The head of the Red Mansion

Chapter 165 I Have a Home Now (6,000-word long chapter, please vote!)
Seeing Lin Chang'an sigh like a little adult, Yingchun and Tanchun also wanted to sigh.

Unfortunately, they are girls, and they will also have to get married like their older sister in the future.

"Do you still want to cry like Baoyu?"

Daiyu was both amused and exasperated by her younger brother's behavior. "Then hurry up and go! When I first arrived, I think I saw Baoyu running towards the East Mansion. Hurry up and go too. You should also go and cry to Brother-in-law Cheng. If that doesn't work, you can all marry into the Cheng family with your older cousin. You can also keep an eye on the Cheng family and make sure they don't bully her."

"...No, you really saw Baoyu go to the East Mansion?"

Yingchun disregarded her suggestion that Baoyu and Chang'an accompany her as part of the dowry and went straight to asking what terrified her the most.

Ever since he learned that his eldest sister was getting married at the age of twenty-four and would no longer be at home, Baoyu would run to his eldest sister's place as soon as he finished school.

Baoyu didn't touch any of the snacks and fruits that his brother-in-law Cheng brought in.

It's as if the older sister would stay home if he didn't touch her.

Yingchun and the others were quite speechless.

They initially felt that their sister had married well and were all happy for her.

But as Baoyu did this, they became more and more reluctant to part with him, and sometimes in the middle of the night, they would dream that they had lost out.

But they would only say it verbally and feel sad for a while, while Baoyu cried his heart out and made a huge fuss.

Yingchun saw the old lady and her eldest sister being brought to tears by Baoyu on several occasions.

"Yes!"

Daiyu nodded, "He runs like the wind, incredibly fast!"

"..."

"..."

Yingchun and Tanchun exchanged a glance, sensing that Cheng's brother-in-law was about to be in trouble.

"elder sister……"

Lin Chang'an looked at his older sister, then at his two older cousins, his eyes darting around, and said, "Why don't we all go and take a look?"

All I heard was that Baoyu was crying.

He hasn't met him yet.

His mother felt quite sorry for Baoyu when she heard him cry.

Lin Chang'an felt that he needed to learn it.

After all, he also has an older sister.

"Then... let's go take a look?"

She walked to school every day, and every three days she had to learn the Five Animal Frolics exercise that her aunt insisted on doing with her teacher. Daiyu's small body improved visibly.

Only now has he coughed a few times.

If you're healthy, you'll get away with a lot of mischief.

Ningcuixuan's small kitchen had become their domain. The cooks would prepare the dough, and they would knead it into small pieces to cook, making all sorts of shapes. Unfortunately, the cats, dogs, pigs, and the like that they had kneaded would become incredibly ugly after steaming, losing their original appearance.

Last time, they ate too much because the little animals they sculpted were too big, drank hawthorn water, and were dragged around to every courtyard by their older cousin.

Let's not even mention the random ramblings in between.

now……

Daiyu's eyes lit up. "Let's go see Brother-in-law Cheng. If he's willing to coax Baoyu, then so be it. But if he's not... then we'll all go and cry together."

This?
Tan Chun was also eager to try.

"Okay, okay, let's do it together!"

Upon receiving her third sister's plea, Yingchun could no longer resist and finally complied with everyone's wishes, saying, "Don't run so fast, peek a little."

The children nodded in unison.

The maids, seeing that they were about to go off and cause trouble again, thought about it and ultimately decided not to stop them.

Third Aunt said, "It's good to buy some."

What child isn't mischievous?
Fourth Aunt said that naughty children are healthy.

Previously, both Miss Lin and Young Master Chang'an were in poor health, but their health improved after traveling to the capital and making money along the way.

So the old lady said that as long as they weren't playing around with water and fire, she would let them be.

Even if we were to cause trouble for Marquis Xinping now, it would be better than causing trouble for the old lady.

Having made up their minds, they slowly followed.

However, not long after arriving at Huifang Garden, they heard Baoyu crying coming from the direction of the artificial hill.

They hurried over and saw the girls and Young Master Lin secretly hiding behind the artificial hill, watching as Second Master Bao stood in front of the eldest daughter, crying so hard that Lord Cheng was sweating profusely.

"Baoyu, don't cry. I'll go back after saying a few words to the Marquis."

