Love of Friends in the Red Chamber

In addition, because of the unfavorable things in the twelfth lunar month, especially the financial constraints, Rong Mansion's year was very perfunctory, and even when the family banquet was held on New Year's Eve, everyone could feel awkward and depressed, Madam Wang couldn't help but secretly secretly She complained that Baochai acted too hastily and made the public angry, but Jia Mu knew that the family affairs were dying, and it was a matter of life and death. After challenging the board, Baochai's reform of reducing personnel and reducing expenses was able to advance with difficulty.

However, Daiyu knows best that grandmother loves excitement and prosperity, and seeing her children and grandchildren living in depression is the most uncomfortable when she is old, so she subsidizes the expenses of Jiamu's house from time to time from the Lixiangyuan, so as not to make her grandmother feel wronged. She is always on the knees of Huan Huan, and Jia's mother feels a little comforted in her heart.

During the first month, Mrs. Xing, Mrs. Wang, Youshi, Sister Feng and Baochai continued to socialize every day, and there was a constant stream of relatives and friends at home. Daiyu was lazy since she was a child, and she hated crowds and excitement, so she didn't have guests and only stayed with Jiamu. By my side, I played with Tanchun, Xichun, Li Wan and others playing Go and wiping dominoes, but because Tanchun was about to get married, she was always in a trance, forced to smile, Xichun was even more withdrawn, and Li Wan was always reticent, so she encouraged Jia Mu He took Xiangyun from the historian and lived there for a few days.

Shi Xiangyun has also made an appointment with him. After the spring of the new year, Wei Ruolan, who will marry Lie Hou, Xiangyun is satisfied when he sees this person. Therefore, he is still as cheerful and free-spirited as before, and Jia Mu is very happy. .On the fifteenth day, Mother Jia took out 200 taels of silver herself, and asked Baochai to organize a banquet and order a new small play in Beijing. The old man will have a good day.Although Baochai felt ashamed and helpless, she had no choice but to accept the order with shame, and went down to prepare carefully. A total of ten seats were set up in the big flower hall on Jiamu's side. Among the relatives, only Aunt Xue and Aunt Lin were invited. Jia's mother lived in the east seat, accompanied by Xiangyun, Daiyu, Tanchun and Xichun, and the other female relatives sat down one by one.Inside and outside the corridor eaves and up and down the veranda are the men's seats. Baoyu and others sat with her father on the seat. Baoyu couldn't help feeling sad when she thought that she was in there with her sisters in the past, but she was afraid of her father's presence and dared not show her face. Sad look.

Then Jia Zheng looked around, but he didn't see Jia Cong, so he asked, "Where did Cong'er go?" Jia Lian replied, "Today is the official day for the Zhengshuo Grand Ceremony of the imperial court. All officials with real positions above the third rank must enter the palace. Congratulations, each yamen must have officials on duty, and today the Imperial Academy happens to be Cong's turn."

Jia Zheng nodded, and saw Jia Amnesty and Jia Zhen sitting at the table instead, thinking that no one from his family had participated in the imperial court's congratulatory ceremony for many years, and although there were two hereditary titles above the third rank, none of them were actual positions. Being content with the status quo and not seeking to make progress, the family business withered, and even the family banquet on the fifteenth day required Jia Mu to pay for it herself. She felt a pain in her heart and wanted to cry, so she had to lower her head and endure it. Singing "Mulian Rescue Mother", the actor on the stage sang with his water sleeves: "...I lament the desolation of Chun Mansion, but fortunately Xuan Tang is healthy, and the spring is brighter and brighter. I must treat Jing Chenghuan in a timely manner and considerate personnel... "It became more and more painful, and he couldn't sit still at the table, so he used the excuse of changing clothes, got up and left the table to relax outside.

The wind in the courtyard is clear and the moon is white, like mercury all over the ground, some noises can't be heard, and the sound of noise and joy in the hall in the distance can be faintly heard, as if in a dream.Jia Zheng looked up at the bright moon in the sky, sighed deeply for a while, and was about to go in depressed, when he suddenly heard voices speaking from the corridor.

