Last time on Grafting Life: Wang Xi Feng is pregnant. Jia Bao Yu is finally beaten by his father.
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Chapter 42 – Red Chamber (42)
Dai Yu put the handkerchief on the table, looked at Qing Wen and said, “I know, you can return.”
Qing Wen stilled. She could not help but ask, “Miss Lin, do you have a message for Second Master?”
Lin Dai Yu’s hand clenched. Then she slowly shook her head, and did not speak.
Fang Hua saw this and hurriedly said, “Miss Qing Wen, let us speak outside. It is time for Miss to rest.”
Qing Wen saw that Lin Dai Yu did not stop Fang Hua and did not dare to disobey. She slowly left.
Xue Yan kept Dai Yu company in the room and asked upon seeing this, “Miss, you are……”
“Put away the handkerchief. Do not ever let me see this again in this lifetime.” Lin Dai Yu went to lay down after saying this.
Xue Yan’s eyes turned red. She put the handkerchief away in a box and then put the box away. She thought that Miss likely put her feelings together with the handkerchief away in the box together. In this life, she would not bring it out again. Her miss and Bao Yu would never have a future.
Fang Hua sent away Qing Wen and then she heard Xue Yan speak of the reasons. She did not dare to conceal it and rushed to tell Lin Yu Tong. Lin Yu Tong sighed in relief from the bottom of her heart. Lin Dai Yu’s actions made her think of the first love, the purest, the most beautiful. If a fruit would not form, then, just hide it carefully in the heart.
She feared that Lin Dai Yu likely had made up her mind.
Lin Yu Tong did not know what she was feeling. She did not feel accomplished at having broken apart Bao Yu and Dai Yu. She felt a faint soreness and regret.
At night, Lin Dai Yu only came with Xue Yan.
“I heard you did not sleep well, how come you are not resting?” Lin Yu Tong had Lin Dai Yu sit and said. She saw the other had dark eye bags, and knew the other had not rested well.
Lin Dai Yu glanced at Xue Yan and said, “You go.”
This meant she had something to say. Lin Yu Tong waved her hand and had the servant girls in the room all leave.
“Just us sisters, no outsiders, you can say anything. If I can accomplish it, I will not refuse,” Lin Yu Tong looked at Lin Dai Yu and said solemnly.
“Sister, I want to tell Father to find a physician for me. I want to learn medicine, and pass the time,” Lin Dai Yu said, playing with the handkerchief in her hand.
“This……” Lin Yu Tong did not understand Lin Dai Yu’s meaning immediately. At the start, Lin Yu Tong thought that she could learn medicine, but the other matters took her attention. Right now, she had just memorized a few soups. If Lin Dai Yu wanted to pass time, it was fine. She could also treat it as a serious study. In their home, no gossip would occur. However, why did she have such thoughts? She asked, “Sister, what do you plan to do?”
Lin Dai Yu was silent for a moment and said, “Sister still remembers the story of the Crimson Pearl Grass by the spirit river?”
Lin Yu Tong’s heart jumped. She wanted to slap herself on the mouth. She hurriedly said, “I made up the story……”
“Not made up. Sister knows, it must be me.” Lin Dai Yu smiled bitterly. “Thinking about it now, the grass was able to become human because of the nourishment from the river. The favor has to be repaid, but it should be repaid to the river. The spirit river nourished the grass for countless years, but the grass only remembers the favor of the one who came in the end, that Attendant of Shen Ying who stole another’s merit. She is confused. She has to repay the favor, and she will also repay the feelings. An entanglement in this life is enough. I want to learn some medicine. Saving one person will repay some favor to the spirit river. Sister, what do you think?”
Lin Yu Tong’s throat was choked up. If she truly acted as a physician to save people, she would not be able to have a marriage in this life. No family was willing to have their daughter-in-law out in public.
Lin Yu Tong did not hold any dislike about being single because she knew that she was just a guest in this life. But Dai Yu, what was she thinking? Did she feel that she was also a guest in this life?
“You know what your decision means,” Lin Yu Tong said.
