Red Mansion Taoist

Chapter 30 Birthday Congratulations
  On the third day of August, Jia Qiang specially asked for leave, and Lao Shunsou drove a carriage. He took Jade to Rongning Street.

Today, Rongning Street is decorated with lanterns and colorful decorations, and red lanterns with the Chinese character "Shou" written on them hang all over the walls.

It can be seen that Jia Mu's 60th birthday is a big deal this time, which also catches Jia Qiang a little off guard.

Normally, according to the rules, he had to get an invitation before he could come. Without an invitation, it seemed a bit abrupt to come rashly.

They may even be said to be people who follow the trend of others. Of course, there are many such people, and I believe there will be no less of them today.

"Why are you thinking so much? I'm just here to kowtow!" He shook his head and put the thought away.

When the carriage reached Rongning Street, which was still a hundred meters away from Rongguo Mansion, it could no longer move forward. The streets were filled with carriages from various families who came to pay their birthdays.

"Jade, let's walk there!" Jia Qiang said to Jade.

"Master, I'm holding the gift!" Jade said naturally.

Jia Qiang got off the carriage and walked towards the gate of Rongguo Mansion with Jade.

"Isn't this Second Master Qiang? Are you here to pay your respects to our ancestors?" Lai Da, the housekeeper standing outside the gate, greeted Jia Qiang with a faint smile.

His attitude was pretty good, at least not as rude as when Jia Qiang was kicked out of the house.

This is because Jia Mu later gave Jia Qiang a Qingfeng Building as a congratulatory gift. Lai Da handled the matter. How could he not know that Jia Mu still missed Jia Qiang's old feelings and had not forgotten it.

In the position of housekeeper, Lai Da is able to make a lot of noise, so he certainly has the means.

His eyes glanced at Jia Qiang's Confucian shirt. A young scholar would not be taken seriously by the Jia family, but a twelve-year-old scholar who was also a prison student had an uncertain future.

If Jia's mother reaches out to help again, she might become an official. From now on, it will all be related to Jia's family.

"Housekeeper Lai, can you allow me to come in and wish my ancestor a happy birthday?" Jia Qiang asked with a smile.

He had already planned it. If Lai Da refused to let him in, he would leave after sending the congratulatory gift. Anyway, it would be enough to give him his sincerity.

"If our ancestors know that I'm blocking Second Master Qiang from outside, and you still won't scold me to death, come in quickly. Who is that? You can lead Second Master Qiang in!" Lai Da pointed at a boy and ordered.

"There are many guests today, so I can't accompany them!" he continued.

"Thank you, Butler Lai!" Jia Qiang replied with a smile.

The servant led Jia Qiang and Feicui into Rongguo Mansion. Walking on the familiar road, Jia Qiang was slightly absent-minded.

Different from the last life and death situation, this time he moved very calmly.

The servant could only take the person outside the Rongxi Hall, and then wait for the announcement from the mama.

Jia Qiang saw a group of people walking towards this side, and he saw Jia Zheng. Behind Jia Zheng was a noble lady, who was holding a child. He recognized that the child was Baoyu, followed by several maids.

"Why are you here, you evildoer?" When Jia Zheng saw Jia Qiang, he was startled at first, then he recognized Jia Qiang and said angrily. Then he ordered the servants on the side: "Come here, give him to me." Drive him out, the Jia Mansion does not welcome this evil!"

"I didn't expect that Rongguo Mansion would treat guests like this!" Jia Qiang did not spoil Jia Zheng and replied coldly.

"Jade, put down the gifts and let's go!" He turned to Jade and ordered.

If he hadn't owed Jia Mu's kindness, he wouldn't have come here at all.

"It's really an unbearable evil. What are you waiting for? Hurry up and beat him out!" Jia Zheng said angrily after hearing Jia Qiang speak like this.

When he saw Jia Qiang, the first thing he thought of was Jia Qiang's disobedience. For him, if he hadn't been concerned about the reputation of the Jia family, he would have loudly told everyone about Jia Qiang's crime.

At this moment, he didn't want to see Jia Qiang at all. It seemed that Jia Qiang's presence here had stained his eyes.

"Ancestor, let Jia Qiang in!" At this moment, Yi Mo came out of Rongxi Hall and said to Jia Qiang.

Jia Zheng's expression tightened. He promised himself pure filial piety, but he could not go against Jia's mother's words. For a moment, it was like a breath was stuck in his heart, and his body shook with discomfort.

"Master!" Mrs. Wang beside her quickly supported him and exclaimed.

"Jade, let's go in!" Jia Qiang ignored Jia Zheng and said calmly.

Entering the Rongxi Hall, the Rongxi Hall was particularly lively today, with many female relatives gathered around Jia Mu.

