The Hairpin of the Red Chamber

After all, Lin Hai had been in the officialdom for a long time. After being angry, he calmed down in a moment, and immediately asked someone to write a letter to question Xue Pan. Halfway through the writing, he felt that it was not good, so he threw the letter away, but first ordered Zhang Jing to be moved to the village. live on.

He was afraid that Zhang Jing would be uneasy for a while and would do something, so he asked Daiyu to go with him, secretly reminding Daiyu repeatedly, telling Daiyu to be careful in persuading and taking care of Zhang Jing, and never let him disappoint his old friend's wishes.

Seeing that Lin Hai's face was really hard and his heart was soft, Daiyu became more confident, and agreed immediately. Within a few days, she packed her bags and went up to Zhuangzi together with Zhang Jing.

Lin Hai waited for Daiyu to leave, only to realize that he didn't ask why Daiyu came back. Daiyu had already gone to Zhuangzi, so it was not easy to ask again, because after a few days, he asked the housekeeper to go there under the pretext of delivering something. Chuang Tzu went on a trip and secretly asked Daiyu's servants for details, but the steward went there and came back and reported: "The maids who accompanied the room are all married in Suzhou, and the wives haven't come back yet. Those who came back were not from the family who went out in the past, but were servants of the Xue family."

Lin Hai thought that Daiyu had an awkward relationship with Baoyu, and her youngest daughter has a short temper, so it will be fine when her anger subsides after a while, but after hearing the steward's report, her heart trembled, and she immediately asked: " The servants are from the Xue family, what about the girl from the Xue family?"

The housekeeper had already inquired about it, and replied after hearing his question: "The eldest daughter of the Xue family has also returned, and she is now living in Xue's residence."

Lin Hai's complexion gradually turned serious. When he found out about Zhang Jing, he only blamed Xue Pan. Now that Baochai had returned, he didn't know who to blame first. After thinking for a while, he ordered: "Take my name card to Xue's house and ask Xue Pan to come and see me."

The person who sent the message went away, and Xue Pan was really eager to see Lin Hai. When he heard the call, he immediately changed into a splendid new clothes. When he was about to leave, he was called to the back by Baochai. When Baochai saw him He said, "What do you plan to tell Uncle Lin?"

Xue Pan was startled, and said: "Uncle Lin told me to come over, isn't he going to betroth Ah Jing to me immediately?"

Baochai couldn't laugh or cry when he saw that he was wide-eyed, so he had to say: "Based on your current appearance, Uncle Lin will never give Zhang Jing to you easily. There is hope, understand?"

Xue Pan scratched his head and said, "Then I'll change into the school clothes." Seeing Baochai's helpless face, Fang Wu said, "Sister thinks, what should I say?"

Baochai said: "Scholars are most concerned about temperament. Brother, although you have something to ask Uncle Lin, you should not belittle yourself. It is for nothing that you have weakened your momentum. This is the number one."

Xue Pan said: "Since it is the first, what about the second?"

Baochai said: "Secondly, you shouldn't be too aggressive. It will disgust Uncle Lin, which is not good."

Xue Pan showed embarrassment, and said: "Not too strong, but not too weak, then what should we do?"

Baochai said: "Anyway, you have to remember that if this is not done, Zhang Jing will die... Don't worry, listen to me... Once Zhang Jing dies, you will die too. I don't care what you think, in front of Uncle Lin, You have to behave like this, understand?"

Xue Pan thoughtfully, nodded slowly, and said: "Uncle Lin is Zhang Jing's adoptive father and my benefactor, no matter how much he dislikes us, he doesn't want to see us both in trouble, if we risk our lives, It is he who wants to give in, not us."

Baochai smiled and said, "Exactly. No matter what uncle Lin is outside, when he comes home, he is just an ordinary father, and he is also your wife's father. You have to remember this, and then you will know how to behave."

