The head of the Red Mansion

Chapter 59 Making trouble
Bathed in the last rays of the setting sun, the two young ladies reluctantly returned home from the East Mansion.

Of course, none of the maids and old women who followed them were empty-handed; they were either carrying something or holding something in their arms.

When Grandmother Jia heard that they had returned, she summoned them over for questioning.

"Grandma, have you eaten the crispy pastry and the sweet-filled sesame seed cake?"

Tan Chun thought it was delicious, but her aunt said it was best to eat it fresh. "My aunt said that if you like it, she will have Aunt Li make some and send it over tomorrow."

Aunt Li made a lot today and sent most of it over here. Even her aunt probably got a few too.

"Well, it tastes pretty good."

Grandmother Jia chuckled, "What did you do at the East Mansion today? Why are you back so late?"

“My aunt took us on a tour of the entire Huifang Garden.”

They ate, rested, and played all the way.

Yingchun was unusually excited, "She even took us on a boat trip, and we went fishing together, but I was the only one who caught something."

"The fish that my second sister caught are so small."

Tan Chun didn't catch any fish. "My aunt had Aunt Li fry them with the quail, and my aunt and I each got this much."

She spoke while gesturing with her little hands.

Grandmother Jia felt that what she had measured was only enough for one bite of her own, and couldn't help but laugh, "You guys really know how to have fun."

"That fish is delicious."

Although it was small, Yingchun felt she had never eaten such delicious fish before. "Auntie said that we can come over to play anytime during our holidays." She added with filial piety, "I'll go fishing and have Aunt Li fry it for you."

"Hahaha~"

The old lady was really amused by her, "Then I'll have to wait."

It must taste even better if it's caught by my own granddaughter.

"Grandma, we also played with my little sister."

Jia Mu: "..."

Looking at her granddaughter, she couldn't help but wonder if the child was too young and was speaking from her imagination.

“The little sister in Aunt’s belly likes to listen to us read,” Yingchun said with a smile, sensing her grandmother’s doubt. “Whenever my third sister and I read, she plays with us in Aunt’s belly. I’ve even touched her little hand.”

"I touched my sister's foot."

The two granddaughters chattered excitedly about their interactions with their little sister.

Grandmother Jia found it quite novel.

Having given birth to three children, she certainly knew about fetal movement.

Although she was curious and delighted at the time, she never told anyone. In addition, she had to manage the household affairs, and she often missed the baby's movements.

The only thing that left the deepest impression on her was the fetal movement of her eldest son.

At that time, she was a mother for the first time, and her heart and eyes were filled with the baby in her belly. She was willing to follow the baby's little hands and feet even in the middle of the night.

But when the eldest son was born, his mother-in-law took him away.

Grandmother Jia sighed inwardly.

She couldn't sleep tonight.

In the neighboring East Mansion, Shen Ning, who had been playing all day, slept very well. Even though she often woke up at night due to late pregnancy, she fell asleep as soon as her head hit the bed, without any difficulty.

The two midwives were quite satisfied with her current condition. The main reason why it was difficult for wealthy families to give birth was that the mothers were too lazy to move.

If the baby gets too fat from all the nutrition, won't it lead to a difficult birth?
But today...

The two men watched the fine drizzle and kept a close eye on the maids, afraid that they might wet the floor as they walked around.

"The weather isn't good today, so why don't you stay inside and wander around, madam!"

Seeing that she had taken precautions against the maid, Mrs. Shen was still eager to go out, but one of the midwives quickly stopped her.

"it is good!"

With her life at stake, Shen Ning had no choice but to back down, "Since we're not going out today, you should all go and rest!"

The two midwives were nervous throughout yesterday's process.

It's only right that we take a break today.

"Qingzhu, open a few windows, let's listen to the rain."

"This is not okay!"

The midwife, who was about to leave, stopped again. "It's raining and windy. If you catch a cold, you'll be the one who suffers."

Shen Ning: "..."

"Let's open a window!"

They won't let her open it at all, and it doesn't seem like that will work either.

The plump midwife, Liu, was very adaptable. She immediately opened a window and said, "Madam, please avoid walking this way."

"……become!"

Shen Ning, who was extremely afraid of death, obediently agreed, saying as she turned around, "Thank you both for your hard work yesterday. Qingzhu, take the two aunts to the sewing room later, and make another set of spring clothes for each of them."

"Thank you for the generous gift, Mrs. Xie!"

The two midwives were overjoyed.

Since they entered the household to take care of Mrs. Shen, they have received rewards from time to time, ranging from food and clothing to gold and silver ingots.

The old man, the old woman, and even the young master rewarded Mrs. Shen several times because she was in good condition.

