Red Mansion: Holding Space and Marrying Like the Sea

Mrs. Wang's heart burned with raging anger, consumed by endless disappointment. She felt as if she had fallen into a bottomless abyss, having married a heartless, selfish man. This man was as cold as ice, showing no mercy to his own flesh and blood. He was even willing to spend all his wealth to flatter a prostitute, while being as stingy as a stingy rooster for his own daughter, unwilling to give even a penny. This behavior was like a sharp knife, piercing Mrs. Wang's heart mercilessly. She racked her brains, but could not understand why her husband could be so heartless and unrighteous.

So, like an enraged lion, Mrs. Wang decided to confront Jia Zheng. Furious, she stormed into his study, where Jia Zheng was enjoying a revelry with a group of guests. The scene was a scene of decadent extravagance. Seeing Mrs. Wang approaching with such force and momentum, the guests sensed something was amiss and, like frightened birds, they arose and departed. Jia Zheng, gazing at the wrathful Mrs. Wang, a dark, gloomy expression crossed his face.

Like an enraged lioness, Mrs. Wang rushed straight to Jia Zheng, her eyes burning with rage. She pointed her finger at him like a sword and cursed him fiercely, "Jia Cunzhou, you heartless fellow! Do you have any regard for our child? Not only are you unwilling to spend money to pave the way for our daughter, but you actually dared to use our money to redeem that vixen!"

Jia Zheng's face shifted slightly when he heard his wife's accusation, like a stone dropped into a calm lake, causing a ripple. But he quickly regained his composure, as if he were a god above all others, unaffected by anything. He lazily replied, "Why are you making such a fuss? It's just a small sum. Besides, that prostitute has a deep affection for me, so naturally I must redeem her."

Mrs. Wang was even more furious after hearing this. She pointed at Jia Zheng's nose and scolded him, "I really love you? Are you still asleep? Don't you see how pathetic you are? If you weren't born into a good family, you wouldn't even be able to beg for food. Do you know what kind of life your daughter, who suffered in the palace, is living now?"

Jia Zheng seemed to have completely let himself go because of the rumors. He didn't care about his wife's words and said nonchalantly: "Daughters have their own blessings. You don't need to worry so much." After that, he no longer paid attention to Mrs. Wang and continued to drink and have fun.

Seeing this, Mrs. Wang was filled with despair and helplessness. She looked at the man before her, the one she had once plotted to marry her sister, and how he had now become so depraved. Although she had always known about this, her heart was still pierced by his blatant depravity. She couldn't help crying out, "Baoyu, don't you care anymore? He suffered a great injustice in school today."

Jia Zheng waved his hand impatiently. "What could possibly happen to Baoyu? He must have been mischievous in school again. Don't spoil him all the time. Boys need to be able to withstand being beaten."

Mrs. Wang was so angry that she was shaking all over. "You are such an irresponsible father. You are not worthy of being Baoyu's father!" After saying that, she turned around and ran out crying.

Qin Zhong's family was poor, so his sister Qin Keqing introduced him to Jia Baoyu. Jia Baoyu saw the handsome Qin Zhong and immediately felt that they had known each other for a long time. Coincidentally, Jia Baoyu's teacher Jia Yucun was sent to Suzhou by Mrs. Wang. Since no suitable teacher could be found at the moment, Jia Zheng asked him to temporarily review his lessons at the private school.

Jia Baoyu and Qin Zhong, two people who originally didn't like studying, held hands and pretended to go to the Jia family's private school to study in order to be together openly and increase their intimacy.

Seeing Baoyu standing side by side with the dashing, handsome Qin Zhong, a man resembling Pan An, Jin Rong was consumed by jealousy. One day, after they had become familiar with each other, when no one was watching, Qin Zhong quietly glanced at Xiang Lian. The two pretended to relieve themselves, then tiptoed to the backyard, where they began whispering. Qin Zhong was the first to ask, "Do your family elders restrict your friendships?" Before he could finish, he heard a cough behind them. Startled, the two turned around to see their friend and former classmate, Jin Rong.

