The Heavens Begin with Dream of the Red Chamber

Chapter 89 Establishing Rules

Zhan Ershisi brought Baoyu to Ningguo Mansion and called Yun'er to ask her casually, and she found out that Qingwen and others were receiving training with the new maids.

Baoyu frowned and said:

"Qingwen grew up in the mansion since she was young. How could she not know all the rules? Why does she need such training?"

Zhan Ershisi didn't want to say those unpleasant words, so he winked at Yun'er. Yun'er understood and smiled and said to him:
"Master Bao, you don't know that the rules of Rongguo Mansion are the rules of Rongguo Mansion, and the rules of Ningguo Mansion are the rules of Ningguo Mansion. Although the two families are as close as one family, there are always some differences."

"Besides, Qingwen has been in Master Bao's courtyard for a long time and has been spoiled by him to the point of being unruly. She has long forgotten the rules of being a maid."

"Before, I didn't say anything to her for Master Bao's sake, but now that she has entered Ningguo Mansion, that's no longer possible."

"I have just entered the mansion, and it is time for me to be humble and submissive in front of the Madam. I dare not do anything wrong."

"If Qingwen shows the temper she got from being spoiled by you and hits Madam a few times, I will be the one who suffers."

Hearing Yun'er's words, Baoyu laughed awkwardly and said:
"Qingwen was just being straightforward and didn't mean any harm."

Yun Er rolled her eyes and said:
"Second Master may have forgotten that Qingwen is mute now, so how can she speak quickly?"

"I said she didn't know the rules, not that she was just talking nonsense."

"This Miss Qingwen is really capable. Whether it's needlework, sewing, or cooking and knife skills, she's top-notch. But there's just one flaw..."

Yun'er paused here, looked at Baoyu's concerned expression, hesitated for a moment, and then spoke:
"She always acts like she's someone's eldest daughter."

"I am not saying bad things about her in front of you, Master. She has been staying with me for a few months and everyone dislikes her."

"Just give me a few examples!"

"All the maids and servants lived in one room, sleeping on a large bunk bed. In the summer, there were mosquitoes in the room, and everyone would light some wormwood to stop the mosquitoes. But she hated the pungent smell and insisted on buying incense to burn."

"Others are unwilling to pay, but she would rather pay for it herself."

"That's fine. After all, everyone can benefit from it and won't be affected."

"But this young lady has to take a bath every night before going to bed. Who spoiled her to such a bad habit?"

"In our small courtyard, although well water and honeycomb coal are not worth much, she has been tossing and turning for half an hour. Can others sleep?"

"besides……"

Baoyu hurriedly interrupted her complaints, bowed and apologized:
"Good sister, it's all my fault. I'm sorry for causing you so much trouble!"

"Sister Qingwen is such a smart person, she should have lived a free and happy life. It was because of me that she ended up in this situation. It is inevitable that she will find it difficult to get used to it for a while. Please, for my sake, don't make things difficult for her."

Yun Er started to giggle and pursed her lips and said:

"What the Second Master said is true. If I had made things difficult for her, I would not have taken her in in the first place."

"But now that I have entered the Ningguo Mansion, it is not up to me to decide where Miss Qingwen will be assigned after her training."

"If Second Master wants to give her a good place to go, it's best to discuss it with my wife."

Baoyu suddenly realized and asked about Madam Rong's location. Master Zhan waved his hand and asked Yun'er to take him to find Keqing, while he went to the training place to see how Qingwen's "training" was going.

I saw many maids standing in a row in the room, with washbasins, towels and other props in front of them, listening carefully to the little girl in front of them talking about the rules.

"... Remember this. When you walk, lower your head slightly and look a few steps ahead of your toes. Don't look around. Like this..."

The little girl was demonstrating as she talked, walking back and forth in front so that everyone could see clearly. Her every move was exactly the same and very standard.

Zhan Ershi thought about it carefully and it seemed that this little girl was called "Chao Dou'er" and was someone close to Youshi. She was just a handyman before, but now her status has risen and she can give orders here.