“Sister fears that because of Bao Yu, I feel that…… We have no karma so I refuse to marry?” Lin Dai Yu asked with a smile.
“Yes! I fear you will regret it in the future,” Lin Yu Tong said. “You really cannot let go, there may be other ways. You do not have to do this.”
“I know Bao Yu better than Sister,” Lin Dai Yu said with a smile. “If we truly stayed together day after day, our feelings would be worn away.”
This was comparing being in love and marriage. Marriage was more real and cruel than being in love. Lin Yu Tong felt that Lin Dai Yu’s thinking may be correct.
In the original book, Jia Bao Yu’s obsession with Lin Dai Yu involved his feelings. However, there was a saying, “the best is what you cannot get.” Lin Dai Yu died in the best time of her life, forever imprinted in Jia Bao Yu’s mind. A living person could never outcompete a dead person. She had become the cinnabar mole in Jia Bao Yu’s heart.
But if the ending was changed, and Jia Bao Yu and Lin Dai Yu married and stayed together, Lin Dai Yu’s beauty would grow old one day. However, her personality would not change. Would Bao Yu love such a Dai Yu?
Was the beauty of the Bao Yu and Dai Yu pairing because of the innocence, the genuine nature, and the pity?
“However, you cannot be so rash with the most important matters of your life.” Lin Yu Tong shook her head. “Think more about it. You are young now, you are not in a hurry, think about it slowly and then decide.”
“Sister, you know I am not a person like that.” Lin Dai Yu looked at Lin Yu Tong with bright and determined eyes. “Right now, I have Sister, and also Brother to rely on. Would you let me starve? If not for you, I would be dead.”
Lin Yu Tong grabbed Lin Dai Yu’s hand. “Regardless of the time, do not think pessimistically, we and Father will let you live as you wish.”
Lin Dai Yu smiled and nodded, saying, “After saying this, I feel relaxed, and able to sleep.” Then she stood to leave.
You can sleep, but I am not able to.
How could she tell her father? The other gave her such a big burden. How could she talk to Lin Ru Hai about this?
“Go see if the master has rested,” Lin Yu Tong ordered Chun’er. She could not carry such a burden.
Soon, Chun’er came back and said, “Master is teaching the young master.”
“Then let’s go.” Lin Yu Tong stood up and pondered how to start talking with Lin Ru Hai.
When father and son saw Lin Yu Tong come at such a time, they had a scare. Lin Ru Hai said, “How come you are not resting yet?”
Lin Yu Yang stood up and had his sister sit down before pulling over a chair to sit on the side.
Lin Yu Tong looked at Lin Ru Hai and felt calm. She had a clear conscience regarding Lin Dai Yu, and did not fear anybody criticizing her. She said, “Father, just now Sister found me and told me something. I have come to tell Father and so you can make a decision.”
Lin Ru Hai’s heart felt tight. He nodded and said, “Speak.”
“Sister wants to learn medicine, and wants Father to find a good teacher for her,” Lin Yu Tong spoke slowly and said, “She wants to do good deeds and accumulate karma.”
At the start, when Lin Ru Hai heard it was just learning medicine, he relaxed. The Lin Family was not a pedantic family, they would not stop their children from learning something. If she wanted to learn medicine, then she could. If a girl learned something, she could take better care of herself. Also, such a matter would not cause his eldest daughter to be so cautious. When good deeds were mentioned, he understood a bit. In reality, the Lin Family had the wealth to do good deeds. Giving out porridge would not cost a lot. He would not stop his children from doing this. But learning medicine just to do good deeds was very obvious. She was not planning to marry.
“You cannot be blamed for this.” Lin Ru Hai could sense his eldest daughter’s anxiousness and he said first, “This father sees how you treat Dai Yu. In the end, it was the fault of me and the mistress.”
The mistress referred to Jia Min.
