Picturesque Rivers and Mountains in the Red Chamber

Chapter 391 5.73 Nephew Baoyu should study better
Volume [-]

5.73 Baoyu’s wise nephew should study better
On October [-], the gate of Rongguo Mansion, which had been deserted for a long time, was extremely lively. A dozen well-dressed servants were all beaming with joy. Jia Zheng even stood at the door to greet them, because the mansion had already received invitations. Originally, Lin Ruhai, the son-in-law who was sent to Yangzhou to inspect salt as censor, was promoted and returned to Beijing. Today he came to visit him, and there was news that he had already confirmed the position of Minister of Household Affairs.

"Brother Cun Zhou, long time no see!" It didn't take long, just after Si Shi, two carriages, surrounded by a dozen servants, came from the west end of Ningrong Street, and as soon as the front carriage stopped, Lin Ruhai got off with a smile , handed over to Jia Zhengyi at the door, "My little brother, I haven't been able to see you for some days. It's really rude!"

"Hahaha, what did Ruhai Xiandi say that the whole family should be so polite to each other?" Although Jia Zheng has never been a scholar in his life, he has always regarded himself as a scholar, and he was even more full of heart when facing his brother-in-law, who is the most beautiful girl in the world. Huanxi said, "Come in quickly. Mother is already waiting in the yard. They are all close relatives and don't follow so many rules."

"How can I keep my mother-in-law waiting for so long!" Lin Ruhai hurriedly followed Jia Zheng in; the carriage behind was taken care of by servants, so Lin Daiyu naturally had to go slower to get by.

It can be seen that the Jia Mansion has really put all their efforts into Lin Ruhai's visit. At least there are no redundant personnel along the way. Apparently the servants from all over the place have been sent elsewhere in advance; Jia Zheng is even more happy to accompany him. Joking, at least this person's thoughts on reading are indeed true.

"Has the journey been smooth for Ruhai?" She ignored the initial greetings and etiquette. When Lin Daiyu also entered the yard and was sent to the back house, Jia Mu naturally turned to the topic, "Although the climate has just cooled down. , but it’s still a lot of trouble. The old woman still remembers that it’s much warmer over in Jinling than here.”

"My mother-in-law is worried about me. My son-in-law took the canal this way, and used the cruise boat prepared in advance by the Snow Brand. It can be said to be fast and stable. Although it was delayed a lot, it didn't hurt." Lin Ruhai said with a smile, "I really didn't expect that the Xue family could achieve such a level of business. It really feels like 'a thousand miles in a day'."

"How could the Xue family alone achieve this?" Jia She, who was sitting next to him, curled his lips in disdain, "Although Xue Tu died early, he found a good son-in-law. That boy helped make the whole capital dignified. Almost all of them are connected to the human world, which makes them earn as much money as water, but they have long stopped paying homage to the house."

"But that General Zhou?" Lin Ruhai, who knew the situation in Jia's house very well, automatically ignored Jia She's sour taste. "Speaking of which, I was able to solve the problem so neatly, thanks to his help. This time he was a few steps ahead of schedule. When I came back from the sky, I heard that I had officially filed a petition and was serving in the army; if I am only [-] years old and have a fourth rank, I will be regarded as one of the best in the world even if I have been stable for ten years."

"When Ruhai comes back this time, there shouldn't be any need to let him out, right?" Jia Mu glared at Jia She, then turned around with a smile and asked, "Although this foreign official also works for the imperial court, he has worked hard after all. He is just a mere Years of time, if Min'er, the unlucky one, can just stay in the capital, it will save a lot of trouble."

"Don't worry, mother-in-law. My son-in-law was summoned by His Majesty when he came back yesterday. Although the formal decree has not been issued yet, there will be no more trouble." Lin Ruhai sighed softly, obviously thinking of his late wife and his wife who had been tricked. The youngest son looked at the people in the Jia family who had no idea what was going on, and secretly made up his mind.

