to eat and drink.

Because Chen Siyuan had drunk enough, Xiangling and Hongyu did not allow him to drink anymore, but they drank with each other continuously.

After eating and drinking for a while, Chen Siyuan saw that the two of them could not eat anymore, so he said, "I think there is a pitching pot in my study? Since we are staying up all night, why not go find one and play with it?" Hongyu agreed with a smile and went to get the pot. The three of them sat on the edge of the kang, holding the command arrows in their hands and throwing them into the pot.

Perhaps it was luck, but Chen Siyuan won no matter how he tried. Xiangling and Hongyu missed again and again. After drinking a few cups, they started to complain and refused.

Suddenly, a dazzling array of colors flashed outside. Xiangling wondered, "Could it be midnight?"

Hongyu smiled and said, "It's still early... I'm afraid Master Bao can't wait any longer and will light the fireworks right now."

Xiangling pulled Chen Siyuan's arm and shook it: "Uncle, let's go out and take a look."

Chen Siyuan agreed, and the three of them wrapped themselves in their clothes and left the main room to watch the scene from the courtyard. Fireworks rose and exploded into a sky filled with multicolored meteors, each flash painting the three people's faces with a riot of color.

Xiangling looked around intently, clasping her hands together, hoping for good luck in the coming year. Hongyu glanced at Chen Siyuan beside her from time to time, hoping that he would one day be accepted into the family. Chen Siyuan exhaled white mist, feeling a mixture of emotions.

He had spent the past few years with his master, and now that his master was gone, he had two women by his side who loved him wholeheartedly. He secretly prayed, hoping his wish would come true.

After watching the fireworks, the three of them returned to the warm room, laughing and joking. The kang table was removed, and the three of them sat together and talked.

Chen Siyuan said, "I'm going back to the Xing family with my aunt on the second day of the New Year. If you two have time, go home and visit." He paused, then said to Xiangling, "If I come back early, I'll pick you up and visit your mother on the way."

"Ah."

Xiangling happily agreed, moved her body and snuggled into his arms.

As they chatted idly, midnight arrived. Outside, firecrackers blasted incessantly, and up ahead, the fireworks were even more blazing than before. It lasted for nearly half an hour before things finally settled down. Though firecrackers could still be heard from time to time, the night was completely silent.

Xiangling couldn't stand it any longer and fell asleep hugging Chen Siyuan's arm. Chen Siyuan was also yawning continuously, and Hongyu was even more like a praying mantis.

Seeing this, Chen Siyuan simply said, "Forget it, we've already passed the midnight watch, so let's just spread out our blankets and go to bed."

Hongyu walked down and stood up with the dazed Xiangling to spread out the bedding. The three of them washed up briefly, and Hongyu was about to go to the wing room, but Chen Siyuan immediately pulled her back and said, "Just squeeze in. You're all alone in the wing room, and I'm afraid the kang isn't even lit. You'll be freezing if you go there."

Hongyu agreed with a smile, and the three of them huddled together and lay down.

Although Hongyu tried hard to hold on, she fell asleep immediately after touching the pillow.

After an unknown amount of time, Hongyu faintly heard some noises and felt feet kicking her twice, and she woke up suddenly. After listening to the movement behind her, Hongyu blushed immediately.

I thought to myself, I didn't expect Xiangling to be so unbridled... I'm still here, how could she get involved with me at this time?

Hongyu leaned sideways, not daring to move, silently listening to the sounds behind her. Not only did her face turn red, but she also felt strange in her heart.

Suddenly, a big hand passed under her neck and began to knead it wantonly. Hongyu couldn't bear it anymore, so she turned over and leaned into Chen Siyuan's arms.

The candle had gone out long ago, leaving only the glowing red charcoal in the incense burner. When she met Chen Siyuan's eyes, Hong Yu let out a small hum, and was then kissed on the cherry lips.

There is a poem to prove this: Laughing together in the plum blossom tent, joy and happiness are hard to bear and repeated struggles. A hundred beauties give rise to spring, and the soul is in disarray; bones collected before the three peaks melt. Love surpasses the Yunmeng of the Chu Dynasty, and joy surpasses the traces of ice and jade in the morning dew. When love refuses to end, the cockcrows sing at the fifth watch.

When the wind died down and the rain stopped, the roosters crowed at dawn.

