The Red Chamber begins with a bastard

Chapter 93 Summer Invitation

Where does spring return to, there is no way to travel in loneliness.

If anyone knows where the spring is going, call them back and live with them.

Who knows if there is no trace of spring?Unless you ask for an oriole.

No one can understand the hundred chants, because the wind flies over the roses.

Since entering April, the days have become longer and longer. The roses in the courtyard are in full bloom. They climb up the courtyard wall and climb over the other side of the wall. The faint fragrance of flowers comes in through the window.

Xue Baochai put down the "Song Ci" in his hand, and yawned a little bored. The summer was long, and the days in the boudoir were monotonous and boring. Unfortunately, he was not a man, so he couldn't easily show his face outside. Occasionally, he had to cover up when he went out to check the accounts. The day of the palace draft was also suddenly postponed.

It's been a long summer, how can I relieve my worries? Fortunately, there are still a few cousins ​​and sisters of the same age in Rongguo Mansion who can chat.

Xue Baochai took a round fan and left Lixiang Garden with her maidservant, followed the corner gate to Jia's Mansion Middle Road, and played with the three sisters Yingchun, Tanchun and Xichun.

"Miss Bao is here." When a group of maids saw Xue Baochai, they immediately greeted Xue Baochai warmly and greeted her with salutes.

The biggest difference between Xue Baochai and Lin Daiyu is that they are approachable, more down-to-earth, have high emotional intelligence, deal with people transparently, and are comprehensive, so they are more popular among the servants.Of course, Lin Daiyu also has Lin Daiyu's own advantages, and Xue Baochai also has Xue Baochai's shortcomings.

"What are the girls doing?" Xue Baochai asked with a smile.

Yingchun's girl Shiqi replied: "My girl is playing chess with the third girl, and the fourth girl is talking with my sister-in-law from the Mantou Temple."

Xue Baochai entered the hall of Baosha, and sure enough, he saw Jia Yingchun and Jia Tanchun playing Go, while Xichun was chatting with a young nun of similar age on a bench outside the corridor.

"Bao girl is here, just help me to take a look." Jia Yingchun was at a disadvantage, when she saw Xue Baochai coming in, she immediately waved and smiled.

Among the cousins, Jia Yingchun is the oldest, followed by Xue Baochai, followed by Lin Daiyu, Jia Tanchun, Shi Xiangyun and Jia Xichun, so everyone calls her sister Bao, but only Jia Yingchun can call her Bao girl.

Xue Baochai took a closer look at the chess game, and found that it was already at the official stage, and Jia Tanchun had a clear advantage, so he smiled and said: "Tan girl is going to win, and I can't help it. Let's take this step, maybe you can save a few pieces from losing."

"Forget it, it's a loss anyway." Jia Yingchun's pusher conceded, Jia Tan showed a triumphant smile, took a sip from the teacup, and asked with a smile, "Where did Sister Bao come from?"

Xue Baochai said with a smile: "I'm bored reading at home, so I came here to pick you up. By the way, Ying'er, quickly take out the palace flowers and give them to the girls."

Ying'er was holding a wooden box in her hand, and she opened it at this time, and saw that it contained fourteen beautiful palace flowers of different colors, all of which were made of high-quality palace yarn.

Xue Baochai said: "These are the most popular flowers in the palace nowadays. These are the leftovers after paying tribute to the palace. It is a waste to keep them at home. The second sister, the third sister and the fourth sister each choose two to wear. The rest will be given to Shao'er and Second Mistress Lian later."

Jia Yingchun and Jia Tanchun each chose two, and the latter asked with a smile, "Why doesn't Sister Bao keep it for herself?"

Xue Baochai shook her head and said, "I don't like these flowers and pearls the least, I think they are too cumbersome."

Jia Tanchun pointed to the golden lock hanging on Xue Baochai's chest and said with a smile: "Isn't it more cumbersome."

Ying'er smiled and said: "The third girl doesn't know something, there is a reason for it, there was a monk with a scarlet head..."

Xue Baochai interrupted with a smile: "It's just that you are eloquent, and you still haven't sent flowers to Miss Xichun."

Ying'er stuck out her tongue, turned around and walked towards Jia Xichun who was outside the corridor. Jia Tanchun was astute and knew the origin of the gold lock that Xue Baochai was wearing when he saw it, but it was inconvenient to tell, so he was very sensible and didn't ask further.

Over there, Yinger was handing the palace flowers to Jia Xichun for selection, but the latter said with a smile: "I was talking to my little master Zhizhi'er that I want to shave my head to be my sister-in-law. Coincidentally, Sister Bao sent flowers to wear. If I shave my head, where can I wear these flowers?" While talking, she chose two plain flowers.

Xue Baochai frowned secretly when she heard the words, thinking to herself, this girl Xichun is only a little older, and she must be joking to think of such a birth?But girl Xichun is also very pitiful, her mother passed away not long after she was born, and her father became obsessed with cultivating alchemy. Having a father is the same as not having a father. No wonder she has developed a withdrawn and weird temperament since she was a child.

Jia Zhen, the uncle of Dongfu, is in his thirties, while Jia Xichun is only eight or nine years old. The age difference is too big, so many people will mistakenly think that Jia Zhen is Jia Xichun’s father, which is a big mistake. In fact, Jia Xichun is Jia Jing’s concubine, and Jia Zhen is a real brother and sister. Jia Rong, who is a nephew, is much older than Jia Xichun, and even married his wife.

