Red Mansion: Holding Space and Marrying Like the Sea

"Jiaojiao, my dear mother, you really don't have to prepare so much for us! We are all grown men. If we make things so elaborate, we will be laughed at and embarrassed!" Lin Jingyu shouted to his busy mother and sister while scratching his head.

It turned out that Lin Jingyu had specially invited some close friends to his home today. Xifeng and Jiaojiao had begun meticulous preparations the night before. Not only had they draped the pavilion and porch in the outer courtyard with brand new gauze curtains, they had even replaced the cushions with exquisite designs.

She also instructed the servants to set up a barbecue grill in the spacious courtyard, and laid out tables and stools for the guests to write poetry and paint. Even the simple dartboard Jiaojiao had crafted earlier to pass the time, along with those fun riddle books, were prepared. Mother and daughter had gone to great lengths to ensure Lin Jingyu and his friends had a wonderful and joyful time at their home.

The food itself was even more elaborate! All manner of rare birds and beasts, flying, running, and swimming, were transformed into ingredients for a plethora of delicious dishes. The chefs, under the strict demands and meticulous attention of their masters, had honed their culinary skills.

However, at this moment, Lin Jingyu looked at his mother and sister constantly giving orders, and then looked at the servants who had been busy from last night until noon the next day without stopping. He couldn't help but groan inwardly: "Oh my God, if I had known that inviting guests would take so much energy, I would never have invited these guys to my house so easily, even if I were beaten to death!"

Xifeng was so happy that she couldn't help laughing. Could this be considered a waste of energy?

Thinking back to my past life as a housekeeper in the Jia family, life was truly tough! I had to personally manage everything from food and entertainment to utensils. Looking back on those days, handling everything on my own was truly exhausting. But now, things are different. I have a large staff of well-behaved and intelligent servants at my disposal. All I have to do is give orders, and they'll take care of the rest. This relaxed and comfortable life is truly comforting and enjoyable.

Furthermore, an indescribable sense of satisfaction welled up within him—watching his son grow up, now returning home to play with his friends. After all, in traditional families, especially when male guests arrived, the rules prohibited males over seven from meeting with hostesses like Wang Xifeng and Jiaojiao. Furthermore, all of the guests who had come this time were significantly older than Lin Jingyu. The youngest was at least twelve or thirteen, while the oldest was already eighteen or nineteen. It's worth noting, however, that Zhou Shizhao and Feng Bao had maintained close contact with Lin Jingyu before this.

At that moment, a voice exclaimed, "Wow! I've been looking forward to seeing Brother Lin's house for a long time. Seeing it today, it truly lives up to its reputation!" The speaker was Zhou Shizhao, and as he spoke, he gazed with a wide smile at Lin Jingyu, who had come out to greet them. He then pulled out a bag of pastries he had carefully selected along the way and handed it to Lin Jingyu, saying with a smile, "These are just a small token of my appreciation. They were purchased along the way. I hope Brother Lin won't despise them!"

Over the past few days, as their interactions became more frequent and in-depth, his understanding of this young man also deepened. Every time he met him, he felt deeply that this young man was not only gentle, easygoing and kind, but also polite and well-educated, and his every move showed his good upbringing.

Whether handling matters or interacting with others, this young man displays a majestic demeanor. He acts decisively and decisively, never dragging his feet; he is generous and unconcerned with trivial matters. Even more remarkable, after observing him for a long time, I have not discovered any bad habits or bad habits. Such a perfect person is truly a rare friend in this world!

Because of this, Zhou Shizhao gradually began to let down his guard and reveal more of his true self to the other person. His desire to become a close friend was already evident, difficult to conceal.

Feng Bao, however, was in a completely different situation. Ever since Zhou Shizhao's merciless scolding, he was filled with fear and worry when he saw Lin Jingyu again. He was constantly on edge, terrified that Lin Jingyu would tell Zhou Shizhao about his shameful behavior.

At the same time, in order to prove that he was by no means a despicable villain as Zhou Shizhao said, and also because he was worried that Lin Jingyu, a nobleman from a prominent family, would bear a grudge against him and bring him endless troubles in the future, Feng Bao became more and more reserved and taciturn when facing Lin Jingyu.

Unfortunately, Feng Bao didn't realize that Zhou Shizhao's initial comments about him were simply a flurry of impulsiveness. Furthermore, since he had never found the right opportunity to speak privately with Lin Jingyu, and their relationship wasn't close enough to be like brothers, Zhou Shizhao couldn't possibly speak ill of someone behind their back. It was just that whenever they were together, he tried to avoid excessive conversation or direct contact with Feng Bao.

At this moment, Feng Bao walked up to Lin Jingyu with a smile on his face, holding a food box in his hand, and said enthusiastically: "Brother Lin, this is the pickled duck I made at home! I really don't have anything particularly expensive to give you as a gift, I hope you don't mind it!"

Take Lin Jingyu, for example. Although he didn't have much cash before, he had a plethora of rare and precious items! However, there was a small restriction: he was strictly prohibited from drinking and having sex with prostitutes. As for other expenses, such as entertaining guests, purchasing antiques, calligraphy and paintings, collecting books about famous people, and so on, Lin Jingyu could spend as he pleased.

