The Red Mansions Across the Four Seas

Chapter 79 Confrontation ([-])

The birthday banquet for Shi Taijun's 75th birthday in Rongguo Mansion has lasted for seven days, and today is the last day.

Today's Jia Mansion can only be regarded as a middle-class family in the imperial capital.However, the attention aroused by this birthday banquet exceeded the standard that a medium-sized family should have.

There are three main reasons for this.

One is that the birthday banquet lasted for a long time, a total of eight days.It cost more than 5000 taels of silver.

In this era, the annual living expenses of an ordinary family of five or six were about 20 taels of silver.Therefore, the expenses of this birthday banquet can cover the expenses of an ordinary family for 250 years.

No matter from which point of view, this is a luxurious feast.

The second reason is that Jia Yuanchun was promoted to Minister of Fengzao Palace at this time.This is regarded by many big families as a signal for the next step to be a noble concubine.

The third reason is the gamble that spread far and wide.

There are many gambling games in the imperial capital, almost every day.However, only this gamble has attracted widespread attention.

Although the reasons are more complicated, they can be summed up in the following points.

First of all, it was a gamble between the members of Jia's family, and then because of this gamble, Liansheng Casino intervened and expanded into a social gamble.

At the same time, this gambling game is also regarded as a game between the legitimate son and the illegitimate son of the Jia family.

In addition, the stakes in this game are also very fresh.It turned out to be Ganoderma lucidum and watermelon.

This novel gamble has also attracted the attention of many people.

The final result is that there are a lot of people who come to celebrate their birthday this year.Many people who hadn't planned to come, even those who hadn't had any contact for many years, all came.

Ordinarily, the birthday banquet was on the eighth day, and most of the guests should eat and drink, and should leave.However, this year, there are some people who have been lingering here.Those who live in the city also leave and come back at every turn.

Everyone is waiting for the moment when the results of the bet will be revealed.

Rongxi Hall is the most important meeting place in Rongguo Mansion.Many major decisions of the Jia Mansion were made here.

In the past few days, this place has become the place to receive the most distinguished guests.

The old birthday stars Jia Mu, Jia Amnesty, Jia Zheng, Mrs. Wang, Mrs. Xing, Aunt Xue and other senior members of the Jia family, family friends of the Jia family, and congratulatory guests of the four kings and eight fathers all chatted in the upper seat.

Baoyu, Li Wan, Daiyu, Baochai, Qin Keqing, Yingchun, Tanchun and Xichun stood next to them.

Outside, there are the maids, wives, companions and servants of the masters.Inside and outside, there are dozens of people.

At this time, Ping'er came.

First, there was a commotion from the servants outside, and then there was a chatter among the masters inside.

It's not because Ping'er has such great power, but because Ping'er now has Jia Min's label on his body.

As the protagonist of today's gamble, Jia Min's accompanying maid came at this time, and people naturally thought that this was bringing news of Jia Min.

Jia Min's news is the news of that gambling game.

Yuanyang went out to meet her, Ping'er explained her intention, and then Yuanyang went back to report to Jiamu.

"Brother Ming, didn't he give me 3000 taels of silver? What kind of gift is he giving now? Why do we need so many gifts? Anyway, since he has the heart, let's present it to everyone. Take a look too, I want to see what's new."

Although Jia Mu said so, her voice was relatively high, and everyone in the room could hear it, obviously with a proud look.

Just now Yuanyang told her that what Jia Min sent was something new.Although Jia Mu didn't think it would be so new, she didn't mind showing off in front of outsiders.

Ping'er, Fenghua and Xueyue each came up with a bamboo box, they kowtowed, Fenghua and Xueyue stepped back, Ping'er and Yuanyang opened the box.

At this time, Baoyu was the one who paid the most attention to gifts.

Ever since she heard that Ping'er had come to give gifts, Baoyu's mood became inexplicably tense.I don't know why, but an unknown feeling came to my heart.

For this gift, he hoped neither watermelon nor watermelon.

It wasn't until I opened the box and saw that there were nothing but apples in it that I breathed a sigh of relief.

Although the apple was wrapped in a satin bag and was relatively uniform in size, it was nothing more than an apple after all, and there was nothing unusual about it.

Hmph, fourth son Min, if you want to win the favor of your ancestors with just a few apples, your thinking is too simple.

Just when Baoyu was thinking this way, the adults were amazed.

When Baoyu took a closer look, he was shocked.

It turned out that the apples that were in the box had already been taken out and placed in two rows on the case.

The most peculiar thing is that there is a word on each apple.The words were neither written nor engraved, as if they had grown out.

The size of each character is the same, and the handwriting is clearly the handwriting of the academician Ji Mingluan.

The words on the two rows of apples just made up two sentences: "Fortune is like the long flowing water in the East China Sea, and life is not as old as Nanshan."

It is the lucky head of birthday celebration.

At first, Mother Jia didn't care, but now she moved closer and looked at them one by one. The other sitting people also came to her, picked up the apples one by one, and looked at them carefully.

