Dream of the Red Chamber

Chapter 72 Teasing
Old Lady You was so angry that her whole body was shaking. For a moment she pointed at Third Sister You and was speechless.

Old Lady You was originally the wife of a wealthy family, but her husband died not long after giving birth to Third Sister You. As a result, Old Lady You left behind a fortune.

Two years later, an aunt came to the door and said that there was a Mr. You, who was a sixth-rank official in Beijing. His wife had died, leaving behind only a daughter. Now he was looking for a remarriage.

When Old Lady You heard that Mr. You held an official position and that marrying him would earn her the Imperial Decree of Peace, she readily agreed. The two, one attracted by the Imperial Decree and the other by the dowry, hit it off immediately and were married soon after.

In the first year, Old Lady You received the imperial edict and felt very proud. But after a few years, she became worried.

This imperial decree was certainly good, but Master You's family was very poor. Their annual income was not enough to cover their expenses, and Old Lady You had to contribute to the family's financial support.

Unfortunately, Old Lady You was not good at managing a business, and as a result, the family became poorer and poorer!
When the adopted eldest daughter grew older, Old Lady You urged Mr. You to find a good marriage. To this end, she simply used her own money to support the adopted eldest daughter and sent her to Ningguo Mansion to be Jia Zhen's second wife.

Master You turned around and died, and now he even lost his official salary that was not enough to cover his expenses!
By now, Old Lady You had finally figured it out: the promise of peace was empty; only the money was real. Taking advantage of the Ningguo Mansion's funeral, Old Lady You took her two daughters to visit the Ningguo Mansion.

The Ningguo Mansion is bustling with people, and my two daughters are both very pretty. Who knows, they might catch the eye of some nobleman? If she can't be his wife, then a concubine or mistress would be fine too.

As for face, can it be used as money? Haven't you heard of a powerful slave who took advantage of his sisters and daughters to catch the eyes of the powerful and ran rampant in the village? Although his reputation may be unpleasant, his inner self is probably more respectable than that of Old Lady You today!
Old Lady You had such thoughts in mind and taught her two daughters earnestly every day. She thought that her two daughters would listen to her. However, she didn't expect that the third girl was possessed by an evil spirit. She became absent-minded after meeting the man surnamed Chen only once, and now she even refused to listen to her.

After all, she is her own flesh and blood. How could Old Lady You bear to see Third Sister You suffer?
Just as she was about to say something, Third Sister You said, "I think you should stop being so busy, Mama. Although the Ningguo Mansion is frequented by powerful people, who has ever really looked at us seriously these days? Oh, yes, there are a few playboys who are swarming around me like flies, but Mama, I wonder what they're up to?"

After a pause, she said sternly, "I'm afraid they've already treated my second sister and me as playthings! If we go twice more, our You family's reputation will be ruined. I think, in the future, this Ningguo Mansion...even if I go, I'll just stay at the back. If my second sister wants to go ahead, mother, just lead her there, don't take me with you!"

After saying that, he shook his hair and turned away.

Old Lady You was so angry that she rolled her eyes. You Erjie and the maidservant massaged her back and pinched her philtrum. It took a long time before Old Lady You recovered.

Old Lady You stared straight up at the top of her head and couldn't help but sigh, "Third sister... has been wasted."

You Erjie offered a few words of comfort, then helped her mother into the side room. When she came back out, she had other thoughts in her mind.

What Third Sister You said, hadn't it hit Second Sister You's heart? She was constantly being exposed, like a butcher hanging in a shop, being criticized. If it weren't for Old Lady You holding her back, how could Second Sister You be willing to accept this?

Unlike Third Sister You, who was full of girlish sentimentality, she wanted to meet a good man, but she hoped that man would be extremely wealthy. Having been raised in seclusion for over a decade, she couldn't possibly marry off and suffer hardship, could she?
Although Chen Siyuan looked attractive, his family was poor, and although he had some talent and fame, it was unclear when he would be able to rise to prominence. If she followed her third sister's example and really pursued such a man, she would probably be old and faded by the time he became successful.

Maybe by then he'd found a new love and left this old woman behind. If so, wouldn't all the suffering he'd endured over the past few decades have been in vain?

You Erjie found a chair and sat down, secretly making up her mind. Whether she was a wife or a concubine, even if she lost her status, she still had to have enough food and clothing.

While he was thinking about it, he suddenly saw the door of the wing room opened, and his younger sister You Sanjie rushed out in a hurry.

Second Sister You was puzzled and hurried out. Then she saw Third Sister You squatting, measuring the ground with a tape measure in her hand. Looking closer, she saw a slightly mutilated footprint under the crabapple tree.

"Third sister?"

Third Sister You put away the measuring tape, silently memorized it in her mind, then stood up and said with a smile, "When I sent Brother Yuan off just now, I saw that his shoes were badly worn, so I thought of making him a pair of shoes. I was worried about the size, but luckily Xiaochan told me, and Brother Yuan accidentally stepped in the dirt just now. Second Sister, look, here are the sizes, right?"

