The head of the Red Mansion

Chapter 2 Jiao Da
Although Shen Ning had been eating the delicacies at the Dream of the Red Chamber for two days, none of them tasted as sweet as they did today.

A bowl of steaming, glistening green rice porridge, especially pleasing to the eye, paired with goose breast, a bowl of savory and delicious shrimp ball and chicken skin soup, two soft and tender tofu skin buns, plus a small dumpling—it's a meal that leaves one extremely satisfied.

Actually, she wanted to try the milk syrup rice porridge, but her stomach wouldn't allow it.

Shen Ning waved her hand regretfully, signaling for the food to be removed. "Let's go for a walk in the garden first to digest our food."

Crossing the main courtyard, Huifang Garden is right next door.

This garden, which would later have one-third of the Grand View Garden taken over, was managed by three generations of the Jia family and was no less impressive than the later Grand View Garden. The buildings inside, such as Tianxiang Tower, Ningxi Pavilion, Dengxian Pavilion, and Doufeng Pavilion, were arranged in a well-organized manner. The fresh water introduced from the outer river meandered through the garden. Now, the first month of the lunar calendar had just passed, and the various plum blossoms planted on the artificial hill were in full bloom, and one could smell their faint fragrance from afar.

Shen Ning looked at the not-so-intense sun in the sky. Accompanied by her two head maids, Qingzhu and Qinglian, and three other maids, she followed the bluestone path and had just stepped into Huifang Garden when she heard a commotion coming from the backyard of Ning'an Hall, which was separated by a wall.

"Jiao Da, you old codger, what are you trying to prove with us? I, Sixth Master, am about to go out and take up an official post. We're all going out to take up official posts. The guards will be disbanded, and you'll be nothing."

"You little brat, you're nothing but a piece of shit."

Jiao Qi became extremely anxious and seemed to be about to take action.

"Oops~"

"Captain Jiao, Lao Liu..."

"Quick! Quick, quick, stop them!"

"Sixth Brother, stop right now!"

"Sixth Brother, you can't do that!"

The sounds of fists and kicks, cries of pain, and calls to break up the fight made Shen Ning stop in her tracks.

She remembered the thirty guards that Jiao Da had led. Although they were servants, they were all battle-hardened soldiers because of their daily training.

Those who went to the battlefield with their masters during wartime were the most loyal to them; if their masters lived, they lived; if their masters died, they died.

Those who lived to the age of thirty would have their status elevated by the Jia family, who would use their connections in the military to secure a proper social standing for them.

Jiao Da never left because he was injured on the battlefield and never married. His grandfather said that the Ningguo Mansion would take care of him for the rest of his life.

Is the Prefectural Guard going to be disbanded now?
hiss~
Shen Ning gasped.

It seems the Ningguo Prefecture no longer needs these guards, but while they can't be used openly, they can be used covertly...

"Nonsense, he wouldn't dare. Who does Jiao Da think he is?"

On the other side of the wall, Luo Laoliu, having apparently suffered a loss, was so angry that his voice trembled slightly. "He's been taking advantage of his age, meddling in everything, even the master doesn't like him, let alone the young master. Now, we're disbanding the guards..."

"Bullshit, no one can disband the guards."

Jiao Da, whose eyes were red from being pulled along by everyone, said, "Even I, the head of the guards, haven't received the news, and you, a mere guard..."

He looked at the group of soldiers he had personally led, hoping for their support. But their eyes held both sorrow and relief, and when they met his gaze, they involuntarily looked away. Jiao Da's face turned ashen. "No, it's impossible! Grandfather, Grandfather won't agree. I'm going to ask the eldest master! I'm going to ask the eldest master! Let me go! I'm going to ask the eldest master!"

"Humph~"

Luo Laoliu snorted heavily, "Who do you think you are? Don't you know what's going on in the manor right now? Or are you trying to ruin the future of us brothers and our children by trapping yourself in this manor?"

