Master of Karma in the Red Chamber

"That's right, that's the fault. The deepest part of the stream didn't reach his knees. He just lay there with his head down and drowned, probably because he couldn't use his strength at that time. After reporting to the official, the yamen It took a long time for people to investigate and inquire, so we delayed our return." Jia Rong explained.

"Okay, I got it, I'll spare you for now." Jia Zhen asked him a more concerned question, "Why did your grandfather return home suddenly? How long do you plan to stay?"

Jia Rong shook her head, expressing that she didn't know about it.

Jia Zhen urged Jia Rong to ask now.

When Jia Rong arrived at Fulu Hall, Yan Liang was drinking tea on the newly installed Arhat couch in the center of the courtyard.The servants are busy going to and from the main hall, moving furniture.

Today's weather is cool in the morning, and the sun is just right at noon, neither warm nor hot.Yan Liang covered his eyes with a paper fan, basking in the sun comfortably.It was warm and comfortable.

Jia Rong looked at the lazy grandfather on the couch, always feeling apprehensive.After a long while, I finally decided to go over to pay my respects.

"Speak up if you have something to say." Yan Liang took off his fan and sat up.His back was naturally very straight, and his eyes were fearless when looking at people, and the opponent couldn't help but weaken a little bit in terms of momentum.

Jia Rong lowered her head timidly, hesitated for a while, and then said in a low voice: "The house is preparing to cut winter clothes, and my father asked me to ask what style you like. Besides, there are some furs at home, red and white. Yes, there are black ones, what color does grandpa like?"

"Just do whatever you want, you don't need to ask me about such trivial matters." Yan Liang raised his eyes and glanced over, and suddenly yelled loudly.

Jia Rong knelt down on the ground, kowtowed to Yan Liang with a guilty conscience, and confessed honestly, "The grandson didn't mean to lie, it was indeed the father who asked the grandson to inquire about the news."

"Then your father is really dishonest." Yan Liang glanced past Jia Rong, got up and walked towards the two boys who moved the bookcase, "Stop."

The two boys hurriedly put down the cabinet and apologized to the master in fear.

After the incident with Mrs. Gou this morning, everyone was afraid of provoking the evil spirit of this master, so they dared not neglect.

Jia Rong now knew that he had misunderstood, and regretfully scolded him for being stupid. Now, he sold his father out, and he would definitely be beaten up later.

Yan Liang ordered the servant to put down the bookcase, looked around carefully, and then sent the idlers in the yard to leave.

Jia Rong hadn't left yet, kneeling there, sneaking glances at Yan Liang from time to time.

"Go away." Yan Liang narrowed his eyes.

Jia Rong fled quickly.

Only then did Yan Liang bend down, and removed the side panel on the bottom left corner from the bottom.Sure enough, it was hollow, and a letter was placed inside.

Could it be Jia Zhen's?

Yan Liang opened the letter and saw a list with eight names on it, none of which he was familiar with.Yan Liang quickly folded the letter, put it in his arms, and personally ordered a servant to burn the bookcase.

"Master, this rosewood bookcase was left by the old man when he was old. It is very valuable, so it really burned like this?" Wu Qiumao looked at the old man innocently, feeling that it was a pity.

Yan Liang sat back on the arhat couch and cast a cold glance at him.

Wu Qiumao was shocked, knowing that he was talkative, he raised his hand and slapped himself, apologizing to the master, and then quickly led someone to burn the bookcase.On the way, I ran into Lai Er. He heard that the master was going to burn such a good thing, so he insisted on snatching it and keeping it for himself, and asked Wu Qiumao to keep it a secret.

Lai Er was a serious chief executive in Ningfu, and Wu Qiumao dared not offend him.But after thinking about it calmly, he was still afraid after all, so he bravely begged Lai Erlai to return the things to him so that he could burn them.

……

After dinner, Yan Liang, in the name of reminiscing about the past, called several elderly servants in the family to chat.When people are old, they like to mention the past.As long as Yan Liang gives a little guidance, these people will tell the old stories of Ning Mansion one by one.Yan Liang took the opportunity to mention the names on the list interspersedly, and two of them were recognized, one was Zhu Qiyun and the other was Li Xun.The two of them are not very good now, one is demoted to Yunnan, and the other resigns and returns to his hometown.But five years ago, did the two of them ever worship soldiers in the capital and serve as ministers of the Ministry of Rites.

Yan Liang can be sure that this list does not belong to Jia Zhen, not to mention that he was a child five years ago, even now, with his level, it is impossible to make friends with ministers of that sample level.

The list must have been left by Jia Jing himself.

Yan Liang also learned from a Nanny Wu that Jia Jing once had a relationship with a Prince Shun, and it seemed to be a secret relationship.

