The Red Mansions

Chapter 279 The Correct Way to Open Lin Dangdang
Huifang Garden

Accompanied by Sister Feng and Li Wan, Jia's mother watched and talked about plum blossoms, while Xiangyun, Yingchun and Xichun went down to the attic, and under the care of a group of maids and women, they came to the plum tree and stone path to enjoy the snowy plums.

Qin Keqing and You Shi stood under the eaves of the verandah, talking to Aunt Xue and Baochai.

Third Sister You, who was on the side, looked Xiangling up and down, and thought to herself, this little girl is gentle and quiet, and the charm of her eyebrows and eyes is a bit like Grandma Heng.

Aunt Xue's expression was also somewhat strange, she was chatting homely with the charming beauty, she glanced at Xiangling out of the corner of her eye, she finally understood why Zhou Rui's family said that Xiangling looked like Brother Heng's daughter-in-law.

This appearance, eyebrows and eyes are somewhat similar.

Even Qin Keqing paid attention to Xiangling, and said with a smile: "Auntie, this little girl looks kind, did the rouge between her eyebrows come on, or did it come later?"

Xiangling was uncomfortable being looked at by several pairs of eyes, she lowered her head, and flinched behind Yinger.

Aunt Xue said with a smile: "This Rouge is born with it, this child is a bit timid."

Qin Keqing liked it a little, and said with a smile, "It's really rare."

Right now, Jia Heng is standing under the eaves, looking at Xiangyun, Tanchun, Yingchun and a few maidservants under the plum blossom tree, making snowmen with shovels. The innocent girls are like elves in the snow.

At that time, I suddenly smelled the fragrance floating, and when I looked back, I saw Daiyu wearing a red cloak, with picturesque eyebrows and eyes, stepping forward, and said softly: "Brother Heng, my father's letter from Yangzhou is for Heng Brother's."

As he spoke, a letter was handed over from the side.

Jia Heng stretched out his hand to take it, and said, "What did Uncle Lin say?"

Daiyu said softly, "I have never opened this letter."

Jia Heng was stunned for a moment, thought for a while, and said softly: "It's windy here, sister Lin followed me in and drank tea while talking, these few days, I just want to talk to my sister."

There was a slight smile on the jade-faced skin under Daiyu's head, and she responded.

While the two were talking, they folded their bodies and headed back towards the attic.

Sitting down behind a lacquered wooden table in the southeast corner, he ordered Qingwen to serve fragrant tea. Then Jia Heng opened the letter and read it intently. After a long time, his complexion gradually became serious.

In the letter, Lin Ruhai mainly expressed his gratitude to him for taking care of the orphan girl, and praised him for being young and promising. He echoed in the capital.

"It really is the heart of breaking the boat."

This letter is not only grateful, but also hidden in a further request for help.

"What did Daddy and Big Brother Heng say?" Dai Yu stared at Jia Heng with her starry eyes and asked.

Jia Heng said: "It's still a court matter."

Daiyu pinched the handkerchief with her small hand hidden in her sleeve, and said softly: "I heard that Brother Heng said that what my father is going to do is very dangerous."

Zijuan said softly: "Our girl has been thinking about it all the time. I haven't been able to eat well or sleep well recently, and my anger has been a little bit strong. I just think about Uncle Heng...can you tell me about the master in the south."

Daiyu stared at Zicuckoo slightly.

Just say what you want to do when you pause in the middle.

Jia Heng pondered for a moment, and said: "The disadvantages of the reform of salt work, the credit lies in the community, this matter, the imperial court and several elders are also paying close attention to this matter, and will not let Uncle Lin fight alone. I have already stated my interests to the Holy Majesty , and secretly sent people south to protect Uncle Lin, my sister can rest assured that even if it is not good to rectify the salt affairs, Uncle Lin will not lose anything."

Daiyu pursed her lips, and asked intently: "Does Brother Heng think that father can succeed?"

