Red Mansion: Holding Space and Marrying Like the Sea

After a moment's silence, Madam Jia said, "How about this? Find some people to pawn the unused items in the house to help with this urgent matter..." Jia Zheng nodded repeatedly, then added with an embarrassed look, "Madam, even if we pawn everything, it's probably just a drop in the bucket! Is there any other more long-term solution?"

A shrewd gleam suddenly flashed in Mrs. Jia's cloudy eyes. She said leisurely, "For the past few years, your wife has been in charge of the household affairs. How could you not know the current situation in the accounts?" Jia Zheng's face flushed red when asked by his mother. In fact, he knew it in his heart, but because he didn't need the money, he was too lazy to care about it. So, he replied with a wry smile, "Old lady, I am busy with official duties in the government all day long. How can I have the leisure to deal with trivial matters at home?" After hearing Jia Zheng's words, Mrs. Jia couldn't help laughing at his shameless character. She shook her head and said, "Second brother! You crawled out of my belly, how could I not know your thoughts? As for whether you knew about this matter or not, I am too lazy to pursue it, but you must make your wife hand over all the embezzled money."

Upon hearing this, Jia Zheng's eyes widened, and his mouth began to stutter. He stumbled, "Old Madam, you know Mrs. Wang's temper. Once the silver is in her pocket, how can she easily give it up?" And Jia Zheng didn't really want Mrs. Wang to hand over the silver. After all, although he didn't like Mrs. Wang very much, he also understood that they were family. So, he put on a pitiful look, looked at Mrs. Jia eagerly, and continued to cry, "Mother, even if you don't care about your son, don't you also care about Baoyu? I'm just a small fifth-rank official. My monthly salary is pitiful, and I have to support a large family. How can I live like this?"

Madam Jia snorted coldly, "Don't act pitiful in front of me, I'm not dead yet! Since your salary is too meager to support such a large family, then let's split up! Baoyu will live with me."

Jia Zheng was stunned. "Divide the family? How can we do that? Mother, we'll make a fool of ourselves." Old Lady Jia knew full well that she had no intention of dividing the family. After all, she had always favored Jia Baoyu and knew that the title now belonged to the eldest son. If the family were divided, her precious grandson would be nothing more than the youngest son of a fifth-rank official. She was simply saying this to get Lady Wang to come to her and ask her to arrange a marriage between Jia Baoyu and Lin Daiyu.

However, Jia Zheng was like an ant on a hot pan, extremely anxious. He knew his mother's temper very well and knew that this time she was serious.

Old Lady Jia stared at Jia Zheng sharply, her eyes filled with anger and disappointment. She said sternly, "If we don't divide the family, are you and your wife going to drain the entire Jia family? I've already decided. She has ten days to pay back the money, or I'll gather the clan members to discuss the division of the family. As for Wang, she must hand over the money she embezzled!"

With that, Madam Jia resolutely turned and left, leaving Jia Zheng standing there, bewildered. He realized clearly that this time, his mother was determined. If he didn't do as she said, the consequences would be disastrous. But the problem was, getting Wang Shi to hand over the silver was almost impossible. Jia Zheng sighed helplessly, secretly pondering how to deal with this family crisis.

Jia Zheng returned to his room and saw Mrs. Wang crying. He sat down helplessly and shouted angrily, "Mrs. Wang, please hand over the silver immediately and don't do anything to embarrass the children.

Mrs. Wang wiped away her tears, hiding the hatred in her eyes, "Where would I get the money? I've been supporting the family's expenses all these years, and I haven't hidden a single cent."

Jia Zheng frowned and said impatiently, "Do you believe this? If the money is not paid in full within ten days, Mother will divide the family property. By then, Yuanchun and Baoyu will be daughters of fifth-rank officials. Their ambitions of rising to the top and becoming nobles or prime ministers will be nothing but foolish dreams."

Mrs. Wang was extremely worried after hearing this. She said anxiously, "What should we do? How can Baoyu and Yuanchun live a life of mediocrity?"

They both fell silent, each thinking about their own response. Suddenly, a glint flashed in Mrs. Wang's eyes, as if she had come up with an idea.

"How about we ask Daiyu for help? Her father, Lin Ruhai, is the Imperial Censor of Salt, and his family is wealthy. As long as she is engaged to Baoyu, all the Lin family's property should belong to Baoyu!" Mrs. Wang looked at Jia Zheng hopefully, waiting for his response.

Jia Zheng hesitated after hearing this and asked worriedly, "Will this work? Will Daiyu agree? Besides, I heard that she has been adopted by Lin Ruhai..."

Mrs. Wang seemed extremely confident. She said with confidence: "Our Baoyu is handsome and talented. He and Daiyu grew up together and have a close relationship. As long as we take the initiative to propose marriage, I believe Daiyu will agree." After saying this, a happy smile appeared on her face, as if she saw a bright future.

So, the next day, Jia Zheng and Lady Wang came to the Jia Mansion and proposed a marriage proposal to Lady Jia...