Dream of the Red Chamber: Starting with a Chronicle of Tragic Love

"Who taught you to sing?"

Qian Zhengduan was furious and wanted to grab someone to question.

But the children scattered in a panic.

One of the bolder ones turned around and made a face: "That's what the storytellers all say! Qian Qianyi is the biggest coward in Jinling City!"

A surge of heat rushed to Qian Zhengduan's head, and he almost fainted.

The Qian family has been a family of scholars for generations. Although no one from their family has ever held a high-ranking official position, they have always maintained a reputation for integrity.

Qian Zhengduan had been traveling the world for many years, and it was by adhering to the principle of "acting uprightly and doing good deeds" that he built such a family business for the Qian family.

Although his grandson Qian Qianyi has some spoiled habits, it is absolutely impossible for him to be a coward or a shrinking turtle!

"Someone must be spreading rumors and slander; we must investigate thoroughly."

Qian Zhengduan suppressed his anger and rushed home.

Upon arriving home, he initially intended to have the housekeeper investigate, but upon seeing the housekeeper bowing and scraping before his grandson, he changed his mind.

When Qian Qianyi saw Qian Zheng return, he quickly got up to greet him.

"Grandpa, you're back!"

"Why do you look so upset? Who made you angry?"

"My grandson is now a model scholar in Nanjing. If anyone displeases you, just tell me, and I'll get revenge for you!"

Qian Zhengduan shook his head, his expression complicated.

"It's nothing."

That afternoon, he changed into coarse clothes, put on a straw hat, and quietly went to the teahouse in the west of the city.

This place is a frequent stop for storytellers from all walks of life to rest and exchange information, making it the most well-informed location.

The hall was bustling with activity. An unfamiliar storyteller was clapping his gavel, spittle flying everywhere.

"...Furthermore, regarding the battle of Plum Blossom Mountain, when Jiao Dalang was surrounded, did anyone come to his aid?"

"It's all because that young master Qian betrayed us and surrendered to the Japanese, colluding with another country! That's why Master Jiao is trapped at Gaixia, surrounded by enemies on all sides!"

"The body of Master Jiao is barely cold, yet Qian Qianyi has suddenly gained fame and been hailed as a model scholar?"

"Tsk tsk... Qian Qianyi's reputation is that of the 'Heroic Thief Jiao.' Judging from this, I'm afraid his uncle's official position and his grandfather's fortune might also have been stolen from others!"

Boos erupted from the audience.

Everyone applauded in agreement.

Among the crowd were several refugees who were secretly wiping away tears.

Qian Zhengduan's hands trembled inside his sleeve.

He stood up abruptly, wanting to argue, but ultimately let out a sigh.

Qian Zhengduan lowered his straw hat and staggered out of the teahouse.

As dusk fell, Qian Zhengduan kicked open the gate of the Qian residence.

"You beast, you beast!"

"Where is Geng'er? Where is Chou'er?"

"What about hundreds of billions? Where are those hundreds of billions?"

"I'd like to ask, what exactly has become of the Qian family since I stepped down?"

Qian Zhengduan's roar echoed throughout the entire Qian residence.

The Qian family steward stepped forward with trepidation.

"Master...Master, don't get too angry and ruin your health."

"Master Geng is away on business and is expected to return today."

"Master Chou said he had an appointment with a friend in the court and was heading towards the Qinhuai River."

"The Billionaire Young Master... the Billionaire Young Master is also at the Qinhuai River. He says that Lady Liu is hosting a grand gathering, and they've already reached the third stage. Today, he's determined to bring Lady Liu home..."

"absurd!"

"Is a prostitute worth all this attention? Spending all day indulging in debauchery, corrupting her mind and spirit—what kind of behavior is that!"

As they were talking, they suddenly heard a group of beggars crashing into the door.

unkempt.

The clothes were torn and leaking.

Covered in mud.

The butler glared at the gatekeeper with a sharp, dagger-like look, then kicked the group of beggars.

"Where did this savage come from, daring to trespass into this enormous Qian mansion? Aren't you afraid of being beaten to death?"

"Get out of here right now!"

The leader of the beggars was kicked several times, but he didn't even flinch.

Gathering her last breath, Hanako cried out.

"Are you blind? Look who I am!"

The butler, who had been looking down on her, was shocked when Hanako brushed aside her disheveled hair and saw her face clearly.

"Master Geng... Master Geng, why has it come to this?"