Jia Heng considered his words, and said: "It's not easy for Uncle Lin to do this, but he has to do it. Recently, there will be a palace report published by the imperial court. If Sister Lin is free, she can go with Third Sister come over."

Daiyu nodded, and said softly, "Thank you Brother Heng for your concern."

In the past, the government had nothing to do with my family, but now I feel that they are closely related.

Seeing that Daiyu lowered her eyes and remained silent, frowning to hide her worry, Jia Heng said in relief: "Don't worry, sister, I will pay attention to this matter and tell my sister about the situation."

Daiyu gave a "hmm".

Jia Heng smiled and said: "Sister, don't worry too much. Uncle Lin has been patrolling salt for several years, and he has worked hard. After this time, no matter whether the reform of salt affairs is successful or not, the Holy Majesty will appoint something else."

With Lin Ruhai's qualifications, it is almost enough to be an official in Beijing as a servant, but it is obvious that he does not have a good position.

If you want to join the cabinet, you need to govern a province.

Just when the two were talking, they heard a chuckle, and saw a plump and elegant girl walking up to her, with curious eyes in her clear eyes, she asked, "What are Brother Heng and Sister talking about?" .”

Xu is aware of Jia Heng's dislike for his cousin, maybe because he thinks his cousin is too distant, so Baochai imitated Daiyu and called Brother Heng.

As for brother...

After all, it was too intimate.

Jia Heng looked up at Baochai, a girl in a crane cloak, with smooth skin and elegant demeanor, and said softly: "I was talking to Sister Lin about the southern province. The imperial court is going to rectify the Lianghuai salt affairs. Uncle Lin is here Yangzhou is patrolling salt, and sister Lin is thinking about it."

It is not appropriate to keep calling Baochai by her boudoir name, but it is appropriate to call her sister Xue.

As Yuan Chun said, it was Xue and Lin who were different.

Baochai moistened her apricot eyes with condensed water, and said with a light smile, "Salt class, this is a major matter for the court."

I wanted to talk about official career and economics with this kind of "meat eater" who was "in the middle of state affairs", but because of my always hidden and clumsy temperament, I didn't know whether I should continue to talk.

After all, it was Jia Heng's age that had the upper hand and relieved Baochai of some of her psychological burden.

Jia Heng frowned and said: "The benefits of the salt tax account for several percent of the treasury's revenue every year. Now the country is facing internal and external troubles and financial difficulties. All insightful people want to promote reform and eliminate disadvantages, increase revenue and reduce expenditure. Uncle Lin is a capable official in governing the world." , want to make a difference in the salt affairs, but the shortcomings of the salt affairs in the Lianghuai and Huaihe Rivers are hard to recover.”

Baochai looked at the boy who was not more than one or two years older than her, and listened to him talking about state affairs, her apricot eyes were full of autumn water, and her heart was filled with emotion.

This is not the promotion of ordinary people in the later generations to control the government, but the high-ranking officials in the bureau talking about major policies.

Baochai thought for a while, looked at the young dignitary opposite, and said softly, "If you can rectify the salt affairs, if you can collect more taxes, the lives of the common people will be easier. I am on my way to Beijing, the fields are barren, and the smoke from cooking is rare. There are dishes, and the life of the common people has been quite difficult in the past two years."

Jia Heng nodded, and said: "Sister Xue's words are right, the court officials are also planning this matter."

Baochai was affirmed by the young man opposite, and she felt a little happy in her heart, and said: "Then it is a good thing to rectify the salt affairs."

Jia Heng pondered: "But the good things of the court, the good things of the common people..."

When Baochai heard the words, she blinked her eyes, restrained her heartbeat that had already accelerated, pretended not to care and said casually: "That's a bad thing in some people's eyes."

Jia Heng glanced at Baochai approvingly, and said, "By the way, in the eyes of those who benefit from it, this is a downright bad thing."

