Dream of the Red Chamber: Rising from Refugees to Sweep Across the Land

Chapter 95 Lin Daiyu: Do you really think I don't know your little schemes?

"Girl, look at these plum blossoms, aren't they beautiful?"

"It's rare that you still think of me; at least my love for you wasn't wasted."

"Then you should thank me. I picked all these plum blossoms myself, branch by branch." Liu Feng put down his teacup and looked at Lin Daiyu with a smile.

Lin Daiyu smiled and ignored him, instead pulling Xiangling along to examine the plum blossoms petal by petal and branch by branch.

Liu Feng smiled.

Just before leaving, he suddenly remembered the plum blossoms, so he broke off a few branches, put them in a vase for Lin Daiyu, and gave them away.

Seeing Lin Daiyu, Xiangling, Qingwen, Zijuan, and Xueyan chatting and laughing around the plum blossoms, Liu Feng turned to talk to Granny Wang and asked her how Lin Daiyu was doing lately and if she needed anything.

Just like in the original novel, Grandmother Jia did not mistreat Lin Daiyu materially, and doted on her as if she were her own granddaughter.

Xiren was worried that her brother would also lose his other leg, so she stayed by Jia Baoyu's side every step of the way, not letting him have a chance to wander around Lin Daiyu.

Without the harassment of the big-faced brat, Lin Daiyu lived a peaceful and carefree life, spending her days reading, chatting and laughing with her sisters, and doing needlework.

Hearing that Lin Daiyu was doing well, Liu Feng nodded in satisfaction and casually opened the wooden box beside him, which was full of loose silver and copper coins.

"It's the end of the year, and wealthy families like the Jia family often reward their servants when they're in a good mood. We can't just stand by and watch; we can't let people gossip about our Lin family. If they reward us, we should reward them too..."

'

With that, Liu Feng waved his hand generously, "Money's no object!"

Granny Wang understood that Liu Feng knew about what was happening here.

She's been feeling really stifled these past few days!

Ever since the Xue family moved into the Rongguo Mansion, they've been spending lavishly to win over the Jia family's servants. Logically, this shouldn't concern them. However, the Jia family's servants are notoriously difficult and sharp-tongued, and behind their backs they gossip about the Lin family, implying that the Lin family isn't even as generous as the merchant-turned-Xue family.

This infuriated Granny Wang.

Lin Daiyu glanced this way, said nothing, picked up the largest and most vibrant plum blossom branch and handed it to Zijuan: "Take this to the old lady..."

""

Liu Feng was displeased: "I specially broke off this branch to save for you to put in a vase in your bedroom."

Lin Daiyu ignored him. She turned and called in the maids and servants outside: "Take this branch to the First Madam's room, and this one to the Second Madam..."

""

"Hey, they don't even like you, why bother trying to be nice to them..."

""

Lin Daiyu pretended not to hear and continued distributing: "...This is for Second Sister, this is for Third Sister, and this branch is for Little Sister Xichun..."

""

Liu Feng had already counted the number of people and folded the branches. The ladies and young misses of the East and West Mansions, along with the Xue family mother and daughter, each received one branch. The larger branch was reserved for Lin Daiyu to keep in her bedroom.

Lin Daiyu took the last plum blossom, hesitated for a moment, and handed it to an old woman: "There is a vase on my desk in my study. Take it, fill it with water, arrange this plum blossom in it, and send it to Miss Shi... Go find Ping'er and ask her to arrange for someone to send it to you."

In the blink of an eye, only a few petals remained in the two bamboo baskets of plum blossoms.

Liu Feng looked at her and smiled: "You've thought of everyone else, but you're the only one suffering. Aren't you stupid?"

Lin Daiyu wrinkled her cute little nose and walked over.

Liu Feng patted the chair next to him: "Come sit down, I have something important to discuss with you."

Lin Daiyu hesitated for a moment, but eventually sat down next to him.

Liu Feng smiled smugly, thinking, "Little Lin Daiyu, I can crush her with my bare hands."

Lin Daiyu glanced at him sideways, a look that seemed both mocking and amused, her eyes sparkling with intelligence: Do you really think I don't know your little schemes?

Liu Feng's smile froze on his face; being too clever isn't always a good thing.

Granny Wang observed all of this, and recalling Liu Ma's words, her smile deepened. She picked up the wooden box, "Miss, this money..."

""

Fearing that the young lady might be too shy to accept the money, Liu Feng quickly said, "Before you went to the capital, Lord Lin specially wrote a letter and also sent a draft."

Lin Daiyu knew perfectly well that Liu Feng was trying to coax her. She wanted to refuse, but when she caught a glimpse of the expectation in his eyes, her heart softened, and she nodded gently.

Before Liu Feng could say anything, she quickly added, "This is a one-time exception."

Liu Feng smiled inwardly. What do you mean by "never again"? I'm not under your jurisdiction.

