The Soldier of the Red Mansion

Chapter 43: Enjoying Great Happiness or Enjoying Peaceful Happiness
The next morning, it was still dark.

It's around 3:15 AM.

Wang Xin slept soundly and dreamlessly all night. When he opened his eyes, he felt refreshed and not a trace of fatigue. He felt light to the core, as if he had endless energy. It was a great feeling.

It is true that only after losing something can we understand its value.

Or it’s great to be young.

As soon as the quilt was lifted, he slept easily, wearing cloth shoes and only a pair of wide crotch pants. Wang Xin was not used to sleeping in his underwear, so he had bare arms and his clothes were placed on the hanger.

Zhou Rui suggested arranging someone to serve him, but Wang Xin refused.

Not used to it.

In addition to delivering tea, snacks and food, the servants in the main kitchen also deliver hot water every morning and evening. Around noon, the people from Tuobi Villa will deliver it to the house.

Everyone he met yesterday was wearing official clothes, except himself, so Wang Xin went to the closet and took out his official clothes.

Although it was already September, Wang Xin was young and hot-tempered, so he was not afraid of the cold and did not wear a coat.

"Squeak."

Qingwen heard the noise inside and hesitated for a while before coming in carrying the "gold" basin.

"ah."

"Clang."

Qingwen covered her eyes and ran out.

The ground is all water.

The "gold" basin clattered for a while, and then stopped steadily on the square brick floor. Wang Xin went forward to pick it up. It was actually a copper basin. You have to be careful not to slip, because water is flowing everywhere. The square bricks are nine inches thick, and the three-in-one earth floor is rammed with lime, clay, and fine sand. It is hammered repeatedly and dried nine times before it is as hard as iron and as shiny as a mirror.

"Why aren't you wearing any clothes?"

Standing outside, Qingwen complained softly.

It's neither possible to go in nor to run.

"It's strange that you came in without knocking and then blamed me."

Wang Xin said with a smile, "I was looking for clothes to wear, and you ran in for no reason. Not only did you scare me, but you also wet the floor. Now, not only do I have to find clothes, but I also have to clean up the floor. What a silly girl."

Qingwen pouted and walked in angrily.

"I'm not a silly girl."

She lowered her head and didn't look at Wang Xin. She snatched the copper basin from Wang Xin's hand. After all, she saw it. Her face turned red with shame and she whispered, "I'll go get some more water." Then she ran away.

"Be careful, the road is slippery."

Wang Xin shook his head helplessly.

While Qingwen was away, Wang Xin started to put on his clothes.

Although it is not my responsibility, there is no need to embarrass the little girl in front of her.

Official uniforms are rarely worn, mainly because they are uncomfortable and difficult to put on by one person, so it takes a long time to put on.

He first put on a crimson inner garment, then a sandalwood-colored inner robe with a golden python pattern, and a plain black leather belt around his waist. Because he had not entered the camp, there was no tiger pattern, and the hanging ivory plaque was still from Yangzhou.

When Qingwen came back in, she saw that Wang Xin couldn't put his hat on properly. After hesitating for a moment, the little girl sensibly stepped forward to help without Wang Xin saying anything.

She placed the copper basin on the washstand, then walked to Wang Xin, stretched out her little hand to help Wang Xin put on his hat, and stroked the black gauze fu hat with gold cloud pattern. Qingwen's fingers were nimble, and she stood on tiptoe to fix it for Wang Xin in one go.

Wang Xin saw that Qingwen was not tall enough and had difficulty standing on tiptoe, so he took the initiative to squat slightly.

Qingwen's ears turned red.

Wang Xin also felt that this posture was a bit ambiguous.

Because Qingwen was standing on tiptoe, her upper body leaned forward, and she squatted slightly, so that the two of them were close to each other, almost touching each other. Qingwen's forehead could be clearly seen, and it was youthful and fair.

Because Qingwen held her head high, their eyes always met.

Qingwen has never been like this before.

In Baoyu's room, these chores were done by Xiren, and Qiu Wen and She Yue also rushed to do them. She would not learn from them. The proud Qingwen served a man at such a close distance for the first time. The anger she had at the beginning had long disappeared without a trace, leaving only shame.