Xiang Lian was impatient to begin with, and after being provoked by Jin Rong like this, she was immediately filled with shame and indignation, like a powder keg that had been lit, and said to him angrily: "Why are you coughing? Aren't we allowed to talk here?" But Jin Rong replied with a playful smile: "You are allowed to talk, but I am not allowed to cough? I just want to ask you, if you have something to say, why don't you say it openly, but have to do some sneaky tricks? I already have your handle in my hand, what else is there to refute? Let me take the lead first. "Everyone, shut up! Otherwise, don't blame me for being ruthless!" Qin Zhong and Xiang Lian's faces instantly flushed like ripe apples, and they eagerly asked, "What did you catch?" Upon hearing this, Jin Rong became even more complacent and laughed wildly, "Haha, I now have a mountain of ironclad evidence. This matter is set in stone, beyond a doubt!" After saying this, he clapped his hands triumphantly and shouted like a victorious rooster, "This sesame seed bun is absolutely amazing! Why don't you go buy one and try it?"

At this time, Qin Zhong and Xiang Lian were blushing, feeling ashamed and angry. They rushed in like a gust of wind and cried to Jia Rui, saying that Jin Rong had bullied them for no reason.

This was clearly Jin Rong's fault; he had the audacity to mock Qin Zhong and Xiang Lian for their homosexuality. Qin Zhong and Xiang Lian complained to the acting class teacher, Jia Rui. If Jia Rui had been fair and reprimanded Jin Rong, perhaps the situation could have been prevented from escalating. However, this Jia Rui was a frivolous and dissolute man who had lost his life in a previous life for molesting Wang Xifeng. Greedy for a few small favors and filled with jealousy towards Qin Zhong and Xiang Lian, he favored Jin Rong.

Although they didn't dare to scold Qin Zhong, they still made a big fuss about Xiang Lian, accusing her of meddling in other people's business and even retorting a few times. Xiang Lian was frustrated, and even Qin Zhong went back to his seat in disgrace.

As a result, Jin Rong, who was condoned by the acting head teacher, became more and more fearless and fabricated rumors to slander Qin Zhong like a gossip woman:

They said they had seen them kissing and touching each other's buttocks in the backyard, and that they had agreed to do that dirty thing one on one. They pulled the grass roots apart to see who was taller, and whoever was taller got first.

This was outrageous, suggesting that Qin Zhong and Xiang Lian were drawing lots to decide who would be the top and who would be the bottom. This remark offended Jia Qiang, the older and more resourceful member of the class. After all, Jia Qiang had a close relationship with Qin Zhong's brother-in-law, Jia Rong. So, pretending to go out to urinate, he "slipped outside, secretly called Mingyan, Baoyu's servant, to his side, and provoked him with a few words."

Jia Qiang gave Mingyan the order to fight, but he himself ran home, completely shirking responsibility. A raging war instantly ignited in the academy.

At that moment, Mingyan burst in like a whirlwind, grabbed Jinrong, and shouted, "What's our business? We didn't sleep with your mother anyway! You're a good boy, come out and fight Master Ming!" This shout frightened the roomful of young men, who stared at him blankly, as if under a spell. Jia Rui hurriedly shouted, "Mingyan, stop being so presumptuous!" Jinrong's face instantly flushed like a ripe persimmon, and he shouted, "Rebellion! How dare you, a slave boy, be so arrogant? I will go and have a good talk with your master." Then he reached out to grab Baoyu. Qin Zhong had just turned when he heard a whoosh behind him. A piece of inkstone tile came hurtling towards him like a meteor. It was unknown who had thrown it, but it hit Jia Lan and Jia Jun squarely on the seats.

As a result, Baoyu's nephew Jia Lan and the Rongguo mansion's immediate great-grandson Jia Jun were also caught up in the turmoil. Jin Rong instantly became the target of public criticism from the direct descendants of both the Ning and Rong mansions. How could he possibly have a good life? But this ignorant brat not only didn't know how to be powerful, but he was also not afraid of causing trouble.

Jin Rong grabbed a large bamboo board, but the cramped space and the crowds made it no match for such a long swing. Mingyan, already struck, yelled, "Why don't you just start fighting?" Baoyu was accompanied by several servants: Saohong, Chuyao, and Moyu. These three, undeniably mischievous, shouted in unison, "You little bastards! You're actually using weapons!" Moyu quickly grabbed a door bolt, while Saohong and Chuyao, whips in hand, charged forward like a tide. Jia Rui, anxious as an ant on the hot pot, tried to stop them and persuade them, but who would listen? The scene descended into chaos. Some of the mischievous boys joined in the fun by practicing Tai Ping Quan, while others, timidly, hid aside. Still others stood on the table, clapping their hands, laughing, and shouting for a fight. Suddenly, the crowd was filled with a clamor and a bustle.

