The head of the Red Mansion

Chapter 55 Carrying Thorns
Early in the morning, magpies were chirping and chattering.

Shen Ning was in a very good mood. Although going to the West Mansion to drink and watch the play today seemed to be giving Wang Shi face, the two mansions could not be separated. Jia Zhen was the clan head, and if someone from the West Mansion committed a crime, Jia Zhen could not escape, and neither could she.

This is also why she had Qingping deliver her birthday gift that day.

The fact that it was delivered so late is itself a slap in the face.

Moreover, Shen Ning also wanted to see Yingchun and Tanchun.

These two young girls were both ruined by the Jia family.

After turning the corner and washing up, Shen Ning, accompanied by Madam You, leisurely made her way to the West Mansion in a sedan chair.

"I heard the flute music early this morning," she said, bowing slightly upon seeing Grandmother Jia. "Auntie, you seem to be in a good mood."

The sound of a flute drifted from the waterside pavilion on the other side, creating a beautiful and evocative atmosphere.

Clearly, this old lady knows how to enjoy life better than her.

"Hehe, it's rare for us women to have a day of fun."

Grandmother Jia glanced at her belly and said with a smile, "Come and sit down."

"Sister-in-law!"

"Sister-in-law..."

When Xing greeted her, Shen Ning quickly returned the greeting with a smile. Wang, however, only said, "I dare not accept the greeting from my second sister-in-law." After saying this, she turned directly to her two nieces-in-law and Yingchun and the others.

Seeing their mother-in-law (aunt) left standing there, Li Wan and Wang Xifeng didn't dare say anything. They obediently called her "elder sister-in-law" and bowed. Then, while exchanging pleasantries with You Shi, they subtly used their bodies to block Wang Shi from view.

Ahhh, who would have thought that even though my aunt came over to drink and watch the opera, she still wouldn't give my aunt any face at all?
Wang Xifeng was screaming inside, but on the surface she could only force a smile and try her best to think of a solution.

But if it were an older woman, she would definitely have been able to smooth things over, but my aunt...

My aunt is very clear about her grudges and kindness, and when she schemes against people... they really don't even know how they died.

In any case, according to Wang Xifeng's observation, no one in the Jia family could do anything to this aunt.

Even the old lady won't do it.

"Ying girl, Tan girl, get up quickly."

Ignoring the lawsuit behind her, Shen Ning grabbed the two girls who were bowing, and a genuine smile appeared on her face.

"Auntie!"

"Auntie~"

Tan Chun's voice was childish and sweet, and her big eyes were clear and innocent. When people called her, they were especially curious about her belly.

At this moment, the two women were completely unaware of Wang Shi, who was being shielded from behind by her sisters-in-law.

"Is Auntie going to have a little sister?"

Her aunt said she was the little sister, and her second brother also said she was the little sister.

"Yes!"

Shen Ning gently touched her little face. "When your aunt gives birth to a little sister, how about letting her play with you two?"

"And me, and me."

Baoyu ran over and spoke before Yingchun could.

How could he be left out of playing with his sisters?

"Auntie, I can play with the little girl."

"……become!"

Shen Ning looked at the well-behaved Bao Yu, dressed in red and looking like a New Year's picture doll, and resisted the urge to rub his face. She finally said, "You can play and study together then."

"Do you still want to study?"

Baoyu was surprised and quickly looked for his mother with his eyes. "But Madam said that we read different books, and girls don't need to read so many books."

"..."

Shen Ning looked at him, then at the two girls, her lips twitching slightly. She turned to the worried Grandmother Jia and said, "The girls in our Jia family have always been precious. Just like Min-mei back then, which of the Four Books and Five Classics hasn't she read? If she hadn't read them, she wouldn't be able to be so harmonious with her brother-in-law, and even help him in his official career."

It's laughable that some people are good at taking things out of context and insist that a woman's virtue lies in her lack of talent.

