Chapter 59 Watching Lanterns on the Fifteenth Day of the First Lunar Month: "I have the power of money."...
Mu Chuan didn't dare to continue the conversation about whether or not he had bullied anyone, after all, he wasn't entirely without a clear conscience either.
"I won't bully you. I'll even take you to see the lanterns." Mu Chuan changed the subject to brush it off. "I booked a table at Zhishan Restaurant, which is right outside Zhengyang Gate. Zhengyang Gate is the most bustling place, so let's start from there."
“I trust the food that Third Brother ordered.” Lin Daiyu followed behind him, stepped onto the carriage using a stool that had been specially painted in a bright color, and looked at the already darkening sky, sighing softly, “It’s been a long time since I’ve gone out at night.”
The Rongguo Mansion is in a very good location. It felt like we hadn't even warmed up the seat of the carriage before we arrived at Zhishanlou.
On the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, the city was bustling with lantern festival activities. As usual, the carriage stopped at the small courtyard. Lin Daiyu got off and could hear the noise outside.
The waiter led them inside.
Lin Daiyu couldn't help but smile and whispered to Mu Chuan, "No matter how lively it was in Rongguo Mansion before, I always felt it was deserted. But today, it's actually noisy."
"That's how it is when you stay at someone else's house. To put it bluntly, it's still a problem with the Rongguo Mansion." Mu Chuan once again put the Rongguo Mansion in a bad light. "What would you like to eat?"
"Since it's your first time here, you should ask the waiter to speak to you."
When inviting Lin Daiyu to dinner, Mu Chuan chose a very nice place. The two of them had a small courtyard to themselves. They ate in the main room, while the side rooms were for their servants.
After the two sat down, waiters brought tea and snacks, while others came with menus to introduce the dishes.
Lin Daiyu came out several times, not waiting for Mu Chuan to speak first: "Any recommendations? Anything new?"
The waiter chuckled, "Our Shandong cuisine is primarily savory and fresh—"
Lin Daiyu glanced at Mu Chuan and said: "You should like this flavor."
"The most famous one is the Nine-Turned Intestine, which has an extremely complicated process, just like alchemy, hence the name Nine-Turned Intestine."
"The most nourishing dish is braised sea cucumber with scallions. The sea cucumber is smooth and tender, the scallions are fragrant but not spicy, and it has a sweet and savory flavor."
Mu Chuan then glanced at Lin Daiyu: The second dish was already sweet.
"There's also a dish that really requires precise control of the heat: stir-fried double crispy. Just from the name, you can tell it's crispy! You'll know once you try it. This is the dish that repeat customers order the most."
As he spoke, Lin Daiyu picked out dishes from the menu.
"There are also the Four Happiness Meatballs, which are a traditional New Year's treat, symbolizing fortune, prosperity, longevity, happiness, and family reunion."
"If you like fish, there's also braised fish fillets in fermented rice wine sauce, and sweet and sour carp—"
Mu Chuan interrupted him: "Carp has a lot of bones, are there any other fish?"
"Let's have the braised fish slices again, it's easier to eat," Lin Daiyu suggested, pushing the menu on the table. "We'll have all of these, and four kinds of seasonal fresh vegetables too."
As the waiter went out to place the order, Mu Chuan teased, "What's wrong? You don't like sweet and sour fish anymore?"
Lin Daiyu lowered her head slightly, pretending not to dare to look at him: "I'm afraid Third Brother will get stabbed."
Before Mu Chuan could react, Lin Daiyu started giggling. After all, her third brother couldn't do anything to her: "I'm afraid it will hurt him."
She guessed right; Mu Chuan really couldn't do anything to her: "Getting a fishbone stuck in your throat really hurts."
Lin Daiyu wanted to be a little more unrestrained.
Fortunately, the food arrived quickly, which made her glad she didn't say anything more.
Dishes like Four Happiness Meatballs and Braised Sea Cucumber with Scallions are stewed in advance. When a customer orders, the last step is done, so they are served very quickly.