This job was totally worth it.

The two were about to leave with Qingzhu when a maid rushed in, "Madam, Master Jia Kui from the back street is here. His sister is having a difficult childbirth, and they can't find a midwife..."

Before the words were finished, Jia Kui's voice rang out, "Madam, save me! Madam, save me!"

Shen Ning looked up and saw the boy rushing into the courtyard. The moment he saw her, he prostrated himself on the ground and kowtowed several times, "Please, Madam, save my sister! Waaah~, please, Madam, save my sister! Please..."

"Get up quickly!"

Saving people is like putting out fire.

Shen Ning looked at the two midwives and said, "They are family members, so please go ahead."

"……Yes!"

The midwives exchanged glances and agreed in unison.

"Thank you so much, Madam! Thank you so much, Madam!!!"

After receiving a positive reply, Jia Kui kowtowed several more times before standing up and pleading with the two midwives, "Please hurry, my sister... is in very bad shape."

"Qingzhu, take a few old women with you and hurry up and go together."

"Yes!"

Qingzhu understood her meaning. She waved to the several burly old women guarding the corridor, and as the large oil-paper umbrella was opened, they hurriedly followed her out.

Childbirth has always been a difficult ordeal for women.

When married daughters can't find a midwife, their first thought is whether there's something wrong with the husband's family, and they all rush to find one.

In no time, the yard was almost empty.

Just then, Madam You arrived, saying, "Mother, you can't be left alone."

"It's okay, I should still have a few days before I give birth."

Shen Ning patted her stable belly, "Do you know what happened?"

"Jia Yan married Chen Tang, a scholar from Fulong Street next door." This was the first daughter of the Jia family to get married after Madam You took over the management. At that time, she also represented the Ningguo Mansion and the clan to give a dowry, so she remembered it very clearly. "Chen Tang is actually not bad, but his stepmother, Madam Wang, is very difficult to get along with. I heard that last night, when Jia Yan was serving her to wash her feet, she slipped and fell while pouring water."

What is their family background?

Shen Ning frowned deeply. "How many months pregnant is Jia Yan?"

"Chen Tang's father, Chen Chong, was a sixth-rank official in the Ministry of Works. Although his official rank was low, it was a real and substantial position, and his family was quite well-off."

"So that means they're bullying our daughter?"

Shen Ning's face immediately darkened. "Married so close by, yet still being bullied like this, do they think my Jia family has no one to rely on?"

"..."

Madam You suddenly fell silent.

She was the matriarch of the clan, and many matters within the clan were under her jurisdiction.

Although Jia Yan is a married daughter, she can still manage things if she really wants to. "Where's Zhen'er? Isn't she usually quite fierce?"

Before Shen Ning could finish speaking, Jia Zhen rushed in, "You've come at the right time. Take your men and find out what's going on. If it really is the Chen family who bullied our child, then you better give their child a good beating."

"……Yes!"

Seeing his mother's expression, Jia Zhen dared not object. He gave You Shi a look, signaling her to stay and watch over the place. "I'll take some men over there now."

Watching her son walk away, Shen Ning said again, "I remember Jia Kui was a posthumous child, right? His mother... also passed away a long time ago?"

"Yes!"

Madam You nodded, "He was basically raised by Jia Yan. The two siblings depended on each other for survival. When she married Chen Tang, Jia Kui sold a lot of things in the house to give to his sister as dowry."

He is a person of great loyalty and affection.

However, it seems that this person does not exist in the novel.

Shen Ning paced around the room again. "Send someone to invite Manager Chen from Huichuntang, and bring him a set of warm clothes for Jia Kui to change into."

"Yes!"

Madam You gave her maid a wink, and the maid hurriedly left.

What is Jia Kui's current family situation?

“There is a small courtyard with two sections, and a bookstore on Fulong Street. He himself has been studying at school, although he didn’t achieve much. But now that he’s older, it’s said that he has taken over the bookstore.”

"A bookstore?"

Shen Ning suddenly remembered something, "Does the clan school buy writing materials like brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones from his shop?"

"……without!"

Madam You shook her head. "The clan school's procurement used to be managed by Lai Sheng and Jia Dairu. When Lai Sheng's house was raided, he also owned a bookstore. Now that store... is under my name."

"So how's your business?" Shen Ning couldn't help but ask curiously.

“With the clan school’s purchasing business, plus some individual customers, the annual income is about five hundred taels.”

Da Tou was involved in purchasing materials for the clan school.

“Jia Kui’s shop does not have the clan school’s purchasing department, but Fulong Street is always more lively than Ningrong Street, with more people. And since the shop is his own, he can earn at least a hundred taels a year.”

