Dream of the Red Chamber

Chapter 16 Gifts
"Good job Chen Qingshan!"

After praising him, Tanchun suddenly felt that something was wrong, but she did not express her anger. She just looked at Chen Siyuan eagerly.

Chen Siyuan was slightly surprised, then smiled and said, "I don't deserve your praise, Third Sister. But this Qingshan No. 1 is quite to my liking."

Tanchun said, "Poetry is a way of expressing emotions, expressing aspirations, and using metaphors. Brother Yuan's poem stirs my heart and inspires my spirit. It is a truly excellent poem. I believe that in the future, Brother Yuan will have a place in the poetry world." She bowed again and said shyly, "I am sorry for overstepping my bounds. Brother Yuan, please forgive me."

Then he retreated with a red face.

After they sat down, Chen Siyuan picked up the teacup and talked to Xichun, and occasionally said a few words to the second girl Yingchun.

Everyone chatted back and forth, giving each other a rough outline of their pasts. Hearing about Chen Siyuan's pitiful life story, the three women sighed deeply.

Xichun, in particular, seemed to empathize with him. At least she was still sheltered by the Rongguo Mansion, while Chen Siyuan had been forced to flee far from home, unable to return. The young girl felt a pity for him, and they grew closer.

Tanchun frowned and said, "Since Brother Yuan is the eldest son, why not make this matter public? Then we'll see how the stepmother handles it."

Chen Siyuan smiled bitterly and said, "Third sister, you don't know, but that second wife's family is considered a tyrant in Yangzhou. I caused trouble twice, and the second time I almost died... A real man can bend and stretch. I have to seek fame first, and then look for an opportunity for revenge."

"So that's how it is—" Tanchun, still young, considered asking the eldest mistress and the eldest master for help, but then felt it was inappropriate. The eldest mistress was always subservient to the eldest master, so how could she dare ask for help? Besides, it was said that the county magistrate was not as good as the current one. In recent years, countless talented people sent from the capital to other places have failed in their local affairs. Even if the eldest master, Jia She, wanted to help, it would be difficult for him to do so.

Yin Shi sighed, but the second girl Yingchun beside him comforted him, "Brother Yuan has extraordinary talent in poetry. I believe his writing must be good. It would be right for him to concentrate on studying for a good degree. Who knows, once Brother Yuan gets a good degree in the future, this matter will be easily resolved."

Chen Siyuan smiled and bowed to Yingchun: "Second sister, what you said makes sense. I think so too."

Their eyes met briefly, and Yingchun quickly lowered her eyes. Tanchun glanced at the half-filled bookcase in the east end of the study and said happily, "Brother Yuan has so many books. I wonder if he has any interesting ones like these."

Chen Siyuan was puzzled and asked, "Sister, are you still short of books to read in the mansion?"

Tanchun said distressedly, "We sisters are now studying with our eldest sister-in-law, but we are only learning the Four Books for Women. It was only when Sister Bao came last time that I asked her to borrow some books to read."

Chen Siyuan said, "That's quite a coincidence. I used to only like to read casual books. If there are any that Third Sister likes, just take them back and read them."

Tanchun was overjoyed and thanked him. After a cup of tea, she went to the study and borrowed a few volumes of "Stories from Ancient and Modern Times".

After sitting for a while, Yingchun said, "Today is Sister Feng's birth. Yesterday, the old lady spoke, and Sister Feng also pleaded for mercy. Only then did the eldest sister-in-law let us sisters relax for a day. I guess Sister Feng has already paid her respects to the elders in various places, so we should go back and give her gifts."

Tanchun also said, "Brother Yuan, we will leave first and come back to visit you another day."

"Wait a moment," Chen Siyuan said, "I left my hometown in a hurry and didn't even bother to ask anyone in the mansion, but I did prepare some things. Now that I've run into you today, I'll just give you some gifts."

Yingchun said anxiously, "This...we sisters haven't prepared any gifts, so there's no need to be so polite, Brother Yuan."

As Chen Siyuan walked towards the western end of the room, he replied, "It's not a valuable item. I just wanted to see it for fun."

As he was speaking, he entered the west side room. Tanchun said to Yingchun, "I was rude, but Brother Yuan is very generous. If you feel bad about it, you can prepare a return gift later."

Xichun nodded and said, "I just happened to have embroidered a belt. I was going to give it to Second Brother Bao when he has a child next year, but now I have some space to give it to First Brother Yuan."

Tanchun jokingly said, "Fourth sister is good at being lazy, and she's not afraid that Second Brother Bao will be unhappy if he finds out."

Xichun smiled but said nothing. Baoyu had never cared about his second and third sisters. In the past, he only cared about Sister Lin. Now that Sister Lin was away, he would go to Lixiang Courtyard every few days. How could he care about his younger sister?

While he was thinking, Chen Siyuan had already returned, carrying a small bundle in his hand. He spread it out on the table, first revealing a set of short, round three-star figures of fortune, wealth and longevity, and then three lifelike blue and white porcelain beauties.

Chen Siyuan said, "Years ago, a visitor from the north brought clay figurines from Tianjin. I was curious about them, so I opened a private kiln and started making some. By accident, I managed to create blue and white porcelain. Second sister, third sister, fourth sister, please pick out the one you like."

Yingchun was initially trying to refuse, but when she saw one of the blue and white beauties sitting cross-legged and chatting, she could no longer utter the words of refusal.

Xichun was indeed much older than him, so she exclaimed in surprise and rushed to the table. She picked up a blue-and-white porcelain figure of a beautiful woman viewing a painting under a tree and couldn't let it go. After examining it for a while, she cautiously said, "Brother Yuan, are you really giving this to me?"

