Baoyu Fights the Red Chamber

Bao Xiucai only reads the books of sages and sages, and the banquets held by the two houses all the year round, he has always been the only one who has to be there, let alone the servants.Everyone Lai came back for the first time, and wanted to go to the toilet. The servants were eager to lead the way, but they were waved back by Lian Er.

Not to mention his familiarity, Lian Er led Bao's second brother around as if he was at home, and entered a small study in the outer courtyard, and quickly opened all the doors and windows.The long attendants he brought and Baoyu's four servants immediately drove them away and surrounded the small study.

Baoyu didn't know if there were any ancient bugs like copper pipes installed in the small study, anyway, being careful was the best thing to do, so he approached Lian Er and whispered.

Jia Lian's face was full of colors, lamenting that my troubled brother was quick-witted and quick-spoken: If the old lady called the little opera singers from the Ning Mansion to sing in the Rong Mansion, she would wait for the opportunity to make a big fuss... It's useless, how serious the division is It's not that easy to do.The elders of the Daizi clan are still alive, don't think that they have no ability on weekdays, and they all became Buddhas when they were divided.

Baoyu also knew that he couldn't get things done with that idea, so he whispered: "It's not a day's cold to freeze three feet, so make a foreshadowing!"

Lian Er nodded silently, thinking that Rong kid and Qiang kid can spread rumors and cause trouble, why can't the master "treat him in the same way"?After going back and forth, the Ningrong Second Mansion naturally went further and further away.

Baoyu put on the air of finishing the conversation, and said casually: "Look at Mr. Lai's study, the sparrow is small and full of internal organs. Every time I see Mr. Lai, I always feel a little guilty. The servants in our house can do a lot. , there are a lot of people who eat plain rice. Will the quantity be too much? It’s not good to exceed the limit.”

Lian Er sighed slightly but didn't answer, and took the troubled brother back to the table.Regarding the matter of slavery, brother Bao would give him advice from time to time, so he could only listen to it, and wait until he became the head of the family to talk about it!

All previous dynasties had clear restrictions on slaves, and the country's taxes depended on the good people. There were many slaves and few good people, and the treasury was hard.Therefore, only officials' families, Shixun's houses, and royal merchants can have servants.Even in the royal family, only those with rank can have slaves, and those without rank can only hire long-term workers.For example, all rich households without fame, landlords, merchants, craftsmen, etc. can only hire assistants to do things.But prohibited ones abound. Who doesn't have slaves in a family with some status?Especially Shixun's House is the most.For example, in Rong Mansion, if Zhuang Ding from various villages is added together, the number of servants exceeds [-], which naturally exceeds the limit.It’s just that there is nothing on the surface, and many of them are red-headed deeds that have not been filed with the government.The red-headed deed is recognized by the law, so if the government pursues it, it will be regarded as "Tibetan slave crime" at a light level; if it is a serious crime, it can lead to treason!

Fake Stone You murmured: "Many slaves harm themselves, and people are too busy to ruin the master's house. As the old saying goes, the embankment of a thousand miles collapses in an ant's nest, and those redundant slaves are just ants. What does it have to do with them?"

Lian Er laughed, and Baoyu muttered again: "There is a saying about using soldiers. Soldiers are valuable and elites are not so many. If you have too many, you can eat food for nothing. I think the reason why those clean streams are so precious is that they can make people look down. If you have good virtue, you should get rid of everything that should be kicked out. Without the burden and being light, how can you not be 'clean and noble (light rules)' and easily establish rules."

Lian Er also sighed: "Originally, they are lighter than us. They are officials for several generations, with high and low grades. Each generation increases or decreases according to the grade. That is, within one generation, the official rank of the head of the family rises and falls. , When you get old and become an official, your servants will increase or decrease, and there are far fewer servants than us. In a family like ours, the servants have followed the master through the mountains of swords and blood, and their affections are different."

Baoyu was very disdainful: How many generations can Zuyin eat?Even the master can't eat the shadow of his ancestors!How many times have I said this, frying leftovers is boring.So he turned to talk about the venetian curtain in Lai's outer hall that looks like a carved wall, implying that Lian Er's "Master Rong is not as good as a slave" has penetrated into the details of daily life.

But in the garden pavilion, Jia's mother is very happy.As an old man, she has watched dramas all her life, and her voice is really important, and her naive attitude and occasional mistakes are even more interesting.

I am too old to sit for long periods of time, and after the show closed, the old lady ordered to summon the senior official who sang the best song just now.

The play had only been sung for more than half an hour, and Ling Guan hadn't taken off his makeup, so he came back with a face full of paint in a blink of an eye.Jia Mu laughed, and ordered Yuanyang to give her meat and fruit to eat, and then asked Ling Guan how old he was, how long he had been studying opera, and so on.

