The Red Chamber begins with a bastard

Chapter 56
Jia Zheng replied: "Huan'er is still in elementary school, but Baoyu has started to study the Four Books. I thought I would invite a teacher to teach in the next year, but so far I haven't found a suitable candidate."

King Bei Jing nodded and said: "The two sons are both talented and beautiful. If you invite a teacher casually, you may be delayed. You have to find a truly educated person."

Jia Zheng shook his head and sighed, "It's a pity that good teachers are hard to find."

King Beijing smiled and said: "This year coincides with the year of the Grand Competition, but all the real scholars are probably preparing for the exam at the moment. When the Chunwei Grand Competition is over, it should be easier to find. This king will pay attention to Shi Weng at that time. If there is a suitable candidate, how about recommending it to Shi Weng?"

Jia Zhengxi said, "That's the way to thank you, my lord."

The so-called Chunwei Grand Competition is a general examination held every three years. Only talents from various provinces are eligible to enter Beijing to participate. Since the time of the general examination is usually set in February, it is also called Chunwei.

Due to the very limited number of admissions for the general examination, and the admission rate is less than [-]%, there will be a large number of unsuccessful applicants after each spring competition. Among these applicants, most of them will leave Beijing and return to their hometowns to study hard and wait for three years before fighting.

However, it is not easy to live here in a prosperous place in the capital. Food, clothing, housing and transportation are all money. Unless the family is originally rich, there is no source of income. I am afraid that I will starve to death on the street before three years.

Therefore, most of the failed candidates who choose to stay in Beijing to prepare for the exam are either not short of money, or earn living expenses by showing their talents, or sell literature and paintings, or work as teachers in wealthy families, or teach in Shushu, etc.

The meaning of King Beijing is to ask Jia Zheng to wait for the Chunwei Grand Competition to hire a failed candidate as a teacher to teach Jia Baoyu and Jia Huan in their studies. Don't underestimate these failed candidates.

Of course, it would be even better if you can hire teachers with a Jinshi background. These are masters who have passed the imperial examinations and have rich experience in the exams, and they are the elite among the elite.No matter how rich and powerful you are, it's impossible.

However, there are no absolutes, and there are exceptions to everything. For example, Jia Yucun, who was born as a Jinshi, traveled around after being dismissed. Later, he ran out of money and worked as a tutor in Lin Ruhai's home, teaching Lin Daiyu to read.

Closer to home, King Beijing and Jia Zheng chatted about hiring a teacher for a while, then laughed and said, "Next month is Jiaci's birthday, and I want to ask Brother Huan to draw a portrait of her old man. I don't know what the old man thinks?"

Jia Zhengzheng said fearfully: "How can a dog have such virtue? It is better for the prince to hire another master of Danqing, so as not to stain the eyes of the old concubine and make the generous family laugh."

King Bei Jing laughed and said: "The old man is overthinking. Brother Huan's painting skills are praised by the emperor, so how can he be generous. Although Jiaci is half a hundred years old, he likes new and rare things the most, so she must like Brother Huan's sketch portraits."

Jia Zheng was hesitant when he heard the words, and looked at Jia Huan subconsciously. Jia Huan was worried that he had no excuse to leave the house. Now that he had the banner of the King of Beijing, who would dare to stop him?

Jia Zheng snorted coldly and said: "Young boy with a yellow mouth, you don't know the heights of the sky and the earth. If you don't draw well, you will make jokes, and you will lose face as a father. Carefully peel off your skin!"

Although Jia Zheng's words were not pleasant to hear, the subtext was that he agreed.

King Beijing laughed and said: "Shiweng, don't scare Brother Huan, don't say that Brother Huan draws well, even if he doesn't draw well, it's no big deal, but Bo Jiaci just smiled."

Jia Baoyu was a little envious at the moment, and regretted that he hadn't learned painting earlier. Look at Huan'er, since he learned how to paint, everyone seems to be around him.

After gathering for a while, King Bei Jing stood up and said goodbye. Before leaving, he did not forget to encourage Jia Huan and Jia Baoyu.

King Beijing drove, and the door of Jia's mansion was opened wide again. Jia Zheng and Jia Amnesty led Jia Lian, Jia Baoyu, Jia Huan and other men to the gate, and Jia Mu and others also personally sent Princess Beijing to Yimen.

After watching King Beijing and his party leave, Jia Zheng then ordered the gates of the mansion to be closed, and then led the crowd to bow to Jia Mu and said, "According to what the prince said, my brother-in-law Bi Ri will be promoted to the Nine Sides General System. After the court meeting and the cabinet have passed, we will wait for the emperor to issue an order."

Jia Mu nodded and said: "It's a good thing that my uncle has been promoted. When the imperial decree comes down, just prepare a congratulatory gift and send it."

Jia Zheng nodded in agreement, and said, "Next month is the old concubine's birthday. Prince Beijing wants Huan'er to paint a portrait for her, and my son boldly agreed."

Mother Jia looked at Jia Huan and said, "Brother Huan's painting skills are not bad in my opinion, even the emperor recognizes it, so it shouldn't make people laugh. If you agree, then agree."

As soon as these words came out, Mrs. Wang and Wang Xifeng were a little bit embarrassed, but the housekeeper Lai Da lowered his head, a trace of horror flashed in his eyes quickly, and he murmured inwardly, the third Huan was favored by the King of Beijing, it seemed that the wife could not hold back.

"Brother Huan, come here." Mother Jia beckoned.