He turned around to look, but saw that Baoyu was begging with a maid, and he couldn't help but feel a little inexplicable anger.That maid was Zijuan, and Baoyu was pulling Zijuan and refused to let go, so she said in a low voice, "Zijuan, at least because of our former friendship, let me and sister Lin talk alone—I will I am willing to die immediately..."

Zijuan broke free and said sternly: "What is Erye doing? Don't you think our girls are not bitter enough? Now that this is the case, we should live a good life by ourselves. Being so entangled like Erye, we only give It's useless for everyone to worry, if others hear and see, how will the second master and our girl behave in this mansion in the future?"

Baoyu burst into tears and said: "I really don't want to lose my heart. I can't help it. Zijuan, you have always known me. If I tell a half lie, I will die here immediately, turn into ashes, and blow away with the wind." ..." Zijuan sneered and said, "Second Lord, you don't need to say these words now. I used to hear cocoons when I followed the girl. Second Master only cares about his own troubles. Our girl is finally comfortable after two days. Days, I can't bear the second master to be so obscene, please let the second master let our girl go."

Baoyu's tears rolled down like broken beads. He had never been slapped like this before, and he said it was in the pain. He really wanted to die immediately Fang Ansheng.When he was in pain, he suddenly heard a loud voice in his ear: "You bastard..." He raised his tearful eyes, but saw Jia Zheng trembling with anger, pointing at him and rushing towards him tremblingly.Zicuckoo had already turned and walked away.

Baoyu had no intention of meeting Daiyu tonight, but when he was seated at the table, he caught a glimpse of Daiyu's Pingting silhouette from a distance, and all the previous feelings rushed into his heart, and he drank a few sips of wine, He couldn't suppress it for a while, and took a chance to grab Zijuan to express his heart. Seeing that his father was so angry that his face changed, he was so frightened that he also sobered up, and stood there dumbfounded, unable to say a word.

Jia Zheng rushed in front of Baoyu, knocked him to the ground with one palm, and kicked him again. Seeing that he was always sitting on the ground in a daze, he didn't admit his mistake or explain, and became more and more angry. He really wanted to kick him to death immediately evil creature.At this time, he suddenly heard a commotion in the flower hall, the play stopped, and he only shouted in succession: "...quickly set up the incense table...receive the order..." Jia Zheng was shocked for a moment, ignoring Baoyu, and hurried three times Back to the Flower Hall step by step.

Before entering the flower hall, I saw the housekeeper Lin Zhixiao running out in three steps and two steps. When he saw Jia Zhengxi, he said: "Master, go in quickly, the prince of Beijing is here to deliver the imperial decree." Going in, I saw that the banquet had been removed in the main room, and the incense table was set up. Relatives and friends stood around, suspicious, not knowing good or bad, feeling uneasy, and hurriedly came forward to kowtow to say hello.

The prince of Beijing smiled all over his face, helped Jia Zheng up, and said, "Please stand up, Mr. Zheng. Don't panic. This king didn't build the Tanfu today, but came here by order. It's a great joy—but I don't know how to pardon the old man." Where is it?" I saw Jia Cong standing behind the Prince of Beijing in a seven-rank official uniform, and at this moment replied: "My father is too weak to drink, so he went back to his room to rest. The family has already gone to invite him, and he will arrive in a while. Please wait a moment, the prince. .” Prince Beijing nodded and drank tea, chatting with Jia Zheng, Jia Zhen and others.

After another cup of tea, Jia Amnesty was finally supported by two family members. He smelled of alcohol and his clothes were disheveled. Jia Cong knew in his heart that this old and disrespectful father had touched him. Dun Lun went to the concubine's room, but was interrupted halfway, a little out of his wits, secretly smiling.

