A Dream of Red Mansions Unexpected Visitors

Jia's private school had long since suspended classes due to visiting relatives. On this day, Daiyu went to see Li Wan, because she was widowed in her youth, and her home was surrounded by beautiful scenery. She only knows to serve her relatives and adopted son, and outside, she will accompany her sister-in-law and wait for needlework to recite, so she is also a idler on important matters of visiting relatives.

When Daiyu came into the room, she found that Li Wan was guarding Jia Lan to write big characters. Daiyu said, "Sure enough, our family will have a champion in the future." "But what's the problem?" It turned out that Daiyu was raised as a man since she was a child, and she had read the Four Books seriously. Li Shouzhong, Li Wan's father, believed that a woman's lack of talent is virtue, so Li Wan only read some books. The things that Jialan doesn't know are all taught by Daiyu on weekdays, and the relationship is pretty good on weekdays.

Li Wan let Jia Lan go into the inner room to practice calligraphy by himself, sighed and said: "The family school is very messy, the old man is not as good as my aunt! It's okay, since the Xue family uncle entered the school, he didn't come to study. Yes, there are some elementary school students who rely on their appearance to get along with Mr. Xue, making a mess. Some time ago, when my sister was away, Baoyu and Qin Zhong, the younger brother of Rong's daughter-in-law in the house, were still at Grandma Huang's house because of this. The nephew got into a fight, and it turned out that Rui Geer often blackmailed those elementary school students to buy wine and meat for him. Rui Geer left the other day, and the old man's energy was even worse, let alone teaching."

Daiyu wondered, "Why didn't sister-in-law tell Madam?"

Li Wan replied with a wry smile: "My wife doesn't want to see me on weekdays. Not only did I not let me see my relatives this time, I even got involved with Lan'er, and I didn't even mention it." After finishing speaking, there was a flash of resentment in his expression When she passed away, Daiyu thought she was wrong, so she stopped talking.Just said: "Although I am incompetent, I can't help much, but my father used to be a Tanhua Lang. I couldn't bear it when I went home that day, so I brought back all the books from the past year. I remember some of them were done by my father. I asked the maids to deliver them later, and Lan Er sent them back to get new ones after reading them. It’s not that I feel sorry for these books, they are all my father’s last wishes, how can I not cherish them.”

Li Wan was overjoyed at this time, and said with a smile: "My good sister, I can't even love her, so how can I hate it? I will definitely let Lan'er protect the books so that they will not be damaged in the slightest."

After taking farewell to Li Wan and returning to the house, Daiyu said to Qingxuan in bewilderment: "It's just that the second wife doesn't want to see me, why doesn't she even want to see her sister-in-law? Take care. Even if the hostess is inside, you can still tell uncle!"

Qingxuan smiled and said: "I'm not a god, I don't know about that." Xue Yan interjected: "I know that, for one thing, including the old lady and the second wife, they all think that the eldest young mistress and Lang Geer are Kefu Heke's father's fate, even the master Zheng, although he didn't say anything, didn't see him except during the holidays. Everyone in our house knows that their mother and child are in a difficult situation, and the second wife doesn't take care of him at all. , except for the 20 taels subsidized by the old lady every month, we have no income at all. We all say that the young mistress is now urging Brother Lan to study hard, hoping to earn a phoenix crown by himself after being named on the gold list. I don’t think there is much hope for anything else. Yes. Both old ladies and wives think that Baoyu has a great fortune. If Lang Geer’s reading exceeds Baoyu’s, the wife thinks that Lang Geer has stolen Baoyu’s luck. The master used to fight Baoyu on weekdays. Curse, if you know about the school, wouldn't it add fuel to the flames, and the wife would get tired of them even more, wouldn't life be even more difficult."

Daiyu sighed: "Just because of Baoyu, can't I delay others?" But she thought to herself, she never persuaded Baoyu to make a name for herself, because she knew Baoyu's temperament, and she was only worthy of being a rich and idle person. Dad is a good reader, and he is an official of the third grade, but when he is alive, there is no day when he can rest assured, and the officialdom is not a good place.In the officialdom, I cheated repeatedly, but Baoyu was simple-minded, and it didn't matter if he didn't study.Originally, he thought that studying was his own business, no one else’s business, but he didn’t know that even those who really wanted to study and become officials could not study hard.It seems that in the future, Baoyu will not be persuaded to go to the school to attend classes, so as not to affect others.

Qingxuan persuaded at this time: "Girls can't hide their diseases and avoid medical treatment just because the master died in the officialdom. Everyone hates stereotyped articles. In the world, men will never do everything they want. If they want to stand upright and protect their wives and children , being an official is the best way."