Xiangling leaned to the side, exhausted. Hongyu huddled in Chen Siyuan's arms, pouting. After a long pause, she said, "Master..."

"I know, I know. This is just one time, and it won't happen again."

Hongyu didn't know what to say. The mattress had been removed long ago, and the kang mat felt a little uncomfortable. Hongyu shifted a few times before finally feeling a little more comfortable.

Chen Siyuan added, "Everyone was up all night yesterday, so there's nothing to do if you get up early. Why not sleep in a little longer?"

Hongyu agreed, and within a moment she could hear Chen Siyuan's breathing becoming regular. He was asleep, but Hongyu, recalling the embarrassing moment just now, tossed and turned for a while, unable to fall asleep again.

It wasn't until noon that the three of them finally began to drift off. According to the rules of seniority, they were to have a banquet at Madam Xing's house. Chen Siyuan went there around 3 p.m., but Madam Xing, for some reason, seemed to have taken some wrong medicine, and she responded with a cold indifference, showing no interest in speaking to him.

Chen Siyuan found an opportunity to tear off a piece of paper and put it aside, stuffed four coins into it and asked, "Why is my aunt so upset?"

Tiao'er whispered, "Brother, don't you know? I heard a few days ago that you went to the second room, and the lady was unhappy."

Huh? So that's the crux of the matter. By trying to win over Madam Wang, I've actually upset Madam Xing?
Chen Siyuan was in a state of confusion, not knowing whether to laugh or cry. He thanked Tiaoer and began to think about how to appease Madam Xing later. This woman was still pregnant, and her temper was very volatile. If he didn't appease her now, he was afraid she would bear a grudge against him later.

However, people were coming and going, and soon everyone had arrived at the east wing, even Jia Zhen, Youshi, and Jia Rong from the East Palace. Chen Siyuan really couldn't find an opportunity, so he had to postpone it for the time being.

There was another banquet that day. Although Chen Siyuan was unwilling, he still forced a few more cups. After nightfall, he returned to his own courtyard feeling drunk.

Maybe because I was too busy yesterday and drank a few more glasses, the night was peaceful.

The next day, Chen Siyuan had a good sleep, and after breakfast, he left for the east courtyard at 2:30 am. By then, Mrs. Xing had already packed up, and since there were no elders in the Xing family, Jia She gave her some instructions and went to the side courtyard to find some concubines.

Chen Siyuan wrapped himself in a cloak and rode his horse to lead the way, followed by Mrs. Xing's carriage, heading straight to the Xing family.

As soon as they reached Jinjing Hutong outside Xuanwu Gate, they saw a servant waiting eagerly in the distance. When they caught sight of Chen Siyuan and his carriage, the servant called out, "Here he comes!"

Xing Dequan came striding over at that moment. Glancing at Chen Siyuan, he clapped his hands and said with a smile, "Finally you're here. If you hadn't come soon, Third Sister would have sent me to the inner city to meet you!"

The eldest daughter's return home was a great occasion. Xing Dequan even lit a string of firecrackers, fearing that the neighbors would not know that their eldest sister had returned.

Arriving at the Xing family's gate, Chen Siyuan dismounted and, smiling, greeted Xing Dequan with New Year greetings. Xing Dequan smiled and nodded, then fished out a silver barley coin and casually tossed it to Chen Siyuan: "Here, New Year's money."

Chen Siyuan was at a loss whether to laugh or cry. He turned around and went to greet Madam Xing again. They all entered the house in a mighty procession and met Third Sister Xing in front of the ceremonial gate. They all chatted and laughed, then turned through the screen door and went into the main house along the winding corridor.

Perhaps because she was in front of her younger brother and sister, Mrs. Xing was no longer as cautious as she was in Rongguo Mansion. She sat down with a dignified manner, accepted the greetings from Xing Sanjie and Xing Dequan, and then asked about the whole situation with a serious expression.

After inquiring about the marriage, Mrs. Xing sighed, "Now that my third sister is married, I've finally put my mind at ease." Turning to lecture Xing Dequan, she said, "After the first month of the year, things will get busy. You should also focus on your work and avoid hanging out with those bad friends."

Xing Dequan responded silently.

Madam Xing frowned and said, "Be careful. If anything goes wrong, watch out for your skin!"

