The Red Mansion

Chapter 190 A Travelogue of the Jiang Family Manor
Emperor Taishun bestowed two estates upon Jiang Nian. Both estates were quite large, and more importantly, they were both located in Shuntian Prefecture. Each estate was worth 20,000 taels of silver. In a good year, with favorable weather and diligent farming, each estate could generate an annual income of 2,000 taels.

It was the twelfth lunar month, and the north wind was biting, but the sky was clear and the winter sun was warm, making people feel warm all over.

That day, Jiang Nian, along with the Jiang family and Meng Xiong's family, went to a Jiang family estate in Shunyi County for a visit. He Yun and Meng Shi stayed behind to look after the house, while He Zhong went along.

There were many vehicles and people in front of the Jiang family's house.

Jiang Nian and Yuan Chun rode together in a jade-canopied, pearl-embroidered carriage, while Xue Baochai, Jing Qing, and Xing Xiuyan rode together in a vermilion-wheeled, ornately decorated carriage. Xiang Ling, Bao Qin, Xi Ren, Qing Wen, Jin Chuan, Yu Chuan, Ying Er, Hong Xia, Lü Yi, and other maids also rode in their carriages.

The women, who usually stayed secluded in their chambers, rarely had the chance to go out like this, especially to the country estate to relax. They were all beaming with joy and laughing.

The carriages rumbled all the way to the village, where Wu, the head of the village, and the villagers were already waiting to greet them. Wu had once been the steward of the Jing family.

The farm was spacious, and although it was the dead of winter, it had a unique charm of desolation and tranquility.

Xiangling couldn't help but exclaim, "This estate is huge!"

Yuan Chun smiled and said, "This estate is much quieter than the city. Although it lacks bustling scenery, it has its own natural charm."

Xue Baochai nodded and said, "That's right. It's rare to have such a fine day in winter. It's a good thing to go out for a walk."

The group strolled along, turned past a low fence, and suddenly smelled a delicate fragrance that was refreshing and delightful.

Xiangling smiled and said, "It smells so good! Could it be that the plum blossoms are blooming?"

Xi Ren, with her sharp eyes, pointed and said, "Look, isn't that a patch of winter plum blossoms?"

Following the sound, everyone looked and saw several wintersweet trees in front of them, their sparse shadows cast across the ground, their golden stamens dotting the surface, blooming bravely in the cold. The petals were as thin as cicada wings and as white as beeswax, slightly translucent in the sunlight, making them appear even more vibrant.

Jiang Nian smiled and said, "What a coincidence that the winter plum blossoms are in full bloom today."

Yuan Chun also said with delight, "These flowers have a noble character and are pleasing to the eye."

Jing Qing approached to admire it more closely and sighed, "It's a pity that it didn't snow. If it were covered in snow, these winter plum blossoms would appear even more exquisite."

Jiang Nianze said, "The winter plum blossoms in the snow are indeed exquisite, but today, with the clear weather, they are quite unique. Look, these flowers, reflecting the sunlight, seem to glow on their own." As she spoke, she spontaneously composed a poem: "Winter plum blossoms, golden stamens blooming in the sun, elegant even without the snow."

The crowd gathered around the wintersweet tree to admire it.

Xiangling broke off a small branch, brought it close to her nose and sniffed it, then smiled and said, "This flower has a cool and refreshing fragrance, as if it can penetrate into your bones."

Baoqin smiled and said, "Since you like them, why not pick a few branches to take back and put in a vase?"

Xiangling looked at Jiang Nian expectantly, and Jiang Nian smiled and said, "The wintersweet has a strong fragrance and a long flowering period, so it is suitable for arranging in a vase."

When Yuan Chun heard Jiang Nian say this, she smiled and agreed, "These flowers, when placed in a vase on the desk, will add a touch of elegance."

Xue Baochai also said, "Having a vase of winter plum blossoms as a companion in winter makes reading and writing less lonely."