Ping'er and Yuanyang opened two other boxes, which were also apples, 12 in each box, and there were still words on them.They read "Fu Lu Shou Xi" respectively.

"Yo, this really grows, but it's a bit magical."

Princess Nan'an was amazed.

"Isn't it? It's really a lucky start. Could this be the so-called auspiciousness? There really are. Congratulations, congratulations."

The heavenly auspiciousness actually appeared?

Everyone in the room, big and small, looked at each other in blank dismay.

Previously, everyone had heard about what Jia Min said would be auspicious in Yeduju.But no one really took it seriously.In addition, Jia Min repeatedly begged Baoyu and Jia Rong to terminate the contract before, so that everyone thought it was just a bluffing gesture by Jia Min when the game was bound to lose.

Now, auspicious signs really appear, what will the next result be like?

Daiyu, Baochai and other girls inevitably cast their eyes on Baoyu and began to worry about him.

At this time, Baoyu's mood was extremely complicated.However, he managed to control himself as much as possible.

It's okay, it's okay.It's just an apple, it's not in the bet, as long as the watermelon and ganoderma are fine, Min Laosi is still a loser.

Fenghua and Xueyue sent four more boxes and put them on the case.Everyone's eyes were focused again.

and also?What's new this time?

This time, Ping'er and Yuanyang didn't move, but signaled Li Wan and You Shi to come forward and open the box.

"You little hoof, what a new thing this time, it's so mysterious, why don't you open it up and have a look."

Mother Jia laughed and cursed at Ping'er, but her face was full of smiles.

"Back to the ancestors, this gift is too expensive. The fourth master Min said that the masters have to open it in person and present it to the ancestors."

"Brother Ming, he was so famous when he was born. Even so, the two of you sisters-in-law will open it for everyone to see. I can't wait for it."

Li Wan opened a box, and immediately his face changed, his expression was extremely complicated, and his hands trembled.

Seeing Li Wan's abnormal expression, everyone became nervous.Especially Qin Keqing, who opened her mouth slightly, almost out of breath.

She knew that people in the mansion didn't want to see Fourth Uncle Min, and she was afraid that Fourth Uncle Min would get angry and do something ominous at this time, which would offend people even more.

Li Wan regained his composure, and finally took out the contents inside, like holding a baby, carefully placed it on the case.

Oh?What is this?
An emerald green, square and long strip with watermelon patterns on its body, lay quietly on the case.

There are four words on it, "Longevity and Longevity".It seems that it also grows naturally on it.

"What is this?"

The old lady also came over.

"Back to the old lady, this is a watermelon."

As Ping'er said that, he wanted to cry.But in his heart he kept scolding Jia Min.

This bastard fourth master only said that there are apples and watermelons here, but he didn't explain it to me earlier.If I knew this earlier, why should I be so worried.

Peeking at Baoyu again, he saw that his face had turned pale and his eyes had straightened.

While talking, Li Wan and You Shi brought out the other three and put them on the case.

One is square, and the four words on it are: "Four flat and stable".

One is a parallelogram, and the four words on it are: "Ping An An An".

The last one is the most peculiar, it is actually empty in the middle, it looks round on the outside, but square on the inside.Just like a copper coin.However, it is true that a watermelon grows together again.There are also four words on it: "The emperor's grace is mighty".

Is this a watermelon?But I have never seen a watermelon like this.However, judging from the pattern, it looks like a watermelon pattern.

"Reporting to the ancestors, Fourth Master Min has something to say, you can cut it up and taste it on the spot."

Ping'er's words came very timely, and everyone was wondering if this was a watermelon.The easiest way to verify it is to cut it open and see.

"Okay, cut it open and have a look. If it's a watermelon, we'll be both open-eyed and meaty."

So Li Wan held the knife and slowly cut open the long strip.The watermelon split into two pieces.Move the two petals away, revealing the bright melon flesh.

"It's really a watermelon!"

"Come on, hurry up, cut it again, and let everyone have a taste."

Mother Jia danced a little.

Everyone tasted the watermelon carefully.

"It's really a watermelon, so sweet."

Princess Nan'an was the first to praise.

"Congratulations to the ancestor."

"Congratulations, Mrs. Madam."

"Auspiciousness descended from heaven, the ancestors were overjoyed."

"Today, I have really learned a lot. It really is auspicious from heaven."

......

Everyone complimented one after another, and the atmosphere in the room was warm.

"Okay, good, happy, happy. Let's all try it, and get a little joy. Zhuer's daughter-in-law, give Yuanyang, Ping'er and her two little girls cut a piece and taste it. The girls also have it." .”

Mother Jia smiled all over her face and kept nodding and smiling to the guests.

Although Jia Mu was very happy, she did not forget one thing.

"Let's keep the 'Emperor's Enormous Grace', and enter the palace another day, and send it to the eldest girl. It also seems that we have not forgotten the emperor's grace."

At this moment, no one noticed that in a corner, there was a person who was weeping secretly.

　明天3更，8：00、15:00、22:00各一更。

　　
　
(End of this chapter)