The Red Chamber begins with a bastard

Chapter 198
After listening to Jia Huan's words of kindness and power, Lu Renjia, the magistrate of Yancheng County, became particularly attentive to his work. Not only did the logistics and supply work were in order, but he also specially gave up the county government office to Lin Ruhai for temporary residence and office. Then he took his family to live in a squire's house.

It is said that the day after Lin Ruhai entered the county seat of Yancheng County to live, the magistrate, tongzhi, and magistrates of Huai'an Prefecture, as well as the commander of Dahe Guard, the commanding tongzhi, and the commanding officer and other local military and political officials rushed from the prefecture to Shanyang County. Come and ask for help.

It's funny to say that Lin Ruhai was attacked by pirates and was trapped in a deserted village for a day and night. When his life was hanging by a thread, these local military and political officials were as if they were dead. Now that Lin Ruhai has escaped from danger, these local military and political officials have sprung up like mushrooms after a rain.

Of course, Shanyang County, the capital of Huai'an Prefecture, is hundreds of miles away from Yancheng County. These guys said that they rushed here as soon as they received the news and did not dare to delay at all. They probably wanted to prove this point, so they came in to see Lin Ruhai. At that time, everyone was dusty and sweaty.

Lin Ruhai was still ill, and after narrowly surviving this time, he was even more exhausted and depressed. Therefore, he only saw a few important ones from the endless stream of visiting officials, and turned away the rest. .

It was night, and the lights were still on in the study. Lin Ruhai, who had rested for two hours in the afternoon, seemed to be more energetic at this time. He spread a piece of bamboo paper on the desk and wrote with a pen: "Chen Lin Ruhai starts the memorial." …

After spending nearly half an hour, Lin Ruhai finally wrote a secret letter to Emperor Qian Sheng, carefully checked and polished it twice, then sealed it and put it in the folding box given by Yu, affixed the seal and stuffed it. In the yellow cloth bag, as long as it is delivered to the inn, there will be a special channel responsible for expediting it to the emperor.

This kind of folding box given by the emperor is specially used to present secrets to the emperor. It is only available to some special positions or ministers who are particularly favored. Moreover, the number of folding boxes often reflects that the minister is favored by the emperor. For example, Lin Ruhai had five such imperial gift folding boxes. It can be seen that Jian was indeed in the heart of the emperor, and it was no accident that he could serve as the censor of Yangzhou Salt Patrol for so many years.

However, all previous Yangzhou salt patrol censors were the emperor's eyes and ears. This position has been labeled, so local officials have always kept a respectful distance from the salt patrol censors. They did not dare to get too close to them, let alone bribe them. The salt patrol censor will also take the initiative to avoid getting too close to local officials to prevent any interest relationships.

Therefore, although Yangzhou's salt patrol censors were prosperous, they were lonely, and Lin Ruhai was no exception. He had been a salt patrol censor in Yangzhou for six or seven years and had no close friends in the officialdom, including the salt envoy Zhang Yitong. Although the two are familiar with each other, the relationship is more of a superior-subordinate relationship between supervisor and supervised.

Lin Ruhai had packed the secrets and was about to call someone to take them to the inn in the city when the door was knocked and she asked in a deep voice: "Who?"

"It's my daughter." Lin Daiyu's soft and gentle voice came from outside.

Lin Ruhai's expression softened and he said, "Come in!"

The door opened in response, and Lin Daiyu came in carrying a tray with a cup of ginseng tea on it. The smell of ginseng drifted in with the evening breeze.

"Father is busy with writing papers. Let's drink a cup of ginseng tea to relieve fatigue." Lin Daiyu brought the ginseng tea to Lin Ruhai and glanced at her father who was too thin to be human-shaped with a little worry.

Lin Ruhai used to have black and thick hair, but since being poisoned by chronic poisons, his hair has become dry, his eyes have become cloudy, his skin has become dull, and his beard has almost fallen off. I couldn't help but feel sad.

