Dream of the Red Chamber: Eating, Sleeping, and Angering Baoyu

Jia Heng laughed wildly inside, but his face remained solemn, carrying a tragic air of "If I don't go to hell, who will?"

At this moment, Jia Baoyu's feelings could no longer be described as mere anger.

It was the ultimate humiliation!

Jia Heng's words sounded like he was trying to exonerate him and was being selfless.

But in reality, they are using a more noble approach to trample him into the mud!

Look at my younger brother, how good he is, how sensible, and how responsible he is!

And look at you, Jia Baoyu, you're just a useless piece of trash who only drags your brothers down and doesn't understand anything!

This is a million times more painful for him than beating him up!

"You...you..."

Jia Baoyu pointed at Jia Heng, trembling with anger, unable to utter a single word.

After a brief moment of shock, Jia Zheng was overwhelmed with unparalleled emotion and relief.

What a wonderful child!

This is true brotherly love and respect! This is truly the brilliance of our Jia family!

He quickly stepped forward and personally helped Jia Heng up.

"Good child, get up! This has nothing to do with you, it's all this wretched child's fault!"

Jia Zheng's voice even carried a hint of sob.

He patted Jia Heng on the shoulder, and when he turned to look at Jia Baoyu, that feeling of gratitude instantly turned into ten times the disgust.

"Did you see that! You wretched child! Open your dog eyes and look! This is your brother! This is the role model you should be learning from!"

"Look at yourself again! Besides fooling around with those girls and spouting nonsense, what else can you do? You've completely disgraced the Jia family!"

Jia Zheng grew increasingly angry, pointing at Jia Heng and saying to Jia Baoyu, "You kneel down right now! Apologize to your brother! Then learn properly what human relationships and social norms are, what brotherly love and respect are!"

How could the proud and arrogant Jia Baoyu kneel down and apologize to the person he hated most?

This is worse than killing him!

"I don't!"

Jia Baoyu stiffened his neck and squeezed out two words through gritted teeth.

In his eyes was an unyielding stubbornness that would rather die than submit.

"Good! Good! Good!"

Jia Zheng was so angry that he laughed and said "good" three times.

"This is outrageous! This is absolutely outrageous!"

His chest heaved violently, and he felt as if he could barely catch his breath.

"If I don't beat you to death today, I'm not worthy to be your father!"

Jia Zheng completely lost his mind. He raised the ruler in his hand high again and used all his strength to smash it hard on Jia Baoyu's back!

"Slap! Slap! Slap!"

Three strikes in quick succession, fast and ruthless, each one hitting the flesh!

Jia Baoyu could no longer hold on; his body went limp, and he collapsed to the ground.

"Father, no!"

Jia Heng once again rushed forward "without regard for his own safety," this time spreading his arms wide to protect Jia Baoyu.

"Father! You'll beat my second brother to death! Please, stop!"

His back was directly facing Jia Zheng's ruler.

The ruler that Jia Zheng held high froze in mid-air.

He looked at Jia Heng, who was protecting Jia Baoyu, and then at the ignorant little devil on the ground. He felt dizzy and his blood was boiling.

"You...you get up!"

Jia Zheng pointed at Jia Heng and shouted sternly.

"No!" Jia Heng's attitude was unusually firm. "Unless Father agrees to stop hitting Second Brother!"

The three men, father and sons, remained locked in a stalemate.

Jia Baoyu lay on the ground, his consciousness already somewhat blurred, the excruciating pain in his back almost causing him to faint.

But he could clearly feel that someone was protecting him.

It was Jia Heng.

This is the person he hates and despises the most.

An indescribable sense of humiliation and absurdity welled up inside him, making him feel worse than death.

"I... I don't need your help..."

Jia Baoyu said weakly.

Jia Heng, however, acted as if he hadn't heard him and continued to firmly protect him, saying to Jia Zheng, "Father, Second Brother has already realized his mistake, please forgive him this time!"

Jia Zheng was so angry at the scene before him that he trembled all over.

