Dream of the Red Chamber

Chapter 62 Drunk Speech
Before Chen Siyuan could think about it, he suddenly heard someone knocking at the door. Hongyu turned around to greet him, opened the door, took a look, and said, "Master, it's Sister Qin."

Chen Siyuan walked into the hall, thinking that Xue Pan was beyond common sense, a man with a broken brain. No one could predict when he would lose his temper. So, from now on, he told Xiangling to stay in the courtyard and avoid going out unless necessary. No matter what Xue Pan was, he wouldn't barge in and rob people, right?

After making up his mind, Chen Siyuan sat down calmly. Soon he heard voices coming from far away. When the door opened, he saw Hongyu leading Qin Xianjia in.

Qin Xianjia came closer and bowed, then said with a broad smile, "Greetings, Master Yuan."

"Sister-in-law Qin is so polite."

Qin Xianjia said, "Early this morning, Master Yuan went to the outer study. Madam heard about it and wanted to send someone to look for him, but he was gone just as he was gone. Madam just came back from the old lady's place and heard that Master Yuan had returned, so she quickly sent me to fetch him."

"Is there something wrong, Auntie?"

Qin Xianjia said, "They said they have prepared a banquet and are inviting you to have some wine."

Madam Xing invited me to a banquet? I'm afraid it won't be a good one. I knew what Madam Xing was thinking - two thousand taels of silver turned over in just a few days and I made a profit of two hundred taels. What a great business! If I could come a few more times, it would be even better!

Even though he knew that Madam Xing had ill intentions, Chen Siyuan had to go. In name only, Madam Xing was his aunt, and Chen Siyuan's ability to stay at the Rongguo Mansion was thanks to Madam Xing; as for private matters... Chen Siyuan suddenly thought of Madam Xing's voluptuous figure. Xiangling had just provoked him to the point of wanting to be on edge, and he couldn't help but have some amorous thoughts.

Chen Siyuan smiled and said, "Auntie, I'm going to go, of course. I wonder what time you've set?"

Qin Xianjia smiled and said, "Uncle Yuan, just arrive at Youzheng." (Youzheng refers to 17 p.m., 19 p.m. to 18 p.m.)
"it is good."

After Qin Xianjia had given her instructions, she immediately excused herself and left. It was almost dinner time when Hongyu returned with a food box. Chen Siyuan, thinking he would be attending a banquet soon, moved his chopsticks briefly and distributed the remaining dishes to the maids.

The maids were naturally delighted. The maids in this mansion rose earlier than the roosters and slept later than the dogs. The masters ate three meals a day at two o'clock, while the maids and servants only had two. Those who were favored could still get some cakes and pastries from their masters to fill their stomachs, while those who were not favored either had to endure it or spend their own money to buy food from the kitchen in the East Courtyard.

Chen Siyuan hadn't known about this before, but when he saw the maids enjoying their meals, he casually asked about it and found out. He then said, "I'm afraid these two meals a day won't be enough to satisfy your hunger. If you spend money in the future, ask for more money later and bring it back to you all to share so you don't get hungry at night."

Xiangling and Hongyu agreed with a smile. The maid Yunxiang said with a smile: "They say that Master Bao is the most considerate of his servants. I think he is nothing compared to Master."

As soon as he finished speaking, Hongyu knocked him on the head and scolded him, "You're so talkative even when you're just eating snacks? If this gets out, you'll be in trouble!"

Yunxiang immediately said timidly, "I'll just talk about it in the room, I won't spread it outside."

Chen Siyuan couldn't help laughing.

In a blink of an eye, it was almost noon and it was completely dark outside. After asking Xiangling and Yunxiang to guard the door, Hongyu took the lantern and led Chen Siyuan all the way to the east wing to look for him.

Entering the east courtyard from the black oil gate, passing through the ceremonial gate and the three-tiered ceremonial gate, they arrived at Madam Xing's courtyard. This, like the Ningguo Mansion, also had three smaller courtyards. Qin Xianjia had already been waiting for them and immediately led Chen Siyuan to the main house.

