The head of the Red Mansion

Chapter 223 Honest
Two great joys on the 23rd day of the twelfth lunar month.

One good thing is that Jia Zheng is making money on his own. Although he can barely break even, it's a good start.

Erxi and Xue Pan are courting disaster; they actually went to school today.

Shen Ning pulled Jia Zhen home and immediately established new school rules: all students, regardless of whether they were from the Jia family or not, would have a minimum study period of three years.

Daring to feign illness...

Don't go home for three months.

During the Lunar New Year, Shen Ning really wanted to see how Dai Bawang would end up in jail at school.

The greatest lesson in life begins today.

oops~
Shen Ning thought she was too smart.

When Jia Zhen went to post the school rules, the teachers were all speechless.

However, this isn't directed at them, so do whatever you want!
But Jia Zhen…

He had a vague feeling that his mother was using Xue Pan to make up for the regret of not being able to beat him.

Hey~
Good heavens, thank goodness he was quick-witted.

Hopefully, Xue Pan can hold on!
However, this guy, who is two years older than his Rong-ge'er, is not even familiar with the Thousand Character Classic. In the future... it will probably be very difficult.

Upon returning home, Jia Zhen couldn't resist taking a stroll around Rong-ge'er's courtyard.

It's a pity I didn't see my son.

When Jia Zhen went to his study and looked through his memorized copies of the Three Character Classic, Thousand Character Classic, and Book of Rites, he could clearly see that his son's handwriting was improving.

"Where's Rong-ge'er? Did he go to Madam's again?"

"It's not time yet, the young master should be with Master Jiao."

The servant Tang Fu hurriedly replied, "He spends half an hour practicing martial arts with Master Jiao every evening."

Jia Zhen: "..."

Good guy!
He's simply amazing.

After having a formidable father, he now has a formidable son.

He carefully put his son's things away. "Oh, I'll go check on him."

In fact, he didn't dare to disturb his son and Jiao Da.

With mixed feelings, Jia Zhen went to find Lady You and touched her belly.

"what's wrong?"

Lady You was completely bewildered by him.

Although she is pregnant, she is still in the early stages of pregnancy, and her belly feels the same as before. What is there to touch?

"...Do you prefer a son or a daughter?"

"Anything works!"

Having experienced despair, now... whether it's a son or a daughter, they are both treasures to Madam You. "What? You want a son?"

That's going too far.

"No no."

As Jia Zhen's eyebrows furrowed and her face contorted with anger, he quickly said, "A son or a daughter is fine, but I still think a daughter is better. If you have a daughter, she and her aunt can get along well."

Madam You: "..."

That makes sense, but...

Madam You looked him over suspiciously. "Sir, what's wrong with you?"

"Nothing happened to me!"

Jia Zhen tried to cover it up, but there seemed to be no need to hide it from his wife. "I just feel that Rong-ge'er is working too hard. If this little one is a son, he will be too pitiful compared to his brother in the future."

Just look at his father, and then look at Uncle She and Uncle Zheng, and you'll understand.

"Why does he have to be compared to his brother?"

Madam You was puzzled. "Rong-ge'er is supposed to be the head of the household and establish a family. As long as our second son doesn't become a playboy, that's fine."

She had seen Rong-ge'er's hard work.

When her mother-in-law and father-in-law had their accident, the little boy stood firmly in front of her...

Based on this alone, Madam You decided that if her child was a son, he would simply be an obedient younger brother.

"Not wanting to be a spoiled brat?"

Jia Zhen blinked, as if he understood something, and couldn't help but pat his head, "Oh dear, my brain, I really misunderstood today."

His mother was probably afraid that Xue Pan would corrupt the clan school that had finally started to improve.

What are you thinking about?

"Hey~" Jia Zhen laughed, "Give me twenty taels of silver and I'll tell you."

"..."

Without a second thought, Madam You grabbed a soft pillow from behind her and threw it at him. "What do you need the money for?" she demanded, her eyebrows furrowing. "To save up your own money?"

"Oh dear, do I look like someone who would secretly save money?"

Jia Zhen was so wronged.

His parents are formidable, his wife is formidable, his son is formidable, and although he has a little sister who can't speak yet, it's clear that she's someone he can't afford to mess with.

"Search me, do you think I can find five taels of silver?"

A large portion of his monthly allowance was taken by his mother to provide free steamed buns for Shuiyueyan.

My former private savings, along with my father's... have probably all turned to ashes.

"Give me twenty taels, and I'll take you to Deshenglou Restaurant for dinner tomorrow."

Jia Zhen tugged at You Shi's sleeve, "The vegetarian eight treasures there are the most famous."

"...Take me to Deshenglou."

After thinking for a moment, Madam You said, "I'll treat you tomorrow."