Chao Dou'er didn't know that Master Zhan was watching and eavesdropping outside, and she was still teaching attentively there.

"...When you ask the master and mistress to wash their hands, you have to kneel down and hold the basin in front of them at waist level, so that their hands can fit into the basin, neither too high nor too low. The movement should be steady and not shake..."

Zhan Ershisi glanced over and saw Qingwen with a gloomy face. She was also listening there, but it was obvious that she was very uncomfortable.

When Qingwen walked on the street back then, she didn't need to lower her head. She looked around confidently and others would greet her first when they saw her from afar.

As for kneeling down and asking the master to wash their hands, that was even more impossible. It would be more practical to let Baoyu bring them the washbasin.

She also knew Chao Dou'er. He was just a small fry who was not in her eyes back then, but now he can tell her what to do and even beat her. How embarrassed she must be!

Chao Dou'er obviously noticed Qingwen's distraction, and immediately became furious. He reached out and picked up the teaching stick beside him, pointed it at Qingwen, and shouted:

"Qingwen, you are slacking off again. Are you asking for a beating again?"

"Come out, kneel down, hold up the basin, and demonstrate it to everyone."

Qingwen had now at least learned not to suffer a loss in front of her, and she immediately picked up the basin with a gloomy face, walked out of the queue, knelt down in front of everyone, and held the basin properly. Her movements were neat and neat, and very standard.

But Chao Dou'er had been ordered to find trouble with her, so how could he let her go so easily? He immediately whipped Qingwen on the back and shouted:

"I told you to put it in front of the master and mistress' waist, but it's already at my chest, how can I wash my hands?"

Chao Dou'er is not tall, about the size of a bean sprout, while Qingwen has a good life and food by Baoyu's side, and is much better developed than her. Even if the two of them are standing or kneeling, they are not much taller than each other.

Qingwen was actually aiming at Chao Dou'er's waist, but because of her stature, she looked a little tall, so Chao Dou'er found fault with her and whipped her several times.

Qingwen trembled a few times but said nothing. She just knelt with her head down and lowered the basin a little.

These days, Chao Dou'er has been using chicken feathers as a token of authority and showing off her power in front of the new maids in the mansion. Many of them have been whipped by her, and Qingwen is the one who is taken care of by her specially.

She felt that she was being fair, but Qingwen was not a fool. She knew that she was deliberately making things difficult for her. However, she had no money left and could not bribe her way through, so she could only grit her teeth and endure it.

Mr. Zhan watched quietly for a while. Hearing the footsteps of Baoyu and Keqing approaching, he reached out and knocked on the door, interrupting Chaodou'er's punishment of Qingwen, and said with a smile:
"Ask Qingwen to come out for a moment. I have something to discuss with her."

Chaodouer hurriedly smiled and said:
"Qingwen made a mistake just now. I taught her a lesson. I'm sorry to have embarrassed you, Master."

Master Zhan waved his hand and said disapprovingly:
"I will not interfere with your Ningguo Mansion affairs. Just continue teaching."

Chao Dou'er knew who had the final say in this mansion, so she immediately understood and kicked Qingwen to the ground, shouting:
"Master Zhan is looking for you, why don't you just go and serve him obediently!"

"If you make Master Zhan unhappy, watch out for your skin!"

Qingwen got up from the ground with her head lowered and her eyes submissive, brushed off the dust on her body, and walked out of the door with the standard small steps of a maid that she hadn't used for many years.

Master Zhan pointed outwards and said:
"Baoyu is here and wants to see you. Go find him."

When Qingwen heard this, she became excited. She bowed to Master Zhan and walked quickly out of the courtyard. The maid-like demeanor she had pretended to have lost all trace.

When Mr. Zhan saw this from behind, he curled his lips, knowing that Qingwen was only submissive on the surface, but was still the arrogant girl at heart.

It seems that she has to get rid of Baoyu, the pillar of support, otherwise she will never learn how to be an independent maid in the old times.