In fact, Jia Xichun was created by Jia Jing and his concubine during his retreat to practice Taoism. Hey, just imagine, what kind of Taoism is this cultivating?

Not long after Jia Xichun was born, his biological mother died. I was still a bad old man who was obsessed with alchemy, and my eldest brother Jia Zhen was old enough to be his father. Even his nephew was ten years older than him. The key point was that the eldest brother and nephew were both extravagant and lustful, and they had no time to care about her at all. Growing up in such a family, it is normal to have personality defects.Jia's mother probably felt that Jia Xichun had no one to take care of her, so she called her to live with her, otherwise it would be a problem whether she could grow up to now.

Let's get down to business, let's say that Xue Baochai played with Sanchun for a while, then left Baoxia and went to Lin Daiyu's residence.

At this time, Zijuan was feeding a parrot hanging under the eaves. Seeing Xue Baochai, master and servant, was about to say hello, but Xue Baochai hissed softly, and asked in a low voice, "Have you taken a nap?"

Zijuan shook her head and said: "I slept for a while, I'm already up now, where are I reading?"

Xue Baochai tiptoedly raised the curtain and walked into the room, only to see Lin Daiyu wearing a lotus-white summer shirt and a water-green pleated skirt, reading a book with her fragrant cheeks on her lower body, with a delicate and lazy beauty.

Xue Baochai walked over quietly, reached out and snatched the book Lin Daiyu was reading, and said with a smile, "I caught it, what book are you reading?"

Lin Daiyu was startled, she patted her chest and said, "Sister Bao's dish is abominable, it makes her heart beat wildly with fright."

Xue Baochai said with a smile, "I'm afraid the hairpin has done something wrong."

Lin Daiyu's face was red and her ears were hot, and she spat: "You're the one who did something wrong, pay it back."

It turns out that Lin Daiyu is reading two new "Peach Blossom Fans" at the moment. Although "Peach Blossom Fan" mainly sings about the feelings of family and country and tells the sufferings of the people who have lost their families, it runs through the book with the love story between Hou Fangyu and the famous prostitute Li Xiangjun as the main line.

Xue Baochai had a delicate mind, and after a quick glance, she vaguely guessed something, returned the script of "Peach Blossom Fan" to Lin Daiyu, and said with a smile: "This seems to be a drama script, could it be Cousin Huan's new work?"

Lin Daiyu nodded, put the script in a drawer and closed it, then changed the subject and said, "Where did Sister Bao get this from? She walks without making any noise, and she did it deliberately to scare people."

Xue Baochai said with a smile: "It's just that I'm kind. The summer is scorching hot, and you're drowsy from reading, so I'll cheer you up."

At this time, there was a loud roar from behind, which startled both Xue Baochai and Lin Daiyu. When they looked back, they saw Jia Baoyu clapping his hands and laughing loudly, "It's scorching summer, I'll cheer you both up too!"

Lin Daiyu picked up the round fan and was about to beat it, while Xue Baochai asked, "Brother Bao, don't you have to go to school today?"

Jia Baoyu hesitated and said, "Master has something to do in the afternoon, so I left school early."

It turned out that Jia Dairu's full attention is now on Jia Huan. In the afternoon, he taught Jia Huan and Jia Yu two small stoves, while the other students studied by themselves. Jia Baoyu was unhappy, so he deserted and sneaked back.

Xue Baochai has been in Jia's mansion for more than a month, and has already understood Jia Baoyu's temperament. When he saw this, he knew that she was probably playing truant, but she had a high emotional intelligence, so he didn't point it out.

But Lin Daiyu was not polite, and teased: "I'm afraid he skipped class again, carefully, the master knows, and will send someone to call you later."

Jia Baoyu laughed and said, "Sister Lin is bluffing me again, the master hasn't released the yamen yet, hey, what is Sister Ying'er holding in her hand?"

Ying'er opened the wooden box and said with a smile: "This is the palace flower that our girl gave to the girls. Miss Lin, you can choose two too."

Lin Daiyu looked at it and found that there were eight more, so she chose two and said, "Sister Bao has a heart."

"Sister Bao also rewarded me with two." Jia Baoyu said.

Ying'er laughed and said, "Second Master Bao, you are a man, what do you want to spend?"

Jia Baoyu said eloquently: "I left it for Sister Yun."

Lin Daiyu teased again: "It's not in vain that Yun girl called you love brother."

Xue Baochai smiled and said, "Your little mouth is really unforgiving. No wonder Yun'er always says you bully her. By the way, April 23 is Yun'er's birthday. Why don't you let the old lady pick her up and let's celebrate her birthday together?"

Jia Baoyu said happily when he heard the words: "I forgot about this, Sister Kui Bao still remembers, and I will tell my ancestors later that there is no objection."

Lin Daiyu nodded and said: "It's time to invite everyone to have a good time. By the way, there is also Huan'er and the couplet. Yun girl hasn't received the credit yet." After speaking, she covered her mouth and laughed.

Jia Baoyu felt a little uncomfortable, shook his head and said: "It's better not to, he is busy preparing for the government examination, we may invite him to come."

Xue Baochai smiled and said: "Please still have to invite. As for whether to come or not, that is a matter for Brother Huan to decide. I figured it out. It seems that it happens to be a holiday that day. Maybe Brother Huan will come."

When Jia Baoyu heard this, he fell silent.

(End of this chapter)