One that they desperately wanted to protect.

One of them was completely ungrateful.

Looking at the "good son" who was risking his life to protect his brother, and then at the "wicked child" on the ground who would rather die than submit, Jia Zheng felt a lump in his throat, unable to swallow it.

The ruler in his hand weighed over a thousand pounds.

In the end, Jia Zheng dejectedly lowered his arm, as if all his strength had been drained away, and staggered back two steps.

"That's enough, that's enough!"

He waved his hand, looking exhausted, and even glancing at Jia Baoyu made him feel agitated.

"Considering your brother pleaded for you, I'll spare you this time!"

Jia Zheng pointed at Jia Baoyu on the ground with a look of utter disappointment, each word seeming to be squeezed out from between his teeth.

Upon hearing this, Jia Heng immediately scrambled up from Jia Baoyu and nimbly ran to Jia Zheng's side, his face displaying just the right amount of gratitude and filial piety.

"Father is the most reasonable man imaginable! Your son thanks you on behalf of my second brother!"

His words were spoken with such sincerity and earnestness that it made Jia Zheng seem like some kind of wise and benevolent ruler who had made some extraordinary decision.

Looking at his obedient and sensible appearance, Jia Zheng felt a little comforted, and the pent-up anger in his chest dissipated somewhat.

He reached out and patted Jia Heng's arm, then turned his attention to Jia Baoyu.

"You wretched creature! Still lying on the ground pretending to be dead?!"

"Hurry up and thank your brother! If it weren't for him, I would have broken your legs today!"

Jia Baoyu lay on the ground, his back burning with pain, his head buzzing.

But every word Jia Zheng said clearly pierced his ears, making him feel even worse than being struck by a ruler.

Should I thank him?

Why should I thank Jia Heng, who stole my father, stole everyone's attention, and then pretended to protect me while making me suffer all kinds of humiliation?

"I……"

Jia Baoyu struggled, propping himself up with his elbows, his eyes burning with resentment beneath his disheveled hair.

He stared intently at Jia Heng's "sincere" face, feeling a wave of nausea.

"I don't!"

These two words almost exhausted all his strength.

[Ding! Negative emotion value from Jia Baoyu +200!]

[Ding! Negative emotion value from Jia Baoyu +100!]

A pleasant notification sound rang in Jia Heng's mind.

Cool!

So cool!

That's it! That's the kind of indomitable spirit we need! Give us more!

"You...you still dare to say no!"

Jia Zheng's anger, which had just subsided, suddenly flared up again, burning even more fiercely than before!

He raised the ruler again, as if to strike again.

"This is outrageous! It's a complete rebellion!"

But his raised hand stopped in mid-air.

Looking at Jia Baoyu's pale yet stubborn face, and at his expression that would never bow his head even if he were beaten to death, a deep sense of powerlessness washed over him.

beat?

If the fighting continues, the safety of the treasure may be jeopardized.

But if we don't fight, how can we vent our anger!

Jia Zheng's chest heaved violently, and finally, all his anger turned into a long sigh.

"Sigh... never mind!"

He put down the ruler, completely abandoning the idea of ​​making this unfilial son bow his head.

He couldn't control this son anymore.

Jia Zheng turned around, ignoring Jia Baoyu, and looked at Jia Heng instead.

"Heng'er, I'd like to send you to the clan school. Would you be willing?"

The clan school of the Rongguo Mansion, also called the charity school, was established for the children of the Jia family or the children and nephews of relatives and friends.

Should we go to the free school?

Jia Heng's heart stirred.

That's wonderful!

Jia Heng immediately bowed and greeted them, his face filled with undisguised joy and longing.

"Your son is willing! Your son couldn't be happier! Thank you, Father, for your kindness!"

His reaction contrasted sharply with Jia Baoyu's unruly nature.

The last bit of frustration in Jia Zheng's heart vanished, replaced by a feeling of great satisfaction.

Take a look!

This is how children should be!

This is Jia Zheng's son!