Jiang Nian then ordered someone to bring scissors and a rough porcelain bottle to hold water. She personally selected some sparse and elegant wintersweet branches and had them cut off and placed in the bottle. The rough porcelain bottle had a simple and rustic shape and a bluish-gray glaze. Although it was a bit rough, it had a rustic charm, and she could replace the vase when she got home.

Suddenly, a rustling sound came from the grass, and the branches and leaves moved slightly.

Xi Ren, with her sharp eyes, pointed and said, "Listen, there seems to be something in the bushes."

Everyone held their breath, and sure enough, a wild rabbit darted out of the grass, its ears perked up and its eyes darting around, clearly startled. The rabbit's fur was grayish-brown, contrasting sharply with the withered winter grass, and it would have been almost unnoticeable had it not moved.

Jiang Nian had been planning to hunt that day, so he took his bow and arrows and quickly got them. He saw that the rabbit was crouching not far away, and everyone was watching expectantly. So he nocked an arrow and the bowstring flew with a "whoosh".

The arrow flew like a shooting star, striking the hare squarely. The hare, in pain, struggled a few times and then lay still.

Upon seeing this, everyone cheered, while some secretly felt sorry for the wild rabbit.

This arrow sparked Jiang Nian's hunting interest, so he said to Yuan Chun and the others, "Our manor has a hunting ground with deer, pheasants, and rabbits. I'm going hunting there with Meng Xiong and He Zhong. The game is plump in winter, so we can bring back some game to add some fresh food for you. If any of you want to come and watch the fun, you can come along. If you don't want to come, go and rest in the manor first."

Yuan Chun laughed and said, "It's so lively, I want to see it. Besides, the winter weather is fine, it's good to take a walk."

Even Xue Baochai laughed and said, "That's right. Although we are not skilled in riding and archery, it's good to watch and add to the fun."

The women all clamored to see this rare spectacle, and even those who didn't want to go couldn't bring themselves to say so.

So Jiang Nian, Meng Xiong, and He Zhong rode into the hunting grounds on horseback, carrying bows and arrows.

Yuan Chun, Xue Baochai, Jing Qing, Xing Xiuyan and other female relatives followed to watch.

Although the hunting grounds are not very large, they are open, with withered grass stretching to the horizon and a few shrubs scattered here and there.

The farmhands had already been chasing them away, and soon two pheasants were startled and took flight.

Jiang Nian reacted quickly, shooting an arrow that struck one of the targets first.

Everyone cheered in unison.

Just as they were cheering, a roe deer suddenly darted out from the woods.

Once again, Jiang Nian reacted swiftly, drawing her bow and nocking an arrow, and the roe deer fell dead.

Yuan Chun and Xue Baochai were used to this.

Jing Qing couldn't help but be captivated, secretly sighing, "The old man is truly a man of both literary and martial talents!"

In the next half hour, Jiang Nian shot wild rabbits and hunted pheasants, and managed to kill nine of them.

Meng Xiong only managed to hunt two, which was less than He Zhong, who hunted four.

Not to mention the women of the Jiang family, even the villagers were amazed. Wu, the head of the village, said to Jiang Nian, "Even the old hunter might not be able to match your skills, sir."

After the hunt, Yuan Chun smiled at Jiang Nian and said, "Today was wonderful. We enjoyed the winter plum blossoms, watched the hunt, and even got to taste some wild game."

Chatting and laughing, they then headed back to the manor.

Seeing Yuan Chunlian move lightly, and how thin she looked despite wearing a cloak, Jiang Nian smiled and said, "You must be tired too. Why don't you ride back with me and save some energy?"

Upon hearing this, Yuan Chun blushed slightly and said in a low voice, "How can that be? I'll just walk back myself."

Jiang Nian personally led his horse over; the horse was quite magnificent. He first mounted the horse, then reached out to Yuan Chun, saying, "No need for formalities. The journey isn't far anyway. I'll help you up."

Seeing everyone staring, Yuan Chun became even more embarrassed and declined, saying, "What kind of decorum would it be if people saw this..."

Baoqin smiled and said, "Grandma, why refuse? Since the master is so considerate, you should just go along with him."

Madam Feng laughed and said, "That's right, we're all family anyway, who would laugh at us?"

