The Hairpin of the Red Chamber

Chapter 134

After Zhang Jing got Baochai's promise, he went back that night and said to the human: "Is Uncle Lin asleep? I have something to tell him."

Lin Hai happened to be reading a book in the study room, and heard someone report that he thought that Zhang Jing had failed the exam and felt uncomfortable, so he called her over and said softly, "It's always hard to say about articles. If you failed this time, it will be the same next time. Don't be discouraged. I It took many years of exams back then, and I had the shadow of my grandfather and father, so I was lucky enough to get it again." He said: "I have already written a name card, and tomorrow I will go to the school government to ask for you to see if you are qualified this time. If there is any deficiency, we can improve it next time.”

Zhang Jing said: "Don't bother Uncle Lin, I didn't take the exam at all this time."

Lin Hai was startled and said, "You didn't take the test? Why?"

Zhang Jing could face Baochai calmly, but when he saw Lin Hai, he couldn't help but feel embarrassed, bowed his head and said: "My nephew... I am a concubine... cough, I... I am a woman."

Lin Hai's face froze: "Female?"

Zhang Jing stuck out his tongue and said: "When my father was dying, he was afraid that the relatives of the distant family would plot my family wealth, so he asked me to disguise myself as a man temporarily. He originally told me to explain the truth to Uncle Lin when I was placed at Uncle Lin's house, but because of my Some selfishness, delay until now."

Lin Hai collected himself and said, "Nephew, you can't talk nonsense."

Zhang Jing blushed and said, "If uncle really doesn't believe it, just call a maid to test it out."

Lin Hai stared at her for a while, and sure enough, he called a woman and asked her to take a look for Zhang Jing.The woman looked at Zhang Jing's whole body carefully, and said to Lin Hai: "Master, it really is a girl. This old slave saw it with his own eyes from top to bottom."

Zhang Jing's face was reddish at first, but when he heard this sentence, his face was as red as red clouds, and he held the hem of his clothes in silence.

Seeing this, Lin Hai had no choice but to send her away: "You are a daughter, so it is not easy to live in the outer courtyard. It is already night, and it is not easy to clean up the place. You should squeeze with your sister Lin first."

Zhang Jing said, "Uncle Lin doesn't blame me?"

Lin Hai stroked his beard and sighed, "Your father was very thoughtful, and there was nothing I could do about it. How could I blame you? It's just that you should have told me earlier, I wouldn't let you be a girl with Xue Pan. Hanging around in one place will ruin your reputation for nothing. Fortunately, you have only been in Beijing for a short time, and you have never gone out to make friends. This matter should be concealed. I will find a son of a foreign official for you. After you get married, go out of Beijing with him. This matter Just go away."

Seeing his thoughtful consideration, Zhang Jing was moved, and bowed again: "Uncle Lin, nephew... niece has something to tell you."

Lin Haidao: "Tell me."

Zhang Jingdao: "Brother Xue and I get along day and night, and we have promised each other for life."

Lin Hai suddenly changed his color and said: "Nonsense!" After looking at it coldly in the past few years, Xue Pan's character and character are only considered to be above average, and his literary talent is really not outstanding. With Zhang Jing's character, and with Lin Hai as his guarantee, he will marry a son of the Imperial Academy. It's all possible, and it's a real grievance to assign Xue Pan.

Zhang Jing said calmly, "Don't worry, Uncle Lin, just listen to me."

Lin Hai shouted: "Your father entrusted you to me, so I will be the master of your marriage. No matter what you say, I won't agree. Besides, Xue Pan's mother is still alive. I'm afraid she won't agree to this. thing."

Zhang Jing wanted to say more, but Lin Hai was no better than Baochai, he refused to listen to her patiently, so he called two women and dragged Zhang Jing into the inner courtyard with half support and half persuasion.

Jia's mother was not in good health that day, so the Jia's family urged Baoyu and Daiyu to get married as soon as possible. Lin Hai also wanted his daughter to get married earlier, so that he could take care of his son-in-law while he was still healthy. The decision was urgent, although Lin Hai had the heart of a loving father to marry a daughter, he sighed every day, went to bed late and got up early, but Aunt Fang was also in charge of the marriage, so Lin Hai went straight in and told Aunt Fang about Zhang Jing. She was dumbfounded, and said with her mouth half open: "If that's the case, I think Brother Jing, Sister Jing should marry Brother Pan, after all, they are together for two days, and the relationship is deep. , the reputation has long been in one place."

