Rongguo Mansion, front hall.

In the study, Jia She and Jia Zheng looked at Lin Ruhai who came out of the palace with smiles on their faces, and exchanged pleasantries.

Jia She gently stroked the long beard on his chin and said slowly: "Ruhai, I haven't seen you for many years. You have lost a lot of weight. How come you are like this?"

Jia Zheng also lamented that Lin Ruhai was so brilliant back then. Although he was the most popular candidate, he was more popular than the number one scholar or the second best scholar.

If this were not the case, Jia Daishan, the Duke of Rongguo, would not have caused a sensation in the sacred city because he got a good son-in-law and spread a lot of red dowry to marry his daughter.

Looking at Lin Ruhai, who is now gray-haired and skinny, Jia Zheng's eye circles are red.

Lin Ruhai smiled and said: "Brother Benhou, brother Cunzhou, the two brothers-in-law are still prosperous, it's better to have more younger brothers."

Then he cupped his hands and thanked her: "My daughter has been in Beijing for a few years. The two brothers-in-law love her as if they were their own daughters. I thank you."

After saying that, he was about to lean on crutches and bow to the ceremony. Jia She and Jia Zheng both stopped him and said displeasedly and angrily: "My dearest relatives, flesh and blood, why do you have to do this?"

After giving up her seat and looking at the study, Lin Ruhai sighed: "This is where my father-in-law talked with me back then. His fearful teachings and loving heart are still vivid in his mind, and he dare not or forget even a single bit. He is as hateful as the sea and is incompetent. He cannot do anything.

I respected Taishan in front of my sick bed, but could not protect my wife and children by my side. I have been doing nothing for thirteen years. In the end, if the old lady had not sent Lian'er and Qianer to send my daughter south, I would not have been able to save myself. I hate it and feel ashamed of it.

"

"Well, Ruhai, you are too humble. You have been stationed in Jiangnan for the imperial court and have been the governor of Yanzheng for thirteen years. You have made great contributions to the country and won the trust of the emperor. How can you say that you have done nothing? But for my brother and others, you are just fighting.

Let’s just live in chaos under the lingering shadow of our ancestors.”

Jia Zheng didn't agree with Lin Ruhai's sigh and quickly shook his head.

The two people's words made Jia She feel uncomfortable. He twitched his beard and laughed: "For people like us, why bother to imitate those who come from poor families and have poor family backgrounds. They are just like those who are miserable. After getting an official position, they work hard and hope to shine on the lintel. If

Hai, brother, I advise you to live a good life and take care of your body and bones. What's the rush for being an official? It's right there and you can't run away."

Earlier, Lin Ruhai didn't believe it when he heard that Jia Qiang kept telling him that the Jia family was a bunch of trash.

You must know that Jia She was able to inherit the title only after passing the test.

A skilled archer and horseman can shoot fifteen arrows from a horse and hit at least twelve.

Who would have thought that he would degenerate like this.

Thinking about Jia Lian's behavior in Yangzhou, Lin Ruhai already knew it even though he didn't say it explicitly.

He smiled and nodded, but said nothing more, saying: "I don't know if my mother-in-law has some free time. I want to pay her a visit and thank her for her great kindness."

Seeing him standing up to see Jia Mu, Jia She and Jia Zheng all stood up again.

Jia She originally wanted to go together, but he didn't want to meet Jia Qiang, who kept trying to keep him away from the stage. He just said: "Let's meet each other like the sea. I will be your host tonight and help you wash away the dust."

Lin Ruhai smiled bitterly and said: "It's not that I rejected my elder brother-in-law's request. Nowadays, most of my three meals a day are made up of medicines. I can't have any trace of meat and fish. I have to avoid food everywhere. There are only two or three things that can be put into my stomach."

It’s better to wait until this half-invalid body recovers, otherwise we will spoil brother-in-law’s delicacies!”

After Jia She heard this, he looked at Lin Ruhai's body and bones, shook his head helplessly and sighed: "That's all we have to do."

Jia Zheng finally waited for Jia She to finish talking, and then invited Lin Ruhai to Rongqing Hall.

Walking all the way to Jia Mu's courtyard, walking through the mountain verandah, I saw a large red sandalwood screen standing in the courtyard.

Lin Ruhai must have really gotten old. He stood on the corridor, pointed at the big screen and said: "I was here back then, my father-in-law taught me how to speak. Since I am taking the path of a civil servant, I must never forget my integrity at any time.

Two words. Learn the righteousness of Cangsong and the character of Dazhumei. Although my father-in-law is a martial artist with unparalleled military exploits, he is also a Confucian general with extraordinary elegance. I deeply admire him." Yuanping was able to suppress the founding heroes of the country when Shizu deliberately suppressed them.

Lin Ruhai admired Jia Daishan for his demeanor at that time.

Jia Zheng's eye circles turned red again, and he said: "My late father... his character and politics are something I often miss. Like the sea, I never imagined that you would miss him so much..."

Lin Ruhai shook his head and said with a smile: "I would like to thank my brother-in-law again for taking care of my little girl. Yu'er told me when she got home. Not to mention the old lady, her second uncle and second aunt also treat her as their own daughter and love her very much.

Sometimes I even walk past Baoyu..."

Jia Zheng waved his hands and said: "Hey, don't mention this again. I am the eldest daughter's biological uncle. How can I not love her so much? As for Baoyu, I give in to her at every turn..."

Unexpectedly, before he finished speaking, he heard faint crying coming from inside...

Jia Zheng's face darkened, and he and Lin Ruhai walked into the building without looking at the maid and daughter-in-law standing respectfully in the corridor...

…

In the Rongqing Hall, Jia's mother hugged Baoyu and said, "It's easy to beat and scold this evil person when you are angry, so why bother to throw that life away!"