When Qingwen rushed out of the courtyard, she ran into Baoyu, Keqing, Yun'er and others who were coming over.

Baoyu was still as handsome, confident, and wealthy as ever, while she herself was now wearing linen clothes and had a rotten face and rough hands. Qingwen couldn't help feeling ashamed of herself. She stopped immediately, looked at Baoyu, and was hesitant to say anything.

When Baoyu saw Qingwen, he didn't recognize her at first. He continued walking forward with Keqing, smiling, until Keqing stopped and pointed her chin at Qingwen. Baoyu looked closely and was shocked. He rushed forward, grabbed Qingwen's shoulders with both hands, and tears fell down.

"How could this be?"

"How could this be so!"

"Sister Qingwen, it's only been a few months since we last met, how come you've ended up in such a state?"

When Qingwen thought of the hardships she had endured during these days, she couldn't help but burst into tears, and threw herself into Baoyu's arms, sobbing.

Yun Er, who was listening nearby, became unhappy and frowned, shouting:
"What does Master Bao mean by this?"

"It sounds like I've treated her unfairly!"

"Look, apart from the roughness on her hands, her complexion is ruddy and her skin is delicate, just as good as mine."

"If that's not enough, why don't you just swap my status with hers and let her become my master's concubine, and I'll serve her!"

Yun Er became more and more angry as she spoke, so she threw her handkerchief vigorously and shouted:

"Second Master, you might as well call all the maids over to compare with her. If any maid looks better than her, I will hit my head against the wall and die here!"

Baoyu hated to see women angry, so when he heard Yun'er talking like this, he hurriedly let go of Qingwen, turned around and bowed to Yun'er.

"Good sister, I'm not talking about you, please don't pick on me."

"Then what do you mean by what you said just now?" Yun'er was unyielding.

Baoyu had no choice but to explain:

"I saw that Qingwen was much thinner than when we parted that day, and her face was quite frosted. I couldn't help but feel heartbroken and said something without thinking. I hope you won't blame me, sister."

Yun Er snorted coldly and said:
"When the Second Master sent her here that day, I told her that being a maid is not easy and that she will definitely have to endure hardships. If she can't endure hardships, then don't leave her with me."

"You patted your chest and guaranteed that Qingwen had been a maid for many years and must be able to endure hardships."

"Don't you think about it? Is that a maidservant in your courtyard? I'm afraid she looks more like a lady than me!"

"I can't afford to serve a maid like this. Second Master, please take her out as soon as possible. Otherwise, next time I see her, she will say that she is thin and miserable. I can't afford to offend her."

Baoyu had no choice but to look to Keqing for help, but Keqing was also in the same group as Yun'er, so why would she spoil the show at this time? She also smiled and said:

"Baoyu has always been kind and gentle to women, and I have always known that, but my place cannot compare to yours, Baoyu. Even if it is better than Yun'er's, it is certainly limited."

"So, Baoyu should think it over carefully. He might as well take Qingwen in as his concubine and find a few maids to serve her."

Baoyu certainly had this idea in mind, but as soon as he thought of the fierce faces of his master and his mistress, he shuddered and the idea disappeared from his mind.

He looked at Zhan Ershisi again, and Master Zhan laughed and said:
"I have told Qingwen before that I am always short of embroiderers and welcome you to come anytime. But Qingwen doesn't want to sign a life contract with me, which obviously means she doesn't want to do this job for a long time, which makes it difficult for me."

Seeing that Baoyu was still so useless, Qingwen was extremely disappointed. She immediately wiped her tears, took Baoyu's hand, and gestured to him, finally making him understand that she was willing to continue being a maid in Ningguo Mansion, but with a different master.

When Yun'er saw this, she just curled her lips and said nothing.

Master Zhan smiled and said:
"In that case, why not give it to Sister-in-law Zhen? She is the kindest and easy to talk to, and she will definitely not make Qingwen suffer."

Seeing that the person in charge had spoken, Keqing agreed on behalf of Youshi. Baoyu was overjoyed and went to ask Qingwen again.

