The Red Chamber begins with a bastard

Chapter 151

After driving away Diao Yide's master and servant, Jia Huan couldn't help furrowing his brows deeply. It has been two years and three months since he established a hut here in October of the fourth year of Qiansheng. During this period, he went to Yangzhou three times to ask Lin Ruhai for advice. It was May of last year, and I stayed there for ten days before leaving. At that time, Butler Xiao was still there. Unexpectedly, he accidentally fell into the water and passed away. Now it should be that Diao Sheng who has become the butler.

As the saying goes, like a father, like a son, if the father is so unbearable, how can the son get better?Moreover, Diao Sheng is a slave, his father can afford a servant, wearing gold and silver, maybe he is digging the wall of the master's house like Lai Da, the big housekeeper of the Jia family, and pocketing his own money?
In addition, this stubborn old man dared to rob civilian women in broad daylight. It can be seen that he is also a master who is used to it. I don’t know how many bad things he has done to bully men and women in the name of Lin Ruhai. It seems that Lin Ruhai should be reminded as soon as possible To do that, the barn rats like Diao Sheng who guard and steal themselves must be cleaned up as soon as possible, otherwise they will not only lose money, but also tarnish their own reputation.

"Shitou, go to Xiaohezhuang to inquire about the origin of this tricky old man." Jia Huan ordered, after all, it is related to Lin Ruhai's reputation, so in order not to mistake the person, it is better to confirm first.

Shitou, the boy, usually likes to run to Xiaohe Village, chat with the villagers and have fun, so he happily accepted the order.

Seeing that Ping'er was still in Jia Huan's arms, Tie Hu tactfully returned to the open space in the maple forest to continue practicing his riding and shooting.

Jia Huan patted Ping'er's back and comforted him: "Don't be afraid, it's okay."

Ping'er was obviously still frightened at this time, and his delicate body was trembling slightly. He was ashamed, angry, and frightened and said: "I just scared my maid to death. I have lived here for more than two years and have always been in peace. I didn't expect to meet you today." Such an old bastard."

Jia Huan said softly: "Don't be afraid. This old bastard has broken his hands now and can no longer do evil in the future. Well, Sister Ping'er, you are frightened. You don't need to wash your clothes for now. You can go back to the house to rest. I will wash them myself later." .”

The third master's thoughtfulness made the maidservant's heart warm and sweet, and she felt a little bit reluctant to leave Jia Huan's embrace for a while.

For more than two years, although Ping'er has been serving Jia Huan in every possible way, due to the strict etiquette during the guarding period, the two of them seldom have any intimate behaviors, and they usually sleep in separate beds, unlike before. In Jia's mansion, Jia Huan would occasionally squeeze into her arms and share the bed.

But now, leaning in Jia Huan's arms, Ping'er suddenly realized that the third master had not only grown taller, but his chest had also broadened. He was strong and warm, giving people a sense of security. He was already a little man.

"Oh, third master, you...well, maidservant... I'd better wash the clothes first!" Ping'er obviously sensed something strange at this time, blushing immediately, leaving someone's arms like a frightened rabbit, and ran to the river. Continue to do laundry.

Jia Huan couldn't help sweating, such a lively and charming maid was surrounded by her all day long, she was unable to do what she wanted before, but now this tool for committing crimes has the ability to commit crimes, if one day she can't help it, it would be a crime, but fortunately , The filial piety period is about to end.

It is worth mentioning here that the three years of filial piety mentioned by the ancients is not really three years, but actually 27 months, because Confucianism generally believes that children are weaned at 27 months of age, and 27 months of filial piety is the most important thing. It is to repay the 27 months of nurturing.

Counting from October of the fourth year of Qiansheng to February of the seventh year of Qiansheng, it is exactly 27 months. In other words, at the end of this month, Jia Huan's three-year filial piety period will come to an end.

Let’s talk about the guy Shitou coming to Xiaohezhuang, and the villagers here know him, and Jia Huan usually writes family letters for the villagers for free, so he is very popular in Xiaohezhuang. After inquiring about the origin, I heard clearly and clearly.

