Dreams of Jianghu

Chapter 10 – Red Chamber (10)

Lin Dai Yu sat on the boat and watched the slow river. What flashed through her mind was the changes in attitude of the Jia family members when they saw her off. The servants were much more respectful and fawning. Even the masters had more things in their smiles. Eldest Sister-in-law did not look so bitter and distant, and Second Sister-in-law had some sincerity in her smile.

She was a smart person to start with, she just was not willing to think deeply.

The ship was not moving fast. While the scenery on the shores were bleak, when a person was in a good mood, everything looked beautiful.

Zi Juan whispered, “Miss, the wind on the river is strong. It is better to close the window. It is not good if you get a cold.”

Dai Yu said with a smiled, “It is true in the past, but not right now.”

She was sitting on wolf skin and wrapped in an overcoat of mink. She had a hand stove in her ams, and deer skin boots on her feet. There were fire basins around her with the silver charcoal burning bright red. With the window half open, it was perfect to get a change of air.

Zi Juan took out the rose dew from the Jia Family. “How about making half a cup for Miss?”

Just as she finished speaking, Xue Yan¹ came in with a tray. There was a crisp green jade bowl half filled with a bright red fruit juice. “Miss, taste this, the grannies made fresh pomegranate juice.”

Xue Yan felt the sky was blue and the water was clear now that they were going back to the Lin Family. With the people from Lin Family here, her spine went straight. She saw Zi Juan with a half-empty bottle of rose dew and said with a smile, “Sister Xi Ren gave this? A while ago, I saw the younger servant girls in Bao Yu’s room split this? What reaches our hands is the remainder.”

Zi Juan flushed red and said, “It is not the remainder, I just do not know who shared some of it.”

“What is that thing worth?” Xue Yan smiled. “There are several bottles in the kitchen right now. Rose dew, chrysanthemum dew, plum flower dew, lotus flower dew, there are flowers from the four seasons. And many nut dews. However, the eldest miss warned that regardless of how good these things are, they have been processed. No one knows how many hands they have been through. She forbids our miss from consuming such things. She had them bring fruits. Regardless of whether it is eating them directly or as juice, they are good. This pomegranate juice was made from the imperial tribute pomegranate that was transported from Chang’an. They were chosen for their color, each of them more than a pound, skinned and then juiced.”

Zi Juan changed expression. No amount of rose dew could buy such an amount of resources and manpower.

Dai Yu took a sip and smiled. “It is very refreshing and sweet, but too wasteful.”

Xue Yan came close and whispered, “There are buckets of snow pears, apples stored in the jars, all kinds of vegetables. They have put in a lot of heart. It is good to return home.”

Dai Yu agreed with these words. Ever since people came from her family, everything was at ease and she was served upon to her satisfaction.

And in the Jia Family, she was not a proper miss. For any good towards her, she had to accept someone’s favor.

Jia Lian had come with Lin Dai Yu, and when he boarded the ship, he knew that he was a bumpkin.

The ship was an ordinary official ship, but the furnishings inside had been contributed by the salt merchants. Could they not be good?

In terms of food and dress, he did not feel like he was on a ship and traveling.

When they got to Yangzhou, he did not dare to feel any dismissiveness.

When the ship came close to the shore, there were manservants dress in indigo who came on board with a warm sedan. Jia Lian was shocked and so was Lin Dai Yu. When she left the cabin, she entered the sedan, and was not in the wind for a second.

Jia Lian followed the sedan off the ship. Then he saw a youth of twelve or so standing by the pier. So he must be the new young master the Lin Family had just recognized?

Lin Yu Yang had seen Jia Lian and he matched this person to the one who his sister had described. So he walked over with a smile, bowed and said, “This must be Second Master Lian. Thank you for making the trip in person to accompany my sister back. Sorry for the trouble.”

Jia Lian saw that the youth’s movements were full of a noble air and there were nothing crude. He immediately smiled, ” Cousin, you are too polite. Just call me Second Cousin. It was no trouble in seeing Sister Lin back. I was treated very well on the way, and saw many different scenery. I should be thanking Cousin.”

Lin Yu Yang laughed. “Yangzhou is full of scenery. On another day, I will have someone take Cousin to look around.”

“Cousin cannot accompany me?” Jia Lian pretended to grumble.

“My father is urging me to study, I do not dare to wander around. Cousin, do not harm me.” Lin Yu Yang looked afraid. He thought, if I keep you company, Father will not do anything, but if Elder Sister learns of this, she will break my leg.

Jia Lian felt sympathy and laughed. Lin Yu Yang invited him onto the carriage and then turned to walk in front of Lin Dai Yu’s sedan.

Lin Dai Yu had just looked through the small window of the sedan. This elder brother was not at all what she had imagined.

They all said that Bao Yu was a talent, but compared to her brother, it seemed that her brother was an upright white willow, while Bao Yu was an orchid from the greenhouse.

They were not the same at all.