Qingwen thought that there were only three female masters in the mansion.

Keqing has a master to serve, and she also often meets that evil woman Yun'er.

Only Youshi was a widow and had the highest seniority in the mansion, so no one could bully her. The situation around her should be similar to that around Lady Jia in Rongguo Mansion, so she nodded in approval of the transfer.

Baoyu pleaded again, "Qingwen has already been trained at home, so why don't we exempt her from the introductory training?"

Keqing glanced at Master Zhan quickly, and when she saw him nod slightly, she smiled and agreed:
"It's customary in the mansion that everyone who joins must first learn the rules to prevent future mistakes."

"But since Second Master has spoken, and Qingwen has been to the West Mansion before, then we can skip the introductory training."

"Anyway, she will be serving the First Madam in the future. If there is anything wrong, just let the First Madam point it out."

Baoyu thanked her profusely again. Seeing that everything had been discussed, Zhan Ershi had Qingwen taken to see Youshi, and she took Baoyu's arm and went to the front yard to drink.

After three or five cups of wine, Baoyu became more talkative as the wine took over his sorrowful heart.

"Brother Zhan, you know I'm so jealous of you!"

"Why are people scrambling to send women to you?"

"First it was Jin Chuan'er, Yu Chuan'er, then Lin Zhixiao's Hong Yu, and now even all the sisters in the family are vying to marry you."

"You know, Xiren and the others have been mad at me since they were sent away. They don't even want to see me... wuwu..."

When he got to the emotional part, Baoyu started to cry loudly.

"It's all my fault!"

"The master and his wife want to send them away, and I can't stop them..."

Mr. Zhan smacked his lips, feeling very sorry for Baoyu.

In fact, Baoyu is a pretty kind person with good character. Although he doesn't have much responsibility, aren't all rich second-generation playboys like this?
Compared to the previous Xue Pan who disregarded human life, or the incest between Jia Zhen and Jia Rong, Baoyu is a moral role model like a saint!
Doesn’t he just like being with his sisters?

What's this?

Master Zhan also wants to hang out with his sisters!

However, an innocent man is guilty of possessing a treasure. Although Baoyu did not do anything wrong, there are so many beauties around him. Anyone who travels through the Red Mansion will definitely not let go of Daiyu and the other beauties.
Of course, Master Zhan is no exception!
The duck in his mouth naturally cannot be let go, so Mr. Zhan comforted Baoyu and said:
"There are many beautiful women in this world. If you feel that the maids around you are not working well, why not choose another group of beautiful ones?"

"I heard that Master Zheng has a disciple named Fu Shi, who has a younger sister named Fu Qiufang. She is a beautiful lady with both talent and beauty. As long as you ask, he will definitely be willing to send her to his mansion."

When Baoyu heard what Zhan Ershi said, he stopped crying immediately. He looked up with tears in his eyes and sobbed in retort:
"Is that the beauty of a woman I love?"

"I obviously feel sorry for their gradual decline!"

"Before a girl gets married, she is a priceless treasure. After she gets married, she develops many bad problems. Although she is still a pearl, she has lost her luster and becomes a dead pearl. When she gets older, she is no longer a pearl but a fish eye."

Zhan Ershisi didn't like what he heard, so he put his wine glass on the table and sneered:
"So from what you mean, this Rong Grandma is also a dead pearl?"

Baoyu was now drunk and no longer as cautious as before, so he muttered:
"Even if you are not dead yet, you will become a dead bead in no time."

Master Zhan shook his head and laughed:

"Ignorance, ignorance!"

"I thought you were a man of insight, Baoyu, but I didn't expect that you are actually a vulgar person."

Baoyu was mocked by him, but he didn't care. Instead, he nodded in agreement and said:

"That's right. Which man in this world is not a dirty person? How can I be an exception?"

After hearing this, Mr. Zhan slammed the table and shouted:
"Master, I am an exception!"