Seeing that Nanny Wu didn't know much, Yan Liang didn't ask any more questions and sent him back.Nanny Wu saluted solemnly, and casually mentioned to Yan Liang about her unfilial son Wu Qiumao.

Yan Liang smiled: "I forgot, he is your son, he looks like a good boy."

After leaving Nanny Wu, Yan Liang sat before going back to the case and sorted out the books.As for the list, we have to put it aside for a while and check it later.He has just returned to Ning Mansion now, and he doesn't have any cronies around him to handle matters, so it's really not easy to act rashly.

"master!"

Wu Qiumao entered the door out of breath, and explained how Lai Er robbed the bookcase, "The little one is incompetent, I couldn't stop him!"

"Look up and show me," Yan Liang laughed when he saw that Wu Qiumao's nose bridge was swollen, but the smile was a bit chilly.

Wu Qiumao got furious and kowtowed to make amends, "Lai Er is the big manager, he has a lot of face, and when he argues with him, he gets beaten up. Everyone advised me to just turn a blind eye and close one. If you are not convinced, the younger one will do what the master promises to do."

Yan Liang asked Wu Qiumao, "Who is Lai Er?"

At first Wu Qiumao thought that the master had forgotten about this person and wanted to explain, but after thinking about it, he was wrong. The master was telling himself that Lai Er was nothing to him.

"You take Jiao Da together to deal with him, and say it's my order. Whoever dares to help, let him and Lai Er get out of the mansion together." Yan Liang only came back for a long time, and he already knew about Jiao Da from the mouth of the old servant.It sounds like a difficult character, and it's best to be difficult to difficult.Moreover, he was the one who saved the old man's life, as long as he showed his prestige, none of the servants could hold him back.

Wu Qiumao secretly sighed in his heart that the master is powerful, and went away in a hurry.

Lai Er never thought that Wu Qiumao, an unknown servant, would dare to disobey him.He was so angry that he was about to kick Wu Qiumao, and he cursed, "I usually take care of you again and again for Madam Wu's sake, but I didn't expect to raise a white-eyed wolf who would sue the master behind my back. Kill you! You think that you are in the limelight in front of the master, and the position of the chief executive is yours, you are dreaming! Who am I? The master has relied on it for many years, and I will make amends in front of the master and say that you have a bad intention to frame me. I will see Whether the master believes in you or in me."

Everyone rolled up their sleeves and reached out to help Lai Er catch Wu Qiumao.

Wu Qiumao was not stupid, so he ran out quickly, calling Jiao Da while running.

Jiao Da ran over and turned to these people with a wooden stick in his hand, "You bastards, you want to be kicked out of the mansion, don't you? The master just told me to beat Lai Er out of the mansion! Can anyone help?" , who is guilty of the same crime! Come, who dares, come and try!"

Jiao Da's eyes were wide open and he left a message, and his voice soared to the sky. This momentum immediately frightened everyone, and they all stood there obediently, not daring to make a sound.

Jiao Da asked Wu Qiumao to repeat the master's instructions again, so that everyone could hear them clearly, and shouted loudly: "You two, give me the stick to beat Lai Er out of the house!"

Lai Er panicked and wanted to argue with the master.Jiao Dazao had had enough of this guy's anger, so he was not allowed to be arrogant, so he beat him himself, and pushed him out of the Ning Mansion all the way.

What kind of person is Lai Er? Her mother, Nanny Lai, is someone who respects even the old ladies of the Rong Mansion, and his elder brother is also the chief manager of the Rong Mansion. The family-born children earned in these three lifetimes are not just empty talk.

Lai Er refused to accept, he listened to the master's orders with his own ears, and always felt that he was framed.Then she cried and ran back to find her mother, begging for elder brother.

……

On her birthday, there was an incident of beating Jia Zhen. Mother Jia heard about it from Jia Zheng afterwards, so she wanted to ask about it.Later, when Mother Jia heard from Nanny Lai that Master Jing had driven away Lai Da, she really couldn't sit still.Two days later, she asked Mrs. Wang to find a reason to drink in the mansion to enjoy the autumn scenery, and invited Yan Liang to come.

Yan Liang was dressed in a dignified blue shirt, asked someone to prepare a small gift, and went to Rong Mansion to pay a visit.This was the first time he visited his elders after he came back from Xuanzhen Temple, and it was appropriate to prepare the ceremony more formally.

Jia's mother was very happy, and invited Yan Liang to sit down. After a few words of courtesy, Jia's mother mentioned Jia Zhen, "I heard that you beat that child? Is there anything you can't talk about, you have to use a stick. Zhen'er is so old , isn't it a baby of how old, if you hate him, you are afraid of hurting the relationship between father and son?"

