The Red Mansion

Chapter 236 The Lin Family Arrives in Beijing, Baoyu Smashes the Jade

It was midsummer, the fourth day of the fifth lunar month, and the sun was blazing.

The official road on the eastern outskirts of Shenjing was scorching hot, and a procession of carriages and horses slowly approached from the direction of Luhe Post Station amidst the rising dust. It was Lin Ruhai and his family who were heading to the capital.

As the convoy approached the fork in the road near Jiangjia in the eastern suburbs, it gradually came to a stop.

It turned out that Lin Ruhai had specially brought two large boxes of local products from Yangzhou for Jiang Nian on his trip north.

Having received the news earlier, Yuan Chun sent He Yun to wait at the crossroads.

He Yun said to Lin Ruhai, "Master Lin, you must be tired from your journey! My grandmother, thinking of the unbearable heat, has prepared chilled mung bean soup. We humbly request that you and your family move into our humble abode to rest for a while, so that we can talk about our master's recent situation."

Lin Ruhai had a thin face and a hint of weariness in his eyes. Hearing this, he stroked his beard and pondered for a moment before nodding and saying, "In that case, I'll trouble you. It would be good for you to rest your feet."

So, the Lin family followed He Yun into the Jiang residence.

He Yun then led Lin Ruhai, Aunt Qiu, Lin Daiyu, Xiao Dan, Xiao Nan, Zijuan and others into the inner courtyard.

Yuan Chun, accompanied by Xue Baochai, Jing Qing, Meng Shi, and others, greeted them with smiles at the steps.

Lin Daiyu looked up and took a closer look, and was slightly taken aback. She thought to herself, "My brother-in-law's female relatives are all very beautiful and have excellent manners."

Yuan Chun wore a moon-white satin shirt embroidered with peony branches, exuding a dignified yet luxurious air; Xue Baochai wore a honey-colored silk skirt, gentle and elegant, like a pear blossom in spring; and Jing Qing was even more stunning, dressed in a sky-blue gauze dress, ethereal and otherworldly…

For some reason, Lin Daiyu suddenly felt a pang of sadness, and her fingers unconsciously began to twist the handkerchief.

After everyone had exchanged greetings, Yuan Chun said with a smile, "Uncle, you've come from afar. Please come up to the main hall and have a bowl of chilled mung bean soup to cool off."

The group entered the main room together, where maids served chilled mung bean soup and several delicate snacks.

Lin Ruhai took the small celadon bowl and drank half a cup of chilled mung bean soup. He felt a cool sensation slide down his throat and into his lower abdomen. In an instant, his internal organs felt as if they were bathed in a clear spring, and most of the dust and heat from the journey disappeared.

Seeing that his expression had softened, Yuan Chun asked gently, "May I ask, Uncle, how is our master doing lately? Since he went south, the family has been worried day and night, hoping for some definite news."

Lin Ruhai then recounted Jiang Nian's situation in Yangzhou in detail, and added, "When my nephew Jiang left Yangzhou, everything was fine. However, I do not know the details of his later inspection tour of Jiangning with the Emperor Emeritus."

Upon hearing this, Yuan Chun exchanged a smile with Xue Baochai and Jing Qing, their eyes and brows filled with joy.

Yuan Chun said, "In that case, everything must be going smoothly. Thank you for informing us, Uncle, so we can rest assured."

Lin Ruhai sat for a while, ate a bowl of chilled mung bean soup, and then prepared to leave, as he still had to go to Changchun Garden to meet the Emperor.

Yuan Chun and the others hurriedly saw them off, escorting them all the way to the second gate.

As they parted, Yuan Chun held Aunt Qiu and Lin Daiyu's hands tightly and said earnestly, "Once you are settled in, I will certainly prepare a feast and invite you to another gathering. I hope you will do me the honor of attending and please do not refuse."

Aunt Qiu smiled broadly and replied repeatedly, "How could I refuse such a kind invitation? I will definitely come to bother you in the future."

Lin Daiyu nodded gently, her lips parted slightly, and she said softly, "Thank you for your kindness, sister."

Having said that, he glanced at Yuan Chun again, noticing her beautiful hair and elegant appearance, and a few more thoughts arose in his heart...

