It's probably like this in 2022

  It turned out that yesterday, for some reason, Old Master Lin Ruhai suddenly ran to Lin Jing's courtyard. After inspecting Lin Jing's study and bedroom, he called all the servants to the courtyard to take roll call, then lectured them, saying that everyone must be loyal and diligent, not allowed to be lazy or deceitful, and should encourage Young Master to behave well, if anyone led him astray, they would definitely not be let off lightly, and even their whole family's skin would be stripped.

  As for Shi Ying, it was after that, Lai Mama personally came over to take her away.

  Lin Jing was puzzled, thinking about Lin Ruhai's inexplicable dissatisfaction with herself yesterday, feeling that there must be some reason. So, she kept thinking about the things of the previous day, putting all her thoughts on Lin Ruhai instead of Qing Liu.

  As I wandered around, thinking about this and that, I suddenly remembered Lin Ruhai's words of encouragement to me yesterday. He said that I was originally stupid, but still knew how to work hard, and from now on, I should strive even harder and not let my mind wander. If he were to find out that I had been distracted and indulged in idle play, I would be careful to preserve this skin of mine.

  Lin Jing was trained, yesterday again absent-minded, didn't realize what's wrong, but now thinking about this sentence, and thinking about inspecting her courtyard, especially after seeing those servants' things, suddenly thought of a possibility, and an absurd feeling filled his chest.

  Lin Jingyi has always known that ancient people matured early, everything was early, generally speaking, it was early marriage, early childbirth, and early death. In terms of men and women, they also opened up early. Even in the world of Hong Lou Meng, Jia Baoyu started eating lip balm from girls' mouths when he was very young - okay, this can't be said to be opening up early, it's just that he had a hobby, similar to voyeurism, only Jia Baoyu's hobby was more romantic. However, at the age of 11 or 12, he already understood human affairs and had a taste of human flavor, which is true.

  But no matter how early it is, I'm only almost nine years old now. Lin Ruhai, isn't he guarding against this?

  If it's not this, then there really isn't any other explanation that can pass. This one is still somewhat explainable. Yesterday, I was too focused on Qing Liu, so Lin Ruhai misunderstood and scolded me. After thinking about it, I wasn't at ease, so I went to my own courtyard for a surprise inspection, and even questioned all the servants, speaking sternly.

  Think about it, the people around him, some were chosen by Jia Min before she passed away. At that time, he was just a rough and unrefined person with a flat head and a straight face, or someone who could tolerate his family's situation, wouldn't come over. Later, although more people were added to help with the workload, most of them were those rough-handed and big-footed ones. Lin Ruhai naturally felt at ease.

  Only Shi Ying was different. She was originally by Jia Min's side, extremely good-looking and lively in nature, Lin Ruhai had probably also had a lot of contact with her before, knowing these things. Now, Lin Ruhai worried that he would be attracted to the maid, distracted, and even not study well! Adding some thoughts of loving the house and its crow, so Shi Ying was sent back to the main house.

  It's just fluent like this.

  It's not just that. It seems that Lin Ruhai had instructed Lai Erjia to do something, so Lai Erjia personally came over with someone. But Master himself ordered a maid to be transferred to the main house, and this maid was extremely beautiful and had previously served Lin Ruhai. All sorts of things made Lai Erjia think too much. That's why he wasn't in a good mood yesterday.

  It turns out that one's own congratulations can indeed give people a lot to think about.

  If that's the case, Lin Ruhai is indeed being thoughtful towards himself. Although he may be doing so out of necessity or with ulterior motives, at least he is being thoughtful, just like a father would. So, Lin Jing thought to herself, she should also show filial piety and appear obedient. As she thought this, she couldn't help but secretly despise her own display of filial piety, which was also motivated by various calculations. Who is better than who? No one is more noble!

  Lin Jingcai touched such a high level of thinking, and immediately put it aside. What I'm asking for is to live a good life, and the realm of thought can be put on hold for now.

  Putting these aside, thinking of Shi Ying returning to the main house, what will people think? Will they start fighting among themselves first? The more I think about it, the more I feel that this is what will happen. Is this considered internal collapse?

  The mood is sunny.

  "Grandpa, you're in a great mood today." Bi Cao looked at Lin Jing with a smile, also showing her teeth on the side.

  "Hmm, today's weather is really great." Lin Jing suddenly had the urge to tease this little girl.

  "Huh? Ah!" Bi Cao looked up at the sky, is the weather good? Really? Why hasn't the sun come out yet, it's so gloomy and cold. Could it be that Master likes this kind of gloomy weather without sunshine? This must be remembered. From today on, I am Master's personal maid after all. The master's preferences must be remembered.

  The old master likes the gloomy weather without sunshine, and he likes to play with his two brothers in secret. However, whenever he hears himself say those words, the green grass would let out a sigh of relief. The old master's preferences are indeed very strange. Nevertheless, the master is always right, as mother said, one must listen to the master's words and serve him wholeheartedly. Therefore, from now on, I will have to pay more attention to those rumors.

