Maid of a wealthy family

Chapter 4
Lan Hongen said: "I won't beat you this time, but next time, I will definitely beat you hard! Who do you think your husband is? Husband is not greedy for his beauty outside, but he still comes to play tricks on his family? Rabbits don't eat by the nest That's stupid! Let's go further, even if I am the kind of shameless person, I have the lust, but I don't have the courage. Do you think those maids are easy to deal with? There are so many people up and down, once it is passed on Go out, and the innocence of the ancestors will be ruined! Do you know why the ancestors left such a last word? In the back garden, young women are not allowed to be left, only old mothers are allowed to work; It’s not allowed to be close to the maid, why? It’s because the man who is afraid of the Lan Mansion, sees the young girl and becomes lustful!”

After hearing this, Ning was so moved that she shed tears again, and said, "Hong En, I always feel sorry for you!"

Lan Hongen said loudly: "Huijuan, if you want to force me to be unfaithful and unfilial again, you are not a virtuous woman! It is enough for me to have you! As for children, everything is determined by God. Even if you are really born If you don't come out, that's fine..."

As soon as the words fell, the old lady suddenly heard cursing loudly in the corridor on the other side of the "Yongyue Tower", "What a bastard, you have said such a thing, why don't you come and kneel down!"

Lan Hongen and Ning looked back, and saw the old lady leaning on a dragon-headed crutch, her face was ashen, shivering all over, and she was facing here angrily.

Lan Hongen and Ning looked at each other, knowing that Lan Hongen's last words were heard by the old lady who came out after worshiping Buddha, she turned pale with fright.

Lan Hongen didn't dare to be negligent, and hurriedly ran to the old lady, and knelt down with a "plop".Then, Ning also ran over and knelt beside Lan Hongen.

The old lady was still trembling with anger, she pointed at Lan Hongen and cursed: "You bastard, how can you say such disloyal and unfilial words! There are three kinds of unfilial piety, and having no descendants is the greatest. You are not afraid of not continuing your incense. I'm still afraid!" As she spoke, the old lady began to cry.

Lan Hongen hurriedly kowtowed and said, "Mother, my son knows his mistake!"

The old lady didn't care about Lan Hong'en anymore, she sat down on the ground, crying with snot and tears all about herself: "My God, what evil did I do in my Lan family's previous life? How can I be worthy of my ancestors? What face do I have to meet my ancestors? God, let me die..." As he spoke, he was about to throw himself into the lotus pond.

Lan Hongen and Ning Shi panicked and immediately got up and hugged the old lady.The two kept admitting their mistakes.Persuading left and right, the old lady became quieter, looked at Lan Hongen and Ning Shi and said: "There is no incense burning in Lan Manor, what's the point of my life? I'm afraid to walk out of this garden now, I feel ashamed everywhere. If I won't be able to hold my grandson next year, so get the hell out of here!"

Seeing that the old lady's anger had subsided a little, Lan Hongen hurriedly agreed with "yes".Immediately said to the old lady: "Mother, my son thinks that we will definitely succeed in this time!"

After finishing speaking, he told the old lady the story of "Chang'e's report" that he had just told Ning.Sure enough, when the old lady heard this, she immediately became refreshed, her eyes shone with a strange brilliance, she stared at Lan Hongen and asked, "But it's true?"

Lan Hongen said: "How dare a son lie in front of his mother!"

The old lady quickly folded her hands together, said "Amitabha", and then said excitedly: "Sure enough, the Bodhisattva has manifested! Our ancestors in the Lan family have accumulated good deeds for generations. How can there be a Bodhisattva that does not appear? My son, this time you just need to follow your mother's way." Do it, there will be no one who will not be able to hold her son next year. After finishing speaking, the old lady hurriedly leaned on her crutches and walked to the Buddhist hall in the east room of "Yiyuan".

After a while, Muyu and the old lady's protracted chanting came from the Buddhist hall.

Lan Hongen was still in the corridor of "Yongyue Tower".He was a little puzzled when he heard the last two words of the old lady.The old lady said to do it according to her method, but Lan Hongen didn't know what the old lady could do.

