The head of the Red Mansion

Chapter 11 Jia Lian
Ningguo Mansion, Jia Rong's Courtyard.

After being carried back and having his medicine reapplied, he was worried about his grandmother's health and was about to order someone to carry him over to see her when a group of maids and servants filed in.

"Grandma~"

Upon seeing his grandmother arrive, Jia Rong hurriedly tried to get up.

"Lie down."

Shen Ning quickly stopped her, saying, "Not letting your grandmother worry about your health is also a way of showing filial piety."

She took a few quick steps and pressed down on the little boy's body, saying, "You need to be well so that Grandma can be well too."

"grandmother……"

Jia Rong's tears fell.

He was terrified today. "I promise I'll be alright, and Grandma will be alright too, okay?"

Without his grandmother, who else does he have in this world?

"nature!"

The boy's tears, hot and burning, dripped onto her hand, making Shen Ning's heart ache. "Grandmother still wants to see my Rong-ge'er get married and have children." She had the original owner's memories, so she spoke of these things naturally. "Good boy, don't cry. Look what good food Grandmother brought you."

Jia Rong: "..."

He's all grown up now, but his grandmother still uses the same old tricks to coax him.

Looking at the food boxes in everyone's hands, he sniffed, "Do you have steamed ghee with sugar?"

"Have!"

Shen Ning spoke gently, wiping away his tears. "These are all your favorite foods. Besides steamed sweet cheese, there's also Sanmei tofu, sesame fish balls, shredded apple, fried quail, mutton soup, and stir-fried watercress."

"Then...will Grandma eat with me?"

There was a special kind of anticipation in Jia Rong's eyes.

"It's mealtime. If we don't eat here, do we have to walk all the way back to our room to eat?"

Shen Ning rubbed his head and said, "Bring two tables over the kang (heated brick bed), let's eat on the kang."

"Ok!"

Jia Rong was overjoyed.

He hadn't eaten with his grandmother for more than half a year.

"Grandma, shall we still split the fried quail in half?"

"What? You want to eat it all by yourself?"

Shen Ning asked with a smile.

"How dare I, your grandson!"

Jia Rong smiled and knelt on the kang (a heated brick bed), saying, "Your grandson wants to find you the oldest one."

He did indeed put the largest fried quail into her bowl.

Shen Ning smiled and picked it up.

Crispy and fragrant fried quail is so delicious that you can't stop eating it once you start.

Even the bones are crunchy, and chewing them releases the marrow inside, adding several layers of flavor to the fried quail.

Oops!

Really delicious.

Shen Ning thought she could order this dish more often in the future.

"Grandma, the Sanmei Tofu is so delicious today, please try some."

If Jia Rong finds something good to eat, she'll recommend it, even if she's busy.

"Ok!"

With its milky white broth, soft and smooth tofu, and tender cabbage, Sanmei Tofu offers a unique and refreshing flavor.

Shen Ning and Jia Rong served each other food, and the meal was exceptionally harmonious.

When Jia Lian came over to ask for advice, she had just finished eating and drinking and was taking a walk back to her own courtyard.

"sit!"

Shen Ning has mixed feelings about Jia Lian.

With Jia She sidelined from the center of power, Jia Zheng considering himself aloof and detached from worldly affairs, and Jia Zhu focused solely on his studies, it was Jia Lian who managed the entire Rongguo Mansion. Whether at home or outside, he was a rare person in the Jia family capable of handling important matters.

Although this person is lustful and indulgent, he is still surprisingly upright.

"It's so late, is there something you need from your aunt?"

"Yes!"

Jia Lian was a little embarrassed. "Auntie, Father wants me to go to school too."

what?
Shen Ning couldn't help but raise an eyebrow, "You...don't you miss it?"

“You know that,” Jia Lian said boldly, “I don’t have much talent for studying.”

"So, you're planning to remain the Rong family's chief steward of foreign affairs forever?" "..."

Jia Lian blinked.

Why is he the chief steward of foreign affairs?

That's his home, and he takes care of his own home...

"Lian'er," Shen Ning waved to the maids, watching them bow and leave, before asking, "What do you think of your father?"

His father?

His dad is great!
Don't you think your father is being wronged?

"..."

Jia Lian's face gradually turned pale.

