Chapter 106: Pick up the big stick and beat the son

Worry naturally falls on Jia Huan's studies and grades; although Jia Huan is several years older than Jia Lan, he still got a bottom ranking.

If he were expelled from the clan school, where would his old face end up!

I heard Huan Ge'er does fairly well in martial subjects, but I don't know if he can pursue a path as a military officer; it's a bit too risky...

However, if he can follow behind Jing Ge'er, he should also have a way out.

Jia Zheng sighed leisurely; no matter how weary he was of worldly affairs, he still had to worry for his descendants and find a way out!

Baoyu, who seemed to have been spoiled into idleness by the old lady and his mother, not going to the clan school would be understandable.

After much effort they hired a tutor to teach at home, but he was all talk and no progress, making no improvement at all.

Sigh! Never mind, as long as he doesn't cause trouble, he'll inherit the family business later and become a wealthy idle.

While Jia Zheng was deep in thought, a series of 'Deng—deng—deng' sounds came from afar, growing nearer, followed by a knock at the door.

Jia Zheng frowned; anyone who could march straight into the study without being stopped must be a family youth, and with those restless footsteps, it must be that wayward illegitimate son.

He got a bottom rank; it's one thing not to avoid his old man, but to dare to rub his bad luck—it's practically asking for a beating!

Jia Zheng walked straight out of the study, opened the door, and indeed saw a slumped head, downcast eyes, a sallow face, shoulders uneven—an utterly pitiful sight.

"Damn wayward brat, got a bottom rank, didn't even review his lessons, and comes here—does he want a flogging?" Jia Zheng scowled.

Jia Huan, seeing Jia Zheng's expression, felt a bit flustered and whispered, head lowered:

"Sir, calm your anger! Your son was practicing calligraphy with Third Sister in Sister Lin's courtyard, but... but..."

At this point, Jia Huan paused, feigning hesitation, stammering, with a look of being about to speak but holding back.

Jia Zheng, seeing this, grew even more angry and said:

"Damn beast! What's so hard to say? Stammering like that!"

Jia Huan glanced toward the study, indicating he wanted to go inside to report:

"This matter isn't convenient to discuss outside..."

"If you can't explain the reason, I'll skin you!" Jia Zheng dragged Jia Huan into the room.

Jia Huan shut the door, looked around, and then cautiously said:

"Sir, I was just writing in Sister Lin's courtyard, and everything was fine!"

"Who could have known Baoyu was clamoring to eat the rouge on the big maid Xiangling's lips in Third Brother's room, and even said he would petition the ancestors to have her serve in his own chamber!"

"Xiangling refused, but Baoyu then started to forcefully assault the girl, terrifying all the sisters in the room."

"Sister Lin tried to intervene, but Baoyu ended up smashing the jade on the ground, calling Third Brother merely a greedy, fame‑and‑wealth seeking traitor, a stupid, rotten scoundrel. How could that be?"

"He also said that Sister Lin and the others only knew how to get close to Third Brother, and that being distant from him meant they had changed their hearts, which made Sister Lin so angry she spat blood."

"Now Sister Lin's courtyard is in chaos! I took the chance while they weren't looking to quickly report to you, Sir..."

Jia Zheng, already somewhat old‑fashioned and inflexible, heard Jia Huan's tangled mix of truth and falsehood, and for a moment couldn't tell what was what.

Moreover, he had always known Baoyu liked to eat the rouge on the maid's lips, and he was full of absurd talk.

He instantly believed it, his complexion turning iron‑blue, his anger soaring to the heavens.

Jing Ge'er serves the court abroad, and at home he is affectionate toward his kin; everyone in the clan praises him.

Now my wayward son, not only doesn't study properly, but also disgraces the people in his elder brother's room; is he even a person?

And Lin's maid, who stays at the residence and is like a sole sprout of my own sister, now has been so angered she spat blood.

If anything were to happen to maid Lin, how could I account for it to Ru Hai, and how could I still have the face to be a person?

Just a moment ago I thought as long as Baoyu didn't cause trouble, he could remain a wealthy idle, but in the blink of an eye he caused this disgraceful incident!

Sure enough, he's been spoiled rotten; this scoundrel of a son is no longer wanted!

Thinking this, Jia Zheng didn't bother with his appearance, hurried out of the study, grabbed the big stick in the courtyard, and rushed toward Lin Daiyu's small courtyard.

Jia Huan pursed his lips, tilted his head, grinned wickedly and followed closely behind, thinking he'd enjoy the spectacle!

When Jia Zheng arrived at Lin Daiyu's room with the big stick, Jia Mu and Lady Wang had already arrived!

They saw Baoyu being gently comforted in Jia Mu's arms, while Lin Daiyu lay pale on the bed, tended by a maid, with glaring red bloodstains on the floor beside her.

Jia Zheng, his anger blazing, lifted the big stick, stepped forward, pointed at Baoyu and shouted:

"Rebel son! Rebel son! Bind him for me! If anyone dares to persuade me today, I'll hand over all the family heirlooms to him and Baoyu!"

"I cannot avoid becoming a sinner; I'll shave off these troublesome sideburns, find a clean place to end my life, and thus avoid the crime of disgracing my ancestors and begetting a rebellious son!"

Baoyu, just seeing Jia Zheng, was already terrified and lost his composure; the big stick in Jia Zheng's hand scared him as if struck by lightning!

Jia Huan, following closely behind Jia Zheng, saw this scene and covered his mouth, chuckling a few times.

But then he privately regretted that he was a step too late; had he arrived before the old lady and the madam, there would have truly been a good show!

Now that the old lady has arrived, Baoyu has escaped this beating! What a waste of my effort.

He also didn't think that Lin Daiyu's courtyard was originally near Jia Mu's courtyard, so the distance was short and he could have arrived quickly.

Sure enough, before Jia Zheng could swing the stick, Jia Mu stepped in front of Baoyu, saying in a hoarse voice:

"Kill me first, then kill him; wouldn't that be clean!"

Jia Zheng, seeing Baoyu still protected by Jia Mu, trembled with anger, his face pale, and said:

"I have raised this unfilial wayward son, already disobedient; I want to punish him, yet someone shields him; better to strangle him today and cut off future trouble!"

Although Jia Mu was shielding Baoyu, she saw Jia Zheng's anger was intense, feared he might fall ill from it, and quickly comforted him:

"It's already near the year's end; you shouldn't be meddling with these children's squabbles when you have your own duties!"

"Baoyu and they are just children playing; it's nowhere near a call for killing!"

Jia Zheng, hearing this, pointed at Baoyu with an iron‑blue face and said:

"This damned beast, shameless, even has designs on Jing Ge'er's maid, and made Sister Lin spit blood; is this play or a serious matter?"

"Shameless, morally corrupt wayward child! Our son has produced such a beast! He has ruined our family's reputation, truly an affront to our ancestors!"

"With such a disgrace in the household, how can I face Ru Hai and Jing Ge'er!"