The head of the Red Mansion

Chapter 115 Giving Gifts
In Ningguo Mansion, Shen Ning, who hadn't slept well the night before, woke up in a daze.

They seemed somewhat oblivious to the passage of time.

What she held such high hopes for was sealed away deep in the warehouse, and if things went wrong, it might never see the light of day again...

"Madam, the young lady wanted to come to see you early this morning."

Jia Yue didn't cry, but kicked her little feet around. When she was taken into her arms, the little girl made a few "ah ah" sounds, as if she was greeting her.

Shen Ning instantly forgot everything. "Missing your mother?" She smiled at the little girl. "Your eldest aunt came to visit today, along with your younger cousins."

Okay, let's leave it at that for now!
My daughter lived a pitiful life in the Red Mansion. Now my task is to make her grow up happily, not to deprive her of the chance to grow up at all.

"Wait a moment, let me wash up first, and then we'll go to the West Mansion together. We'll eat at the old lady's house while we pick up your aunt and the others."

She doesn't allow waste here, and although she eats a different meal every day, it can't compare to what the old lady eats.

Shen Ning urgently needs to see the young girls Yingchun, Tanchun, and Daiyu to soothe the pain of being silenced.

Therefore, this washing up routine is almost combat-ready.

Here, Lady Wang, having mentally prepared herself and put on a smile, was about to enter Jia Mu's courtyard to serve her when she saw someone carrying her daughter so early in the morning. After a moment of surprise, she could only step forward to help her up, asking, "Sister-in-law, is there something you need?"

Surely we can't let what happened last night reach my sister-in-law's ears so soon?
Madam Wang quickly considered whether she had done anything else that might lead to her arrest.

"No ah!"

Shen Ning didn't need her help and got off the sedan chair with a smile, saying, "I just came here to freeload a meal."

Mrs. Wang: "..."

At that moment, she wanted to swear the filthiest and most vulgar things.

But those words could only roll in my throat, unable to come out at all.

"What? Second sister-in-law doesn't want to welcome me?"

"How can that be possible?"

Mrs. Wang quickly put on a big smile, "Our old lady wishes you could come over and have dinner with her every day."

The old lady had this idea, but what wife doesn't stay at home and go to someone else's house to freeload a meal early in the morning?
Moreover, although they were sisters-in-law, guests were treated as guests, and she, as the daughter-in-law, had to serve her sister-in-law in the old lady's presence.

Normal sisters-in-law wouldn't do something like this—freeloading a meal.

"Ha, I was asking about my second sister-in-law. Are you... welcome?"

Shen Ning seemed to be joking with her, but in fact, she was unhappy last night and wanted to find someone she didn't like to make the other person unhappy too.

Wang is the best candidate.

"You seem a little unhappy."

"Haha~"

Madam Wang gritted her teeth, trying her best to suppress her laughter. Fortunately, she had been quite good at joining in the fun with the old lady over the years and was able to force a smile. "Sister-in-law must have misunderstood. With you here, our old lady can eat half a bowl more rice. As for me... I look forward to your visit every day."

"Hahaha!"

Shen Ning entered the courtyard laughing, "My second sister-in-law is getting better and better at talking."

She could even hear the sound of teeth clenching.

It feels amazing.

"I heard magpies calling early this morning."

Jia Min came out to greet her, "So it's my sister-in-law." When she saw the baby in the baby's arms, she reached out with delight, "Is this little Yueyue? Let me hold her."

"Give!"

Shen Ning smiled and handed her daughter over, saying, "I brought her here so she can bask in your good looks and grow up to look like you."

"Pfft~ Hahaha..."

The old lady was also looking over. When she heard what she said, she laughed so hard she almost fell over. "You little rascal, you're just good at fooling people. Min'er, don't be fooled by her."

"then what should we do?"

Jia Min held her little niece, watching her blow bubbles, and laughed, "I love being coaxed by your mother. I've been coaxed into losing my bearings by her since I was little."

"...You better use your brain!"

The old lady laughed so hard she wanted to hit her daughter, "You're so old and you're still being fooled by your sister-in-law, be careful the children will laugh at you."

What she remembered most vividly was that her daughter was coaxed by Madam Shen to go to the Shi family to copy rare books. Day and night, her girl managed to copy five books and bring them back.

"Ha~"

Jia Min and Shen Ning met eyes and laughed together, "Not everyone has that ability, let my sister-in-law coax her!"

I copied it very carelessly back then, and I even did some of it while dozing off. Inevitably, I copied the wrong lines or missed some parts.

Jia Min will never forget that period of intense suffering, when her brothers and sisters-in-law all pitched in to guess the connections between her characters.

Then, the eldest brother couldn't bear to see his wife busy with things, so he simply went to his uncle, borrowed those books, and copied them again to finish the job.