Lin Daiyu took out a bank draft from her sleeve and gently pushed it in front of him: "This was sent by Zhou Rui's wife."

Liu Feng stuffed it directly into his arms.

"You just said you had something to do, what is it?" Lin Daiyu asked.

Liu Feng didn't respond to that question. Instead, he pulled a piece of paper from his sleeve and unfolded it on the coffee table.

Lin Daiyu looked at the ugly and hastily drawn painting with a face full of doubt.

Liu Feng was slightly taken aback: "Don't understand?"

Lin Daiyu, being an honest child, nodded.

"How can you not understand it? Take another look!" Liu Feng said anxiously.

Lin Daiyu hesitated for a moment: "These are... blueprints?"

Xiangling, who was standing nearby, couldn't hold back any longer: "This is the back garden that Second Master painted... This is a pond, and next to it is a pavilion. Look at this earthworm, it's a long corridor..."

""

"What earthworm!" Liu Feng lost face and glared at Xiang Ling.

"Oh—" Lin Daiyu drawled, "So that's why there were earthworms, it's the corridor..." She covered her mouth and laughed.

This laugh was so loud that everyone burst into laughter.

Liu Feng himself laughed.

After arguing for a while, Liu Feng shared his thoughts.

Lin Daiyu's eyes lit up, and she saw Liu Feng tap the drawing a few more times with his fingertip: "These two mounds, this depression, and these two... I'm planning to plant something. You're well-read, what do you think we should plant?"

"Me?" Lin Daiyu hesitated for a moment, then shook her head. "Never mind, you should think about it yourself."

"I'm just a simple man, how could I think of such things? If you make it look nice and tidy, you'll be proud to invite the old ladies and young women to enjoy the scenery. Besides, this is your home too."

Lin Daiyu blushed instantly, glared at him, but ultimately couldn't resist the temptation. After a moment's hesitation, she pointed to the blueprint:

The hill to the east is best planted with green bamboo and red plum blossoms—green bamboo is evergreen throughout the year, and red plum blossoms brave the snow in winter, both possessing admirable character. The hill to the west is suitable for planting crabapple and hibiscus; in spring, one can enjoy the crabapple blossoms, and in autumn, appreciate the hibiscus...

In their excitement, their hands unconsciously touched.

Lin Daiyu recoiled as if electrocuted, her face instantly turning bright red, a blush spreading from her ears to her neck.

She lowered her eyes and didn't dare to look up for a long time.

Liu Feng glanced at Granny Wang, coughed lightly, and pointed to the low-lying area: "Then... what about here?"

Lin Daiyu composed herself before continuing, "The low-lying area is damp, so it's perfect for planting banana trees. In summer, you can listen to the rain, and with a wisteria trellis hanging down, it's very tranquil." As she spoke, she pointed to the open space to the south, "This place is sunny, so plant a few pear trees here, interspersed with peonies. The pear blossoms are pure white, and the peonies are vibrant; one delicate and the other bright, it would be quite interesting."

"What about the north side?" Liu Feng asked.

"Plant osmanthus and wintersweet on the shady north side. The osmanthus will be sweet and fragrant in autumn, and the wintersweet will brave the frost in winter. In this way, you will have crabapple, pear and peony in spring, banana and wisteria in summer, hibiscus and osmanthus in autumn, and plum and wintersweet in winter. You will have something for everyone in all four seasons."

Liu Feng laughed: "You're a scholar after all, you've thought of everything so thoroughly."

Lin Daiyu smiled, her blush still lingering on her face, and glanced at the blueprint again before falling silent.

The atmosphere suddenly became awkward.

Liu Feng folded the blueprints and put them in his pocket before explaining his purpose, exaggerating the dangers of Jiangnan.

Lin Daiyu was no innocent and obedient girl like Jia Yingchun; she glared at Liu Feng with annoyance.

Tsk, this girl is really hard to fool!

Liu Feng rolled his eyes and leaned closer to Lin Daiyu's ear.

Lin Daiyu was so frightened that she quickly retreated.

"I'm not a tiger, why are you hiding..." Liu Feng realized what was happening and coughed, "Come closer, I want to say something to you."

Lin Daiyu shook her head: "Just say what you want to say."

'

"Say it directly?" Liu Feng raised an eyebrow.

Lin Daiyu nodded.

You chose it, Lin Daiyu!

Liu Feng glanced around; seeing no outsiders, he blurted out, "Let them make a scene. It would be best if Lord Lin quit this lousy official position and came to the capital to enjoy a life of leisure. I'll buy the house next door too, and then bring you over, and we'll be a family..."

""

"What nonsense are you talking about!" Lin Daiyu's face flushed red as she glared at him angrily.

Granny Wang spoke up: "Second Master, be careful what you say."

Liu Feng felt a little guilty. Wasn't what he just said just blatant flirting with Lin Daiyu?

"Bao-guniang is here!"

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