The prince of Beijing Jing was not surprised when he saw Jia She came here, he just stood up gracefully and said: "Jia She, Jia Cong listens." Jia She knelt tremblingly and kowtowed three times, long live.Jia Cong knelt behind his father, and the rest of the people knelt down to listen to the order.The Prince of Beijing held out the imperial decree and read it aloud: "By God's fortune, the emperor ordered that Jia Cong Zhongliang, the editor of the Imperial Academy, was educated, loyal to the country, and unconcerned about dangers. Jia She, the first-class hereditary general, inherited the virtues of the ancestors, taught his son well, and deeply comforted my heart. Jia She, the first-class general of the Jin Dynasty, was appointed as the third-class public. I hope that your father and son will work hard in the king's affairs, and do not owe my kindness. I respect this. "

Jia Amnesty was overjoyed, but he was still able to control it, and Xie En accepted the order.At this moment, Prince Bei Jing helped Jia She and Jia Cong up one by one with a smile on his face, and congratulated him.Could it be that other people were elated, especially Mrs. Xing, who was about to float into the clouds——she has been a first-class imperial order ever since.The family members originally held their breath and listened to the news in the inner room, but when they heard the decree, they all smiled, and Jia Mu repeatedly ordered to rearrange the banquet for the prince of Beijing.King Beijing Jing drank two cups at the table, then took his leave and returned to the palace to return to his orders.

Here Jia She and Jia Zheng and others asked Jia Cong why. Jia Cong only vaguely agreed that he should answer the decree.Mother Jia called Jia Cong in again, and ordered him to sit next to Daiyu, which was Baoyu's seat. Mrs. Wang felt sore and had nothing to say, so she could only pretend to smile, which was uglier than crying.

As a result, the drums and laughter inside and outside the flower hall were once again full of laughter. The host made such a great event out of thin air, and the big opera troupe put all their energy into singing and composing, expecting a generous reward.In the flower hall, Mother Jia held Daiyu in her arms, looked at Jia Cong, and greeted Jia Cong, and some family members brought in gold medals, colored satin, copybooks, sabers, and incense fans from the imperial family. Mother Jia looked at everything carefully and was delighted Without further ado, he ordered Haosheng to enshrine it in the ancestral hall. Jia Zhen agreed outside, and happily took people to do it in person.

After drinking for three rounds, Jia Amnesty got up and came in to toast Jia's mother. Except for Aunt Xue and Aunt Lin, everyone stood up and stood with their heads bowed. Starting from Jia Zheng, they also followed Jia Come in after amnesty.So Jia Amnesty held the cup and Jia Zheng held the pot, and the two knelt down to toast Jia Mu. Seeing them kneeling, they knelt on the ground in a flowery manner inside and outside the hall. Jia Mu took the wine glass with a smile, and said with a smile: " You can't be happy outside, so why come in and make their wives feel uncomfortable. It's just a vain courtesy."

Jia Amnesty then shook his head and said, "Old Ancestor, please drink this glass of wine. It's rare that today is a happy day, and the joy is even more joyful. My son didn't embarrass his ancestors. His real job, which was originally a hereditary demotion, was brought back by his son. First level, mother must not drink this cup?" Seeing that his face was covered with alcohol, Jia's mother took all the credit for being promoted to the noble, and couldn't help laughing angrily, but a son at such an age couldn't give him a cup of wine. She has no face, not to mention that the family affairs are not going well recently, finally there is such a happy event that makes people feel happy, and she is happy in her heart, so she drank the wine in the glass and said with a smile: "You are a father, but you only care about it. I'm happy, and I don't think that I got promoted because of my son's honor."

Jia Amnesty was not ashamed at all, he patted the shoulder of Jia Cong who was kneeling beside him, and said with a smile: "My good boy, it is not in vain for me to give birth to you, today is the glory of our ancestors." He twirled his beard and laughed Laughing, the grievances of the past were swept away, regardless of his younger brother and sister-in-law's appearance, especially Jia Zheng, he felt another feeling in his heart, he was happy that Jia Cong was born in the next generation. Promising disciples, at the same time, thinking of the secretive deeds that Baoyu had done just now made one's teeth chill, and it was as if a pot of ice and a pot of fire were put together in his heart, and all kinds of anger and resentment that hated iron but not steel gathered more and more , that face made Mrs. Wang frightened.