But if I were to say anything dissatisfied, I couldn't find anything.

Wang Xin asked me to call him Wang Xin. There was no need to act so grand. If I felt really embarrassed, I could just call him that when there was no one around. In fact, from yesterday to this morning, I couldn't find any fault with him.

Last night I was wondering how there could be such a considerate man.

After Qingwen put on her hat, she sighed softly and squatted down.

Wang Xin was startled and was about to ask.

Qingwen took out a pair of dark brown suede boots from the shoe cabinet. The boots were embroidered with lotus flowers. Without even looking up, she said, "Master, lift your feet."

It’s indeed the stubborn Qingwen.

The more you ask her to do something, the less she will do it; the more you ask her not to do something, the more she will do it.

A little girl who is not content with the status quo, with her unyielding character and better needlework than others, has character and persistence, but unfortunately she was born in the wrong era.

Wang Xin said regretfully, "Actually, I really didn't intend to have anyone serve me."

Qingwen changed into the other shoe, and Wang Xin cooperated by lifting his left foot.

"why?"

Qingwen asked after she stood up.

The two faced each other.

Wang Xin smiled and said, "A good horse deserves a good saddle, and wine deserves a glass."

Qingwen became more and more confused.

"With one or two personal maids, wouldn't it be necessary to hire maids? With maids, there would be more people, wouldn't there be someone to make the fire and cook, and then wash clothes? If there are too many things to buy, would there be someone to drive the horses? If there are more things to do, without more than ten people, it would not be enough to support the level of personal maids, and that's still the minimum."

Wang Xin told the truth.

No vanity.

I wouldn't dare compare it to the monthly allowance from the Jia family, but it does cover food and lodging, right? There's also the annual bonuses, so at least a few hundred taels of silver are enough to cover the cost in a year, and that's still the minimum.

He was indeed a fourth-rank military officer now, with an annual salary of more than 140 taels, which seemed just enough to support himself.

But not to mention the interpersonal relationships, travel expenses, and so on, you also need a large house that can accommodate more than a dozen people, which costs at least four hundred taels. In short, the more luxurious the house, the more money you have to spend.

If you don’t have enough money, you have to ask for help.

The Jia family's financial resources were quite rich, with rewards from the palace, individual salaries, and the produce from the manor, but it was still not enough to spend. Why?
Because they lost the position of Jiedushi of the Beijing Camp, the Jia family could no longer make money.

The Jia family is living beyond their means.

I'm referring to this aspect.

This is what he meant by not making ends meet.

Once a person is controlled by desire, he will be pushed by desire, and ordinary people cannot escape it. Wang Xin has suffered a great loss.

The savings accumulated through hard work for half a lifetime were wiped out in a bubble because of greed.

Half of my life has been wasted, and I have to start all over again.

Therefore, whether or not one can control one's desires is not a problem from ancient times, but a problem that exists from ancient times to the present.

If you cannot defeat your desires, then no matter how good the conditions and opportunities are, they will all be in vain, because desires are endless and can never be satisfied, and you will gradually move towards a desperate situation.

"Save money for a few years, buy a courtyard house, marry a wife, have three children, and hire two or three maids. How can it not be beautiful? Life will be wonderful."

Wang Xin said with a smile.

The people in the Jia family are used to the world. Even the housekeeper of the Jia family lives in a big house with a group of servants.

Wang Xin will not learn from the Jia family.

So I have to tell Qingwen that I am just an ordinary person who plans to live a simple life.

Qingwen stared at Wang Xin in a daze.

"Is there flowers on my face?"

"No."

"I'll go clean up the water."

Qingwen ran away again.

There was no mention of helping Wang Xin wash his face and comb his hair.

Just run.

Wang Xin didn't care.

You won't be able to enjoy great happiness by following me, you can only enjoy a peaceful life.

Generally, people who are controlled by desires and care about external things, and there are many such people in the world, will find it difficult to enjoy a peaceful life. Therefore, things should be made clear in advance. If someone is willing to follow you, you will not treat them unfairly and will definitely let them enjoy a peaceful life. But if someone wants to enjoy great happiness, then don't count on yourself.

(End of this chapter)