Mu Chuan moved the Four Happiness Meatballs in front of him and said to Lin Daiyu, "You have to eat all four of these meatballs to make it a Four Happiness Meatball ...
As he spoke, he took a knife and cut off a quarter of it: "Can you finish this?"
Lin Daiyu looked at him incredulously: "Third Brother, how many meatballs the size of your fist do you think I can eat? I want to eat something else."
Mu Chuan sighed: "They are quite difficult to please. How about I ask them to bring you a plate of sugar so you can dip it in?"
Before he could finish speaking, he started laughing. Lin Daiyu deliberately puffed out her cheeks and pretended to be angry: "Third Brother is annoying."
The dishes were served quickly, and the waiter brought out a long, rectangular plate, smiling as he said, "This is complimentary, brown sugar white wine. It's said to be a dish from the south."
Lin Daiyu was quite curious, and when the waiter put down the plate, she saw that it was "brown sugar rice cake".
A long strip of rice cake is shaped like a snake and then drizzled with brown sugar syrup.
Mu Chuan also laughed: "People from the Jiangnan area are quite good at naming things."
The two of them were enjoying their meal, and the Rongguo Mansion... at least on the surface, was also quite lively.
Although the weather was quite cold and the banquet couldn't be held in the courtyard, all the windows of the flower hall were open and covered with gauze screens. There was also a circle of braziers inside, so you could see the various lanterns hanging on the trees outside, and the room wasn't too cold.
With the musicians playing the zither, the female storyteller, and a room full of people offering their support and humor, anyone who sees it would find it lively and entertaining.
But only they themselves know what they are really thinking.
Grandmother Jia laughed and said, "Your Bao brother is unlucky. He has to fall ill even though the food is so good."
Yuanyang went to see her, and Xiren told the truth: "She had a fever the next morning, but after taking medicine, she was fine. However, she seemed to have been startled by something and was restless. She probably needs to rest for a few more days."
When Yuanyang returned, she told Grandmother Jia the same thing.
Now that she knew he wasn't sick, Grandmother Jia pointed to the food on the table and said, "Send him that yam and pheasant soup, so he can nourish himself."
Wang Xifeng's health was not as good as before, and naturally she was not as quick-witted as she used to be, so she didn't think of Jia Lan at all.
Li Wan always remembered her son, but she dared not mention him.
Although Tan Chun remembered that she had a younger brother, it was best not to mention it.
The rest of the people, even if they remembered, wouldn't remind Grandmother Jia. After all, Yuanyang hadn't spoken yet, and who knew if she was doing it on purpose, or if she wanted to warn someone about something.
The meal was finished in this slightly strange, rushed, but "happy" atmosphere where everyone was laughing.
After the meal, Grandmother Jia said with a smile, "Go back and change into warm clothes. When it's completely dark, we'll go to the Grand View Garden to see the lanterns."
After everyone had paid their respects and left, Grandmother Jia returned to her room. Yuanyang helped her change into a thicker vest. Grandmother Jia suddenly asked, "How is the matter I asked you to investigate going?"
Yuanyang said, "The public funds... can probably yield about 100,000 taels."
"How come there's so little left!" Grandmother Jia exclaimed in surprise, then realized what she meant, "Public funds?"
Yuanyang didn't dare to look up: "The second wife's family spent a lot of money, and then they started spending money on things, saying it was for the expenses of the empresses in the palace."
Grandmother Jia sneered, and Yuanyang continued, "There are quite a few more... I heard that Zhou Rui's son-in-law runs an antique shop outside. The day the officials came to report on his family's crimes, they said it included selling off noble property."
"Since it was a case of reselling noble property, and the case is now closed, why not return the property?"
Yuanyang dared to answer this, which meant she had a pretty good understanding of the situation. She said, "The government said they need someone to go and get the list to verify it."
The word "person" was emphasized, and Grandmother Jia immediately said, "Bring that good-for-nothing here!"
On the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, Jia She was also supposed to accompany them to see the lanterns. He was waiting outside when he heard Grandmother Jia call him. He hurriedly came in, bowed, and respectfully greeted her, "Mother."
