Red Mansion and Crimson Pearl

Chapter 219 Beyond the Wall

When Daiyu came out again, it was already dark.

Lin Jing ordered some delicious hot meals and dishes from the restaurant outside, but looking at the table full of food, he felt disgusted and embarrassed:

"The second brother said you might come back, but it's not certain. I was hesitant and only picked the cook, but didn't make a decision.

"I've looked at the cooks, the servants, the sedan chair bearers, the porters, but I haven't decided on any...

"As for shopping, my nephew is extravagant and my nephew is stingy, so neither of them is suitable.

"I'll need a few more for the maids. If I buy them now, I'm afraid I'll have to teach them. It's such a headache!

"Ah! The second brother is really a hindrance! Let our daughter suffer and eat these things!"

Ni Er was listening outside the door, touching the back of his head and laughing.

Jia Yun nudged him and glared at him, "You're still happy! Since the princess has said she's coming, you have to arrive tomorrow and make preparations quickly.

"At worst, I won't come. It's just a few dollars. Now I'm at a loss everywhere. If you make Uncle Jing sick, he will be worried!"

Sure enough, Lin Jing inside was mumbling and sighing, fidgeting: "Girl, eat first. I'll go see how the hot water is boiling downstairs."

He rushed out and almost fell, but was caught by Ni Er.

Qingwen and Xiaohong hurriedly followed him out, smiling as they supported him from both sides: "Don't worry, Uncle Jing. Sister Liu is there. Let's go to the kitchen and take a look."

"Okay, okay. I'll take you there!" Lin Jing hurriedly led the two people over there. Jia Yun thought about it and followed them.

Ni Er wanted to follow, but was afraid that someone would call for help from inside, and there was no one left in the yard, so he had to stay. He felt it was inappropriate to stay in the corridor, so he hid far away in the shadow of the gate, just like a gatekeeper.

After all, it is Jiangnan cuisine. Although it doesn’t have a strong flavor to stimulate the appetite, it is fresh, fragrant and delicious.

It was Aunt Meng’s first time eating authentic Jiangnan cuisine. She didn’t even look at Lin Daiyu, but just kept eating with her head down.

Daiyu looked at her and laughed, and could not help patting her: "Aunt, it is only because Zijuan and Xueyan are here. If others saw you, your dignity as a fifth-rank official would be completely gone."

"Hey! It's my first time eating it! During the day, Qingwen Xueyan and I went to the street, and the food on the street was different. The restaurant we went to was not as delicious as this. It turns out that the locals are the experts."

Aunt Meng ate voraciously, then put down her cup and chopsticks, thought for a moment, and said, "Although this Jiangnan cuisine is fresh, I still feel like a northerner.

"I'm here with you this time to try all the local authentic dishes. From now on, I won't miss Jiangnan anymore."

With sparkling eyes, she whispered, "Let's go to Guangzhou next time. I heard that Cantonese cuisine should also be eaten locally!"

Lin Daiyu smiled and said, "Don't worry, Auntie. We are in a hurry tonight. I will invite you to the riverside some other day to eat the freshly caught river food. I guarantee you will never get tired of it!"

After they finished eating, they drank tea under the window.

Zijuan and Xueyan packed up their things and put them aside. Just as they were done, Qingwen and Xiaohong came back, both looking embarrassed.

Zijuan saw that something was wrong with them, so she asked, "What's wrong?"

Qingwen spread her hands, her two fingers were red, and she looked uncomfortable: "There are only two people in the kitchen, Sister Liu and Sister Du, the nephew's wife of Jingbo. I wanted to help light the stove, but I pricked my hand."

He glanced at Xiaohong who was also lowering her head and blushing, and pointed at her, "She didn't know how to do it either. She was sent back by Second Master Yun. He said he stayed to help fetch water, and asked us to come over first to prepare the rest."

Zijuan smiled unexpectedly: "You two have been serving in the room for a long time, and you can't do the rough work in the kitchen; but Master Yun is a grown man, is he better than you?"

Xueyan popped up and laughed at Qingwen: "Two years ago, when you were chasing Lai Xi's family and Lai Wang's family to fight, you held a fire poker but it didn't prick your hand!"

"Bah! When has the firewood in Sister Liu's kitchen ever pricked my hand? How can this be the same thing?!" Qingwen glared at Xueyan and then answered Zijuan in a low voice.

"That's right! He does it very well! He said that when his family was in financial difficulty in the past, he also helped his mother cook and light the fire."

Lin Daiyu had heard it, glanced at Xiaohong, and said, "Your Aunt Meng and I have finished eating. Don't wait for the food to get cold, eat it quickly too.

"You've had a hard time coming here today. When we're done packing up, go tell Ni Er and Yun Ge'er to go out and find something to eat. I'll treat them today, and I'll ask Xiao Hong to settle the bill when I come back."

Qingwen smiled and said yes.

Before he finished speaking, he heard Ni Er outside shouting coldly: "I don't care what your last name is, this is the Princess's courtyard, you filthy person can't enter!"

Lin Daiyu frowned.

Qingwen glared and rolled up her sleeves: "I'll go out and take a look!"

Aunt Meng held her down and said, "I'll go!"

Before she could even leave, she heard Chu Qia's cold voice: "You are a male from outside the family, you are not allowed to enter the inner courtyard, this is the rule. If you break the rule, you will be kicked out."

Then there was a long scream of "Ah" and a distant "plop"!

Aunt Meng turned around and looked at Lin Daiyu in surprise.

"Go and see what's going on?" Lin Daiyu asked hurriedly.

Aunt Meng agreed, picked up her skirt and ran out quickly.

There was a lot of noise outside the courtyard gate.

Then Aunt Meng and Lin Jing, who looked ashamed, walked in.

As soon as he entered the door, Lin Jing knelt down on his knees, prostrated himself on the ground, and repeatedly apologized.

Lin Daiyu raised her eyebrows and signaled Xueyan and Xiaohong to help the old man up and sit him down next to her. Then she looked at Aunt Meng.

Aunt Meng sighed and said, "It's Jing Bo's nephew, Lin Hun. He was not at home when we came. He just came back and heard from his wife and children that the master had arrived, so he came to pay his respects.

"But he said he didn't know about the rule that outsiders were not allowed to enter the inner courtyard. When Ni Er stopped him, he got angry. He said Ni Er was just a hired worker, not even a member of the Lin family, and his last name was Lin. He asked why he couldn't see him if he could see Jing Bo.

"Anyway, it was a bunch of stupid stuff. Chu Qi heard the noise and went out. With that kind of temper, there's no way he'd allow anyone to reason with him. So, he just threw it over the wall."

Lin Daiyu was startled: "Which side of the wall? Which wall? Which side!?"

Aunt Meng sighed again: "Don't we have two courtyards at home?

"Jing Bo said that the East Wing Courtyard was an old thing of the late Lord that he brought back from Yangzhou, and he had never touched it. The West Wing Courtyard was for his nephew and niece to live in.

"Our courtyard is the main courtyard of the back house, which is closer to the east courtyard. So, Lin Hun was thrown to the east courtyard on the other side of the wall.

"The reason he was yelling just now was because Uncle Jing was afraid that he would fall over and break something, so he asked Ni Er to go over and get the boy out and send him back to his own place.

"He also said that he would drive his whole family away tomorrow!"

Lin Daiyu looked at Jing Bo, who was full of shame.

When Jing Bo saw her looking at him, he couldn't help but cover his face and cry: "I have been in the Lin family for more than 40 years, and I have never lost face like this!

"This bastard, I gave him food, clothing and shelter, and he ruined my reputation like this! Girl, I will make him get out tomorrow!"