The Hairpin of the Red Chamber

When Xue Pan came to see Baochai just now, he was still wearing big clothes for meeting guests, but now he has changed into a black square scarf and a blue gown. The one who doesn't know a lot of big characters, speaks vulgarly, and is not very flattering. After staying under Lin Hai's family for a while, he has the appearance of a scholar, and he comes slowly. Dressed up like this, seeing him suddenly, I was really happy in my heart, I walked over to welcome him, and specially gave him a blessing, and panicked Xue Pan: "Why is my sister doing such a big gift?"

Baochai laughed and said, "How can you not give a big gift when you see Mr. Maocai coming?"

Xue Pan said: "Sister, don't laugh at me, I have a few catties, don't you know? I'm still a talented person! It's not bad if I don't cause trouble for my family!"

Baochai said in amazement: "Where did my brother hear something? It's so good. How did you get so emotional?"

Xue Pan said, "Let me ask you, do you still remember the time when I beat that man to death?"

When Baochai heard him suddenly mentioning this issue, she held back her smile and said, "Isn't that incident already over, why did my brother remember it again? -Could it be that there has been a new sufferer?"

Xue Pan shook his head and said, "That's not true. In the past, I didn't understand the things here. I thought these things were over, and they were over. Now that Baoyu's family is like this, I feel a little scared for some reason—you said that one day in the future , if someone exposes this matter, I... what can I do?"

Baochai said: "Brother regrets it now, what's the use of it! He's been dead for three or two years, and he's a loner. Who else remembers him now?"

Xue Pan sighed: "You said he was a loner, but now that I think about it, I am not a loner! If something happens to me, our family will be like that family named Feng. You What can I do with Mom?"

Baochai is happy that he finally understands the truth. Seeing him worried, he comforts him: "Since brother understands the truth, it is better not to do such a thing in the future. Although we are sorry for him, it has been so long. Probably no one will know—according to me, the few people who were with you at the beginning should be dismissed."

Xue Pan said: "Uncle Lin sent those people to Zhuangzi long ago. Speaking of which, the last time I rushed for the exam, I was too hasty and didn't have time. Now I want to send someone back to Jinling to visit the grave for that surnamed Feng. , talk about my feelings."

Baochai hesitated for a while, then Fang said: "I have something to say, brother, don't be angry."

Xue Pan said: "My own brothers and sisters, why not be angry? You just say it's okay."

Baochai said: "Actually, since I started to be a housekeeper, I have sent people to look there, offered incense for him, performed rituals, and repaired the grave. I think we are sorry for him in the end, at least let him live in the ground. It’s better, it’s our wish.”

Xue Panxi said: "If that's the case, it's too late for me to thank you. How can I blame you!" He bowed to the ground and said solemnly: "My good sister, thanks to you, I have taught me to understand many things. What did I do before?" I don’t understand, it’s really tiring you and mom.”

Baochai hurriedly supported him and said, "Between brothers and sisters, why do you care about these things? Besides, as long as you are willing to make progress, brother, it's never too late."

Seeing that she was well-educated and sensible, Xue Pan felt more and more sighing, hating that he was not as sensible as his sister in the past, thought for a while, and then said: "Sister, I have something else I want to discuss with you-I think at my age, I should Get married earlier and continue the incense, but it's not easy for me to say this, so I want you to talk about it in front of mom, what do you think?"

Baochai was stunned and said, "What do you mean by brother?" I want him to marry a lady from everyone, so his marriage is actually quite difficult. Xue Pan used to be happy to let no one care about him, and he couldn't hear the word marrying a wife, so Baochai never thought about him. Regarding the marriage, I suddenly heard him mention a word, startled, and said: "Brother...does he have someone he likes in his heart?"

Xue Pan shook his head and said, "I'm only out all day, where can I meet someone I like? I just thought, if what happened in the past happened, I would leave an heir to my family, so let's talk about it later. Family affairs can't always be handled by you, an unmarried girl, marrying you a sister-in-law will make you feel better in the future."

Baochai saw that he was getting more and more stable, and was overjoyed, but she felt a little worried, and cautiously asked: "Then brother... what kind of person do you want to marry?"

Xue Pan said: "The first is to have a good temper, be gentle and considerate. It is best to be as dignified and generous as my sister, and the appearance is second, but don't be too simple."