When Baochai heard the words, she felt happy, but she was stared at, and felt that the eyes were burning, so she looked away and said briskly, "That's the way things are in the world."

Not to mention Baochai, anyone who is interested in politics wants to know what these real decision makers are thinking?
What is the consideration and underlying logic to make a certain decision, the real view on a certain social phenomenon.

Daiyu listened to the two talking about political affairs, her eyelashes drooped, she pursed her lips, not knowing where to start.

This kind of official career and economics is not originally Daiyu's director, but Baochai usually pretends to be nonchalant, but actually pays attention to it.

Otherwise, he would never have said, "Brother Bao, you should also meet those officials who are slaughtered for a while."

Jia Heng said: "Sister Xue, how is the livelihood of the people in Jinling City?"

Baochai softly said: "Jinling has been prosperous since ancient times, but in the past two years, many people who can't eat have come to the city to beg. I heard that the harvest is not good."

Just hearing what Jia Heng was asking, he knew what Jia Heng was asking, but he didn't show his abilities.

Jia Heng nodded, and said: "The land in the south of the Yangtze River is still like this, and it is not surprising that the land of Sanfu is full of bandits."

Baochai hesitated for a moment, then asked: "Brother Heng, I heard that the north has not been very peaceful these years."

Jia Heng said: "Every year, the border is invaded. A few months ago, the eastern captives plundered the northern border. Our court is at a disadvantage in border affairs."

Baochai said softly, "Since I was a child, I have heard the barbarians in the north making a lot of noise."

Daiyu picked up the teacup, suddenly it seemed to be scalded, one of them lost her grip, loosened her hand, and the teacup fell on the table.

"pat..."

Fortunately, there is only half a cup of tea in the teacup, and it is not spilled everywhere.

Zijuan hurried forward and said, "Girl, let me come."

As he spoke, he took a towel and wiped the table.

Jia Heng turned to look at Daiyu, and said with concern: "Sister Lin, are you okay? Why are you so careless?"

Daiyu Chunshan looked at the starry eyes under her black eyebrows, and said softly: "It's not in the way, it's just that I was fascinated by listening to it just now."

Jia Heng: "..."

Why did he faintly feel that Daiyu was connoting him?
Now that he dared to hide the connotation of poking, he didn't even dare to think about what Daiyu would do in the future.

Baochai raised her eyes to look at the two, her eyes flickered, she was speechless for a moment.

Just when several people had different thoughts, they heard the laughter coming from outside, and Xiang Yun's giggling smile, and they entered the room arm in arm with Tan Chun, and said with a smile: "Sister Lin, Brother Heng , Sister Bao, why don't you go stubborn."

Jia Heng saw sweat on Xiangyun's forehead and temples. While talking, he was about to take off the cloak he was wearing, and said, "Sister Yun, don't take it off in a hurry. If you are exposed to the wind, you will catch cold easily. Qingwen will give them a few towels." Wipe off your sweat."

Baochai turned her eyes and said the same thing, "Sister Yun, your head is sweaty and blown by the cold wind, it's not just a joke."

Xiangyun smiled, but didn't take it off.

Daiyu pursed her lips and smiled, and stretched out her hand to say hello: "Yun'er, come quickly, I usually tell you that you don't listen, but now your sister Bao and brother Heng have both said it, and you still don't listen?"

Jia Heng: "???"

So, this is the correct way to open Lin Dangdang?

Baochai's apricot eyes were condensed, and above her snowy face and jade face, her smile faltered.

While Tanchun, Yingchun, Xichun, and Xiangyun were talking, they sat aside and sipped tea and talked.

Tanchun picked up the teacup and said softly: "Brother Heng, the teacher that sister Xichun studied painting has something to go back home, and her painting skills have been delayed for a few months."

Hearing this, Jia Heng turned her head to look at Xichun, only to see the young girl with bangs combing the air, Shaoyan, with picturesque eyebrows and cool demeanor, said: "If you want to learn painting, I will help you find a good teacher later .”

