Red Mansion and Crimson Pearl

While still at the foot of the mountain, you can see the red plum blossoms on the hillside of Longcui Temple.

Daiyu looked up and admired the plum blossoms, praising them: "I've heard that Miaoyu is a proud fairy, but now that I see these plum blossoms, I believe it. If she didn't love their graceful beauty, why would she spend so much effort to maintain and prune them?"

"If Miao-gu heard what Sister said, she would definitely say she is a close friend! Every time we come here, she ignores us and only entertains Sister Bao secretly.

"Only last time, my second brother went to tea with me, and I went there secretly. Although she gave me tea, she didn't look happy at all. I never went there again!"

Shi Xiangyun pouted and complained again when she finished speaking.

Everyone chuckled.

Wang Xifeng laughed and said, "I am a commoner. I don't care about elegance or poetry. But if I follow the old ancestor in, she can't chase me out!"

"I heard that the last time Granny Liu came, she was dissatisfied with someone eating her colorful kiln bell, so she gave it away. Today I also ate one of her good bells and made it dirty, so she gave it back to me too!"

Everyone laughed.

Lin Daiyu smiled and pulled her: "Amitabha, you are doing evil on purpose, and you are plotting against the Buddha's disciples! Entering this nunnery, aren't you afraid that the Bodhisattva will trip you up?"

Everyone laughed so hard that their legs almost weakened.

Grandmother Jia laughed even more happily, knocking the ground with her cane: "What a sin! It's New Year's Day, how come no one is worrying? Shut up! Going up to see the plum blossoms is the right thing to do!"

The depressing atmosphere just now completely dissipated, and everyone went up the mountain chatting and laughing.

Miaoyu got the news. She was originally missing her hometown and paying tribute to her parents, but when she heard that Grandmother Jia was coming, she wiped her tears and put on a smiling face to greet her.

Seeing the traces of tears on her face, Jia's mother paused. Daiyu had already gone over and greeted her with clasped hands: "Master Miao, may you have a long and happy holiday!"

Miaoyu returned the greeting calmly: "May the donor be well."

"My last name is Lin, my ancestral home is Gusu, and I am the granddaughter of this family. Master Miao, have you heard of me?" Lin Daiyu looked at her with a smile, "I heard that Master Miao is from the same hometown as me. Today is the New Year's Day, so I came to visit you to comfort you and me who are homesick."

Miaoyu's expression slightly changed. She looked at Daiyu carefully, raised the corner of her mouth, stepped aside, and solemnly invited everyone to come in: "Old lady, please come in, Miss Lin, please come in."

Mrs. Xing and Wang Xifeng looked at each other in dismay, but they both tried to hold back their laughter and looked at Shi Xiangyun, and sure enough, they saw an angry little face.

After entering the meditation room and sitting down, Jia's mother had regained her good mood and said with a smile: "Bring us your good tea. My granddaughter wants to see the plum blossoms, you can take her around the yard, that's all."

Miaoyu lowered her eyebrows and agreed. Tea was served, and everyone was drinking from the same old white-filled bowls. Daiyu took a sip, put it down, and went to see the plum blossoms.

But Wang Xifeng was so naughty that she even lifted her lid to take a look, and then told Xiangyun in all seriousness: "I've seen it, and we are the same!"

Mrs. Xing and Lady Jia burst out laughing. Shi Xiangyun was so angry that she reached out and hit Sister Feng.

Lin Daiyu and Miaoyu had already left the room and were walking slowly outside.

"I actually didn't live in Suzhou for long, so my impression of it is vague. Where is your home in Suzhou?

"I heard that you became a monk in Xuanmu Panxiang Temple. I remember my father mentioned that place, saying that it was the ancestral temple of Linjin Jin Sect, and the Buddhist teachings were extremely profound. You would have a good master."

After Lin Daiyu finished speaking, she stood in front of an old plum tree, looked up at the flowers and admired them endlessly.

