Red Mansion and Crimson Pearl

"That's fine. If Huan'er comes with you, the third girl can help you steadily for two years. When the situation is more stable, you can ask Your Majesty to find a good marriage for her!" After pondering for a long time, Grandmother Jia agreed.

Daiyu shook her head in disapproval and whispered in her ear, "I heard from Supervisor Tao and Aunt Meng that His Majesty doesn't like our four families to marry each other, and he doesn't like the nobles to marry each other.

"Do you remember the former Tang Dynasty? The Five Surnames and Seven Families had a deep foundation and intermarried with each other, but how angry were the emperors with them? Why were there imperial examinations? Wasn't it because the emperors didn't like the aristocratic families to be too powerful and hinder the imperial power?"

Grandmother Jia was shocked. She turned her wrist and tightly grasped Daiyu's hand. She lowered her voice and asked, "What did you hear?!"

"Do I need to hear about this? The court is full of redundant officials. My teacher has passed the examination with excellent results and has been idle in the capital for half a year. But His Majesty found an excuse to hold another special examination and select talents after the New Year. Isn't this just because he thinks the people in the court are not considerate and pleasing to the eye?

"The third sister is a strong-willed and resourceful woman. No matter which family she marries into, she can be controlled. Such a good girl, grandma, why don't you let her marry a future prime minister!?"

Daiyu gently shook Grandmother Jia and whispered, "In the palace, you have Sister Yuanchun who is considerate of the emperor's will, and outside, I am always asking for advice from Supervisor Tao. Third sister's chance is right in front of you! Why are you so afraid of wolves in front and tigers behind? Why let her go to a noble family to take care of trivial household chores and quarrels among servants?!"

Grandmother Jia was moved by what she said. She smiled tightly, grabbed her hand tightly, shook it fiercely, took two deep breaths, and then smiled softly, "She is indeed my granddaughter, and she is the closest to me!"

Daiyu hugged her affectionately and sighed softly, "I only wish my grandmother to be safe and healthy, and live a long and happy life. Just think of this as fulfilling the filial piety that my poor mother should have done!"

This sentence made Jia's mother cry: "You child, you will never let me go, you must make me cry!"

"How could I not?" Daiyu's eyes widened and she pouted, "Grandma doesn't love me, all she does is scold me and wrongly accuse me!"

"Bah! Don't I love you? Go and ask, even if you add Baoyu, who can surpass you in front of me?" Mother Jia pinched her face affectionately.

The grandparents and grandchildren walked affectionately in the garden, and Grandmother Jia went to wash her hands again.

Everyone followed and went to check on Daiyu's daily life. They had some snacks, and when it was almost noon, they said goodbye.

Daiyu smiled and asked them to come back when they were free. She then took Tanchun's hand and said with a smile, "I will wait for you after that year!"

Tanchun held back her tears and nodded deeply: "Yes. I will live up to Sister Lin's trust."

After everyone left, Lin Daiyu, the host, collapsed on the bed and took a nap: "You guys take care of the cleaning. I won't take care of anything. Don't ask me anything."

Zijuan looked at her and smiled: "Miss, you are exhausted today, take a nap. I will call you for dinner in the evening." Then she turned around and asked Aunt Meng what kind of soup she should make for Lin Daiyu to replenish her energy: "You didn't go out, you don't know how much the young lady said today!"

Several girls covered their mouths and laughed.

Aunt Meng's appetite was excited. "At noon, they served the dishes. I smelled a red date, longan and pigeon soup. It was sweet and fragrant! This can replenish blood, qi and calm the mind. It's perfect! I'll make this tonight!"

Xiaohong went to pass the message with a smile.

No words for several days.

On the twenty-third day of the twelfth lunar month, Jiang Yong, a former steward of Tao Xingjian who had been given a bond to manage all of Lin Daiyu's assets in the capital, came to settle accounts with Daiyu:

"There are four houses in and around the capital, all rented out to officials and their families for a certain amount of rent. There are 26 shops, with 120 shopkeepers and shop assistants. After deducting all expenses, there is a certain amount of profit. There are four farms in the suburbs of the capital, of varying sizes, with three farm owners, and this year's income is a certain amount.

"This year's total income is 63,729 taels. In the middle of the year, I gave the girl 13,000 taels. Now here are 50,729 taels. 50,000 in whole silver notes, and more than 700 in loose change.

"This house was a gift from the emperor, but the cost of repairs and hiring people was all paid by Supervisor Tao. I roughly calculated that Supervisor Tao paid more than 7,000 taels."

"You don't have to return the money given to my uncle. If he sends me something in the future, you don't have to tell him much. Just estimate the price based on the market value and write it down.

"Tomorrow you can find a suitable piece of land and buy it at this price, whether it's a house or the land. You don't have to put your uncle's name on it, which would cause trouble for him.

"The same rule will apply in the future. It's ok to give gifts during the New Year holidays, but the large sums of money and things that my uncle gives us on a daily basis cannot be left to him for nothing.

"In three to five years, I may be married and leave the capital. It's hard to say. When you leave, remember to mention me and leave this part to my uncle."

Daiyu thought as she spoke, and motioned Jiang Yong to give all the banknotes and silver to Xiaohong. Then she smiled and saw that his face had relaxed a little, so she asked, "Where are you from? Who else is in your family?"

Jiang Yong was a tall man, and Daiyu was sitting, so he had to lower his head to see Daiyu's expression and eyes. He lowered his eyes and said:

"I am from the same hometown as Tao Jian. A few years ago, my family was flooded and all of us were killed. I was the only one who survived because I worked in the fields.

"That year, Tao Jian returned to his hometown to worship his ancestors. Seeing that I was nearly starving to death, he brought me to Beijing. Since I didn't like studying, I learned how to do business."

"If that's the case, you should be an ordinary citizen. How come yours is also included in the indenture that my uncle gave me?" Daiyu was curious.

Jiang Yong rubbed his fingers unconsciously, his face reddened: "I like gambling. The eunuch once released me. But once I was free, I lost all my savings.

"The eunuch had no choice but to make me sign the indenture. This way, I will have no freedom and my master's words will be the law. I am timid, but once I have this knife hanging over my head, I will work hard to make money."

Daiyu couldn't help laughing: "You don't want to leave your uncle, right? Otherwise, what can you do if you change your master? You look unhappy."

Jiang Yong knelt down hurriedly: "I dare not."

"My uncle must have trusted you very much, so he handed all my properties to you. Being with me is no different from being with my uncle. If there is anything I can't think of for my uncle in the future, you can tell me.

"He has treated me with such sincerity, I will certainly repay him. If there is no one to see him off in the future, he won't need disciples or followers, I will always be there for him!"

Daiyu smiled and raised her hand to let him stand up. "I'll leave the family business to you. Uncle Shi is relieved, and so am I. Since you don't have a home anymore, you can live in the front yard. Buy yourself some bright clothes, and let Uncle Shi be happy to see you during the New Year tomorrow!"