"That's right, anyone I can coax is no ordinary person."

Someone like Wang Shi would never be able to get a single word of comfort from her in this lifetime.

Shen Ning smiled and bowed to Grandmother Jia, "Auntie, you see, you're no ordinary person. I not only have to coax you, but also your daughter, granddaughter, and great-granddaughter. And who knows, in the future, I might even have to coax your great-granddaughter."

"Haha, then I'll wait and see."

The old lady smiled broadly. "Yuanyang, quickly call all the girls over. This old woman will watch her coax people today."

"Sister-in-law's lips are coated with honey today."

Madam Xing smiled and offered a cup of tea, "If there's any more, please let us have a taste!"

"You know what, I actually have a few jars of rose dew that Her Majesty the Empress bestowed upon me."

Shen Ning smiled and accepted the tea, then said to Qing Ping, "Go and get some for the ladies to try."

"Yes!"

Qingping left with a smile.

"Then I'll thank you on behalf of everyone, sister-in-law."

Ms. Xing was overjoyed.

In the past, when she spoke, almost no one would respond to her. She could only sit there awkwardly smiling as others spoke, indicating that she was listening.

In this household, her mother-in-law disliked her, her husband was selfish, her stepchildren were not close to her, and her stepdaughter-in-law was the niece of the second wife. She had no children of her own, so she just endured it day by day.

Unexpectedly, things took an unexpected turn, and the sister-in-law from the next branch of the family began to suppress the second branch.

Once the old man was in a good mood and she gradually recovered, his daughter Yingchun started visiting them twice a day and became affectionate with her.

Now that they've moved to Rongxi Hall, even the old lady treats her much more kindly than before, not to mention her daughter-in-law who didn't value her much before.

"Get up, get up."

Shen Ning helped her up and smiled at the old lady, "Auntie, did you see that? I've already appeased your eldest daughter-in-law for you."

Jia Mu: "..."

The old lady then realized what was happening, and laughed as she tapped her a few times, saying, "Don't try to fool me anymore, or my stomach will hurt from laughing."

"I wouldn't dare to do that."

When the girls arrived, the room was still filled with laughter and chatter.

"Mother, is that your cousin Yueyue you're holding?"

As soon as she finished bowing, little Daiyu ran to her mother.

"Yes!"

Jia Min said gently, "Look, you're her older cousin."

The eldest sister-in-law had longed for her daughter for so many years, so she couldn't help but dote on her.

What's more, when she gave birth to this child, the Li family also set their sights on the Jia family because of her. When Jia Zhen was attacked and her sister-in-law almost had a difficult childbirth, she felt even more guilty, thinking, "I will teach her to speak and walk in the future."

"I, I, I'll teach her to read," Tan Chun said quickly, raising her little hand. "Write poems."

"To read and write poetry, you must first learn to read."

Lin Chang'an came with her older sisters, and upon hearing this, she looked at the little sister and said, "She's still early."

"quickly."

Yingchun's little face was serious. "My dad said last time that as long as a child is born, he can grow up facing the wind."

"Your father is talking nonsense."

The old lady was amused again. "If he says that again, just ask him if he can be full without eating or drinking while he's in the limelight?"

Everyone in the room was laughing and praising the little girl who could only blow bubbles. Madam Wang looked at her sister-in-law, Xing, and her daughter-in-law, Li, who had also joined in, but she felt even more indignant. She suddenly said, "Huh? Why hasn't Feng'er come over yet?"

As she spoke, she seemed to be searching for someone, saying, "The whole family is here, how can she shirk her responsibilities?" She said to Xing, "Sister-in-law, you are the mother-in-law, you still have to take charge!"

"..."

Xing didn't expect her second sister-in-law to ask about her daughter-in-law at this time.

No matter how bad her daughter-in-law is, she's still part of her family.

During the time when Jia Lian was away and the master was at the ancestral hall, Feng'er took good care of the family.

She took care of everyone, including herself, Yingchun, and Cong'er.

"The old lady said yesterday that she would give Feng'er a few days off."

Xing was displeased, and it was immediately written on her face. "Your sister-in-law is her aunt. Why don't you protect her and instead try to find fault with her?"

"Giving Lian'er and Feng'er a holiday was my suggestion."

Jia Min's smile didn't reach her eyes. "My second sister-in-law wasn't here then, but since the young couple had been separated for so long, we, as elders, should take care of them."

We are all experienced people.

Why make things difficult for yourself?
Jia Min was initially afraid that her nephew would act like an older brother, but fortunately the child was alright. Along the way, whenever he saw something nice and bought it for her and Daiyu, he also thought of his wife at home.

Her aunt was delighted with this.

Unexpectedly, while she, the aunt, doted on her nephew, her second sister-in-law, the aunt, did not dote on her niece.

