Chapter 9 – Red Chamber (9)
Before Zi Juan even spoke, Jia Bao Yu went up first. It was winter now, and the capital was much colder than Jiangnan. He first pulled Zi Juan’s hands into his own and rubbed them, asking, “I see that Sister Lin is very busy, servants and grannies coming in and out. How come you are free to come out?”
Zi Juan had feared that this master would forget her miss when they left. She said with a smile, “Second Young Master, did you not see? Those are people sent by the Lin Family. The Lin Family is a scholarly family, they are very concerned with their miss.”
“They are all fish eyes1. When Sister Lin goes home, she will be kept in line by these servant women.” Jia Bao Yu rubbed Zi Juan’s hands. “You should dress more when outside. It is not good if you get sick. You will suffer, and Sister Lin will have no one to care for her.”
“This is very true.” Zi Juan looked worried. “From what I see, the etiquette of the Lin Family is different from our family. Miss has been in our family for these years. I fear when she returns, she will not be used to it.”
“What’s there to be afraid of?” Jia Bao Yu said. “She will come back next year.”
“My silly master, Miss has her father and her older brother. She is not rootless and overstays with her relatives. She gets older by the year. When girls grow up, they have to get married. They can’t just stay with their relatives with a dubious status,” Zi Juan glanced at Jia Bao Yu’s expression and said casually.
Jia Bao Yu was stunned, his mind filled with the fact that girls would be married when they grew up.
At this time, two people appeared at the turn of the path. It was Xue Bao Chai and Xi Ren.
Zi Juan did not know how much of the conversation the pair had heard. She was slightly embarrassed. She hurriedly pulled her hand out of Jia Bao Yu’s hand. “Miss Bao has come.” She greeted Xue Bao Chai before turning to greet Xi Ren.2 “Have you come in search of Second Master Bao?”
“Exactly! Such a cold day. One will get sick in the wind. If Old Mistress and Mistress learns of this, they will be very worried.” As she spoke, she pulled Jia Bao Yu away. “Go back and put on another robe. It appears like snow is about to come.”
Jia Bao Yu was dazedly pulled away.
“Miss Bao, are you coming to our courtyard to visit?” Zi Juan asked Xue Bao Chai.
“Sister Lin is packing, and likely does not have time. I will not go and add trouble.” Xue Bao Chai’s expression was cool and nothing could be read.
Zi Juan then left.
Xue Bao Chai was furious inside. She could not help but think of Zi Juan’s words.
…… She is not rootless, and overstays with her relatives……
How can she stay with her relatives with a dubious status……
Who was the target of these insinuations?
Xue Bao Chai pulled her cloak closer. After her emotions settled, she walked to Pear Fragrance Park.
Just as Zi Juan entered the yard, she heard the granny in the room instruct Granny Wang, “…Do not leave behind anything personal. It is fine to not take anything else along.” Her tone was dismissive. “…We have it all. How can we not know the preferences of our miss. We will not have Miss slighted……” Then she heard the other say, “This cloak looks to be old. Do not pack it. Eldest Miss has prepared new ones for Miss……”
Zi Juan had a belly full of fire and could not keep on listening. Wasn’t this saying that Miss had been slighted here?
She lifted the curtain and entered, saying with a smile, “This granny, the old mistress bestowed the cloak down last year, it is made from top quality white fox skin. It is the best for keeping warm, rabbit skin cannot compare to it……”
Before she finished speaking, she saw Dai Yu come out from the inner room. “What are you talking about, it is so lively.”
Zi Juan was dumbfounded. Dai Yu was dressed in a white fox skin cloak right now. Upon comparing, the difference could be seen. Long fur, bright, and very soft. The one in her hand was slightly yellowed. It really was too old.
Zi Juan flushed red in embarrassment. Wasn’t this a slap in the face? No wonder they looked down on it.
The granny ignored Zi Juan, looking at Dai Yu and nodded. “Eldest Miss said that the capital is cold, and we are traveling by water the entire way. She feared that Miss, with your health, can’t bear it. So she prepared lots of furs for Miss to try out and fit before sewing. If Miss feels anything is not right, we have brought along two tailors. They can change as you like.”
Dai Yu had a smile. “It is very good! It fits perfectly.”
“There is also red fox skin, mink fur, some wolf skin rugs, bearskin rugs, they are all high quality. We also have some wild duck feather, peacock feather overcoats. Eldest Miss said to tell Miss, they look pretty, but do not treasure them because they are not warm at all.” The granny directed the servant girls to pack as she spoke.
“This is strange. Since Eldest Sister knows they are not warm, why bring them to me? It is such trouble to bring them here and back,” Dai Yu asked without even thinking.
“Eldest Miss inquired about other families and said that when girls get together, they like to compare what they dress and eat. Master is a man and will not think of such details, and Miss has been slighted these two years. Now that Eldest Miss knows, she will not have Miss shamed in her relative’s home.” The granny had a matter-of-fact tone.
Dai Yu’s eyes immediately reddened. Even if this elder sister was not as close as others, she was better than others.
How much effort to send these people here? Which miss of the Jia family could compare to what she ate and dressed in?
Lin Yu Tong had specially talked about it. There was only one goal — show off the wealth.
It was a matter of time until they had to interact with the Jia Family. She did not want to be treated like poor relatives who came to beg for money.
As they were talking, the three Springs came to see Dai Yu before she left.
Seeing Dai Yu’s attire, the trio exchanged looks. They had thought that their family had taken good care of the other. But from what they saw, the Lin Family thought that they had slighted their miss.
Also, from what the Lin Family looked like, they were not as poor as the residence thought.
It was nonsense the saying that scholarly families were the poorest.
They all said that the daughters of the Jia Family were raised in wealth, but Sister Lin appeared even more so.
Then, the servant girls who had come from the Lin Family came with tea. When the lids were lifted, fragrance immediately hit the nose.
“What tea is so fragrant?” Tan Chun asked.
“Our own family’s, not anything famous,” the servant girl coolly answered. The words were too modest. This had come from Lin Yu Tong’s space. Its effect on health was average, but it had a great taste.
Tan Chun stopped speaking. No wonder Sister Lin had a little temper after coming here. She had lived like this in her own home.
Zi Juan immediately felt that she could not get close to Miss, and also, she had probably guessed the situation wrong.
Translator Ramblings: In the novel, Jia Bao Yu and Lin Dai Yu are set up as the “perfect couple” but one of the things that Jia Bao Yu is famous for is “eating the lip rouge” with servant girls. His personal servant girls obviously like him very much as well.
- Grafting Life Chapter 8 – Red Chamber (8)
- Grafting Life Chapter 10 – Red Chamber (10)
- Grafting Life Chapter 11 – Red Chamber (11)
- Fish eyes and pearls are often contrasted, meaning one mistakes something worthless, fish eyes, for something valuable, pearls. ↩
- Xi Ren’s original name is Zhen zhu, meaning pearl. She was sold because her parents were poor and originally served Mother Jia, and then Shi Xiang Yun. Mother Jia gave her to Jia Bao Yu and she became his head servant girl. ↩
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