“The old mistress once wrote to the mistress about a marriage, and the mistress naturally agreed. She believed deeply that Bao Yu was someone who would achieve great things. Back then, this father did not agree, not for anything except that the family had no son back then, and this father hoped to have the son-in-law marry in. But this father could not tell the mistress this to avoid her thinking too much, such as this father thinking that she will not be able to have a son in this lifetime. This father does not know what the mistress told the old mistress of the Jia Family for her to act like that, raising Dai Yu and Jia Bao Yu together.” Lin Ru Hai’s eyes flashed with a cold light. “Right now, she is still young, and her personality is not set. If she is willing to learn medicine, have her learn. After a few years, she may forget this.”
Lin Yu Tong was not optimistic, but she could not say it now. She would let Lin Ru Hai try. He would not be reconciled to this.
She heard Lin Ru Hai say, “If she wants to learn, it is not hard. There is the Mr. Su the family hired. Speaking of it, he is your cousin-uncle, an elder. No one will say anything about a miss learning medicine from their elder. This father will set up a two-entry courtyard for Physician Su in the capital, and gift him a medicine shop so he can settle in the capital and move his family here. He should be happy to do so.”
It was so good to have a rich father. The silver was akin to giving him a family property. Only an idiot would not agree.
Lin Yu Tong nodded and agreed with this. She thought for a moment but still said, “Father, have you ever thought, if Sister does not change her mind, what will you do?”
Lin Ru Hai glanced at Lin Yu Yang and said, “It is late, you go rest first. I will talk a bit with your sister.”
Lin Yu Yang nodded. Father had private things to talk to his sister about. While curious, he did not ask more.
Lin Yu Tong looked at Lin Ru Hai and said, “Father, why did you send Yang-ge’er away?”
“This father does not want Yang-ge’er to know of this matter,” Lin Ru Hai spoke directly. “This father knows that the monk and the Daoist have come to the family. Adding on the water that you gave this father, I know, you, child, must have had some special opportunity. This father will not ask you what you have, but you have some skills others do not have. Dai Yu and I had the fates of death. You managed to save us. Child, there is nothing I am not content with. Dai Yu wants to do this, and if it is done well, it will be good for the Lin Family. Even if there is no benefit, this father will not oppose it. One, it is because fate cannot be forced. I have already gained more. If I am greedy and want even more, in the end, I may lose it all. Two, it is Dai Yu’s health. Even without these matters, this father will not have an easy time with this child. You know, she has been weak since childhood. You managed to get her better off, but there is a fatal weakness, she will have a difficult time having children. If she marries into another family, this father will be worried. We want to find a noble family with many children, and the family cares greatly about the rules. Such a family usually will not have concubines, unless they are over the age of forty. Then, if they have no sons, they will take a concubine. There are people who fear it will throw the rules into disorder, and are willing to adopt rather than take a concubine. In such a family, she will be able to live well. You did not put servant girls into Yang-ge’er‘s rooms. You are correct. If our family had not been passed down through single sons, this father would not have taken concubines. Even in front of you and Yang-ge’er, this father can say such a thing.”
Lin Yu Tong nodded in understanding. Such a way of thinking fit the mainstream view of the world right now. She did not feel anything was wrong.
Lin Ru Hai sighed. “But the matters of Dai Yu in the Jia Family are not pleasing to hear. I fear that if someone uncovers them, it will be fatal.”
“Father never thought of having the son-in-law marry in?” Lin Yu Tong asked.
“Child, in the world right now, which family will send their accomplished sons to other families? The ones they will send will all have shortcomings. I fear that such a person will ruin my daughter.” Lin Ru Hai closed his eyes and said, “If she is married and does not have a child, in this father’s view, while I hurt for her, I will sigh in relief. Her health, if she truly becomes pregnant, she may not be able to give birth. This father does not dare to think about it. It is good fortune if you three are all fine and do not make me, the old person with white hair, send off you young people. I thought before, if it really was not possible, I would keep her at home. Later, one of Yang-ge’er‘s sons can be adopted under Dai Yu’s name. Would it not be the same? However, I worry that she will feel lacking. Now, this father does not reject her idea, and is a bit relieved. I just fear that she is still a child and after a few years when she grows up, she will change her mind. I will just watch. She can do as she likes. If she feels comfortable, it is fine. With you and your brother here, this father will have nothing to worry about before death. You are the same. If you can live well, then live well. If you are slighted in your husband’s home, come back. The family can support you. This father has died once and has realized that reputation is not important.”