"Oh right, I forgot to tell you yesterday."

Seeing the expressions on everyone's faces, Grandmother Jia could only offer her daughter-in-law a way out, "I gave her two days off. Lian'er has finally come back. The young couple should go and visit her uncles, and they should also go and pick up Yuan Chun."

In reality, this holiday is practically meaningless.

The only good thing is that the young couple can be together.

"Speaking of Yuan Chun, I almost forgot. I returned late and didn't know that Princess Baofeng was holding a religious ceremony."

Jia Min said, "I will send two people to Biyun Temple later to pray for Princess Baofeng's well-being."

"That's the truth!"

The old lady had no objection to her daughter's willingness to give face to her eldest granddaughter. After all, when Yuan Chun went there, both the East Mansion and her eldest son's side had sent gifts. "This matter should be handled as soon as possible. Let's get it done after we finish eating."

Jia Min agreed. In fact, she had sent someone to Tai Xuan Temple early that morning to deliver a gift to her poor cousin.

She couldn't say these words to her sister-in-law anymore.

After all, my cousin was so irresponsible. The child was clearly both of theirs, but he just stayed in the Taoist temple and didn't care about anything.

However, his sister-in-law took all his savings...

Jia Min's feelings were somewhat complicated.

Without money, my cousin has no idea what kind of hard life he'll have to endure.

At that moment, no one knew how heartbroken Jia Jing, who had gotten up early to collect manure and fertilizer, felt when he saw that half-rotten little handprint and footprint.

He glanced at it quickly, then pretended not to see it, and personally took a shovel and smashed it to pieces.

He put it in the wastebasket so that some people would see it and not overthink it.

Even after they've finished reading it and thrown it back, he still keeps it.

Although he had previously declared that he didn't want a daughter and that he would never see Shen even if she gave birth, he was worried about something going wrong during childbirth. Compared to the child he hadn't even met yet, Shen's life was of course more important.

But now, she has given birth safely, and he...

Jia Jing still hoped to see his youngest daughter.

Even if we can't see them, it's nice to have some little handprints and footprints to keep us company.

But unexpectedly, those bastards actually...

Suppressing his inner pain, Jia Jing picked up the fertilizer and headed to the field.

He knew that there were probably more than one or two people watching him from inside the temple.

Now that things have come to this, if he wants his family to live a peaceful life, it might be better for him to just work honestly.

Now Jia Jing has gradually improved and can quickly carry a load of manure to the field.

"Master Jia~"

Someone from the Taoist temple was shouting, "Your family has arrived."

Lin Xiang, the steward sent by Jia Min, was deeply shocked to see Jia Jing with his trousers rolled up and doing the work of an old farmer.

Fortunately, having been a steward for many years, he still had some composure. He trudged over to pay his respects, saying, "This servant, Lin Xiang, has come to see my uncle on the orders of my mistress."

"Lin Xiang?"

Jia Jing's heart skipped a beat. "Are you from the Lin family?"

"Yes!"

"...How are your husband and wife?"

"it is good!"

Lin Xiang nodded hurriedly, "Everything is fine. Our madam even brought the young master and young lady back to Beijing to visit their families this time."

Returning to Beijing to visit relatives?

Jia Jing's heart skipped a beat.

Jia Min has been in Jiangnan for nearly ten years. Is it possible that something has changed with her brother-in-law Lin since she returned to Beijing at this time?
Jia Jing was very worried about the Jia family's only outside help.

With Jia Min around, the Lin family is the Jia family's biggest support outside.

Just like when he married Shen Ning and when his brother She married Zhang Shi, it was all to prepare for the Jia family's sons to become scholars.

Although the marriages were all driven by ulterior motives, both the father and uncle had put their hearts into it. He and Shen Ning were a harmonious couple, and if nothing unexpected happened, her brother She and Zhang would also be a happy couple. As for Lin Ruhai and Min Mei, apart from suffering some hardship in having children, the two were said to be doing very well.

However, with Jia Min back in Beijing, Lin Ruhai in Jiangnan has likely encountered a real crisis.

The salt tax in Jiangnan was a matter of great importance to the soldiers on the nine borders, and Jia Jing couldn't help but want to inquire about it.

Can……

"Visiting relatives? That's wonderful, the old lady should be very happy."

Jia Jing picked up the empty load and walked back. "She hasn't been back for more than ten years. This time, she'll probably be gone for at least half a year."

"This...this servant does not know."

Lin Xiang followed up, saying, "Our madam returned yesterday and heard that her uncle was here, so she sent me over early this morning to deliver some things to you."

He brought up two whole carriages' worth of goods.

“In addition to what was given to the Taoist temple, my wife also sent over five hundred taels of silver.”

The emphasis on silver is mainly to say, Uncle, you have money, you don't need to work so hard.