Lian Erye in the Red Mansion

Passing the flower while beating the drum was a common drinking game in the Jia family during festivals.

It is also one of the most effective drinking games for creating a lively atmosphere.

As the drumbeats begin, people start passing the flower around, each afraid that the flower will remain in their hands when the drumbeats stop, so they pass it around very quickly.

The drummer can use skill to beat the drum at varying speeds, intermittently, and suddenly, making it unpredictable and creating an extremely tense atmosphere for the players.

The quick-witted Qingwen took the initiative to play the drums.

This young girl was naturally beautiful, and after being carefully nurtured by Jia Lian for two years, she has become even more stunningly beautiful.

She walked confidently and briskly to the large drum that the old women had brought out, wearing bright red embroidered shoes, a brand-new pleated long skirt with water patterns, and a light yellow vest. She smiled sweetly at the mistresses who were looking back at her, appearing both charming and graceful.

Even Grandmother Jia couldn't help but sigh when she saw this, saying, "It's clear that I made the right choice in choosing this person. You two really didn't waste this child's potential; he's grown up to be so outstanding."

Upon hearing this, Wang Xifeng, who was seated at the end of the table, laughed and said, "Grandmother, you don't know, but in our courtyard, she is more like a master than the master herself. Even I don't dare to discipline her."

Every maid and servant in this courtyard, big or small, has been scolded by her…

Everyone else had sharp eyes and was amazed by Qingwen's beauty, which she had carefully made up for today.

The most obvious example is Jia Baoyu, whose eyes were almost fixed in that direction.

Especially when he saw Qingwen blush and smile shyly because of Wang Xifeng's words, he was stunned, his mouth slightly open, looking wooden and blank.

Daiyu was right beside him, and upon seeing this, she couldn't help but let out a cold laugh.

Jia Baoyu then came to his senses and hurriedly wiped his chin. Fortunately, it was too short a time, and the saliva had not yet run down the corner of his mouth.

Grandmother Jia and the others knew that Wang Xifeng was joking, so they didn't take it too seriously.

The maids blindfolded Qingwen with ribbons, while Wang Xifeng personally plucked a sprig of plum blossom from a nearby flowerpot and presented it to Grandmother Jia, saying, "It's rare for Grandmother to grace us with her presence; I wish you joy and happiness this spring!"

As he spoke, he deliberately held the plum blossom above Grandmother Jia's eyes.

Everyone laughed. "Spring joy on the eyebrows" is an elegant name for the drinking game of passing plum blossoms while beating a drum. It comes from the fact that literati and scholars used the word "plum blossom" to refer to eyebrows, which is a playful expression.

Grandmother Jia happily accepted the plum blossom, pretending to give Wang Xifeng a slap, which frightened Wang Xifeng so much that she hurriedly fled back to the last seat, made a begging face, and then sat down.

As the drumbeats begin, starting with Grandmother Jia, the plum blossom is passed to Aunt Xue, who is next in line, and then down to Jia Lian, in a continuous cycle.

Qingwen was bold and mischievous. Hearing the sound of the mistresses passing flowers in a hurry at the banquet, she beat the big drum even more rhythmically, sometimes slowly and sometimes quickly, as if she might stop at any moment, but she just kept beating it for a long time.

Xiao Hong and the other maids all gathered around her, happily watching the spectacle.

Seeing that Grandmother Jia was in high spirits and had received a plum blossom, Wang Xifeng hurriedly handed it to Aunt Xue. Thus, she harbored a mischievous thought and winked at Xiao Hong and the others.

Xiao Hong understood and quickly whispered a few words in Qingwen's ear. Seeing Qingwen nod, she suddenly tugged at Qingwen's sleeve when the plum blossom was passed to Grandmother Jia again, and the drumming stopped abruptly.

Grandmother Jia tried to force the plum blossoms onto Aunt Xue, but Aunt Xue refused, saying, "Grandmother, these are yours."

Grandmother Jia turned back to give it to Jia Lian, but Jia Lian smiled without saying a word.

Knowing she couldn't deny it, Grandmother Jia chuckled and said, "This wine is delicious, but this joke is a difficult story to tell."