Grandmother Jia asked sternly, "Why don't you go and ask for the things from the Rongguo Mansion back!"
Jia She paused for a moment, using his brain, which had been corrupted by wine and women and was no longer very sharp, to think before replying, "It wasn't me who sold it. Whoever sold it, go find them."
No matter how reasonable these words are, what angers Grandmother Jia the most is that everyone in the family has their own ideas and no one listens to her.
"You inherited the title, if you don't go, who will!"
Jia She remained nonchalant: "I don't live in the main hall, I live next to the stables. I don't even share a gate with the Rongguo Mansion. To enter the Rongguo Mansion, I have to exit through my own gate first, and then enter the gate of the imperial-built Rongguo Mansion. The Xue family all live in the Rongguo Mansion, and they don't have to go through such trouble. Inheriting a title? Who would believe that this is inheriting a title?"
Jia She had just drunk a few cups of wine, and he got more and more excited as he spoke: "Am I in charge of the household? No. When good things happen, you don't ask me to step in, but when bad things happen, you ask me to step in? What am I? Let whoever wants to go can go, I'm not going."
Grandmother Jia was so angry that she trembled: "You unfilial son, I'm going to the government to report you for being unfilial."
"This isn't the first time. The reason I was able to inherit the title back then was because my father wrote a memorial before he died, saying that I was unfilial, right? So the things that should be included in inheriting the title were separated."
Grandmother Jia immediately deflated, and after a long while, she finally said, "Get out! Get out of here!"
Jia She left quickly, and Grandmother Jia gritted her teeth and said, "Go and tell Lian'er to do it. Go first thing tomorrow morning!"
No one else could say such things, so Yuanyang went to Jia Lian and told him about Grandmother Jia's instructions. Jia Lian didn't want to do this kind of thing either, and he also felt ashamed, but he wasn't as assertive as Jia She, so he could only reluctantly agree.
Jia Lian didn't want to look at the lanterns anymore. He cupped his hands to Yuanyang and said, "This is a troublesome matter. I need to go back and think about what to do. I'll take my leave now."
When Yuanyang returned, she told Grandmother Jia, and then said, "The young ladies have all arrived, Grandmother, let's go out."
"No rush," Grandmother Jia said, stopping her. "What about my private treasury?"
Over the years, more money has gone out of Grandmother Jia's private treasury than it has come in.
Let's first talk about the sources of Grandmother Jia's private treasury. The earliest source was her dowry and the income from it. Later, there were also things given by her parents-in-law and the Duke of Rongguo. Sometimes, she would also receive some gifts from the palace, as well as gifts received for her birthday celebrations.
Once you do the math, you'll understand. Especially with the best quality items, the source is gone. In order to maintain the relationship with the Rongguo Mansion, Grandmother Jia has been sending away quite a bit of what she originally received over the years.
Just like she mentioned Huiwen embroidery last time, there were originally three pieces, but now two of them have been given away.
Moreover, the Rongguo Mansion has no officials, so some good things can't be bought even with money.
When Yuanyang hesitated for a moment, Grandmother Jia clearly understood what she meant: "How much is left?"
"After a rough count, and comparing the items against the list of valuables, there are probably still 300,000 taels left."
Grandmother Jia's legs went weak and she sat down. After chuckling twice, tears streamed down her face.
This thing is worth 300,000 taels to her, but if she were to pawn it, 50,000 taels would be considered a lot.
Otherwise, why would the decline be so irreversible once it started? It's because things became worthless.
Yuanyang was originally going to help Grandmother Jia out, and she was holding onto her arm, but she was pulled down as well.
"Grandmother! Grandmother! Things will be better once Master Bao becomes successful!"
“Promising? What kind of promising future could he possibly have? You’re telling me he can’t do well in his studies, his legs go weak after just three or four breaths of horse stance, and his only claim to being acquainted with Prince Bei Jing—I can’t exactly send him to Prince Bei Jing’s residence, can I? He’ll be eighteen in three months!”
Yuanyang wished she could slap herself twice.