Lin Yu Tong felt on the verge of tears. She had not thought that Lin Ru Hai would think like this.
She sighed in relief. She felt that her heart finally settled.
On this night, there were rounds of thunder coming through the sky, and the lightning lit up half the sky. But Lin Dai Yu felt that she had a very good sleep.
When she opened her eyes, she felt refreshed.
Xue Yan skipped in. She said with a smile, “Miss, will you go visit the garden? A lot of bamboo shoots appeared in the bamboo forest, it is all due to the rain last night. However, I saw that many of the flowers had fallen. How about sewing a pouch and going to gather the flowers.”
“You go, and pick up and clean the ones that can be used and dry them. Some of them can be used in medicine, others for incense. If you cannot pick them up, just leave them. Who knows what the flowers want? Maybe they want to become mud under the plant? It may be a better ending for them.” Dai Yu told Xue Yan leaning against the windowsill.
Chun’er came in with a basket when she was speaking.
“What did Sister send you to deliver to me?” Lin Dai Yu said with a smile.
Chun’er saw Second Miss smiling brightly and said, “These are big white apricots. The Jinghai Count sent them earlier. These are for Miss to taste.”
“So it is my brother-in-law. He changes what he sends each day, I wonder where he gets these from?” Lin Dai Yu grabbed one from the basket. These would have been cleaned already so she took a bite. There was a lot of flesh and a small core. It was sandy and sweet. “Good fruit, where did the trees come from? We will plant a few as well.”
“Our miss has sent someone to find them,” Chun’er said with a smile, “In the front, Second Missus Lian sent Xiao Hong over, and she is talking with our miss. Otherwise, our miss would have come to visit Miss.”
“Have Sister be busy, I will just walk around the courtyard when I am free. It is fine.” Lin Dai Yu waved a hand and did not ask about the Jia Family at all.
“Our miss says that the old master has sent someone to Gusu to invite Physician Su. Once Physician Su arrives, Miss will not have free time to play, and she tells you to take advantage when you are able to relax.” Chun’er made her farewells after saying this.
Lin Dai Yu stilled. This meant that Father had agreed. She took the apricot and ate it, the sour sweetness spreading through her mouth.
Lin Yu Tong was listening to Xiao Hong in the room.
“…… Yuan Yang’s elder brother is fine, but her sister-in-law is a fool. Because Yuan Yang has some fate with the old mistress, she participated a lot with the purchases of Yuan Yang’s brother. Now, Zhou Rui’s wife holds it over her. Our miss says the mistress may force Yuan Yang to steal the old mistress’ things. She told me to tell Miss that you can act.”
“I see. You have your missus rest well, and do not worry about other things.” Lin Yu Tong sent off Xiao Hong with a smile. “The family just got some good apricots. Take some for your missus. I do not know if she has morning sickness now or not.”
“Just a bit of sickness in the morning. She likes sour things. She told me to see if Miss has any of the pickled bamboo shoots you made yourself, she feels it helps her appetite,” Xiao Hong said joyfully.
“This is nothing. You can take two jars to bring back,” Lin Yu Tong smiled and ordered Chun’er to send Xiao Hong out.
Lin Yu Tong thought, if the pawnshop had a good supply, it would be a good business. She thought of auctions.
Things that could enter a shop to be pawned were all good things. In an auction, maybe the profits would be maximized. Even if the money could not be brought back to the modern times, she had to work hard and earn money. If Lin Dai Yu wanted to heal the sick in this life, she had to donate her skills and medicine. It was like charity, with an unknown amount of silver spent. She calculated inside. It was better to open an auction for charity. If it did well, it would help more people, and she would not have come to this world for nothing.
She did not believe in ghosts and gods, and did not care about the heavenly way. But if one was kind, they would not have evil come to them. She did not ask for anything except her own clear conscience.