"The reason why women in this world gradually lose the brilliance they had before marriage after getting married is simply because they marry a useless man. They are surrounded by the daily necessities of life and are constantly scheming against others, which makes them exhausted, their hands rough, their faces old, and naturally the brilliance in their eyes is gone."

"This beauty is just like that flower. You have to water her every night, otherwise she will wither naturally."

"You have to give her the best living environment, so that she has enough food and warm clothes, no lack of money, no worries, and is happy every day. Otherwise, it will be like letting the flower fall into a place of deep water and fire, and it will slowly wither."

"If you don't believe me, I'll take you to my house and meet my concubines. See if they look the least bit withered!"

As he said this, Mr. Zhan pulled Baoyu up, went out, got into the carriage, and went straight to the Zhan Mansion. After entering, he called out Xue Xiangling, You Erjie, Xing Xiuyun and others to meet Baoyu.

Master Zhan pointed at the group of people in front of him with great pride and said to Baoyu:
"I won't hide it from you. I have already taken in all the maids around them. I haven't missed a single one."

"Open your eyes and look carefully. Has any of them turned into a dead bead?"

After hearing this, Baoyu just didn't believe it, so he looked carefully. He saw that all the girls in front of him had red lips and white teeth, skin as white as cream, and they were talking and laughing sweetly. They were all beautiful girls, full of energy and spirituality.

He didn't know that Master Zhan was hanging around him. He was very good at nourishing women, so he was immediately shocked. He hurriedly grabbed Master Zhan's arm and begged bitterly:

"Brother Zhan, how did you do this?"

"Hurry up and teach my little brother!"

Mr. Zhan laughed loudly and said proudly:
"Master, I am good at nourishing women, but you can't learn it, brother Bao!"

Baoyu then grabbed Mr. Zhan's arm and begged bitterly.

When the girls saw how ugly he was, they all covered their mouths and laughed, just treating him as a joke.

Baoyu, however, did not take it seriously. Instead, he was extremely happy and wanted to rush into the Kingdom of Women with a drooling face.

How does this work?
Master Zhan grabbed him by the back of the neck, dragged him out amid the laughter of the girls, and coaxed him:
"You and I have known each other for a long time. You should know that I, the master, have never loved money and regard it as dirt. So why do you think I have to make so much money?"

"Master, I won't hide it from you. My concubine's annual expenses are a hundred times mine!"

"Master, I make so much money not for my own use, but purely to support my beautiful wives and relatives in this mansion!"

"Silver is pure bastard, the dirtiest thing in the world, just like dirt."

"But although dung has many bad qualities, it has one good thing, which is that it can nourish flowers."

"If this beauty is the delicate flower, then this silver is the manure that nourishes the flower, and it cannot be lacking in the slightest!"

"Look at Qingwen. Without your care, it has only been a short time, but her skin has become rough and the spirit in her eyes has diminished. I don't know how haggard she has become."

"But if she had a thousand taels of silver, she could buy a small courtyard for herself, hire a few maids to serve her, eat well and sleep well every day, read books when she wants, listen to music when she wants, and not have to work hard, then how could she end up like this?"

"If Baoyu doesn't believe it, you might as well think about it carefully. Do those women in your mansion who have been married and turned into dead pearls have to work hard and worry every day?"

"This person's energy is limited. If he wastes it on scheming with others and supporting his family, then naturally the light in his eyes will be less."

Baoyu thought about it for a long time, then suddenly slapped his thigh and shouted:

"Sure enough!"

"oops!"

"What a pity I didn't know this earlier!"

"If I had known this earlier, I would..."

Before Baoyu could finish his sigh, Master Zhan poured a basin of cold water on him, "Then you don't have any money either!"

Baoyu's face froze, and he heard Master Zhan continue to say coldly beside him:
"Even if you knew this truth long ago, what would it matter?"

"Can you afford to support those married women?"

"Don't even mention those women. Even Qingwen before, after she was driven out of Rongguo Mansion, you didn't even have the ability to place her there, let alone take care of her."

