Dream of the Red Chamber

Chapter 11 Everyone’s Thoughts

Qishaizhai.

Dang clang——

The command arrow bounced twice on the mouth of the pitching pot before finally landing inside. Qingwen clapped her hands together and laughed sweetly, "Hahahaha, I hit the target, I finally won!"

Baoyu said cheerfully, "I didn't expect you to be so capable after just a few lessons. No, no, I won't dare to play tricks on you in the future, or I'll lose the jade too."

Qingwen laughed and said, "Second Master's Baoyu is like his lifeblood. How could I dare to take it?"

Xiren laughed and said, "If Baoyu wants to use the jade as collateral, you should keep it. If the mistress or the old lady loses the jade pendant someday, you will see that the master won't give him a good deal!"

Baoyu laughed awkwardly and said, "Why are you mentioning the master for no reason?"

At this moment, Musk Moon came back through the screen carrying a food box. She took a glimpse of the situation inside and said, "Second Master, stop playing around. It's time to eat later."

Musk Moon put the food box on the table, Qingwen was still counting the change she had won, and Xiren had already stood up to help Baoyu wash his hands.

Baoyu grumbled, "It's the same old food all day long, nothing new ever. Are there any new dishes today?"

Musk Moon spread out the food in the lunch box and replied with a smile, "It's still the same, but I just heard something. Second Master, do you know Mr. Chen, the nephew of the eldest wife?"

Baoyu wiped his hands and said, "Of course I know. I ran into an unfamiliar maid this afternoon and after looking around, I realized it was brought by him. Eh? Didn't they say that Brother Pan snatched that maid away? Did he send her back?"

Musk Moon was speechless and said, "Since we have taken away Mr. Xue, how can we send him back?" She then told him all the rumors she had heard.

After hearing this, Baoyu pondered and said, "What a pity."

I don't know whether it's a pity that Chen Siyuan didn't make a big fuss, or a pity that Liu Yan'er gave herself to Xue Pan. Two years ago, Baoyu took a nap in Qin Keqing's room and had a romantic dream. When he returned, he and Xiren learned about the affair.

But on one side was the Xue family, and on the other side was Chen Siyuan, a complete stranger. Baoyu didn't know what to say, so he just said "what a pity".

Xiren waited on her, handing her the chopsticks, and said with a smile, "I think this might be a good turn of events. Now that the concubine has spoken out, the maid is definitely the concubine. I wonder how many maids are thinking about it, thinking about it, but can't get it."

As soon as she finished speaking, Qingwen came over and refuted her, "What you said is completely unreasonable. How can being a concubine to Master Xue be a good thing? Unless it's absolutely necessary, which daughter of a good family would be willing to be his concubine?"

Xiren laughed and said, "Your words must not be spread out."

Qingwen curled her lips and said, "So what if it gets out? The truth is the most important thing, and I haven't said anything wrong."

Seeing that the talk was getting more and more outrageous, Baoyu picked up a piece of goose breast and stuffed it into Qingwen's mouth, saying, "Let's talk about this in the room. After all, they are relatives, so we shouldn't make a scene and get embarrassed."

Qingwen chewed on a goose breast and tilted her head, saying complacently, "It's just a passing conversation. I don't even know Mr. Chen or Yan'er. Why would I go out and gossip and offend people for no reason?"

At this time, Musk Moon said, "It is said that Master Chen asked the maid to pack his luggage and wrote a poem, which showed his determination to burn his boats."

"Oh?" Baoyu asked, becoming interested. "What did he write?"

Musk Moon then repeated the poem, and Baoyu thought about it and repeated, "I would not hesitate to spend a thousand gold coins to buy a precious sword,

"It is a valiant act to exchange a mink coat for wine," he praised, "Brother Chen is quite valiant; this line really speaks volumes." Then he shook his head and said, "It's a pity the latter line fell short."

Qingwen sarcastically said, "You said it was inferior, then why don't you write a superior one?"

Baoyu shook his head and said, "You're just good at talking nonsense, but I don't have such a heroic spirit, so how can I write about it? This brother of the Chen family has a generous heart, and I think I could make some friends... Why don't I go and see him after dinner!"

Xiren knew Baoyu was a man of action, so she quickly stopped him and said, "Second Master Bao, it's getting dark outside. How can you come to my house at night? Why not wait until tomorrow morning?"

Baoyu suddenly realized, "Blame me, blame me. Let's talk about it tomorrow... Eh? Tomorrow is Sister Feng's birthday. Qingwen, go get my treasured fan pendant. Sister Feng never tolerates any injustice. If I don't give this gift with care, I'm sure I'll be blamed in the future." ...................

