Last time on Grafting Life: The old mistress learns about the Lin Family’s arrival.
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Chapter 20 – Red Chamber (20)
Wang Xi Feng tisked. “I have never seen a person as brisk as Sister.”
“Sister-in-law, you are laughing at me.” Lin Yu Tong invited the other to sit down and had a servant serve tea. “I know why Sister-in-law has come. But they all say that a golden or a silver den is not as good as one’s own grass den. There is no reason to live in a relative’s home when one’s own home is good.” She did not wait for Wang Xi Feng to speak. “Father received the letter of your honored old mistress. He really did not know how to respond. He does not bear for us to leave the home. He fears that your honored residence will think too much, that we are deliberately distancing ourselves from your residence but in reality, Father just worries about Younger Sister coming to the capital alone.”
He was worried about Sister Lin so he sent the two siblings so they could take care of each other.
But why did he worry about Sister Lin? This was because the Jia Family did not do well.
There was no accusation in the words, but all the words were accusations.
Fearing that your honored residence will think too much… Deliberately distancing ourselves…… If the two families were truly on good terms, who would think too much or distance themselves?
Such a fearsome tongue.
She usually won in verbal battles, but today, she encountered her match. This one did not misstep in her words and killed with soft knives. The other was more skilled.
She saw the servants of the Lin Family were full of respect and knew that this person was the mistress of the household now.
So she smiled and said, “I know this, but we promised Uncle Lin to take you to our residence to live. I do not dare to slack off. Right now, the courtyard and the furniture has been prepared, and is just waiting for Cousins to arrive. Do not worry. The courtyard is right by the street. I have already ordered them to make a gate to the outside, and build two more rooms by the door. There are two doors between the inner and outer courtyard. It is safe and convenient. If this sister-in-law is not using care, it is nonsense. Uncle-in-law Lin trusts us, and there is no reason for Brother and Sisters to be slighted.”
Lin Yu Tong laughed inside and felt some admiration for Wang Xi Feng. She admitted that she had slacked in her care of Sister Lin back then, and was apologizing. If she kept on this topic, it would be unreasonable.
She gave a small smile. “It is not important to be slighted or not. Sister-in-law has come with a mission. Just for nothing else, just for Sister-in-law, if I keep on posturing, I am not giving Sister-in-law face.” In any case, they had to go. It was better to give Wang Xi Feng some face. In the home, dangers could not be predicted. In the Jia Family, she knew what to guard against. There were only those members of the Jia Family and she knew how capable they were. She smiled. “How about this? Sister-in-law, go visit Sister for now, and I will arrange matters before we go. I fear we are going to eat dinner at your honored residence.”
Wang Xi Feng had not expected to get consent so easily. She liked to interact with such people who were not slow.
So she smiled and went with a servant girl to Dai Yu’s rooms.
Dai Yu was still on the bed, sitting up and sipping a cup of pear juice. Hearing that Wang Xi Feng had come, she was shocked. “Second Sister-in-law, how come you came?”
She was about to get off the bed when she saw Zi Juan lead Wang Xi Feng in. The servants of the Lin Family looked at Zi Juan with odd gazes.
How could you lead someone into the room when the master had not spoken and was not attired properly?
Wang Xi Feng was smart and saw the looks of these servant girls. Just now in the hall, she had not felt it, but with Zi Juan as a comparison, she knew where the problem was.
The servant girls of the Lin Family were very well-mannered. They never made any decisions without a word from their master. They would just do what they should.
The Jia Family’s servant girls always heard the old mistress say to think more for your masters. As a result, they were very devoted to their masters. There were many who made decisions for their masters, and even Ping’er could make many decisions for her.
In the past, she felt that this was good. But after seeing the Lin Family, she realized. If the servant could make many decisions for their masters, it would be very easy for them to fool their masters.
Do not speak of their loyalty. The servants were people. They all had their own minds.
Thinking this, she broke out in a cold sweat and felt more afraid the more she thought.
“Second Missus, taste this.” Zi Juan served a cup of snow pear juice in a crystal cup. “This is imperial tribute snow pear, just juiced.”
The crystal cup was one that Dai Yu commonly used.
The servant girls of the Lin Family all frowned. They did not care about that bit of juice, but could something that the master frequently used be used to entertain guests?
Xue Yan was part of the Lin Family and was also familiar with the Jia Family. She smiled and took it from Zi Juan’s hands. “Sister, really, Second Missus just came in from outside and is likely cold. This cup has been chilled. I will get a warm cup and add some honey. It will be sweeter than this one.”
When she came back to serve, it was in a jade cup.
Lin Dai Yu did not think much of this and stood to curtsy to Wang Xi Feng. “Second Sister-in-law has come, why not tell me to get up?” She was speaking to Zhi Lan who was standing next to her.
Zhi Lan was one of the first-rank servant girls who Lin Yu Tong chose for Lin Dai Yu and was a reliable person.
She gave a faint smile. “Miss was in a deep sleep. Eldest Miss told us to not wake Miss up, fearing it will give Miss a fright.”