Baoyu cried: "What kind of things are there? None of my sisters at home have any. Sister Lin said that she saw a person exactly like me in Zhen's family in Jiangnan, also named Baoyu. Zhen Baoyu didn't even have a piece of jade. I

This Jia Baoyu has a piece of jade. It can be seen that this Laoshi is not a good thing, so it is better to smash it."

Jia Mu coaxed: "Your sister is just joking with you. She just came back and deliberately made you laugh. You are so petty and make people laugh. Are there two people who are exactly the same in this world? How can there be such a thing as Zhen Baoyu? You are the real one.

The precious jade!”

When Baoyu heard this, he smiled sheepishly. He turned back to look at Daiyu, but was startled again...

This sister Lin, why didn't she shed tears for me?

The reason why he threw the jade was not only because he found that Daiyu said that he was inferior to Jia Qiang in every way, but more importantly, he found that Daiyu actually cried like that for Jia Qiang.

Shouldn't Sister Lin's tears be shed just for him...

But before he could think about it, his whole body suddenly stiffened, cold sweat broke out on his forehead, and his face turned pale.

Then I heard the most frightening sentence in my life:

"Someone, please bring me a big stick!"

…

After a long commotion, Jia Mu protected Baoyu by her side and did not allow Jia Zheng to do anything.

After seeing Zhenzhang, Lin Ruhai also persuaded Jia Zheng to quit.

With the support of Jia Qiang, he met Jia Mu and received the courtesy from the younger generation.

Finally, Daiyu also walked down the platform and stood with Jia Qiang behind Lin Ruhai.

Seeing this scene, many caring people in the Jia family looked askance.

Baoyu even felt a little dizzy...

However, because Jia Zheng was there, he never dared to raise his head and speak.

Jia Mu didn't think much about it, she just said angrily: "It can be seen that with me, my grandmother has also stepped aside."

Daiyu hurriedly apologized and said with a smile: "How dare you do this? It's just that my father went to the palace early today to see the saint, and the medicine for the whole day has not been taken in. I was really worried, so I came over to give him some support. After a while, I might persuade my father to go back earlier to take medicine, but no

He escaped with an excuse."

Jia Zheng smiled and said: "This is my nephew's filial piety. It can be seen that he is much better than that beast Baoyu."

Lin Ruhai shook his head and said with a smile: "Baoyu is still young, so there is no need to be too harsh on Brother Cunzhou. Furthermore, Yu'er once said to me that Baoyu respects the old lady the most. Let's see when he grows up... Qiang'er also had a playboy temperament at first.

But I’ve only grown up in the past two years.”

As soon as these words came out, everyone's eyes fell on Jia Qiang, who was standing quietly behind Lin Ruhai, and their eyes became a little complicated.

Jia Mu asked curiously: "How can you accept him as a disciple? The seniority is quite different."

Lin Ruhai smiled and said: "Although he is also a descendant of the same clan of the Jia clan, in terms of blood relationship, he is beyond the fifth service, and further away from me. I see that he is determined to learn, and he is so busy in Yangzhou Mansion, but even if

During the New Year's Day, I dare not slack off in reading and writing. Furthermore, I am in poor health, and I rely on him to do many official things, and I have benefited a lot. Therefore, it is better for such a good son to get married as soon as possible.

Take it under your wing."

Jia Mu smiled unnaturally, pointed at Baoyu and said, "How about accepting him? Baoyu grew up with Yu'er, so why not accept him as a disciple and teach him well?"

He is a registered disciple, and Baoyu, my uncle, should be a formal disciple."

Lin Ruhai smiled and said nothing. Before he could answer, Jia Zheng shook his head and said, "Mom, please stop talking like this again. If you keep talking, even I will die of shame like that beast."

, shameless to see people. Not to mention Brother Qiang’s knowledge, just with his diligence and eagerness to learn, how can a beast like Baoyu reach it? If you don’t believe me, ask him, has he ever touched a sage’s book since the twelfth lunar month last year?

Never?"

Mrs. Wang's face was extremely ugly. She was both sad and angry at what Jia Zheng said, and also unhappy that Lin Ruhai didn't agree quickly.

When Jia Mu heard this, she said angrily: "I didn't learn it at that time, so why can't I learn it in the future? Follow your sister-in-law and study hard, and sooner or later you will be able to pass the examination as a prostitute."

Jia Zhengsheng laughed angrily and said, "Mom, ask him if he is willing to get up early every day to study and practice ten Chinese characters at night. If he is willing to use this hard work, he should first go to Mengpozhai to read for three months, and then I will

I will personally send him to my sister-in-law’s house and let him become my disciple.”

Jia Mu saw that Baoyu's head was almost hanging to her chest, and she did not dare to resolve to study hard in the future. She sighed in her heart and defended him: "Baoyu's body is so weak, and he only looks good from the outside. How can he eat this food?"

Bitter? No matter how good of a brother you are, it’s going to make you miserable. It’s better to study for an hour a day and learn slowly.”

Jia Zheng waved his hand and said, "Then don't mention going to study with your sister-in-law anymore. It's just a shame to leave it at home. Don't let your sister-in-law's reputation be damaged."

Jia Mu said angrily: "How much better is Brother Qiang than Baoyu?"

She didn't believe that Jia Qiang could endure this hardship.

After Jia Qiang made a big fuss in Rongqing Hall, she found out about Jia Qiang's style from everywhere. Just like Brother Rong of Dongfu, he was just a playboy, not as good as Baoyu.

She didn't believe how much Jia Qiang had grown in just six months.

Unexpectedly, as soon as these words came out, Baoyu's head dropped even lower, and the faces of the Jia sisters also became strange.
To be continued...