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

The dishes served were extravagant, demonstrating that Jia Cong had spared no expense, and even the usually picky Jia She and Jia Zheng praised them highly.

The pickled shark fin is made from golden fins from the deep sea of ​​the South China Sea. It is soaked in ten-year-aged Shaoxing wine lees for half a month, resulting in a golden and translucent color. When you gently pick it up with ivory chopsticks, the fin needles are clearly visible. The taste is a hundred times more precious than ordinary pickled goose feet because of the aroma of wine and the freshness of the sea.

The Rouge Snail Pastry uses the luminous snails that were tribute from Persia. Only the tenderest and most succulent belly meat is selected and slowly marinated for three days with rose syrup and rouge rice juice. It is then sliced ​​into thin pieces and arranged in the shape of a peony, with red and white colors, and a glossy appearance like the sunset. One bite is crisp and tender with a hint of sweetness.

Not to mention the delicacies such as tiger-eye guinea fowl, roasted baby gorilla, steamed camel hump, and crab roe cheese. Even Baoyu didn't care about his table manners, and with Grandmother Jia's indulgence, he even got sauce on the corners of his mouth.

Daiyu sat opposite him, holding a silver spoon and slowly scooping up the Ice Marrow Jade Dew Soup. Seeing his hurried manner, she couldn't help but cover her mouth and tease, "Is your heart filled with gluttony? Look at how you're wolfing it down. If you keep eating like this, you might even leave marks on the plate."

Baoyu was enjoying his meal and, upon hearing this, was not annoyed. Instead, he retorted, "Sister, you're too full to understand the hunger of the starving! Such a delicious meal shouldn't be wasted if we eat it slowly and formally."

The room was filled with the delicious aroma of a sumptuous feast, and everyone was in high spirits. Just then, a servant boy in a shrill voice called out from under the eaves: "The opera troupe is waiting!"

The servants had already lifted the red silk curtain on the stage, and the actors, holding their strings and playing the clappers, stepped forward, and the melodious tunes began to flow out.

By this time, everyone had almost finished eating and moved to the front of the stage to sit and listen to the opera. The maids brought hot tea and snacks, which, combined with the singing, added to the lively atmosphere.

Jia Cong respectfully held up the opera folding book with both hands and presented it to Grandmother Jia first, saying, "Please choose today's opera, Grandmother."

Grandmother Jia seemed slightly annoyed as she declined,

"Today is your birthday, how can we let someone else steal our good fortune!"

Jia Cong declined again before finally selecting "A Bed Full of Official Tablets," a "showpiece" for birthday banquets, which naturally pleased Grandmother Jia.

As always, Wang Xifeng was shrewd. Knowing that Grandmother Jia loved lively entertainment and even more so, she ordered a play called "Liu Er Pawns His Clothes," which Grandmother Jia indeed enjoyed even more.

When it was handed to Jia Zheng, he stroked his beard, pondered for a moment, and flipped through a few pages. "Add another play, 'The Reconciliation of General and Minister,' which combines civil and military skills, and would suit Cong-ge'er's current livelihood."

Then Baoyu, Daiyu, Yingchun, Tanchun, Xichun, Li Wan, and others all took their places and began to act.

Jia Cong couldn't understand these opera tunes, so while everyone was engrossed in the opera performance, he secretly slipped back to his own courtyard. After rummaging around for a while, he pulled out a small gilded box containing a pigeon-blood gemstone thumb ring, which was a congratulatory gift from Lady Wang.

He carefully put the box away, then returned to the stage, pretending to be engrossed in the performance, while secretly glancing at Wang Xifeng, who was entertaining Grandmother Jia.

The maids served hot tea and snacks in turn. After they had eaten the pine nut and goose fat rolls and the steamed chestnut flour cake with osmanthus sugar, Jia Cong saw Wang Xifeng get up, presumably to go to the toilet, and quietly followed her.

