Hearing that Yingchun was moving back to the second room, Daiyu, Tanchun and Xichun were waiting in front of the courtyard early.

Seeing the figure that had not been seen for many days come into view, Tanchun rushed forward to greet him, grabbed Yingchun's sleeve and said emotionally: "Second sister, you are finally back!"

In terms of circumstances, birth and age, the two sisters can be said to be almost the same, so Tanchun can best empathize with Yingchun's situation.

While talking, Tanchun sighed again when he saw the Taishang Induction Sutra held by his second sister.

The eldest wife is an unkind mother, and the second sister is a dull and taciturn master who doesn't know how to please the elders. Can't we just rely on these coaxing things to make love?

But empathy is empathy, and Tanchun will not let himself fall into such a predicament.

While holding Yingchun to greet her, she became more and more determined to get close to Mrs. Wang.

At this time, Lin Daiyu and Xichun also came forward and said with a smile: "On the New Year's Day, I just want to see my sister. I don't want my aunt to say that you are not feeling well again."

As she said that, she looked Yingchun up and down. Seeing her plump and rosy skin, she couldn't help but cover her mouth and smile: "I thought my sister must have lost weight, but I didn't expect her to become richer. No matter how much she keeps going, she will surpass Sister Bao."

.”

"What did you say about me again?"

As soon as he finished speaking, Xue Baochai's voice came from behind, and she quickly caught up, took Yingchun's wrist and said: "It's so pitiful, it would be nice if my sister came back, and we wouldn't have to worry about her every day!"

As he said that, he looked around Qidao: "Where is Brother Bao? He mentioned the second sister again and again before, but now that the second sister is back, why can't he be seen?"

Tanchun was about to answer, but Lin Daiyu rushed to say: "Didn't my sister just meet him at noon? She thinks about him every day, so she won't talk about him so quickly."

Hearing her sour words, Tanchun hurriedly explained: "Don't you want to leave the capital? Recently, I have often called my brother to have a face-to-face education. I heard that I want to leave my brother to the care of Jiao Shun!"

When Daiyu heard this, she pursed her slightly thin lips and sneered: "How can you teach someone well who has never even studied seriously?"

Tan Chun was accustomed to being close to Baochai, so it was rare that she coincided with her on this issue - because Aunt Zhao had talked about Jiao Shun again and again, and her words even tended to be a match for him, which made him

I have a very bad impression of Jiao Shun.

Xue Baochai said seriously at this time: "It would not be a bad thing to let Brother Bao expand his knowledge - and Jiao Shunshi is an uneducated person..."

Just as she was talking, Lin Daiyu pulled Yingchun and asked: "Sister has been detained for so many days, why was she released today?"

This question was not just for her, Tanchun and Xichun were also curious, so they all turned their attention to Yingchun.

Seeing this, Xue Baochai shook his head slightly helplessly, and then looked at Yingchun with a smile.

I am used to being a transparent person, and it is rare for me to be admired by my sisters. The game of welcoming the spring is a little awkward, he hesitates and evades the important things, and says: "I have to do something at home, because the monks and Taoists have to chant sutras and pray in the inner courtyard, and even the master and his wife are temporarily closed."

They moved to the outer study, so naturally I have to avoid it."

"Legal affairs?"

Xichun asked curiously: "It's just a matter of doing things during the first month, so why are monks allowed to enter the inner courtyard?"

Tanchun was also puzzled: "But I don't know what the ritual is? If you want to pray for the elders, can we help you copy a few scriptures and do your best?"

"this……"

Yingchun hesitated for a moment, thinking that this matter must not be hidden, so she said truthfully: "It is a Buddhist ritual."

"Transcendence ceremony?"

The girls looked at each other in confusion after hearing this.

This eldest man and his wife are so good, but why do they hold a religious ceremony in their residence? Isn’t it unlucky?

Again...

Since the whole family has not heard the bad news, who is the one who has been saved?

It’s not to blame them for not having enough information. This involves the scandal of the elders in the family. How can outsiders take the initiative to tell these girls’ families?

Only Baochai's face remained normal. Seeing that Yingchun was getting more and more embarrassed under the strange looks of everyone, he smiled and smoothed things over and said, "It's so easy for us sisters to reunite. We should have a good time and celebrate together, but why are we all talking about Buddhist rituals?"

Really? The elders have to worry about those things, so there is no need for us to meddle."

Hearing what she said, Tanchun clapped his hands and laughed and said, "That's right, that's right! Since Brother Bao is late, we will punish him as a host and go to his courtyard to cause trouble!"

So the girls chatted and laughed and rushed to Baoyu's room together.

While Qingwen and others who were left behind came forward to entertain him, Tanchun quietly pulled Xue Baochai into the study room next door.

Xichun ate half a cup of almond tea, but when she turned around there was no trace of the two of them, she asked about Baochai and Tanchun's whereabouts.

Lin Daiyu covered the cherry with a handkerchief and said with a smile: "Sister, you are so clueless. People have always been divided into groups and birds of a feather flock together. Third sister has always been shrewd and intelligent. Naturally, she and Sister Bao are inseparable - for someone like you, I can only follow you."