“Sister is just too careful.” Lin Dai Yu smiled at Wang Xi Feng. “But Sister-in-law was neglected.”
“We have not met for just a few months, and you are so polite.” Wang Xi Feng saw the movements in the room but did not show anything on her face. She said, “I see that you are much rosier. You are able to have a good sleep during the daytime. You appear much better.”
Lin Dai Yu said, “Sister cooks everyday. Brother and I gained half a pound on the ship. It is strange, I am better by the day, and did not feel any discomfort on the trip. I sleep well at night. Today, I was shaken around on the carriage for half a day, but when I came back to lie down, I really had a deep sleep.”
Wang Xi Feng gaped inside. This girl was truly outstanding to cook. Not just anyone would lower themselves. How could Uncle-in-law Lin not remember this? This person was truly smart.
“This is your good fortune!” Wang Xi Feng said. “I saw that Eldest Sister is very busy outside, but you are resting on the bed. You truly have someone caring for you and it is different. All right! Hurry up and pack. I have come to get you.”
“Has Eldest Sister agreed?” Lin Dai Yu asked.
Wow! This Sister Lin always had a bit of a temper. But that one managed to sort her out so quickly. She said with a smile, “Yes! Yes! Quickly pack!”
Zhi Lan and Fang Hua now helped Lin Dai Yu into the inner room.
Wang Xi Feng had nothing to do and looked around the room. The more she looked, the more shocked she was. The room had been prepared already. It could be seen that they truly did not plan to live with the Jia Family.
The playthings on the shelves, the yellowed pages of the books, the crystal curtains, the blue and white porcelain basins in the corners of the room. They were all top quality.
The Jia Family put such things in their stores. Who would put them out in public like this?
She could not help but think, it seems that they may not like the courtyard she had prepared with the greatest of care.
Maybe she had to use the time of dinner to have them clean it up some more.
Even when they were on the carriage, Wang Xi Feng was still thinking about this.
“Are we bringing too little?” Zi Juan asked Zhi Lan in a whisper.
“We are just visiting the relatives, not moving house.” Zhi Lan shook her head. “If we lack something, we can just come back to get it or buy it. We do not lack more runners, much less silver. What are you worried about?”
Zi Juan choked. Zhi Lan laughed inside.
When the carriage stopped at the main gates, Wang Xi Feng invited Lin Yu Tong to change to the sedan with a smile. Clearly, they were going to enter through the main gates.
Lin Dai Yu thought of how she entered from a corner gate the first time she came to the Jia residence and she dimmed inside.
Lin Yu Tong patted Lin Dai Yu’s hand and said loudly, “The main gate of the ducal establishment cannot be usurped. Second Sister-in-law, please open the side gate.”
Wang Xi Feng stilled and then remembered there really were such rules. Unless people of very high status came or there were important events such as receiving imperial edicts, the main gates could not be opened. She hit her head. She just wanted to make this more serious. How come she forgot this?
She hurriedly called for people to open the side gates to receive them.
The Jia family servants were people who thought highly of their family. Now, they heard, wow, not just anybody could come through the main gates. Look at the Lin Family, they were very polite.
They could not help but compare to the Xue Family. Oh! The Xue Family, just an imperial merchant house, dared to come through the main gates.
Their family opened the main gates because it was courteous. But if you dared to enter, you were overstepping.
Immediately, a clever servant ran to the inner courtyard and described this to Shi-shi.
Shi-shi immediately showed satisfaction. “In the end, they are from a noble family. These rules are engraved in their bones.”
Madam Wang looked embarrassed.
Madam Xing glanced at Madam Wang and showed scorn. The second branch was not the branch in line to receive the title, but they honored the family of Second Madam’s sister so much. Now, they were on the wrong side.
Aunt Xue and Bao Chai were even more ashamed. Back then, they felt that it was giving them face. Now, they realized that it was inappropriate.
Shi Xiang Yun said, “This eldest sister of the Lin Family is really polite. We are all one family of blood, where can’t they enter from. She cares so much about status, so amusing.” She laughed.
This joke was not funny at all.
Shi-shi pressed her lips together. For the first time, she looked down at her grand niece. How come this child did not use her head before speaking?
Elevating the Xue Family, degrading the Lin Family, and stepping on the Jia Family as well. What do you want to do?
Jia Bao Yu secretly pulled Shi Xiang Yun’s sleeve and shook his head. He did not feel that her words were wrong, but in terms of looking at other people’s expressions, he was better. Seeing that no one was speaking, he hurriedly stopped her.
Shi Xiang Yun pouted and was a bit unhappy. The siblings of the Lin Family had come, and she became a lone person worthy of sympathy.
Translator Ramblings: Marriage ties are so important. In this case, for the four families, we got Shi-shi tying together the Jia and Shi familes, Madam Wang tying the Jia and Wang, and Aunt Xue tying the Wang and Xue. So the Jia and Wang families have more in-law ties than the other two.
- Grafting Life Chapter 19 – Red Chamber (19)
- Grafting Life Chapter 21 – Red Chamber (21)
- Grafting Life Chapter 22 – Red Chamber (22)
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