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

A man drinking at the table choked and slapped the boy on the head.

With a "smack," the boy realized he had spoken out of turn, covered his head, and stopped talking.

The man raised his wine bowl somewhat apologetically, indicating that...

"I'm sorry, my younger brother is too young to speak properly. Please don't take offense, sir."

Deng Zechen didn't mind, and started eating again after the waiter brought out the other dishes.

Deng Zechen discovered long ago that he had a much larger appetite than many of his peers. Perhaps this is why he is taller and stronger than people his age.

So what if I have a big appetite? It's not like I can't afford to eat.

After everyone had eaten and drunk their fill and tidied themselves up, it gradually got dark.

After sleeping in a hammock for more than half a month, they all slept soundly on the sturdy wooden bed.

The next day, Deng Zechen and Feng Ziming, carrying gifts prepared for Lin Ruhai, went to the Lin residence after finding out the directions.

Once outside the Lin residence, Deng Zechen felt there was no danger there, so he gave the Fang brothers some loose silver and invited them to have tea outside.

Deng Zechen led Feng Ziming to the gatekeeper of the Lin residence. The gatekeeper, seeing that both were distinguished scholars, politely said:

"Please wait a moment, gentlemen, I will go inside and deliver the message."

The two responded without hesitation, and Feng Ziming became nervous again while waiting.

"Zechen, please take a look at me quickly. Is there anything wrong with my body?"

"No, don't worry. Your uncle won't eat you. Don't be so nervous."

Feng Ziming kept moving his hands, sometimes shaking off non-existent dust from the hem of his clothes, sometimes dusting off his sleeves.

Deng Zechen understood his current mood, so he simply let him be, knowing that he definitely wouldn't act this way when he saw the person later.

After a while, the gatekeeper came out with a somewhat hunched middle-aged man.

Deng Zechen thought the middle-aged man looked somewhat familiar, but he didn't recognize him until he got closer. He spoke first:

"Thank you for your help, Uncle Lin. I remember that when I first arrived at your residence three years ago, it was you who introduced me to your uncle."

Uncle Lin laughed, which made the wrinkles on his face appear even deeper.

"I'm old and useless now, but Young Master Deng is in his prime. I almost didn't recognize him."

"Uncle Lin, you have such a good memory. I've only been here once, and you still remember me after all this time."

Uncle Lin waved his hand and looked at Feng Ziming:

"Who is this?"

"My name is Feng Zimo. I am deeply grateful for Lord Lin's assistance, and I have come here today to express my gratitude in person."

The two followed Lin into the Lin residence. The three of them soon arrived at an elegant courtyard with a few clumps of green bamboo planted in it. Apart from that, there were no other plants decorating the place, but it did not feel desolate or bleak.

There were three or five servants busy in the courtyard. When they saw Uncle Lin, they stopped what they were doing and came up to greet him. After being greeted, they dispersed and went back to their work. It was very orderly.

The butler stood outside the door and respectfully announced through the carved wooden door, "Master, they have arrived."

As he spoke, he lowered his waist a few centimeters further.

Footsteps approached from inside the door, and the wooden door was soon opened.

A somewhat thin, refined man emerged from inside, dressed in a dark yellow brocade robe embroidered with symmetrical silver fishbone-like patterns. He shone brightly in the sunlight as he stepped out of the dimly lit room, as if he had suddenly come to life.

He looked very frail, with a thin face, and it was obvious that he was handsome when he was young.

Time seemed to have been exceptionally kind to him; apart from the white hair on his head, he didn't show much signs of aging.

Years of immersion in officialdom have given him a more upright and dignified air than the average scholar, revealing the demeanor of someone who has long held a high position.

Lin Ruhai saw Deng Zechen and seemed to realize something:

"Zechen has grown so much. Come in and talk to me."

"I've just grown a bit taller, I'm sorry to have made you laugh, Uncle."

Lin Ruhai turned and walked into the house, followed by Deng Zechen and Feng Ziming.

The room was furnished in a very understated manner, but Deng Zechen later saw some nice things, and the only thing he could recognize at this point was the ink stick on the table that had already been partially used.

This is Huizhou ink, which contains musk and gold leaf, and is mostly used for collection.

The Xuande paper and Huzhou purple pebbles on the desk are extremely luxurious and precious scholar's objects, but here they are just everyday items used by Lin Ruhai.

Lin Ruhai sat in the main seat, and Deng Zechen handed Lin Daiyu's family letter and the tonic gifts she had specially prepared to Lin Ruhai.

Lin Ruhai took the letter from home, placed the gift on the table beside him, ran his fingers over the envelope, and showed a gentle expression on his face.

"How is Yu'er doing in the capital?"

"Everything is fine, and she has even caught the eye of the Empress. The Empress has sent her personal nanny to take care of her."

"Don't worry, Uncle, no one will dare to speak ill of Miss Lin anymore."

Upon hearing Deng Zechen's words, Lin Ruhai's mind was in turmoil. Thinking about what he was doing, he inexplicably felt a desire to back down.

He thought of the loving times he had shared with his deceased wife, and at that moment he wished he could abandon everything and fly to the capital to be with his daughter.

Watch her grow up, and then send her off to get married.

But reason told him that although what he was doing was somewhat dangerous, it was also a support for the father and daughter.

In the end, I had no choice but to give up and bury these thoughts back in my heart.

Deng Zechen was unaware of Lin Ruhai's thoughts, and then took out the rare book he had specially collected:

"My uncle has been incredibly kind to me, and I owe a great debt of gratitude to the student who came to vouch for me for this prefectural examination."

This is a small token of my nephew's and my good friend's appreciation; please don't find it offensive, Uncle.

Feng Ziming was deeply moved, because all he had prepared were local specialties and stationery, which were far less valuable and thoughtful than the ancient books that Deng Zechen had prepared.

However, by presenting both of their gifts together, Deng Zechen undoubtedly increased the perceived value of his own items.

Lin Ruhai accepted the ancient book presented by Deng Zechen with both hands and stroked his beard with satisfaction.

The more I look at Deng Zechen, the more pleasing he seems to me.

At the time, Deng Zechen was still young and seemed like a child who acted maturely. If he hadn't later become the top scholar in the county, Lin Ruhai wouldn't have taken him seriously.

In just three short years, he has grown to be more outstanding than many children from wealthy and powerful families.

Lin Ruhai had also read Deng Zechen's article. As long as he performed consistently in this prefectural examination, he would definitely rank among the top.

"Good, good indeed, the younger generation is truly formidable." He then looked at Feng Ziming: "Are you also from Wu County?"

Feng Ziming quickly stood up and replied, "Yes, I am from the same hometown as Zechen, and I was fortunate enough to go to the capital to study under the care of my elders."

"Since you are from the same hometown and studied for the imperial examinations together, I hope to see you both pass the exams with flying colors."

"If we become classmates in the future, we should help each other out!"

The two men respectfully agreed. Lin Ruhai looked at the two young men, as if he had remembered something:

How old is Zechen?

Deng Zechen calculated the days, "After the prefectural examination, it will be about five or six months before I turn 16."

"You've reached the age of coming of age; has your uncle given you a courtesy name yet?"