Dreams of Jianghu

Chapter 6 Red Chamber (6)

Yuan Yang hurriedly said, ” Old Mistress, do not say such things. It has been many years since the matter. The people involved have passed away. Who knows the grievances within?If I say, Aunt¹ was worried a lot about children. She would just be happy if she learned the two concubines had children, she would not be one that could not tolerate it. If she could not, she would not have allowed Uncle-in-law to take new people.”

Shi-shi nodded. “That is the case. I just fear the two children have been misguided by others and changed their temperament. Now, it is up to me, this old woman, to worry more.”

Yuan Yang nodded with a smile and then silently ground ink. The old mistress put on her spectacles and slowly wrote a moving letter to Lin Ru Hai. Then she sent someone reliable to personally deliver the letter to Yangzhou.

Just after taking care of this, laughter came from outside. Shi-shi smiled and said, “It must be the monkeys coming to trouble me again.”

Just as she finished, a servant girl recorded. “The misses and Second Master Bao has come to greet Old Mistress.”

The door curtain was lifted up. The three Chuns ², Dai Yu³, Bao Chai⁴, Xiang Yun⁵ and Jia Bao Yu⁶ flooded in.

Shi-shi pulled Dai Yu in her arms. “Such a coincidence you came now. I have good news for you and you came. Today, did you eat well, did you nap well?”

Dai Yu was overjoyed and thought, it was likely her father who had written. At this time, she had a smile on her face. Because of the joy, her pale face was slightly flushed. She smiled primly, “Today, I slept half an hour, ate half a bowl rice soaked in sour bamboo and chicken skin soup for lunch, and felt full.”

Shi-shi nodded. “If you like anything, just tell the chef. Doesn’t matter what it is. Even if it is phoenix brain and dragon liver, your Sister Feng will find it for you.”

“Oh!” A long sound came from outside the door. “My old mistress. What have you promise on my behalf again. Old Mistress, you get to be the good person, and I take on all the work. You love your granddaughter, but do not order about your granddaughter-in-law like this.” Then, a young woman in her twenties walked in the door. She was dressed grandly, like a celestial. This was the wife of Jia Lian⁷, Wang Xi Feng⁸.

“You monkey, you must have hidden under the window to eaves-drop again. Otherwise, your arrival will not be such a coincidence.” Shi-shi pointed at Wang Xi Feng and laughed. “Look at that, you do not speak earlier or later, but when you hear of phoenix brain and dragon liver, you come. You like this now is making this old mistress slap her own mouth.”

The room of people laughed.

Wang Xi Feng glanced at Dai Yu and said, “I seemed to hear a family had good news……” At this, she lightly slapped her own mouth. “I say that, doesn’t it confirm that I was listening by the window like Old Mistress said.”

At these words, everyone laughed along.

Mother Jia saw that Dai Yu was tearful and knew the child felt urgent. She said with a smile, “You always admire others for having siblings. Now, you have them too. Your father has found your eldest sister and eldest brother. They are at home now. Isn’t this great news?”

The room instantly went silent.

Whether this was good news or not was hard to say. Several people exchanged hidden looks.

Dai Yu stilled. She had never heard of her having older siblings. Mother had never mentioned it. Father had never mentioned it. Was there so secret?

Wang Xi Feng’s eyes moved. She said, “Such good news.” Since the old mistress spoke and said it was good news, it must be good news. As the old mistress had spoken of the matter, it meant she already had a plan. She took over and congratulated Dai Yu. “You always say that no one loves you. Now, with your own sister and brother, us brothers and sisters who are more distant will be further back in line.”

Dai Yu thanked her. It was not easy to ask more questions in front of so many people.

Shi-shi explained, “Speaking of this matter, we have to be more cautious. In us great families, the greatest damage is the servants doing mischief.”

Everyone heard this and knew that there was a story here. They quieted and waited for the old mistress to explain.

Shi-shi sighed and said to Dai Yu, “After your mother married to the Lin Family, she did not have good news for many years. The Lin Family has had single children for several generations, and your mother was anxious. As a result, she got two concubines for your father, hoping that they will have children and heirs for the Lin Family to pass down to. The two concubines were good and soon got pregnant. But the servants had malicious intent, and spoke to the two concubines, telling them that your mother wanted to kill them. Such nonsense words. If your mother truly was like that, why would she have expended the effort to get concubines for your father?The two concubines were not of high birth, and were frightened, so they asked to leave the residence. Your parents are kind people and they would not stop others from leaving if they wanted to. Each person was given two hundred taels of silver and they were released. At the time, your parents did not know they were pregnant. Otherwise, they would not have been allowed to leave with the children.”

“Later, your father’s wet nurse felt that the matter was fishy. She wanted to investigate, but at the time, the whereabouts of the two concubines were unknown so the matter was delayed. Without evidence, she did not dare to report back to your parents.”

“Later, they had you, and your younger brother, so that granny forgot about this matter.”

