Dream of the Red Chamber: Rising from Refugees to Sweep Across the Land

Chapter 15 The Little Windmill

The first snow in Yangzhou in the ninth year of the Yankang era came late, but it was heavy, so heavy that the people dared not go out.

Besides the inconvenience of travel, the main reason was the constant killings in Yangzhou. The first two days saw the execution of corrupt officials, and then it was the turn of the salt merchants.

This time, the palace was determined to purge the entire salt merchant group. The Bai family was executed along with their entire clan, and all the salt merchants, large and small, associated with the Bai family were also wiped out and their families exterminated. Cartloads of silver were being transported to the capital...

Of course, none of this concerned Liu Feng. He was sitting by the window watching the snow. After resting for more than ten days, he was finally feeling better and could sit up with his back against something, but his chest ached whenever he moved.

Suddenly a beam of light shone in, and the curtain was lifted.

Liu Feng turned to look.

It was Uncle Lin, who was holding medicine in his hand.

"Uncle Lin, what brings you here?"

"Lie still." Uncle Lin sat down on the soft couch and handed him the medicine. "I just finished serving the master back to the mansion and stopped by to see you."

Liu Feng took the medicine and drank it down in one gulp.

Uncle Lin poured Liu Feng another bowl of warm water and continued, "A new imperial decree has arrived from the capital, saying that the Dowager Empress is unwell. The court wants to pray for her health and, considering the salt merchants' contributions over the years, is making an exception... To put it bluntly, it's about paying money to avoid trouble."

He smiled and said, "Those six families were quite decisive. As soon as they saw the situation was not going well, they immediately cut their losses. Although they lost the family fortune accumulated over generations, they managed to save their jobs as salt merchants."

Liu Feng nodded. As long as the salt merchants' jobs were still available, the money he had spent would eventually be earned back.

He suddenly realized: "Six? Wasn't it seven?"

"It's the Ma family."

Uncle Lin got up and walked to the small stove. He picked up the copper kettle, poured some hot water into the basin, wrung out a towel, and handed it to Liu Feng, saying, "Your family property has been confiscated, you've been demoted to the salt register, and your whole family has been sent to the salt field to do hard labor."

"Didn't they offer you money?" Liu Feng asked.

Uncle Lin nodded gently.

Liu Feng shook his head slightly. The palace's attitude was clear: they wanted the wealth accumulated by the eight major salt merchants over generations, and they wouldn't allow any one of them to be missing.

Those six families who wisely yielded were given lenient treatment. The Ma family, however, which failed to grasp the situation, were dealt a heavy blow. This was a warning to everyone that the royal family was their only backer, and everyone else was irrelevant.

This is true imperial power: ruthless, direct, and brooking no argument. Unlike some TV dramas where the royal family has to fawn over a few businessmen!

It's ironic that the Ma family, seemingly far superior to the others in Yangzhou, ended up with such a tragic fate.

After a few more casual remarks, Uncle Lin finally got to the point: "Sir, you've been promoted to Provincial Surveillance Commissioner. Although you still have duties related to salt administration, you've lost the title of Imperial Commissioner. According to the rules, you can no longer keep personal guards to protect you..."

He paused, looked at Liu Feng, and slowly said, "The master sent me to ask you what your plans are. If you are willing to stay in the salt soldiers, the master can submit a memorial recommending you for the position of battalion commander."

Liu Feng's eyes widened. What did this mean? Was it a case of discarding a useful tool after it has served its purpose?

This injury will take at least another month or two to heal. Where can I go to eat well, sleep well, and recover peacefully after leaving the Lin family? If it develops into a chronic condition, won't my life be ruined?

Seeing Liu Feng's bad expression, Uncle Lin laughed instead: "I knew you wouldn't be willing to leave the master."

He patted Liu Feng on the shoulder and tucked the blanket up for him. "Rest assured and rest well. In a few days, we will go to Jinling together."

Looking at the closed curtain, Liu Feng curled his lip and said, "I really can't bear to part with the food here!"

But I really can't do that job as a salt soldier anymore. It's too dangerous, and I only get a little over one tael of silver a month. Why risk my life like that?!

sleep!

Just as Liu Feng was about to close his eyes, a small head peeked in.

She was Xueyan, Lin Daiyu's maid.

These days, Xueyan often comes over to deliver porridge, and over time, the two gradually start talking.

Liu Feng was bored lying around all day, so he would tease her whenever he had nothing to do. The little girl was a bit dazed, but she was especially cute.