According to past practice, he would not only receive a resettlement allowance, but his children would also be released.

Moreover, those sent to the army by the Jia family, if they performed well, would normally be promoted to probationary sergeant or sergeant officer within six months.

Those were officials of the ninth rank and those of the eighth rank.

For him, this official position was a source of honor for his ancestors and a blessing for his descendants.

As long as the child is ambitious in the future, whether he pursues martial arts or academics, he will have a solid foundation.

"Hmph, let's be frank, Chief Steward Lai has already pointed out the place for me, it's right here in the patrol camp."

The patrol battalion gets the most kickbacks; it's no wonder he gave the gifts to Steward Lai.

"That bastard Lai Sheng..."

"Say that again?!" Lai Sheng's lazy voice came from the other side of the courtyard wall. "Jiao Da, in this mansion, I am the chief steward and you are the captain of the guards, but I am still the chief steward. As for you, the captain of the guards... hehe, you won't be considered a captain in a few days."

"You're talking nonsense! I need to find the master!" Jiao Da struggled violently. "Let me go! I need to find the master!"

"The old man isn't home!"

Lai Sheng dusted off any dust that wasn't on his sleeves, quite satisfied with the group of people who had grabbed Jiao Da. "Alright, tie him up and throw him in the stable first, wait for the master to come back..."

He was about to say that he would wait for the old man to return and deal with the matter when he saw the side gate being pushed open.

"Mrs?!"

Upon seeing the person who had arrived, Lai Sheng immediately bowed.

If he's like this, how dare anyone else be negligent?

"Let go."

Shen Ning waved her hand without saying a word.

"Mrs!"

As everyone released their grip, Jiao Da suddenly knelt down. "Madam, please persuade Master! The guards cannot be disbanded! The guards were personally established by the Grandfather. If the Grandfather finds out..."

"Don't worry, the guards will not be disbanded."

Shen Ning slightly turned to avoid the old man kneeling, "Those who have reached the required age will be provided with a way out by the manor. Lai Sheng, how many people have reached the required age this year?"

"In reply to Madam, Luo Liu, Huo Qi, and Zhou Bo have all reached the required age."

Lai Sheng bent down even lower.

"Are you Luo Liu?"

"Yes! This is Luo Liu." Luo Liu's forehead was sweating, and his mind was racing. "Luo Liu thanks Madam for her kindness." He didn't know how much his wife had overheard outside, but he had seen her kneeling down to avoid Jiao Da.

Although he was the one who got hit, Jiao Da was also punched in the corner of his eye, where it was already swollen.

"..."

Shen Ning didn't speak, but looked at Luo Liu calmly until his legs trembled. Then she slowly said, "Jiao Da... isn't he actually your master?"

"……Yes!"

Luo Liu's voice trembled.

He was selected to enter the manor at the age of twelve and has been following Jiao Da ever since, learning martial arts while taking turns with his brothers to protect the manor's safety.

From this perspective, Jiao Da really could be considered his master.

"Lai Sheng, do you know how to deal with a guard like him?"

"Those who commit insubordination shall be punished with forty strokes of the military rod."

The guards were different from ordinary servants; they were governed by military law. But after forty strokes of the military rod, it was hard to say whether they would live or die.

"Alright! It's up to you. Everything will proceed as before. For every person who goes out, the same number will be selected to come back."

After explaining to Lai Sheng, Shen Ning turned to Jiao Da, who seemed hesitant to speak, and gestured for the people on both sides to help him up. "Jiao Da, in a few days, you will be a master again, so you must take good care of yourself."

"Yes!"

Jiao Da was in tears. "This servant will take good care of myself and look after this family for you and Master."

The guards are in an awkward position, and he has always been worried that they will be withdrawn, so he explodes at Luo Liu's suggestion.

Now that's settled, my wife says we should follow the old ways, so we will definitely follow the old ways.

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