……

……

After seeing Lin Ruhai and his party off, Yuan Chun and the others returned to the main hall.

Two large boxes of local products from Yangzhou, brought by Lin Ruhai at Jiang Nian's request, were displayed in the hall. When the lids were lifted, the room was immediately filled with brilliance, containing lacquerware, jade, perfumes, velvet flowers, and so on.

"What an exquisite object!"

Yuan Chun first picked up a pair of mother-of-pearl lacquer boxes, the surfaces of which were inlaid with colorful mother-of-pearl, forming a picture of "Mandarin Ducks Playing in the Water".

Xue Baochai then picked up a carved lacquer pen holder. The pen holder was carved with eighteen Arhats in layers of vermilion lacquer, their beards and eyebrows clearly visible, and even the folds of their clothes seemed to be fluttering.

Yangzhou lacquerware craftsmanship has a long history. Techniques such as inlay, lacquer carving, mother-of-pearl inlay, mother-of-pearl dotting, and painting are already very mature. High-end handicrafts such as lacquer inkstones, lacquer boxes, and lacquer plates are often presented as tribute.

Yuan Chun then pulled out a celadon incense burner: "The carving is truly exquisite."

When everyone came closer to look, they saw that the furnace body was carved with lotus scroll patterns, and the lid was actually a beast-shaped knob carved from a single piece of jade. The beast's mouth was hollow, and when it exhaled smoke, it could create the scene of "a green dragon spitting out mist".

Yangzhou is an important jade processing center in Daqing. Its jade carving industry has reached a considerable scale and high level, producing various jade artifacts for both the common people and the imperial court.

Xing Xiuyan was engrossed in watching when she suddenly felt a cool breeze at her temple. It turned out that Yuan Chun had tucked a velvet flower into her hair. The velvet flower was modeled after a weeping crabapple, with petals as thin as cicada wings and stamens made of twisted gold thread. It trembled as if it could truly attract butterflies.

Xiangling hurriedly brought over a mirror, and Xing Xiuyan looked at herself in the mirror, blushing so much that her ears turned red.

Yangzhou velvet flowers are exquisitely crafted and highly realistic, making them a favorite headdress and decoration among women in Daqing. They were also important tribute items and distinctive handicrafts.

"This is perfume powder from Dai Chunlin of Yangzhou."

Yuan Chun opened a small enamel box containing scented powder, and a delicate fragrance immediately filled the air. She had Jing Qing dab some on the back of her hand; the powder was incredibly fine.

Yangzhou is known for its exquisite perfumes and face powders. The time-honored brand "Dai Chunlin" was founded during the Chongzhen period of the Ming Dynasty and its reputation continues to this day. Its perfumes, face powders, hair oils, and incense items are well-known specialty products and women's products in the Jiangnan region.

At this moment, Yuan Chun began distributing these local products from Yangzhou, and even planned to secretly send some to Qin Keqing, but she did not intend to send them to the Rongguo Mansion.

More than ten days ago, she was kicked out of Rongguo Mansion. Madam Xing then sent Wang Shanbao's wife to cause trouble at Jiang's house, which made her resent her family. She still harbors resentment towards them.

……

……

In the western part of the capital, there is a three-courtyard house with blue bricks and gray tiles, and an old locust tree with a graceful canopy in front of the gate.

This residence was originally the home of Lin Ruhai and Jia Min in the capital, not far from Ningrong Street. When Lin Ruhai was transferred to a post in the past, he specifically entrusted this residence to Jia Zheng for care before leaving, saying, "If I return to the capital in the future, I will have a place to stay."

Who would have thought that Jia Zheng's retainer, Zhan Guang, had seen the excellent location and layout of this residence a few years ago, and was quite valuable. He shamelessly begged Jia Zheng, saying that his family was growing and the rented house was too cramped, and asked Jia Zheng to temporarily rent Lin Ruhai's residence to him.

Jia Zheng had always liked Zhan Guang, and considering that Zhan Guang was a scholar, he nodded in agreement and even waived the rent.

After moving into the Lin residence, Zhan Guang treated it as his own property. Once, when he was drunk, he even said to his wife, "This house is now owned by Zhan! Anyway, Lin Ruhai is now the salt commissioner in Yangzhou, making a fortune. Why would he care about this little bit of money?"