Did Confucius say this? Did Mencius say this?
Without Mencius' mother moving three times to find the right environment for her son, the world would have lost a sage.

Auntie, tell me, am I right?

Jia Mu: "..."

I knew that what happened that day wouldn't be so easy to get over.

Wang Shi is really something. She's clearly incompetent, yet she still tries to teach Baoyu all sorts of things.
As for matters in books and the words of sages, looking at the entire Jia family, apart from Jia Jing, probably no one could out-argue Shen Shi. Grandmother Jia wouldn't cause trouble for herself, and laughed, "Of course!" She pointed to a bunch of soft chairs placed to the side, "Aren't you tired of standing and talking? Sit down quickly, Feng'er, bring the script."

"Hey, it's coming."

Wang Xifeng hurriedly grabbed the script that Ping'er handed her, "Auntie, take a look and see which plays you like. I'll have them sing them right away."

"...There's no need to be in such a hurry."

Shen Ning took the script with a half-smile and handed it to Grandmother Jia first, saying, "Auntie, you choose first, and then I'll choose."

“I’ve already ordered the Eight Immortals Celebrating Longevity,” Grandmother Jia emphasized “Eight Immortals Celebrating Longevity,” implying that she should at least give me some face. “Now it’s your turn to order.”

"Then I..."

Shen Ning seemed oblivious, casually flipping through the pages, "Let's put on a grand spectacle of havoc in heaven!"

Jia Mu: "..."

Everyone: "..."

Wang, who had been feeling awkward for a while, really wanted to jump up and have a fight with her, but she was always tongue-tied and knew that if she really tried to argue, she would most likely lose.

Moreover, the older brother repeatedly urged him to repair the relationship.

Wang endured it all.

"What? Doesn't Auntie like the Havoc in Heaven?"

"The havoc in the Heavenly Palace was quite a spectacle."

Grandmother Jia felt that she was having a very difficult time.

At this age, he still has to clean up his wife's mess.

Fortunately, we had taken precautions in advance and didn't invite any of our clansmen today, only a few masters from the East Mansion.

"See if there's anything else you like?"

“Then…” Shen Ning said with a smile, “How about ‘Li Kui Carries Thorns’?” She handed the script to Xing Shi, who had come along, “Sister-in-law, you should choose one too.”

"..."

"..."

There was some silence in the room.

After swallowing everything, Wang felt dizzy as she was about to come over.

Xing, who had just received the script, trembled with fear. "Then let's play 'The Joy of the Golden List'!"

She pointed to one at random.

But who should we give the script to?

Logically, today is Wang's birthday celebration, so she should be the first to perform this act, but things have clearly gone awry now, and what happens next...?

"My wife and the old lady ordered the same thing."

Li Wan smiled gently at him, "They are all celebrating the birthday of the Eight Immortals."

"Yeah!"

Wang Xifeng took the script and handed it to You Shi, saying, "Sister-in-law, you should also choose one."

"This is already the fourth play."

Madam You took the script but didn't choose any. "Let's look at it first, and we'll choose some later when we have time."

Her mother-in-law is really something.

Now, Ms. You only wants to learn from her mother-in-law.

As the matriarch of the Jia family, she had to have this kind of presence.

"Go... and get some brambles."

Wang's voice came from the outside. She finally made up her mind and stepped forward hurriedly, "Sister-in-law, I invited you here today. On the surface, it is to celebrate my birthday, but in reality, I want to apologize to you."

The brambles she had prepared for both possibilities finally came in handy.

When the maid carefully brought it over, Wang Shi carried it on her back without changing her expression. "Sister-in-law," she was about to kneel down when two of the old women who had accompanied Shen Ning came out and stopped her.

"Sister-in-law!"

Tears welled in Wang's eyes. "That day, Zhou Rui and his wife spread rumors outside. Although it wasn't my intention, they are my people, I..."

"okay!"

Shen Ning looked at her and smiled gently, "What's past is past, don't frighten the children, sit down and listen to the opera!"