In the afternoon, the old lady, Mrs. Ning and several maids from the front yard went to Guanyinping Niangniang Temple to clean the temple, preparing for begging and holding clay babies tomorrow night.Lan Hongen felt a little tired, and the huge backyard looked desolate and lonely, so he took a book and walked to Tongming Pavilion, where he read a book on the colorful platform arranged by his wife Ning.

What Lan Hongen took was an idle book, "Zhi Bu Zhai" (Strange Tales from a Liaozhai Studio) by Jushi Liuquan published in the 31st year of Qianlong's reign. He turned to an article and read it, at first casually, then gradually immersed in the story up.

While reading with relish, suddenly Wang Ma twisted her little feet, hurried to the pavilion, and called softly: "Master."

Lan Horn raised his head from the page, but did not answer the old servant's words.Wang Ma went on to say: "The chief steward reported that it was two schoolmates whom the master met in the city yesterday. They came to visit the master, and they are waiting outside the chao gate now!"

When Lan Hongen heard this, he felt a little displeased, so he said to Wang Ma: "Understood. Ask the housekeeper to take them to the upper living room to have tea. I will be there in a while." He wanted to read the story he was reading. use up.

After hearing this, Wang Ma agreed, and hurriedly walked along the corridor to answer the question.However, after a while, Wang Ma came back in a hurry, and said to Sheng Hongen: "Master, the butler said that it would be inappropriate to invite the two guests into the upper living room for tea!"

Lan Hongen was puzzled, and asked lightly: "What's wrong?"

Wang Ma said: "The steward said that the two masters came in the official sedan chair of the magistrate of the county government. I'm afraid they have some background, and at worst they might have something to do with the magistrate!"

"Oh?" Upon hearing this, Lan Hongen stood up, stared at a pink lotus in the pond for a while and thought for a while, and then ordered again: "Okay, then let the butler take it to the living room, and I will come right away!"

Wang Ma responded again and went for the second time.

After waiting for Wang Ma to leave, Lan Hongen hurried back to the room, took off the short shirt he was wearing, put on a Ning silk long jacket, and then went to the middle living room.

When they arrived at the middle living room, Cao Yuru and Chu Jiamao were already waiting there.Cao Yuru and Chu Jiamao were still dressed in the usual clothes from yesterday.As soon as Lan Hongen entered, he cupped his fists first and saluted: "I didn't know you two were coming, but I couldn't greet you from afar. I'm sorry, I'm sorry!"

Cao Yuru and Chu Jiamao also returned the gift.Chu Jiamao said: "Brother Lan, I said that I would come to visit you specially, didn't I just come?"

Lan Hongen said: "Come here! It's a great honor for you two to come here. Please sit down! Please sit down!" Lan Hongen's mind was circling about the fact that they came in the official sedan chair of the governor, with a look of bewilderment look.

Cao Yuru and Chu Jiamao sat down again.Cao Yuru took a sip of tea, glanced at Lan Hongen, and said with a smile, "Brother Lan, why did you leave without saying goodbye? Are you still angry about what happened last night?"

Lan Hongen blushed immediately, and hurriedly replied: "Where is it, brother Yuru made a mistake! I think the two of you are busy with business, so I dare not disturb you!"

Unexpectedly, Cao Yuru and Chu Jiamao burst into laughter when they heard this.

Lan Horn didn't know why they were laughing, and felt embarrassed.After they finished laughing, they asked a little uneasy: "I don't know why the two dear friends are laughing? You come to the humble house. If you have any advice, please let me know."

Cao Yuru and Chu Jiamao looked at each other again, then Cao Yuru stood up, walked a few steps in the room, then went over and patted Lan Hongen on the shoulder, and said, "Brother Lan, to tell you the truth, we are here to invite you You came out of the mountain!"

When Lan Hongen heard this, his eyes widened immediately, he stood up, looked at Cao Yuru and asked in surprise, "Going out of the mountain? What kind of mountain are you going out of?"

Cao Yuru and Chu Jiamao laughed at each other again, then Chu Jiamao stood up and explained to Lan Hongen: "Brother Hongen, don't worry! I will tell you the truth if you don't burn fake incense in front of the real Buddha. Yuru My brother has been appointed as the governor of this county, and I, the stars follow the moon, appointed as the county assistant, to help brother Yuru...