Yuan Chun was unaware that not only Bao Yu had come, but also her younger sisters and her cousins ​​from her fourth aunt's family.

Little did they know that their cousins ​​from their third aunt's family were also on their way.

She felt sorry for Baoyu.

When his mother entered the small Buddhist shrine, the old lady was afraid that the atmosphere there would influence his temperament, so she specifically asked his father to tell him that from now on, he only needed to pay his respects once on the first and fifteenth of each month.

Baoyu was afraid of his father, and since he couldn't see his mother, he could only go to her place.

Now even she's getting married.

Yuan Chun was also quite upset.

"I do not!"

Baoyu cried loudly, "You're going to marry him and not want me anymore, boohoo~, I don't want you to marry him, big sister, wait for me, I'll grow up soon and then I'll marry you."

Yuanchun: "..."

Cheng Luo: "..."

Cheng Luo, an only child, couldn't be more envious when he saw his future wife's eyes well up with tears.

He has brothers, but those two wish he were dead.

I never knew that the relationship between siblings could be this good.

Although his parents-in-law weren't very nice, he cherished Yuan Chun's older and younger brothers.

"How can you say I don't want you anymore?"

Cheng Luo tried her best to reason with her brother-in-law, "Now that your sister has married me, you'll have another brother-in-law to love you. If you miss your sister, you can go over anytime, or have a servant send a message and I'll bring her back right away. Whatever you want to eat or play, your brother-in-law will buy it for you."

oops~
Whatever I want to eat or do, my brother-in-law will buy it for me.
Although the food in the manor is quite delicious.

However, along the way from Jiangnan to the capital, many roadside stalls each have their own unique flavor.

Lin Chang'an especially missed those snacks with unique flavors.

Hearing what Brother-in-law Cheng said, he couldn't hold back any longer. He rushed out like a cannonball, and Yingchun couldn't stop him. "You're lying! You just want to trick our sister away!"

"Waaaaah~~~~"

Baoyu's crying suddenly intensified again.

Cheng Luo: "..."

Yuanchun: "..."

Before one little devil has been appeased, another one comes along.

Moreover, it seems there's more than one.

Yuan Chun grabbed her little cousin, who was clenching his fists as if he were about to hit someone, and said, "Chang'an, no one can fool me."

My younger brothers and sisters are so cute and cuddly...

Having experienced the cold scheming of the palace, Yuan Chun especially cherishes her darlings who trust and love her unconditionally simply because she is her older sister.

She wanted to tell him, "Your sister is very smart."

But the younger sisters also came out with tears in their eyes.

Yuan Chun couldn't hold back any longer, and tears streamed down her face.

Cheng Luo: "..."

He was extremely panicked!

His sister-in-law and brother-in-law both cried because he stole their sister.

This is how to do?
“I swear, you’ve not lost a sister, you’ve gained a brother-in-law. Our family welcomes you anytime, whenever you want.”

Cheng Luo raised his hand and swore an oath.

He wanted to tell them, "I just want to join you, not steal your big sister away, and then I'll never come back. Whatever you want to eat, whatever you want to play, you can come to my place, I..."

"Will my sister be in charge of the Marquis of Xinping's residence from now on?"

Minmei, who had finally arrived at the battlefield, asked, "Does even your private savings go to your sister?"

“Yes!” Min Jianbai said, “If it’s all managed by your older cousin, then we’ll trust you.”

The siblings are experienced.

His father managed his mother's storeroom, and he knew all about her private savings. He would try to squeeze out any good stuff from her.

If his mother had been more alert and hadn't been deceived by his father, even if his maternal grandparents' family had fallen on hard times, the entire Min family would have depended on his mother for food, and the servants in the house would all have been under her control. His father would never have dared to treat them that way.

"From...nature!"

Cheng Luoxin felt flustered; he knew about this sister-in-law.

It was she who forced her uncle to beat up the entire Min family.

He envied her for daring to do that.

He was too weak back then.

"Everything I own belongs to your sister."

Will Yuan Chun let him go hungry?

Definitely not!
"Don't cry, okay? I'll order you the Lamb Eight Treasures from Deshenglou Restaurant."

Last time he came to deliver a gift to Yuan Chun, Jia Lian saw him and then extorted a meal of lamb delicacies from Deshenglou Restaurant.

