The Red Mansions

Chapter 223 Shi Xiangyun: Brother-in-law is young, brother-in-law is very powerful
"I've seen Second Master Yun!"

"Second Master Yun, stay safe and sound!"

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Second Master Yun!"

"..."

In front of the gate of Ningguo Mansion, people came and went, rubbing shoulders.

After seeing Jia Yun, many guests came forward to salute and say hello.

With a smile on her face, Jia Yun politely returned the salute to everyone.

Since he returned to the capital as an official, his reputation has grown and he has done several practical things related to people's livelihood.

For example, resettling refugees, cracking down on gangsters and eradicating evil, etc., are all visible to the common people.

In addition to setting up free schools in the clan, arranging errands for the clansmen, etc., the reputation gradually grew.

"Who is that person?"

"You don't know that? The newly established Master Juren in the third room of the Jia family has also become the official censor. I heard that he can manage both the soldiers and horses and the patrolling camp."

"It's amazing. He is in power at such a young age. No wonder so many people respect him."

"Hey, don't think he's just young and ruthless enough. You heard about the recent bandit suppression in Zhili Province? He arranged for the killing of people everywhere."

"Hiss! Good guy, look at his gentle and jade-like appearance, ordinary people really can't see that he is a ruthless one!"

"What is this? I heard that when he was the county magistrate in the south, he killed thousands of Japanese pirates! That's really ruthless, man!"

"..."

Jia Yun heard others whispering, smiled slightly, and didn't care.

Lai Sheng, the general manager of the Ningguo Mansion, came over to meet and lead the way in person after hearing the report from the servant.

Jia Yun and Xue Pan were taken to a side hall, where most of the respected clan members in the third room were also present.

"I've seen my ancestors! I've seen all the clan elders! The juniors are so polite!"

Jia Dailing stepped forward, supported Jia Yun, smiled and said:
"Brother Yun, you don't need to be too polite. You came just in time. Not long ago, Jia Zhen, the patriarch of the big house, came to discuss with me, and wanted to invite some old people in our third house to watch the ceremony."

Jia Yun was stunned for a moment, and said with a smile: "Then go, it's a great joy, it's good to go to watch the ceremony and see the excitement."

"Hehe, we think so too." Jia Dailing smiled and continued:
"Jia Zhen not only invited us, but also you. I agree to this on your behalf."

Jia Yun supported Jia Dailing to sit down, nodded and said: "Okay, then I will go with you later, as long as he invites you for this matter, he has to go."

"That's the reason..." Jia Dailing and many clansmen nodded in agreement.

As soon as he sat down, someone came to visit Jia Yun from time to time, said a few words to him, and then left.

Jia Yun was a little puzzled.

Not long ago, on Mother Jia's birthday, there were not so many people who came to say hello to him, and there are quite a few officials here today.

Why has it changed so much today?
Did something happen that he didn't know about?
"Old Ancestor, have you heard any rumors about the younger generation recently?" Jia Yun had time to ask Jia Dailing for advice.

He is not in the capital these few days, so the news is not closed, but there are always omissions.

Jia Dailing thought for a while, then shook his head and said, "Apart from hearing that the large-scale suppression of bandits in Beizhili was done by you, there seems to be no other rumors, but what's the trouble?"

"That's not true, it's just that the younger generation is a little confused and can't figure it out." Jia Yun replied.

Unable to figure it out, Jia Yun didn't think too much about it.

The boat is naturally straight when it reaches the bridge. Since these people have come to visit one after another, it shouldn't be a bad thing.

After sitting and drinking tea for a while, a servant from Ningguo Mansion came and said that Feng Ziying had invited Jia Yun and Xue Pan to drink at Huifang Garden.

"It's still early, why don't we go and sit down?" Xue Pan suggested.

Jia Yun pondered for a while, nodded and got up, and after talking to Jia Dailing and others, she went to Huifang Garden with Xue Pan.

"Over there, they drank it early!"

As soon as he stepped into Huifang Garden, Xue Pan pointed to the gazebo and said with a smile.

Jia Yun nodded.

Feng Ziying, Jia Lian, Jia Baoyu, Jia Qiang and others all gathered in the gazebo, which was quite lively.

At this time, ascend to the fairy tower.

A window was half covered, through which Shi Xiangyun saw Jia Yun and Xue Pan walking towards the gazebo.

"Ah! Look, brother-in-law is coming to visit Fangyuan!"

Shi Xiangyun folded his hands behind his back, startled, tilted his head and said with a smile.

Xue Baochai and other women who were sitting and talking all got up and watched from afar.

"Why did he come here so late?" Lin Daiyu asked suspiciously.

Xue Baochai murmured, "Perhaps something else has been delayed."

Xiren interjected: "The concubine heard that the master went to Yixue first."

"Who did you listen to?" Xue Baochai asked in surprise.

