The Red Chamber begins with a bastard

Chapter 43
Jia Huan returned to his residence, and as soon as he entered the courtyard, all the maids and women serving him cast worried eyes. The former smiled and nodded, and then went straight into the house. Everyone saw him smiling and walking calmly, so they couldn't help but feel relieved. It seemed that the third master had not been punished by the old lady.

Ping'er was fidgeting in the house, and when he saw Jia Huan came back intact, he couldn't help being overjoyed, and asked, "Why have you been away for so long, can the third master explain it clearly to the old lady?"

Jia Huan shook his head and smiled wryly, "I didn't see anyone."

Ping'er's heart sank, and Jia Huan smiled and comforted her: "Don't worry, the sky won't fall."

Seeing Jia Huan's calm look, Ping'er felt inexplicably more stable, and asked softly, "Is the third master hungry? The food is still hot, and the maid will bring it to you."

Jia Huan touched his deflated stomach and said, "I'm almost starving."

Ping'er hurriedly said: "Third Master, wait a moment." After speaking, he quickly brought out the hot food from the pot, two meat, two vegetables and one soup, which was quite hearty.

"Third Master, eat it while it's hot." Ping'er served Jia Huan a bowl of rice, and then stood beside him to wait.

Jia Huan was really hungry, took a few bites after taking the rice bowl, and suddenly stopped and asked: "Sister Ping'er, have you eaten yet?"

Ping'er shook his head and said: "The third master hasn't come back, so the servant girl is so worried that she won't be able to eat."

Jia Huan warmed up and said, "Then let's eat together."

"The servant girl is not hungry yet. I will eat after the third master finishes eating."

Jia Huan couldn't help saying, took a bowl to fill Ping'er's rice, and said in a commanding tone: "Hurry up, what time is it, carefully starve your stomach, you also know, I don't have so many rules here."

Ping'er's nose was slightly sour, but his heart was warm. It seemed that he had really followed the right person this time. This master is a caring person, so he sat down opposite Jia Huan and ate silently.

"Today is really not worth it. The third master has been busy for half a day giving portraits, and the servant girl has been busy entertaining people, but in the end he has caused a lot of trouble. That person should never come again." Ping'er said indignantly. She used to have a good impression of Jia Baoyu, but now she has obviously turned into a dislike.

Jia Huan smiled and said: "Dinner, let him go about the past, why mention him again."

Hearing the words, Ping'er sighed more and more about the generosity of this master. He has such a magnanimity at such a young age. On the other hand, Wang Xifeng, who must repay every grievance, is nothing compared to this. The third master has such a grandeur at a young age. Why worry about not being able to achieve great things?

Thinking of this, Ping'er felt much better immediately, and became more determined to serve Jia Huan well. He put a piece of stewed mutton into Jia Huan's bowl, and said with a sweet smile, "Don't mention it, the maidservant, please eat more."

Ping'er was already sweet in appearance, but even sweeter when he smiled, with picturesque eyes and shallow pear dimples, Jia Huan felt better when he saw this, and the food tasted extraordinarily delicious.

The master and the servant finished their meal in silence, Ping'er cleaned up the dishes, and Jia Huan went to write the script after a short rest. Jia's mother didn't want to see him, so she spared his morning and evening greetings, and he was at ease. Saving money quickly is the kingly way.

However, just as Jia Huan was concentrating on writing the script, Jia’s mother’s words spread throughout Jia’s house, and gradually had an effect. The positive influence of Jia Huan’s winning the lottery on New Year’s Eve disappeared in an instant.

Obviously, at noon, the women in the kitchen didn't know about Jia Mu's attitude, so the lunch was quite generous, but after learning that Jia Mu had "exiled" Jia Huan in the afternoon, the kitchen immediately changed drastically, and the quality of dinner dropped sharply.

The cold and hard rice, the clear soup with little water in the dishes, and the egg drop soup with flies floating in it, just looking at it makes you unappetizing. Ping'er was so angry that he spoke, and Jia Huan also looked cold.

Deception is too much! ! !
Xiao Que'er cried and said, "Third Master, how could this happen, the kitchen is too bullying, can these things be eaten?"

Ping'er gritted his teeth and said, "I'll argue with them!"

Jia Huan quickly grabbed Ping'er, because if he went, he would be humiliating himself. He couldn't win the fight, he couldn't fight, and there was no place to sue. Maybe Wang Xifeng's loyal dog, Laiwang's wife, was already waiting there, waiting for Ping'er to come and be humiliated.

In fact, Jia Huan's guess was pretty good, Lai Wang's daughter-in-law is currently waiting in the kitchen complacently, wishing that Ping'er would come to her door to be scolded, so that she could vent her anger on Lian's Second Mistress!
Ping'er was held back by Jia Huan, and said anxiously: "Third Master, we must not stop eating, right?"

"Of course we have to eat rice, but it's useless to argue now. Let's bear with it for the time being. Although the rice is cold, it can still be eaten when it's warmed up. Let's deal with one meal first. We'll buy rice and vegetables tomorrow and cook for ourselves. At worst, we'll pack cooked food." Jia Huan said calmly.