In reality, Leng Zi Xing’s shop was not very large. It would not take much effort to crush it. Lin Yu Tong called the storekeeper over. “Go investigate and see if he is a good merchant. If he has not done anything bad, just act according to the rules of business. If he committed evil, no need to have mercy.”
The storekeeper admired Lin Yu Tong greatly after earning a great sum with her, and briskly agreed.
Xiao Hong returned to the Jia Family with her items, and she encountered Zhou Rui’s wife.
“You, servant girl, what are in your big and small jars?” Zhou Rui’s wife was smiling. If Xiao Hong’s parents were not stewards as well, the other would not be giving her a good face.
“My missus has morning sickness, and I went to ask for some pickled vegetables,” Xiao Hong said lightly and asked, “Where are you going?”
“To the old mistress’ courtyard to talk.” Zhou Rui’s wife examined Xiao Hong up and down. In the past, she had not felt that this servant girl was outstanding, but now, she looked to be pretty. It seemed that Second Missus knew how to train people.
Xiao Hong could not tolerate Zhou Rui’s wife looking at her like she was examining the goods, and ran away, saying that she was in a hurry to fulfill her job.
Zhou Rui’s wife muttered, “This servant girl has no luck. In Second Master Bao’s rooms, she was not able to rise. Now, while she has been promoted in Second Missus’s room, Second Missus no longer has the glory she once did. She needs her personal servant girl to find a jar of pickled vegetables.” She laughed.
Yuan Yang was in her room. She did not expect Zhou Rui’s wife to lift the curtain without a greeting and enter. It was very rude. However, for the sake of the mistress, she could not vent.
“Sister-in-law, how come you are here, come, sit.” Yuan Yang pointed at the bench next to her and did not stand.
Zhou Rui’s wife was a bit unhappy, but it was not the time to show it. She said, “Miss, you are busy.” She sat and saw the needlework in Yuan Yang’s hand. She praised, “Very beautiful.”
Yuan Yang smiled. “It is just the old mistress and the mistresses who do not mind. It is not beautiful.”
“There are not many who are more capable than Miss.” Zhou Rui’s wife praised and then sighed, “But your brother and sister-in-law are not very good, and about to drag you down. I fear that the old mistress will not keep you.”
Yuan Yang changed expression. “It is hard to understand Sister-in-law’s words.”
“My good girl, you will understand.” Zhou Rui’s wife smiled. “The mistress knows that your brother is not clean and had people conceal it. Miss, you should think about which side is more important. The old mistress is old now, she will not protect you for a long time. Miss, you should plan for your future. Let me say that Xi Ren from Bao Yu’s room cannot rival Miss, not in character, appearance, skill, or abilities. The mistress always did not like Xi Ren. If there is a considerate person by Bao Yu’s side, unless it is someone like Miss, people will worry.”
Yuan Yang sneered. First was a threat, and then a temptation. Such good planning. However, whose concubine was not a concubine? There was no good future to speak of. She did not change expression, and said to Zhou Rui’s wife without looking up, “Just say what you want me to do.”
“Miss, you are such a smart and brisk person.” Zhou Rui’s wife said after flattering her, “The money is tight, and I want to find Miss to get some cash flow.”
So the other planned on stealing from the old mistress. While she despised the other, she just nodded and said, “This matter is not minor, let me think, and come tomorrow to get an answer.”
Zhou Rui’s wife finally stood up and said, “Then, Miss, think well.”
Seeing away Zhou Rui’s wife, Yuan Yang immediately changed expression. When did the family become like this? In the past, she thought that Second Missus was a bad one, but now she knew that Mistress was truly the person who ate people up and did not spit the bones out.
But as a servant, the worst taboo was disloyalty. If one was disloyal once, they would never be of use again. If she truly became a thief, what good will come for her? She put down her needlework and slowly stood up.
When Mother Jia woke up, Yuan Yang entered.
“Did I not tell you to rest?” Mother Jia waved her hand at Yuan Yang and said, “How come you came again. There is a room full of people, you cannot be the only one burdened.”