"And then there's Lan-ge'er. Everyone says he has a bright future in his studies, and his teacher always praises him. Back then, Master Zhu passed the imperial examination at the age of fourteen and became a scholar. Lan-ge'er is already twelve this year. And then there's the empress in the palace. Once she gives birth to the imperial heir, we'll all be fine. If we can get through these next few years, our fortunes will turn around."
Yuanyang repeated these few words over and over, but Grandmother Jia was not comforted at all.
"Lan-ge'er? Lan-ge'er! Since you know he's promising, why don't you remind me more often? There were so many dishes just now, why didn't you send him a couple of plates!"
Yuanyang bit her lower lip and said, "With Sister-in-law Zhu here, Lan-ge'er is always filial and doesn't care about these empty titles. He still wants to study even on holidays."
Grandmother Jia nodded and said, "Remind me to send him some food from time to time."
The mandarin ducks readily agreed.
Only then did Grandmother Jia manage to stand up and go to the outer room.
"Grandmother." Wang Xifeng had just met Jia Lian and, upon learning that Grandmother Jia was in a bad mood again, was the first to greet her with a smile.
Grandmother Jia hummed in agreement and smiled when she saw the three young ladies; she had three beautiful granddaughters.
Especially her beloved granddaughter, who comes from a prestigious family, has already found herself a good husband.
Just as Grandmother Jia was about to speak, a servant came in and reported, "Congratulations, Grandmother! The Empress has bestowed gifts upon you, and the eunuch is waiting outside."
"Give him a reward!" Grandmother Jia said with a smile, "Give him plenty of silver for wine!"
Wang Xifeng led her people to take care of it.
She accepted the reward and returned it. Although she was laughing and flattering the Empress with Grandmother Jia, she couldn't help but do some mental calculations.
The handkerchief, poetry tube, and tea set bestowed by the Empress, even if all were added together, would probably not be worth two hundred taels of silver.
Other girls who become concubines in the palace get richer year by year, so why do they get poorer year by year when they come to the Rongguo Mansion?
Back then, the Wang family had received the emperor's entourage. Although they spent money like water, the benefits they received later not only filled all the gaps but also brought them great wealth.
However, it didn't work when applied to Consort Xiande.
"Second Grandma? Second Grandma."
"Ah?" Wang Xifeng quickly came to her senses, smiled and stepped forward to support Grandmother Jia's other arm, and said with a smile, "We are young and don't recognize many things, so we need Grandmother to explain the design of these lanterns to us."
Tan Chun stepped forward and respectfully took Lady Wang's arm, following behind Grandmother Jia. Ying Chun looked around, somewhat hesitant, and also stepped forward to help Lady Xing.
Madam Xing didn't mince words with her, and said meaningfully, "If you support me, I'll feel uncomfortable and you'll feel uncomfortable too. Why don't you play with Xichun?"
Lin Daiyu was following Mu Chuan up to Zhengyang Gate.
To be honest, she was a little nervous. She had been to the city walls quite often when she was in Yangzhou, but this was the capital.
"Tired?" Mu Chuan turned to look at her.
The two were close together and going up the stairs. Mu Chuan could see the top of her head when he turned his head, but Lin Daiyu could only see her third brother's back.
Lin Daiyu reached out and poked him: "Watch where you're going, don't look at me."
These words sounded familiar, as if he had said them before. Mu Chuan smiled and said, "We can't get to the top of the arrow tower. We're on this floor. If we want to go any higher, I need to ask His Majesty for permission first."
Although you can't get to the arrow tower, the view from the city platform, which is more than ten feet high, is quite extraordinary.
On the main street outside Zhengyangmen, crowds surged, and on both sides were raised platforms with lanterns hanging on them.
There are simple red round lanterns, as well as palace lanterns of various colors, made in animal shapes, and snake lanterns for the Year of the Snake.
Although it was a bit windy, it was still hot after eating, so a little breeze was quite comfortable.
“I thought there would be more than just the two of us,” Lin Daiyu said, her voice rising slightly as she spoke from the city gate tower, where the wind was blowing around her.