"Brother-in-law, do you know where he is?" No need to ask, it's Jia She who can't speak.

"If there is nothing unexpected, I should go to the Ministry of Revenue." Lin Ruhai had already heard someone talk about the virtues of the Jia family, and knew that he could not be modest at this time. "According to the usual practice, he can still be promoted to a higher level."

"So, the rumor that Brother Ruhai was promoted to Minister of Household Affairs is true?" Jia Zheng asked in surprise, "I congratulate you in advance!"

"After all, the decree hasn't come down yet. It's too early to tell now." Lin Ruhai smiled slightly, this time he could be modest.

"Okay, now that the whole family is in Beijing, we can help each other." Mother Jia nodded with satisfaction, obviously very happy about this.

But Lin Ruhai's heart twitched, and she once again remembered someone's introduction. Currently, there are less than ten male masters in the Ningrong and Ningrong mansions. The highest position is Jia Zheng, the head of the Ministry of Industry at the sixth rank; and then there is Jia Lian, from Yancheng, the sixth rank. The county magistrate, apart from that, has no actual duties. Not to mention the titles of Jia She and Jia Zhen, and then there is Jia Rong's empty title of Thousand Households - just like this, how can he help the left minister of the household department of the fourth rank with real power? ?

"Don't worry, mother-in-law, and save it for my son-in-law." He thought it was the same thing, but Lin Ruhai did not forget to say polite words and quickly changed the subject, "Why don't you see the boys in the house? Is it possible that you are afraid that your son-in-law has not prepared any gifts?"

"Uh" Jia Zheng then reacted, glanced at Jia Mu who was also strange, and hurriedly greeted him outside the door, "Go and see for yourself why Baoyu hasn't come here yet; also, let's take a look at Brother Huan and Lan. Whether my brother is here or not, please let them come with you."

"I heard that my nephew Baoyu is good at studying?" In any case, it is definitely right to praise other people's children when speaking. Lin Ruhai has been an official for many years, so he doesn't even understand this rule.

"Hmph!" Jia She's disdainful voice.

"Baoyu." No matter how much Jia Zheng loves his children, he still knows that his son's academic performance is not up to par in front of Tanhualang. "He is still young. Even though he has wasted several years in school, there is still a gap."

"Oh?" Lin Ruhai's heart moved. He knew very well that the phoenix egg of Rongguo Mansion was already fifteen years old. "The man is young, isn't it a good time to study? I still remember Xian Yue's teachings back then. , Brother Cunzhou will definitely not forget it."

"That's, that's -" Jia Zheng almost broke out in a cold sweat, which made Lin Ruhai more and more sure of someone's introduction. "Don't worry Ruhai, I have watched Baoyu grow up, so I won't wrong him." Mother Jia has always been confident in her grandson, and she has not forgotten Amway at this time, "Before you came to Beijing, I wrote I told you, but I don’t know what you think about it?”

"After all, the children are still young, so it's not too late to take a look first." Lin Ruhai expressed her attitude tactfully, but she remembered what Jia Mu meant in the letter about "kissing each other even more", so she could only quickly change the topic, "Cun Zhou Brother, do you remember that in addition to nephew Baoyu, there are two nephews in this house?"

"Brother Huan also sent someone to call him just now, and Brother Lan, who was left behind by the boss, is now ten years old. He has been studying since the year before last. I think he will make a lot of progress." Jia Zheng was relieved. He introduced with a smile.

"Huh?" Lin Ruhai always felt that one was missing. After thinking about it, he looked at Jia She and asked, "Brother Enhou, but I don't know that except Brother Lian, you don't have any other nephews?"

"There is another one who is not making progress. What should he do?" Jia She didn't bother to answer.

Lin Ruhai:
After chatting for a long time, they saw two boys coming in from the yard outside the door. One looked full of childishness, but had a calm and calm expression, which made Lin Ruhai quite satisfied; the other was obviously older, but his whole body He looked vulgar and his eyes were evasive, but his shoulders were slumped and his eyes were squinted. He didn't look like he could be on stage.