Nanny Lai felt a little depressed, originally she didn't think that Lai Sheng's entreaty was a big deal, it was just that the younger generation tried different ways to please the old lady.It wasn't until her grandson sent her mother-in-law to pass the message that she remembered that the second master Lian and Rong Qiang were not ignorant.Although these young men always gossip with each other, and it's okay to quarrel for three days and two days, but I don't have to be a mouse in a bellows to get angry at both ends.But the play has already started, Young Master Qiang just sits in the hall and stares, unable to stop.

The little opera singers got Jia Qiang's order, and Ling Guan "inadvertently" brought out that he was "Uncle Qiang's girl" when he replied.

Mother Jia was slightly stunned, then she smiled and looked at Mrs. Xing Wang and his wife, "Brother Qiang is a delicate person. At the Earl's time, both prefectures had opera troupes, bought musical instruments, hired teachers in Gusu, and paid attention to food on weekdays." It was very troublesome. The earl went to the funeral, and the theater troupe dispersed, so I never thought of supporting the family. Brother Qiang didn’t have a proper job in the past, and it’s good for him to do some elegant things with his temperament, singing among relatives and friends Singing for fun is also good. Have you ordered the Mid-Autumn Festival theater troupe?"

The old lady's intentions were obvious, and Mrs. Xing received another generous gift from You's family, and took the opportunity to say: "My daughter-in-law is worried! There are countless people who have invited opera troupes for the Mid-Autumn Festival, and they have booked famous troupes. Brother's girl."

Mrs. Wang is a narrow-minded person, she still remembers the little grudge back then, she dislikes Jia Qiang very much, she can't find anything to refute, her expression is slightly unhappy.

Jia's mother glanced at her: "The second family, your master is upright, your son and your grandson are upright and upright, everyone in the family is an upright gentleman! The children are young, and they are more rigid than the other. Qiang My brother just borrowed a few girls, he didn't come to the banquet, and he didn't sing at his house, what's the problem?"

Mrs. Wang knew that Jia's mother felt sorry for Jia Qiang's parents who died early, but as a decent great-great-grandson, she was not allowed to inherit the family.There was a smile on his face, and he said with a bone in his voice: "It turns out that the daughter-in-law wanted to marry her. They are not born in the family, but they are singing operas, so they don't need to accompany the master to observe filial piety."

Mrs. Xing smiled and looked at Nanny Lai: "How did I hear that these girls are now at the in-laws of Chief Laisheng?" minions).

Nanny Lai had no choice but to say, "What the eldest lady said is true. Master Qiang spent a lot of time cultivating these girls, and he was reluctant to let them go, so he sent them to Liu's family with their body and deeds. Laisheng thought that they would not sing for a long time. , the voice will be crippled, so I asked my in-laws to send them out to sing."

Mother Jia didn't speak but smiled at Madam Wang, Madam Wang reluctantly said: "Brother Qiang is fine, so it will be fine."

Nanny Lai smiled and said, "I'm afraid it will be a big hindrance! Just now my grandson sent someone to say that Second Master Lian was very unhappy. He and Second Master Bao didn't do well at the old lady's birthday banquet. Jiecaiyi entertaining relatives, looking at this group of girls is an eyesore, let me say that no one is allowed to enter Rongfu."

Jia Mu's old eyes were bright, and she pretended to be unhappy and said: "Who made them have no girls? What can the two young masters do? Could it be that Baoyu is a storyteller and Lian'er is singing an opera? The old family, the second family, pass a message later. , my wife won’t accept it! Unless it’s the other way around, Lian’er is a storyteller and Baoyu sings an opera!”

Everyone roared with laughter, Xiangyun jumped up and said, "Well, well! I want a little actor too! I always play with the sons of the big brothers, but this time I want Lian's second brother Bao Erge to be the mainstay and talk and sing. I can't sing, and I'm so young. The officials and the others play tricks!"

A group of people leaned forward and back together laughing, and Jia Mu pointed to Xiangyun: "You are so narrow! Do you know how much money is paid for the son who rewards the playboys? That is more expensive than hiring famous actors! You still want to use them to support the stage Hurry up and go back to the house, find a big basket to put the copper plates in, but you need to know that the noise is not enough when you give rewards, and the audience booed on and off the stage!"

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

After sitting for less than an hour, Jia's mother returned home, took away Mrs. Wang, who had been putting on airs all day, and ordered Mrs. Xing to take the girls to have more fun.

