Chapter 97: Separation
In the garden, Baoyu, who had just finished school, discovered that his elder sister was choosing a maid for her dowry, and the maid she chose was all of the big and strong type.
This is not the most important thing. The most important thing is that the second sister, the third sister, and even sister Feng all look envious.
Was it because he walked in the wrong way, or what? Baoyu was extremely confused.
Are the maidservants who come with the dowry not good? Sister Baoqin is very good. The eldest sister told him last time that she and Sister Baoqin are like sisters.
But now...
He secretly shrank aside, watching the eldest sister choosing people, and seeing that Sister Feng and the second sister were reluctant to part with the fat woman named Liu Pozi.
Huh? Baoyu thought the woman looked familiar, and after a closer look, he saw that she was the one watering the flowers in the garden.
Because of his great strength, he was valued by his second and third sisters, and then was noticed by Sister Feng. He was transferred to Sister Feng's place half a month ago. Why did the eldest sister want to compete with Sister Feng for him? Baoyu was very confused. There were too many things in his family that puzzled him recently.
It seems like everyone is different.
First it was his grandmother, then his father, mother, and sometimes his eldest and second sisters-in-law looked at him with complicated looks.
Especially when they saw his jade.
Thinking of his jade...
Baoyu hurriedly touched it.
He didn't want to wear it before, but everyone forced him to wear it.
But now, no one seems to want him to wear it.
but……
The more people forbade him to do something, the more Baoyu wanted to do it.
He wanted to see what was going on.
But until now, he still doesn't know what happened.
Besides, his parents are still trapped in the ancestral hall in the East Palace, so maybe he can go there to take a look.
Thinking that his elder brother was there to accompany his parents, Baoyu quietly left and went directly to the East Palace.
"Baoyu?"
Seeing the child paying respect to her in a serious manner, Shen Ning smiled and waved, "Why are you here alone? Where are the maids and servants around you?"
"I was leaving school with my teacher and asked them to send my books back first."
Baoyu's face was chubby and still had some baby fat. "Aunt, I want to go to the ancestral hall to accompany my uncle, father, mother, and elder brother."
Shen Ning: “…”
The smile on her face slowly faded, and she took his hand and asked, "Did you want to go on your own, or did someone tell you something?"
"I want to go on my own."
The child's voice was clear and sweet, but his face looked a little worried. "The big brothers are all there."
"You have to kneel down when you go there."
"I can."
Baoyu's face was firm, "I can kneel down."
If his parents can kneel, then he can do it too.
Shen Ning touched his little face, "They made a mistake, so they have to apologize and repent to their ancestors there. You have done nothing wrong. If I let you go too, what if the ancestors misunderstand you?"
"I told my ancestors that I just wanted to be there with my parents and my brother."
"..." Shen Ning smiled, "Do you have homework today?"
"There is a big one."
"Is it finished?"
"……without!"
Baoyu lowered his little head.
"How about this, you go back and finish writing the characters, then have dinner, wash up, and then go to the ancestral hall to accompany your parents and brother in the evening, okay?"
"…Thank you, Auntie!"
Baoyu smiled and said, "I will go back and write big characters right away."
"good!"
Regardless, the little guy is still very cute at this time.
At this time, Shen Ning already knew that on the day when the retired emperor granted the marriage, even Yingchun and Tanchun went to Rongguo Mansion, but Baoyu was deliberately forgotten.
It's rare that this child is willing to take the initiative to take a step, so let's go!
"Qingping, send Baoyu back."
"Yes!" Qing Ping bowed slightly, "Second Master Bao, let's go!"
"Aunt, I'm leaving now!" Baoyu also bowed quickly, "I'll come back to pay my respects to you in the evening."
"Go ahead!"
Shen Ning watched the child leave happily with Qing Ping, and couldn't help but frowning.
For some reason, she always felt that Jia Zheng and Wang Shi might not welcome Baoyu into the ancestral hall.
It’s not that they love their children, but they simply don’t want to see them.
Especially Jia Zheng.
Without Baoyu, he still has Jia Zhu and Jia Huan.
She couldn't help but sigh softly.
That piece of jade...
When the old lady saw Qingping sending Baoyu back, she would definitely ask why, right?
Shen Ning really hoped that the old lady could keep Baoyu and not let him enter the ancestral hall.
Otherwise, even if he is allowed in, he must take off the magical jade.
She thought so, but the old lady didn't seem to want to care about Baoyu too much. Just after dinner, Baoyu came over dressed neatly, "Auntie!" When he saw Jia Yue in her arms, his eyes seemed to light up all of a sudden, "Is this Sister Yue?"
"yes!"
Shen Ning glanced at the spiritual jade still hanging around the child's neck and squatted down, "Come, let's say hello to our brother."
Baoyu came over quickly.
Jia Yue's little hand swiped and suddenly grabbed his jade.
"Huh? My sister likes jade too!"