Before he could finish talking, Lan Hongen was overwhelmed by flattery, and hurried over to grab Cao Yuru and Chu Jiamao's hands and shook them, saying, "Oh, it turns out that's the case! I really don't know Taishan, and I hope you two brothers are Haihan!"

Cao Yuru said: "Brother Lan, you don't have to be strict! Why do we have to speak different languages?"

Lan Hongen nodded hastily, and while responding, called the butler to come in to collect the tea sets, and said to the two guests: "I'm really sorry, my dear friends, please go to the back garden to explain in detail!" hand, out of the middle living room, and walked straight along the corridor to the "Ouhe Garden".

As soon as they entered the garden, the eyes of Cao Yuru and Chu Jiamao lit up.At this time, the gentle sunshine in the afternoon is adorning the whole garden, the lotus is in full bloom, the peonies are in bud, and the garden is full of strange fragrance.Cao Yuru admired as he walked: "Brother Lan, look at your towers and pavilions, lotus ponds and winding sills, Zhulan painted buildings, gardens full of exotic flowers, red flowers and emerald flowers, where is the place where ordinary people live!"

Chu Jiamao also said: "Yes! Yes! Brother Lan is worthy of being a wealthy family. It is really a golden valley of mandarin songs, swallows, dances and music, and a hall of red flowers and green willows!"

Lan Hongen was very pleased when he heard this, but he said: "The two dear friends have won the award! Unlike the two, Lan has great ambitions and helps the world at the same time. Lan is not talented, he can't make meritorious deeds, morality, and words, but can only guard the legacy of his ancestors. This bit of pavilion grass, Zheng Lanbao, osmanthus tree, Tang poetry, Jin characters, and Chinese articles!"

As soon as Lan Hongen finished speaking, Cao Yuru excitedly patted Lan Hongen on the shoulder again, and shouted: "What a pavilion grass Zheng Lanbao osmanthus tree, Tang poetry Jin Yuhan article! Brother Lan, you are even more admirable to us!"

Saying that, Lan Hongen led Cao Yuru and Chu Jiamao into the study of "Rainbow Drinking Pavilion".This is also called the lower living room, and Lan Horn usually does not bring guests in here.

As soon as they entered the study, Cao Yuru and Chu Jiamao shouted again.I saw that the study room is indeed full of books on all walls. On the front wall is a small garden landscape painting by Chen Hengge, with a couplet on both sides:
don't worry

Like to read useful books in the world

Below, there are two flower stands in the corner, with flower pots placed on them, and a cluster of fine asparagus bamboos inside.In addition to the four treasures of the study, there is also a piece of pressed book or paper on the desk.Polished by the Pujing, there are four seal characters on it: learning is endless.A few rosewood chairs are painted vermilion, shining brightly.

Lan Hongen greeted Cao Yuru and Chu Jiamao to sit down, and called Wang Ma to brew some high-quality fragrant tea.As soon as the tea was poured, the room was filled with fragrance.Cao Yuru recited the couplet again, then looked at Lan Hongen and said, "Brother Lan, you really deserve to be an expert! You are an expert! I am entangled in mundane affairs, and I may not have such a passion in this life!"

After hearing this, Lan Hongen hurriedly said: "Brother Cao made a mistake! I'm just a person in the Taohuayuan, and I just use my ancestors' admonitions to encourage me! Brother Cao just said that I want to go out of the mountain, but I haven't figured it out yet. Also, we met yesterday , Why did the two dear friends only tell me that they are here as a trader, and they are waiting for a few days?"

After Lan Hongen finished speaking, Cao Yuru and Chu Jiamao laughed again.After laughing, Cao Yuru said: "Brother Lan, to tell you the truth, we have only just arrived, so we don't know how the county is going. Yesterday, brother Jiamao and I visited in private, and we met you by chance. In the eyes of everyone, we are inconvenient to say clearly. , so he lied that the merchant is here."

After hearing this, Lan Hongen understood: "Oh, that's how it is!"