Later, when her bamboo dragonfly broke, Liu Feng made her a new one by hand, which made her extremely happy.

Since then, Xueyan often brought some branches and bamboo strips over, asking Liu Feng to help her make little things like bamboo dragonflies and bamboo whistles. Gradually, they became familiar with each other.

According to the rules, a maid like Xueyan, who serves a young lady, is not allowed to meet outside men easily.

But then this assassination attempt happened, and the rules of the inner quarters were thrown into chaos. Just like when Jia Baoyu was beaten, the Jia family's etiquette was completely disrupted, and the idiot bully even bumped into Lin Daiyu.

Of the entire Lin family, Lin Daiyu was the only daughter Liu Feng had never met.

Sure enough, Xueyan, clutching a few more twigs and bamboo strips, tiptoed in.

Seeing her furtive behavior, Liu Feng chuckled in exasperation: "Why are you acting like a thief in broad daylight?"

Xueyan stuck out her tongue and handed him the twigs and bamboo strips in her hand: "Liu Wuzhang, could you make me a bamboo dragonfly?"

Liu Feng was a little curious: "I just made one for you the other day, and it's already broken? You play with it every day? You're living a pretty comfortable life!"

Xueyan blushed slightly: "No way... I only sneaked a little playtime while you were reading, Miss." She then pouted, "It's all your fault, Miss. You insisted on playing in the back garden, and the bamboo dragonfly flew right into the lake."

Even Lin Daiyu played this?

Liu Feng was stunned for a moment. Even fairies play with these little gadgets?

"Liu, the Corporal..."

Xueyan called out, and Liu Feng finally came to his senses: "It's cold when it snows, playing with bamboo dragonflies will make your hands freeze."

"It's alright, we're wearing gloves, they're made of silver squirrel fur, they're very warm!"

See? She casually put on airs in front of Liu Feng again with just one sentence. Fortunately, Liu Feng was already used to it and waved his hand, saying, "I've made it and put it outside the window. Remember to come and get it."

"Hey!" Xueyan ran off happily.

This little brat, she didn't even bother to get a pillow for herself!

Liu Feng shook his head, reached for a cushion from the couch, shoved it behind his head, and then pulled out his shovel. In no time, he had carved out two bamboo dragonflies, one for each of them, and they remained quiet and still.

Looking at the remaining branches and bamboo strips, Liu Feng thought for a moment and decided to make a small windmill.

Back in the day, he was a little helper in kindergarten, able to handle these little gadgets with ease.

First, whittle the bamboo strip into a square piece. Then, make diagonal cuts from the four corners towards the center, each cut only cutting a short distance from the center without cutting all the way through. This will divide the square into eight small triangles. Next, fold the blades one by one and gently press them into an arc so that they can catch the wind.

Finally, poke a small hole in the center, insert a twig, and a simple little windmill is complete.

Liu Feng blew hard, and the little windmill started spinning with a "whoosh".

After blowing it all out in one breath, Liu Feng felt a little dizzy. He still needed to rest and recover slowly!

I shuffled the tatami mat closer to the window, carefully pushed it open a crack, and a gust of cold wind, carrying snowflakes, immediately rushed in. I quickly put my things on the windowsill, closed the window, and went to sleep!

......................

At this time, girls also had a lot of "homework" to do every day. In addition to needlework, well-off families also had to memorize books, practice calligraphy and other literary skills. They were even taught to do accounting, manage household affairs and take charge of domestic matters. They had to learn everything.

Lin Daiyu was only eleven years old after her birthday following the New Year, and she didn't need to learn accounting or money management yet. Right now, she was sitting by the window reciting her lessons.

The teacher will check our recitation before class tomorrow; if we can't recite it, he'll hit our palms.

Although it was Xueyan who was beaten, she still felt sorry for her.

"Girl! Girl..."

Xueyan burst in like a gust of wind, her little face flushed, overjoyed.

Lin Daiyu glanced at the bamboo dragonfly in her hand: "Going to the side room again? Be careful the nanny doesn't catch you and give you a beating!"

"Look what this is!"

Xueyan handed the small windmill she had hidden behind her back forward and looked at Lin Daiyu with a look of wanting credit.

"Oh, a little windmill!"

Lin Daiyu's eyes lit up, and she took it. With a gentle wave of her small hand, the little windmill began to spin.

She giggled, her eyes crinkling into crescent moons: "This is so much fun!"