This is actually due to Lin Jingyu's sensible and well-behaved childhood. He is well aware that every penny of the family's wealth is earned by his mother through her own hard work. You know, apart from the original shop and farm, all other businesses were maintained and developed by his mother with great effort and care! Because of this, even though Lin Jingyu often says "I don't have money", he is actually very cautious and self-disciplined when spending money.

So, if a deep friendship existed, even a simple straw basket would be accepted with joy. And what about gifts from people he barely cared about? These people might simply offer gifts out of personal gain or superficiality, but for Lin Jingyu, whether it was a priceless treasure or a small, thoughtful gift, he would accept it all with a smile and without hesitation. After all, everyone is a guest, and one shouldn't easily refuse.

The Lin family's servants were even more well-trained. They knew their master's preferences and ways of treating others, and they always maintained a cheerful demeanor, as warm and approachable as the spring sun. Whenever a guest presented an exquisite gift box, they would respectfully step forward to receive it, their movements graceful yet dignified. Then, with their heads bowed, they would carefully place the gift aside. Furthermore, they would diligently serve the guests, always attentive to their instructions and ensuring every detail was perfected.

Lin Jingyu was exceptionally hospitable, personally greeting each guest, exchanging pleasantries and engaging in lively conversation, his generous demeanor evident. As he spoke, he naturally ushered the guests into his courtyard. In this way, over a dozen guests arrived, one after another. Suddenly, the once quiet and peaceful courtyard became bustling with activity.

This clearly showed that Lin Jingyu possessed a unique charm and skill in making friends, allowing so many people to actively engage with him. Furthermore, today's arrival was only the first wave of guests. He believed that in the days ahead, more people would come to visit every now and then, and the Lin residence would undoubtedly be filled with excitement and joy.

"The garden at Brother Lin's home is really unique! Look at the pavilions and towers scattered around, and the rockery and waterside pavilions complement each other. It's really beautiful!" One of the guests couldn't help but admire.

"Yes, yes! Especially the lush green bamboos that fill the garden, swaying gracefully in the breeze; and the winding corridors, with their light curtains fluttering in the wind, it feels like being in a fairyland. They say the scenery of Jiangnan is picturesque. Although I have never been to Yangzhou or Jiangnan in person, seeing Brother Lin's garden today has given me a sense of Jiangnan's charm. Every step is gentle, every glance is misty!" another guest echoed. Everyone nodded in agreement, praising the garden endlessly.

Just then, a handsome young man, roughly the same age as Zhou Shizhao, entered the garden. Glancing around, a hint of doubt crossed his face. He asked Lin Jingyu, who was standing beside him, "Brother Lin, this garden seems beautifully decorated, but the number of servants isn't as high as I expected. Is this your villa?"

Lin Jingyu was slightly stunned when he heard this. After a moment of silence, he slowly replied, "To be honest, this mansion was arranged by the elders in my family for us younger generations to temporarily live in. As for the servants... since there are only a few of us who are here to stay for a few days, naturally we don't bring many servants with us." After saying this, he smiled at the young man, as if he wanted to ease the awkward atmosphere.

However, these words clearly didn't completely dispel the curious young man's doubts. He continued to ask, "I see. But since there are more servants in other places, that must be the main residence, right? I wonder if there are other brothers and sisters living there? If so, why not call them out to play with us? Wouldn't that be more lively?"

Faced with this barrage of questions, Lin Jingyu couldn't help but groan inwardly. Normally, he and his sister Jiaojiao were the only ones staying here for a few days, but this matter involved some privacy concerns, making it difficult to disclose to others. So, he could only respond vaguely, "Hehehe... well, you'll all know later. Putting aside all that, it's a rare opportunity for us to gather here today, so let's just enjoy ourselves!"

There were many discerning individuals present, and upon hearing Lin Jingyu's response, most of them understood that Young Master Lin was reluctant to discuss matters here. After all, if brothers and sisters truly lived together, why would they be so secretive and not introduce themselves? However, due to considerations, they hesitated to ask further questions.

Of course, just as some people are polite and courteous, others are rude and tactless. Suddenly, a voice from the crowd shouted, "Hey! Brother Lin, stop keeping us in suspense! Tell us who lives here! If they're brothers, please call them out so we can all get to know them!" The speaker was none other than Feng Bao. He was usually rude and outspoken, and now, with no regard for others' feelings, he kept pestering Lin Jingyu with questions.

"Haha, it will be more lively when there are more people. Everyone is talking about elegant things. I believe your brothers will love it very much!" Lin Jingyu led everyone slowly towards the exquisite pavilion with a smile on his face.

When he arrived in front of the pavilion, he stopped, extended his right hand gracefully, and made a gesture of invitation: "Everyone, please take a seat." After everyone was seated in turn, he turned to the servants waiting beside him and whispered: "Go and bring up the best tea and snacks." After that, he walked to the main seat and sat down calmly.

From the beginning to the end, Lin Jingyu seemed to be extremely focused on arranging these matters, and seemed to have not heard of the suggestions just made by Feng Kun.

Before long, a group of well-trained servants filed in, carrying exquisite picnic cakes and fruit platters, or carrying small charcoal stoves and delicate teapots. Their steps were light and swift. Furthermore, some carefully arranged the writing brushes, inkstones, chessboards, and guzheng and qin instruments. The entire process was smooth and silent, clearly a testament to their rigorous training.