After saying that, he hurriedly called for people to come and bring him water and help him change his clothes.

Qian Zhengduan felt sorry for her.

Hanako clung tightly to Zeni's legs and cried out loudly.

"Father, Father!"

"Our family is being watched!"

"Even leading a caravan on the official road, I still got robbed!"

Qian Zhengduan frowned.

The Qian family was a merchant family, but Qian Zhengduan was known for his integrity and had connections with both the legitimate and criminal worlds. He also always respected the leaders of the mountain strongholds.

Normally, as long as the Qian family's banner is displayed, these bandits will make way on their own.

today......

"Geng'er, have you displayed your banner? Have you identified yourself as belonging to the Qian family of Jinling?"

Qian Geng felt even more aggrieved.

"The flag has been raised, the nice words have been spoken, and everyone who needed to beg for mercy has been begged!"

"But those bandits from the 'Erlang Society' made it clear that they wanted to rob our Qian family!"

"They say Qianyi committed some heinous, traitorous act. Ridiculous! I just received a letter from home the other day saying Qianyi has been hailed as a model scholar!"

"But these people wouldn't listen; not only that, they even carved a line of words on my back!"

Qian Geng pulled hard, and the tattered clothes were torn off.

On its back are eight large characters, one horizontal and one vertical.

Colluding with Japanese pirates and bandits.

Improper and improper.

Qian Zhengduan's face turned ashen, and he gasped for breath.

His eyes rolled back, and he fainted.

"Help!

The servants of the Qian family rushed forward and carried Qian Zhengduan back to his room.

When Qian Zhengduan opened his eyes again, several doctors surrounded him, some holding needles and others holding medicine.

Pushing the doctors aside, Qian Zhengduan jumped off the bed.

"Medicine? Acupuncture?"

"Can these cure a deeply ingrained bad temper? Can they cure the spinelessness fostered by long-term wealth and privilege?"

The doctors were filled with apprehension and dared not speak.

Qian Geng also stood aside, not daring to speak loudly.

His gaze swept across the room, and Qian Zhengduan let out a cold snort.

"What model scholar? What Qian family of Jinling?"

"Even a colossal tiger, if it contracts rickets, is nothing more than a pile of food for humans and fish!"

"Coincidentally, I know a secret method that can cure rickets."

He stormed out of the room and headed straight for the study.

The crowd followed closely behind, but they couldn't keep up with the old man's pace.

Upon entering the study, a loud "bang" was heard as the old man kicked open the door.

The bookshelves were filled with gold, pearls, jade horses, coral, and precious trees, but there were hardly any books.

In the very center, on an ebony shelf, sits a black staff with a coiled dragon design.

"good!"

"Although this place reeks of money, it still has some backbone!"

With the lever in hand.

With a sweeping motion, it smashed the entire shelf of gold, pearls, and jade to pieces.

The old man rushed out of the room and headed straight for the Qinhuai River.

Qian Chou had just met with Wei Xian and was stepping into his house when he saw his father rushing out in a great hurry.

No matter how much I called out, it wouldn't answer.

As he entered, he was puzzled when he saw his elder brother and a group of managers frantically chasing after them.

"Brother, I saw Father storm out the door in a huff. What was it about?"

Qian Geng paused slightly and sighed.

"Second brother, Father said that Qianyi is a spineless coward who is accused of 'colluding with Japanese pirates and bandits,' and that we should go and help him cure his spinelessness."

"Just now, he took the dragon-patterned staff he used to carry when he was in charge of the prefecture and headed towards the Qinhuai River!"

Qian Chou felt a chill run down his spine.

The last time my father picked up the dragon-patterned staff was when I was eighteen, when I beat someone to death in a dispute over visiting prostitutes.

The marks left from that incident still ache faintly on rainy days.

He sensed something was wrong and, along with the others, chased after them towards the Qinhuai River.

-----------------

On the Qinhuai River.

Qian Qianyi swaggered into Huai Shang Yun Lou.

He thought that with the imperial decree bestowing upon him the title of "Exemplary Scholar," all his competitors would show him deference.

To his surprise, apart from cold stares and disdain, not a single person stood up to bow to him.

He was just about to use the imperial edict to settle scores with these people.

Then I heard a melodious singing voice coming from upstairs.

"The king raised the surrender flag on the city wall, but how could I, a concubine in the deep palace, have known?"

"One hundred and forty thousand men laid down their arms, and not one of them was a true man!"