“The younger ones can’t get on, and the older ones aren’t interested,” Mu Chuan concluded.
Lin Daiyu tilted her head and glanced at him a few times, then smiled and said, "Third Brother's face is much fairer now, and there are no wrinkles around his eyes when he smiles. He was quite frightening when he first came back."
Mu Chuan touched his face: "The balm His Majesty bestowed upon you is wonderful; remember to use the one I gave you."
Lin Daiyu hummed in agreement and then lowered her head to look at the street scene again.
Mu Chuan thought for a moment, and since Lin Daiyu thought his face had become fairer, it was time to move on to the next stage.
— Showing weakness.
Mu Chuan had thought it over carefully. He was very tough-looking, tall and strong, and had never experienced any setbacks. It was good that he was trustworthy and reliable, but he was a bit like a god statue. There was more respect than closeness. It was time to arouse Daiyu's sympathy.
"I'll shield you from the wind." Mu Chuan stood behind Lin Daiyu and suddenly sighed.
"Is there anything troubling you, Third Brother?" Lin Daiyu asked. "You shouldn't sigh during the New Year, or you'll sigh away your good fortune."
Mu Chuan laughed and said, "I ate more than three and a half of the four meatballs. It's good to have a sigh."
Even so, he took a deep breath and said with a hint of helplessness, "My parents have gone back to Linjia Village."
"But... I'm not used to living in the capital?" Lin Daiyu asked cautiously.
"Not entirely. You know, my original nickname was Mu San. I was the third child in my family, and I have older brothers and sisters."
In fact, the two had known each other for quite some time, and Lin Daiyu had heard him talk about his family a few times, so she could probably guess that her third brother's two sons had both died young.
Lin Daiyu moved a step to the side: "Third Brother, stand next to me and talk. Uncle and Aunt will probably go back to pay their respects, right?"
Mu Chuan nodded: "My mother's first child was a daughter, the second was a son, and I was the third child."
Mu Chuan couldn't continue his story after saying this. His mother had two children. The first one was born because she was too attached to the child and raised him too big. He had a difficult birth and died right after being born.
The second one knew she shouldn't eat too much, but she went to the other extreme. The baby was born a little small, and small babies have weaker immune systems. It was winter, and the baby died before it was even a month old.
The original owner had never met his older brother or sister, let alone Mu Chuan.
There's really nowhere to feel sad.
Let alone him, even my parents, after all these years, only feel a sense of感慨 (gǎnkǎi, a complex emotion encompassing regret, emotion, and a sense of loss) when they talk about it.
He returned home in glory as a first-class earl. The first thing he did upon returning was to repair the ancestral graves. He also prepared a burial plot for the child who died before he was one year old. He even set up a memorial tablet for them in the ancestral hall. The villagers were very grateful to him.
That makes it even less sad.
Mu Chuan fell silent and began composing lyrics, which made Lin Daiyu feel a little uncomfortable.
She was a sensitive person by nature and very empathetic. When her third brother mentioned his older brother and sister, she thought of her younger brother.
“I originally had a younger brother, but he died when he was three years old.”
Mu Chuan thought to himself, "Oh no, how could I have made her think of something like this during the New Year?"
“There’s no need to be too sad. Now that they’re reunited, your brother and sister can keep each other company.” Lin Daiyu glanced at him. “The two of us can keep each other company too.”
Mu Chuan smiled and said, "You're right. I am a little sad. My parents said they would go back to visit my older brother and sister, but they do it every year. It's only my first year back, and I'll be alone—and you'll be with me for the New Year."
Lin Daiyu chuckled: "Last time you said you wouldn't get a single day off during the New Year."
"Let's not compete in misery," Mu Chuan said. "I happen to have a favor to ask of you. My younger brother is going to work as a clerk in the county government. His nickname is Mu Si'er. Do you think that's suitable?"
This helpless tone amused Lin Daiyu: "Then what is the name of the mother who gave birth to you again?"
“Her name isn’t Mu Wu’er, it’s Mu Chuntao.” Mu Chuan finished speaking and then sighed, “Why are you so perfunctory when naming us?”