The couple smiled again because of the eight-treasure dish. In the courtyard of the Xue family in the neighboring West Mansion, Xue Pan was writing large characters under the guidance of his younger sister.

He has ten large characters!

Good heavens, I haven't written as much as I have in the whole of last year.

Xue Pan wanted to cry but had no tears.

He doesn't want to write, and he doesn't want examiners, so why should he write?

Moreover, his family is wealthy, and countless people throughout the Great Zhao region are making money for him.

His mother said that he was born to enjoy a life of luxury.

Can……

Seeing her brother's pitiful appearance, Baochai felt sorry for him several times and wanted to learn his handwriting to lighten his burden.

But thinking about it, she can help ease the burden at home, but what will she do when she goes to school?
She could only harden her heart and watch her brother write such ugly characters.

Hey~
"Brother, it doesn't matter if your handwriting is bad, but you need to have the right attitude. If you keep sloppy, what if the teacher punishes you twice as much tomorrow?"

This?
Xue Pan's hand trembled, and the word was completely ruined.

"...Let's get another one!"

When her brother was about to cry, Baochai quickly replaced the half-written piece of paper with his.

"Mom~~~~"

Xue Pan looked at his mother, his voice trembling, "My hand hurts!"

Aunt Xue: "..."

She felt her son's pain deeply.

In the past, I would definitely have taken the blame for him.

But this is the capital city, the Jia family's residence, not their own home.

Madam Shen had long ago said that the Jia family school was not a place where people could work hard for three days and rest for two.

She promised she would, but now she's gone back on her word...

The consequences of going back on one's word might be unbearable for the Xue family.

Aunt Xue knew that she couldn't protect her son in the face of someone else's power.

She could only say, "Then how about..." she pleaded with her daughter, "let your brother rest first?"

"My brother has only written two pages so far, and there are still eight left... Are you planning to let him write all night?"

Baochai was also powerless.

The main reason was that she hadn't expected that Mrs. Shen would be so concerned about her brother's schooling.

It was as if she already knew her brother would back out.

"Think about your uncle and aunt!"

My uncle is the legitimate second master of the Rongguo Mansion, and my cousin, born to my aunt, is already a Marquis.

But the result?

Without the support of Madam Shen from Ningguo Mansion, who could drive them out of Rongguo Mansion?

“Mom, we can’t reach the clan school, so my brother has to rely on himself.”

"Let's go home!"

Xue Pan put down his pen and suddenly said, "Let's go back to Jinling right away!"

He doesn't want to stay here anymore.

"If we can't go back to Nanjing, we can go back to our own homes."

Their family has a house in the capital.

"Brother, what do you think a first-rank imperial consort is?"

Baochai felt sorry for her brother, but at the same time hoped that she could really teach him well. "In this Jia family, even the old lady could not refute her words."

If they could have argued against it, my aunt and uncle wouldn't have been kicked out without anyone to serve them.

“We’re already in this house. Even if we move out now, you’ll still have to stay at the school for three years.”

Xue Pan: "..."

Aunt Xue's tears fell down her cheeks.

"Brother, I'll stay with you. We'll write slowly."

Write slowly?
Xue Pan looked at his mother.

But his mother's sorrow and helplessness made his heart tremble. He breathed on his face to wipe away the tears that were about to fall, and then he really picked up his pen.

Now Xue Pan can only be thankful that he was assigned to the elementary school class, where all the students were young, and he only needed to enter the school at three quarters past dawn every day.

With no way out, he really started writing seriously.

To Baochai's relief, although the characters she wrote were still ugly, she could tell from each stroke that her brother had been serious and attentive.

She breathed a sigh of relief. "Brother, repeat each word in your mind three times before writing it down. That way you'll remember it better."

……

The 24th day of the twelfth lunar month was cloudy.

It looks like it might snow.

However, this doesn't stop Shen Ning from taking a walk after dinner.

"How is Grandpa Xue? Did he go to school today?"

"Up."

Qingping knew that her wife was concerned about the old man's schooling, so she had inquired about it early on. "But everyone said he wasn't as excited as he was yesterday."

It's no wonder people are excited when they're forced to go to school.

Shen Ning smiled. "When the imperial physician went over yesterday, was he injured?"

"He should be unharmed."

Qingping said, "Master Xue didn't allow us to see it."

"...Have someone keep an eye on him, don't let him fake illness."

Shen Ning was in a good mood. "If he succeeds in his act, others will follow suit."

A good learning environment is the most valuable resource.

Shen Ning was also afraid that Xue Pan would lead her astray.

"By the way, did Mrs. Xue have a fight with the doctor yesterday?"

"That's not true."

Qingping shook her head. "The physician from the prefecture said that although he couldn't see the doctor, the eldest daughter of the Xue family still sent a red envelope."

"..."

Shen Ning couldn't help but raise an eyebrow.