At first, that guy seemed to dislike him, but after a meal, he was fine with him again.

"You're not allowed to eat it!"

Baoyu burst into even louder sobs, “You think you can trick my sister into going away with just one meal of mutton stew? Waaah~~~~ I have money, I’ll treat her!”

He can't find his mother.

If there were no older sister...

Baoyu cried the most pitifully, "Waaah~ Go away, go away, I don't want you to come to my house."

With a group of sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law making such a ruckus in the garden, Lady You naturally had to come and take a look.

Hearing Baoyu say this, she didn't know whether to laugh or not, so she quickly came out and said, "Baoyu, this is a marriage bestowed by the Emperor. You can't be unreasonable. Think about it, if your third and fourth aunts didn't get married, where would your cousins ​​come from?"

Baoyu: "..."

He looked at his cousin Min and Lin Meimei through teary eyes, then at his cousin Jianbai and his cousin Chang'an, unsure how to refute them.

Although Lin Daiyu and her cousin Lin are a bit sharp-tongued, they get along very well.

Cousin Min and Cousin Min have a yard outside, and they go out from time to time, bringing him fun things.

“You’ve not lost a sister, you’ve gained a loving brother-in-law.”

Madam You looked at Cheng Luo, who was nodding vigorously, and smiled, "I just heard that you're going to treat us to the Eight Delicacies Lamb at Deshenglou Restaurant?"

what?
"Yes Yes!"

Cheng Luo didn't disagree. "I'll have them go and call for more tables."

It seems unreasonable to invite younger siblings but not to give gifts to elders.

So, Shen Ning's lunch today turned into a feast of lamb delicacies.

Because of her leg injury, her mutton stew was prepared very simply.

Even the roasted lamb leg doesn't have that spicy flavor.

"Why would Young Master Cheng send in this feast?"

When we go to her house to visit her, isn't it their family who are hosting the dinner?

Shen Ning drank a bowl of mutton soup with goji berries added, and asked Qingzhu in confusion.

"Please don't mention it."

Qingzhu and the others smiled and said, "Young Master Cheng invited several tables in today. He almost banged his head against the wall because Baoyu was crying so much."

"Baoyu?"

Shen Ning blinked, as if she understood something. "He can't bear to part with his older sister?"

"Your wife is wise!"

The maids laughed so hard their shoulders shook. They vividly described the farce that had taken place in the garden.

Shen Ning found it incredibly entertaining to listen to.

But when the old lady of the Cheng family heard this, all she could do was go crazy.

Upon returning home from the Jia family mansion, Cheng Luo stood outside the Buddhist hall of Old Madam Cheng, happily describing to this so-called grandmother how wonderful her grandmother was, how wonderful her aunts were, how wonderful her uncles were, her brothers-in-law, and a whole bunch of her sisters-in-law were all so lovely.

"Grandma, from now on, I will have a whole bunch of family members."

Cheng Luo smiled and said, "I have to thank you for this. If you hadn't interfered with my previous marriages, I wouldn't have met such a good in-law family as the Jia family, and such a good girl as Jia Shi."

Grandma Cheng: "..."

She was so angry she wanted to smash things, but nowadays her teacups were just ordinary coarse porcelain bowls, and if she smashed one, she would be thirsty for a whole day.

Those brats outside are ruthless.

Even if someone from the clan came to see her, as soon as she complained, he would show her all the bowls and plates she had smashed.

He didn't throw away a single one of the things she had smashed.

Just wait for people to see it.

Grandma Cheng dared not smash anything anymore, but she still couldn't vent her anger, so she could only pound the prayer mat beneath her.

"Oh, right, you don't know yet, do you? After I get married, my brothers-in-law and their wives will often come to the manor. I've reserved several courtyards in this Xinping Marquis's residence for them. Your grandson..."

"..."

Madam Cheng's heart jumped into her throat.

Since she was imprisoned here, her son, Xiao Ze'er, can only come to visit on the first and fifteenth of the lunar month.

He came to see her the day before yesterday, the fifteenth.

He was quite tall, but incredibly thin.

They didn't even have a decent piece of clothing.

“Oh, didn’t we separate? I have a responsibility to support you, but no obligation to support him, and you have no property to give him. I heard that he pawned and sold his savings over the years to buy a house.”

