A stew of the Red Chamber

Chapter 31 Once the bet is placed, it's done.

While Jia Zhen was busy introducing Wang Qing in the front hall, You Shi in the back courtyard was not idle either.

Inside the warm pavilion, Qin Keqing and Old Lady You and her two younger sisters were chatting casually.

She poured a cup of tea for Old Lady You and said considerately, "Mother, since you're here this time, why don't you bring your younger sister and stay at the mansion for a while longer?"

The You family was of humble origins, and the father had died early. The stepmother raised two younger sisters, and the family was not well-off.

She knew that her stepmother was reluctant to part with the money for charcoal, which was why she brought her two younger sisters to visit, so she took the initiative to ask them to stay for a longer period.

Grandma You smiled broadly and said, "That's wonderful! Your two younger sisters always think about you. You sisters should get together more often..."

As she spoke, her gaze shifted to Sister You Er and Sister You San.

Sister You nodded vigorously twice, like a chick pecking at rice: "Yes! Sister, I've wanted to come for a long time..."

Before the word "visit" could even be uttered, Sister You San interrupted, "By the way, eldest sister, who was that young man who played a cameo role on stage just now? He looked quite handsome, but it didn't seem like..."

The house contained not only the You family, but also Qin Keqing and a group of maids.

Seeing her younger sister openly criticizing men and chatting with low-class actors, Madam You glared at her in annoyance.

Qin Keqing, standing to the side, said leisurely, "Third Aunt, you don't know, that's the second...second uncle of the Liu family."

"Liu Er..." Sister You muttered, then turned to Qin Keqing with a probing look, and asked stiffly, "How did you know?"

"Uh..." Qin Keqing lowered her head and explained, "The Qin and Liu families were old friends and had met twice in the past."

"I see!" Sister You San said with a look of realization.

She quickly got up from the kang (a heated brick bed) and sat down next to Qin Keqing, intending to inquire in detail.

Suddenly, the sound of gongs and drums could be heard outside, creating a great commotion.

Madam You was secretly worried; could something go wrong?

Her face showed surprise as she said, "Isn't the master entertaining guests up front? What kind of behavior is this, making such a racket? Silver Butterfly, go and see what's going on."

Silver Butterfly did as she was told and went out.

A short while later, he returned and reported, "Second Master Liu is going to have a martial arts match with that Master Qing who came the other day. There's a large crowd gathered there watching the spectacle!"

Madam You sighed inwardly, and said with a hint of complaint, "Oh dear! Guests are guests, what if someone gets hurt? Why didn't the master stop them?"

Upon hearing this, Third Sister You's eyes lit up. She quickly abandoned Qin Keqing, ran to Madam You's side, grabbed her arm, and said with sparkling eyes, "Sister, why don't we go and see what's going on?"

"this……"

Ms. You hesitated.

Seeing this, Qin Keqing advised, "Since Third Aunt wants to see it, why don't you just take a look from afar and consider it as going out for a walk?"

"Alright! But you can't go out. Just take a look inside the second gate."

Madam You knew her younger sister's personality very well; if she insisted on stopping her, she was afraid it would become a laughing stock.

In addition, fearing that things would escalate and become unmanageable, and seeing that Qin Keqing also agreed, he went along with it.

Old Lady You waved her hand and said, "You all go ahead! I'm not going to join in the fun."

Second Sister You grabbed a piece of pastry and stuffed it into her mouth, muttering, "Then I'll stay here with Mother..."

Ever since she entered the warm room, Sister You Er has never stopped talking.

However, unlike Sister You San who chattered away, her attention was entirely focused on the various kinds of pastries.

Although they were born of the same mother, their personalities were completely different.

She didn't think there was anything wrong with her sister asking about other men; she just felt that good looks couldn't put food on the table.

In addition, he prefers quiet to activity, so why would he want to leave a table full of snacks and go with her to join in the fun?

Second Sister You wanted to find some peace and quiet, but Third Sister You wouldn't let her go. She ran to her side and pulled her along, saying, "Sister, you've been eating non-stop since you came in. Now you should go out for a walk to digest your food."

Unable to dissuade her, Sister You Er had no choice but to stand up, grab a handful of melon seeds, and reluctantly follow her out the door.

The four of them, accompanied by several maids, arrived at the second gate. Looking out, they saw that the front yard was completely surrounded, and they couldn't see inside at all.

Jia Zhen and his companions stood on the outer perimeter, with a table in front of them piled high with loose silver coins.

A servant nearby banged on a gong and drum, shouting loudly, "Master, your chances of being the banker are limited! Place your bets quickly, and don't place them now!"

Jia Zhen then turned to Feng Ziying and the others beside him and said with a smile, "It's a rare opportunity like this, let's gamble a little for fun, everyone try our luck, how about it?"

Although Wang Qing had the upper hand in terms of both physique and build.

These people had just met Wang Qing, but they had some respect for Liu Xianglian.