“Who knew that your brother was short-lived and your mother as well?They both passed, leaving you behind alone. Then the granny remembered this matter and told your father.”

“But good people get blessings from the heavens! Maybe because your mother hoped sincerely for children, so while the two children suffered a bit of hardship, they are alive and healthy.”

“Your father has found them, and the family can be reunited. It is good news. Your mother’s spirit by the yellow springs can rest in peace.”

Shi-shi sighed emotionally, and Dai Yu cried upon hearing this.

Jia Bao Yu stomped his foot and said, “That eldest Lin cousin, a noble miss, ended up lost outside. Who knows how much hardship she endured?Forebearer, you are merciful, quickly send someone to bring the younger sister here. Wouldn’t it be wonderful for everyone to be together?” He looked at Dai Yu. “Sister Lin always admired the sisters of others. Now, she has her own older sister. Then, there will be someone to intervene if she has any matters on her mind.”

“Pah!” Dai Yu spit at him. “What matters do I have to intervene with?”

A hint of understanding flashed through Wang Xi Feng’s eyes. It was not servants, it was the aunt who had done this. But she had not cleaned up, and they managed to come back out.

Xue Bao Chai turned her face down and pressed her lips together. She did not know if this eldest miss of the Lin Family was as easy to fool as Younger Sister Lin.

Shi Xiang Yun looked at Jia Bao Yu and smiled coldly. “Other people now have sisters, why is Second Brother busy? There is no reason that the misses of another family have to come and play with you.”

Jia Bao Yu suddenly realized that only Xiang Yun was a pitiful one from the people in the room. She was more pitiful than Younger Sister Lin so he went over to comfort her.

Dai Yu snorted. This time, she did not say anything mean. Her mind was completely occupied by the elder sister and brother that suddenly appeared.

Even after she returned to her room, she was still thinking about what the old mistress said.

Right now, Father had brought Elder Sister and Brother home. The Lin Family had a son. Father had an heir. The Lin Family would be passed down. With an older sister, she would have someone to keep her company at home.

A thought flashed through her mind. She urgently wanted to return home. If one had their own home, who wanted to stay in someone else’s home?

She just did not know the temperaments of her new siblings, if they were easy to get along with.

She sighed over the hardships of her siblings, and also worried that her father would not just want her only, her sister being mean and her brother arrogant.

She laid there and could not go to sleep.

Zi Juan⁹ had heard of the Lin Family matter. She had her own considerations. She said in a low voice, “This is naturally good news to Miss. But Miss, think more for yourself. In our residence, not mentioning the other misses and mistresses, even Second Master Bao is friendly. No one has been angry with each other, and you all grew up together. Nothing can compare to such feelings. Also, you are all familiar with each other’s temperaments, and the days are easier.” She sad by Dai Yu’s bedside and said, “Ever since Old Mistress gave me to Miss, I think only of Miss, and I hope that Miss will stay a long time in our home. Miss, please listen to my following words, just for the fact that I have been sincere to Miss the last few years. After you listen, it is up to you if you want to scold or beat me.”

Zi Juan finished speaking, did not hear Dai Yu speak, and knew that she had heard the words.

She continued, ” Eldest Miss and Eldest Young Master grew up outside. I do not dare to casually guess their personality. However, through being frequently among the common people, I have seen the people who come from poor little families. Miss, just think of Eldest Mistress. Even Eldest Mistress, coming from a family like that, is awkward in our home. Eldest Miss and Eldest Young Master grew up like orphans. If you just think, you know there are many things which are not proper.”

“Miss thinks of them, it is good. It is hard to avoid feelings for blood. But if you live together, not speaking of whether Miss will be used to it and can interact together, it likely will harm Miss’ reputation.”

Zi Juan sighed. “In our residence, Miss has the love of the old mistress and the sisters to keep you company. Isn’t it more comfortable than being with strangers. Do not put your thoughts of missing home on your face. I fear if the old mistress sees it, she will be hurt.”

Zi Juan did not feel that she was a traitor. How could di-children and shu-children get close?

Just look at Third Master Huan ¹⁰ and Second Master Bao of the residence.

She could not let her miss who was somewhat sentimental suffer.

Zi Juan looked at Dai Yu’s back and sighed softly. She had endless things to worry about with a master like this.

Translator Ramblings: The footnotes contain a whole dump of character info. Here’s the family tree from Hawkes and Minford translation for the Jia and relatives.

From the tree, it’s possible to see some strangeness already. For example, the title should pass down to Jia She, the eldest, and then his son. Interestingly, the Wangs have a daughter married to Jia She’s younger brother, Jia Zheng, and then later on, a Wang niece married Jia She’s son, but at this point still has no heir. So aunt and niece married into the same family, to two different branches.

• Grafting Life Chapter 5 – Red Chamber (5)
• Grafting Life Chapter 6 – Red Chamber (6)
• Grafting Life Chapter 7 Red Chamber (7)

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