"..."

Grandma Cheng knew that she had given her grandson many good things over the years.

Those things, though they can't guarantee Ze'er a lifetime of wealth, will at least allow him to live a peaceful life and be a well-off man, neither rich nor poor.

But he has so much stuff...

"You unfilial son, you...you bullied him again?"

He must have stolen the things she gave to Ze'er.

Otherwise, why would that child be dressed like that?

"You're wronging me."

Cheng Luo laughed, "Didn't you always want to find him a powerful and influential wife? Over the years, he's been following my example, not having a single concubine. It's a pity that I have the Jia family as my good in-laws. You're too picky and not good enough, which has delayed him until now, making it harder and harder for him to find someone. I heard that a few days ago he became infatuated with a girl from a brothel."

what?
Grandma Cheng rushed to the door, crying, "Cheng Luo, you can't do this! He's your brother too!"

"Ho~"

Cheng Luo knew the old lady was in good health and wouldn't be easily angered. "My brother? My mother only gave birth to me, where would I get a brother?"

Did his father give birth to a brother for him?

They are clearly enemies.

"No, no, no, I should have had brothers, but you all raised them so well that you turned them into enemies. Grandma, you are truly brilliant!"

Grandma Cheng: "..."

She clung to the door, slowly slumped down, and burst into tears.

Amidst her cries, Cheng Luo slowly left to tell his mother that he had made the old lady cry again.

Of course, he also told his mother that his brother-in-law was afraid he would steal his sister's money, so he tried to pay for it today. However, everyone laughed and stopped him, which made him so angry that he drank two bowls of mutton soup.

Compared to the Jia family, his home was really too cold.

"Mother~"

Looking at Princess Baofeng's memorial tablet, he laughed through his tears, "Just wait, in a few days, our family will be lively, and I will have many, many real relatives."

These are relatives who can truly protect him.

Not the kind of uncles and aunts who just glance at you and snort.

Although he still had his uncle, the emperor, who was willing to protect him, Cheng Luo also knew that his uncle was often powerless to do things his own way.

Even if he were to gain great power in the future, the emperor's uncle's sons and daughters would have grown up.

Rather than hoping to gain affection from her uncle, the emperor, she would rather have her own child.

“As long as I treat Yuan Chun well, her aunt is my aunt, her aunts are my aunts, and her brothers, sisters, nephews… are all mine.”

Cheng Luo couldn't wait, he wanted day and night to pass, day and night again... to hurry up and reach the day he would marry Yuan Chun.

Time slowly passed as he endured each day as if it were an eternity.

August 24th finally arrived.

The Marquis of Xinping's residence and the Jia family were both decorated with lanterns and colorful streamers. Cheng Luo, riding a tall horse and dressed in red wedding attire, led the wedding procession, accompanied by music and fanfare, towards Ningrong Street.

At this time, Jia Zhu had been practicing with Li Wan on his back at home for several days.

If his father and mother are unreliable, then he, as the older brother, can't be unreliable either.

Jia Zhu was afraid that she would run out of strength when carrying her younger sister and become a laughing stock, so she exercised every day these days.

Now, he is confident that he can carry his sister all the way out of his grandmother's yard.

"The imperial edict arrives..."

In the Pear Fragrance Courtyard, Jia Zheng heard from a servant that the Emperor Emeritus had given a reward. He carefully turned to the side.

Although the forty strokes of the cane didn't break any bones, I've suffered terribly these past few days.

Now that his daughter is getting married, he, as her father, can only listen from afar and can't even catch a glimpse of her...

It would be a lie to say I'm not sad.

"master!"

Aunt Zhao took Jia Huan to join in the fun, and Jia Zhu and his wife were too busy to even take a break. At this time, only Aunt Zhou was with them in Pear Fragrance Courtyard. "It's time to change the medicine."

"Let's change... let's change!"

It hurts a lot when I change the dressing.

But if he doesn't change it, the pain will last even longer.

This wasn't what Jia Zheng found most embarrassing; what he found most embarrassing was wiping his bottom after defecating.

No matter how careful you are, you're bound to get hurt.

But I can't leave it untouched.

"Be gentle."

"Don't worry, sir, I know."