Miaoyu felt a little relieved when she heard her say this. She smiled and said, "My home is not far from Panxiang Temple. Where is Miss Lin's ancestral home?"

"I took this trip when I sent my father's coffin back for burial. I don't remember the route very well, but I remember the street in front of the door was Shantang Street. The rest of the time I was in Zhuangzi, which is said to be southwest of Suzhou.

"It seems that Xuanmu Mountain is also in the southwest, right?" Lin Daiyu looked at Miaoyu curiously and asked.

Miaoyu smiled and nodded: "Yes."

"My late father often told me about Suzhou, which is so beautiful and gentle. I was so sad last time that I didn't pay much attention to it. If I have the chance to go back again, I will definitely take a good look. Miaogu, tell me, what are the places worth visiting in Suzhou?"

"Gusu is full of beautiful scenery. For example, the plum blossoms on our Xuanmu Mountain are more numerous and more magnificent than those here. The momentum is as if they were about to set the mountain on fire..."

Miaoyu and Lin Daiyu walked slowly, admiring the plum blossoms and chatting.

After half an hour, Miaoyu smiled and said to Lin Daiyu: "After talking for so long, you must be thirsty, right? I'll make you some tea!"

Lin Daiyu agreed with a smile, and indeed, she tasted the fragrant tea made from the plum blossom snow in her previous life again. When she tasted it carefully, she found it to be extremely frivolous and even more chill.

Looking at the tea set in his hand, it was the same tea set Miaoyu had used for him in his previous life: Dianxiqiao (should be Qiao on the top and Shan on the bottom, pronounced qiao). This ancient set must not be something that ordinary wealthy people can have.

"Master Miao, this bell is excellent. What a pity, a gentleman does not take away what others love, otherwise, I would have used all means to snatch it from you!" Daiyu playfully took the bell and hid it in her arms, and winked at Miaoyu.

Miaoyu laughed and said, "If you want it, I'll give it to you. But what will you drink tea with next time you come? Are you going to take another cup from me? I don't have much left!"

"Then keep it for now. I'll take it away when we break up someday!" Lin Daiyu said with a smile, and stood up gracefully. "I'll come to see you tomorrow when I come to the Jia Mansion again. If you want to go out and relax, the door of my Lin family is always open!"

Miaoyu was slightly moved, then calmed down and replied with a smile, "OK." Then she went out with Daiyu, respectfully saw off Jia's mother and others, and turned back to close the gate.

Everyone went down the mountain and went to Nuanxiangwu to see Xichun.

Xichun was totally surprised that so many people would come. When Lin Daiyu came in, she smiled and took her hand, and Xichun finally relaxed.

After sitting for a while, seeing that it was getting dark, Yuanyang gently reminded them, and Jia's mother led everyone back to the main courtyard for dinner.

After the meal, Daiyu said goodbye. Grandmother Jia could not keep her, so she had to let her go.

Baoyu never appeared during the whole process.

Baoyu didn't come until Daiyu left. Xiangyun was sharp-eyed. She saw his disappointed look after looking around. Her heart dropped. But it was only for a moment before she smiled again and said:

"You're so angry! Sister Lin is gone! I told you this morning that you shouldn't be rude on New Year's Day. What now? There's no chance for us to reconcile."

The room suddenly became quiet.

Mrs. Wang glanced at Xiangyun coldly, then turned to Baoyu and smiled again, waving, "Come quickly! I just told your third sister that I will take you and her to your uncle's house on the eighth day of the first lunar month to have a New Year's Eve dinner! Tell her about the family rules so that she won't be scared!"

Grandmother Jia called Xiangyun to her side and taught her kindly, "Yun girl, your sister Bao didn't come today, I guess her family is busy celebrating the New Year.

"Don't bother her these days. Her brother is useless, and your aunt relies on her daughter.

"Each family has its own rules. Every family is different. The rules of the Jia family and the Shi family are also different. You will gradually understand if you tell me more or less."

Xiangyun lowered her head: "Yes."