Through the Ring of Red Mansions

Jia Huan came out from Tanchun's place, and Baochai sent a big girl, Ying'er, to thank her, and said, "Our girl said, thank you, Mr. Huan, for thinking about it. I'm usually afraid of disturbing my master's hard study, so I don't come around much. , please come to our place for a stroll when you have time."

When leaving, Xiuyun picked up a piece of silver to Ying'er, and said with a smile, "Please run for a while, and take it to buy a bowl of tea and snacks."

Ying'er couldn't refuse, so she happily accepted it.

On the first day of Baochai's birthday, "a small homely stage was set up in the inner courtyard of Jiamu", "there were several family banquets, and there was no outsider, only Aunt Xue, Shi Xiangyun, Baochai was a guest, and the rest They are all their own people."

While listening to the play, Baochai talked to Baoyu about "Lu Zhishen Drunk and Navigating Wutai Mountain", the "Parasite Grass" in the rhetoric, "Baoyu listened, and happily patted his knees to draw circles, praised endlessly, and praised Baochai for knowing that there are no books. , Lin Daiyu said: "Let's watch the show in peace. You haven't sung "Mountain Gate", but you are "Making Crazy". Xiangyun also laughed when he said it."

Baochai said, "Brother Huan is here, but I dare not take the big one. I don't have to make Brother Huan a joke."

Sitting next to Baoyu, Jia Huanyin smiled and said, "Sister Bao is the little birthday star today, so you are the oldest. Why should the number one scholar stay away from others? What's more, I am worse than my second brother in terms of opera and writing. know best."

Everyone who said it laughed for a while, but Baoyu's concept of Jia Huan's exploration of flowers was extremely downplayed. It was because of Jia Huan's deliberate intention and because of Mrs. Wang's protection. With extremely high weight, he smiled casually, "Although he memorizes the Analects of Confucius very well, he may not be as good as Sister Bao and Sister Lin in terms of knowledge of these poems."

Jia Huan took this very seriously, and quickly nodded with a smile, so everyone watched the play.At the end of the evening, Jia Mu asked the little opera singers to reward them. Because the fan official who looked like Sister Lin was not there, they had nothing to say all night. Baochai made an appointment to return the banquet the next day. During the month, it’s time to rejoice, and it’s all just for you sisters to go and have fun together.”

Baochai made an appointment with Baoyu, Jiahuan, Sanchun, Daiyu and Xiangyun, and went to Lixiangyuan to have a drink without mentioning it.

Jia Huan had expected that Baochai would come to invite him again and again, and he told him to go. There must be a reason for it, and as expected, he went there that day. Except for Sanchun and Daiyu Xiangyun, Mrs. Wang was also in Aunt Xue's room. He said he came to talk to Aunt Xue, and let Baoyu, Jia Huan and the sisters play by themselves, leaving them alone.

At noon, I only found three or four Pingtan storytellers to sing some Qingyun tunes in the hall, and two seats were opened inside and outside. Baochai led the sisters to one in the inner room, while Xue Pan brought Baoyu and Jia Huan in the outer room. .

That Xue Pan had only seen Jia Huan once or twice from afar, but it was the first time he sat so close today, and saw that Jia Huan was wearing a lotus-colored and silver-silk lotus-patterned dress that was slightly larger than the clothes. Light purple veiled gown, soft and smooth hair is simply braided from the sides and the back of the head, wrapped in a ball on the top of the head, tied with a pearl tassel rope, the small face is white and flawless, with a nose Like a jade sculpture, with pink lips, she couldn't help drooling, "I wanted to call Brother Shanghuan Le Yile for a long time, but I couldn't find the door. When I saw you today, I realized that my brother and I were living in vain. Good brother, We should get closer in the future."

Baoyu heard what he said was vulgar, and knew Xue Pan's nature. Afraid that Jia Huan would be angry, she hurriedly said, "Sister Bao is too polite, and she must return the table. We have come to this big family, but we are bothering you." very."

When Jia Huan heard the mention of Baochai, he understood Baoyu's meaning and smiled, "Brother Xue is busy with many things, so we can't miss Brother Xue's business when we are free. We are just waiting for you to go out for a drink together later. Let the second brother call me and it's over."

Xue Pan was overjoyed when he heard this, and the three of them wentssip about the wine room. At that moment, Mrs. Wang came out and said to Baoyu and Jia Huan, "It's enough to have a couple of cups. Be careful, I will beat you when I know it."