But fate is unpredictable.

Half a month ago, Jia Lian returned home weary from his journey, bringing a message from Lin Ruhai: he would soon be going to the capital to await his appointment, and requested Jia Zheng to send someone to clean the mansion. Jia Zheng immediately summoned Zhan Guang, who, upon hearing the news, was struck dumb, but had no choice but to move out.

Dejected, Zhan Guang took his leave and returned home. There, he saw his wife playing with the myna bird and angrily exclaimed, "You spendthrift woman! All you do all day is feed this feathered beast!"

The myna bird mimicked, "Benefiting from the good fortune! Benefiting from the good fortune!" as if mocking Zhan Guang for benefiting from the good fortune. However, now this dove who had taken over the nest had no choice but to return this valuable house to its rightful owner.

Enraged, Zhan Guang hit the myna bird.

On the fourth day of the fifth lunar month, Lin Ruhai and his entourage left the Jiang residence in the eastern suburbs and arrived at the Lin residence in the capital.

The Lin family, including Mr. and Mrs. Lin Zhixiao, who were sent by the Rongguo Mansion, took over the Lin residence.

Immediately, the Lin family moved in, while Lin Ruhai took a carriage to Changchun Garden in the western suburbs to meet the emperor.

……

……

Despite the sweltering heat, Rongqing Hall in the Rongguo Mansion was cool and refreshing. Surrounded by covered walkways and shady groves, the hall was also filled with ice basins, creating a pleasantly cool atmosphere. Maids were also fanning the air, adding to the tranquility.

Grandmother Jia was reclining on the couch, with a blue satin backrest beneath her. Madam Xing and Madam Wang sat on either side of her, along with Li Wan and her sisters Yingchun, Tanchun, and Xichun. Jia Baoyu sat next to Grandmother Jia, while a host of maids and servants stood by to attend to him.

At this moment, Lin Zhixiao's wife lifted the curtain and entered. She first greeted Grandmother Jia, Madam Xing, and Madam Wang, and then said with a smile, "Grandmother, the Lin family has already arrived in the capital, and the house has been handed over. The Lin family is currently settling in."

Grandmother Jia immediately straightened up, a hint of urgency in her eyes, and asked, "Has Lin girl arrived yet?"

Lin Zhixiao's wife hesitated for a moment, then replied with a smile, "Miss Lin naturally came along. When I saw her, I asked when she would be staying at our residence, but who knew..."

She paused, glancing at Grandmother Jia's expression, before continuing, "Miss Lin said that Master Lin's illness has just subsided, and this trip to the capital has added to his fatigue due to the long journey. He still needs to rest, and if he is not properly cared for, his illness may relapse. As an only daughter, and getting older, she should be serving her father and it is inconvenient for her to continue living in our household. This is also Master Lin's wish."

Upon hearing this, Jia Baoyu's eyes were filled with alarm.

Grandmother Jia's expression darkened, and she stopped turning the prayer beads in her hand. She became sad and sighed after a long while, "This child... is indeed a filial son."

Jia Baoyu said anxiously, "Grandmother! How can this be? It's worrying to have Lin Daiyu living outside. Why don't we send someone to fetch her right away and let her stay in our mansion as before? Wouldn't that be better?"

Seeing Jia Baoyu's anxiety, Lady Wang said, "Baoyu, stop fooling around! Your sister Lin is absolutely right. She should naturally serve her with filial piety. That is the right thing to do."

How could Jia Baoyu listen? He just stared at Grandmother Jia with tears welling up in his eyes, as if he had a thousand words to say.

Seeing his reaction, Grandmother Jia gently advised, "Your sister Lin is right. Since she doesn't want to come again, and your uncle-in-law is the same, we shouldn't force her."

Jia Baoyu's nose tingled, and tears rolled down his cheeks. He choked out, "But who keeps her company and keeps her company when she's out there? Who takes care of her daily needs? If she suffers any injustice, to whom can she complain?"

Seeing him like this, Grandmother Jia felt a pang of sorrow in her heart. She reached out and stroked his head, sighing, "Silly child... She has her father to take care of her now, so how could she be wronged? If you really miss her, we can invite her to play more often in the future. She doesn't live far from our mansion."