Chen Siyuan smiled and nodded: "Once a man speaks, how can he lie?"

Xichun happily held it in her arms and said, "Thank you, Brother Yuan. I will return the gift someday."

Tanchun glanced at Xichun angrily, then stepped forward and caught a glimpse of the beautiful woman dancing with a sword in the mountains. She couldn't take her eyes off her. She was a straightforward person, and after choosing the blue and white one, she smiled and said, "This one looks very familiar to me. Thank you, Brother Yuan."

Finally, it was Yingchun's turn, but she didn't know what to say. Chen Siyuan said, "If you don't like this one, I have another in my room." Yingchun quickly said, "This one is fine. It suits my taste very well... Brother Yuan, there's no need to bother."

"That's good," Chen Siyuan said as he put the Fu Lu Shou clay figurine back into his bundle and presented it to Tanchun. "Since my second sister-in-law has given birth today, I can't be short-tempered. Please, Third Sister, take this gift from me."

Tanchun said cheerfully, "Don't worry, Brother Yuan. Sister Feng will definitely be delighted to see you."

The three girls were delighted with the gifts, and they thanked Chen Siyuan again and again before bidding him farewell and leaving.

Chen Siyuan escorted the three out the door before returning to his room. After a brief rest, he calculated the time to go look for Madam Xing again, but was stopped by Wang Shanbao, who simply said, "The master is out, and the mistress is not feeling well."

Chen Siyuan cursed inwardly. Madam Xing was indeed a snob who would burn bridges after crossing them. Yesterday she was so affectionately calling her nephew, but today she turned her back on me… Well, there was no rush anyway. I figured Concubine Xiaoxiang would be a while away from returning.

Not to mention Chen Siyuan's depressed return, but Yingchun, Tanchun and Xichun arrived first and indeed found Fengjie.

Wang Xifeng had worked all morning and was now reclining on the kang, chatting with Ping'er. Hearing that the three sisters-in-law had arrived, Wang Xifeng rose with a smile to greet them.

When they met, he said, "I think this birth is nothing. You three can relax during my birthday, but I have to take care of all the big and small things in this mansion. I will tell the old ancestor that it is not right to order people around like this."

Tanchun laughed and said, "Those who are capable should do more work. Besides, isn't there Sister Ping'er here? On such a beautiful day, who would dare to trouble Sister Feng?"

Wang Xifeng glanced at Ping'er and said angrily, "She? She knows how to play both sides. If she really was in charge of the household, I'm afraid the mansion would have been completely eaten away by the insects long ago."

Ping'er wasn't angry either, she smiled and said, "That's true. The people down there are very cunning. Without Second Madam to keep them in check, who knows how much trouble they'll cause."

Xichun said, "Sister Feng, we are here to give you a gift with great joy, not to listen to your complaints."

Sister Feng feigned anger and said, "Look, I can't even complain now. How can this be justified?"

After a few laughs, the three sisters presented their gifts, some embroidered handkerchiefs, some embroidered shoes, some maids' round fans, or other such worthless things, just to make up the numbers and suit the occasion.

Feng Jieer did not despise it and happily accepted it, saying, "Ping'er, please remember this for me. We will return the gift in the same way someday."

After laughing again, Tanchun handed over the bundle and spread it out, revealing the short and round three stars of Fu, Lu and Shou inside.

Wang Xifeng glanced at it and laughed, "Wow, where's the craftsmanship of this? How did the three stars of fortune, wealth and longevity become fat babies?"

This clay figurine was also made by Chen Siyuan. It has a Q-version shape. In Feng Jieer's eyes, doesn't it look like a fat doll?

Tanchun said, "It was sent by Eryuan, the elder brother in the backyard. Sister Feng, please don't mistake him for someone else."

It took Wang Xifeng a moment to realize that Tanchun was talking about the new Chen Siyuan.

Yin was puzzled and said, "Why can I just send a maid to deliver it? Why do you want my third sister to help deliver it?"

Xichun said, "Sister Feng, you don't know, but just now we went to the backyard to visit Brother Yuan and brought him a gift."

"That's how it is."

At the mention of Chen Siyuan, Tanchun's eyes lit up, and she said, "Sister Feng, you don't know, but Brother Yuan is a truly remarkable man. Yesterday he published a poem, and today we've seen two more. His poetry is so good, I'm sure his writing will be good too. Who knows, maybe one day Brother Yuan will pass the imperial examination."

Tanchun had said this, and Xichun had echoed it, much to Sister Feng's amusing surprise. The three sisters-in-law were supposed to be there to congratulate her on the birth of her son, but how come all they were talking about was Chen Siyuan?
Yingchun sensed something was amiss and changed the subject, leaving the conversation at that. After the three sisters-in-law had left, Wang Xifeng couldn't help but gaze at the three stars of Fu, Lu, and Shou in a trance.

She has been in the Jia family for several years, and now she only has a daughter, and she doesn't know when she will have a boy.

Then he remembered that Chen Siyuan's courtyard was still short of maids, so he asked Ping'er, "Has the eldest lady arranged a maid for her nephew?"

Ping'er said, "My dear, not yet. Sister Liu won't give in, and the others are trying to avoid it if they can. But Xiaohong from Master Bao's place has asked to move to another place. I've spoken to her about it, but she just said she's giving it some thought and hasn't made up her mind yet."

Sister Feng looked at the three fat children with increasing delight, and said, "After all, they are relatives of the eldest lady's family, so you must not treat them badly. You must get this done as soon as possible."

"Yes."

(End of this chapter)