Among them, Jia Qiang recognized Xichun, Yingchun, Tanchun, and Youshi. She knew these, but there were many she didn't. Together with many maids and nannies, the whole Rongxi Hall was full of popularity. "My dear grandson, come here and let me see you. I didn't expect you to still remember my birthday. It's so hard for you!" Mother Jia was in a very good mood today. After seeing Jia Qiang, she waved with a smile and said.

"My great-grandson kowtows to you! I wish our ancestors to be as blessed as the East Sea, the sun and the moon are bright, the cranes and pines are everlasting, the spring and autumn are not old, the past is renewed, and the joy is long-lasting!" Jia Qiang kowtowed three times before congratulating.

"Get up quickly, don't hurt your head!" The smile on Jia Mu's face became even brighter, and she waved her hands and said.

Jia Qiang stood up and came to Jia Mu.

Jia Mu hugged Jia Qiang and looked up and down.

"I've lost weight and become more energetic. You've suffered a lot these days, right?" she said with a smile.

"Everything is going well with my great-grandson. Grandpa Lao is thinking about you!" Jia Qiang was a little uncomfortable with this kind of closeness. He couldn't refuse, so he could only reply.

"Study hard, and show yourself to others that there are people in the Jia family who can read!" Jia Mu seemed to have forgotten that Jia Qiang had been expelled from the family tree, she confessed.

Tears flashed in the eyes of Youshi on the side. She had brought Jia Qiang up with her. Although the relationship was broken off because of Jia Zhen, the relationship could not be broken.

Everyone else in the hall looked at Jia Qiang, curiosity flashing in their eyes.

In recent times, Jia Qiang has become a legend in the mansion.

Jia Qiang left Jia's mansion and heard that she had been selected as a scholar. The twelve-year-old scholar was more talented than Jia Zhu in the mansion.

"Listen to the religious teachings of our ancestors!" Jia Qiang responded.

At this time, Jia Zheng also entered the Hall of Rongxi. He was still worried about Jia Qiang, and his face looked very bad.

Mrs. Wang, on the other hand, saw Jia Mu holding Jia Qiang and quickly took Baoyu over.

"My Baoyu is here, come to my ancestors!" As expected, Jia Mu let go of Jia Qiang, stretched out her hand to hold Baoyu in her arms, and said dotingly.

At this time, she completely forgot about Jia Qiang beside her. Jia Qiang was not surprised. Jia's mother definitely loved Baoyu.

After a moment, she took her attention away from Baoyu and asked Mrs. Wang to sit down.

Although Jia Zheng did not have a good impression of Jia Qiang, he would not explode on such an occasion. He pretended not to see Jia Qiang and bowed to Jia's mother.

"Ancestor, Feicui also said that I would kowtow to you!" Jia Qiang saw Feicui on the side looking slightly at a loss and said proactively.

"Jade, don't stand so far away!" Mother Jia hugged Baoyu, glanced at Jade standing on the side, and waved with a smile. She looked at Jade in front of her, nodded and then said: "Jade, this girl is looking at I’m relieved that I haven’t endured any hardships!”

"Thank you, ancestor, Jade is here to kowtow to you!" Jade knelt down excitedly and kowtowed heavily.

"Yuanyang, help Jade up quickly!" Jia Mu called Yuanyang after receiving the gift.

Yuanyang helped Jade stand up and took the gift.

"Ancestor, I'll take my leave first!" Jia Qiang didn't want to stay any longer. The only person he was grateful to in the entire Jia family was Jia's mother, and he didn't intend to contact anyone else.

"Today's banquet, please come with us!" Jia Mu invited.

"Ancestor, I came here on leave today and need to go back to the Imperial College. Please forgive me!" Jia Qiang declined politely.

"Study matters are important. I hope to see you nominated for the gold medal soon!" Mother Jia knew the reason and knew that the conflict between Jia Qiang and Jia's family would not be easily resolved, so she did not persuade her.

Jia Qiang bowed and left the Hall of Honor with Jade.

As soon as they left the Rongxi Hall, they saw Jia Zhen and Jia Rong's father and son coming towards them, followed by several servants.

When Jia Zhen and Jia Qiang's eyes met, the air seemed to freeze for a moment.

Jia Zhen's hatred for Jia Qiang deepened over time. Every time he couldn't feel the reaction from his lower body, his hatred for Jia Qiang deepened.

When he saw Jia Qiang again, the veins on his temples were pulsing, his eyes were blood red, and his breathing was heavy.

Jia Rong didn't see Jia Zhen's appearance. He had exactly the opposite reaction from Jia Zhen. He waved secretly to say hello to Jia Qiang.

(End of this chapter)