This is even more different from Xue Pan's usual behavior. Baochai couldn't believe it, and asked again and again: "Is my brother really looking for a girl? If you like it, just tell me, and I will be fine." Think of something for you, of course, if it's too coquettish, I won't allow it."

Xue Pan smiled bitterly and said, "What do you think of me! I just... I just met Aunt Fang and Ma Yingniang, and I was a little emotional."

Baochai couldn't figure it out, and said, "What do you have to do with them?"

Xue Pan said: "To tell you the truth, I only met Aunt Fang before, and I was afraid that you would choose such a daughter-in-law for me. I was so scared that I couldn't sleep for several nights. Who knows that it took a long time to realize her benefits! I have never seen such gentleness and obedience inside and outside. Uncle Lin used to be in poor health and coughed up blood several times. Aunt Fang took good care of her. Now she is much better than before. , I just thought at that time, the old people say that when you marry a wife, you should marry a virtuous person, sincerity is not to be deceived."

Baochai said, "What does that have to do with Ma Yingniang? You...you and her..."

Xue Pan saw his younger sister's babbling, but he guessed himself badly. It can be seen that he had a dissolute character in the past, and his face couldn't help turning red. Her temperament is completely different from what we saw before. At that time, she was in Yangzhou, she dared to talk and laugh, but when she came to Beijing, she was like this again...and...you know...the child in her belly..."

Baochai raised her eyebrows and said, "What happened to that child?"

Xue Pan coughed and said: "You know, I used to know a few friends. After I came back, they knew that I lived in the Lin Mansion, and they met a few times. Cough... I heard from them that the child may not be wronged by the second sister-in-law. her."

Baochai frowned and said, "At that time she was living in the garden..."

Xue Pan looked left and right, and whispered in Baochai's ear, "It's in the garden...why do you think the old man suddenly got angry and beat Jia Laoer so hard? It's a long-standing anger!"

Baochai was so startled that she almost jumped up, she quickly covered her mouth, and looked around, Xue Pan continued: "I'm afraid that the second sister-in-law also knows, so she must die, otherwise, in case the Elder Master On a whim, the family wealth was divided..."

Baochai stomped her feet and said, "Shut up! Shut up!" Then he glared at him and said, "I just think you've really changed from now on. You used to go to that kind of place secretly in Yangzhou! See if I don't tell Uncle Lin, tell him to take care of it." you!"

Xue Pan hastily begged for forgiveness: "My good sister, I've changed everything from now on! Don't tell him that Uncle Lin has such a temper. If he knows I'm going out, don't beat me to death!"

Baochai said to him, "Uncle Lin is in charge! You owe it to me!"

Xue Pan sighed: "If someone taught me these things when I was young, why would I commit such a mess!"

Baochai was also silent.

When the two thought of their dead father, they couldn't help feeling emotionally. In the end, Xue Pan got up his spirits and smiled with Baochai, "Sister, you are the one who has the most ideas. Take care of my marriage, and I will accompany you later." A big dowry."

Baochai said: "It's been a while since I was serious, and I'm talking nonsense again!"

But Xue Pan said: "I'm serious... my sister, when you get married, I will definitely give you a big gift to accompany you! No, if you accompany me...it won't work, sister, I don't think I'm in a hurry to get married, it's yours that matters." Tight, or if your sister-in-law comes in, what if the control is too strict and your dowry is deducted?"

Baochai's heart tightened, and she forced a smile and said, "Brother, what are you thinking about! Didn't you just say that you want to find a gentle and considerate sister-in-law? How can such a sister-in-law make things difficult for me?"

Xue Pan said: "It's two different things. No matter how gentle and considerate you are, you also have your own thoughts. Besides, what if... what if I can't marry a good one?"

Baochai said: "Brother, stop talking, I don't want to marry!"

Xue Pan stumbled and said, "Sister, listen to me..."

Baochai shook her hand and said, "I won't listen, and I won't marry. If you force me, I'll never see you again!"

Xue Pan didn't expect her to be so fierce, and wanted to persuade her again, but Baochai had already covered her ears with her hands and ran away all the way.

Xue Pan looked at her back and scratched his head for a long time, not knowing why.