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

The two men exited through the side gate one after the other and saw Xing Zhong and his wife huddled in a corner to avoid the wind. Although they had changed into new blue cotton-padded jackets, the material was the coarsest kind, and the collar and cuffs were still stained with mud. It was clear that they had hastily bought the jackets with the five taels of silver that Jia Cong had given them before. They did not look respectable at all, but instead revealed a kind of poor and greedy attitude.

Xing Zhong's wife had sharp eyes and spotted Xing Xiuyan behind Chu Lan at a glance. Her gaze immediately fell on the brand-new brocade jacket on her body!

The fabric was delicate and soft, with even stitches, and the neckline was embroidered with very faint intertwined floral patterns. It was something that a poor family like her could not afford.

Xing Zhong's wife immediately forgot to seek shelter from the wind, rushed forward in three steps and grabbed Xing Xiuyan's sleeve tightly, shouting in a rough voice.

"My son! You're doing just fine, hiding in this grand mansion enjoying your life, dressed in such fine clothes, while your parents are outside shivering in the cold, unable to even get a sip of warm wine!"

Xing Xiuyan stumbled as she was pulled, her slender body trembling slightly—not from the cold, but from anxiety and embarrassment. She instinctively tried to pull her sleeve back, her eyes welling with tears, but she stubbornly refused to let them fall.

"Mother! Please don't say that. These clothes weren't originally mine. They were a gift from someone else. I didn't have any extra money, and I'm not enjoying any luxury here. I'm just living under someone else's roof and dependent on them."

"A gift from someone else?" Xing Zhong's wife scoffed, her eyes fixed on the brocade jacket, her face full of disbelief. She reached out to touch the fabric.

"Who would give you such fine clothes? You must have received favors at home and saved up money that you refuse to help your parents! Do you know how difficult things are at home? We don't even have a proper place to live, and firewood and rice are ridiculously expensive at the end of the year. We can't even afford a meal with meat. And you, dressed so well, how can you live with yourself?"

Xing Zhong also came over, rubbing his hands, which were red from the cold, his face plastered with crude flattery, yet unable to hide the greed in his eyes, as he chattered on and on to Xing Xiuyan.

"Yan'er, it's not that your parents are forcing you, we really have no other choice. You must have met many important people while you were in the manor. Just ask us for some money to buy a small courtyard and some firewood and rice, and your parents will be satisfied. You wear such fine clothes, so we don't think you're short of money."

Xing Xiuyan felt as if her heart was being torn apart. Her eyes reddened further, and tears welled up in them, revealing an undisguised sense of grievance and defiance.

"Father! Mother! I really have no money! We're currently staying in Second Sister's courtyard, and our daily expenses are provided by the manor according to custom, without a single penny more. This dress... it was a kind gift from someone, and we haven't even returned the favor yet. How could I possibly have money to help you? Third Brother just gave you five taels of silver before the New Year, which was enough for you to get through the holiday. Why are you asking for more?"

The third brother she was referring to was, of course, Jia Cong, who was standing leisurely to the side, wearing a silver fox fur cloak.

Only then did Xing Zhong and his wife belatedly turn around and see Jia Cong behind Xing Xiuyan. He exuded an intimidating aura, and the two of them were immediately so frightened that their legs went weak. The force they had used to tantrum with Xing Xiuyan vanished instantly. They quickly let go, bowed their heads, and hunched over so low that their waists almost touched their knees. They didn't even dare to breathe, and the greed on their faces was suppressed by fear.

After a long pause, Xing Zhong finally mustered his courage, rubbing his hands together, forcing a crude, simple smile, and stammered out his words.

"It turns out...it turns out it was Third Master here. We were unaware that we had offended you. We hope Third Master will forgive us! We didn't come here to cause trouble. We are really struggling at the end of the year. We have no house and no money. We are freezing and have no other choice but to come to our daughter to ask for her help. We would never dare to bother Third Master."