Xing Dequan shrank his neck and muttered, "Isn't there still Brother Yuan?"

"Him?" Madam Xing glared at Chen Siyuan and said sarcastically, "As the old saying goes, a nephew is a dog; he eats and runs away. Do you think you can always count on him?"

Xing Dequan blinked and looked at Chen Siyuan in confusion.

Chen Siyuan scratched his head and said, "Aunt, that's enough."

"What's wrong with that?" Madam Xing became excited and scolded, "You thought of me when you had that good thing, and then you told the second wife about it. You knew very well that I don't get along with her!"

Chen Siyuan said, "Didn't I tell my aunt first? Besides, my relationship with the second wife was also for my aunt's sake?"

Mrs. Xing laughed in anger and said, "Okay, okay, I want to hear what you can say."

Chen Siyuan glanced at Xing Dequan, figuring he wouldn't often visit the Rongguo Mansion, so he asked, "May I ask why my aunt is having trouble with the second wife?"

Madam Xing sneered, "Isn't this obvious? Although I'm the second wife, I'm also the eldest daughter-in-law of the first wife. The job of managing the household has fallen into the hands of the second wife. How can I accept this?"

Chen Siyuan laughed and said, "Then who gave the job of head of the household to the second branch?"

"Of course it's the old lady," Mrs. Xing replied, then she felt something was wrong. Indeed, the old lady had personally appointed her to this position, so logically, she should have disliked her more.

Chen Siyuan whispered, "Auntie is confused. Although the old lady has been honored, she has not retired yet. Aren't the people in charge of various affairs still the former servants? Everyone listens to the old lady now. The second wife is only in charge of the household in name, but when does her word really count?"

Is that so? Mrs. Xing thought about it and it seemed to be true.

Chen Siyuan continued, "Besides, she was the first to marry into the family. It's been over twenty years now. At first, Daiyu's mother was the housekeeper, and then the second sister-in-law came in, and the job of housekeeper fell on her again. Aunt, think carefully, when has the second wife ever been the housekeeper?"

That's right! Jia Min had been the housekeeper until she got married. After she did, Lady Wang took over for a few years, and only then did Zhou Rui's wife become the housekeeper. Later, when Feng Yatou entered the Jia household, the housekeeper job fell to her again. Now, of the eight concubines in the second house, only Zhou Rui's wife has been given the job of housekeeper. The remaining men, all in their thirties, are still serving as servants to Baoyu.

Seeing that Madam Xing seemed lost in thought, Chen Siyuan said, "Now the old lady relies on her former servants and uses my second sister-in-law and aunt to restrain the second branch. That's how she has monopolized power. With the pressure of filial piety, the old lady's words are more effective than anything else. If I were her aunt, why would I fight with the second branch right now? Why not invite the old lady to take care of us together?"

Mrs. Xing said thoughtfully, "Does that seem to make sense?"

Third Sister Xing was quite intelligent and said, "Sister, what Brother Yuan said makes sense. It's pointless for you to fight the Second House to death. It only gives Brother Lian's daughter-in-law a free ride."

Mrs. Xing was confused for a moment. This was not what she had expected.

Chen Siyuan said, "Whether these words are effective or not depends not on who is in charge of the household, but on whose people are in charge of the responsibilities. Auntie can't even manage the East Wing now. Instead of letting this go on, why not work with the Second House to force the old lady to give up those management responsibilities? Even if the Second House gets the big advantage, wouldn't Auntie still benefit from following behind?"

After a pause, he continued, "At worst, all the benefits will be taken away by my second sister-in-law. But aunt, don't forget that my second sister-in-law is nominally your daughter-in-law. Filial piety is above all else, and in the future, won't you have the final say?"

Mrs. Xing's face changed. After careful consideration, she realized that Chen Siyuan's words made a lot of sense. She immediately slammed the table and said, "Oh! Why didn't I think of that?"

The more she thought about it, the happier she became. Then, she frowned and said, "This...Brother Yuan, the Second House and I have been at odds for a few years. How can we ease this situation?"

Chen Siyuan said leisurely, "Isn't this simple? Auntie can invite us to a private banquet later. All we need to do is say that we need some money to get involved. We can find the second wife and join her together as a shareholder."