As she spoke, she glanced at her grandchildren, seeing that they were all eagerly waiting for her, then took a sip of her wine and said:

"Then just pick one..."

The family raised ten sons and married ten wives. The tenth wife was the most intelligent, clever, and quick-witted. She was the most loved by her parents-in-law, who always complained that the other nine were unfilial.

The nine daughters-in-law felt wronged and discussed among themselves, saying, "We are truly filial, but we are not as smooth-talking as that little vixen. Our parents-in-law are old and only speak well of her. Who can we tell about this grievance?"

Grandmother Jia lived a life of wealth and honor, and her ability to tell jokes was quite good, with a certain rhythm and cadence.

Although it was just the beginning, it had already attracted everyone's attention, and everyone was curious about what the nine wives would do.

The eldest daughter-in-law had a good idea. She said, "Tomorrow we'll go to the Yama Temple to burn incense and ask the King of Hell why he gave that little brat such a sweet tongue when he asked us to be reborn as humans. We're all stupid." Everyone liked the idea and said it was a good one.

The next day, they all went to the Yama Temple to burn incense, and all nine of them fell asleep under the offering table…

Everyone perked up, knowing that the buildup was almost complete and the funny part was about to begin.

"The nine souls were waiting for Yama to arrive, but he didn't come. Just as they were getting anxious, Sun Wukong arrived on his somersault cloud. When he saw the nine souls, he was about to hit them with his golden cudgel, which frightened the nine souls so much that they knelt down and begged for mercy."

When Sun Wukong asked why, the nine spirits hurriedly told him in detail.

Upon hearing this, Sun Wukong stamped his foot and sighed, saying, "Luckily, he met me. Even when Yama, the King of Hell, comes, he won't know."

Upon hearing this, the nine people pleaded, "Great Sage, please have mercy and guide us out of our confusion!"

Sun Wukong laughed and said, "That's not difficult. The day you ten sisters-in-law were reincarnated, I happened to be going to the King of Hell's palace. Because I peed on the ground, your little aunt ate it. Now that you're clever and quick-witted, there's plenty of pee. Just pee again and you'll eat it."

After Grandmother Jia finished speaking, everyone in the courtyard burst into laughter.

People of that time didn't hear many jokes and had a low threshold for laughter. Although Grandmother Jia's joke was a bit vulgar, it was still quite funny coming from her.

Moreover, the meaning behind this joke is rather unusual...

Everyone turned to look at Wang Xifeng.

Among those present, the one who is a "young wife," "clever-minded and quick-witted," and is favored by Grandmother Jia is the most obvious.

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Wang Xifeng seemed completely oblivious to what she was saying, and laughed loudly, saying, "Luckily we're all clumsy with words, otherwise we'd all be considered to have eaten monkey urine."

The story of Tang Sanzang and his disciples' journey to the West to obtain Buddhist scriptures was widely circulated among the people in the early days of the People's Republic of China and was also told in many classic plays. So even Wang Xifeng knew that Sun Wukong was a monkey.

Everyone burst into laughter when they saw Wang Xifeng still trying to argue even as she was about to die.

Lady You and Wang Xifeng were both daughters-in-law of the Jia family and were not far apart in age. They often interacted and sometimes teased each other.

At this moment, Madam You was not going to be polite. She smiled and picked up on Wang Xifeng's words, saying, "Who among us has eaten that monkey urine? Don't pretend nothing happened."

Wang Xifeng couldn't hold back any longer and punched You Shi.

Her helpless expression made Daiyu and the others cover their mouths and laugh. They all remembered that whenever Sister-in-law Lian joked to please Grandmother Jia, Grandmother Jia would often call her "monkey." This was a perfect match, without the slightest difference!

Even Aunt Xue couldn't resist joining in the banter: "A joke doesn't have to be good or bad; as long as it's relevant, it will make people laugh."

"Auntie~~"

Wang Xifeng twisted her body on the spot, acting coquettishly from afar.

Jia Baoyu was a little stunned. He had never seen Lian Ersaozi, who was as beautiful as a fairy princess, act so coquettishly!

Jia Baoyu glanced at Jia Lian, his eyes filled with envy.