Beyond the Red Dust

  The old wooden door didn't look so heavy after all, and with a gentle push, it swung open wide. As the door opened, the late spring sunlight also poured in, casting a slanting beam of light inside the room.

  Lai Erjia's family appeared in this light circle like this. A chair, facing the door, was placed in the middle of the house, and Lai Erjia's family sat on this chair.

  Lin Jing looked at the woman, who had not been seen for a winter, and her originally slightly plump figure had become thin and haggard. She also looked suddenly much older, probably because she had been worried to death. However, even so, this person still exuded cleverness and strength everywhere, wearing a hemp garment neatly on her body, with her graying hair combed back neatly, and the white chrysanthemum flower was properly pinned in her hair bun. This person always had to maintain her mistress's dignity!

  Lai Erjia's wife didn't get up, she didn't even move, just staring straight at Lin Jing as he walked in, her eyes sharp as a knife. It was as if her husband wasn't there, and she wanted to show off her power over life and death towards Lin Jing on his behalf.

  Under such a gaze, a certain fire of anger in Lin Jing's heart was suddenly ignited, burning away the original tense and uneasy mood, and the originally heavy footsteps suddenly became light. With this emotion, Lin Jing walked into the door, turned around and closed the door with one hand.

  The room suddenly darkened a lot, but this did not prevent Lin Jing from staring straight at Lai Erjia's house, nor did it prevent Lai Erjia's house from staring straight at Lin Jing.

  Lai Erjia's expression didn't change, nor did he speak, as if waiting for Lin Jingru to make his usual bow, with the intention of being ignored as a master, making a bow to a slave, and making a bow to the symbol of the authority of the legitimate mother.

  Lin Jing, however, did not behave as usual. He simply looked at Lai Erjia's house and announced some kind of change in a loud voice. It was precisely this change that made the head steward of the inner courtyard come to see Lin Jing in person at this time.

  Lai Erjia's family finally spoke up, "In the past, I really looked down on you, but it turns out that Jing Ge is not a coward after all. However, just because of you, do you dare to tell me that it's for the sake of the eldest daughter's future? And do you dare to let me come see you? You should think about your own future first."

  Lin Jing looked at her and suddenly smiled, "Actually, Lai Mama, you're already here, that's already something."

  In those days in the mansion, Lin Jing had already seen that this person was loyal to Jia Min. This loyalty not only included the kind of faithfulness that modern people can understand, but also a kind of love similar to that of a mother for her daughter. Because of this, Lin Jing inferred that this person also had similar feelings towards Dai Yu. That's why she could lure him over with just one ambiguous letter. Of course, if he didn't take the bait and didn't come see her as described in the letter, it would mean that her plan A was a failure. Fortunately, he came, and Lin Jing won the first round of betting.

  Lai Erjia's cold voice said: "The eldest girl is the old master's heart and soul, why should you worry? You really think you are Jing Geer?"

  Lin Jing continued, "To this day, I'm still very curious, how did I become a sworn brother? Can't fool the midwife, right? Besides you few, who else knows? Are you not afraid that someone will expose it to Master?"

  Lai Er's eyes narrowed, "Do you still want to make trouble for Master? I'm not afraid to tell you, the midwife who delivered you was rewarded with a large sum of money from the mansion. She was so happy that she drank two more cups of wine and fell into the river, dying." After a pause, she continued in a hateful tone, "Even if you make trouble for Master and he finds out, what can be done? If it weren't for Madame's mercy, would you even have the life you have now? You might not even have been born!"

  Lin Jing heard this, and although she had made up her mind about some things, she was also quite uncomfortable with those matters. "Fortunately, I'm a girl; if I were a boy, I'd probably be gone by now. It's really clever to pass me off as a concubine's child - Father has an heir now, and Mother won't have to worry about Father taking a concubine or being distracted from her. That's one thing. Secondly, it gives Mother time to think of a way to give birth to a legitimate son. And again, if a real concubine's child were born, wouldn't that be troublesome for the legitimate son? Mother, you're truly kind and compassionate."

  Lin Jing let out a sigh and didn't want to waste any more words on these matters, as time was tight. So, without waiting for Lai Erjia to continue speaking, he took control of the conversation and said: "Lai Mama, you say that now that Taotao is gone, she hasn't left behind a brother for Big Sister, and I'm just a fake one. After Master's passing, what will happen to the family line?"

  As soon as these words came out, they grasped the hearts of Lai Erjia's family.

  Lin Jing continued to speak on his own, "Will the old master remarry? Although the old master has deep feelings for his wife, unfilial piety is one of the three great unrighteousnesses, and having a stepmother is the greatest. I've heard people say that only when there's a stepmother can there be a stepfather. The young lady is still young, and even if you're helping to support her, this life will still be difficult, won't it?"