Aunt Xue laughed and said, "If there is anything wrong with me, I will not eat too much wine, and you should let the children relax." She took Jia Huan's hand kindly and asked some homely words, because she said, "Good boy." , you just focus on studying, don't work too hard, be careful that you will ruin your body at a young age. Come to Auntie's place when you are free on weekdays, and let's talk to each other."

Jia Huan said with a smile, "Auntie Xie is thinking about it, be careful to catch up with me tomorrow, I'm afraid my auntie will bother me."

Aunt Xue smiled and said, "That's exactly what I wished for. I heard from your wife that you also operate a few shops outside. Regardless of how old your big brother Xue is, he is actually a ignorant person. I just hope that you brothers will help each other outside."

Jia Huan thought that I was exhausted, and after turning such a big turn, she got to the point. Seeing that Mrs. Wang was holding Baoyu in her arms, her eyes were fixed on this place, so she smiled and said, "My aunt is too humble. Brother Xue is naturally much better financially than those of us who talk on paper, and I only bought a first-tier stock in the shops outside, and I sent two or three people to support it. One of them did a good job. Promoted to be the chief shopkeeper, he was originally my nanny named Yang Xiong, if brother Xue has anything to do, just report my name to him and it's over."

Aunt Xue You didn't speak, Xue Pan slapped her hands beside her and said with a smile, "By the way, it's not that Yang Xiong! That's the name of the 'Jinxiu Pavilion' chief steward that the steward of my shop said earlier. Good brother, you He is actually the major shareholder of the 'Splendid Pavilion', so I didn't say a word earlier, it's hard to kill my brother."

Jia Huan said with surprise on his face, "Could it be that Yang Xiong dares to embarrass Brother Xue, and he won't. If he knows our relationship, although it is too embarrassing to do, he will never offend Brother Xue. I'm afraid there is some misunderstanding."

Xue Pan hurriedly waved his hands and said, "No, no. It has nothing to do with that Yang Xiong, and I didn't go there. It's just an old manager in our shop. He didn't see anyone else. He just said that he went out and needed more than one." Moon came back."

Jia Huan then said in relief, "Let me tell you, because I don't care much about the affairs there, I don't know he's gone out, it's strange that I haven't seen anyone for a long time. But I'm not familiar with the other affairs inside, Brother Xue If there is anything to do, just wait for him. Besides, there are other shareholders involved here, and they have a big background, so I'm afraid Yang Xiong can't handle some things well."

Xue Pan said with a knowing look, "Of course it's not to cause trouble for you, brother, it's just a general business matter. Who do you want to do with? Why don't you take care of your relatives?"

Jia Huan nodded with a smile, "Brother Xue is right." Yin told him privately, "Although Yang Xiong's birth deeds were assigned to my aunt's family, the Zhao family released them early, so Yang Xiong is not a servant of the Rong Mansion or the Zhao family, Brother Xue thinks about it, and speaks softly when he sees him." Xue Pan naturally agreed.

In the evening, when everyone wanted to go back to the Rong Mansion, Tanchun pointed to a pretty girl with a beautiful mole on her forehead and smiled at Baochai, "Sister Bao, I really love this girl. She doesn't look good, but her actions and words make her laugh." She looks comfortable, you can give her to me, and I will ask Huaner to pay you back tomorrow."

After hearing this, Aunt Xue wondered why Tanchun asked Jia Huan to send two maids instead?Seeing Tan Chunguang looking at Jia Huan and smiling again, he thought to himself, if Xiang Ling came in and went out to serve her this day, maybe it wasn't that Jia Huan had taken a fancy to her, but he couldn't save face and open his mouth?

Because Xiangling had been by Aunt Xue's side all the time, Xue Pan hadn't started yet, and she felt a little bit reluctant, so she heard Tanchun say, "Sister Bao, don't you want to? You must know that the maid in Huan'er's villa was originally given by the palace. Yes, although I have never seen it, it should be extraordinary."

Baochai You Ke, Xue Pan was elated when he heard it, and hurriedly said, "What is a girl worth? The third younger sister will take it back if she likes it, and she doesn't have to return it from Brother Huan. Since it is a gift from the palace, it is not good to transfer it without authorization. Tomorrow I'll just pick two more for my sister."

Aunt Xue was always a little uncomfortable with Xiangling because of Xue Pan's fight for Xiangling's beating to death, and she was afraid that she would ruin Xue Pan, so she took Xiangling by her side and did not let go of her son.Seeing that it was probably what Jia Huan wanted, he hurriedly said that it would be okay to take it away, and immediately found Xiangling's deed of sale, and asked Tanchun to take it back without mentioning it.