Jia Huan stepped forward to salute and said, "What is the order of the old ancestor?"

Looking at the plainly dressed concubine in front of her, Mother Jia felt a little regretful, but it was only a little bit. If she did it again, she would still choose to favor Jia Yuyu, not only because of her love, but also because of the distinction between the direct descendant and the concubine, because the direct descendant is the authentic heir of the family.

"Huan'er, since the prince values ​​you, you have to do your best to do things well, so as to live up to the importance of the prince. When you come to the palace in the future, you must not lose your courtesy." Mother Jia urged.

Jia Huan nodded: "Huan'er would like to follow the old lady's instruction."

Only then did Mother Jia show a kind smile and said, "Good boy, huh? Why does it look like you've lost some weight?"

As soon as this remark came out, Wang Xifeng and Laiwang's daughter-in-law next to her felt a little nervous, staring nervously at Jia Huan, obviously worried that he would take the opportunity to sue.

However, before Jia Huan opened his mouth, Jia Amnesty rolled his eyes and said in a deep voice, "Mother also thinks Brother Huan has lost weight, and my son thinks I've misjudged her. From this point of view, the rumors are true."

Jia Mu wondered, "What rumor?"

Jia She said angrily, "My child heard that the kitchen deliberately made things difficult for Brother Huan recently, and only gave him leftovers for every meal. At first, my child didn't believe it, but now it seems that it is not a lie. Mother, you see, Brother Huan has been starved and thin. It really makes no sense. Although Brother Huan is a concubine, he is still a little master. These slaves dare to abuse the little master. They are really lawless!"

After Jia Amnesty finished speaking, he glanced at Mrs. Wang intentionally or unintentionally, obviously pointing to something.

Both Wang Xifeng and Mrs. Wang's expressions changed, and Laiwang's daughter-in-law turned pale with fright. She thought to herself, what kind of madness is the Eldest man doing? Why did he suddenly stand up for the third child Huan? Second Mistress Lian is your own daughter-in-law!
Hey, Jia Lian is indeed Jia She's son, and Wang Xifeng is Jia She's daughter-in-law, but Wang Xifeng is also Mrs. Wang's niece, and Wang Xifeng has always only listened to Mrs. Wang. The aunt and nephew jointly control the back house of Jia's mansion. Jia She and his wife can't get involved, so Jia She and his wife don't want to see Wang Xifeng.

At this time, the smile on Jia Mu's face had disappeared, and she asked, "Brother Huan, is what the elder said the truth?"

Jia Huan didn't expect that Jia Amnesty would take advantage of this opportunity to make trouble, but the opportunity was not lost. Anyway, it was Jia's mother who provoked it herself. Others should not suspect that he and Jia Amnesty were in collusion, so he fell to his knees with a plop, and said with an aggrieved face: "I beg the old lady and the lady to uphold justice."

Jia Huan was more thoughtful, and deliberately asked Mrs. Wang to uphold justice, so as not to fall into the shoes of others, saying that he has no aunt.

Jia Mu's complexion suddenly turned ugly. Although she annoyed Jia Huan because of the "falling jade incident", she did not instruct him to embarrass him. The kitchen dared to abuse him openly, it was lawless, and immediately shouted: "Feng girl, what is going on?"

Wang Xifeng hurriedly laughed and said: "Don't be angry, old ancestor. I just found out about this. The kitchen has always been in charge of Wang's daughter-in-law. I have to ask her first to find out."

Mother Jia reprimanded dissatisfiedly: "Girl Feng, you have always been in charge of the affairs of the back house. You don't even know what happened. How do you manage the house? And Zheng's daughter-in-law, why are you a mother? Brother Huan is not your own, but you should pay attention to it. You don't care about such things."

Mrs. Wang couldn't help blushing, she couldn't make a sound, Jiamu's words were very serious, and she obviously meant to beat her.

Wang Xifeng couldn't help breaking out in cold sweat, and glared at Lai Wang's wife and said, "Wang's daughter-in-law, how did you manage this matter? You let the whores in the kitchen abuse the little master."

Wang Xifeng's words seemed to be reprimanding Laiwang's daughter-in-law, but in fact she implied that she put all the blame on the cook and found someone to take the blame for the dead ghost.

Laiwang's daughter-in-law rolled her eyes, and yelled at Qu: "Second Mistress is wronged. Although the servants are in charge of the kitchen affairs, they don't always stare there. Now there are more than a dozen people working in the kitchen. I'm afraid that someone who is not open-eyed is hiding from the servants and stealing brother Huan's food."

Jia She sneered and said, "Don't make excuses, I'm afraid you ordered it."

Laiwang's daughter-in-law plopped down on the ground and howled dryly: "No maidservant, maidservant wronged, maidservant and Mr. Huan have no grievances, why do you want to make things difficult for him in terms of food, it doesn't make sense!"

Jia She snorted coldly: "Whether you ordered it or not, just call all the cooks in the kitchen and ask them. No matter how much you argue, you can't deny it."

"Okay, I'll call them here now, the servants, and the old man can ask you whatever you want." Laiwang's daughter-in-law immediately jumped up and wanted to slip away.

Jia Amnesty immediately stopped and said, "Stop, go find someone else."

Jia Mu looked at Jia Amnesty thoughtfully, and said calmly: "Yuanyang, you go and call someone, and I will interrogate him personally. If it is found out that this is the case, he will be punished, beaten, and kicked out. This trend will not last long."

(End of this chapter)