“Zhu’er is studying at the Imperial Academy. If nothing unexpected happens, his future will definitely be better than your second uncle’s.”

Shen Ning sighed inwardly, "And then there's Baoyu. Even your Uncle Jing says he's a promising student. The old lady's side likes him the most. Although you have your father's title, are you sure you want to take on the role of the Rongguo Mansion's heir and become their steward?"

"..."

Jia Lian wanted to cover his face. What else could he do besides keeping an eye on the Rongguo Mansion's small plot of land?
He's neither good at literature nor at martial arts.

“Aunt, I’m not capable,” Jia Lian said in a low voice. “Brother Zhu and Baoyu will both be able to take the imperial examinations and become officials in the future. If I take good care of the family and don’t let them have any worries, isn’t that good enough?”

Someone always needs to look after things at home.

His mother died early, and he practically grew up with his second aunt.

As long as it's not too outrageous, Jia Lian felt he could do anything about it.

As a child, he was mischievous, and his elder brother, Zhu, suffered a lot because of him. Baoyu is lovely and adorable; if he acts as a good younger brother and older brother, all three brothers will be fine.

Jia Lian didn't want to be like his father, who was incompetent and only jealous of his second uncle, still vying for the old lady's favor at his advanced age.

“My nephew is quite capable in managing affairs. The real reason I’ve come here is to ask you for a job as a school supervisor.”

Jia Lian said, "Auntie, don't worry, I will definitely eat the 'bitter-sweet meal' properly."

Shen Ning: "..."

The nineteen-year-old boy had a clear blend of naiveté and determination in his eyes.

She sighed softly.

If Jia Zhu hadn't died young, if Bao Yu hadn't been that kind of person, and if they could all have managed, and Jia Lian had stayed home to take care of the household, it would indeed have been the best arrangement.

Unfortunately, Jia Zhu died young, and although Bao Yu was innocent and kind, he had no sense of responsibility whatsoever.

“It’s no problem to entrust it to you, but Lian’er, since your father thinks you should still study, once you go to school, it’s probably impossible for you not to study.”

Shen Ning said, "Actually, you don't need to belittle yourself too much. As the saying goes, being adept at human relationships is like literature, and understanding the ways of the world is like knowledge. For now, your wife can handle things at home, and your father and second uncle are both in good health. Have you ever thought about going out and making your own way in the world?"

he?
Want to go out and explore the world?

Which way should we go?

Jia Lian opened his eyes wide with curiosity, "Auntie, what do you think I can do?"

Brother Zhu has always been praised by his elders since he was a child. It's not that he hasn't tried to be like him, but it's just too difficult. "Where can someone like me go?"

It's absolutely unacceptable in the military.

Even if he doesn't know martial arts, the person above him is still wary of him.

"Yangzhou."

Yangzhou?

"You mean your aunt's place?"

That's too far from home.

The old lady hadn't seen her aunt for several years, and she would cry whenever she thought of her.

And what will happen to Feng'er if he leaves?
"Didn't you want to be the head of the school?"

Shen Ning looked at him and smiled slightly: "The clan allocates 1,200 taels of silver to the academy every year, and the two prefectures allocate 600 taels every year, which is 1,800 taels a year. Originally, we thought that the extra silver would be used to reward clansmen who passed the imperial examinations, but as you can see, the silver has been wasted over the years, only used to support a bunch of clansmen to play and have fun."

So what I mean is that the clan should use the resources from the next three years to buy a plot of ancestral land in Yangzhou to fund the school.”

Land in Beijing is no longer available for purchase.

The land available for transfer back in our hometown had long been divided up by the four major families.

After much deliberation, Shen Ning decided that Yangzhou was the best option.

The Jia family needs Lin Ruhai.

If he hadn't died, Lin Daiyu probably wouldn't have died from exhaustion of tears.

"Once you get there, with your aunt and uncle looking after you, buying land should be very convenient. Of course, you can also take this opportunity to learn about officialdom and economics from your uncle. If he can find a use for you, he will definitely be able to give you a good background."

Shen Ning said, "If you don't need it, or if you can't adapt, you can always come back. You'll still be a meritorious contributor who has done great things for the clan school."

Remember history, never forget national humiliation!

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(End of this chapter)