The Good Grandson of the Red Chamber

Chapter 99: Wisdom in the Streets

Xia Chengzong touched his chin, feeling a slight toothache.

Don't most people have memories of children under five?

Who knew this little girl actually kept a diary? And she even wrote down how he lied to her in it?

If she holds grudges so much at such a young age, what will she be like when she grows up?

Xia Chengzong shook his head and continued looking down.

Brother Zong, it started raining as soon as our family arrived in Yangzhou.

I sat at the doorway, watching the dense raindrops fall outside the curtain, and mist rose in the courtyard, enveloping all the flowers and plants in the rain.

It's a pity you're not here, Brother Zong. If you were here, you would be able to see such a beautiful view!

Yangzhou also has delicious food, which is really tasty.

When you arrive, I'll treat you to some delicious Yangzhou cuisine!

……

Brother Zong, there are viburnum flowers in Yangzhou!

The magnolia blooms in April, and in autumn, its leaves turn fiery red, looking like they are on fire from a distance.

Did you see the leaves that were sent over? Those are leaves from the viburnum tree.

Isn't it beautiful? I wasn't lying to you, was I?

Brother Zong, you said you would come to Yangzhou to see me soon.

Come quickly, I'm waiting for you in Yangzhou. This time, you won't lie to me again, right?

After putting down the letter, Xia Chengzong felt a headache coming on.

Why is this little girl so different from other children?

Don't normal children usually forget everything after a nap?

What kind of little guy has such a good memory?

After careful consideration, Xia Chengzong began writing his reply.

He first replied to Lin Ruhai's letter, briefly introducing the current situation in the capital, and then quickly finished his work.

Next, he began to reply to Lin Daiyu's letters.

This little girl is not easy to fool.

Moreover, she holds grudges so much and keeps a diary, making her even harder to fool.

After much deliberation, Xia Chengzong suddenly came up with a plan.

In his letter, he wrote that he had originally planned to go to Yangzhou to see her in the next few days.

However, his grandfather suddenly ordered him to go to school, which prevented him from doing so.

He also wrote that on the day Lin Daiyu left the capital, he planted a plum tree in his mansion.

When Lin Daiyu returns in a few years, this plum tree will bloom, and we can invite her to admire the plum blossoms then.

Children are at an age where they enjoy planting their own flowers, plants, and trees, and watching the trees grow together every day.

When she sees this letter, her curiosity will surely be drawn to the plum tree, and she will disregard everything else.

Xia Chengzong thought he was a genius.

After the letter was sent, Xia Chengzong felt uneasy.

He called Xia Bei over and instructed him, "Xia Bei, go find a plum sapling to plant—or rather, find a sapling for me and I'll plant it myself."

"Yes, Your Highness."

Xia Bei dared not neglect Xia Chengzong's instructions. He went out personally and soon found a plum sapling.

Xia Chengzong took the seedling, found an open space in his courtyard, and planted it himself.

Only then did he feel completely at ease.

He did indeed plant a plum tree himself, although it was a month or two later than he said, but it can't be considered a lie, right?

After planting, Xia Chengzong instructed Xia Bei, "Have someone take good care of this plum tree."

"Yes, Your Highness."

……

In the days that followed, Xia Chengzong would take time each day to visit the plum tree he had planted himself.

People always feel attached to the flowers, plants, and trees they have planted themselves.

The plum trees have been wilting these past few days.

However, the gardener at the Prince's Palace said it was nothing to worry about; a newly planted tree will wilt for a while before it can regain its vitality.

Seven days passed in the blink of an eye. Just after breakfast, Jia Lian, Jia Yun, and Ni Er and his mother came to the door.

Xia Chengzong had them invited in.

After meeting and exchanging greetings, Ni Er asked nervously:

"Your Highness, seven days have passed, and I still don't know how my mother's eye condition has improved..."

Xia Chengzong waved his hand and said, "You don't need to be anxious. You'll know the answer when the gauze is removed in a while."

After saying this, Xia Chengzong let everyone into the house, and then ordered people to close all the windows, making the room dark immediately.

Xia Chengzong explained, "The elderly person's eyes have been blind for a long time. When they suddenly regain their sight, they cannot withstand the stimulation of strong light and need to gradually adapt to it."

Next, Xia Chengzong untied the gauze covering Li's eyes layer by layer.

After being completely untied, Li dared not open her eyes, but she felt the light.

This was the first time she had felt the light since her eye condition became severe.

Her voice trembled as she asked, "Your Highness, can this old woman open her eyes now?"

Xia Chengzong said, "Open your eyes."

Li slowly opened her eyes, and the next moment, she quickly closed them again, tears streaming down her face.

Seeing this, Ni Er couldn't help but squat down in front of Li Shi and ask nervously, "Mother, can you see?"

Li nodded emphatically and said, "Yes, I can see it, but it's a bit dazzling."

Xia Chengzong said, "The old man will get used to it after a while, but he should try to avoid being outside in strong sunlight for the next few days."

"After a few days of adjustment, and another seven or eight days, it should be fine. It won't be as good as before, but your vision should be fine on a daily basis."

Madam Li said, "My son, kneel down before the Prince and kowtow a few times for your mother."

"Yes, Mother."

Ni Er knelt down and kowtowed several times.

Xia Chengzong rushed over to help him up.

Madam Li said, "Son, kneel down first, don't rush to get up."

"Yes, Mother!"

Xia Chengzong said helplessly, "Old man, what are you doing?"

Madam Li said, "The Prince is a good man. It is an honor for this old woman to have the Prince personally cure her eye ailment!"

"If I hadn't met the prince, that would have been fine. But since I have met the prince and received his favor, this old woman has no choice but to seize the opportunity and shamelessly ask the prince for another favor."

Xia Chengzong nodded and said, "What does the old man want? Just tell me."

Li said, "This old woman's rascal son, although he is a street thug, is not a bad person at heart. He is filial to his old mother, loyal to his friends, and never bullies the weak."

"It's only because my family is poor, and I had no choice but to take this path just to survive. If there were any other way, who would choose this path?"

"If you just hang out on the streets, you'll have to pay the price sooner or later. Who knows, one day you might get hacked to death in the street."

"My good-for-nothing son, at least he has some strength and can help the prince with some menial tasks."

"I hope Your Highness can take him in and give him a job. My good-for-nothing son is honest and straightforward and has never been good at hiding anything."

"If the prince orders him to go east, he would never dare to go west. Even if the prince orders him to kill someone, he wouldn't even flinch."

"Even if he were killed while working for the prince, that would be his good fortune, better than being killed in the street."

"Please, Your Highness, grant him a meal. Son, kowtow to Your Highness. If Your Highness does not grant your request, do not get up. Just kowtow here until you die."

Ni Er was very obedient and, as expected, began to kowtow repeatedly.