At first, a servant reported to Jia Qiang that Lian Er Baoyu had almost turned his back on him. He was so annoyed that he wanted to turn around and leave, but he held back.Then came the word that the old matriarch had already decided on the little actor, he was no longer in the mood to stay aggrieved, said a few words on the occasion, and then left.

Lai Shangrong heaved a sigh of relief when he got the report, and repeatedly apologized to Lian Er Baoyu, and then escaped by going to another table to toast.

The second master Lian was in a bad mood, so he drank a few more glasses and scolded Rui Xiucai, saying that he didn't practice in the past, and he was unfair when he was in charge of the family school for his ancestors, and there were many grievances.Rui Xiucai cried and complained, saying that she was young and ignorant at that time, and she didn't do it on purpose.Bao Xiucai was on the sidelines to persuade them to make peace, saying that no one is wrong, and some people must be punished for their grievances, and wanton framing is hateful.Some shocking and indignant old cases were vaguely brought out between the three people's words.

Jia Rui cooperated so well, since last year when a certain rumor first started, Baoyu approached him, reminding him that he refused to admit it, and only admitted that the only stupid thing he did was being lured by Jia Qiang to gamble, and wrote Zhang Wuliang Owing to the contract.

Rui Xiucai didn't expect that what happened so long in the past would be revealed, so he responded with a lot of bluffing, and then under the double hypnosis of Baoyu and himself, he thought that it was Jia Rong and Jia Qiang's trick, otherwise how could he be here? Huifangyuan in Ningfu, in such a situation, see Fengjie who is quite different from usual?Fortunately, he knew his way back when he lost his way, and he did not make mistakes again and again, so naturally he couldn't admit it!

Afterwards, a rumor that was as vivid as "Second Grandma of Ye Dulian, Ruixiu Cai" spread quietly:

[On Sister Feng's birthday last year, Wang Ren, who was in debt to gambling, asked Sister Feng for money, and the two brothers and sisters quarreled.Lian Er persuaded him to make peace, and Wang Ren pointed out that Brother Jiang was the son of Sister Feng and Jia Rui in front of Lian Er.Sister Feng was so mad that she had a fight with Wang Ren.

Lian Er tied Wang Ren up for a bad trial, and Wang Ren's confession was made by Jia Rong and Jia Qiang.Lian Er didn't believe it, Wang Ren recruited Jia Qiang to dislike Jia Rui, saying that Jia Rui was poor, and when he was studying in the family school, Jia Rui yelled and drank like a debt collector.Sister Feng has a sharp mouth. Jia Rong and Jia Qiangsu hate Sister Feng for calling them like servants, saying that Sister Feng and Jia Rui are just right for a pair.Wang Ren became more angry, saying that Brother Jiang is a bastard.

[The extremely angry Lian Er beat Wang Ren violently, and then beat Jia Rong and Jia Qiang.Then he went to Sister Feng to settle the score, and scolded Sister Feng for having a grudge against others and recruited him a "green hat" for nothing.Sister Feng was ill with qi, and Wang Ren died of the epidemic soon after. ,

Sister Feng said that it was Lian Er who injured Wang Renling's body and fell ill, and Lian Er said that it was Sister Feng who beat her brother too hard and left internal injuries.The couple sent Wang Ren's ashes back to Jinling with shame, and were angry all the way. Brother Jiang was still angry when he was sick, and his son died inadvertently!

[When Brother Jiang died, the husband and wife turned against each other, and Sister Feng refused to go back to her husband's house.Lian Er angrily rushed back to Beijing to take a concubine. Unexpectedly, when she went to Jinling after the next year, Sister Feng fell ill with tuberculosis and waited to die by the ancestral grave.Lian Er regretted it too much and stayed with Sister Feng in the ancestral grave.

Tuberculosis spread, Jia's ancestral grave was far away, and it was inconvenient to consult a doctor for medicine. The Wang family was afraid that Lian and his wife would both die in front of the grave, so they reported to the old lady of Jia's family.The old lady urgently asked Lian Er's brother-in-law, the head of the Xue family, to go to Jinling to bring Lian Er back. Sister Feng went to Jinling's old house to recuperate. Poor Sister Feng is running out of time. 】

Rumors spread, but Mother Jia didn't hear about it for the time being.Her old man has not been able to stand the toss after killing the slaves at night, but it is four days before her birthday banquet that the Master Jing Hundred Days Dojo is only tired one after another.

The birthday banquet lasted for two days in a row, and it was tiring to just sit and be kowtowed by so many juniors.Before she recovered, she went to be a guest with everyone, the old lady finally died, and she rested after she came back. No one would dare to disturb her peace with gossip.