Lin Haidao: "Just now I called my mother-in-law to ask again. She is still Shou Gongsha, so it's all right. Besides, if I find someone who is not in Beijing, I will have no way of knowing these past events."

Aunt Fang said: "I don't understand what the master said, but our farmer's family only knows one thing, 'paper can't wrap fire'. Can you keep it secret? When the husband and wife do not get along, won’t the master live up to the good intentions of the Zhang family? Besides, I think brother Pan is also a good man, with a good family background, a good-natured mother, and a literate man. Xiucai is a good boy."

Lin Hai frowned and said: "The younger sister in his family did not win the draft and has not been accepted by others. I heard that she is the one who takes care of all the affairs of her family. That person has such scheming methods, and Jing'er has no one to rely on The orphan girl who married her is going to share the power of housekeeping, how can the two of you live in harmony?"

Aunt Fang was surprised and said: "I think Miss Bao is very good, she is kind, and she is also good with our girls. Why is the master worried about her?"

Lin Haidao: "It's because the two of them are getting along well that I'm more worried. Jing'er has a strong nature, and I think that girl from the Xue family is also kind on the surface, but she is calculating in her heart. It's okay if the two get along, just in case I can't get along, there is only a widow over there, and I am a big man, and it's not easy to talk to her, and that girl Xue is Yu'er's friend, when the time comes to mediate, it will be even more embarrassing."

Aunt Fang didn't take it seriously, but she always listened to Lin Hai's words, so she ignored it and continued to prepare Daiyu's dowry.

Although Baoyu's ranking was not high or low this time, he was selected in the end. The Jia Mansion sent someone to report it to Lin Hai on the same day-in fact, Lin Hai had already sent someone to watch the list. I don't know, I have to wait for Jia's family to report, to show the reserve and value of his Lin family - originally prepared two kinds of dowry here, seeing Baoyu High School, it is necessary to add some things related to academic articles, and the nuns of the nuns will do it. Urging Daiyu to make a few more congratulatory things to add joy, Daiyu must miss Baochai at night, and sing some lovesick words by the way, how can she have time to do these things?The nuns were very strict. Although Zijuan secretly made some things for her while the nunnery was away, she stayed up all night and sewed under the lamp for two nights, but she only got a mandarin duck brocade handkerchief. She hated to scold Baoyu. Said: "This plague student! If I knew it, I wouldn't have asked him to take the exam. Anyway, I paid for him to buy a false title and it's over."

Zijuan said: "Girl, let's stay up for a few days. When it passes, it will be fine."

Daiyu snorted, pulled up the thread hastily, and it was almost finished. At this time, she was already too sleepy, and fell into a deep sleep as soon as she fell on the bed. She was still restless in her dream, but she just called "Baochai".

Zicuckoo was afraid that she would get sick, and she didn't know about Baochai for a long time, so she went home the next day, and when she walked out of the corner gate, Yinger said happily, "I've been waiting here for half a month, and I can be regarded as found." sister!"

Zijuan hurriedly pulled her aside, Yinger held a bundle in her hand, handed it to Zijuan and said: "Our girl said that Uncle Lin's family education is strict, and I'm afraid the maids are not allowed to do many things, so she will do some for Miss Lin first." Live, my sister will take a look, but bring it in at once, or divide it into several times?"

Zijuan opened it and saw that there were some embroideries such as "Splendid Future" and "Flowers with Wonderful Pens" inside, and estimated: "Nowadays, the government is strictly controlled, and it may be divided into several times, but it doesn't matter. In the past few days We come in and out so easily that we don't attract attention."

Ying'er said, "That's good." Then she asked Zijuan, "What can Miss Lin bring to our girls?"

Zijuan said: "I have accumulated a few more poems. What else is there? It's all in my arms." He took it out to Ying'er, and they told some more about the recent situation of Chai and Dai, and then went their separate ways. .

Baochai was very careful, and deliberately imitated the things made by Daiyu's purse, where each stitch and where each thread ended, all were in line with Daiyu's usual habits, lest people would see that it was not Daiyu. Seeing what I did, Daiyu felt more and more grateful. She caressed and comforted the gift from Baochai every day, but she was reluctant to take it out to the mothers and sisters. Zijuan persuaded her in every possible way, saying that she would marry Baoyu in the future, and she would still be the same. I could get these things back, so I reluctantly handed them over. After all, I kept a sweat towel and tied it around my waist quietly at night. Zijuan just sighed when she saw it.

This side was hurried here, and the ceremony was finally completed in May. After returning home, Baochai urged Aunt Xue to "borrow" in Jia's mansion again under the guise of visiting Mrs. Wang.