You Erjie was extremely shocked, thinking that her third sister was indeed possessed by a demon, and even nine oxen couldn't pull her back!
............................................................

But when Chen Siyuan returned to Rongguo Mansion, he was called over by Jia She and urged to pay him back. Now a kick worth one thousand two silver taels was being sold outside, and people were still scrambling to buy it even if the price was raised by 15%, which naturally made Jia She jealous.

Chen Siyuan agreed to go look for Master Sun the next day, and was then able to leave the outer study. He had only taken a few steps when a maid from the ceremonial gate caught up with him.

"Uncle Yuan!"

Chen Siyuan stopped and saw Miao'er, who was beside Madam Xing, catching up with him. When she got closer, she bowed and said with a smile, "Madam said the day is getting short these days, and the cold drafts are blowing through the alleys. Master Yuan isn't feeling well yet, so it's not good for him to walk much. Madam has already told the maid at the corner gate this afternoon that Master Yuan should just go through the corner gate from now on."

"Not yet fully recovered?" What does that mean? Madam Xing seems to have forgotten who turned into a puddle of mud today.

Chen Siyuan nodded and smiled, "I understand. Please tell me, Miss Miao."

Miao'er covered her mouth and laughed, "How can I be called a girl? From now on, just call me Miao'er."

He didn't know if it was an illusion, but Chen Siyuan felt Miao'er's eyes were somewhat alluring. Before he could dwell on it, Miao'er bowed and left. Chen Siyuan left through the black oil gate, entered through the east corner gate, and went straight to the corner gate next to the stable.

As expected, the old woman received the order and when she saw that it was Chen Siyuan who came, she immediately opened the door and let him in with a smile.

Chen Siyuan thought to himself that this time it was much more convenient, as he could avoid the trouble of taking a detour. He exchanged a few pleasantries with the old woman and inevitably gave her five coins, which pleased her so much that she thanked him profusely.

After passing the corner gate, the two sides of the alleyway were on the west side of the Rongguo Mansion's central courtyard, and on the east side was Lady Xing's courtyard. Chen Siyuan couldn't help but secretly complain that the west side at least had a hall for people to pass through, but the east side was just a towering wall, making it really inconvenient to get around.

Ahead was Jia Zheng's inner study, Mengpo Zhai. As Chen Siyuan was about to get closer, he saw the curtains in the hall being drawn aside and a group of people coming out.

Chen Siyuan stopped immediately to avoid offending the female members of the family. He saw the maid glance over here and then reveal the figure of a girl, who was none other than Baochai.

Baochai bowed towards him and said, "Brother Yuan."

Chen Siyuan returned the greeting with a bow: "Sister Xue."

Since it was Baochai, and they were on the same route, there were no more concerns. And since Baochai hadn't moved, she might have wanted to talk to him.

Chen Siyuan came closer and asked, "Sister Xue, are you going back to Lixiangyuan? We can go together."

Baochai smiled stiffly and said, "I just came back from the old lady's courtyard and was about to go back to rest when I ran into Brother Yuan."

Chen Siyuan suddenly noticed the maid Ying'er opening her mouth, as if about to speak, but hesitant to say anything. He immediately took notice and extended his hand, "Sister Xue, please come in."

"Brother Yuan, please go first."

The two of them walked towards the east wing, a half-step apart. Chen Siyuan's mind raced. What had Ying'er just said? Baochai's expression was so grim... Was Grandmother Jia hinting at the Xue family again? I'm afraid not—Grandmother Jia's sarcasm was so sophisticated, how could a little maid understand it?

Since it’s not Lady Jia, then the only one left is Baoyu.

Chen Siyuan took a few steps forward and suddenly said, "Brother Bao is still young and has an unstable mind. Sister Xue doesn't need to be too concerned with him."

Baochai paused for a moment, then asked with a smile, "They had just exchanged a few words, and who was the one who spread the news?"

Chen Siyuan smiled and said, "I guessed it."

Baochai just didn't believe it, and secretly thought about sending Ying'er to look around and take a look.

The two of them passed Mengpo Zhai and came to another narrow alley.

Chen Siyuan said, "Brother Bao, after a few years, you will understand the world and perhaps you will be able to make progress."

There was a hidden meaning in Chen Siyuan's words. They sounded like good words, but they had a different meaning when Baochai heard them.

Baoyu is indeed still young, but he already knows the ways of the world!

Baochai had been in the Rongguo Mansion for over two years, and by the end of the first month of the following year it would have been three years. She frequented the Qixianzhai frequently, so how could she not notice Xiren's unusual behavior? Even if Xiren had been a master of her disguise, how could someone as clever as Baochai not have noticed Baoyu's occasional odd glances?

She was not even nine years old at that time, and her unruly brother didn't start hanging out with maids until he was twelve or thirteen.

A man like this who has known about human affairs so early, not only has his health damaged, but how can he be a good man that you can trust?

That would have been fine, but Baoyu despised fame, wealth and power, and only wanted to be a rich and idle man who did nothing but indulge in lust.