We are gathered together."

"Hmph~"

Xichun pursed her lips, took Yingchun's arm and said, "Sister, you are making fun of me again! I'm afraid you are more thoughtful than them. Second sister and I are the same."

Lin Daiyu was stunned when she heard this, but her heartstrings were touched inadvertently, so she lowered her head sadly and said: "Yes, you are all in groups, but I am only alone..."

Seeing that she was sad for spring and autumn again, Yingchun and Xichun looked at each other, but they didn't know how to persuade her, so they could only hope that Baoyu would come soon.

next door.

After Tanchun listened to Xue Baochai's "abridged version" of the narrative, he couldn't help but be stunned by Jia She's debauchery and immorality.

While she was secretly glad that she was not born into the eldest family, she couldn't help but worry about her second sister's future - the eldest man spent all day hanging out with those gangsters, and his vision for the son-in-law was probably not that good, so the second sister was thinking and looking forward to it.

I am afraid of leaving the tiger's den and entering the wolf's den again.

Hearing her metaphorical words, Xue Baochai also let out a long sigh.

Thinking of the previous rumors, I couldn't help but say: "If Jiao Shun wasn't born as a slave, he could be called a good match for the second sister, but it's a pity..."

Tanchun couldn't help but wonder when he heard this: "Why did Sister Bao say this?"

"Also? Who else said that?"

"this……"

Tanchun was at a loss for words and quickly changed the subject: "Sister Bao really thinks he is a good match? But I heard that he is rude and has never gone to school seriously..."

"Didn't I say before that he is uneducated?"

Xue Baochai said sternly: "Recently, my brother has been asking him for tips on doing business. I have also read the letters. Many of them are thought-provoking. It is in line with the saying, 'Everything in the world is knowledge, and human kindness is knowledge.'"

If Brother Bao can learn some principles of life from him, I'm afraid it will be more useful than just studying."

Tan Chun had always been convinced of Baochai's talent and insight, and when he heard that she admired Jiao Shun so much, he couldn't help but secretly thought: Could it be that my aunt got it wrong this time?

Just as he was talking, Daiyu, Yingchun, and Xichun also squeezed in with their maids, filling the small inner study to the brim.

"What's going on?"

Tan Chunqi asked: "You are not having tea in the living room, but why are you here to join in the fun?"

"Shh!"

But Lin Daiyu made a gesture of silence and said in a lower voice: "I only think of Sister Bao as a sister, but I didn't expect that there would be someone else who would just say it!"

Xichun then added: "Then Jiao Shun came back with Brother Bao, so we had to come here to take shelter."

Hearing that Jiao Shun was following, Tanchun subconsciously went to the door and peeked out. He saw a burly young man coming in side by side with Baoyu. His rough features were complemented by Baoyu's delicate face, making him look even more impressive.

The daughter's family who was raised in a boudoir, especially those who are accustomed to the group of white-faced young men from the Jia family, would probably not look down on a man like Jiao Shun.

But Tanchun was different from others. Although he was raised in a boudoir, he had an extraordinary sense of heroism. Seeing Jiao Shun looking after Zixiong, he couldn't help but praise: "They say he is rude, but now he falls in love with him at first sight."

It’s quite a heroic scene!”

Most of the girls did not agree with this, but Yingchun nodded secretly.

Just seeing Tanchun lying in front of the door and staring at her, she couldn't help but feel sour in her heart. For the first time, she took the initiative to grab Tanchun and advised him: "Be careful if he sees you and loses your dignity."

Tanchun then stopped peeping, but still kept his ears open to hear what was going on outside.

However, Jiao Shun said that this was the first time he came to Jia Baoyu's residence. Needless to say, what he saw and heard was exquisite and luxurious. There was also a scent of powder that permeated the house. It was more like a woman's residence than a man's residence.

boudoir.

The two parties sat down separately, and Baoyu held his hands in his hands and said with a smile: "Although my father has told me, I still ask Brother Jiao to let me go. When the master comes back to inquire, he will just say that I often go to the Yamen with you."

"It's not impossible."

Jiao Shun picked up the tea cup offered by Qingwen, blew the duckweed-like tea stem and said, "If Mr. Zheng asks about your experience at the Ministry of Industry, how are you going to answer?"

"this……"

Baoyu had previously only wanted to 'skip class', but had never thought about these details. Now that Jiao Shun woke him up, he belatedly remembered to make some plans.

He pondered for a while and then said: "First, please give Brother Jiao more advice. Second, you might as well let my nanny Li Gui follow Brother Yun. When he comes back to learn from me, he will just treat it as my knowledge."

.”

Hearing that Baoyu used all his quick wits to 'skip classes', most of the girls in the room were furious with him.

At this time, Jiao Shun laughed, shook his head and said: "Brother Bao, don't you think that our Ministry of Industry is a scourge, and you are not even willing to go there in person? Don't you know that the craftsmen in our Ministry of Industry are the best in the world?

There are countless interesting things that you have never heard of or seen in the outside world. If you have seen them with your own eyes, you will never forget them!"