“The word three is quite good,” Lin Daiyu said with a smile. “The Tao Te Ching says, ‘Three gives birth to all things.’ Don’t you think three is good?”
"Ahead lies the Tao giving birth to one, one giving birth to two, two giving birth to three."
"Third Brother has certainly read quite a bit."
Mu Chuan politely replied, "All I know are those few famous lines. So what kind of grand name do you think I should give him? It should be something like mine."
Mu Chuan's eyes held a hint of provocation, which stirred up Lin Daiyu's competitive spirit.
"Is Third Brother testing me? Four strokes is five strokes. Since he's a clerk and a minor official, and he's already in government service, if he's going to be named according to the four-stroke system, why not just call him Sheng?"
Mu Chuan read it twice: "Not bad, it sounds good."
"If we follow the Wubi input method, would the character '正' (zhèng) be suitable for uprightness?"
Mu Chuan said, "I think it's perfect. The lines are straight and easy to write in. Let him choose between these two. They're simple, clear, and meaningful. If he doesn't like them, let him choose one himself. That's all I can do as his older brother."
Lin Daiyu looked down at the increasingly lively scene below and said, "Third Brother, let's go down too." Taking the opportunity, she also stepped into the Rongguo Mansion. "Grandmother always said that daughters of good families don't go out. But looking down here, there are quite a few women dressed in fine clothes."
Although they each have their own rhythm, stepping on the Rongguo Mansion is a common point.
Mu Chuan thought for a moment and said, "I guess it's because of Jia Baoyu."
Lin Daiyu found it amusing, but kept a straight face and a hint of reproach in her voice: "How does it have to do with him?"
“Think about it, when a woman goes out, she usually needs someone to take her with her. I am your third brother, so I can take you out. He is also an older brother, but he—sigh, he still needs someone to take him out. So when your maternal grandmother said that, she was actually helping Jia Baoyu evade responsibility.”
Lin Daiyu chuckled softly twice: "Third Brother, don't always speak ill of people."
Mu Chuan then had another idea and said, "Why don't you come with him tomorrow?"
Lin Daiyu had originally intended to say that Jia Baoyu was ill, so that her third brother could also rest and not waste time on him, but upon hearing this, Lin Daiyu decisively put Jia Baoyu out of her mind: "What am I here for?"
“You have to teach me to write. He’s not even a beginner yet, so someone can watch him. The study is all set up, so you have to take a look and see if it’s alright.”
Lin Daiyu chuckled and said, "If you're not satisfied with the arrangement of the study, I won't teach you anymore."
The two had already entered the crowd. Lin Daiyu looked around and felt relieved. Indeed, no one could squeeze past Third Brother, and no one dared to squeeze past him.
"Third Brother, shall we have a competition? Let's see who gets the most lanterns."
The most essential activity when viewing lanterns is guessing lantern riddles; every household does this, and the prizes are usually quite good.
Although Mu Chuan thought Lin Daiyu's smile was beautiful, he didn't intend to lose.
He slowly untied the purse from his waist and tossed it into the air: "This is full of gold nuggets." Then he pulled a stack of silver notes from his sleeve. "Do you still want to compete with me?"
Lin Daiyu sighed and laughed at the same time: "Third Brother is really unruly. How about this, I'll give you the riddles I guessed, and you'll buy me a pretty lantern in return?"
Mu Chuan pointed to the most exquisitely crafted coiled snake lantern at the very top of the shelf: "Go and guess."
Lin Daiyu chuckled twice and went to ask the shopkeeper.
Now she should know what the power of money is, right? Mu Chuan thought to himself, if you don't have some money, all you're left with are firewood, rice, oil, and salt. Jia Baoyu didn't have any money.
Solving riddles requires a broad knowledge base, and many of the allusions are quite obscure, but Lin Daiyu could even multitask with them.
She glanced at her third brother who was following her.
Third Brother may appear strong on the outside, but he also has his share of pain inside. She will definitely treat Third Brother well in the future.
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