Baoyu leaned forward, trying to make Jia Yue's grip more comfortable, "Aunt, my sister's hands are strong."
I heard that children of this age don’t have much strength.
Baoyu actually wanted to hug Jia Yue, but he also knew that he was not strong enough and it would be bad if his sister fell.
"Be good, let go."
Shen Ning didn't expect her daughter's hands to be so quick.
She hurriedly and carefully opened it.
"Aunt, you can let your sister play for a while."
Baoyu is very generous.
"That won't do." Shen Ning smiled. "She's still young. It's okay for her to hold on for a while. If she holds on for too long, her arms will get tired." She handed her daughter to the wet nurse. "Don't you want to go into the ancestral hall? Come on, Auntie will take you in."
She wanted to see whether Jia Zheng was moved or disgusted by Baoyu's decision to enter the ancestral hall.
"Thank you, Auntie!"
Baoyu's eyes did not leave Jia Yue, "Auntie, aren't you taking your sister with you?"
"Your sister is still young."
Shen Ning refused, "Let's go, Auntie, let me make it clear to you first. If your parents don't want you to stay in the ancestral hall, and you can't persuade them, you have to go back."
"……Um!"
My grandmother said the same thing when she came here.
Baoyu was mentally prepared.
However, he also felt that his mother must miss him very much and might let him stay with her for one night.
Shen Ning patted his little head and said, "If your parents agree, follow your big brother. He has brought a lot of books in. If he asks about homework, answer them well."
Baoyu: “…”
Do we still have to attend classes while kneeling in the ancestral hall?
He was simply stunned.
Seeing the little guy's face change color, Shen Ning smiled unkindly, "If you regret it now, Auntie can still have someone send you back."
“…I don’t regret it.”
Baoyu hesitated for only a moment, then he held on, "As long as my brother asks me what I have learned, I will definitely be able to answer."
"That's fine. Your brother will definitely not make things difficult for you."
No matter how bad Jia Zhu is, he is definitely better than Jia Zheng.
Shen Ning pulled him and pushed open the door of the ancestral hall.
"Mother, why are you here?"
Jia Zhen thought something had happened at home, but when she saw Baoyu following her, she couldn't help but look back at Jia Zheng.
"Brother Zhen, I'm here to accompany my uncle, father, mother, and brother."
Baoyu stepped over the threshold and called out, "Father..."
"go back!"
Jia Zheng shouted.
Baoyu was startled, but Shen Ning was quick to reach out and grab the child, finally preventing the child from falling.
"Sister-in-law, this is not the place for Baoyu to come."
Wang also hurriedly said, "Be good, Baoyu, go back quickly."
"No, I want to accompany you."
Baoyu burst into tears, "Mother, I..."
"You beast, don't you even listen to your father's words?"
Jia Zheng is now particularly annoyed with this child, especially since he brought the jade with him.
Without this jade, would the sister-in-law dare to bring Yuanchun back like this? "Hurry up and leave!"
The words were spoken to his son, and the power was also shown to his son, but Shen Ning, who was standing with Baoyu, felt that he was partially targeting her.
"The old lady agreed to let him come."
Shen Ning said slowly, "It's been a few days. The child misses you."
Jia Zheng: “…”
Wang: “…”
The two men were filled with hatred.
Why were they locked up here? Why didn't they dare to ask to go out again? Why, when one plan failed, they came up with another one? They wanted to trick Baoyu into coming here, and let him suffer in front of them, so that they would agree to the division of the family if they were reluctant to let him go? That was a dream!
In an instant, Wang looked at Shen Ning with fire in her eyes, "Sister-in-law, what is this place? You should know better than us. You let Baoyu, a little kid, come here. It's cold at night. If he gets sick, can you take his place?"
"I'm wearing thick clothes!"
Baoyu waved to the maid behind him and said, "I brought a small quilt with me, mother. I will definitely not get cold."
Wang: “…”
She was going to be mad.
The eldest son is disobedient, and the younger son is also disobedient.
"Mother~"
Baoyu took the small quilt handed by the maid, looked at his parents, and suddenly felt a little scared, "I...I miss you."
Wang: “…”
My son was still standing in the bright place, with a timid look on his face, yet full of deep longing.
Her tears welled up again, "Sister-in-law, can Baoyu go out tomorrow?"
"nature!"
Shen Ning said, "He came here right after school today. I asked him to go home and do his homework and have dinner. He has to get up early tomorrow because he has to go to school."
It turns out it hasn't always been here.
Jia Zheng's anger subsided for a moment, but soon rose again.
Kneeling in the ancestral hall was irritating enough, and the sister-in-law asked this child to make him even more angry.
Jia Zheng turned his head away, thinking out of sight, out of mind.
"Baoyu, come here, come to your brother."
Jia Zhu waved to his brother and said, "Thank you, Auntie, for sending Baoyu here. He will be with me tonight."
"Go ahead!"