Ping'er secretly sighed, now this is the only way to go, but according to her understanding of Wang Xifeng, there must be more methods than these, and I'm afraid there will be another trick, and the next life will definitely be even more difficult.

Ping'er took the cold rice to the stove outside and steamed it hot. As for the disgusting dishes, he just threw them away so as not to spoil his stomach.

Jia Huan took the bowl of rice from Ping'er, added some hot water to it and made it porridge to eat, Ping'er's nose was sour when he saw this, and he almost cried.
"Miss Cuimo is here!" the woman outside said suddenly.

As soon as the words were finished, Cui Mo came in carrying a basket, and when he saw Jia Huan eating rice soaked in water, he couldn't help being both surprised and pitiful, and jumped up and down and cursed the whores in the kitchen to die.

Jia Huan laughed and said: "Come on, let's stop for a while, what did the third sister ask you to do?"

Cui Mo stuck out her tongue and said, "The maid is so angry that she has forgotten her business." After speaking, she took out two dishes from the basket and said, "My girl and Miss Lin heard that the kitchen made things difficult for Xiaoqueer, so they ordered more food for the maid to bring to the third master tonight."

A plate of braised pork, a plate of sweet and sour pork, still hot, delicious!

Ping'er was both surprised and delighted: "Miss San and Miss Lin have a heart."

Cui Mo smiled and pointed to the plate of braised pork and said: "This is from my girl, this is from Miss Lin. By the way, Miss Lin also asked the maid to bring a message to Third Master Huan, saying that she is sorry for what happened during the day, and that he has hurt Third Master Huan. I will apologize to Third Master here."

Jia Huan smiled and said, "Thank you Third Sister and Sister Lin, tell Sister Lin that you don't blame her for what happened during the day."

"Okay, the maid will bring the words, and the third master eats slowly." Cui Mo smiled playfully, and walked away with a basket in her hand.

Just as Jia Huan was about to sit down to eat, Siqi, the maid next to Jia Yingchun, came, and also brought a plate of braised pork, a plate of sour bamboo shoots, and a large bowl of rice, and just as Siqi left, the maid next to Jia Xichun also came, also bringing food.

Jia Huan was both surprised and moved. He was not surprised that Jia Yingchun sent someone to deliver food, but Jia Xichun also sent someone to deliver food, which was beyond his expectations. I remembered that in the original "Dream of Red Mansions", Jia Xichun, the fourth girl, was withdrawn and indifferent.

Well, Jia Xichun was able to make such a heart-warming act, probably due to her young age. Her withdrawn and indifferent personality must have been developed as she grew older, and now it seems that there is still hope!

Jia Huan asked Ping'er to take ten Wen to reward the painting for running errands, and said: "Thank fourth sister for me, she has a heart."

Ruhua smiled and said, "Master Huan, you're being polite. My girl originally wanted to find a portrait of the third master, but after this incident, the third master must not be in the mood. I'll look for the third master after a while."

Jia Huan nodded and said, "As long as I'm at home, Fourth Sister can come to ask for my portrait at any time."

"Okay, the servant girl will tell the girl when I get back, and I won't delay you to eat, Third Master Huan." After Ru Hua finished speaking, he left briskly.

Looking at the sumptuous dishes on the table, Jia Huan was in an inexplicably good mood, and Ping'er was also full of joy, and said with a smile: "Isn't this just that the singing in the play is more helpful than being righteous? It can be seen that justice is at ease in people's hearts."

Jia Huan smiled and said: "I can't eat so much. Let's share this plate of braised pork and this bowl of fried fish with Xiao Que'er and the others. This is called sharing blessings and sharing difficulties."

Ping'er smiled and brought out the two dishes, and greeted Xiao Que'er and the others to eat, and the cheerful laughter sounded again in the small courtyard.

Let’s talk about Cui Mo returning to the residence, and said angrily: "Miss, do you know what the servant saw when I came to the third master Huan? The third master was actually eating water to soak rice. I heard Xiaoque said that the food for them in the kitchen was cold, clear soup with little water, and there were dead flies in it. They couldn't eat it at all, so they dumped it all. The naughty ghosts in the kitchen are too much. The third master is the little master of the house, how dare they do this!"

Jia Tanchun was so distressed that she burst into tears. She also knew that without Wang Xifeng's support, the kitchen would never dare to do this. Alas, what should I do to help Brother Huan?

Lin Daiyu lived across the room, so she heard what Cuimo said, and she couldn't help but blame herself. When she became emotional, she suddenly coughed violently.

Zijuan hurriedly patted her back and persuaded: "Girl, don't blame yourself too much. It's all Baoyu's fault, and it has nothing to do with you."

"Having said that, I caused Baoyu's madness. Forget it, I'd better go back to Suzhou to find my father. Staying here will only lead to trouble." Lin Daiyu shed tears again as she spoke.

Zijuan smiled bitterly and said, "Baoyu has always been like this. Why should the girl bother herself? Besides, if you want to leave, the old lady will not let you go. Just stay away from Baoyu in the future. It's fine if you don't mess with him."

Lin Daiyu sighed secretly, why did I ever provoke him? If he wants to come to me, can he still hide?Alas, if my mother is still alive, I don't have to stay here under the fence.

(End of this chapter)