Hearing the rumors, Jia Zhen recruited Jia Rong and Jia Qiang, and beat Jia Rong without saying anything.

Speaking of which, these two have never dared to tell Jia Zhen about Wang Ren's framing of his sister. If they were not the parties involved, they would definitely think that Brother Jiang really belonged to which of them, or even the son of Ju Mo, and they couldn't tell which one it was. .

Even so, we had to struggle for a while. Jia Qiang begged Jia Zhen to ask Bao Er's wife: Bao Er and his wife were able to climb up to Jia Rong. It was Bao Er's wife who knew what Wang Ren said that day. "who is it.So Jia Rong didn't care that the couple's body deed was in Jia Lian's hands, and took them in. Anyway, the slaves of the two houses were also used in conjunction.

But Jia Qiang didn't mention Bao's second daughter-in-law, You Ke, and Jia Zhen didn't believe it: Jia Rong accepted her, and if Rong Qiang wanted her to say something, she would say nothing.

At that moment, Jia Zhen showed regret and said, "Are they all dead! What's the matter with Jia Rui?"

Jia Rong and Jia Qiang had a good understanding, and they said in unison that they were caught at random to top the vat-the rumors were clearly released by Lian Er Baoyu, Baoyu wanted to protect Jia Rui, and Lian Er would not allow anyone to pollute Sister Feng's name.Although they didn't seem to be afraid of the two bastards, they didn't have evidence in hand, and if they told Jia Zhen the truth, Jia Zhen wouldn't believe that Jia Rui dared to miss Sister Feng.

Jia Zhen kicked Jia Rong resentfully: "Dare to be a wicked seed who dare not be! There is a house full of wives and concubines, why don't you give birth to one for your father to see?"

Jia Rong and Jia Qiang looked at each other.Jia Rong wiped her face and gave up on herself, saying: "It's nothing, there's nothing the master can do if he doesn't believe it! In short, one of them is dead and the other is about to die, and they have become enemies with the Rong Mansion!"

Jia Qiang said: "That's not necessarily the case. I'm not afraid to say something cruel. Second Uncle Lian may secretly like it. Uncle Lian has heard it too. Second Uncle Lian has often said that Aunt Feng's mouth is sweet and cruel. It's obviously a pot of fire, but secretly it's a knife." , I often regret that there is no way to rest. Only Uncle Bao is difficult to deal with, and eight to nine out of ten of the nonsense are made up by Uncle Bao. He is not good at sex, but he only values ​​kinship, and I am afraid that his hatred will poison brother Rong and me."

For Jia Qiang to be favored by Jia Zhen, she must have understood Jia Zhen thoroughly.Jia Zhen has a great advantage. When things happen, she always thinks of the good. Maybe she always thinks of the bad. Because of what she does, she is about to die. Over time, she develops the habit of whitewashing the peace.

He himself didn't believe Jia Qiang's nonsense, but Jia Zhen believed it, and her expression was obviously relaxed: "Wang Xifeng is just his cousin, and her surname is Wang, not Jia. Baoyu should protect you, Aunt Xichun, so much. If I hate you, I will hate you for a while." , who made you two obscene seeds take advantage of it and act like a good boy! That sour scholar is the most honorable, starving to death is a small injustice and a big one, but if you don’t make trouble, it’s nothing to do with it. If you don’t spread rumors about Wang Xifeng , How can this happen today?" Thinking about it, he felt something was wrong, and frowned, "Baoyu has so many eyes like a sieve, why did it take so long to make trouble?"

Jia Qiang expressed frustration: "He thought I was unruly, so he instigated Second Uncle Lian not to allow the little opera singer to enter the Rong Mansion. The old lady liked it, but his mother wanted to stop her, saying that slaves should follow the filial piety of the master, and the old lady said I said a few words to their second room, "

Jia Zhen sighed: "It's hard to deal with acid, his old man is so rigid. You don't need to be as knowledgeable as him, that family is all talkative, do as they do, we men don't live!"

Jia Qiang said with a smile, "That's exactly what I said. In other words, although Second Uncle Bao is old-fashioned and annoying, he is very good with Second Uncle Lian. Second Uncle Lian is not old-fashioned. He just wants to put on a show at this moment. Wait until things calm down." Now, my nephew and brother Rong went to kowtow to Second Uncle Lian, and it is impossible for Uncle to act as if he owed him to Second Uncle Lian, he clearly should thank us."

Will Rong Qiang really find Lian Er?They're out of their minds again!The two brothers wanted to talk to Baoyu, but they were wronged!In the past, I couldn't save face, but now I have to give up face.

The author has something to say: The crowd effect of rumors: look, gold is falling from the sky!