  These words struck right at the heart of Lai Er's family, and this was also what she had been worried about. Lin Jing glanced at her and continued to say: "Of course, Master may also consider the relationship between husband and wife and not remarry. However, taking a concubine and having a child to continue the family line is also possible. If not, going to the Lin family in Suzhou to adopt an heir is also a solution. But, Lai's mother, can brothers who are separated by a belly really take care of their sister? What if that concubine is someone who doesn't know what's good for her, and the young lady's life will be worrying too? Even if it's adopted, they're not flesh and blood with the young lady after all. How can we know how things will turn out in the future? Master is still okay now, but what if... Moreover, the young lady will grow up and get married one day, and if her natal family brothers don't help, she won't have a strong backing in her husband's family either. If she suffers grievances, there won't be anyone to help her get revenge either? And besides, no matter whether it's remarriage, taking a concubine, or adoption, the Lin family's vast property will just benefit someone else!"

  Lin Jing made an effort to persuade, the original Dream of the Red Chamber? Besides her, who has read it? Who would know that Lin Ruhai is indeed unfilial? Of course, Lin Ruhai knows his own heart, but the key is that Lai Erjia's family doesn't know!

  Lai Erjia's calm face, how could she have not thought of these things? Otherwise, she wouldn't have come out so easily. "If you have something to say, just say it!"

  At this point, Lin Jing also stopped beating around the bush. "I, Lin Jing, if things continue like this, Master will have a biological son, and adoption is definitely out of the question. Judging from his love for Madam, it's unlikely he'll mention remarriage either. Even if someone brings it up, considering how much he loves Miss, they'll probably drop the idea."

  "As for me, although I'm a younger son, even when I grow up, I won't be able to truly marry and have children. Later on, it's only natural that I'll be adopted by a close relative to inherit the family business. The family's property will naturally not fall into someone else's hands."

  Lin Jing said, looking at the expression of Lai Erjia's family, seeing that Lai Erjia's family did not refute, but instead looked thoughtful, knowing there was a chance, and then added fuel to the fire.

  "Mother doesn't have to worry about me causing trouble in the future. After all, I'm just a daughter. This secret is in your hands, and you can use it to make me suffer at any time. Not to mention anything else, if it gets out to Old Master's ears, according to what you just said, he probably won't tolerate me."

  Sometimes, putting one's life in someone else's hands is necessary to achieve an alliance.

  Lin Jing said no more, but simply looked at Lai Erjia's house, waiting for his reaction.

  Lai Erjia's breathing was rapid, she didn't expect that the child in front of her would be even bolder than herself. The maid in the inner courtyard had a limited perspective after all, so after weighing it for half a day, she discovered that it was indeed a good method. She suddenly glared at Lin Jing and said: "At first, I really misjudged you, you played a good show, how could this be foolish? Moreover, you're not only not timid, but extremely bold! However, you must remember what you said, no matter what happens, I always have a way to deal with you!"

  Lin Jing let out a sigh of relief in his heart, it's done!

  It's just that I'm still thrilled, and there are some other things too.

  Lin Jing bowed to Lai Erjia's family and said, "Thank you, Mom, for your help."

  Lai Erjia hummed and accepted the gift graciously. Lin Jingke didn't mind this, and slowly asked: "Mom, there's something else I want to ask. Did you tell Old Madame of Rongguo House about my situation?"

  Lai Erjia's family looked at Lin Jing and asked, "What did you hear about this?"

  Lin Jing said, "I thought that Madam must be very close to her natal family, and such a thing would certainly have been told to them. So, I hope Mother will not forget to respond, lest there be some misunderstanding."

  Lin Jing said this with a pounding heart. She spoke in this way to test whether Jia Min had told Shi Taijun about the matter. If Jia Min had already made peace with Rongguo House, then even if she were a man living in this world, it would be trouble after trouble; although she could temporarily catch her breath, she still needed to escape as soon as possible.

  Lai Erjia's family wasn't foolish either. After looking at Lin Jing for a while, he said coldly: "I know what you're thinking, and I understand. Today, let's just talk it through, so you won't be suspicious anymore. As long as you don't have any wild ideas, we won't let you take risks. Pretending to be a man is already a big sin. The mistress didn't want to hide it from Old Lady Rong Guo, but at that time, they had already arrived in Yangzhou. Since the distance between them and the Rong Guo household was far, she feared that sending messages wouldn't be secure, so she didn't say anything for the time being. The mistress originally planned to tell her when she returned home, but then...

  As he spoke, Lai Erjia's tears fell. Lin Jing also accompanied him in sorrow for a while, but his heart was calm. As a woman disguising herself as a man is a great sin, Lin Jing thought that Lai Erjia's words were not like lies.

  Lin Jing comforted them for a while, until Lai Erjia's family had wiped away their tears, and then they discussed what to do next.

  Since this alliance was formed with the Lai family, this woman returned and naturally advised Lin Ruhai to accept Lin Jing back, pretending to be a filial son in front of Jia Minling.

  When Lin Jing stepped out of the courtyard, the sun had already hung in the west, about to set.

  In the temple, the sound of bells and drums has already been transmitted. Lin Jing listened to it and found that she had not left yet, but she was already nostalgic. It's just nostalgia after all. Although the outside world is good, she still misses the red dust.

  She slightly opened her golden fingers~~