Mrs. Xing pondered, "The banquet has been scheduled for a few days, so it's hard to change it... We have to wait until after the 15th." She looked up at Chen Siyuan and said, "Brother Yuan..."

"It's not easy for my aunt to speak up, so it's only right for my nephew to speak up on my behalf."

Mrs. Xing's mood suddenly brightened, and she immediately began to look at Chen Siyuan with even greater favor. It was only because Third Sister Xing and Xing Dequan were there that Mrs. Xing didn't bother with Chen Siyuan.

The four of them talked for a long while, and Xing Dequan seemed to be sitting on pins and needles, unable to sit still. Finally, at noon, there was a banquet at home. Xing Dequan took a quick bite, and suddenly someone called out from the front. He dropped his chopsticks and left, saying he would be back soon.

Mrs. Xing and Third Sister Xing had a good chat. After dinner, they left Miao'er to take care of Chen Siyuan, and the two sisters went to the back building to talk privately.

Xing Dequan was away at the moment, so Chen Siyuan simply took over and rested on the bed in the west corner. Miao'er brought a teacup, glanced at Chen Siyuan, who was reclining on it, and couldn't help but laugh, "Brother, are you tired?"

Chen Siyuan sighed, "This year has been even more tiring than usual." He waved as he spoke, "Sister, come here. I have something for you."

Miao'er put down the teacup, came over happily and asked, "What is it?"

Chen Siyuan shook his hand and stuffed four gold coins into Miao'er's hand. Miao'er pinched it in her hand and immediately pursed her lips and said angrily, "Just money?"

Chen Siyuan reached out and pulled, and Miao'er screamed and fell into his arms. Chen Siyuan raised the girl's chin and said, "What else do you want, sister?"

Miao'er giggled and stared at Chen Siyuan without saying a word.

Chen Siyuan turned over and pressed her under him, leaning over to kiss her. In just a moment, Miao'er began to breathe unevenly. She didn't know when Chen Siyuan had untied her clothes. She only blocked it twice and let him do it.

An unknown amount of time had passed, and Miao'er was in a state of confusion and passion when she suddenly heard someone whisper, "What a vixen! When did I ever teach you how to seduce a man?"

Miao'er cried out in surprise, clutching her clothes and quickly stood up. She looked up at Madam Xing's frosty face and knelt down in fear: "Madam... Madam——"

Chen Siyuan glanced at Madam Xing and immediately understood. He hurried forward and pleaded, "Aunt, please don't make it public. It's all my nephew's fault... Please excuse me for a moment."

After half pushing and half pulling, they managed to push Madam Xing out. Miao'er knelt on the ground, feeling as if she had been struck by thunder, and she burst into tears in fear.

Chen Siyuan dragged Madam Xing to a corner. Seeing that no one else was in the main room, he reached out and grabbed Roudi, saying, "Did you come at the right time?"

Madam Xing snorted coldly and said nothing. Although this situation was her instruction, she still felt a pang of resentment after witnessing it in person.

Chen Siyuan stepped forward and kissed her on the cheek. Mrs. Xing glared in shock: "You're courting death!"

Seeing that Chen Siyuan was about to act recklessly again, Madam Xing hurriedly said, "Third sister will be here soon."

Chen Siyuan laughed and said, "Just scare her a few times, but don't frighten her too much."

Madam Xing rolled her eyes at him and said, "Do I need you to teach me?"

The two of them were briefly intimate, then returned to the western wing. Madam Xing found a chair and sat down, frowning as she looked at the sobbing Miao'er. She sighed, "Forget it, get up and answer."

Miao'er looked up at Chen Siyuan and saw him nod solemnly. Then she pursed her lips and stood up.

Madam Xing said, "It's normal for you to have such thoughts, but why didn't you tell me earlier? It's a pity that I caught you. If it were someone else, would you still expect a good outcome?"

Miao'er hurriedly said, "It's all my fault. Please punish me, Madam."

Madam Xing shook her head and said, "You've been with me for several years. Even if you haven't done anything great, you've worked hard. How could I bear to punish you? Well, from now on, you should be more attentive. When the time comes, I'll send you to my brother."

Miao'er was overjoyed and knelt down to kowtow again: "Madam, I will never forget your kindness. In the future, if you need me, I will... wuwu, I will definitely -"

Madam Xing said, "Alright, alright, get up."

(End of this chapter)