Shen Ning patted the little guy and asked him to come over, "Zhen'er, Baoyu is still young. When he falls asleep at night, you can carry him to the couch and he will be with you."
"yes!"
Jia Zhen agreed.
Shen Ning was about to leave, but she didn't expect that Grandmother Jia would come over at this time, "Aunt? Sister-in-law, why are you here?"
The one who was supporting Lady Jia was Xing, and behind the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law were Li and Wang Xifeng.
"Light some more candles."
The old lady naturally extended her left hand to Shen Ning, asking her to hold it, "Today, I have something to tell you."
Shen Ning: “…”
She couldn't help but glance at Xing and Wang Xifeng.
The two of them shook their heads slightly at her, indicating that they knew nothing.
"Someone, go and call your grandmother over and ask her to bring two more sets of paper and pens."
Grandmother Jia had made up her mind and wanted to discuss the division of the family property in a couple of days, but Baoyu, this pitiful child, wanted to come over...
Fortunately, Yuanchun had already covered up the matter of looking for her today by saying she was choosing a dowry woman.
"These days, I've thought about it again and again and decided to give She'er and Zheng'er a separate home first." As she spoke, she bowed towards the place filled with tablets.
What? Jia Zheng was struck by lightning.
Wang also looked incredulous.
Even Jia She was shocked.
"She'er, after the family division, is it okay for your brother to stay at home for the time being?"
"...Listen to my mother."
Jia She was still a little dazed and couldn't help but give Shen Ning a look for help.
Shen Ning pretended not to see it.
If they exchanged any glances at this time, Wang, who was about to explode, would probably get up and fight her to the death.
"Dividing the family is just dividing up the things in the house, not creating a rift between you brothers."
Grandmother Jia sat on the chair that Jia Zhen had brought over, "Niece-in-law, you sit down too."
"yes!"
Shen Ning also bowed to her ancestors before sitting on the chair that Li Wan and Wang Xifeng had brought together.
"I haven't taken care of the family in these years."
The old lady carefully looked at Jia Daishan's tablet, then at the burning incense burner, and sighed in her heart, "But last year, he just married two wives, and the public treasury was out of money, so Wang had to use the money that the Duke had to pay back to the treasury."
It is indeed time to divide the family business. If we don't, and let them continue like this, the two brothers will probably fight as soon as she dies.
The old lady added: "Although he went back to school later, if he continues like this, what will happen to his future children?"
"Mother~"
Jia Zheng cried bitterly, but he resisted the pain and crawled over to him on his knees. "As long as my parents are alive, I will not split up the family. You are going to cut off my son's heart!"
"It's not really a division of the family. I'm old now, and I might follow the Duke someday. I'll give you what you deserve sooner rather than later, and I'll be content."
It’s not that Grandmother Jia can’t speak.
She had loved her second son for so many years, how could she let him go all of a sudden? However, the more she thought about what her eldest granddaughter said, the sadder she became.
I originally wanted to hold out for two more days, but I also understood that she probably wouldn't be able to sleep well during these two days.
Fortunately, the little grandson insisted on coming to see them.
The old lady thought about getting this done quickly.
After all, on the surface, it was She'er who threw the burden away to Zheng'er in this division of the family, but in fact, with her around, Zheng'er still benefited.
"She'er, Zheng'er, Yuanchun's dowry, the embassy paid 3,000 taels of silver. She is the eldest daughter in the family, so the embassy also subsidized a lot of antiques, calligraphy and paintings, about 5,000 taels. What I mean is that the children's marriages in the future will be 3,000 taels as an example."
The old lady clapped her hands, and two maids came in with a box. After putting it down, they left carefully. "She'er, you have many nephews and nieces. Maybe they can take advantage of you?"
"Mother!"
Jia She knelt and crawled over, "What is the difference between nephews and nieces and my own sons and daughters? My son is willing to give them to me and I am happy to give them to me."
He would rather give it to his nephews and nieces than to his second brother and sister-in-law.
"We don't have much cash at home, so we can divide some of our assets. They can help look after our family, and they can manage it themselves. Their future is up to them. They can just treat me as their uncle and... their second brother."
If they leave it to the children, he doesn't believe that the couple can get anything from the children.
“Okay, okay!”
Grandmother Jia was very satisfied.
Compared to the generous eldest son, the second son who only knows how to cry and is afraid of being taken advantage of is far worse.
But the second daughter-in-law...
She looked at the second daughter-in-law who seemed to be crying but was actually observing the box, and was very upset. "The ones marked with red ink are the shop, the farm, and the courtyard. Go and look through them yourself and pick out those of Yingchun, Tanchun, Baoyu, Huan'er, and Cong'er."
The Lai family and Zhou Rui actually owned quite a few shops, small farms and courtyards.
It would be just right to share some with the children.
"Daughter-in-law Zhen, you came just in time. And Daughter-in-law Zhu, please write down the selections."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