"If you don't fight, you don't see how deep the relationship is. You should have seen it. On the day of my birthday, he didn't wait to ask me for news, and he opened the banquet without permission, looking for fun. How can there be any filial piety? How can there be any filial piety for me? Birthday?"

Yan Liang's continuous questioning made Jia's mother speechless for a while.

Jia's mother was silent for a while, and said solemnly to Yan Liang, "It's indeed the child's fault, but you shouldn't hit him if you see him. You should save some face for him. You, why are you doing Xuanzhen meditation? After two years, my temper became even more aggressive."

"So it's not suitable for me there, I'm back." Yan Liang smiled politely and looked at Jia Mu.

Mother Jia reluctantly nodded, and then said to him: "Let's not mention this matter, what's the matter with Lai Er? Yesterday his mother came to me crying and complained, but I didn't believe it. How could you be willing to send such a handy person out of the house?" What about it? The Lai family has always been loyal to our Rongning and Ningxia prefectures, if you do this, you will make people feel cold!"

"Stealing the owner's property, if it exceeds a hundred taels, you will be killed with a rod." Yan Liang repeated the laws and regulations he had just read yesterday, and then said to Jia Mu in a cold tone, "That bookcase is worth at least a thousand taels, enough to kill him." It's been ten times, and it's already a great favor to just send out the mansion, so what else can I do? Is it possible that I will tolerate and raise traitors and raise a bunch of thieves in Ning Mansion, so that I don't feel like they are going to hurt their servants? After all, I am the master, Are they still serving people? I paid for them, and I want to serve them comfortably, what's the reason for that!"

"This..." Mother Jia turned to look at Mrs. Wang with an ugly expression on her face.

"It's because Lai Er was just confused for a while. He felt that it was a pity that the bookcase was missing. He just wanted to keep it. It's not a steal. The eldest brother thinks it's serious." Mrs. Wang hurriedly apologized with a smile.

Jia Mu immediately nodded in agreement.

"No matter how I dispose of my things, whether I put them there or burn them, they are still my things. Stealing is stealing, and there are few reasons and excuses. It is still stealing. Is there any explanation?" Yan Liang asked in surprise Sweeping over Mrs. Wang and looking at Mother Jia, "I don't understand. He is a servant, how can he have such a big face to ask you to intercede? If so, I dare not use it, but I can't change it. "

"The more you talk, the more stubborn you are! Forget it, don't mention him, it's his fault." Mother Jia said helplessly.

Yan Liang kept a cold face and didn't answer.these people.There are so many evil causes planted in my body, and I still have the mind to care about others, so I really have nothing to do.Next time, he won't have such patience.

The scene was slightly embarrassing. In order to ease the atmosphere, Jia Mu sent Baoyu to salute Jia Amnesty with a smile.

"When you left, this child was only so old that he still couldn't speak clearly. Look at him now, he can do anything." Jia Mu said happily.

Baoyu obediently ran up to Yan Liang, saluted him, and smiled at him.Xiao Baoyu's eyeballs are black and white, clear to the bottom, and her cheeks are white and tender. Anyone who sees her can't help but want to touch and hug her.

Yan Liang glared at him, and only said: "Excuse me."

Baoyu glanced at Jiamu hesitantly.

Jia Mu smiled: "This child is born. Good boy, go quickly, and go to Uncle Jing's arms."

The moment Xiaotuanzi plunged into his arms, Yan Liang pressed his head with his hand, patted his head vigorously, and praised Baoyu: "Good, sensible."

Baoyu was patted so that her body trembled, and when she met Yan Liang's eyes, she felt timid, and ran pitifully into Jia Mu's arms and hid.

"Look at you, you're naughty." Mother Jia took Baoyu into her arms strangely, and turned to Yan Liang, "Pearl has gone to school and won't be back until later. It just so happens that your two brothers are taking a rest today. The wine is waiting for you."

Yan Liang nodded and got up to say goodbye.

Mother Jia suddenly remembered something, and called Jia Jing to stop: "A few days ago, I mentioned to Zhen'er that it would be cheaper to take his sister to me to raise him. It happens that I have nothing to do all day long, and there are many girls here. Keeping her company. How do you feel?"

Baoyu was overjoyed, and blinked expectantly, looking at Yan Liang eagerly.

"Now that I'm back, don't bother him." The cause of not teaching children planted in Jia Jing was eliminated by himself.After Yan Liang refused lightly, he turned around and left.

Looking at Yan Liang's back, Jia's mother was a little disappointed and even more sullen.Fortunately, Mrs. Wang and others comforted me, so I got better.