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

Jia Baoyu felt as if a ball of cotton was stuck in his chest, unable to go up or down.

He abruptly pushed aside the bowl in front of him, causing the steamed egg with milk to spill out and splatter across half the table.

"I'm not eating!"

He suddenly stood up, his handsome face flushed red, and he practically fled in panic.

Xi Ren and the others were shocked and dared not give chase. They could only frantically clean up the mess on the table.

Jia Heng casually picked up another pine nut and goose fat roll and ate it slowly, as if everything that had just happened had nothing to do with him.

[Ding! Host, well done! Jia Baoyu's self-esteem has taken a tiny, minor blow!]

The system's voice even carried a hint of excitement.

Just then, a pretty maidservant wearing a blue vest walked in from outside. It was none other than Yuanyang, the most trusted maidservant of Grandmother Jia.

"Greetings to Third Master Heng." Yuanyang curtsied gracefully. "The matriarch is thinking of Third Master and specially sent me to ask if Third Master is comfortable in his residence and if he has enough servants."

When Xiren and the others saw Yuanyang, they all greeted her respectfully.

Yuanyang's status in the Jia family was much higher than that of the maids.

Jia Heng put down his chopsticks, wiped his mouth with a napkin, stood up, and gave Yuanyang a gentle smile.

"Thank you for making this trip, Sister Yuanyang."

His attitude was humble and polite, without any airs of a master, which made Yuanyang feel good about him.

"Young Master Heng, you're too kind. The matriarch instructed me to take you there personally to select a few maids to suit your taste and to arrange your accommodations."

"Alright." Jia Heng nodded, then turned to Xiren and said, "Sister Xiren, I'll go with Sister Yuanyang first. Please take care of Brother Baoyu."

Xi Ren quickly replied, "Young Master Heng, don't worry."

Jia Heng then followed Yuanyang out of the Yihong Courtyard.

Jia Baoyu stormed back to his room, threw himself onto the bed, and covered his head with the quilt.

As soon as he left, the atmosphere in the room immediately became much more relaxed.

As Xiren watched Jia Heng's departing figure, she felt a mix of emotions.

This young master Heng, who has just returned to the manor, looks gentle and refined, but his actions are full of an unyielding force. He can make Master Bao jump up and down with just a few words, yet you can't find a single fault with him.

This method is far superior to that of Young Master Bao.

Jia Heng followed Yuanyang toward Grandmother Jia's room.

Along the way, he asked questions about this and that, seemingly casually.

"Sister Yuanyang, this garden looks really big. I haven't been back for eight years, and I almost don't recognize it anymore."

Yuanyang replied with a smile, "Young Master Heng was still young when he left home, so it's understandable that he might not remember. The garden has been renovated in recent years, and many new scenic spots have been added."

"Our ancestors were truly blessed to live in such a wonderful place. Every day, looking at these flowers and plants made them feel so happy."

"That's right, our ancestors loved a lively atmosphere and enjoyed having their children and grandchildren around."

Jia Heng subtly probed for information, seemingly engaging in casual conversation while actually rapidly absorbing details about the Jia family.

Yuanyang was a confidante of Grandmother Jia, and the information obtained from her was far more accurate than what was heard from other maids.

Before long, the two arrived at Grandmother Jia's Rongqing Hall.

Upon entering the room, you can smell a faint sandalwood scent.

Grandmother Jia was reclining on the couch, with two maids massaging her legs.

"Grandmother!" Jia Heng stepped forward and bowed deeply, "Grandson greets Grandmother."

As soon as Grandmother Jia saw him, she beamed and beckoned him over.

"Get up, my dear grandson, come to me."

Jia Heng did as he was told and went to the bedside. Grandmother Jia took his hand and looked him up and down, becoming more and more satisfied with him.

"Did you have breakfast at Baoyu's?"

"I've used it. Thanks to our ancestors, my grandson is eating very well."

"That's good, that's good." Grandmother Jia patted his hand, then said to Yuanyang, "Bring them up and let your Third Master choose for himself."

Yuanyang responded, and soon, a row of seven or eight maids walked in from outside the door. Each of them was beautiful and delicate, and they stood in a row with their heads bowed and eyes lowered.

Jia Heng's gaze swept over them one by one.

These maids are of much higher quality than those bought from outside. They are all the best among the servants born into the family, trained from a young age, and their manners and etiquette are impeccable.

His gaze finally settled on a maid wearing a peach-colored vest.

The maid was slender with narrow shoulders and a tall, graceful figure, and her eyes held a hint of unruliness; she was none other than Qingwen.

[Oh, isn't this Qingwen! The one who would become Baoyu's darling, the one who was eventually driven out by Lady Wang and died of illness.]

The system sighed in his mind.

Jia Heng had a plan in mind.

He loves poaching people from other companies.

In particular, they undermined Jia Baoyu's career.

He pointed at Qingwen, then casually pointed to a seemingly honest and dutiful maid next to him.

"Let's take the two of them."

The honest maid who was chosen was named Qiu Xiang, and a look of joy immediately appeared on her face.

Qingwen merely raised her eyelids slightly, seemingly unsurprised by the result, yet showing little joy.

Grandmother Jia was somewhat surprised.

"Only two? That's too few. You're a mistress now, and if you don't have four or five head maids and seven or eight junior maids serving you, people will laugh at you."

Jia Heng shook his head and replied earnestly, "Grandfather, I think two are enough."

"I'm a grown man, and I only do mundane things like dressing and eating every day. I don't need so many people to wait on me. Too many people would just make it noisy."

He paused, then continued, "Furthermore, supporting another person in the household means more expenses. Although my grandson doesn't know how to manage a household, he understands the principle of increasing income and reducing expenditure. We are born into a wealthy family, so we should cherish our blessings and not be extravagant."

These words were spoken with utmost sincerity and resounding conviction.

Grandmother Jia was stunned for a moment, then her eyes were full of approval.

"Good! Good boy! Well said!"

Having lived to such an old age, this was the first time she had ever heard a younger person say such things.

Then, thinking about Baoyu, who only knew how to mingle with girls, demanded food and drink all day long, and would smash jade at the slightest displeasure, Grandmother Jia immediately realized who was superior.

This grandson is such a sensible child!

"You child, you really...you really warm my heart," Grandmother Jia said with emotion. "You and your mischievous brother are like heaven and earth."

Jia Heng chuckled inwardly, but outwardly feigned fear.

"Grandmother, please don't say that. Brother Baoyu is just naturally kind and innocent, much more insightful than your grandson."

The more "humble" he was, the more Jia Mu thought of him.

"Alright, since you only want two, then so be it." Grandmother Jia made the final decision. "Yuanyang, you personally take Hengge'er to choose a courtyard, somewhere near me, close by so I can keep an eye on him."

"Yes," Yuanyang replied respectfully.

Jia Heng thanked Grandmother Jia again, and then, accompanied by his two newly appointed maids, Qingwen and Qiuxiang, went with Yuanyang to choose a place to stay.

Grandmother Jia's courtyard was very large, with several empty side rooms on the east and west sides, all of which were kept very clean.

Yuanyang first showed him a room on the east side.

"Third Master, this room is bright and spacious, and there's a small courtyard in front where you can put a bamboo couch to cool off in the summer."

The room was indeed nice, bright and clean, and the furniture was all top-notch.

Jia Heng said, "This one is nice, let's take this one."

Yuanyang said, "Young Master Heng, wouldn't you like to choose some more?"

Jia Heng said, "I trust Sister Yuanyang's judgment. If Sister Yuanyang says this place is excellent, then it must be excellent."