East Courtyard.

Several maids entered, carrying food boxes. Xiuju looked up and saw her own daughter, Yingchun, chatting with the third daughter, Tanchun. Chess pieces clattered onto the board, and the third daughter frowned in thought, gripping the pieces. After a moment, she tossed the pieces in the air, admitting defeat. "I lose! Second sister is the better chess player, after all."

The second girl, Yingchun, covered her mouth and laughed, "It was only a narrow victory. Third sister's chess skills are getting better and better. Who knows, I might lose in a few days."

Tanchun laughed and said, "Second sister, you are too modest. I am afraid that in a few years I still may not be able to surpass you."

Xichun said with a cold face, "Third sister, you are right."

Xiu Ju stepped forward and said with a smile, "Three girls, it's time to get some later."

The head maid, Siqi, took the food box and spread it out with Shishu, Ruhua, and the others. Ruhua, who was quick-witted, said, "We just went to the kitchen to get the food box and heard a commotion. Do you three know about Master Xue stealing Master Chen's maid?"

The third young lady frowned in displeasure, and was particularly disgusted with Xue Pan's character. However, she was a concubine's daughter, and was always cautious and never wanted to offend anyone, so she just said, "I did hear about it, but I don't know how it ended."

The second daughter, Yingchun, was like a gourd with a sawed-off mouth, submissive and never willing to say much. But now she looked up at Ruhua. Although Madam Xing was her second wife, she was still her legal mother. Therefore, the newcomer, Chen Siyuan, was also her cousin... though it was unclear whether he was a brother or a younger cousin.

Xichun has always been cold-hearted and just stared at the food box without saying a word.

Fortunately, the third young lady took up the conversation, and Ruhua began to tell the story. "Master Chen is quite stubborn. First, he silenced the concubine with a few words. Then, he packed his luggage and wrote a poem on the wall. He said that if the Xue family didn't make amends, he would bring the matter to the old lady. He also said that if the old lady couldn't resolve the matter, he would go to the Shuntian government office to file a complaint."

After a pause, he continued, "Later, the concubine begged the first wife to mediate, and the Xue family compensated them with a shop and sent Sister Xiangling, who was with Master Xue, to the family. Even so, Master Chen refused to give in. It was the maid named Yan'er who was persuaded by the concubine and came to Master Chen to beg for mercy herself. Master Chen, out of consideration for their relationship as master and servant, finally relented."

The second girl heaved a sigh of relief upon hearing this, thinking to herself that this was all good, it would be bad if she got into a fight and got blushed.

Xichun was indifferent.

The third girl, Tanchun, secretly clapped her hands on the armrest of her chair, trying hard not to express her admiration, but she did say, "Brother Chen is indeed very strong... I wonder what poems he wrote."

The secretary smiled and said, "Miss, I know."

"you know?"

The secretary said, "Mr. Chen's new maid Yunxiang is a woman who can't hide herself. She was spreading the news a while ago. I took notice and wrote down the poem."

Tanchun said happily, "That's great. Read it out quickly."

The clerk then repeated the poem. After reciting it, Yingchun felt it was full of sharpness, too sharp. Fourth Miss Xichun, on the other hand, was envious, secretly regretting that she wasn't a man and didn't possess Chen Siyuan's heroic spirit. Looking at Third Miss Tanchun, how could she contain herself? She clapped her hands, clasped her hands, and exclaimed in delight.

She said, "Well, how dignified! He's willing to spend a fortune on a precious sword, and to exchange a sable coat for wine. I imagine the heroes of ancient times were no more than this." After a pause, Tanchun joyfully pulled Yingchun's hand and said, "Second sister, fourth sister, we have such a poetic relative in our family. Why don't we take some time tomorrow to go and see her?"

Xichun nodded and said, "Third sister, it's up to you to decide."

The second girl, Yingchun, hesitated and said, "It's not convenient for me to go over..."

Yingchun will be coming of age next year and will have to stay married. It is not allowed for her to meet other men, so she naturally has a taboo mentality at this moment.

Tanchun said nonchalantly, "Second sister will be a college student next year. If I don't see her now, I'm afraid I'll hardly see her in the future. She's a cousin, after all, so no one will say anything if she visits."

The second young lady was indecisive. Seeing Tanchun's words, she could only nod and say, "Then I'll just follow Third Sister's advice."

(End of this chapter)