Red Mansion: Holding Space and Marrying Like the Sea

After comforting Daiyu, Tanchun saw Yuanyang coming over and asked, "Sister Yuanyang, why are you here? Does the old lady have any instructions?" Yuanyang smiled kindly and said, "The old lady asked me to invite the girls and Master Bao to the front hall for dinner."

Everyone followed Yuanyang to the front hall, where they saw a huge round table filled with all kinds of delicacies. Grandmother Jia sat in the main seat, next to Jia Min. Seeing Jia Baoyu and the others enter, Old Lady Jia quickly said, "Baoyu, Daiyu, come sit next to me." Jia Min, not angry at Old Lady Jia's words, took the initiative to move a little and said with a smile, "Mother, now that you have a granddaughter, do you no longer want your daughter?" Her tone was very sweet and innocent, without any of the sinister shrewdness she had when she was calculating.

Baoyu obediently walked towards Grandmother Jia, while Lin Daiyu, somewhat shy, followed him timidly. Grandmother Jia looked at them both lovingly, her eyes full of satisfaction.

"Please sit down!" Grandmother Jia said to the others with a smile. Everyone took their seats.

With the cry of "Serve!", a procession of maids flowed in, bearing plates of delicious delicacies, which they placed one after another on the table. First up were four exquisite cold dishes: pickled goose feet, mixed duck tongues, pickled cucumbers, and pickled garlic. These four dishes, vibrant in color and beautifully presented, were a feast for the eyes and instantly whetted everyone's appetite.

Then, eight steaming hot dishes were served. There was the braised lion's head, its bright red color resembling a blazing flame; the steamed sea bass, its tender flesh emitting an alluring fragrance; the sweet and sour spare ribs, with a sweet and sour flavor that left a lasting impression; and the Kung Pao chicken, spicy and delicious, making it irresistible. Each dish was beautifully presented, emitting waves of enticing aromas that made everyone salivate.

In addition to these hearty hot and cold dishes, there's also a wide variety of dim sum and fruit to savor. The sweet fragrance of osmanthus cake, the softness of red bean paste buns, and the crispness of thousand-layer cakes—every bite is intoxicating. The sweetness of grapes, the juiciness of watermelon, and the translucence of lychees add a touch of freshness and sweetness to the meal.

Grandmother Jia gently picked up her chopsticks and smiled, signaling everyone to start eating. Everyone picked up their bowls and chopsticks and enjoyed this sumptuous feast. At the dinner table, Grandmother Jia asked Daiyu about her life from time to time and urged her to take good care of herself. A touch of emotion flashed in Daiyu's eyes. She nodded obediently and said softly, "Thank you for your concern, Grandmother. I will definitely listen to you."

The atmosphere during the meal was relaxed and cheerful, with some chatting and laughing, while others were gritting their teeth. Lady Wang and Li Wan stood beside Old Lady Jia, responsible for handling chopsticks and serving soup. To say the Jia family didn't follow rules would be a misinterpretation, as the Jia family's daughters-in-law personally served their mothers-in-law at every meal. However, if the Jia family adhered to rules, then the servants and maids' lax mouths meant that the family's affairs would often spread throughout the streets by the next morning.

Ever since Jia Min returned to her parents' home, Lady Wang had felt immensely humiliated every time she served her at meals. After all, as the legitimate daughter of the Wang family and the head of the Jia household, she found it difficult to accept serving a woman abandoned by her husband due to a mistake. Furthermore, Lady Wang remembered that Zhou Ruijia had gone to the Shi residence to retrieve Shi Xiangyun, a thought that filled her with a sense of pride. When Shi Xiangyun and Lin Daiyu appeared before the old lady simultaneously, she wondered how she would handle this awkward situation.

It is said that Zhou Ruijia finally met Shi Xiangyun. After explaining her purpose, Shi Xiangyun was overjoyed and packed her things in a hurry. When she was almost at the gate of the yard, she suddenly met someone. Shi Xiangyun looked closely and found that it was her second aunt, the wife of Baoling Hou Shi Nai. Shi Xiangyun called out "Second Aunt" obediently. But the wife of Baoling Hou Shi Nai had no expression on her face and asked coldly, "Xiangyun, where are you going with all these bags?" Seeing that the situation was not good, Zhou Ruijia quickly jumped out and said, "Madam Hou, our old lady misses Miss Shi, and specially sent me to pick her up to stay for a few days." But the wife of Baoling Hou Shi Nai had a stern face and scolded, "You have no right to interrupt the master! Xiangyun, have you ever considered the consequences of doing this?" Shi Xiangyun felt a little wronged, but still She answered in a low voice: "Aunt, maybe the old lady missed me too much..." The wife of Baoling Hou Shi Nai was relentless and continued to lecture her: "Since you know it is inappropriate to do so, why do you still go with her? As a girl, don't you even care about your reputation?" After that, she turned around and pointed at Zhou Rui's wife, questioning: "You are with Mrs. Wang, right? I heard that Jia Min's daughter is coming to the capital. What does your Jia family mean? Why did you choose this time to invite Xiangyun?" As soon as these words came out, it seemed as if she had seen through Mrs. Wang's thoughts. The wife of Baoling Hou Shi Nai looked serious and said in a deep voice: "I have never heard of anyone visiting without sending an invitation in advance. It's really rude." After that, she took Shi Xiangyun and turned to leave.

Mrs. Zhou was stunned. She had never expected to run into such a problem. As she watched Shi Xiangyun being led away, she secretly vowed to tell Mrs. Wang about this.

Mrs. Wang was furious after hearing Zhou Rui's report. She hadn't expected Shi Nai's wife to be so difficult to deal with and ruin her plan. But she also knew she couldn't give up. So, she decided to go to the Shi family in person and bring Shi Xiangyun to the Jia Mansion at all costs.