Dream of the Red Chamber: Daiyu and I swapped clothes

Chapter 29 Playing the piano to a cow
"Grandma, are you really going to bring up that allowance with Miss Lin?"

Ping'er held a piece of fine silk and followed behind Wang Xifeng, asking in a low voice.

"Not going? Are you just going to watch me fill her bottomless pit?"

Wang Xifeng was furious. "Another ten taels have gone out of our pockets. If we keep eating like this, I'm afraid I'll be starving!"

Wang Xifeng grew increasingly resentful. The proud and aloof Lin Daiyu, who always feared causing trouble for others, had now become her biggest expense.

She used to make money off Lin Daiyu!

Now, in order to balance the accounts, he has actually used all the private savings he had embezzled to make up for it.

This is all her retirement money.

Having no sons, what will she rely on besides money when she grows old? Jia Lian?

But at this rate, she's not even old yet, and her money is already gone.

"I was afraid that even after we set up a trap in our room last time, it was useless. This time, if we come to your door on our own initiative, it might be even more..."

"What are you afraid of?" Wang Xifeng interrupted Ping'er impatiently, tossing her handkerchief behind her. "Didn't you hear what she said before she left last time? If you have any difficulties, go to her. She has a gentle nature. I saw her burying flowers in the plum grove these past few days. Tell her your troubles, and she'll soften her heart."

Ping'er had no choice but to remain silent, but her heart grew increasingly uneasy.

She always felt that the Lin girl who could wield a candlestick and had a sharp look in her eyes that day was anything but gentle.

The two, mistress and servant, knocked on the door. Wang Xifeng immediately put on a beaming smile and sat down intimately next to Lin Daiyu.

At that moment, Lin Daiyu was also resting and drinking tea at the tea table, but she was worried about the Zhenyuan Marquis's mansion and her mind was wandering.

Upon seeing Wang Xifeng's visit, he paused for a moment before rising to greet her.

"Sister Feng, what brings you here today? With the year drawing to a close, the manor must be quite busy."

Lin Daiyu called Zijuan to serve tea and greeted her warmly.

Lin Daiyu's enthusiasm made it seem as if the argument that had happened in her room not long ago had never occurred. Wang Xifeng felt relieved, thinking that her grand plan was about to succeed.

"How could I forget my sister no matter how busy I am? Come and see what Ping'er has in her hands."

"This is the most fashionable soft gauze in the palace. Madam specially asked me to send it to you. Make a few more new clothes for you before the New Year!"

Taking Daiyu's hand, Wang Xifeng said in a friendly manner, "Now that your second brother Bao knows how to study hard and make progress, Madam feels relieved. But then she thought of her younger sister and said that her health is weak and she should be taken better care of."

"?"

A big question mark popped into Lin Daiyu's mind.

When Li Chen caused a scene at Rongqing Hall, didn't he offend his aunt severely? As a result, he couldn't even see his aunt again while he was in the mansion. What's the purpose of sending this bolt of cloth?

Moreover, Jia Baoyu can actually read? That's truly astounding!

Lin Daiyu was slightly surprised, but still smiled and said, "Thank you for your concern, Sister Feng. Please also thank my aunt for me. It's a good thing that Brother Bao is willing to focus on his studies."

Wang Xifeng thought to herself, "She didn't treat Baoyu harshly as usual. She has indeed changed her nature. It seems there is hope for her to complain."

Feeling she had laid enough groundwork, Wang Xifeng composed herself, changed the subject, and immediately frowned, letting out a long, melodious sigh, "It is only right to take care of my sister, no need for such trouble."

“But these days, managing the household is such a mess… sigh, it’s tough! The harvest is poor, and we can’t even collect the rent from the estate. But with hundreds of people in the household, how can anyone keep quiet?” Wang Xifeng picked up a handkerchief and pretended to rub her eyes. “The other day, just preparing the festival gifts for the palace almost emptied half the treasury… sigh, as the head of the household, I really wish I could split every penny in half.”

Upon hearing this, Lin Daiyu nodded in empathy.

She deeply understood the difficulties of managing a household in the Zhenyuan Marquis's mansion; Madam Zou even went so far as to pawn her jewelry.

However, Lin Daiyu noticed that although Wang Xifeng spoke with sorrow, she was still wearing a dark blue silk cloak, a bright red crepe de chine skirt, and dazzling hairpins, which was completely different from the frugality of the Zhenyuan Marquis's mansion.

They naturally assumed that Wang Xifeng was just there to complain, and that she wasn't in a desperate situation, since this was the Rongguo Mansion.

Thinking of this, Lin Daiyu gently comforted her, "We all know how hard Sister Feng works to manage the household. I'm just a guest here and can't help much, but I understand. This soft silk gauze is too precious. Why don't you take it back, Sister, for your own use or to cover your expenses? It's just a small token of my appreciation."

Wang Xifeng's smile froze, her heart practically screaming, "Who wants this cloth! I just want you to stop that bird's nest soup that's more expensive than gold!"

With a forced smile, Wang Xifeng said, "Oh dear! My dear sister, you're really embarrassing your sister-in-law! How can you take back something that's been given away? If Madam finds out, she'll skin me alive!"

Before Lin Daiyu could speak, Wang Xifeng quickly steered the conversation toward food and clothing, saying, "Sister, you don't understand. The difficulty these days lies in food, clothing, and daily necessities. Each household's daily expenses are quite substantial."

“Especially for those extra expenses, I have to use my own money to make up for them, which makes me feel bad.”

Zijuan and Xueyan, who were listening nearby, understood what was going on and couldn't help but feel embarrassed.

Lin Daiyu, however, was completely unaware of the situation. Her face was filled with genuine sympathy and doubt. "Such a thing has happened? The allowances in the manor are all set in order. Who would dare to ask for extra money and force you to use your own dowry? Such an ignorant person must be reported to the old lady and the madam and disciplined severely!"

"..."

Wang Xifeng almost couldn't catch her breath.

He stared intently at Lin Daiyu, only to see that her eyes were clear and full of genuine concern and indignation.

"This girl... is she genuinely not understanding, or is she faking it?!"

Wang Xifeng looked at Ping'er with a pleading expression, and Ping'er could only respond with a helpless, bitter smile.

Wang Xifeng felt all her strength was wasted, utterly exhausted. She chuckled dryly, "Heh...heh...sister, you're too kind. How could I trouble the elders with this? It would make me seem like I'm not managing the household well."

Wang Xifeng got up to leave, but Lin Daiyu grabbed her wrist and said with concern, "Sister, don't be discouraged. Is it because Brother Bao's studies are too expensive? Even if he wants to pursue his studies, he shouldn't be so wasteful and make things difficult for you! When I see him, I will definitely say a few words to him."

Wang Xifeng felt a chill run down her spine upon hearing this, and waved her hands repeatedly, "It has nothing to do with him, nothing to do with him! Good sister, I have something to attend to ahead, I really have to go!"

Forcefully breaking free from Lin Daiyu's grasp, Wang Xifeng grabbed Ping'er and left this place of trouble without even touching the ground.

"Sister, is this soft silk gauze?"

Before the words were even finished, the master and servant had vanished without a trace.

Lin Daiyu frowned in confusion and turned to the two maids with strange expressions. "What Sister Feng was talking about earlier, which room's person is so unruly? And even dared to bully Sister Feng? Have you heard about it?"

The two shook their heads in unison, their eyes fixed intently on the culprit.

"What do you see me doing?"

Xueyan finally couldn't help but speak up, "The young lady has a bit of a wicked heart."

Lin Daiyu: "?"

(End of this chapter)