As long as they don't live a life of extravagance, it's definitely enough for their family to live on.

Shen Ning nodded. "That's settled then."

While reading Dream of the Red Chamber, she learned that Jia Zhen would distribute some of the produce from his estates to his clansmen every year.

In this respect, Jia Zhen did a good job.

"Now I just hope Jia Yan's delivery goes smoothly!"

Childbirth carries certain risks even in modern times, let alone in ancient times.

Shen Ning touched her stomach, feeling slightly down.

Who would want to die if they could live?

How many of the delicacies in the Dream of the Red Chamber did she actually eat?
She felt like she hadn't eaten enough every day.

"By the way, how's school lately? Rong-ge'er only tells me the good news."

Perhaps due to sufficient exercise, Shen Ning noticed that the child had not only become much darker and stronger, but was also growing taller rapidly.

Whenever she was home, Jia Rong would come over to have dinner with her and read a couple of pages of the Zizhi Tongjian to her and the baby in her belly.

But that was all; Shen Ning felt that he always came and went in a hurry.

"The school is great!"

Madam You said, "The two gentlemen have come to our house several times to thank you, sir, because of the official gazette and the Imperial Academy examination papers. I heard that they now exercise for half an hour every day with the guards."

Jia Zhen used to be a bit unreliable, but now that his wife is about to give birth, he doesn't dare to go around, and he likes to sneak off to the back street school when he has nothing to do.

Ms. You has recently felt that her relationship with her husband is better than before.

"I heard from the old man that Rong-ge has indeed made great progress. He is still striving to be in the top five in the monthly exam."

"Only aiming for the top five? Not even daring to aim for the top three?"

Shen Ning was overjoyed.

Jia Rong has become much more composed than before, and Jiao Da is giving him extra lessons in martial arts. She thought he could make it into the top three.

But if Jia Rong can't even make it into the top three, does that mean that the Jia family's school has finally produced a few truly good students?
"cough~"

Madam You coughed lightly, "Chen Tang is now also studying at the Jia family's clan school."

Like Chen Tang, several others came to study under the Jia family's school reforms.

"...Is that so?"

Although somewhat disappointed, once these people pass the exam, the Jia family's reputation for academic excellence will spread.

"It's pretty good too."

Shen Ning nodded, "However, you and Zhen'er must also be strict in controlling them. Don't let those scoundrels who are just here to freeload in."

"Yes!"

Ms. You readily agreed.

The Jia family's academy provided food, drink, and even writing materials, making it easy for them to attract freeloaders who just wanted to eat and drink without contributing to the family's livelihood.

However, there are still assessments for students studying in the clan.

There's also the "bitter memories and sweet tastes" meal, which is used to provoke those who don't want to endure hardship.

In the past, there were often wives of the Jia family who would try to gain benefits for their own families by giving them gifts, but now there are far fewer of them.

Except for Jia Yan and Chen Tang.

The couple came with Jia Kui, and Jia Zhen only said a few words to them before agreeing.

"I trust you to do the job."

Shen Ning slowly turned around, gesturing for her to sit down. "I remember you have two younger sisters on your mother's side, right?"

"Yes!"

Ms. You nodded.

Her father was saved by the biological father of her two younger sisters when he was in the army. The man died, but her father survived. Taking in the man was something the You family should do.

Unfortunately, her father passed away from illness less than six months after she married into the family.

I wonder how things are at home now.

A faint sorrow settled in You's heart.

"Did they all talk about other people?"

"They are still young."

"No one mentioned them?"

Shen Ning forgot the name of the man who had been betrothed to You Erjie since childhood, but he didn't seem to be a good person either.

"My second sister seems to have talked about someone else."

Ms. You doesn't remember much either.

Although they were sisters, there were some things she didn't want to cross the line with.

Everyone has always treated each other politely.

"Oh~"

Shen Ning understood, but didn't press the matter further, and instead started chatting about other things at home.

But at this time, Fulong Street became lively.

The stepmother of the Chen family, who was about to throw a tantrum, was surrounded by several old women who came to attack. However, when her son and daughter saw that things were not going well, they also went out and called the Wang family and several other relatives by marriage, who were also coming to attack in a large force.

Even modern officials have difficulty interfering in such family matters, let alone in ancient times.

Normally, it's all about who has the bigger fist and who's right.

When Jia Zhen arrived, Jia Kui had no idea who had hit him on the head with a club; he was already lying on the ground covered in blood.

Midwife Liu was also dragged around in a very disheveled state. Inside the house, Jia Yan's cries of pain carried a sense of despair. Hearing this, the newly arrived members of the Jia family all became furious.

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There will be one more update, it should be tonight.
(End of this chapter)