The Xue family sacrificed their dignity to rely on the Jia family for protection, hoping that the Jia family would protect the Xue family and keep them safe. They had to wait until the next generation of Xue Pan grew up and became successful, and then Baochai would let go. With Baoyu's temper, how could he protect the Xue family?
The funniest thing is that even for such a dandy boy, Sister Bao still has to fight with others for him - it's really a huge joke!

Baochai's heart was in turmoil, and she couldn't help breathing heavily. She immediately covered her mouth and coughed lightly. Then she forced herself to suppress her emotions and said with a smile: "Brother Yuan is right. Brother Bao is indeed different in age."

Baochai paused, and was about to tell her about Xue Pan's situation when she heard Chen Siyuan say, "A few days ago, I saw Brother Bao and Brother Zhong holding hands as they went to see my second sister-in-law. Brother Bao ignored Brother Zhong's family background, so it seems he is also a man of affection and loyalty."

Baochai remained expressionless.

Who doesn't know about Baoyu and Qin Zhong's story? But the prevailing trend at the time was this: not to mention the widespread practice of fostering sworn brothers in Fujian, there was even the Xianggu Mansion in the capital.

Although this kind of man may occasionally compete for favor, he is unable to produce children and rarely poses a threat to the mistress. So Sister Lin may care, but Sister Bao really doesn't care.

Then Chen Siyuan added, "We eat and sleep together, rarely quarrel. It reminds me of the two of us."

Baochai tilted her head slightly to observe without saying a word, but she already had a bad feeling in her heart.

Pian Ying'er was puzzled and asked, "Master Yuan, I wonder who these two people are?"

Chen Siyuan took two steps forward and said with a smile, "Yu Xuanji and Caiping."

Yu Xuanji and Caiping were both female Taoist priests in the Tang Dynasty. They ate and slept together and supported each other, which has always been talked about by later generations.

It would have been fine if Chen Siyuan had only talked about those who had been homosexual in the past, but he happened to mention these two people, which immediately made Sister Bao feel very disgusted!

Why is it disgusting? Chen Siyuan felt disgusted when he thought of Baoyu and Qin Zhong, so how could Baochai not feel disgusted with Yu Xuanji and Caiping?
She had always looked down on Baoyu, but because she had no choice, she had to go to great lengths to flatter him. She had already been provoked by Chen Siyuan before, and now she was disgusted again. How could she suppress the frustration in her heart?
He coughed several times and finally stopped. He glanced at Chen Siyuan with a reproachful look, but he saw that Chen Siyuan smiled and bowed, saying, "Sister Xue is here. Let's say goodbye now."

Without stopping, he strode towards his own yard.

Baochai covered her mouth and looked at them angrily as they walked away, coughing occasionally. Ying'er, the maid, was still confused and couldn't help asking, "Miss, who are Yu Xuanji and Caiping?"

Sister Bao immediately lost her composure, coughed loudly a few times, frowned, and said sternly, "Don't mention these two people from now on!"

Baochai was always gentle and kind, rarely showing any signs of anger. Ying'er blinked, then was so frightened that she was speechless.

Seeing Chen Siyuan enter the small courtyard, Baochai angrily rushed into the Lixiang Courtyard and immediately ordered, "Go and get the Lengxiang Pills."

"Ah? Ah, I'll go right away, miss, wait a moment." Ying'er didn't dare to delay and hurried to the tree to look for him. But she was puzzled. What kind of riddle did that Mr. Yuan have? Why did every time the girl met Mr. Yuan, she would get sick again?

Fortunately, Aunt Xue is still with Lady Wang at this time, otherwise there might be chaos in Lixiang Courtyard again.

When Ying'er found the Lengxiang Pills, Baochai quickly swallowed them and drank a cup of tea. Only then did she calm down her anger. She couldn't help but think to herself, the last time she saw this person, he seemed to understand her suffering and made her sick. This time, he seemed to know everything and was deliberately teasing her, making her sick again.

This guy named Chen is sometimes considerate and sometimes naughty. What is he thinking?
It was her brother Xue Pan who robbed Liu Yan'er that day. Could it be that Chen was angry with him and kept teasing him?

No matter what he thinks, it's really annoying!

Ying'er said cautiously, "Miss, it's getting late. What would you like to order?"

"According to..." Baochai had only just said one word when she suddenly remembered Chen Siyuan's joke and felt sick again. She immediately changed her words: "Choose some light dishes and tell Sister Liu not to cause any trouble."

"Yes." Ying'er agreed obediently and hurried to the East Courtyard.

Baochai was lucky again, and after silently thinking about the Xue family's difficulties for a while, she finally calmed down. Not thinking about Baoyu for the time being, she only had one thought: How hateful the Chen family was!
Unfortunately, no one was in the main room at the moment. If Ying'er were still there, she would have seen that Sister Bao, who was always dignified and elegant, was now so angry that her cheeks were puffed up and she even showed some childish behavior.

　It seems that the follow-up reading has failed. Well, I will try to put it on the shelves on Sunday to see how it goes.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)