Hearing their words, Yuan Chun felt her ears burning even more, and could only hand her hand to Jiang Nian, who gently led her onto the horse. Jiang Nian held the reins with one hand and placed the other hand on Yuan Chun's waist, smiling and saying, "Madam, sit tight."

Yuan Chun's body stiffened slightly as she felt warmth on her back. The horse moved slightly again, and she couldn't help but gasp softly as she leaned back, nestled in Jiang Nian's arms.

Jiang Nian chuckled and whispered, "Don't be afraid, my horse is the most obedient to me."

Yuan Chun blushed and her heart pounded as his breath brushed against her ear; she simply lowered her head and remained silent.

Jiang Nian deliberately reined in her horse and slowed down, gradually falling behind the others.

Xue Baochai, Jing Qing, Xing Xiuyan and others kept looking back. Seeing the two riding together, Yuan Chun shyly lowered her head, while Jiang Nian smiled and held the reins, their posture intimate. They couldn't help but think to themselves.

Xue Baochai stared at her for a long time, then sighed inwardly, "She's so lucky!"

A hint of envy flashed in Jing Qing's eyes, and she sighed inwardly, "How could I have such dignity? Only a married couple can do this."

Xing Xiuyan also looked back from time to time, thinking to herself, "If one day I could ride a horse with you like this, what would that feel like?" After thinking it, she smiled to herself and said, "Wishful thinking! I'm just a dependent, how dare I hope for that?"

The maids whispered amongst themselves.

Qingwen said to Xiren, "Look how considerate the master is to the mistress!"

Xiren smiled without saying a word, but thought to herself, "The principal wife is naturally different!"

Xiangling said to Baoqin, "They look just like a talented scholar and a beautiful woman in a painting."

Baoqin covered her mouth and laughed, "Isn't that right? If it snows again, it will be even more fitting."

Although Yuan Chun couldn't hear what the crowd was saying, she could guess what they were talking about, and she became even more ashamed and couldn't lift her head.

Seeing her like this, Jiang Nian couldn't help but chuckle and whispered in her ear, "Why is Madam not saying anything?"

Yuan Chun spat lightly and said in a low voice, "You... how can I, as the mistress, face them when you act so recklessly?"

Jiang Nian smiled and said, "What's wrong with that? It's only natural for husband and wife to be loving and affectionate. If they see that, won't they respect you even more as the matriarch?"

Upon hearing this, Yuan Chun let out a soft snort and turned her face away, but the color of rouge was faintly visible behind her ears.

As they approached the manor, they saw everyone welcoming them. Yuan Chun felt embarrassed and anxious, so she tugged at Jiang Nian's sleeve and whispered, "Master, please let me down! I'll walk over myself!"

Seeing her like this, Jiang Nian became even more eager to tease her and said with a smile, "If you ask me, Madam, I will grant your request."

Yuan Chun glanced at him, then had no choice but to lower her head and whisper, "Please...please, sir, let me dismount."

Jiang Nian chuckled, first dismounting himself and then reaching out to help her. Yuan Chun took his wrist, landing lightly, and the two walked side by side, slowly heading towards the manor.

Xiangling stepped forward, smiling, and asked, "Grandma, is riding the horse steady?"

Yuan Chun forced herself to remain calm, tidied her temples, and said, "It's alright, but I'm not used to it and I'm a little scared."

Xiangling smiled and said, "With Grandpa protecting you, Grandma can rest assured."

Yuan Chun pretended to lower her head and straighten her clothes.

Wu Zhuangtou ordered his men to set up two large elm wood tables in the main hall. On the tables were rough porcelain bowls and plates. Although they lacked the luxury of gold and jade utensils, they had a unique rustic charm.

Jiang Nian led Yuan Chun to the seat of honor, followed by Xue Baochai, Jing Qing, and Xing Xiuyan.

The village women brought out dishes in a steady stream, starting with several kinds of seasonal wild game. Then came a large pot of steaming venison soup, the meat stewed until tender, with bright green coriander floating on the surface, its aroma irresistible. Next came roasted pheasant and rabbit, golden brown on the outside and tender on the inside. There was also rice wine, served in a rough earthenware pot, slightly cloudy when poured, yet with a sweet and refreshing aroma.