"You don't even have a place to plant flowers, so how can you talk about 'fertilizing' them?"

"If she had come to my house to be a concubine at that time, she would have received fifty taels of silver per month, and she would definitely not have become so haggard!"

Baoyu was so shocked by his words that his face turned pale. He wanted to refute, but he couldn't say a word.

Mr. Zhan then instigated:
"Baoyu, if you want all the women around you to stay as energetic and radiant as they are now, and not turn into dead pearls or dead fish eyes because of marriage, then you have to work hard to make money like me, and then 'fertilize' these beloved flowers!"

When Baoyu heard that he had to make money, his face turned green. He waved his arms hastily and hurried forward, shouting:
"Don't say that in my ears!"

"No, my ears are dirty!"

Master Zhan did not stop him, but just smiled and said:
"That silver is indeed dirt. It's normal for you to dislike it and dirty your ears. I also dislike it, Master!"

"But I am willing to get dirty and use the dirt as fertilizer. I am a hundred times better than a clean person like you!"

After hearing this, Baoyu sat there in a daze, his mind in confusion.

Master Zhan just let him stare blankly and ignored him. He just sat down on the stone steps next to him and waited for him to figure it out.

This could be considered as his kindness towards Jia Baoyu. After all, he had robbed so many women from him, so he had to give him something in return.

If Baoyu could realize this and start working hard to make money to "support women" all his life, it would not be a bad thing!

But the facts have proved that character determines destiny. Those who can suddenly realize and become motivated can only be a minority after all. At least Master Bao doesn't have this kind of understanding!
After being stunned for a long time, Baoyu finally backed off. After he woke up, he bowed to Master Zhan with great respect and said with tears in his eyes:

"I just put myself in your shoes and realized the little Lai hidden under my own skin!"

"I can't be like Brother Zhan, throwing myself into the dirty world, just to protect the spiritual glory of these girls."

"I thought I was one of the rare pure people in the world, but I didn't expect that Brother Zhan is several levels higher than me and is like a saint!"

"In the past, I thought that my three sisters shouldn't get married, and that they shouldn't fight for a husband. But now I know that I was blind, and my three sisters are the ones who have a keen eye!"

"I wish my three sisters could all marry Brother Zhan now. Such worldly things as status are actually unimportant."

After listening to this, Master Zhan sighed inwardly, knowing that Baoyu was ultimately a piece of rotten mud that could not be helped up, and could not be polished, so he reached out his hand to help him up, and said with a smile:
"In that case, if Baoyu sees a beautiful woman around him in the future, you might as well find a way to send her to my house and let me fertilize and nourish her."

"Not only unmarried girls, but also married women who have turned into dead beads, the master can moisturize them and turn them back into gems!"

Baoyu listened, lowered his head and thought carefully for a while, then said hesitantly:
"If we talk about those who become dead pearls after getting married, there are indeed quite a few, and Sister Wan is one of them."

"It's just... it's just that I can't tell her about this kind of thing."

Upon hearing the name of Li Gongcai, Mr. Zhan immediately became excited.

Baoyu is a good brother!

You see, he had just expressed his family's good intentions and Baoyu recommended his sister-in-law to him. He really put a lot of thought into it!
Mr. Zhan patted Baoyu on the shoulder and urged:
"This kind of thing is tabooed by the world's customs and etiquette. I think that now that Sister Wan has become a dead pearl, she will definitely not be able to escape the constraints of this kind of customs and etiquette. Of course, you can't tell her directly."

"But in order to turn this dead bead back into a living gem, you, Baoyu, will probably have to take some risks and help the master accomplish good things with practical actions."

"I think when Li Gongcai's spirit is revived in the future, she will definitely be grateful to you, Baoyu."

Baoyu believed it and resolutely agreed to help Mr. Zhan find a solution with Li Gongcai.

Thanks to the apprentice “Feihuayu” for the reward of 217 coins!
Thanks to book friend "Zhou Geng" for the reward of 100 coins!


(End of this chapter)