The sedan stopped by the carriage. Lin Yu Yang stood outside the sedan. “Sister, change to the carriage. Father is waiting back at the residence.”

Zi Juan was standing beside the sedan and blushed when she had a look at this Eldest Young Master Lin. They had grown up in the Jia Family, and the men they saw were either the masters of the Jia Family or the servants. Compared to the other people of the Jia Family, Jia Bao Yu was very fine.

But here, on the outside, she found that there were many good men. This master of the Lin Family looked to be more likable than Bao Yu.

Dai Yu came off the sedan and was about to curtsy when Lin Yu Yang stopped her. “We are not outsiders, no need to be polite. The wind is strong by the river, get on the carriage quickly.”

The grannies helped Dai Yu onto the carriage. Lin Yu Yang sighed in relief. He was used to interacting with his elder sister and liked nimble girls more. Seen his younger sister so delicate, he surrendered first. This is not easy to get along with.

Lin Dai Yu felt very comforted. The sedan was warm, and the carriage was more like a room on wheels. Even the toilet buckets had been prepared.

Even if Zi Juan felt that the Jia Family was better, she was unable to speak now.

Lin Ru Hai sat in the front hall and then started to turn in circles. He was anxious.

Lin Yu Tong felt sorry for her brother. Such a day, cold and dark, and he had to be at the pier. He would be frozen. Seeing Lin Ru Hai anticipating Lin Dai Yu so much, she pressed down the feelings that had rose during this time. Just like she had imagined, the ones recognized after were not the same as the one raised personally.

Lin Ru Hai was very satisfied with his oldest daughter’s arrangements this time. Even though she still had some grudges against the mistress, as the elder sister, it was rare to be able to arrange so much for her sister.

Speaking of the three children, he truly did not feel that he was partial to any.

Of his oldest daughter, he relied heavily on her. In his mind, this child could replace him. She was one that he could entrust important matters to.

Of his son, and his only son, he had high hopes for him. The hopes of the Lin Family were all on his son.

Of his youngest daughter, he loved her. This child was born weaker than others.

Steward Lin looked at the master and then at Eldest Miss. He wanted to pull Master’s sleeve, and tell him that people would easily misunderstand such an expression.

Just as Lin Yu Tong was made dizzy by Lin Ru Hai’s circles, Lin Dai Yu finally returned.

Father and daughter cried together, and annoyed Lin Yu Tong a bit.

She gave Jia Lian to Steward Lin to take care of while she pulled her brother back to his courtyard, leaving space for father and daughter to talk. Or rather, she did not want to see them so lovey-dovey.

Ever since Lin Dai Yu entered, Lin Ru Hai could see no one else. While this disappointed Lin Yu Yang, he felt assured. At least, he did not completely trust his father as well.

Lin Yu Tong knew that a child who had grown up like her brother was wary of others. Few people could walk into his heart. Today’s events would affect him to some degree.

“Quick, drink the ginger soup.” Lin Yu Tong urged when her brother finished changing his clothes.

Lin Yu Yang’s heart warmed. Regardless of the time, his elder sister was here. This was enough. People could not be too greedy.

Sister and brother idly chatted. No one mentioned the father and daughter.

In the front hall, Lin Ru Hai finally composed himself. He finally thought of introducing his other daughter and son. Then he discovered that the two children were gone.

When Steward Lin had settled Jia Lian and returned, the father and daughter were still emoting so he did not disturb them. But he knew inside, today, Master had annoyed the miss.

“Where is Eldest Miss?” Lin Ru Hai was puzzled and asked Steward Lin.

Steward Lin would not go to invite Lin Yu Tong. He was not willing to have his old face embarrassed by that one’s temper. He said with a smile, “Eldest Miss instructed to not disturb Master and Second Miss from talking and left.”

Lin Ru Hai stilled. This did not answer the question. What was meant by disturbing them……

When he thought this, he understood and slapped his leg. This really had not been appropriate.

What Lin Dai Yu learned most from the Jia Family was how to observe people’s expressions. She saw that her father’s expression was not right and could not help but think, does Eldest Sister not like me coming back?

Thinking of the possibility, she immediately did not feel good and could not help but cry again.

Lin Ru Hai felt sad, but Steward Lin was stunned.

She had just come back, nothing had happened, and she was crying like this. When did a miss of the family act like this? Also, so many people of the Lin Family had accompanied her back. Did she not know that Master’s health had not completely recovered?Why couldn’t she control her feelings?

With this comparison, he instantly felt that Eldest Miss and Eldest Young Master were more to his taste.

Translator Ramblings: There’s a whole in-novel “mythology” concerning Lin Dai Yu and Jia Bao Yu which involves Lin Dai Yu’s tears. Lin Dai Yu has a famous scene in the novel where she cries over fallen flowers and holds a funeral for them.

Table of Contents

• Grafting Life Chapter 9 – Red Chamber (9)
• Grafting Life Chapter 11 – Red Chamber (11)
• Grafting Life Chapter 12 – Red Chamber (12)