Aunt Zhou's voice was gentle, and her movements were gentle as she carefully moistened the gauze applied to Jia Zheng's buttocks with warm water and gently peeled it off.

"Ah~, hiss~~~, slowly~~~ slower."

It doesn't hurt as much as last time.

Jia Zheng's clenched hand slowly loosened.

"You have really suffered a lot."

Aunt Zhou's eyes were brimming with tears. "It hasn't gotten better after all this time. The flesh on my buttocks must be badly bruised."

Jia Zheng: "..."

Although he couldn't see it, he felt that way. "Aren't you going to bring food to Wang Shi later?"

"Yes!"

Give her a bowl of water.

Did she think that on her daughter's good days, she could also enjoy some good food?

Stop dreaming.

Jia Zheng gritted his teeth, "Half a steamed bun will do. If she asks, just say that's what I said."

He is suffering.

All she had to do was sit on the prayer mat and chant scriptures.

Every time Jia Zheng took medicine or had a bowel movement, he would feel hatred for his wife.

"Yes! I will obey, sir."

As Aunt Zhou applied the medicine, she glanced at the man whose fists were clenched.

If this man had only protected her a little back then, Wang wouldn't have dared to act that way.

Poor child...

If her child were still alive, she would certainly be entitled to a share of the three thousand taels of silver from the public coffers for her dowry.

Nowadays, the men of the Jia family have no trouble finding wives, but her children don't even have the chance to grow up.

"Ouch~ It hurts so much~~~~"

Jia Zheng suddenly trembled and cried out in pain, "Gently, gently."

"Yes Yes Yes……"

Aunt Zhou seemed not to have seen the blood droplets.

She deliberately left one of her buttocks untreated, without applying any medicine.

Every time I apply the medicine, I squeeze it out and press it down.

Unfortunately, this person's buttocks are getting better and better.

"This is where the injury is most severe. It won't be good without applying more medicine. Please bear with it, sir."

Jia Zheng was in so much pain that tears streamed down his face. "When will this ever end?"

In the small Buddhist shrine, Wang did not chant scriptures today.

She pressed her ear against the window, trying to hear the distant noise.

This morning, my daughter came over to say goodbye.

Wang was heartbroken.

She begged her daughter to plead with the old lady to let her go out, but...

It just won't work if you don't keep them close by!

It's pitiful that all three of her children were taken away by that old hag.

All her hard work and planning over the course of her life turned out to be for nothing, didn't it?
Wang was very sad.

She had thought that since that old hag had raised her child, all her savings would belong to her child. But now, the old hag's most beloved daughter had returned.

This Pear Fragrance Courtyard, how can it compare to Jia Min's courtyard?
That was the courtyard she had chosen for Baoyu.

Her precious jade...

Wang leaned against the window with her eyes closed, but suddenly, her stomach rumbled.

She couldn't resist touching it.

Outside, people are enjoying their daughter's wedding feast, but she, as the mother, is going hungry today.

Click~
The door was unlocked, and Aunt Zhou came in with her maid.

"Madam, the master is changing his dressing. He's in a lot of pain. He said that your lunch today is just a bowl of water and half a steamed bun."

The maid put the things down and stepped aside.

Madam Wang gave Aunt Zhou a deep look, "Madam Zhou, you're very good!"

When the old lady put Aunt Zhou in charge of her, she knew she would be retaliated against.

"But don't forget, this Pear Fragrance Courtyard ultimately belongs to me, Zhu'er."

Once Zhu'er passes the imperial examination, she will surely receive an official title.

“My Zhu’er will be an official next year, and my Yuan Chun will be a Marquis’s wife. Tell me, what would they think if I told them that you never let me eat my fill?”

Madam Wang sneered at Aunt Zhou, "Don't think that Master will protect you. Don't you know what kind of person he is? Not only is he incapable of protecting you in front of Zhu'er and Yuan Chun, but even if he were willing to, would my Zhu'er and Yuan Chun listen to him?"

Aunt Zhou: "..."

“Go,” she ordered, raising her head, “serve me a bowl of rice and add more vegetables.”

Thank you so much to Qin Lan for the generous donations from Mangosteen No. 1, Dian Dian Shu Ying, Zuo Zuo You You, Butterfly Jojo, 20180307143525566, and 20220920115151225! Thank you so much!!!