The Red Mansion.

Chapter 30: Giving each other tokens of love
Jiang Nian didn't know calligraphy in his previous life, but fortunately, the original owner of this body in this life was very good at calligraphy, and he inherited this calligraphy skill.

Moreover, calligraphy is very important in this era and being good at it is very beneficial. Since he traveled through time, in addition to studying hard and practicing martial arts, he has also been diligently practicing calligraphy.

So at the moment, Xue Baochai thought his calligraphy was good.

Xue Baochai was amazed by the poem "Linjiangxian: Willow Catkins". She thought it was wonderful and loved it very much. She even felt that this was her favorite poem of all the poems she had ever seen.

Because this poem is so well written, it can be ranked among the classic poems handed down from generation to generation.

Moreover, this poem is about catkins on the surface, but in fact it is a poem expressing one's feelings through objects, and it has a profound connotation. Xue Baochai likes the connotation expressed in this poem very much.

And Jiang Nian knew that Xue Baochai would like this poem.

It would be strange if you didn't like it.

This poem was written by Xue Baochai in the Grand View Garden in "Dream of the Red Chamber". It describes her personality, her attitude towards things, and her ambition to become a superior person by "taking advantage of the good wind".

"I never expected that Jiang...at such a young age, he possessed such amazing poetic talent, and could actually write lyrics that I love so much."

"He is good at martial arts, calligraphy and poetry. He is so talented in both civil and military arts!"

Xue Baochai couldn't help but admire it secretly.

Xue Pan saw Xue Baochai was stunned and reminded her, "Sister, have you taken a good look at it? If you have, put it away quickly, so that mother won't find out."

Xue Baochai woke up as if from a dream, quickly put away the flowery paper, and deliberately spat at Xue Pan, "How can you be such a brother? You actually helped him bring this thing to me!"

Xue Pan smiled and said, "Having drunken wine together today has made me much closer to him. Besides, since I've promised you to him as his concubine, we are now considered relatives."

Aunt Xue wants to ask Wang Ziteng to subdue Jiang Nian and revoke the concubine's promise. At present, only Aunt Xue and Xue Baochai know about this. Neither mother nor daughter told Xue Pan, knowing that Xue Pan is a talkative person. If they told Xue Pan, Jiang Nian might find out about it before they arrived in the capital.

Xue Baochai said angrily, "What relative? Don't talk nonsense! Your brother is becoming less and less like a brother. I see that you are now eager for me to be his concubine. Don't you know how wronged and embarrassed I am about this?"

Xue Pan smiled awkwardly, but said, "Sister, actually...actually, I thought Brother Jiang was quite good. He was good-looking and good at martial arts. Although I couldn't quite understand the flowery note he wrote to you today, I could tell it was well-written. He's actually a man of both civil and military talents, and his background is probably extraordinary...Sister, the promise of you being my concubine has already been made, and even the written contract has been signed. What's the point of feeling wronged? It's better to think more about his good points, and you'll feel better..."

Before he could finish, Xue Baochai interrupted him with increasing embarrassment and annoyance: "Shut up! I don't like hearing these words, just like the flowery note you brought him today. I don't like reading it, humph!"

She quickly turned around and opened the door, but then looked back and frowned, reminding him, "You must keep the matter of the flower note today a secret. You can't let Mom know about it, or she will not only scold me, but you too."

After saying that, she walked out of the room.

Xue Pan was stunned for a moment, muttering, "You don't like reading his flowery letters? Oh, I see you really like it. You're so engrossed in it that you even hurriedly put it away!"

……

……

After Xue Baochai walked out of Xue Pan's cabin, she stood at the door and pondered for a while.

After pondering for a while, she bit her lower lip and walked lightly to the door of the cabin where she and Aunt Xue lived. She saw that the door was only open a crack, through which she could just see Ying'er standing inside.

She called out quietly, "Ying'er."

When Xue Pan had just given her the flowery note, she had thought he was acting suspiciously. Suddenly, she found herself acting suspiciously as well.

Ying'er, who was standing inside the door, heard the sound and looked through the crack. She saw Xue Baochai standing outside and saw Xue Baochai winking at her. As Xue Baochai's personal maid, Ying'er immediately realized that the girl had something secret to ask her, so she went outside while Aunt Xue was not paying attention.

Ying'er asked quietly, "What's the matter, young lady?"

Xue Baochai whispered back, "Go to the room and quietly take out the new pair of shoes I made recently. Don't let grandma find out. I'll be waiting at the door."

Ying'er said "hmm" and walked into the cabin.

After a while, Ying'er took advantage of Aunt Xue's inattention and took out a pair of shoes. She couldn't help but wonder, "Why did the young lady suddenly ask me to take these shoes? Are you going to give them to the master?"

But she knew that these shoes were made by Xue Baochai for Xue Pan.

Xue Baochai glared at Ying'er and said, "Don't ask me. This is a secret, known only to you and me."

Ying'er said "yes" and became more and more puzzled.

Xue Baochai then turned around and went to the cabin where Aunt Xie lived. As she walked, she replaced the pair of shoes that Aunt Xue had ordered the servants to buy from the clothing shop in Shuiyi with a pair of shoes she had made herself.

This scene fell into Ying'er's eyes.

Ying'er's eyes widened in surprise, thinking to herself, "The young lady is actually going to give the shoes she made herself to that Mr. Jiang! How could this be? Mr. Jiang wants you to be his concubine, and you're feeling very wronged about it. Why would you give him the shoes you made yourself?"

Originally, after hesitating, Xue Baochai decided not to give Jiang Nian a birthday gift.

The piece of flowery note that Jiang Nian suddenly gave her made her change her mind and she couldn't help but want to give Jiang Nian a gift of her own.

Naturally, it is not convenient to let Aunt Xue know about this.

Xue Baochai also felt that Jiang Nian shouldn't know about this. If that overbearing Mr. Jiang knew that she had given him a birthday gift, and that it was a pair of shoes she had made herself, he would miss her even more...

Xue Baochai then quietly exchanged the shoes she made for the ones she bought.

In this way, when Aunt Xie gave clothes, shoes and socks to Jiang Nian, she would say that they were all bought by Aunt Xue from the ready-made clothing shop in Shuiyi.

And her feelings were hidden in it. Even though he didn't know, it was enough for her to know...

Xue Baochai immediately went to the cabin where Madam Xie was staying. After she had handed over the matter, she watched Madam Xie walk away. She couldn't help but murmur in her heart: "Today, he gave me a piece of flowery paper with a poem on it that I love very much, and yet I secretly gave him a pair of shoes I made myself. This... isn't this just like giving each other tokens of love?"

Thinking of this, Xue Baochai's heart tightened and her cheeks became hot. She wanted to find Nanny Xie to get back the shoes she had made herself, but it was too late. Nanny Xie had already left the Xue family's ship.

"Xue Baochai, oh Xue Baochai, why are you so confused today? Why did you suddenly lose your mind and do such a stupid thing..."

Xue Baochai stood there in a daze, complaining to herself.

Well, the story on the way to Beijing is over. Actually, there are only a few chapters. Next, the good show in the capital city is about to begin...

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(End of this chapter)