Yuan Yang had a young servant girl guard the door so they would not be disturbed. Seeing that no one else was in the room, she quickly went over and knelt down in front of Mother Jia. “Old Mistress……”
Mother Jia jumped in fright and asked, “Girl, what is it? Rise and speak, just tell me your grievances, this old woman is here. If I am here, I will be able to protect you.”
Yuan Yang choked out, “Today, the mistress had Zhou Rui’s wife come find me, saying that my elder brother and sister-in-law are not clean. It gave me a fright. My sister-in-law is not a smart person, and a bit greedy. So I asked the granny in charge to give her a job of laundry. I thought that even if she is not perfect, she would not cause great trouble. So, in these years, she had been fine and did not cause any troubles. When it was mentioned today, I got a great scare……”
Mother Jia immediately changed expression and said, “You do not have to say more. This old woman is not muddle headed yet. She must want you to do something secretly.”
Yuan Yang said in surprise, “Old Mistress, how do you know?”
Mother Jia sneered, “I have lived so long, what have I not seen and experienced? In the past, it was fine, so there must be someone who has malicious intent and waiting to get blackmail. There are no perfect people in the world. If one wants to pick bones out of an egg, they will be able to find a flaw. There are also those people who set traps for others and make them unable to defend themselves. I can see through such tricks. My good girl, do not be afraid. Speak, what did she tell you to do?”
Yuan Yang was reassured and said, “She said for me to give her face for cash flow.”
“Cash flow!” Mother Jia was shocked and asked, “The family has reached such a state?”
Yuan Yang did not dare to keep it a secret and said, “It is worse than that. Last time, the mistress and Bao Yu…… In those days, no one was in charge. I just learned that there was no silver to buy vegetables. Ping’er could not solve this and came to find me. I found a Buddha made from wood and gave it to her to trade for silver and managed to solve the problem. Now, there is still half a year until the rent is paid. I fear that the days are truly difficult.”
Mother Jia could not help but cry. “When did the days become like this?”
“Ever since the garden was built, disregarding the expenses within, just from the people who were added for the garden cost a lot each year. The monk sent to the Iron Threshold Temple gets an offering of several hundred each year, not to mention everything else. This person is very greedy. However, it is the face of the consort, and we cannot decrease this. So, it became even more difficult.” Yuan Yang did not keep on speaking badly of Madam Wang. Even if she was not a good person, she was a mistress. If she only said good things to the old mistress, the old mistress would believe even more that she had no selfish thoughts. Also, she spoke the truth.
“Take out the silver for my retirement, save a portion for Bao Yu and you deal with the rest. I will pretend to not know,” Mother Jia said dispiritedly. “If there is a way, they will not have such thoughts. Never mind, if one is not deaf and dumb, they cannot be a mother-in-law.”
Yuan Yang glanced at the old mistress. This was about the same as she had expected. The old mistress could not keep the silver in her hand and watch as her grandchildren were unable to live. She acknowledged this and then helped the old mistress get up, pretending nothing had happened.
The next day, Zhou Rui’s wife got an answer from Yuan Yang. She was very happy and immediately went to tell Madam Wang of her merit.
What she did not know was that Leng Zi Xing was about to face a calamity of prison. His business would just benefit others.
Lin Yu Tong had told the storekeeper to investigate Leng Zi Xing.
“There is no need to investigate him. This one relies on the Rong Ducal Establishment, and is not a good person. There is a strange matter. Last time, Leng Zi Juan was involved in a lawsuit. Later the Rong Ducal Establishment sent a note, and the matter was brushed off. However, the government office was unable to discover his origins, and he is very mysterious.
“What do you mean?” Lin Yu Tong asked. His origins were unclear. He could not have appeared out of thin air. The book did not spend a lot of words on him. His name had the meaning of coldly watching prosperity. She did not remember the details.
“He seems to have appeared out of thin air. We do not know his parents, his native land, his siblings. He just has an identity as Zhou Rui’s son-in-law. It is very strange,” the storekeeper said in a low voice.
“A dealer of antiques, so strange.” Lin Yu Tong smiled. “But Zhou Rui would not marry his daughter to a person of unclear origins. Go investigate who was the matchmaker and see how much they know about Leng Zi Xing.”