About half an hour later, Shitou returned to the thatched cottage and reported: "Third Master, I have inquired clearly. The perverted old man's name is Diao Shiba. Now he has changed his name to Diao Yide. He was an idle man when he was young. Later he left the village for dozens of years. Years ago, I suddenly came back from outside a few days ago. I held a feast for three days and distributed money to the villagers. I heard that I was planning to buy land to build a big house. Hey, it seems that his son Diao Sheng really made a lot of money! "

Jia Huan couldn't help frowning, a mere butler, if he only relied on that little monthly money, it would be absolutely impossible for him to be so rich, so there must be something wrong with this Diao Sheng, if it wasn't for filling his own pockets, then it was through Lin Ruhai's inspection of the salt censor Mingtou is fishing for money outside.

Next, Jia Huandang even wrote a letter to Xing Wei, telling him to send it to Lin Ruhai after returning to the city, so as to explain the matter so that he can deal with it as soon as possible.It was night, in the old house of Diao's family in Xiaohezhuang, Diao Yide's hands had been bound with splints, and tied up straight with bandages, just like a boiled crab.The severed hands of Diao Fu and Diao Lu were also splinted, and they waited on the left and the right. They looked like the second general Huo Ha next to General Crab, which looked very funny.

At this moment, Diao Yide asked bitterly: "What is the background of that kid? Can you find out clearly?"

Diao Fu said with a mournful face: "I have inquired clearly. This person's name is Jia Huan. He has a reputation as a scholar. He buried his mother's coffin in the maple leaf forest three years ago. Since then, he has built a house here to guard the tomb and patrolled the salt in Yangzhou. The censor is his uncle."

Diao Yide's heart suddenly turned cold, and he lost his voice: "This kid is not only famous, but also Lin Ruhai's nephew?"

At this time, Diao Lu also added with a mournful face: "Not only that, it is said that this kid comes from the Rongguo Mansion and is a child of the Jia family!"

Diao Yide couldn't help shivering shiveringly. The Jia family is the head of the four major families in Jinling, one family and two dukes. Although some accidents happened a few years ago, the title of the Ningguo Mansion was cut off, but the Rongguo Mansion had another The girl was conferred the title of concubine, and now that the Jia family's momentum has risen again, how can I afford to offend her, I'm afraid the loss I suffered this time will be for nothing.

At this time, Diao Fu said anxiously: "By the way, when you fainted, master, that boy warned us that he would break our hands and feet if he saw us in the area of ​​Xiaohezhuang in the future, what should we do? "

Diao Yide hated and feared at the same time, gritted his teeth and said, "You can still hold your arms over your thighs, what can you do?"

Diao Yide originally wanted to sue the officials, but now that he had found out about Jia Huan's background, he didn't dare to fart. He left Xiaohe Village in despair the next day, and went straight back to Yangzhou by boat to find his son Diao Sheng, crying. .

As for how Diao Yide cried to his son, I won’t show it here for the time being. In a blink of an eye, February is over, the wild peach tree by the river is full of flowers, the branches are full of green peaches, and the weather is getting worse and worse. warmed up.

In the early morning of this day, the weather was fine, and the warm spring breeze was blowing gently. Three horses and a carriage slowly drove out of the maple forest, rolled over the long road of fragrant grass, and drove upstream along the river. Pass the ancient stone bridge, and then go in the direction of Jinling City.

Ping'er lightly lifted the curtain of the carriage, looked towards the grassy road, but saw that Xiaohezhuang had disappeared under the cover of trees, the meandering river and the familiar maple forest were still there. It was vaguely visible, and for a moment, I couldn't help but feel a lot of emotion, and my heart was full of knots.

I thought back then that when I accompanied the third master to this place, it was late autumn, when all the trees were slack, and the forests were all dyed. Now when I leave, it is the late spring, when everything is flourishing and full of vitality.It has been three years in a blink of an eye, how time flies, and I feel a little bit sad to leave now.

Although the past three years have been very difficult, is it not a unique memory that is worth reminiscing for a lifetime?

The village girl Zhao Shuifeng stood on the ancient stone bridge, watching the carriage and the boy go away, crying until the carriage disappeared from sight, then wiped away her tears and continued to do the never-ending farm work.

Life is like this, many beautiful encounters are doomed to have no results, those who pass by in a hurry in your life will only be passers-by in the end, fate is determined, and it is not unreasonable.

(End of this chapter)