Lin Ruhai took the ginseng tea and took a sip, forcing a smile and saying, "Yu'er, why aren't you going to bed so late?"

"Isn't my father still asleep?" Lin Daiyu said lightly: "My father has not yet recovered from his illness, so he shouldn't work so hard. My daughter thinks that if her father resigns from office and has a good life, her daughter will be able to live happily ever after." filial piety."

Lin Ruhai smiled bitterly and shook his head: "Idiot, as the saying goes, people can't help themselves in the world, and how can they be in the officialdom? How can you say that you can just put it down if you have received favor from the emperor as a father and as a burden to the common people below?"

Lin Daiyu lowered her head in silence. At this time, she had changed back into women's clothes, but her eyebrows were as dark as distant mountains, her eyes were like autumn water. Her charming and delicate appearance was even better than that of Xizi, and her enchanting charm was not inferior to that of Luo Shen.

Lin Ruhai looked at his daughter who was as tall and graceful as a peony lying on dawn. It reminded him of his late wife Jia Min. He couldn't help but sighed secretly and said: "Yu'er, you have suffered. I really shouldn't have taken you with me on this trip." Those who came out suffered this disaster in vain, but fortunately escaped unscathed. If something goes wrong, I will teach my father how to explain it to your mother under Jiuquan!"

Lin Daiyu was already full of emotions. When she heard this, her eyes turned red and tears flowed out. She shook her head and sobbed: "Father does not need to blame himself. It is all because of his daughter's greed and stubbornness."

"Hey, you still don't change your habit of crying. Stop crying now, or you'll get sick from crying again." Lin Ruhai sighed.

Lin Daiyu couldn't bear her father's worry, and quickly wiped away her tears and said, "My daughter doesn't cry much anymore, but she just can't help it when she mentions her mother."

Lin Ruhai changed the topic with a strong smile and said: "As the saying goes, if you survive a disaster, you will be blessed later. Yu'er, if you suffered this disaster this time, things will go smoothly in the future. Moreover, your performance this time was beyond my father's expectations." , it can be seen that you have really grown up, and your father can feel more at ease from now on. When you return to Yangzhou, your father will arrange for someone to take you to Beijing and go back to your grandmother." Lin Daiyu's expression changed after hearing this, and she shook her head and said: " My daughter will not return to Beijing, so she will stay with her father to serve you."

Lin Ruhai frowned and said: "Firstly, it is not safe to stay with my father, and secondly, my father is busy with official duties and has no intention of taking care of him. My father is almost half a century old and has no intention of continuing the relationship. Moreover, you are sick and have no upbringing by your biological mother. You have no sisters or brothers to support you, and besides, your grandmother is over seventy years old. You can temporarily stay at your uncle's house, which can not only fulfill your filial piety for your mother during her lifetime, but also relieve your father's worries, so why don't you go?"

Lin Daiyu said with tears: "Now that my daughter is several years older, she is no longer able to take care of herself than she was back then, and her father has not recovered from his illness. How can my daughter bear to leave? To put it bluntly, although her grandmother is close, she is not as good as her biological parents. So, There are those who, instead of serving their father, move to Beijing to serve their grandmother. Besides, the grandmother has a house full of children and grandchildren, and there is no shortage of people around to fulfill her filial piety. However, the father has no children. When the daughter is gone, she is just a shadow. Isn’t it desolate? Teach your daughter the heart. How can you bear it? Even if the father thinks his daughter is annoying and wants to drive her to Beijing, he will wait until he recovers."

Hearing this, Lin Ruhai smiled bitterly and said, "My father, why have I ever found you annoying? It doesn't matter, you don't want to go to Beijing to depend on your uncle's family, and my father won't force you, but your brother Huan will probably go to Beijing by the end of this year."

Lin Daiyu was stunned and asked quickly: "Brother Huan is going to Beijing at the end of the year?"