“Yes.” The storekeeper turned to leave.
On the other side, Wen Tian Fang had gotten an official matchmaker. Once the Directorate of Astronomy calculated the lucky day, he would come propose marriage. While the marriage had been decreed, he still wanted to go through the rituals.
Just as he was thinking of the days, a servant came to report that a storekeeper of the Lin Family paid special attention to a person called Leng Zi Xing. This person was the son-in-law of a dowry servant of Second Mistress in the Jia Family.
Wen Tian Fang knew that Lin Yu Tong was in charge of the matters of the Lin Family. If she wanted to investigate, she had to have her reasons. He asked, “What is with this person? You investigate, and then tell the Lin Family’s storekeeper.”
“Yes!” This person went to do it quickly. He had to be more diligent to gain favor with the future mistress.
So the storekeeper came to report to Lin Yu Tong very soon this time.
“…… His parents are unknown, however, he should be a grave robber. It is not a business of one person, they have connections with many bandits. He seems to be a fence. I fear that his parents are likely related to grave robbing. Such a skill is passed down through the family. He should be clean, and never went down into graves, so he found such a person to bribe to buy an identity. He went through Lai Da, so he entered Zhou Rui’s sight. The other married his daughter to him. With the identity of Zhou Rui’s son-in-law, no one in the capital investigated his history.”
Lin Yu Tong had not thought that there was such a hidden secret. There were insects eating from the inside, and outside, there were people related to bandits circling around. If the Jia Family was prosperous, it would be fine. If the Jia Family showed any sign of decline, she feared that these people would empty the Jia Family.
She did not dare to think what would be the outcome of the yard full of girls if they landed in the hands of these people. She thought of Miao Yu’s ending. Supposedly, after the Jia Family declined, she had been kidnapped. Where did the kidnapper come from? Who had guided him? Did Leng Zi Xing play a role in that?
Lin Yu Tong broke into a cold sweat. But the Jia Family were still immersed in their dream of wealth and did not know they were surrounded by tigers and wolves. Even without the situation of the court and the Jia Family getting raided and confiscated, these tigers and wolves were enough to slowly consume the Jia Family.
“What about him? Has he done any evil?” Lin Yu Tong asked.
“He has schemed more than once for someone else’s treasure. People are wary of him because he has the Rong Ducal Establishment behind him. If they suffer a loss, they have to just accept it. However, I heard of one family who was in a hurry to sell their ancestral jade in order to seek a physician for their child. But he just said it was a stone. He found many who said it was just a stone. In the end, he sent them off with just two taels. Two taels is not enough to buy a piece of ginseng. The child died, the mother jumped into the river and drowned, the man went mad. The family is destroyed.” The storekeeper was a bit angry and sighed. “He turned around and sold the jade pendant for three hundred.”
“Scum!” Lin Yu Tong’s eyes flashed coldly. “Do not have mercy. Just crush him to death.”
The storekeeper acknowledged this and left. With the uncle-in-law involved, this would be very easy to do.
Lin Yu Tong sent Sister-in-law Ping to tell this to Wang Xi Feng so she would be on her guard. If this Leng Zi Xing truly had some connection to bandits, even if he was taken care of, in the eyes of the bandits, the Jia Family was still a fat piece of meat. They would be able to find a second Leng Zi Xing and a third.
Wang Xi Feng heard this and her heart beat rapidly. They said that without any traitors inside, no ghosts would be attracted from the outside. This family was disordered. If something really happened, none of the guards of the family were capable. They likely would be more ferocious than the bandits. How could she not be afraid?
Editor’s ramblings: Sorry for the late chapter everyone. I hope that our American readers had a good Thanksgiving.
Translator Ramblings: For the case of the cinnabar mole and the white moonlight, the equivalent idiom might be “the grass is greener on the other side”.
- Grafting Life Chapter 41 – Red Chamber (41)
- Grafting Life Chapter 43 – Red Chamber (43)
- Grafting Life Chapter 44 – Red Chamber (44)
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