Cao Yuru also said: "When we were classmates in Chengdu, we knew that Brother Lan was honest and self-respecting, and he didn't give up. Time flies, and after a few years, we don't know if Brother Lan is still as firm as a rock, guarding himself and loving himself. Therefore, Brother Yu I specially recruited three stunning women. I didn't expect Brother Lan to be so calm, haha!"

After Lan Hongen heard this, he also laughed, but the smile was a little unnatural.I thought Brother Cao's joke was a bit too much.Fortunately, he did not do anything that violated his status as a scholar, otherwise, this mistake would have made Cao Yuru and Chu Jiamao ridiculed.

After laughing, Chu Jiamao said: "Brother Lan's character is really admirable. Therefore, Brother Yuru wants to invite Brother Lan to go out of the mountain and serve as a teacher in the county office. I don't know what Brother Lan wants..."

Lan Hongen didn't finish listening, and immediately called out: "Teaching?"

Cao Yuru said: "Exactly, Brother Lan! If you want to prosper the county, you must first establish education. Teaching and educating people is a matter of being a teacher, and Jiaoyu is a model for teachers. You must have good literary and moral qualities!"

Lan Hongen was excited, but said: "Brother Cao, what virtue do I have, dare to take on this great task?"

Chu Jiamao hurriedly said: "Brother Lan, you don't have to refuse! In the past few days, Brother Cao and I have made secret visits. Wherever we go, the people all praise you. My dear brother has read a lot of poetry and books, and he doesn't speak indecent words. A matter of righteousness. Generosity and generosity, all things such as offering sacrifices to the ancestors, caring for the poor, raising babies, and releasing lives, my dear brother knows everything he can do, and he will do everything he can. Respect teachers and friends, treat people with kindness, and the people are well-known. A virtuous and talented man like you It's a pity that people don't come out of the mountain to assist Mingzhu!"

After hearing this, Lan Hongen pondered for a while, then suddenly let out a long sigh.

Cao Yuru hurriedly asked: "Brother Lan, why are you sighing? Don't you want to show your face?"

A sad expression flashed across Lan Hongen's face, and he answered after a while: "You two dear friends don't know something! It's not that Lan doesn't want to be an official in the court and be granted a noble title; It’s just that Lan’s ancestors passed on farming and studying for generations, and the ancestors left a rule that all descendants of the Lan family are not allowed to be officials in the court.”

After hearing this, Chu Jiamao hurriedly asked, "Brother Lan, are you serious?"

Lan Hongen said: "When Lan's great-grandfather was young, his family was poor and he could not make a living. He went to the mountains to cut firewood and sell it at a young age. One day, when the great-grandfather came home with a bundle of firewood, he suddenly met a group of government troops. He couldn't escape, and the officers and soldiers gave him a meal. After being severely beaten, the great-grandfather went home and cried in front of his mother. The mother said: "Why is he so illustrious? He is so prominent in his studies / From then on, the great-grandfather hangs his head on the beam, stabs his buttocks and studies hard, and finally wins the first prize in the exam. But the great-grandfather didn't intend to be an official. After I had money, I bought land in my hometown, and within a few years, I abandoned my official position and returned home. When I was dying, I wrote this couplet, and asked the descendants to pass it on from generation to generation, and only can cultivate and read the heirloom."

After Lan Hongen finished speaking, Cao Yuru stood up and gave a bow and said, "Respectable! Respectable! Really respectable!"

Lan Hongen said again: "Besides, if I become an official, the property left by my ancestors will inevitably be neglected. Moreover, in this troubled world, my mother will definitely not let me go out. My parents are here, and I am a human being if I don't travel far. It is the duty of a son!"

After a while, Chu Jiamao suddenly said: "So, brother Lan has made up his mind?"

Lan Hongen said embarrassingly: "The precepts of the ancestors must not be violated!"

Cao Yuru saw that the atmosphere was a bit stiff, so he smiled generously and said, "Everyone has his own ambition, so don't force it! If I were like Brother Lan, I'm afraid I wouldn't come out to take up this official position! Wouldn't I?" , laughing louder.

(End of this chapter)