Lin Ruhai nodded and said: "The Emperor's seventieth birthday will be next year. The Emperor will hold an additional provincial examination this autumn and August. Brother Huan, you have been studying diligently for the past three years. My father also specially studied him some time ago. With his current situation, If there are no accidents, passing the provincial examination is a sure thing. If Brother Ruo Huan makes it to the top of the list this autumn, he will naturally go to Beijing to participate in the Spring Festival Competition next year."

Lin Daiyu was surprised and happy when she heard this. Her father was a top-ranked scholar in the second ranking. Since even he thought that Jia Huan was of a certain standard, he could not be wrong.Great, Dapeng rises with the same wind in one day and soars to the ninth level. Brother Huan is finally going to get through all the hardships and get through!
However, Huandi will go to Beijing to participate in the Spring Festival Competition after passing the provincial examination in August. If he wins the Jinshi again next year, he will most likely stay in Beijing as an official or be sent to work outside. Then there will be very few opportunities in the future. See him again?

Thinking of this, Lin Daiyu couldn't help but feel lost, and her heart was extremely entangled.

Lin Ruhai glanced at her daughter, with mixed feelings in her heart. After all, she was a person who had been there before, so naturally she could see some clues. Her daughter was now in her prime years of love, and Brother Huan was such an excellent person. It was only normal for him to develop a good impression after spending time together. Smile Said: "How about Shi Yu'er accompanying Brother Huan to the capital? By then, my father's illness should be almost healed."

Lin Daiyu's face was slightly hot and she remained silent.When Lin Ruhai saw this, he was even more sure of his guess. He said with deep meaning: "Although brother Ru Huan is a concubine, he has the talents of a public minister. It is a pity that your second aunt is short-sighted after all and has made the relationship tense. If there is a problem in the future, If you have a chance, please turn around once or twice."

Lin Daiyu nodded absently, and said a little worriedly: "Brother Huan is vigorous and decisive in his actions, but he is inexperienced. After all, the people he took to Yangzhou this time are not gangsters. My daughter is worried that he will cause trouble. "

Lin Ruhai smiled and said: "Well, Yu'er, you are underestimating Brother Huan. He is bold in his actions, but he is also calm and alert. Don't worry, he will handle it well. It's a pity that he doesn't have a right-hand man around his father, otherwise he would be There’s no need to make Brother Huan run around and work so hard.”

While the father and daughter were talking, Lu Xiangsheng's voice came from outside the door: "Mr. Lin, He Baihu has an emergency and needs to report!"

It is said that Lin Ruhai admired Lu Xiangsheng very much, and since there was a shortage of manpower around him, he kept him by his side, mainly to protect his safety.

Lin Ruhai hurriedly asked Lin Daiyu to hide behind the bookshelf, and then ordered: "Come in!"

After leaning a little, Lu Xiangsheng walked in with He Zhensheng from the [-]th household. The latter's eyes were bloodshot and his face was filled with grief and indignation.

Lin Ruhai's heart skipped a beat, and she frowned and asked, "He Baihu, what happened?"

This He Zhensheng is one of the two hundred households loyal to Feng Ziying, and is now responsible for leading the troops stationed outside the city.

He Zhensheng said with red eyes: "Master Hui Lin, this afternoon, on your order, I sent someone back to Qianhu Station in Yunti Pass to escort Luo Qianhu and Lei Qianhu here. However, when the people sent by me returned to Qianhu At that time, it was discovered that Qianhu Station was actually attacked by thieves, and Feng Qianhu’s brothers who stayed behind, as well as Luo Bingzhang and Lei Dabiao... were all killed!"

Lin Ruhai's expression changed drastically, and Lin Daiyu, who was hiding behind the bookshelf, also trembled. This was obviously murder and silence. It was terrible. How big is the power behind this?

For a moment, Lin Daiyu was even more worried about Jia Huan, who was leading troops to Yangzhou for reinforcements. It was obvious that the enemy behind him had reached the point of being crazy and would do anything to achieve his goal.

(End of this chapter)