Jiang Nian picked up a piece of roasted rabbit meat and said with a smile, "This meat is roasted just right, crispy on the outside and tender on the inside."

Everyone followed suit and picked up some roasted rabbit meat.

Jiang Nian raised her cup and laughed, "Today, let's learn from the peasants and experience the rustic charm." She then took a sip and found the rice wine to be smooth on the palate but with a strong aftertaste.

Yuan Chun was not a good drinker, but seeing that Jiang Nian, who also disliked drinking, was drinking like this, she took a sip as well.

Xue Baochai also took a sip and said with a smile, "Although this wine is not as mellow as the one at home, it has its own fragrance of rice."

Jing Qing also took a sip and nodded in agreement.

Seeing everyone else drinking, Xing Xiuyan also took a small sip. However, the wine, though seemingly mild, was surprisingly potent, causing her to cough. Xue Baochai quickly handed her a handkerchief, smiling, "Miss Xing, please drink slowly; this wine is quite strong." Xing Xiuyan blushed and whispered, "I was being rude."

As they were chatting and laughing, the village woman brought out freshly picked winter bamboo shoots stir-fried with cured pork. The bamboo shoots were as white as jade, and the cured pork was bright red and translucent, making for a very pleasing sight. Yuan Chun took a bite and nodded, saying, "These bamboo shoots are fresher and more tender than those bought in the city." The village woman smiled and said, "Knowing that you gentlemen and ladies were coming today, I dug these up from the back mountain this morning. They're delicious while they're still fresh."

After a few rounds of drinks, Jiang Nian wasn't very drunk, but she noticed that Yuan Chun's cheeks were flushed and her eyes were sparkling, making her even more charming than usual, so she couldn't help but take a few more glances.

After the meal, the woman cleared away the leftovers and served hot tea. The tea was mountain tea, not as precious as Longjing or Biluochun, but it had a unique, refreshing quality.

The women sat for a short while before returning to their rooms to rest.

Tonight, everyone will stay at this manor.

Jiang Nian went to the outer room to talk with Meng Xiong, He Zhong, and others for a while before arriving at Yuan Chun's residence. He saw an oil lamp lit inside, its dim light creating a warm and inviting atmosphere. Yuan Chun had already removed her hairpins and was combing her long hair in front of the mirror. Seeing him enter, she softly asked, "Is everything arranged outside?"

Jiang Nian smiled and said, "Everything is settled."

He walked behind her, took the comb, and personally combed her hair. Her long, black hair cascaded down like a waterfall, making Yuan Chun's skin appear as white as snow.

Jiang Nian suddenly leaned down and whispered in Yuan Chun's ear, "Tonight, my wife and I will emulate the mandarin ducks entwined and the phoenixes singing in harmony on this farm, which will add a touch of rustic charm."

Yuan Chun immediately lowered her head and twisted her sash, the pair of bright pearl earrings on her ears swaying incessantly.

In the next room, Ying'er was untying Xue Baochai's hair when she suddenly remembered the scene from earlier that day and couldn't help but say, "If Master and Auntie rode together on the same horse today, it would be so lively."

Xue Baochai remained silent in front of the mirror, only gently placing the comb in her hand on the dressing table, making a soft "tap" sound.

Ying'er, still oblivious, sighed again, "Grandma is so lucky to have such a wonderful man as Grandpa..."

Before she could finish speaking, Xue Baochai suddenly turned around, her eyes sharp as knives: "You're becoming more and more unruly!"

Ying'er hurriedly fell silent, but sighed inwardly, "Although the master treats my young lady quite well, he can't compare to the dignity of the first wife."

In another room, the maid Hongxia was removing Jingqing's hairpins and couldn't help but sigh, "The master is good, but it's a pity that the young lady is not the principal wife."

Jing Qing turned around and glared at her, while Hongxia stuck out her tongue and dared not say anything more about it.

(End of this chapter)