Chapter 20 Visitors from the Jia Household
Yinglian lived in our home. These past few days she studied poetry together with Daiyu.
Daiyu, small as she was, took on the role of teacher quite competently. She didn't disdain Yinglian at all. Instead, she felt it was a very good thing that Yinglian loved reading.
Another half year passed. News came that Jia Yuanchun had been enfeoffed as a consort and become a lady.
I ordered gifts prepared and sent over. But unexpectedly, just as the gifts had left the gate, people from the Jia Household arrived.
"Who has come?"
According to the descriptions in the book, the Jia Household had already begun to decline at this time.
After Jia Yuanchun became a lady, the Jia Household's expenses had not only not been relieved but had increased in order to maintain appearances.
Income fell short of expenditure, so they could only tear down the east wall to repair the west wall.
In another year or two, I would pass away. All of the Lin family's assets would be taken to fill the Jia Household's deficits.
The person carrying out this matter was Jia Lian.
Because my crossing over had changed the plot, Jia Min was still alive, and Daiyu naturally didn't need to go to the Jia Household to live as a dependent.
In my official career, I had not suffered any setbacks. My health was good, and these years I had been quite favored by The Emperor. In at most half a year, I would be promoted again.
The Jia Household sending someone at this time likely had another intention.
"It's Jia Zheng! The Madam's own brother!"
Sure enough, a legitimate visitor had arrived.
"Not only Jia Zheng, but also his son born holding a jade, called Baoyu."
Bad luck! Throw them out!
"Meet them outside."
I spoke indifferently. It would be best if this father and son didn't enter the Lin Household's doors.
"Prepare two rooms at the post station and host them properly."
The steward looked extremely surprised and hurriedly glanced at Jia Min.
Jia Min's face showed displeasure. After all, they were her closest maternal relatives, arranged so casually by me. Of course she had no good expression.
"You go down first. Tell Jia Zheng that I will visit when I have time."
The servant nodded in agreement. After closing the door, Jia Min began to cry.
"You really look down on people too much. Xue Pan is not a decent person, so you didn't let him into the house, that's fine. But now my brother and nephew from my natal family haven't done anything wrong. How is the Lin Household's threshold made of gold to be so high and noble?"
Jia Min cried with tears like pear blossoms in rain. Watching her, I felt pained.
"Jia Min, some things have been held in my heart, and now I have no choice but to say them."
I sighed. I had originally wanted to hide it, but now that Jia Min was still in this world, I absolutely could not let her natal family be mistreated without reason.
Otherwise she would harbor melancholy and might fall ill.
Jia Min heard me say this and blinked blankly for a moment.
"What words are you going to use to coax me now?"
"The words I am about to say, if others heard them they would probably think me mad, but you must believe me. I died in my previous life and have come back to life once more."
The matter of crossing over was still too terrifying for Jia Min. Rebirth should be easier to understand.
"What?"
Jia Min even forgot to cry. My words were truly too world-shocking.
"Otherwise how would I care so much about your health? It is because in the previous life both you and I died early, and our Daiyu was tormented by the people of the Jia Household and finally died in melancholy."
I recounted the Red Chamber story in detail to Jia Min. The more she listened, the more sorrowful her expression became. When she heard of Daiyu's death, she cried so hard she could not straighten her back.
"Is it true?"
"If it is false, may five thunderbolts strike me from heaven."
Jia Min clutched the handkerchief tightly, her voice trembling.
"I didn't expect them to be such people."
She spat out, "Letting them stay at the post station is already too good for them."