As for private matters, Aunt Xue and Mrs. Wang said, "It can be seen that she was born by a concubine, with shallow eyelids, but if she sees a girl with a slightly flat head and a straight face, she will also go. She is a pervert at a young age. I just don't know what kind of good luck has stepped on him, so that he can be blinded, the villain is so ambitious."

Talking about the matter of exhorting Xue Pan again, he hated, "Then what is Yang Xiong? It's just a slave of a slave, and he is worthy of our Pan'er to have a relationship with each other?"

Because Xue Pan accepted the two newly-bought charming maids from Jia Huan, and was more knowledgeable than the woman, he said, "Mom doesn't know how powerful the 'Jinxiu Pavilion' is outside, but she was born to go with her." There are quite a few capable people in the village who can't understand them, and when they go up to find trouble, they are all ashamed, which shows that the proprietor behind them is powerful. Now that Yang Xiong has gained power again, brothers Huan may not be able to cover him, and so does the servant who bullies the master. Yes. What's more, he is free now. I heard that the house and courtyard bought by his family are owned by beautiful servants, which is better than that of an ordinary sixth-rank official's house."

Jia Huan expected Mrs. Wang and Aunt Xue to be kind on the face and poisonous in her heart, so she ignored them.Tanchun went back and took Xiangling to tell Jiamu and Sister Feng. Although Jiamu was puzzled, she didn't say no, she just smiled, "Although you are among relatives, you are not sensible. There is no reason to ask others from your concubine." .It made my aunt laugh."

Baochai came up with a smile and said, "I'm afraid the old lady and girl Tanchun think she is stupid. If you want to come to a family like ours, the most kind-hearted and tolerant people are, and this is also Xiangling's blessing."

Jia's mother smiled and nodded, and she ordered Xiangling to be placed in Tanchun's room as a second-class envoy. Tanchunyuan went to ask Jia Huan when he would find a reason to send her to him. Tanchun's place is very good, and I saw that Xiangling is really good, compared with Qingwen and Xiren in Baoyu's room, it's just that Aunt Xue's rules are strict, but she is very cautious in her actions , which made Tanchun very uncomfortable with this "thorn rose", so Jia Huan changed Xiangling's name to Yinglian.

Suddenly one day, Yuan Chun sent out a lantern riddle for everyone to guess, "Everyone will make one as well." Come, set it up in the house, and order his sisters to do it secretly, write it out and stick it on the screen, and then prepare fragrant tea, fine fruits and various playthings to congratulate the guessing. During festivals, we also come to have fun at night."

Jia Huan's talent in poetry is indeed limited, and he relied on some poems and songs that did not exist in the Qing Dynasty in his memory to meet the scene. As he said before, he is inferior to Baoyu, and Baoyu's poetry is at the bottom among all the sisters Because at this festival, Jia Huan was not in the limelight. He honestly made two lantern riddles and got "a palace-made poem tube and a tea whisk."Yingchun considers it a trivial matter as a joke and doesn't mind.

A few days later, when the weather got warmer, Jia Huan reported to Jia Zheng, saying that everything was ready for Langhuan Villa, and he could choose an auspicious day to move there.Although Jia Zheng felt reluctant to give up, he knew that this was the meaning of the old sage's love for talents, but he thought a little more than Jia Huan, because Jia Zheng was originally the second son, and his position was that of the old emperor who thanked the ancestors of the Jia family for their meritorious deeds. Otherwise, it would be an embarrassing status if he failed in the examination. Jia Zheng knew that his aptitude was mediocre.

Comparing Jia Huan to Baoyu, I can see that they are far superior in terms of appearance, knowledge, talent and learning. Thinking that the two brothers have been together for a long time, there will be a distinction between high and low. However, Jia Zheng didn't want his only legitimate son to be overwhelmed by a concubine's son, and felt that Baoyu was really stupid. He didn't want him to suppress Jia Huan's future, so he had to learn from Jia Zhen of Dongfu.

Jia Zhen is because "Jia Qiang is also an upright great-great-grandson in the Ning Mansion. Her parents died early, and she lived with Jia Zhen since she was a child. There are many people in the Ning Mansion, and those frustrated servants are good at making rumors to slander their masters, so I don't know what kind of villain criticizes the rumors. Jia Zhen thinks that the rumors are not good, and she wants to avoid some suspicions. Now she is divided into the house and ordered Jia Qiang to move out of Ning Mansion and set up her own family. Live it."