Dream of the Red Chamber: A Refined and Elegant Young Man in a Turbid World

In the second year of the Kangping era of the Dajing reign, in the middle of summer, early in the morning, Jia Cong, dressed in short clothes, was jogging slowly along the streets of the Yuan capital city near the Rongguo Mansion.

This boy looks no more than thirteen or fourteen years old. His eyes are as bright as if they were tempered with cold stars. He is thin, but he exudes a youthful tenacity that refuses to admit defeat.

Jia Cong, a programmer in the 21st century, died suddenly due to overwork and unexpectedly transmigrated to the world of Dream of the Red Chamber three months ago. His current identity is Jia Cong, the second son of Jia She of Rongguo Mansion.

When he first arrived, Jia Cong was extremely uncomfortable for three reasons.

First, his academic knowledge was lacking. Putting aside everything else, he was completely ignorant of classical Chinese texts. It's hard to say whether the original Jia Cong was just a born academic failure.

Secondly, other people who transmigrate are either born with a system or a shopping mall, or they are born with superhuman strength and invincibility. But I am completely different. Not to mention a system, even the original components that come with me are not very useful.

His body was extremely weak, with only his skin being decent. So for the past three months, Jia Cong had been getting up early every morning to run, and in his spare time he also had to do some basic strength training.

The last point is dissatisfaction with the current situation.

Although Jia Cong was Jia She's second son, with Jia Lian as his elder brother and Jia Yingchun as his second elder sister, he was the least favored. Except for the occasional festival when he had to hold the silk offerings with Jia Lian, the rest of the time, almost no one in the Jia family could remember that there was such a young master.

Jia Cong's birth mother was the daughter of the former Prince of Nan'an, making her practically a princess. Unfortunately, she passed away early. Madam Xing was his stepmother, and she often mocked and ridiculed him, never giving him a kind look.

Some say that Jia Cong was Jia She's illegitimate son. Cao Xueqin did not explicitly state this in the original text, but there is a description of it in Chapter 53.

Chapter 53: "The Jia family members were divided into generations and stood in order. Jia Jing presided over the sacrifice, Jia She accompanied him, Jia Zhen offered wine, Jia Lian and Jia Cong offered silk, Bao Yu held incense, and Jia Chang and Jia Ling spread out the prayer mats and guarded the incense burner."

Jia Huan, born out of wedlock, was not eligible to participate in the sacrificial rites, while Jia Cong was ranked ahead of Jia Baoyu.

Compared to Baoyu, who was the center of attention in the Rongguo Mansion, he and Jia Cong were truly in a worse situation.

Moreover, if this were truly the world of Dream of the Red Chamber, the Jia family would face confiscation of their property and arrests in just a few years, at which point he himself would likely lose his status as a good-for-nothing young master.

Jia Cong jogged slowly around the Rongguo Mansion. As the sun rose higher, sweat beaded on his nose. Just as he turned a corner, he unexpectedly bumped into someone coming from the opposite direction.

"Hey, what kind of wild boy is this, barging into your mother's house like that!" The newcomer's words were sharp and his tone shrill.

Jia Cong was knocked to the ground. Without even rubbing his sore backside, he quickly stood up and bowed to the person who had knocked him.

"I've met my sister-in-law."

The woman who had been hit had almond-shaped eyes, arched eyebrows, a slender figure, and a charming demeanor. She was none other than Wang Xifeng, the wife of Jia Lian, as described by Cao Xueqin.

When Wang Xifeng was addressed as "sister-in-law," she finally recognized the young man before her. Seeing that it was Jia Cong, she couldn't very well make a scene, so she forced a smile and offered her hands in a gesture of support.

"Who is it? It's Brother Cong! I've heard that you've been getting up early to go for a run these past few days. I suppose you're feeling much better?"

The original Jia Cong fell seriously ill, and when he woke up, he had become the person he is now.

Jia Cong bowed awkwardly.

"Thank you for your concern, sister-in-law. Where are you going so early in the morning?"

Wang Xifeng glanced at Jia Cong sideways, took the handkerchief Ping'er handed her, wiped the fine sweat from her forehead, and pouted, saying...

"Since Her Majesty was recently bestowed the title of Virtuous Consort by the Emperor, everyone in the household is busy with this matter. This morning, we had to rush to purchase lanterns and colorful silks for the occasion, and we are taking Ping'er with us now."

Wang Xifeng didn't have much of an impression of her brother-in-law. After exchanging a few pleasantries, she was about to leave when Jia Cong stepped forward and blocked her way. Looking around to make sure no one was watching, he put on a fawning smile.

"To be honest, there is something I'd like to ask you to put in a good word for me, sister-in-law."

Wang Xifeng, always adept at handling social situations, though puzzled and annoyed, couldn't very well show him her displeasure in broad daylight. She could only stop, frown, and say...

"Oh? What brings you here, Brother Cong?"

Jia Cong rubbed his hands together, somewhat reserved.

"I want to ask my sister-in-law to talk to my father and let me learn martial arts. I'm getting really tired of reading and writing all day."

Upon hearing this, Wang Xifeng raised an eyebrow, a half-smile playing on her lips.

"So that's what it was about. But even if we were to ask, we should have asked your elder brother. Master Lian is from the same lineage as you, and he has influence with the master. Why are you asking a woman like me for help?"

Jia Cong rolled his eyes, thinking to himself that his dead brother Jia Lian was always chasing after women and never cared about anything serious.

"My sister-in-law is very much loved by the old lady. Everyone in the mansion is impressed by her. Even my second uncle speaks highly of her. I thought about it and realized that I could only ask my sister-in-law for help. I recently acquired a piece of jade phoenix from the previous dynasty and was just thinking of giving it to my sister-in-law. Isn't it a coincidence that we met today?"

Jia Cong knew that one could never ask for a favor empty-handed, and that Wang Xifeng was greedy for power and money, so it was impossible not to give her some sweeteners.

Wang Xifeng's beautiful eyes lit up, and she immediately covered her mouth with her handkerchief and giggled.

"We are all family, and you are the younger brother of Second Master Lian. Why are you being so formal? Today I have some excellent rice wine and steamed duck. Brother Cong, why don't you come to my house for lunch?"

Jia Cong's face lit up with joy, knowing he had a chance. He quickly stepped aside, cupped his hands in greeting, and

"Thank you, sister-in-law. I wouldn't dare trouble you with your business. I'll be going now."

Wang Xifeng nodded with a smile, her face warming slightly. She beckoned Ping'er over, took a few steps, then turned back and gazed deeply at Jia Cong's retreating figure.

Jia Cong didn't say anything more. Hearing the footsteps behind him fading away, he turned around and watched Wang Xifeng sway as she led Ping'er away. Then he pursed his lips, dusted himself off, and continued running.

After running until he was drenched in sweat, he returned to the Rongguo Mansion and first paid his respects to Jia She and Madam Xing. He was inevitably scolded by Madam Xing, who said he always looked unkempt and had a dark complexion.

After receiving a severe scolding, he went back to his room, called his servant, and had some hot water boiled for him so he could take a long and refreshing bath.

Jia Cong's treatment was far inferior to Jia Baoyu's. Logically speaking, as a young master, he should not have to do laundry and cook himself. However, Baoyu's room had a total of sixteen maids and about ten servants.

His situation was rather bleak, with only a servant boy named Li Rong and a maid named Chu Lan serving him.

In the morning, as usual, Jia Cong was to go to the clan school to study. Jia Huan and Jia Lan were also going to school with him. Jia Lan was still young and in the early stages of learning, while Bao Yu and the others were already studying the Four Books and Five Classics.