As a result, Jin Rong, who was protected by the acting head teacher, became even bolder and began to fabricate all kinds of rumors to slander Qin Zhong:

"I saw them kissing and touching each other's buttocks in the backyard with my own eyes, and they even planned to have sex one on one!" This groundless slander put Qin Zhong and Xiang Lian in a great dilemma. This was too outrageous, saying that Qin Zhong and Xiang Lian drew lots to decide who would be the top and who would be the bottom. These words were like a sharp knife, directly piercing Jia Qiang, the older and more resourceful student in the class. Because Jia Qiang had a close relationship with Qin Zhong's brother-in-law Jia Rong, he pretended to go out to relieve himself, "slipped outside, sneakily summoned Baoyu's servant, named Mingyan, to his side, and fanned the flames with a few words."

Jia Qiang issued a battle order to Mingyan, but he himself slipped away in an attempt to shirk responsibility. In an instant, a raging war broke out in the academy.

At this moment, Mingyan swaggered in, grabbed Jinrong like a tiger pouncing on its prey, and shouted, "Whether we're playing or not is none of your business, you little bastard? We didn't touch your father anyway! I said you're a good boy, so come out and fight Master Ming!" The young men in the room were terrified, stunned. Jia Rui hurriedly scolded, "Mingyan, stop being so presumptuous!" Jinrong's face turned pale with rage, and he roared, "Rebellion! How dare you, servants, be so arrogant? I'll have to confront your master!" He reached out to grab Baoyu. Qin Zhong had just turned around when a whoosh sounded behind him. An inkstone tile flew towards him like a meteor. Before he could see who had thrown it, it hit Jia Lan and Jia Jun squarely on their seats.

This also dragged in Baoyu's nephew Jia Lan and Rongguo Mansion's close descendant Jia Jun. Jin Rong became the target of the direct descendants of the Ning and Rong Mansions. How could he have a good ending? But this kid didn't know the consequences and was not afraid of trouble:

Jin Rong casually grabbed a large bamboo board, but the space was tight, and with so many people around, how could he swing it? Mingyan, already choking, shouted, "Why don't you just start?" Baoyu was accompanied by several servants: Saohong, Chuyao, and Moyu. These three, naturally mischievous, shouted in unison, "These people, kept by this young woman, are actually using weapons!" Moyu then grabbed a door bolt, and Saohong and Chuyao, both whips in hand, rushed forward. Jia Rui was terrified, trying to stop one and persuade the other, but who would listen? The situation suddenly became chaotic. Some of the naughty boys joined in the Taiping boxing, some timidly hid aside, and some stood on the table, clapping and laughing, shouting and cheering: in an instant, the crowd was in an uproar.

If Baoyu's adult servants hadn't come in from outside like a divine intervention to stop the fight, Jin Rong would have been beaten half to death. Seeing his friend Qin Zhong's head scratched, Baoyu, like a raging tiger, clamored to drop out of school. If this matter got out of hand, and Baoyu and Qin Zhong were expelled, how would Jia Rui explain it to his grandfather? This mercenary man, who had no sense of right and wrong and only knew how to weigh the pros and cons, suddenly made a 180-degree turn, from favoring Jin Rong to forcing Jin Rong:

He had no choice but to beg Qin Zhong and then Baoyu humbly. At first, they both refused to go, but later Baoyu said, "It's okay if you don't go back, as long as Jin Rong apologizes." Jin Rong initially refused, but eventually, unable to resist Jia Rui's pressure, he apologized for the time being. Li Gui and others had no choice but to persuade Jin Rong kindly, saying, "You were the one who started this incident. How will it end if you don't do this?" Jin Rong had no choice but to bow to Qin Zhong. Baoyu still refused to give up and insisted that Jin Rong kowtow. Jia Rui only asked for the matter to be settled temporarily, and quietly advised Jin Rong, "As the saying goes, 'Forbearance for a moment saves a hundred days of worry.'"

Jin Rong was outnumbered, and Jia Rui forced him to apologize and kowtow to Qin Zhong. Only then did Baoyu stop making a fuss.

As soon as Lady Wang entered Rongxi Hall, she threw herself into Old Lady Jia's lap and burst into tears. The old lady had never seen such a second daughter-in-law before. Pointing at Zhou Ruijia, she asked, "What happened?" Zhou Ruijia stammered, "Eunuch Xia from the palace came to ask for the money from last time, but Master Zheng told him he had no money, and then he redeemed a prostitute from Chunxiang Tower. And Master Bao was being bullied in private school, and Master Zheng didn't even bother to investigate. He even said boys need to be able to withstand being thrown at."

After hearing this, Mrs. Jia fainted from excitement.