Sure enough, Wang Xifeng, supported by Feng'er, went to the outhouse in a corner. Jia Cong could only wait far away under the eaves. When he saw her come out, he straightened his robe and took two steps forward.

"Sister-in-law, may I speak to you in private?"

Wang Xifeng was startled and quickly tucked the pearl hairpins into her hair. Seeing that it was Jia Cong, she playfully patted her chest in annoyance:

"Oh dear, Brother Cong, you were so quiet, you scared the wits off me! Feng'er, you go back to the corridor and keep watch. Don't let anyone else come over without my permission."

Feng'er acknowledged and withdrew. Only then did Wang Xifeng raise an eyebrow at Jia Cong, a half-smile on her face: "The birthday celebrant isn't enjoying the opera, but instead blocking my way here. Do you have some private words to say?"

Jia Cong looked around and, seeing that no one was around, took a step closer and lowered his voice:

"To be honest, I have a favor to ask of you today, sister-in-law." With that, she took out a small black lacquered box with gold trim from her sleeve and gently handed it over.

Wang Xifeng was incredibly astute; she glanced at the box's craftsmanship and knew it contained no ordinary item. However, she didn't accept it, but instead crossed her arms and smiled, saying:

"You are the younger brother of Master Lian. Uncle and sister-in-law should speak freely. Why bother with these formalities? Let me tell you, I dare not agree to any difficult task."

Jia Cong opened the box directly, and the pigeon blood ruby ​​thumb ring shone brightly in the sunlight, the gold threads making the gemstone even more lustrous.

Wang Xifeng's gaze fell on it, her pupils contracted slightly, and her fingers twitched almost imperceptibly, but her face remained expressionless: "Such a bright and shiny object, it must be quite expensive, but I'm not sure why someone would give me something so valuable for no reason."

"Sister-in-law has a discerning eye," Jia Cong said, closing the box and pressing it into her hand. "This ring is a token of my affection. I only ask one thing of you, sister-in-law. The perfume workshop in the manor is increasingly short-handed lately. I was thinking that Madam Rong of the Ning Mansion is meticulous and skillful, and even the Old Ancestor is very fond of her. If we could invite her to come and help out for a few days, it would surely be twice as effective. I only hope that you, sister-in-law, will mention it to the Old Ancestor."

Wang Xifeng weighed the box in her hand. Beneath the cool lacquer, it felt heavy and precious. She rolled her eyes, already understanding seven or eight parts of the situation.

Jia Cong's true intentions were not what they seemed; he was probably after Qin Keqing. However, this thumb ring was incredibly tempting. Even if things got tougher, he would still be willing to ask for a chance, let alone help the workshop.

She tucked the box into her sleeve, straightened her clothes, and a cheerful smile appeared on her face:

"This matter is of utmost importance! The workshop is indeed short-handed. The matriarch cherishes Madam Rong's steadiness the most. If I mention it to her, it might just work out."

After saying that, she leaned closer to Jia Cong and said in a voice that only the two of them could hear, "Just remember, I've taken care of this for you, but if any rumors spread in the future, you're not allowed to drag me into it."

Jia Cong quickly bowed and thanked him, saying, "Sister-in-law, don't worry, I understand. I will always remember this kindness."

Wang Xifeng smiled, raised her hand to straighten his turned-up collar, and her eyes held a shrewd, teasing glint in them:

"Brother Cong has made great progress. Let's go, don't keep the old ancestor waiting, or she'll ask where you've been."

Having said that, she took Feng'er's hand and swayed gracefully toward the stage. The box in her sleeve was nowhere to be found, but she still wore a polite smile on her face.

She knew that Jia Cong's mind wasn't necessarily entirely on the workshop, but the value of that pigeon-blood red thumb ring was enough to offset this favor.

Moreover, if Qin Keqing really came to Rong Mansion to help out at the perfume workshop, she could get some odd jobs, which would save the people in the mansion from saying that she was taking too much power. In addition, she could also do Ning Mansion a favor. It was a win-win-win situation, so why not?