The Red Chamber begins with a bastard

Chapter 31

Although the two prefectures of Rongning and Ningxia have declined in recent years, they are still the family of the founding heroes, the home of Zhongming Dingshi, so the New Year’s ostentation is really not small. Since the eighth day of the twelfth lunar month, they have started to prepare for the New Year. It may not be possible to have this kind of glory.

In addition, Zhuangtou Wu Jinxiao of Heishan Village also donated a large amount of game and livestock to Jia's mansion years ago, delicacies and seafood, live chickens, ducks, geese, fresh fish, dried fruits, refined grains and brown rice, and charcoal of various colors.

On the 29th day of the twelfth lunar month, the two mansions of Rongning and Ningxia were replaced with door gods, couplets, hanging signs and peach charms. Since Jia’s ancestral hall was in Ningguo Mansion, Ningguo Mansion started from the gate, Yimen, hall, warm pavilion, inner hall, inner three gates, inner instrument gate and inner hanging flower gate, until the main hall.

On the early morning of the 31st, Jia's mother took an eight-person sedan chair and led all the wives of Jia's mansion into the palace to congratulate them. After saluting and receiving a banquet, they returned to the mansion. Then came the Jia family's worship activities. The grandeur really opened Jia Huan's horizons, so I won't repeat them here.

After the sacrificial offering, Jia Jing, Jia She, and Jia Zheng, Jia Zhen, Jia Baoyu, Jia Huan, Jia Cong, Jia Rong, Jia Qiang, Jia Lan, and Jia Zhu, all of Jia’s writing generations, led Jia Zhen, Jia Baoyu, Jia Lan, Jia Zhu, etc. to pay New Year’s greetings to Jia’s mother, and then sat down separately for men and women.

Before the banquet, there was an episode, that is, the younger generation knelt down to pay New Year greetings to the elders in charge. Although Jia Huan was unhappy with this, he could only do as the Romans did. Fortunately, after kowtowing, he would get lucky money. After a round, he got nearly 30 taels of lucky money. In this way, Jia Huan was very happy, and he even had something to say, but unfortunately there were no more elders to let him kowtow, so he could only pocket the 30 taels of silver. For the first time, the savings exceeded 100 taels, reaching 110 taels, which is equivalent to 11 RMB. For a kid who is only seven years old, it is undoubtedly a huge sum of money.

When the lights are on and the fireworks are bright, the family reunion dinner in Jia’s mansion has finally officially started. All kinds of delicacies from mountains and seas are served like flowing water, and the clansmen of the same generation gather together to drink happily, which is really enjoyable.

"Uncle Huan, I heard that one of your paintings is worth ten taels of silver. Is it true?" The four-year-old little Jia Lan was sitting on Jia Huan's right hand side, looking at Jia Huan with curious eyes.

Jia Huan smiled and said: "Don't listen to other people's nonsense, if my paintings are so valuable, wouldn't they be making a lot of money?"

Jia Lan seemed relieved when he heard the words, nodded and said seriously: "So it's fake, I didn't really believe it, if a painting by Uncle Huan is really worth ten taels of silver, it would be enough to become famous."

Jia Huan asked with a smile: "Lan'er, do you really want to be famous?"

Jia Lan blushed slightly, and said a little embarrassedly: "My mother said that you should study early and become famous in time. My father was a scholar when he was 14 years old. Lan'er should follow his father as an example. Even if he is not as good as his father, he can't be too far behind."

Jia Baoyu is the elder brother, sitting next to Jia Huan and Jia Lan, he couldn't help frowning after hearing the conversation between the two, "Lan'er, how old are you, and you've already been infected with all these evil spirits?"

Jia Lan couldn't help but blushed, and argued aggrievedly: "Uncle Bao's words are wrong. As a man, he should study and make progress, be a leader, honor the lintel, and shelter future generations. If it weren't for the founding achievements of our ancestors, how could we be as prosperous as we are today?"

Jia Huan secretly gave a thumbs up, look, the four-year-old Jia Lan is even more clear than Jia Baoyu, this kid hates official career and economics, he only knows how to spend his days in the rich and gentle village, and finally he is confused by life.

Jia Baoyu turned his head disapprovingly, as if disdainful to refute Jia Lan, a brat. The latter blushed even more, but his elders were orderly. Jia Baoyu was his direct uncle, so he didn't dare to make a mistake. If Jia Baoyu hadn't been known for his good temper, he didn't even dare to refute just now.

At this time, Jia Baoyu turned his head to Jia Huan and said, "Huan'er, I've seen your painting. Although it's not worth ten taels of silver, it's still very good."

Jia Huan was a little surprised and said, "Have you seen it?"

Jia Baoyu nodded and said, "I've seen the portrait you drew for Third Sister. It's very good and lifelike. After the New Year, you can also draw a portrait for me and Sister Lin, but I want the one with color."

Jia Huan couldn't help but rolled his eyes secretly, what a face, did I promise you?Do you really think that the whole world has to revolve around you, Second Master Bao?Talking and laughing: "Let's talk about it, from the first day to the fifteenth day of the new year, there should be no time to greet and send off."

Jia Baoyu hummed and said, "That's true, but you don't have to worry. Sister Lin and I will ask you to draw after the Lantern Festival."