  Lin Jing didn't know at all, it was she who cultivated such a gossip radio station. It was also her who made Bi Cao run further and further on the road of strange recognition, so that when something even stranger happened later, Bi Cao wasn't surprised at all. Not because Bi Cao didn't want to be surprised, but because she had gotten used to it.

  However, Lin Ruhai's efforts have brought him back to life a lot, and his three meals a day are also much more normal. Moreover, Lin Ruhai seems to have told Qingqiao not to send snacks to the study anymore.

  As for the last thing, Lin Jing was just guessing and had not witnessed it in person. She only heard Bi Cao say that now, the gentle girl no longer goes to the study every day to deliver pastries.

  After the Laba Festival, it will soon be the year-end. This is Lin Jing's first time spending the New Year in the mansion, but this year is destined to be a dull one as it has not been a full year since Guo Min passed away and the Lin family is still in mourning.

  However, although it can't be done on a large scale, the traditional New Year's program is still there. Lin Jing listened to Bi Cao telling herself about the work others were doing every day, reciting New Year's nursery rhymes, what to do on which day, and what taboos to avoid, which was quite interesting.

  On the twenty-third day of the twelfth lunar month, it was a small New Year's Eve. The day before, Mr. Zhong had given Lin Jing a holiday, and Lin Ruhai also personally set up a banquet to thank him. At the banquet, although Lin Ruhai drank a few cups of light wine, he didn't touch any meat dishes at all. This actually made Mr. Zhong look up to Lin Ruhai a bit more, thinking that this person was indeed very sentimental and emotional. However, when he glanced at his apprentice sitting beside him, he couldn't help but sigh inwardly, thinking that the more things were like this, the harder it must have been for his own apprentice in the past. The only thing he didn't know was how much paternal affection Lin Ruhai still had towards his own son now.

  Mr. Zhong took care of a few more movements in his actions, thinking about it in his heart. Lin Ruhai didn't understand the reason, but he was happy to see this situation and was also more gentle with Lin Jing.

  Today, Lin Fu went to Mr. Zhong's mansion to deliver the New Year's gift, and it was Lin Jing who went personally. In fact, if you want to say it, this New Year's gift had already been delivered a few days ago. It was just that after the banquet yesterday, Lin Jing was called by Lin Ruhai to the study room, pointing at the precious inkstone, ink, and other four treasures of the study room, as well as a scroll of ancient painting from the previous dynasty, "Tomorrow, you will personally go to your master's mansion to pay your respects. These are the New Year's gifts for your master."

  Lin Jing was stunned for a moment, and then immediately understood Lin Ruhai's intention. However, since the thing was being given to his own master, Lin Jing was quite pleased.

  At Master's place, Lin Jing was extremely pampered. Although it was a small New Year, Lin Jing was still kept by Mr. Zhong to have lunch. Small years eat dumplings, this is the rule in many places. Mr. Zhong's ancestral home is Yangzhou, and actually, there is no such rule in the mansion, but when Lin Jing came, there was one.

  The dumplings for lunch had a particularly strange filling, which was egg and vegetable filling. Eggs are not considered meat, even monks can eat them. However, Lin Jing knew that Mr. Zhong didn't like to eat eggs. But now, it's not just the egg and vegetable filling, this dumpling is full of yellow scrambled eggs, and if you're not careful, you can't see the vegetables at all.

  Eating is filling the belly, but now Lin Jing feels that his heart is also full, exclaiming that the dumplings are delicious. As a result, Lin Jing was stuffed with a box of dumplings and ate some while taking some away.

  It was getting late, and Lin Jing didn't want to overstay his welcome. After chatting for a while, he bid farewell.

  The horse cart was swaying, Lin Jing had eaten and drunk his fill, and slowly began to feel drowsy. In a daze, it seemed like he had another food box. Hmm, the box also contained vegetarian dumplings, that flavor, so delicious. Ah, really strange, why does everyone always send him vegetarian dumplings? Could it be that he has grown a gluttonous face?

  Lin Jing hadn't thought it through and fell asleep. Until he returned to the Lin Mansion, he was woken up by Lin Jiafu, got off the carriage, and Lin Jing was still dazed, holding onto the food box tightly, even when Lin Jiafu tried to take it from him, Lin Jing didn't intend to let go. Seeing this, Lin Jiafu felt frustrated in his heart, all over a broken rice ball, what's the big deal?!

  Just then, not long after entering the mansion, Lin Jing thought it was better to return to her room and sleep well. Someone came up to greet her. The person was still familiar to Lin Jing. He quickly walked two steps forward, approached Lin Jing, and whispered a few sentences in her ear.

  Lin Jing heard this and immediately woke up from his drowsiness.

  Good night, everyone. I'm extremely sleepy and don't even know if what I wrote makes sense or not.