Xichun's crisp voice was somewhat cold and distant, and said: "Don't bother Master Heng, it's the same if I find some books to learn by myself."

These words were somewhat indifferent, Baochai, Daiyu, Xiangyun, and Tanchun were all taken aback.

Hearing this, Jia Heng raised her eyes to look at the arrogant little Lolita, she was silent for a moment, and said: "You originally came from Dongfu, speaking of which I am your elder brother, I should bother, although, you even Don't want to call me brother."

When Xichun heard the words, her small face paused slightly, her cherry lips moved, and she hesitated to speak.

Although she is from Dongfu, no matter in the past or now, why has Dongfu ever asked her?

In this matter between Uncle Heng and his elder brother, who is right and who is wrong, she will not help or not, but what is the meaning of right and wrong to her?
Jia Heng said softly: "Study painting hard, and I will hold an exhibition for you tomorrow. I heard that there was a female painter in the Song Dynasty named Hu Yuke, named Huizhai Layman, who once painted origami plum blossom pictures, cold plum and snow intentions, Take it as the admiration of future generations, you may not be able to do it in the future, and you have seen a lot of scenery today, go back and try to paint."

Hearing this, Xichun stared at it and said softly, "I'll try it."

Jia Heng nodded, turned to look at the big maid behind Xichun, Ruhua, and said: "Your girl is learning painting, what is missing, what is short, just come and look for me, if I am not here, just tell the third sister, turn back and go east." Here in the Fugongzhong, I will give your girl another two or two months to count as the usual expenses of learning painting."

If it was possible, he still hoped that Xichun could be brought to Dongfu.

In fact, Xichun and Yingchun may not have much fun in Rongfu.

Mother Jia's gaze was probably focused on Baoyu and Daiyu, but as for Yingchun and Xichun, they almost didn't have any sense of presence at all.

Why didn't Xichun develop the "cold-hearted, cruel-hearted" temperament in Youshi's mouth?

This is not Youshi's nonsense at all. In the original book, Sister Feng copied the Grand View Garden, and Xichun's maid was blamed for passing things on privately when she entered the painting, so Xichun said: "Beat, kill, or sell, take her there quickly. "

Is this something that a girl in her teens can say?

"You are so young, and you have developed such a withdrawn and cold temperament. No wonder you will become a monk in the future." Jia Heng looked deeply at Xichun, his face was obviously pink, but there was a layer of it frost color.

On the other side, listening to Jia Heng's words, Ru Hua responded with a smile.

Tan Chun smiled and said, "Fourth Sister, you are now a bimonthly case. For the rest of us, Brother Heng still loves you the most."

Hearing this, Xichun raised her delicate pink face, the frosty color on it seemed to have dissipated a bit, she peeked at Jia Heng with her bright eyes, but saw that the young man was sizing her up, and quickly hid away.

Xiangyun took Xichun's little hand and said with a smile: "Sister Xichun, it would be great if I had such a big brother."

Baochai laughed and said, "You were still calling Brother Heng just now."

Daiyu glanced at Tanchun in her starry eyes, and said with a light smile, "Sister Bao, I just don't know. I looked at Yun'er, and I was thinking about the monthly rule of two or two in January. Why don't you do it like Brother Heng said last time?" Go female guard."

Xiangyun said angrily, "Sister Lin is joking again."

Tanchun smiled and said, "She is usually a joker."

Although Baochai was puzzled, she knew it was just some people playing around in the past, so she took another look at Jia Heng and saw him smiling but said nothing.

Several girls gathered together, laughing and laughing constantly.

However, while talking and laughing, a woman from the outside came in to report and called out: "Old lady, Master Baoling sent someone to the West Mansion, saying that the Chinese New Year is coming soon, and he wants to take Miss Yun back to the manor."

All the people who were talking and laughing all suppressed their smiles.

(End of this chapter)