Red Mansion: Holding Space and Marrying Like the Sea

It is easy to change the country, but difficult to change one's nature. After serving as Jia Baoyu's tutor for a while, Jia Yucun realized that Jia Baoyu had no interest in the Four Books and Five Classics. His previous plan of slowly teaching him the Four Books and Five Classics through stories was not feasible.

Mrs. Wang had been studying very hard since she learned that Jia Yucun had become Baoyu's tutor, but she still wanted to know the details of her own child's condition. That day, after sending away the eunuch Xia Shouzhong who had come to the house to ask for money, Mrs. Wang had Zhou Rui's wife call Jia Yucun over. "Greetings, madam," Jia Yucun bowed respectfully to Mrs. Wang.

"Sir, please take a seat." Madame Wang looked at Jia Yucun, who was handsome, tall, and had a dignified expression, and said with a smile, "I have called you here today to discuss a matter. Baoyu is really not very serious about his studies. I have tried many methods, but none of them have worked. Do you have any good suggestions?"

Jia Yucun thought for a moment and said, "Madam, in my opinion, Baoyu may not be completely uninterested in all books. Why not let him read some interesting miscellaneous books? Perhaps it will arouse his thirst for knowledge."

Mrs. Wang nodded, thinking that this method was feasible, and then she said with a smile, "Sir, this method is very good!" But she suddenly frowned again, "But the master in the family attaches great importance to the imperial examination and will check his academic performance whenever he has time." Jia Yucun said with some embarrassment, "Madam, learning is a long-term accumulation, and it can never be achieved overnight." Mrs. Wang certainly knew these principles, and she had unspeakable thoughts in her heart. Part of the reason why she hated Jia Min now was because she and Jia Min were both noble ladies from aristocratic families. The man she married was lustful and not very good-looking, while the man Jia Min married was handsome, and there was a family motto that one could take a concubine only if he was thirty and had no children.

Now Jia Zheng is even more excessive. Every day he pretends to like reading and value rules, but in fact he is very dirty. He keeps several charming women in his study to add to his fragrance, making him like a horny old fox.

Mrs. Wang, watching Jia Yucun's suave manner today, couldn't help but think that this man was much more interesting than Jia Zheng. So she deliberately placed a hand on Jia Yucun's shoulder and, deliberately softening her voice, asked in a gentle and charming voice, "Is there anyone else in Mr. Jia's family?"

Mrs. Wang's voice was like a yellow oriole singing out of a valley, melodious and flowing, like a clear mountain spring, gurgling and intoxicating. Jia Yucun, a man well versed in the ways of the world, was intent on flattering her. He took Mrs. Wang's hand and said, "My wife is deceased." He then touched the red and tender hand she was holding and said, "Madam, your hands are so smooth! Truly red and tender, like yellow vine wine, the whole city is filled with spring colors, and the palace walls are covered with willows. Ah, the ancients were not deceiving me."

Jia Yucun looked at Mrs. Wang with a smile and said, "I understand what you mean, madam. I wonder if I will have the honor to meet you at the Daxiangguo Temple the day after tomorrow." After that, he put his arms around Mrs. Wang's waist, pulled her into his arms, kissed her on the forehead, and then happily pushed the door open and walked out.

Mrs. Wang, who had always hated loneliness, was now itching to meet him again. She was so eager that she only looked forward to meeting him the day after tomorrow.

Mrs. Wang immediately called Mrs. Zhou Rui's wife in and said, "I'm going out the day after tomorrow. Let me choose an outfit." Mrs. Zhou Rui's wife then pulled out several clothes from the closet. Among them were a dark blue shirt with a stand-up collar and colorful embroidered flowers, an ivory long coat with a cross-collar and flowers, a purple long coat with a stand-up collar and flowers, and a gray-green double-breasted round-necked coat—all of which were Mrs. Wang's favorite colors. But after taking one look, she said, "These are too old-fashioned."