Jia Baoyu remained defiant, yet dared not be too presumptuous in front of Lady Wang, murmuring to himself, "Sister Lin... Sister Lin..."

Seeing his state, everyone in the hall remained silent. Only Tan Chun handed a handkerchief to Jia Baoyu and whispered, "Second Brother, be careful that the Old Madam doesn't get upset if she sees this."

Grandmother Jia sighed deeply and looked out the window, as if she saw that slender figure.

……

……

With Lin Daiyu on his mind, Jia Baoyu could not bear it any longer. He secretly summoned his trusted servant Mingyan, and without preparing a carriage, he slipped out of the Rongguo Mansion and headed straight for the Lin residence.

At this moment, the gate of the Lin residence was wide open, and a group of Lin family members were moving boxes and organizing items.

Aunt Qiu was standing in the inner courtyard directing things, repeatedly instructing, "Be careful with that screen, it's Master's favorite thing!"

Upon hearing that Jia Baoyu had arrived, Aunt Qiu ordered someone to bring him in.

Jia Baoyu strode into the inner courtyard through the hanging flower gate, without even greeting Aunt Qiu. His eyes searched around, and he called out, "Sister Lin!"

Just as things were in chaos, the curtain of the side room was suddenly lifted, and Lin Daiyu walked out slowly, followed by Zijuan.

Lin Daiyu wore a moon-white gauze shirt and a light blue silk skirt, making her appear slender.

Upon seeing Jia Baoyu, Lin Daiyu was slightly taken aback, then frowned and said, "Why did you come here on such a hot day?"

Seeing that she looked haggard, Jia Baoyu became even more anxious. Seeing that there were many people in the courtyard, he said, "Sister Lin, I have something to tell you."

Lin Daiyu went up and spoke to Aunt Qiu before leading Jia Baoyu into the side room.

As soon as they entered the room, Jia Baoyu grabbed Lin Daiyu's sleeve and said impatiently, "Good sister, I've come to take you back! It's cool here in our mansion, and the old lady dotes on you. Why suffer here?"

Lin Daiyu turned her face away: "I now live in my own home and serve my father, how can this be considered suffering?"

Jia Baoyu immediately felt so anxious that tears welled up in his eyes: "We grew up together, we ate together, we played together, how can I bear to part with you? My dear sister, please have pity on me and go back!"

Seeing Jia Baoyu in such a state, Lin Daiyu couldn't help but feel a pang of sorrow, but she could only sigh and say, "You should go back now. I must stay at home and serve my father."

Seeing that she remained unmoved, Jia Baoyu, in a moment of desperation, tore the jade pendant from his neck and threw it to the ground: "What a worthless thing! You can't even keep your sister, what use are you!"

The magical jade landed on the bluestone slab, making a crisp sound.

Lin Daiyu was startled and exclaimed, "What are you doing? You're becoming more and more like a child!"

She suddenly thought of Jiang Nian, who was only a few years older than Jia Baoyu, yet was already so composed, mature, and outstanding. Comparing the two, she felt that Jia Baoyu was willful and reckless, but because of their past friendship, she couldn't bear to say anything harsh to him.

Zijuan quickly picked up the jade pendant, examined it carefully, and breathed a sigh of relief when she saw that it was undamaged. She knew that both Grandmother Jia and Lady Wang considered this jade pendant to be Jia Baoyu's lifeblood, and if Jia Baoyu had broken it here today, it would have caused a huge uproar.

Zijuan couldn't help but say, "Second Master Bao, it's not that I'm criticizing you, but the young lady is all grown up now, and you're at an age where you should be sensible. Why are you still acting so recklessly?"

Just as things were getting out of hand, Aunt Qiu rushed over upon hearing the commotion. Seeing the situation, she quickly advised Jia Baoyu, "Don't be like this, or you'll hurt yourself." She then said to Lin Daiyu, "Please calm down, Miss."

He then summoned two reliable maids and instructed them, "Take good care of this young man as he returns to the Rongguo Mansion. Look after him carefully on the way."

Jia Baoyu refused to leave, and although the crowd helped and pulled him away, he kept turning back, asking, "Sister, are you really so heartless?"

Tears welled in Lin Daiyu's eyes, but she pursed her lips and remained silent.

(End of this chapter)