The Red Mansion

Chapter 28 Birthday on Shangsi Festival
It was already the third day of March, more than twenty days had passed since the Xue and Jiang families left Jiangning for Beijing.

That afternoon, the Jiang family's ship and the Xue family's ship docked at a water post in Zhili Province.

Jiang Nian suddenly boarded the Xue family's ship and asked to see Aunt Xue and Xue Baochai, which made Aunt Xue and Xue Baochai a little surprised and suspicious.

Because, since the day Jiang Nian boarded the Xue family's ship and asked Aunt Xue to write the promise of becoming a concubine, Jiang Nian has not boarded the Xue family's ship in person for nearly ten days.

"Why did he suddenly come aboard our ship today? What does he want to discuss with us? Could it be that he is about to arrive in the capital and is here to talk to us about the concubine..."

Aunt Xue and Xue Baochai were both confused and a little nervous.

Nearly ten days had passed, and Aunt Xue felt deeply regretful about having a concubine.

Under the guidance of Xue Pan, Jiang Nian walked into a spacious cabin and met Aunt Xue and Xue Baochai. Although the mother and daughter were nervous, they looked at him calmly.

After Jiang Nian sat down, the maid Ying'er poured him a cup of tea. Although he took it, he didn't intend to drink it. He just stared at Aunt Xue and Xue Baochai quietly. After Xue Baochai looked at him, she lowered her head awkwardly, avoiding his sharp gaze.

Aunt Xue couldn't help but speak first: "It's afternoon now, and there are still two hours until evening. If Master Jiang wants to rest at a water inn for the night, he could go to the one ahead. Why is he stopping here?"

Jiang Nian then spoke: "Because today is the third day of March."

Aunt Xue, Xue Baochai and Xue Pan were all stunned.

What is this? Today is the third day of the third lunar month. Does it have anything to do with Aunt Xue's question?
Aunt Xue saw Jiang Nian stop talking after saying this and continued to stare at Xue Baochai. She coughed dryly and had to continue asking, "Is there anything special about today?"

Jiang Nian actually smiled: "Today is my birthday."

Aunt Xue, Xue Baochai, and Xue Pan suddenly understood what was going on.

Aunt Xue couldn't help but spit in her heart: "This overbearing boy's birthday is actually on the third day of the third lunar month. No wonder he has been haunting our Xue family like a ghost!"

The third day of the third lunar month is Jiang Nian’s birthday in this life, but his birthday in his previous life was not on this day.

In this era, there are both good and bad sayings about birthdays on the third day of the third lunar month.

The good version is that this day is considered the birthday of Emperor Xuanyuan. People born on this day are believed to have a special connection with Emperor Huangdi and are therefore considered blessed.

This day is also considered the birthday of the Queen Mother of the West. People born on this day are believed to have a connection with the immortals, and Taoist believers will burn incense and pray for blessings on this day.

In addition, this day is also the ancient Shangsi Festival.

The unfavorable news is that after the Song Dynasty, the Shangsi Festival gradually declined in China, and has now evolved into the Ghost Festival in some areas. Some people believe that being born on this day is unlucky, and some parents will advance or postpone the birthday of their children born on this day to avoid celebrating on the Ghost Festival.

Aunt Xue now thinks that it was an unlucky day for Jiang Nian to be born, and that she has haunted the Xue family and her precious daughter like a ghost.

In fact, she knew that there were also good things about being born on this day, but because she was dissatisfied with Jiang Nian, she deliberately preferred the bad things.

Jiang Nian has his own unique understanding of his birthday in this life.

He thought that the original owner was born on this day, but he had traveled through time and space to replace him, like a ghost descending into this world. Furthermore, since this day was the birthday of Emperor Xuanyuan, those born on this day were believed to have a special connection with the Yellow Emperor. Could this indicate that he could become emperor in this lifetime?

At this moment, Aunt Xue and Xue Baochai were silent and did not take the initiative to bless Jiang Nian.

Although Xue Pan was also dissatisfied with Jiang Nian in his heart, he took the initiative to speak: "So today is Brother Jiang's birthday. Congratulations, I should also give him a gift."

Jiang Nian said, "There's no need for gifts. I'm going to choose a good restaurant in Shuiyi here and set up a banquet to celebrate. I'd like to invite Mrs. Xue, Miss Xue, and Brother Xue to join us. I wonder if you'd be willing to come?"

After all, it was his first birthday after traveling through time, and he wanted to celebrate.

Aunt Xue heard this and said without much thought, "How can we go? Bao-ya-tou and I are both women, so it's not convenient for us to go ashore. From Jiangning to here, my mother and I have been staying on the boat the whole time, never going to the Water Inn. As for Pan-er, Master Jiang knows that since we encountered the pirates, there are only four men left on our boat. Pan-er and the others haven't been able to get off the boat all the way, so we have to guard the boat well."

Jiang Nian nodded. This answer from Aunt Xue was within his expectations.

In reality, he had come to the Xue family's ship in person simply to inform Xue Baochai of his birthday in person. In his heart, he already considered Xue Baochai his woman, and he wanted her to know that today was his birthday, to remember it today, and perhaps even give him a gift...

This will make his first birthday after traveling through time more meaningful.

At this time, Xue Baochai spoke up. She glanced at Xue Pan, then said to Aunt Xue, "Mother, it's inconvenient for us to attend the banquet. Brother can go, though. He can represent our Xue family in celebrating Master Jiang's birthday, and this will allow him to become closer to Master Jiang. Without brother, we still have three men on the boat to guard it. A banquet won't take long, and brother will be back after he finishes eating."

Aunt Xue pondered for a moment, then understood the profound meaning of Xue Baochai's words...

Aunt Xue said to Xue Pan, "Pan'er, please go and celebrate Master Jiang's birthday on behalf of our family. Don't forget to send him a gift."

Xue Pan nodded happily. He really wanted to make friends with Jiang Nian. He was really bored on the boat and wanted to take the opportunity to enjoy himself at the Shuiyi Restaurant.

So, Xue Pan gave Jiang Nian a gift and followed Jiang Nian.

Inside the cabin, Aunt Xue asked Xue Baochai, "Bao girl, you asked your brother to attend the banquet. Are you hoping that he will take advantage of this opportunity to get close to Jiang Nian, so that it will be easier for us to change the promise of a concubine after we arrive in Beijing?"

Xue Baochai nodded slightly.

Aunt Xue asked again, "Do you think I should also send a gift?"

Xue Baochai paused for a moment and said, "Mother, it would be best if you could give him a gift. It doesn't have to be anything special. Just a set of clothes and a pair of shoes and socks will do."

Aunt Xue didn't want to give it to him from the bottom of her heart, but she still thought it was a good idea to give it to him, so she nodded.

Xue Baochai lowered her head in thought, wondering, "Should I also give him a gift?"

She wanted to give him a gift, but she felt it was inappropriate. After all, her mother had already decided to cancel the concubine arrangement after arriving in Beijing. If she gave him a gift today, wouldn't it only deepen his impression of her and make him miss her even more?

As for the Red Mansions novel, it is better to write it with a certain literary quality, which will make it more charming. The writing style should not be too naive. This book will focus on this aspect. Some readers do not like the description of this aspect, and even think that these descriptions are watered down. Please bear with me.

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(End of this chapter)