Dream of the Red Chamber

Chapter 30: A Woman and a Woman Can Make a Household Fit (Part )

After Wang Xifeng finished speaking, the three sisters looked at each other. Although they did not say anything, they each had their own thoughts.

It's not uncommon for servants in the Rongguo Mansion to bully their masters. Tanchun, born a concubine, is known for her ability to discern current affairs and her ability to please others. Her situation is much better than Yingchun and Xichun's, but she's burdened by a foolish mother and unwise brothers. Yingchun, also born out of wedlock, has been neglected by Jia She since her birth. Xichun, though legitimate, is a Ningguo Mansion resident, and she currently resides in the Rongguo Mansion, not returning even once a year.

The three girls were said to be of golden age and had no shortage of food, clothing, or daily necessities, but they were often deceived, robbed, and blackmailed by their wet nurses and old women.

Because he had just heard Ping'er's story, he was filled with anger. When he heard that Chen Siyuan had come to his house and caught the man red-handed, he felt relieved at first, but then he was filled with worry for him.

Zhao Yihua was born as Lady Wang's maid, and now works for Baoyu. It is inevitable that Lady Wang will think too much about it if he acts so recklessly and breaks off relations with her.

But Yingchun was like a gourd with a sawed-off mouth, Xichun was cautious and prudent as a guest, and Tanchun, who was straightforward, was reluctant to speak because of Mrs. Wang. So the three girls considered each other, and Tanchun simply said, "Since that's the case, let's go find our eldest sister-in-law and listen to her talk."

"Go."

Sister Feng dismissed the three sisters-in-law and, after Ping'er had helped her put on a bright red cloak, she immediately led the maids and servants out of the courtyard with her head held high. They passed through the hall, the large flower hall, and then the corner gate and the eastern alley. Soon they arrived at Zhao Yihua's residence.

The leading maid Feng'er called out "Second Madam is here", and everyone fell silent. Wang Xifeng's face was frosted and she looked majestic. When she arrived in the yard, she first glanced at Zhao Yihua who was still lying on the ground, then glanced at the trembling woman, and finally looked at the young man who turned around.

But although the boy was only fourteen or fifteen years old, he was half a head taller than her, with an upright figure, handsome features, and especially his eyes, which were particularly attractive, as if the stars and the moon were hidden in them.

Feng Jieer looked at Chen Siyuan, and Chen Siyuan was also looking at Feng Jieer. They saw that Feng Jieer was wearing a bright red cloak, a black brocade jacket with a gold phoenix pattern, a light purple square-collared jacket with a blue border, and a dark purple satin skirt with a gold border.

She has a pair of red phoenix triangular eyes, two curved willow-leaf eyebrows. She is slender and has a coquettish physique. Her pink face contains spring power without revealing it, and her lips smell red before she smiles.

Chen Siyuan bowed and said, "Siyuan greets the second sister-in-law."

Sister Feng smiled and said, "I suppose it's Brother Yuan I'm seeing. They say a young man of both talent and beauty has come home, but it's a pity I've never met him. Today I finally get to see him. Yes, the three stars of fortune, wealth and longevity that Brother Yuan gave me last time were very dear to me. I kept them on display for several days for fear they would get dirty, so I just put them away in the box these past two days."

Chen Siyuan smiled and said, "It would be great if I could catch the eye of my second sister-in-law."

Sister Feng nodded and said, "We can talk about other things later." As she spoke, she looked at the couple with a cold face and said, "First, let's deal with this unruly dog ​​slave!"

The woman was so frightened that she fell to her knees, pounding her head and begging, "Second Madam, please forgive me. The head of the household was just confused for a moment. I thought the screen was rare, so I just wanted to bring it back to look at it a little longer and return it in a few days... I didn't intend to steal anything from the master's family!"

Zhao Yihua also got up and said, "I was confused. I deserved to die. I beg Second Madam to forgive me this time."

Sister Feng looked at the tattered screen with some surprise. Chen Siyuan, who was standing by, said, "Second sister-in-law, I was angry just now and couldn't bear to argue with this servant, so I smashed the screen."