"Brother Cun Zhou, is the one on the left Baoyu's wise nephew?" Lin Ruhai remembered the image of the younger generation of the Jia family mentioned by someone. She had already guessed that the wretched man on the right was the concubine of Jia Zheng, so she deliberately skipped it and ignored it. Mentioning another good one, "He is really a talented person. Brother Cunzhou teaches him well!"

"Haha!" Jia She, who was drinking tea, couldn't help laughing.

"This... Ruhai Xiandi has misunderstood." Jia Zheng took a sip of his tea bowl in embarrassment to cover up, "This is the boy left by the boss. He is just ten years old this year. He has read a few books. I'm afraid it will be difficult for him to join your place. Tanhua Lang's eyes."

"Hey (three sounds), as the saying goes, 'If you have ambitions, you will not grow old, and if you have no ambitions, you will live a hundred years in vain.' I think he is good." Lin Ruhai, an official who came from the imperial examination, naturally prefers those who are willing to study. He stretched out his hand to greet Jia Lan came to the front and asked with a smile, "Have you been studying yet?"

"As I said to my aunt, Lan'er is now studying with her mentor. She has just finished reading the four books, and she has not yet mastered them. She is currently studying "Spring and Autumn". Her mentor wants Lan'er to use this as her textbook." Jia Lan is neither humble nor arrogant. answer.

"Oh? Finished the four books at the age of ten?" Lin Ruhai was even more surprised, and asked a question directly, "Do you still remember "Mencius Meets King Hui of Liang?"

"Mencius met King Hui of Liang, and the king said: I have come even a thousand miles away, will it benefit my country?" Jia Lan recited it fluently from beginning to end without hesitation, without even a pause in the middle.

"Okay!" Lin Ruhai's eyes lit up after hearing this, and then he asked other questions. The two of them were very happy to ask and answer the questions. His questions also gradually deepened from recitation and explanation at the beginning to understanding, connotation, and even allusions. , deepening, Jialan's answers are all right, although some are a little difficult, he can still make do with it.

"Ruhai, why are you still teaching?" After more than a stick of incense had passed, Jia Mu, who was already sleepy, said with dissatisfaction, "Is it possible that I have to make room for you?" Will you two study hard?"

"Forgive me, mother-in-law, but my son-in-law forgot about everything else when he saw a good seedling." Although Lin Ruhai was a little dissatisfied with Jia Mu's interruption, he also knew that the environment was not suitable, so he could only stop without knowing what he wanted to say, and turned to Jia Zheng and said, "Cun Brother Zhou, you have a great grandson! Based on what he knows now, a scholar's reputation can be said within three or two years, and it's just a matter of ranking; before he is twenty, he may have a chance of winning the imperial examination."

"Brother Ruhai is so complimentary." Jia Zheng also looked proud. As for Jia Huan who was still standing next to him, everyone ignored him.

"Where, as the saying goes, 'Knowing is knowing, not knowing is not knowing, it is knowing.' This little brother dare not forget the teachings of this saint." Lin Ruhai smiled with a smile on his face, took off a jade pendant from his waist and stuffed it into Jia Lan's hand, "Take it Come on, I also brought some small things, and I will have them delivered to you when the time comes. Remember to study hard in the future."

"'It's a gift from the elders, and I dare not refuse it.' Lan'er thanked my aunt for the reward!" Jia Lan bowed respectfully, took the jade pendant with both hands, and followed Jia Zheng's instructions to sit down at the bottom of the guest seat.

"That's right." Lin Ruhai nodded, looked at Jia Zheng and said with a smile, "A grandson can do this. I think it would be better to study with nephew Baoyu. I want to meet him later."

"Pfft -" Jia She next to him burst out laughing. Jia Zheng no longer knew what to say, so he could only continue chatting. Finally, after a full stick of incense, a greeting came from outside the hospital.

"Baoyu is here—"

(End of this chapter)