When Tanchun heard this, he couldn't help complaining: "This man is so unreasonable! The master asked him to discipline his brother, but he chose to use strange and obscene skills to tease him - how can anyone teach people like this?!"

Yingchun subconsciously wanted to help Jiao Shun explain, but she had always been dull and taciturn, and was most influenced by Cheng-Zhu Neo-Confucianism. Where could she find a suitable reason to argue?

On the other hand, Baochai said from the side: "He probably made this move just to make Brother Bao submit."

Baoyu thought so too!

Then he shook his head and smiled bitterly: "Brother Jiao, please don't lie to me. If you really just went to that yamen to have fun, how can you explain it to my father? Moreover, my father is also an official in the Ministry of Industry. If I ask the truth from others, I'm afraid it will happen again."

You want to scold me for playing with things."

"Ha ha……"

Jiao Shun smiled again, stared at Baoyu and asked, "But I don't know what brother Bao's ambition is?"

"this……"

Jia Baoyu has a salty nature and has always despised economic and official career. How can he have any ambitions that can be achieved?

Jiao Shun asked again: "Is it possible to regain the lintel and become a prince and general?"

"Brother Jiao is joking."

Baoyu immediately shook his hand like a rattle: "I am such an unfilial descendant. I am lucky enough to be able to bring less shame on my ancestors. How can I dare to think of princes and generals?"

After a pause, he added: "Besides, I really have no sexual interest in this."

"So you just want to be rich and idle?"

"Yes, yes!"

These four words hit Jia Baoyu's heart. At that moment, the little chicken nodded and said, "I don't ask for riches and honors. It would be best if I could just be a free man and watch over my sisters to live at ease for the rest of my life!"

"

Hearing his heartfelt words, the girls had different joys and sorrows, but they all wanted to know how Jiao Shun was going to deal with this unreliable ambition.

Just listen to Jiao Shun laugh and say: "Brother, since you want to be an idler, how can you miss this 'splendid and ingenious skill'? Maybe the wealth and glory of your life will be hidden in it!"

None of the girls believed this, and Baoyu shook her head repeatedly: "Brother Jiao, please stop coaxing me. I'm afraid that when I get to your Ministry of Works yamen, what's waiting for me will not be my ingenious skills, but my economic career."

"Brother, if you don't believe it..."

Jiao Shun raised his palm and pointed it at Baoyu: "How about we make a bet?"

"What gambling oath?"

"In the past six months, I guarantee that you will only associate with those who are clever and obscene in the yamen of the Ministry of Industry. If you have even a few words of lecture on economic career, brother, you will never have to go there again. I will answer all the questions asked by Mr. Zheng afterwards.

Responsible for it!"

After saying these words, all the girls inside were stunned.

Tanchun even stomped his feet and shouted: "Is this person crazy?!"

Baoyu was stunned, and after a long while he tentatively asked: "Brother Jiao, what on earth do you mean? Are you afraid that my father will blame you?"

Jiao Shun shook his head and said: "As the saying goes, times have changed. Although the brothers and Mr. Zheng are father and son, they may not necessarily know his thoughts. Now the biggest reliance of the house is not the glory of the ancestors, but the virtuous concubine in the palace.

Compared with the children's study and education, helping the virtuous concubine to be favored is the most important thing!"

"Now His Majesty is obsessed with craftsmanship and wants to revive the industrial revolution of the Taizu Dynasty. Who in the world doesn't know about this? There are many criticisms and conflicts among the important ministers in the imperial court, so His Majesty can't do anything alone. There are many constraints. That's why I can have the honor to advance.

Opportunity to become an official."

Hearing this, Baoyu frowned and said, "Brother Jiao, does he want me to learn from you and become an official by relying on craftsmanship?"

"No!"

Jiao Shun shook his head: "Brother Yi Bao is in the current situation. If you follow my example and become an official in the court, you will be inferior. If I were Brother Bao, I would never be a minister, but a detached confidant!"

"confidant?"

"Exactly a confidant!"

Jiao Shun said decisively: "Brother Yibao has such a temperament that he hates economic career, so he is suitable to be a confidant!"

"If Brother Bao can thoroughly understand the principles of those so-called ingenious and obscene techniques in the Ministry of Industry, he can use the path of the virtuous concubine to directly reach Tianting - and the expected concubine's marriage visit just provides a further opportunity!"

"By then, as long as you fall under His Majesty's eyes, my brother will naturally be able to become a wealthy and idle man who only cares about 'skillful and obscene skills' and does not care about worldly affairs and government affairs!"

Baoyu was stunned by what he heard.

After murmuring for a while, he used Jia Zheng as a shield again: "But what about Master..."

"So Brother Bao cannot fully understand your father's thoughts."

Jiao Shun said: "If he doesn't agree with this matter, how can he appoint you to go to the Ministry of Industry to expand your knowledge?"

As he said that, he said with a half-smile: "Brother Bao keeps saying that he doesn't like the official career and economics, and just wants to be an idler, but he doesn't even want to delve into the clever and dirty skills, right?"

"this……"

The "idler" in Baoyu's mind is obviously not the same thing as the "idler" in Jiao Shun's words.
Chapter completed!