Hearing this, Sister Feng praised, "Well done! This thing was originally meant for the master, but it's been taken away by this bastard of a slave. Even if we take it back, who would be willing to put it back in the room?"

After a pause, he cursed again, "You fucking bastard! You're also Madam's friend, and you've forgotten the rules of the mansion? Honestly, you're bullying your master. I'm afraid we can't keep you here anymore. Pack up your things and get out tomorrow!" Zhao Yihua and his wife were fussing over this again. The woman said, "The head of the household was just confused for a moment. I beg Second Madam to forgive him for all his hard work and dedication over the years, even if he hasn't done anything good."

Chen Siyuan remained calm, but was secretly wondering, is he using Lady Wang to pressure Feng Jie?
Feng Jieer was indeed even more angry and cursed, "I haven't seen any merit or hard work. Since you are talking about the Madam, let's go to her and see what she will do to you, you dog slave!"

Zhao Yihua pushed the woman down and said, "It's our duty as servants to follow our masters. How can we boast about our merits and hard work? Second Madam, this time I was greedy. I accept the punishment without hesitation. I only ask that you don't kick me out."

Chen Siyuan looked at Zhao Yihua and thought to himself that this guy was not stupid. So what he did before was just because this distant relative of his was easy to bully?

As expected, Sister Feng'er's anger subsided a little after hearing this. She said, "Everyone in the mansion says I'm harsh. Well, don't say I'm unforgiving. Since you say so, give him thirty lashes and a fine of six months' salary—" She glanced at the broken screen and said, "Compensate for this screen, and the matter will be settled. Are you convinced?"

Zhao Yihua's heart ached! Thirty strokes of the cane would mean he'd have to lie down for ten days or even half a month. Half a month's salary wouldn't be a big deal, only six taels of silver, but that screen was a life-or-death expense. He needed at least three or five hundred taels of silver to get it. He'd been serving Baoyu so diligently for years, and although he'd received many rewards from Baoyu, how could he possibly come up with that much money all at once?

But now that things have come to this, I can't promise to be kicked out of the house tomorrow, so I can only grit my teeth and say, "I have no other words."

Feng Jieer's expression changed. She looked at Chen Siyuan with a smile and said, "Brother Yuan, don't bother with these arrogant people. I'll ask Ping'er to choose a suitable screen and send it to Brother Yuan later."

Chen Siyuan smiled and said, "That's great. I was angry just now, not because of the screen, but because I was angry. Second sister-in-law is fair, and now that I'm relieved, I have nothing else to say."

Sister Feng smiled and nodded, then ordered her attendants, "Tomorrow morning, drag him to my door and give him a full thirty lashes. Let those cunning wives and old women see it, so they won't accuse me of not teaching you well and kill me later!"

Everyone around responded with a roar.

Chen Siyuan then bowed and said, "Well, now that this matter is over, I will go back first."

Sister Feng said, "Go back quickly. Ping'er, carefully select a good screen and send it to Brother Yuan."

When everyone dispersed, Chen Siyuan led Hongyu and Yunxiang back to their own courtyard along the east alley.

Chen Siyuan's face was calm and composed. He'd just punished a cunning servant, so why would he care? Hongyu's face was filled with worry, fearing that Chen Siyuan had offended Madam Wang and that her future would be difficult. Only the servant girl, Yunxiang, was like a victorious rooster, strutting with her head held high and her arrogance, eager to crow for the whole household to hear.

In a blink of an eye, they arrived at the courtyard gate and saw Wang Shanbao's wife rushing out. Fortunately, Chen Siyuan pulled her back, otherwise the old woman would have bumped into him.

"Oh...Brother Yuan? You're finally back! Madam heard you beat up a servant and was afraid Brother Yuan would be bullied, so she rushed over to look for you."

As soon as the voice fell, Madam Xing inside heard: "Why are you picking on a servant for no reason?"

　Please read, collect, and recommend on Monday~
　　

(End of this chapter)