Chapter 6: Lin Ruhai's Illness Entrusts Orphan (Part 1) Red Chamber Night Talk Green Bean

  This morning, Daiyu finished her toilette and was about to go to her father's bedroom to pay her respects when a little maid came in and said that someone had come from their old home and Master wanted Miss to speak with him in the inner chamber.

  Daiyu, upon hearing this, immediately knew that it was the Lin family's elder brother whom her father had mentioned. She couldn't help but feel a little nervous, and repeatedly checked her own clothes and adornments to make sure there was nothing improper about them. Only then did she breathe a sigh of relief, and accompanied by Xiangyun and Hua Xueyan, headed towards the main house.

  Three people were walking towards the artificial hill in the backyard, only to see a few unfamiliar little maids whispering there.

  One of them said, "I just saw it with my own eyes, it's that young master who came to our house last time, and now he's heading towards the old master's bedroom!" The one holding the broom asked, "This is strange, a few days ago those people came, saying they were relatives of the Lin family. I think they're taking advantage of the old master being ill to seek benefits for themselves. But that young man doesn't seem like a bad person!"

  Daiyu looked at one of the slightly older maids and scolded with a smile: "You little hoof, how many men have you seen? You think someone isn't a bad person just because they look good? It's nothing but seeing the young master's dignified appearance and having evil thoughts!"

  The one being scolded turned bright red with shame, hastily stepping forward in a flailing motion, "Xiang Rong you little wretch, just watch me tear your mouth to shreds!" The group burst into another fit of laughter and curses. Before long, the one called Xiang Rong continued, "Today I'll let you all in on the bottom line, so tomorrow if something happens, you won't be caught off guard."

  Several people heard this and felt that the matter was serious. Xiang Rong is a child born to the Lin family, his father manages two shops in Yangzhou City, and his mother serves as a housekeeper under Qian Yiniang. After inquiring about the news, it turned out to be true. Then Xiang Rong said: "That young master was brought from Suzhou by Master to inherit the incense!"

  What? Several people were shocked, and they didn't expect it to be like this. These servants only thought that in the future, the young lady would inevitably return to Beijing, and the Lin family's business would also disperse, but unexpectedly, they still had to adopt a son-in-law to inherit the house?

  "Listen, I advise you all to make early arrangements. I heard that the young master of the Lin family is going to take the miss back to Suzhou. We are old people and will have to go back too. But as for you few, you were all bought in Yangzhou, and usually just idle around, not very impressive, and don't have any decent skills either. In the future when the young master returns to his hometown in Suzhou, how can he bring so many servants back? Some of you will inevitably be let go."

  Several people heard Xiangyun's words, their faces changed, and they hastily bid farewell, each going their separate ways. Daiyu saw the maid Xiangyun swing her handkerchief, looking pleased as she watched the several people leave, and in her heart she didn't like this maid's behavior. Moreover, even a small maid knew about the Lin family's adoption matter, it was likely that Jia Baoyu also knew clearly, so she urged Zijuan and Xueyan: "Let's hurry to Father's place, don't keep him waiting."

  Daiyu entered the carved flower gate and vaguely saw several old women standing on the surrounding corridor, who seemed not to be elderly people from their own family. Daiyu did not think much about it and stepped into the main room. Qian Yiniang was waiting at the door of a small hall on one side. As soon as she saw Daiyu enter, she hastily reported to Lin Rong and lifted the curtain, bowing her head to welcome Daiyu in.

  This small hall was where Daiyu's mother used to manage the accounts, and all the maids and servants in the mansion would come here to report messages. Seeing the arrangement of the room just as it was when her mother was alive, a wave of sorrow suddenly welled up in her heart.

  Lin Ruhai was half-reclining on the large kang by the window, which had a large red gold-threaded dragon-shaped pillow in front of it, an autumn-colored gold-threaded dragon-patterned quilt, and a pair of plum blossom-shaped foreign-painted small tables on either side. On both sides of the kang were four yellow rosewood chairs, with two middle-aged scholars sitting in the two on the left, one handsome young man. Daiyu guessed that the young man was Jinyu, whom her father had mentioned.

  As expected, as soon as Daiyu entered the door, the young man immediately stood up and Lin Ruhai said: "Yu'er come here, meet your uncle from the Lin family."

  Daiyu knew they were all relatives of the family, so she didn't stand on ceremony and was about to make a deep bow. The middle-aged scholar hastily raised his arm to support her, saying, "You're all my nieces, why make such a big fuss? Please get up quickly."

  Daiyu still acted with propriety, and respectfully greeted Lin's uncle. Lin Ruhai pointed again: "This is your brother, Jinyu; Daiyu, come and greet him."

  Lin Daiyu had only taken a quick glance, not daring to look more, but now that her father spoke up, she looked again with a straight face. The young man was about 18 or 19 years old, slightly older than what her father had said. He was handsome and had an air of sharpness that couldn't be concealed. Although he wore a plain grayish-blue long gown, it gave off an aura of grandeur that was hard to describe. Lin Daiyu hadn't seen many men before, but most of them were quite good-looking. However, this man was different from her father's gentle elegance, not like Lian Er's suave and charming demeanor, nor did he resemble Bao Yu's handsome and sentimental appearance. To say the least, he somewhat resembled San Jie Xiangling in terms of having a heroic air about him. But after all, San Jie was a girl, how could she be compared to this man?

  Daiyu also wanted to perform the ceremonial bow, but this time she was actually helped up by that person. Zhiyuan smiled and said: "We are all equals, sister, no need for excessive courtesy."