I'm in a hurry!
Jia Huan couldn't help but laugh, but after thinking about it, he was relieved. At this time, Jia Baoyu was only a nine-year-old boy after all, and he had been spoiled since he was a child. Everyone flocked to him and responded to every request. Naturally, he didn't think that he would reject him, and he might even think that it was an honor for him to ask him to paint!

Come on, Jia Huan didn't bother to argue with him and continued to enjoy the food.

After the banquet, all members of the Jia family left the table to leave one after another, leaving only the relatives of Rongning and Ningfu.Mother Jia ordered people to remove the banquets and screens, and replaced them with various fruit snacks. The family sat around, chatting and watching the new year, while admiring the fireworks set off by the servants.

Mother Jia, who is in her 60s, was dressed gracefully tonight, with a ruddy complexion and high spirits. She was obviously in high spirits. She proposed to play drumming to pass flowers. When the drums stopped, whoever got the flowers had to tell a joke. As a result, the first round passed to Jia Zheng.

Jia Zheng has always been serious, but in order to make the old mother happy, he told a joke about his henpeck, which amused everyone. Seeing this, the elder Jia She also told a joke about "the old woman is partial" and alluded to Jia's mother, which naturally aroused Jia's displeasure, and the atmosphere was once awkward.

Wang Xifeng rolled his eyes, changed the topic and said, "Tonight is New Year's Eve, and it's rare for the whole family to get together. Why don't the master take this opportunity to pay attention to the younger generation?"

As soon as this remark came out, everyone couldn't help being moved, and most of them subconsciously turned their attention to Jia Baoyu.

If Jia Baoyu is described as "there are no tigers in the mountains, monkeys are called kings", it should be a bit too much, because although Jia Baoyu is not good at reading articles, he likes to read miscellaneous books, so he is quite clever in poetry.

Therefore, Wang Xifeng's proposal to be more knowledgeable was undoubtedly setting up a stage for Jia Baoyu, and Jia Baoyu was the darling of Jia's mother and Mrs. Wang. If she pleases Jia Bao, she will naturally please Jia's mother and Mrs. Wang.

Sure enough, when Jia Mu heard it, she said cheerfully: "That's a good suggestion. Although the ancestors of our Jia family relied on military exploits to start their careers, but now the world is in peace, the country is prosperous and the people are safe, and the swords and guns are in the warehouse, and the horses are released in Nanshan. Today, it is also more important than martial arts. It is not like when the Supreme Emperor was in power. The descendants of our Jia family should also work harder on the latitude and longitude of the article. Poor Zhuer is a 14-year-old.

When Jia's mother said this, Mrs. Wang's eyes were red, Li Wan lowered her head and wiped her tears, and four-year-old Jia Lan couldn't help crying.

Wang Xifeng wiped the lingering tears from the corners of his eyes, and said with a forced smile: "It's New Year's Eve, the whole family should have a happy reunion, but the ancestors brought up this sad thing, so they should be punished."

Jia's mother laughed and said, "Young girl Feng is right, I will punish myself with a drink." After drinking a glass, she looked at Jia Zheng and continued: "While everyone is full, the master will come up with a question to study the younger generation. It would be better if there are seeds for reading."

Jia Zheng quickly stood up respectfully and said yes.

Wang Xifeng laughed and said: "As the saying goes, there must be a brave man under a heavy reward. Since it is exquisite, how can there be no prize?"

Jia Mu nodded and said, "It should be!"

Just now, Jia Amnesty made Mother Jia unhappy by telling a joke, and now he made up for it by showing courteousness: "In that case, let's make fun of it, and give 20 taels of silver as a lottery."

Finally, Mother Jia had a smile on her face, she nodded and said, "My lord pays 20 taels, how about you, my lord?"

Jia Zheng quickly said: "Since the eldest brother pays 20 taels, the younger brother doesn't dare to presume, so let's pay 20 taels too."

Jia Zhen laughed and said, "My nephew doesn't dare to overstep the two uncles, so let's pay 15 taels."

Jia's mother laughed and said, "That's impossible. Although you are a nephew, Zhen'er, you are now the patriarch and the head of the family in the East Mansion. Instead of paying less, you should pay more. Give your old man (Jia Jing)'s share too!"

Jia Zhen bowed and bowed and said: "Good ancestor, although Zhen'er is not your real relative, I beg you to take care of me. If you don't reward my nephew, why are you thinking about emptying my nephew's purse instead?"

Everyone laughed, and Wang Xifeng said with a smile: "Whoever makes you a rich man, Mr. Zhen, should pay you."

Everyone laugh again!

Jia Zhen had no choice but to say with a "suffering" face: "Forget it, I will offer 50 taels, Rong'er Qiang'er, please give me some strength and earn back your capital with profits, otherwise be careful with your skin."

Everyone laughed again, but Jia Rong and Jia Qiang were in a disturbed mood, secretly complaining that Wang Xifeng was meddlesome, how nice it was for everyone to drink and chat and listen to music, but they just picked up this conversation to please the ancestors, but in the end Baoyu took advantage of all the benefits, and everyone became a green leaf for the foil.

Jia Huan originally planned to keep a low profile tonight, but now that he has a lottery of 90 taels of silver, he couldn't help his heart pounding for a while, and the little Jia Lan who was next to him also secretly clenched his fists, looking eager to try.

Jia Baoyu's handsome face couldn't hide his excitement, not because of the prize, but because of the opportunity to show his talent in front of Sister Lin.

　Ask for tickets, ask for collections.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)