Xiren pursed his lips and smiled, "I heard what a little girl said."

It can be said that she has more eyeliner in Jia's mansion than Jia Yun's, which was arranged by her when she was not out of Jia's mansion.

"I really admire my brother-in-law, who is not much older than my cousin and my brother, but has already achieved fame." Xue Baoqin smiled.

Xue Baochai smiled, and said, "Which one counts as being successful? After your brother-in-law is admitted as a Jinshi, you can barely get along with him."

Having said that, there was a hint of pride on her face.

Shi Xiangyun rolled his eyes, and said angrily: "Sister Bao has the confidence to say such tough words!"

"But is it so easy to take the Jinshi exam? Many people get gray-haired in the exam, and they can't even pass the exam."

"Brother-in-law is so young, not only has he made a name for himself, but he has also become a royal censor. Isn't he very powerful?"

Lin Daiyu smiled, stepped forward and flicked Shi Xiangyun's forehead, and teased:
"You are a discerning girl, why don't you try it next year, let your adults go to the list to catch a son-in-law, and find a Jinshi master to come back to marry you, how about you bet on Sister Bao?"

Shi Xiangyun's face was blushing, she gritted her teeth, and said, "Bah, bah, bah! I don't want you to look for me, and all the Jinshi masters have white beards..."

"Don't worry, there are young ones too, hehe!" Lin Daiyu said with a smile.

Several girls nearby also echoed, and said around Shi Xiangyun one after another, let her find a Jinshi master to marry.

The crowd was chattering, Shi Xiangyun was ashamed and covered his face without saying a word. He really couldn't hide, so he ran to the corner of the wall to face the wall.

Seeing her like this, everyone burst into laughter and were overjoyed.

"See, sister Xiangyun has an idea, she really wants to find a Jinshi to marry!" Lin Daiyu covered her mouth and snickered.

Shi Xiangyun turned his head abruptly, his face was flushed red, his eyes widened, and he pouted and said:
"No, I'm afraid it's Sister Lin who wants to marry someone, but you were the one who said she wanted to marry a Jinshi, not me!"

Seeing that the two of them were about to quarrel again, Xue Baochai hurriedly said: "Okay, today is a happy day, we sisters finally got together, so don't make trouble again!"

"Hmph! Sister Lin was the one who made fun of me first!" Shi Xiangyun pursed his lips, and said that he was unreasonable.

Lin Daiyu rolled her eyes, and said angrily, "Am I making fun of you? Did I hit your heart? Otherwise, why are you so excited? Why are you reacting so strongly?"

"Oh, stop arguing, can't you talk well? You want to bicker!" Xue Baochai said helplessly, holding Lin Daiyu with one hand and Shi Xiangyun with the other.

Jia Tanchun and others also persuaded, if Lin Daiyu and Shi Xiangyun really want to fight, I am afraid that everyone will not be happy.

in the gazebo.

Everyone stood up to welcome Jia Yun and Xue Pan.

Jia Yun returned the salute one by one. After sitting down, he turned his nose and asked Jia Baoyu:
"Second Uncle Bao, are you sick?"

Jia Baoyu was taken aback when he heard the words, and asked doubtfully, "How do you say that?"

"Uh, I smelled a strong smell of medicine on Uncle Bao's body, so I was curious to ask." Jia Yun replied.

Jia Baoyu nodded with a smile and said, "I did feel unwell some time ago. After being diagnosed and treated by the imperial physician, I drank the decoction for a while, and now I feel almost better."

Jia Yun glanced at him a few times, and stopped asking any further questions, and only said, "Second Uncle Bao still needs to take care of his health, you must know that everything is too late..."

"This..." Jia Baoyu was stunned, feeling that there was something in Jia Yun's words, he pondered for a while, nodded and said: "Thank you, brother Yun, for your concern, I will pay attention."

At this time Feng Ziying poured wine for Jia Yun, put down the jug, and asked:
"Second Master Yun, there's been such a big commotion in Beizhili to suppress the bandits recently, what can we gain?"

Jia Yun glanced at him indifferently, and said with ulterior motives: "Others don't know, so Mr. Feng doesn't know?"

"Hehe, Second Master Yun thinks highly of me. I only know that the patrol battalion is suppressing bandits, but I don't have any specific news at all, so I'm a little curious." Feng Ziying gave a dry laugh and cupped her hands in reply.

Jia Yun smiled without saying a word, picked up her wine glass, and said to everyone: "I don't talk about business today, I just drink..."

Everyone sitting here is curious about the bandit suppression. After all, this is the biggest event in the whole of Beizhili this year. It would be a lie to say that they are not curious.

But Jia Yun didn't say anything, and it was difficult for everyone to ask questions, so they all raised their glasses and changed the subject to talk about other things.

Everyone was toasting and chatting, but they all restrained themselves.