  Lin Zhiyuan was slightly startled when he saw Daiyu, not because of her extraordinary appearance, but because he hadn't expected Lin Daiyu to be so slender, as if she had just recovered from a serious illness. Zhiyuan had seen many beautiful women before, including the young and beautiful misses in his friend Dongping Hou's household, but someone like Daiyu was rare. In the words of a previous life, it was a kind of "sickly beauty".

  Lin Ruhai saw his daughter being helped up by Jin Yu, and smiled slightly: "Good, good, you two siblings can support each other like this. Even if I leave, I can rest assured." Lin Ruhai called Daiyu to come over, just then Qian Yiniang came in and said: "Master, the guests from the front courtyard have arrived, including Duke Dongping of Yangzhou, Governor Jiang of Huainan, and Master Zheng of the Zheng manor."

  "Hurry to the study! And also, call over Second Master Jia!" Lin Ruhai straightened his back and sat on a bamboo chair with a spring cushion, heading towards the study. As he was leaving, he instructed Daiyu to stay in her room and not wander around.

  The three of them, along with the maid and the old woman, went to the study, where they ran into several noble guests who were on their way. These people were all old friends of Lin Ruhai's, and upon seeing him, they couldn't help but sigh in their hearts, offering words of comfort and consolation. Just as they entered, Jia Lian hastily rushed over.

  Jia Lian had been at the Lin's residence for two or three days, but he still hadn't seen Mr. Lin. Just as he was getting anxious in his room, a servant came to report that Mr. Lin had summoned him to the study. Jia Lian knew that this must be about something important, so he hastily made his way there.

  Zhiyuan carefully observed Jia Yuanchun as soon as he entered the door, and indeed he was a charming person, but with a hint of vulgarity that made people dislike him.

  Jia Lian had paid his respects to his uncle and was now greeting him.

  Lin Ruhai smiled and said, "Xuan'er, get up quickly. Thank you, Uncle, for sending my cousin back. It's been a long and tiring journey. Cough, cough... I'm just not feeling well, and this is the first time we've met in all these years."

  "Uncle, don't say that, these are things a nephew should do, and I wouldn't dare mention anything about being tired."

  Jia Lian finished speaking and also caught a glimpse of several people sitting in the study with the remaining light, but he didn't know what their backgrounds were.

  "Xuan'er, let me introduce you. These are the Marquis of Dongping, Governor Jiang of Yangzhou, and Commander Li of Huainan. And this is Master Zheng." Lin Ruhai pointed to Zhiyuan and the others, "Ah, ah, this one is the son of our family's patriarch, and that one is my nephew Zhiyuan."

  Everyone present except Zhiyan stood up and bowed, the rest just slightly nodded and smiled. Jia Xian's heart skipped a beat, what? Cousin? Where did this come from?

  Rulin smiled and said, "Zhiyuan is the only son of my elder brother's family. He has been living in our old home in Suzhou all these years. I fell ill this time, so he came from Gusu to see me. I know that my days are numbered, cough, cough, so today I invited a few close friends from Zhejiang to bear witness. I have already informed the Lin family ancestral temple to let Zhiyuan inherit my business. In the future, when this child has children of his own, cough, cough, he will adopt one as my grandson in my name, which can also be considered as finding a dependent for Daiyu."

  Jia Lian listened and almost fainted. This Lin family's old master did things without leaving any room for discussion! They had already paid their respects at the ancestral temple, how could they go back on their word? And yet they called these local bullies from Jiangnan, saying they were close friends, wasn't it just to intimidate themselves?

  "Mother-in-law has taken care of my daughter for a few years, I know it in my heart." Lin Ruhai took a box from the edge of the table and handed it to Jia Yu, "This box contains my filial piety to Old Lady, and it's unlikely that I'll have another chance to pay respects to her in person, so I trouble you, nephew, to take it for me! Moreover, Lin Daiyu won't be returning to Beijing with you this time either. Cough, cough, my affairs are done, and she will go back to her brother's old home in Suzhou, and we can still meet again in the future!"

  Jia Lian grew even more anxious upon hearing this. This wealth was originally not entirely obtainable, and now it seemed that Lin's daughter couldn't be brought back either? "This absolutely won't do! Before I left, my ancestors repeatedly instructed me to wait until Uncle's health improved, then carefully bring the young lady back home. If I fail to do so, I'll have no way to explain myself!"

  Zhiyuan stood up, smiled at Jia Xiang and said: "Although I have never seen my brother-in-law before, but I've also heard that all the sons of Rongguo House in Beijing are extremely filial. Brother-in-law only knows that Old Madame misses her sister, but should also consider Second Uncle's longing for his sister! It would be better to ask brother-in-law to convey a message, asking sister to stay at home more often. I will definitely bring my sister to Beijing to pay respects to Old Madame in the future!"

  Jia Lian was about to speak again, but just then the Duke of Dongping cleared his throat and said in a gentle voice: "Alright, since it's your elder's intention, you as the nephew shouldn't refuse anymore. I've met the old lady of the Jia family before, she's a reasonable person, surely she wouldn't want her relatives to be separated either. Now that this Miss Lin has an older brother to take care of her, it's better for her to stay in the Lin family."

  The Marquis of Dongping spoke with a loud and clear voice, not allowing Jia Yuanchun to interrupt, and the matter was settled. It's really: came with full confidence, left with empty hands.

  Author: Hope you leave valuable comments after reading! Wish you a happy new year~~~^_^