The Xue family is wealthy, and using money to pave the way is indeed a quick way to win people's hearts.

"Madam, the old lady of the West Mansion has had the eldest daughter of the Shi family brought here. Judging from her appearance, she may also be going to study here."

Shi Xiangyun?
If you don't mention it, she'll forget.

"Sure, when she arrives, please take good care of her."

The little girl is also a pitiful person.

Shen Ning sighed softly to herself, "Let her get her share of the monthly allowance too."

She can't forget the crab feast.

The old lady went excitedly when she heard that her grandniece was hosting the dinner, but the Shi family ended up getting slapped in the face.

"Yes!"

The head maids exchanged glances and agreed in unison.

Just as Shen Ning was about to say something more, Jia Zhen arrived with Lady You.

"Mother, Madam You and I are going out for a stroll. We won't be back for lunch today."

Shen Ning: "..."

Is this a way of showing off?
"go Go!"

Shen Ning waved her hand, "You don't need to tell me about these kinds of things in the future."

With the Prince of Jin gone, she wasn't too worried about her safety anymore; she could do whatever she wanted!

A pregnant woman's good mood is good for the fetus.

"By the way, do you have any money?"

"without!"

Jia Zhen's voice suddenly rose an octave, "Mother, why don't you give your son some silver!"

Making your wife treat you to a meal makes you feel inexplicably inferior.

"Go and give your master two hundred taels!"

While Madam You was covering her mouth and laughing, Shen Ning generously gave her some money, saying, "If you eat any good vegetarian dishes, bring me a portion too."

"Eh~"

Jia Zhen's voice was unusually loud.

The couple took the money and went out to play excitedly. After wandering around for a while, Shen Ning felt uneasy. "Go, have someone prepare a car. Let's go to the South City for a drive."

what?
Qingzhu was a little confused.

"What? No?"

"Row!"

The wife has spoken, so we have to do it!

So soon after, Wen Peilan, Qingzhu, and Qingping accompanied her in a car to the south of the city.

Everyone knew that she was going to watch the Second Master sell couplets.

“In the back street, every household buys couplets.”

Qingping asked, puzzled, "Madam, why doesn't the Second Master sell there?"

"Does he have any shame?"

Jia Zheng's whole life!
Shen Ning felt that he had never truly understood life and had wasted Cheng Luo's heart.

As long as the price is the same as outside, Lanzhi will definitely not say anything.

pity……

"What they want is not done properly."

Shen Ning lifted a corner of the curtain to look outside, "Oh right, take another two hundred taels of silver to the Mantou Nunnery later. It's almost New Year's, so double the number of steamed buns to be given out, and give each of the workers a thick quilt."

"Yes!"

Qingzhu wrote this down.

She needs to tell the housekeeper, Miss Min, when she gets back.

The carriage wheels rolled, and we gradually arrived at the southern city.

At this moment, the Prince of Jin, suffering from hunger, was crawling on the ground, wandering around several food stalls.

He's hungry!

So hungry.

Unable to speak, weak in his legs, and unable to hold a pen, he had actually thought about going to a calligraphy stall to borrow a pen and ink.

but……

He kept babbling "ah ah" for a long time, but no one could understand him.

Some people might understand, but no one is willing to lend it.

The Prince of Jin could only temporarily abandon this idea and focus on filling his stomach.

With the Lunar New Year approaching, he wanted something warm to eat.

He also wanted to... find Liu Yuan.

That bastard ruined him like this, he'll definitely come to see the results.

The worse off he is, the happier he will be.

People are prone to making mistakes when they are complacent.

The Prince of Jin believed that Dong Xiaoquan would investigate.

He will definitely be able to find this place as long as there is even the slightest clue.

If we find Liu Yuan, we might be able to find him.

At this time, the Prince of Jin was unaware that none of his brothers, except for the emperor, would be able to have a good New Year.

They also have to earn their own living.

"Ahhhh~~~~"

The King of Jin took a broken bowl and pleaded with a mother and daughter who were dressed fairly well.

This is the result of his observation over several days.

Women are generally more soft-hearted than men.

"Mother~"

The little girl eating noodles by the door looked at her mother.

"Eat yours."

The woman glanced at it, but was unmoved.

There are many beggars here.

In previous winters, some people even froze to death.

This person...

It looks dirty, but the clothes are quite thick.

Otherwise, in this cold weather, crawling on the ground... my body would have given out long ago.

"Oh~"

Little girl, eat quickly.

However, she is indeed petite with a small belly.

Soon only half a bowl of noodles remained.

"Turn it back!"

The woman patted her daughter's head, and finally, the Prince of Jin got to eat half a bowl of slightly warm chicken soup noodles.

Ahhhh~~
The Prince of Jin was moved to tears.

(End of this chapter)