Dream of the Red Chamber: Starting with winning over Daiyu's favorability

"I didn't think things through just now. I'm giving you these things not to make you take on any responsibility, but simply to let you know—from today onwards, you have a home, your own home."

Seeing Xiangling's tears falling like beads from a broken string, Deng Zechen tried everything to wipe them away and to comfort her.

This is terrible! I've never coaxed a girl like this in my two lives, not even to Lin Daiyu...

Thankfully, Lin Daiyu didn't cry like that in front of me, otherwise I really wouldn't know what to do.

After crying for a while, Xiangling felt a little embarrassed and gradually stopped. In her still-nasal, tearful voice, she said:

"It's not that... it's that Brother Deng is too good to me, I don't know what to do."

Brother Deng and Miss Lin have both been so kind to me. You are both such wonderful people. I feel a little uneasy... I'm afraid it's all just a dream... and when I wake up, I'll be all alone again, living in fear.

Seeing that Xiangling had finally stopped crying, Deng Zechen felt relieved and joked:

"How could that be? I've gotten a housekeeper's sister for free, I'm overjoyed."

I spend most of my time studying, so I really need a clever little sister like you to help me manage things around the house.

At this point, Deng Zechen raised an eyebrow at Xiangling, revealing what he considered a wicked smile:

"If you have some free time, it would be even better if you could prepare some hot dishes for me when I get home each day so I can have a hot meal. I have a big appetite, and it's not easy to feed me."

Looking at Deng Zechen's smile, Xiangling felt as if the sky had brightened a bit, and immediately made a solemn promise:

"Don't worry, Brother Deng, I will take good care of things at home so that you can come back to a comfortable place."

"Hmm? So confident? Should we hire a few maids or old women to help?"

Xiangling recalled what she had seen and heard while following Lin Daiyu in the Rongguo Mansion, made a rough calculation in her mind, and shook her head:

"No need for now. It's just the two of us here, and the courtyard isn't big. I can take good care of it by myself. We only have so much money right now, so let's use it on more important things first."

Seeing that Xiangling had fully recovered, Deng Zechen became more relaxed.

"Okay, then let's do it your way for now."

When I rented this place, I took a quick look around and didn't think anything was missing. Let me show you around again, and if there's anything else we need, let's quickly write it down and go buy it.

Concerned that Xiangling might overthink things after being alone at home for an extended period, Deng Zechen added:

"Oh, I'll be very busy starting tomorrow, mostly studying away from home, so you'll probably be home alone most of the time."

If you feel scared or bored, you can go find Miss Lin, or invite Miss Lin to come here to play.

Xiangling had no objection to this, after all, an ambitious man is the most important pillar of the family.

"Brother Deng, don't overwork yourself, take care of your health."

Deng Zechen nodded to indicate that he understood, and then took Xiangling on a tour of the house to familiarize them with the layout. After looking around, the two of them made a list for each other and went out together to buy some things.

……

In Rongxi Hall of Rongguo Mansion, Jia Zheng forcefully threw the teacup in his hand, but considering that Jia Mu's people were nearby, he ultimately did not smash the teacup onto Jia Baoyu.

"You wretched child! Xiangling isn't even part of our family. What right do you have to stop them from taking Xiangling away?"

Looking at Jia Baoyu below, who was trembling with fear and pale-faced, Jia Zheng almost vomited blood.

I hold a low official position in the court, and I only obtained this position because of my family's influence. Today I heard that the border forces were divided to encircle and suppress the enemy. Our dynasty sent twice the number of troops, but we were defeated and forced to return home.

Of the four generals, two were killed in battle. Of the remaining two, one fled and his whereabouts are unknown, while the other abandoned his troops and armor and fled back to his camp.

Now, the commander-in-chief is holed up in the city, watching helplessly as the barbarians plunder Liaodong. His Majesty is furious, and officials are being arrested one after another.

While he was busy running around gathering information, he was filled with fear, worried that it would implicate his family. When he returned, he found that there was no one in his family who could take his place.

This only son is still fighting with outsiders over someone else's daughter!

Jia Zheng pressed his throbbing temples and said wearily:

"Go back to your studies and start testing me every week from tomorrow. If you continue to fight with your sisters and neglect your studies like before, I'll pretend I never had a son! I'll beat you to death!"

Jia Baoyu was so frightened that his legs went weak and he knelt down.

Lady Wang, who rushed over, saw shattered teacups scattered on the floor and a Jia Baoyu who looked utterly terrified. She burst into tears.

"My son! My poor son! How did you end up with such a father? He drove your elder brother to his death and now he's trying to drive you to your death too?"

While weeping, Lady Wang carefully avoided the broken teacups on the ground, then collapsed limply to the ground, embracing the still-stunned Jia Baoyu and continuing to cry out:

"Your eldest brother died young. If you force me to go with him, I won't live alone in this world either. I'll die with you. Then the three of us, mother and children, won't be alone in the afterlife!"

Looking at the weeping Lady Wang and the stunned Jia Baoyu, and hearing Lady Wang mention her eldest son Jia Zhu, who had died young, Jia Zheng felt even more grief welling up inside him.

"What are you saying, Madam? Baoyu is also my child. I am disciplining him so that he can become a good person."

Look at that child who came with Daiyu; she passed the county examination at the age of 13 with top honors. Baoyu, even if he doesn't expect to be a top scholar, should at least take the imperial examinations and achieve some official rank.

Madam Wang wiped her eyes, indignant:

"Even if a family like ours doesn't take the imperial examinations to get official positions, so what? In the future, will Baoyu be afraid of not getting an official job?"

Even if that student passes the imperial examinations and achieves high rank, how high a position can he possibly hold? Why would you, sir, force your own child to his death because of an outsider?

Jia Zheng pressed his temples harder. Not only was there not a single capable junior in this household, but there were also very few sensible people!

Is passing the imperial examination the same as receiving an official position through ancestral blessings?

Even if one starts from a lower point, a scholar who achieves better results in the imperial examinations can hold a position in the court that is no less influential than oneself!

Moreover, Lin Ruhai had no sons. If Baoyu were more ambitious, his connections in the court would surely help Baoyu rise to a higher level, and there would be no need to worry about him not bringing glory to the family.

If Baoyu continues to be so useless, even with this marriage relationship, Lin Ruhai will likely only gradually favor others. Judging from Daiyu's behavior, Deng Zechen might just inherit Lin Ruhai's literary lineage in the court in the future!

"Forget it, I can't reason with you. You can all leave now. I'm exhausted after a long day and want to rest."

Upon hearing this, Lady Wang wiped away her tears and pulled Baoyu, who seemed to have lost his soul, away from Rongxi Hall.

Jia Zheng watched the two leave, and could only let out a long sigh:

Ugh……

Xiangling discovered that Deng Zechen really did leave home very early the next day and didn't return until the hour of You (5-7 PM), and sometimes he didn't come home until the hour of Hai (9-11 PM).

After several months of this, Xiangling gradually got used to it and began to prepare meals on time, waiting for Deng Zechen to return.

Xiangling took the clean bowl of rice from Deng Zechen, then scooped out the last bowl of rice from the rice bucket and handed it to him, looking at him with some concern:

"Brother Deng, you should take care of your health while studying, otherwise you'll suffer a lot if you get sick from overwork."

Deng Zechen gathered all the remaining food from the plate into his rice bowl, mixed it, and said as he ate:

"Don't worry, I know what I'm doing. Besides, you're still here at home. Make more tofu next time, I love your tofu."

A blush rose on Xiangling's face, as if she were thinking of something.