Xue Pan suddenly said: "I understand." Suddenly he said narrowly: "Sister, you have spoken so thoroughly, I am afraid that I have thought about these things many times in private?"

Baochai blushed and said, "You go to your business quickly, why are you making fun of me again?"

Seeing her complexion, Xue Pan was really like a son-in-law who guessed his father-in-law's mood all night, he couldn't help being amazed, but at the moment he was only thinking about Zhang Jing, and he didn't have time to ask, so he urged people to choose the best one in the family. The horse rode on with no sound, and drove away with high spirits.

Baochai had been waiting in the room. As soon as Xue Pan came back, he called him over and asked, "What did Uncle Lin say?"

Xue Pan said with a strange expression: "Uncle Lin...first examined my case, and then asked me a few questions about taxes, robbery, salt administration, and how to get along with my teacher and classmates on weekdays. I answered, but I couldn’t tell whether he was happy or unhappy. Later, he asked me if you were back. I said “yes”, he asked about your daily life and food in Suzhou, and I also answered, He sent me back without saying a word about Ah Jing."

Baochai said, "He didn't mention it, and you didn't ask?"

Xue Pan murmured: "Whenever I wanted to ask, he always blocked me with words first, and when I came back to my senses, he had already asked a lot of questions—sister, I never knew before. Uncle Lin is so powerful, he has a calm face, and he doesn't say a word, but I feel like sweating. When I see him asking about you, I'm afraid that he will be tricked by him, and I have to think twice before answering every question. , who knows that there is always no way around him, but fortunately he didn't ask me what is the relationship between you and Daiyu, otherwise he would have understood everything by now."

Baochai smiled slightly and said, "Do you think he has been a local high official for nothing for so many years? In the past, he regarded you as a junior, a nephew, and never used these methods to deal with you. Now, hum."

Xue Pan asked anxiously: "He... he did this, is it because he is determined not to marry Ah Jing?"

Baochai shook her head and said, "Brother, don't worry, he just felt relieved, that's why he deliberately tested you. You see, he tests you on local practical affairs, and it's obviously to see your ability as an official."

Xue Pan said: "Then what should I do if I don't answer well? And I have said so many things about you, what if he finds out?"

Baochai smiled and said: "Brother, don't worry, with Daiyu there, this marriage can be done no matter what, don't scare yourself. As for other things... In short, everything is up to me."

Xue Pan cautiously said: "Sister Lin...can really imitate Uncle Lin's handwriting?"

Baochai nodded.Xue Pan asked again: "But it wasn't written by Uncle Lin after all. What if he refuses to admit it and wants to bring Sister Lin out to confront her?"

Baochai laughed and said: "Brother is so confused, this is not a good reputation worthy of praise. If it were you, your sister and I did these things, you would expose them in public, and argue with your sister in front of outsiders. Do all these family ugliness spread all over the world?"

Xue Pan said: "I...won't—it's just that I probably won't talk to you again from now on, and I'll probably be very sad."

Baochai sighed: "So we won't do this unless it is absolutely necessary. I hope... Uncle Lin can think clearly."

Xue Pan thought that if Daiyu really imitated Lin Hai's handwriting and facilitated the marriage, Lin Hai must have annoyed Daiyu, but what about the two of them?However, he lingered for a long while, and finally his selfishness got the upper hand, so he didn't ask the question, but just backed out quietly, and closed the door to hide his sigh.

As soon as Xue Pan left, Lin Hai's complexion darkened. He summoned many people in the family and ordered them one by one. All the servants in his family had worked with him in the past, and they were extremely capable in their work. When he entered Beijing, where he lived, who he met, and what he did, all of them were found out.Even Baochai and Daiyu knew most of what they did when they were in Suzhou.

Lin Hai read the news from these people one by one, stayed up all night, and early the next morning, he sent someone to Zhuangzi to pick up Daiyu, and at the same time sent someone to Xue's mansion to pick up Baochai.