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

He showed no sign of it on his face, but instead stepped forward again, adopting the posture of a brother and brother, and continued to "persuade".

"Father, please don't say that. My brother... he really didn't mean it. Perhaps... perhaps I came too early and disturbed his peaceful sleep."

The way he said that made it sound like everything was his fault.

But to Jia Baoyu, this was nothing but crocodile tears, a blatant display of arrogance and irony!

What do you mean you came too early?

Isn't it just showing off your diligence to make me look lazy?

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

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

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

The negative value has skyrocketed again.

Jia Baoyu finally lost his temper, and he suddenly looked up and roared at Jia Heng.

"Shut up! You don't need to pretend here!"

This roar startled Jia Heng for a moment, and completely ignited Jia Zheng's anger.

"You wretched child!" Jia Zheng trembled with rage, pointing at Jia Baoyu's nose and cursing, "Look at the nonsense you're spouting! Your brother was just trying to help you out, and instead of being grateful, you're hurling insults at him! You...you ungrateful wretch!"

He grew angrier and angrier as he spoke, and suddenly raised his hand, his large palm about to slap Jia Baoyu across the face!

"what!"

The maids, including Xiren, gasped in shock.

Jia Baoyu was also terrified, staring blankly at the falling slap, forgetting even to dodge.

At this critical moment, Jia Heng rushed forward and grabbed Jia Zheng's arm, crying out, "Father, no! Absolutely not!"

He used all his strength to stop him, pleading, "Father, please calm down! If you get sick over such a trivial matter as school, wouldn't that only hurt your loved ones and please your enemies?"

"Furthermore, if you really hit your brother, wouldn't people laugh at our Jia family for having discord among the brothers and for our poor family discipline?"

Jia Zheng's hand was stopped by him, his chest heaving violently, clearly he was extremely angry.

He glared at Jia Baoyu, his eyes filled with a look that seemed to want to devour him alive.

Jia Heng continued his earnest persuasion: "Father, my brother was just confused for a moment. He knows he was wrong. Please forgive him this time. I promise I will always remind him so that this will never happen again."

His words were sincere and heartfelt, giving Jia Zheng a way out while portraying himself as a good younger brother who cared about the bigger picture and loved his elder brother.

Jia Zheng took a few deep breaths, and finally slowly lowered his raised arm.

He forcefully flung Jia Heng's hand away, pointed at Jia Baoyu on the bed, and shouted angrily, "Hmph! Listen to me! If it weren't for your brother Heng'er risking his life to plead for you today, you wouldn't have been able to avoid this beating!"

"Having such a sensible and understanding younger brother is a blessing you've accumulated over many lifetimes, yet you don't cherish it! Let me tell you, if you ever dare to show him the slightest disrespect again, I will not let you off easily!"

These words were more painful for Jia Baoyu than a direct slap in the face.

The father didn't beat him not because he felt sorry for him, but because of Jia Heng's "pleading".

All his dignity was trampled underfoot and crushed to pieces at this moment by Jia Zheng and Jia Heng.

On what grounds?

He is the beloved Second Master Bao, the apple of the old lady's eye! What is this younger brother from Jinling compared to him!

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

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

……

Jia Heng was overjoyed; his negative emotions were practically off the charts.

But his face still showed that troubled and worried look, and he even gave Jia Baoyu a reassuring expression that said, "Brother, don't be afraid."

Jia Zheng calmed down a little, but the matter was not over yet.

He turned his attention back to Jia Baoyu, his authoritative voice echoing in the room: "I'll ask you again, why did you plan to be late on your first day of school?"

Jia Baoyu's chest heaved.

He felt wronged.

So what if I'm late?

This father is always like this; he always likes to use rules to pressure people.

"What's the big deal about being late?" Jia Baoyu raised his head and looked directly at Jia Zheng.

His voice was filled with defiance.

He did not back down in the slightest.

He just wants to argue.

Jia Zheng was so angry that his beard stood on end.

He pointed at Jia Baoyu, his finger trembling uncontrollably, the fingertip shaking.

"What are you saying! Scholars value rules above all else. Respecting teachers and valuing their teachings is a child's duty! You actually think being late is no big deal? You're utterly hopeless!"

Jia Zheng roared.

Jia Baoyu sneered inwardly.

He doesn't believe in any of that talk of being dutiful or responsible. It's all just empty rhetoric.

"Can respecting teachers and valuing their teachings put food on the table?"

He blurted it out.

These words carried a rebellious tone.

He wanted to provoke Jia Zheng.

These words were spoken.

The room fell silent instantly, a deathly stillness.

Xi Ren and the others were so frightened that they dared not even breathe.

They knelt on the ground, their bodies trembling.

Jia Heng's lips curled up almost imperceptibly, a fleeting smile playing on his lips.

Jia Zheng's face turned a deep purplish-red, and he suddenly took a step forward.

He was furious.

"You...you wretched creature! You've gone too far!"

He raised his hand, this time even faster than before.

The slap, accompanied by a whooshing sound, flew straight towards Jia Baoyu's face with incredible speed.

Jia Baoyu had no time to react. He only saw a shadow looming over him.

He stood there, stunned, and even forgot to dodge.

"Father, absolutely not!"

Jia Heng rushed forward and grabbed Jia Zheng's waist tightly, using all his strength to hold on.

"My brother was just confused for a moment; he didn't watch what he said. That's not what he really meant. Father, please calm down!"

Jia Heng's voice was trembling with tears.

He held Jia Zheng tightly in his arms.

He acted with such sincerity that it seemed he was genuinely pleading for Jia Baoyu.

Jia Zheng was stopped by Jia Heng. He struggled for a moment, his chest heaving violently, and he trembled with anger.

"Confused? He's not confused! He's incorrigible! He's gotten too big for his britches and dares to talk back to me!"

Jia Zheng roared.

He pointed at Jia Baoyu, his finger almost poking Jia Baoyu's nose.

Jia Baoyu looked at Jia Heng.

His mind was in turmoil. This younger brother was pretending to be a good person, yet he was also stepping on him to rise to power. He felt like a clown, being manipulated by his younger brother.

[Ding! Negative emotion value from Jia Baoyu +150!]

[Ding! Negative emotion value from Jia Baoyu +150!]

Jia Heng was overjoyed, but negative comments rained down on him.

His face showed extreme anxiety, and he even squeezed out a few tears, which clung to his eyelashes.

"Father, my brother usually listens to you the most. He must be having some trouble adjusting today. Please give him another chance. I promise I will persuade him properly."

Jia Heng spoke with heartfelt sincerity, his words filled with pleading.

Jia Baoyu listened to Jia Heng's words.

He just felt nauseous.

What do you mean by "be obedient" or "advise him"? This is clearly a demonstration, this is clearly an insult.