Xing Zhong's wife quickly echoed, her voice trembling.

"Yes, yes, please forgive us, Third Master! We were just confused for a moment. We beg you, daughter, to help us out. We would never dare to anger you." As she spoke, she secretly glared at Xing Xiuyan, signaling her to quickly ask Jia Cong for help.

Xing Xiuyan was so angry and ashamed by her parents' shamelessness and cowardice that she felt stiff all over. She didn't say a word, clutching the hem of her clothes tightly. She didn't even have the courage to look up at Jia Cong. Her heart was filled with despair and helplessness.

She knew that her parents were a bottomless pit, that what she gave today would come back tomorrow, but they were still her parents who gave her life and raised her. She couldn't bear to abandon them, yet she was powerless to bear the burden.

Jia Cong took in all of this, his heart filled with disgust, but he was unwilling to lose face because Xing Xiuyan was by his side.

He remained expressionless, only slightly raising his eyes to instruct Li Rong, who was standing beside him, "Bring five taels of silver to my uncle and aunt."

Li Rong responded and left, returning shortly with a small silver ingot in his hand, which he presented to Xing Zhong.

The moment Xing Zhong and his wife saw the silver, their eyes lit up. Their fear vanished instantly. They hurriedly reached out and took it, their hands trembling. They thanked Jia Cong profusely, saying, "Third Master, you are so kind and virtuous," and "We will never dare to bother you again." They stammered as they took their leave, afraid that Jia Cong might change his mind, and didn't even glance at their daughter.

Xing Xiuyan stood in the cold wind, watching her parents' hurried figures disappear into the distance. Her shoulders trembled uncontrollably, and tears finally streamed down her face, staining her clothes.

She turned to look at Jia Cong, her eyes red and swollen, her face full of guilt and gratitude. She simply curtsied slightly.

"Thank you, Third Brother, for going to so much trouble. I know they are insatiable and their greed is insatiable. Even if you give to them today, they will come back to bother me tomorrow. After all, they are my parents, and I have no other choice."

As Jia Cong pulled her inside and led her back, he remained curious.

"Didn't I give you twenty taels of personal savings the other day? Why haven't you taken it out yet?"

Unexpectedly, Xing Xiuyan stubbornly shook her head.

"That was a gift from my third brother, how could I give it to them? Anyway, I'll be supported by their monthly allowance."

Jia Cong simply nodded slightly without asking any further questions. After a moment of contemplation, he turned his head away, hands clasped in his pockets.

"How about I find some work for my uncle and aunt? It would be better than them doing nothing all day."

Upon hearing this, Xing Xiuyan's clean face showed a hint of embarrassment and bitterness.

"I appreciate your kindness, Third Brother, but my parents are lazy by nature and very concerned about their reputation. Even if there is work to be done, they may not be willing to do it with peace of mind. Instead, they are afraid of giving others something to talk about and causing trouble."

When she looked up at Jia Cong, her eyes held a hint of undisguised grievance.

"I already feel bad that my third brother has gone to so much trouble for my family. How can I let you have to worry about them as well? I'll just make do with what I have."

Upon reaching Zilingzhou, Xing Xiuyan suddenly stopped, and as if having made a great decision, she timidly curtsied.

"It's cold, I'd like to ask my third brother for a cup of hot tea, but I don't know if he..."

Jia Cong was baffled, but quickly seized the opportunity to guide the conversation.

"Why are you being so formal, sister? Have dinner at my place today." With that, she led the other woman toward Qingyan Hall.

Upon entering Qingyan Hall, he quickly instructed the maids to prepare tea, then moved over a warm couch, lit a charcoal stove, and only then turned around with a smile.

"Please sit for a moment, sister. Rest here for the day and have your meal before you go back."

"Thank you for your hospitality, Third Brother..." Xing Xiuyan gave a slight curtsy, her face still flushed, but she was not as distant as before.