Walking slowly along the corridor, Chen Siyuan glanced at the west wing. Qin Xianjia said, "The second young lady lived in the west wing earlier. Later, when she got older, she wanted to be closer to the third and fourth young ladies, so she moved to the east courtyard."

As they were talking, they turned around the corridor and arrived in front of the main room. After passing through the curtains and the screen, they entered the inner room. There they saw a table set up in the main hall and Madam Xing, supported by her maid, was about to come out from the west side room.

She wore a snow-blue, multicolored floral-embroidered, crimson-purple satin jacket with a front placket, lined with a duck-egg-blue, stand-up-collared jacket, and a duck-egg-blue, horse-faced skirt with a multicolored, peony-branch embroidery. This outfit looked rich, yet it also looked incredibly old-fashioned. Chen Siyuan thought to himself, this outfit should have been worn by Lady Wang at her age, yet here it was on Lady Xing.

On second thought, although Lady Xing was a concubine, she was considered a sister-in-law with Lady Wang. She was young but of a higher generation, and considering Jia She's age, she naturally had to dress more old-fashioned.

"Brother Yuan is here? Come and sit down. It's my fault, I haven't made time for a welcome party since Brother Yuan came all these days."

Are you trying to fool people?

Chen Siyuan bowed and smiled, "Aunt is very busy. She has to take care of the old lady, teach my second sister-in-law how to manage the household, manage all the affairs of the East Cross Courtyard, and interact with the women from all over the place. It's normal for her to be busy."

Mrs. Xing's face suddenly turned awkward, and she said vaguely, "Brother, you're right. We're not strangers. Come sit down and talk. Tiao'er, quickly order the wine to be served."

Of the two maids beside Madam Xing, Miao'er was able to keep a straight face, but Tiao'er bit her lower lip to suppress her laughter. Upon hearing what was said, she hurriedly responded and quickly went out to give the order.

Mrs. Xing had been with Jia She for so many years that she had become a tough guy. She didn't take such words to heart. After the two of them sat down, Mrs. Xing smiled and said, "My brother gave me cotton clothes last time. Did your third aunt have any instructions?"

Chen Siyuan said, "That's not the case. My third aunt and uncle just pulled me aside and talked to me for a while."

Mrs. Xing blinked and asked anxiously, "Could it be that your uncle received the dress?"

"My uncle was originally going to take it, but it was intercepted by my third aunt."

Mrs. Xing breathed a sigh of relief. A horse cannot grow fat without night grass, and a man cannot become rich without unexpected wealth. Although Mrs. Xing was not favored by Lady Jia, she was still the wife of the eldest wife, and occasionally she could say a word or two and find a good place for the maids and daughters-in-law below.

This was of course not a free favor. The subordinates had to give Mrs. Xing some gifts after receiving benefits.

Mrs. Xing picked up the useful benefits and sent someone to secretly deliver them to the Xing family, as a way to save up a dowry for Xing's third sister.

Mrs. Xing finally breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing this. She said angrily, "Your uncle is the worst kind of person. Don't try to follow his example and become a playboy. He's such a loser!"

Chen Siyuan agreed.

Soon the banquet was served, and Mrs. Xing invited Chen Siyuan to eat and drink. Perhaps the time was not right, because Mrs. Xing never talked about the main business, but just rambled on.

Suddenly, whispers could be heard from the porch, vaguely referring to "Second Madam." Mrs. Xing frowned and asked, "What are they whispering about outside?"

As soon as she finished speaking, the door opened and Tiao'er came in behind the screen, bowed, and then came to Madam Xing and said, "Madam, I heard that the Second Madam was showing off her power in Ningguo Mansion just now. A servant was caught slacking off, and the Second Madam had him beaten with a stick and had a month's worth of rice and rations confiscated."

Perhaps because she drank the wine too hastily, Mrs. Xing's face was a little drunk. Upon hearing this, she couldn't help but frown and said, "She really got it for free!"

She got a bargain? Where did that come from?
(End of this chapter)