After all, Jia Rong will welcome the new daughter-in-law later, and everyone has to go to see the excitement.

At three poles in the sun, a young servant came to report that the procession to greet the bride had already arrived on the streets of Ningrong Street.

Everyone put down their bowls, chopsticks and wine glasses, filed out, and went to the door to join in the fun.

The Xia family is an imperial merchant, and there is only one daughter like Xia Jingui, so they have prepared quite a lot for dowry.

On the streets of Ningrong, although the dowry goods are not red makeup, they meander all the time without seeing the end.

"Good guy, Brother Rong has made a lot of money this time!" Jia Qiang said with bright eyes.

Jia Cong laughed and said, "That's the bride's dowry, and it's not for Brother Rong. If he wants to use it, he has to get Miss Xia's consent!"

"That's the truth. I heard that the girl from the Xia family is not a good match." Feng Ziying nodded and said:
"Brother Rong wants to take some money from her to make happy, I'm afraid it will not be so easy."

Jia Qiang clicked his tongue twice, and said: "That's what you say, but if Brother Rong is really short of money, the Xia family girl will not ignore him, right?"

Feng Ziying said disapprovingly: "That's two different things, but Brother Rong is not short of money, right?"

"He is the eldest son and grandson of the Ningguo Mansion, so he doesn't have to do such a thing like being stabbed in the back."

"So how much Miss Xia's dowry is, it's just a matter of appearances! How can the property that is really under the box be displayed like this?"

Jia Qiang really wanted to say that Jia Rong was short of money, so she opened her mouth, but suddenly swallowed what she wanted to say.

Jia's mansion looks beautiful, but it is actually empty inside. Many people know this, and it is not a glorious thing.

Therefore, Jia Qiang was unwilling to argue for Jia Rong.

Just thinking about something, Jia Cong on the other side gently pulled Jia Qiang, winked, and asked in a low voice:
"The last time Miss Xia came to Ningguo Mansion dressed as a maid, what did she secretly say to you?"

Jia Qiang's face changed, her eyes widened, and she immediately retorted: "It's nothing, how have I ever seen her? You must be wrong!"

As he spoke, he looked around again, seeing that everyone else was focusing their attention on the street, he secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

"Cut! Brother Qiang, stop pretending to me, I'm not blind yet, if you don't tell me today, I'll show you off! Do you believe it or not?" Jia Cong said with his head raised and his mouth pouted.

Jia Qiang glanced at him with a livid face, pulled Jia Cong back, moved away from others, took a deep breath, and said viciously:

"I told you, you can't tell outside, or I will fight you hard!"

Jia Cong laughed, shook his head and said, "Don't worry, no matter what it is, I will keep my mouth shut and won't reveal anything."

Jia Qiang nodded, and whispered, "Miss Xia did come here dressed as a maid last time."

"She came to me quietly and said that as long as Brother Liu Yirong's movements, she would pay me ten taels of silver per month, which is much higher than the monthly rate, so I agreed."

Jia Cong was taken aback, and hurriedly said: "You bitch, you have such a good thing, but you only care about yourself, why don't you take me?"

"Do I dare to disclose this matter casually?" Jia Qiang glanced at him, and said angrily, "Furthermore, you are not afraid of people knowing, and being said that you help outsiders by helping others?"

Jia Cong nodded, pondered for a moment, and said disapprovingly: "Why are outsiders not outsiders? How can there be money? Besides, didn't Miss Xia pass the door today? From then on, she is no longer an outsider."

When Jia Qiang heard this, her expression softened, and she leaned forward and said, "I can't decide whether I can take you with me. After my sister-in-law comes in, I'll ask her again, how is it?"

"Okay, you must say good things for me! Don't you just stare at Brother Rong, I'm good at this!" Jia Cong's eyes lit up when he thought of the extra ten taels of silver a month.

Not far away, Jia Yun looked back.

Jia Cong and Jia Qiang whispered to each other, they could hide it from others, but they couldn't hide it from him.

Jia Yun didn't intend to expose the two of them, but admired the woman surnamed Xia, she was indeed an unruly person.

Before getting married, she dared to dress up as a maidservant to come to Jia Rong, and at the same time, she didn't want to put a nail on Jia Rong's side, which is indeed a bit different.

"It's no wonder that in the original book, Xue Pan was eaten to death by Xia Jingui. With such a scheming, how can Xue Pan, an idiot, beat her?" Jia Yun thought to herself.

At the same time, Jia Yun was also mourning for Jia Rong.

After beating such a daughter-in-law, I'm afraid life will be difficult in the future.

The most important thing is that Xia Jingui still holds the title deed of Ningrong Second Mansion, which is the most fatal place.

Soon, the welcoming team arrived at the gate of Ningguo Mansion.

The door is open, the firecrackers are blaring, and the music and drums are beating together. It's so lively...

(End of this chapter)