Besides, how could I possibly win his money if I asked him to act as a peacemaker?

As the host, he has a legitimate right to host the event, and there is no difficulty in choosing the venue.

As for bringing servants to place bets, it was just an excuse. Even if they lost all the loose change they had, it wouldn't amount to the small amount they earned from the two of them.

It must be said that Jia Zhen had made a shrewd plan.

Although she couldn't hear Jia Zhen's conversation with the others, You Shi felt extremely ashamed that the head of the family was actually beating drums and gongs and leading his servants to gamble.

"How can you see that!" Sister You was so anxious that she jumped up and down. Then, she excitedly pulled off her hairpin and handed it to Yindie, saying, "Quickly take this hairpin to my brother-in-law, who is being held hostage by Young Master Liu, and have him clear out the people in front of the second gate."

"Nonsense!" Madam You quickly scolded, "What are you doing, a young lady, getting involved in this nonsense!"

Sister You San flung her arm away, pouting, and said, "If my brother-in-law can set up the betting pool, why can't I place my bets? If you won't let Silver Butterfly deliver them, I'll go myself!"

Knowing that her younger sister was always bold and decisive, Madam You was afraid that she would actually go ahead and place a bet, so she nodded helplessly to Yindie.

Jia Zhen took the hairpin handed to him by Yin Die, and was taken aback at first. Then he looked at the second gate, and a glint of light flashed in his eyes.

He grabbed the hairpin, rubbed it in his palm a couple of times, and then entered the second gate without thinking.

Upon seeing him approach, everyone quickly greeted him, "Master!"

"Brother-in-law!"

Jia Zhen squinted his cunning eyes, darting them over, then looked at You Shi and said with a smile, "Sharing happiness is worse than enjoying it alone. Since you're all here, why not join Third Sister and try your luck!"

"This...isn't that inappropriate?" Madam You asked hesitantly.

"Even if I lose because I'm the banker, the profits still go to everyone in the family. What's wrong with that?"

Jia Zhen looked displeased, stretched out his hand in front of You Shi, and said, "You set an example for them!"

Madam You looked helpless. Although she was the mistress of the Ningguo Mansion, she was not well-off.

Otherwise, she would rather bleed more money to help her stepmother than let them stay for an extended period.

Despite Jia Zhen's constant claims that "the good stuff doesn't go to outsiders," if he really made a wrong bet, he might not secretly subsidize her. Why would he be willing to take the risk?

However, Jia Zhen was in high spirits, and You Shi dared not offend him, so she could only take out a few taels of silver from her sleeve: "After all, he is the old lady's aunt's grandson, so I'll bet on Brother Qing!"

Although you only know if you've tried fighting someone.

While physical strength is not a disadvantage, judging by physique, Wang Qing ultimately has a better chance of winning.

Jia Zhen casually took it and then looked at the silver hairpin on You Erjie's head.

Sister You instinctively covered her head and said evasively, "Sister...brother-in-law, I'll pass."

"Hey! How can we just let it go? Look, Third Sister has already placed her bets, hasn't she?"

"I don't have anything particularly impressive to show off..."

"It's just a lucky draw. If you win, it's yours; if you lose, it's your brother-in-law's! How about we value those two silver hairpins you're wearing together at ten taels?"

Hearing that it was a sure thing, You Erjie, as if afraid that Jia Zhen would return, said, "Brother-in-law, you have to keep your word! I'll bet the first two branches, just like my eldest sister, on that Master Qing."

She hurriedly pointed to her head, but showed no intention of taking it off.

Jia Zhen looked as if he had swallowed a fly; his lips twitched twice, but he ultimately didn't insist. He turned to Qin Keqing and said gently, "Wife, why don't you place a bet too?"

Qin Keqing hesitated for a moment, then looked at Baozhu beside her, who quickly took out a two-hundred-tael silver note.

Qin Keqing took the silver note, considered it briefly, and handed it to Jia Zhen, saying, "That daughter-in-law... like Madam, should be paired with Uncle Qing!"

Unlike Madam You, she had never met Wang Qing. Logically speaking, since the Qin and Liu families were old friends, it was reasonable for them to support Liu Xianglian.

But just moments before, Sister You had questioned why she knew the other person, and now she had no choice but to avoid suspicion.

Jia Zhen looked at the silver notes Qin Keqing handed him, his face congested. After a slight hesitation, he waved his hand and said, "Never mind, it was my oversight. You are, after all, a junior, and it's not right to gamble with an elder."

Sister You, who had been waiting impatiently, immediately shouted upon hearing this, "Brother-in-law! Make them move aside!"

"Hehehe!" Jia Zhen turned around with a wicked grin, "Since you've placed your bets, I'll naturally let you see it clearly."

After saying that, he went behind the servants watching outside the second gate and kicked them one by one.

In an instant, the scene before the women cleared up, revealing the two men facing off in the middle.

……