Daiyu nodded, but said: "My sister is right, but Brother Lang is studying for his mother, Baoyu is loved by old ladies and wives, and the family is from the Houmen family. What is missing from him is If you don't do anything, you can be a rich and idle person for the rest of your life, and it's a good thing to keep your nature." Qingxuan thought that he was young and didn't understand the difficulties of the world, so he would persuade him later, and that's all.

But on the other hand, Aunt Xue was very happy when she heard that Daiyu would not see her on the family's visit night, but she never thought that instead of Lin Daiyu, there would be Shi Xiangyun. Holding Baochai and crying for a while, he said: "My son, I thought that Lin Daiyu would show off her talents and overwhelm everyone when she didn't see her mother, but I didn't expect Shi Xiangyun to come. Thanks to your aunt asking me for 20 taels Money, I have guaranteed the ticket again, but it is so unreliable, I will ask her!"

When Baochai heard about it, she was shocked. It turned out that although Xue's family was rich in millions, their business gradually declined after Xue's father passed away, and Xue Pan was doted on by his mother. His shops were all sold, and they were only worth more than 20 taels of silver. Now they are all stored in the shops. There are only five or six shops in the capital, and they are under the feet of the emperor. Nine out of ten people in this family are officials, and they dare not open a new shop except for the original shop, for fear that others will make money, and even the Rongguo Mansion can't protect it. Lin Daiyu is protected by the emperor, and no one dares to provoke her, but her own family can't. , In addition, there are a group of old servants who have already left, and it is already in decline.Xue's family also has their own house in the capital, and now they live in Rongguo Mansion, in order to take advantage of the power of Rongguo Mansion.But Mrs. Wang thought that the property of the Lin family was not enough, and only the Xue family could ask for money. She knew that Aunt Xue was soft-hearted, so she took 50 taels from Aunt Xue, thinking about the missing 20 taels of silver. The 10 taels of the 10 taels are considered to be paid by the second house, 10 taels for the big house, 10 taels for Jiamu, 5 taels for the Xifu, and 10 taels for Wang Xifeng. The remaining [-] taels are just right for you When private.

Baochai originally wanted to enter the palace, but after the road was broken, she could only marry Baoyu, so that she and the Rongguo Mansion became a family, and it would be good for the Xue family to be revitalized in the future.It’s just that Baochai also knows that her aunt is not a good person to get along with. She has already persuaded her mother that every penny she spends is now one penny less, and it’s better to be simple on weekdays. Two, I couldn't help being anxious and angry: "Why is my mother's ears soft again? My aunt gave it as soon as she said it. Do you want an IOU?"

Aunt Xue said shyly, "I think we are relatives. You will marry into the Rongguo Mansion in the future. I don't want to see the face of the Buddha if you don't see the monk's face."

Baochai said angrily: "The matter has not been decided yet. Besides, my mother gave 20 taels at once. They must think that our family is easy to cheat. What should I do if I want more in the future? Besides, my brother is the one who will inherit the family business, so we can't take it away." All the money is spent on me. I wish I could be a man and revitalize the family. My aunt is not a good person to deal with. Sister Lin has such a big family business. Now except for what she keeps and what is saved by the old lady, It's gone, I think even the old lady's will disappear sometime, she's closer than us in terms of relatives, my mother hastened to ask for an IOU, in case things don't work out, it won't be a waste of money Two mistakes." Then she taught Aunt Xue how to speak like this.

Aunt Xue has always been soft-hearted, otherwise she wouldn't have spoiled Xue Pan like a playboy, and Baochai told her that she was very worried, so she agreed and hurried to find Mrs. Wang.Mrs. Wang was instructing how to display the antique calligraphy and paintings of the Lin family. Seeing that they were all splendid with golden walls, she thought: "Sure enough, all the things from Miss Lin's house should have arrived in Jia's house. You can tell that the antiques are worth a thousand dollars. She I don't think I have much silver taels left on me. How can my Baoyu marry such a poor girl? It's better for the Xue family. I see that Xue Pan is not a good one. In the future, Baochai's dowry will be indispensable, at least two to three hundred thousand taels. If something happened to Xue Pan, the family wealth would not be all his own. The other day, my sister gave 30 taels all at once, and she is really rich, and Bao girl is a good one, so she should match her Baoyu." At this time, Jin heard that Chuan'er came to report: "Aunt Xue is here." He hurriedly said: "Come in quickly."

Aunt Xue came and cried: "Sister said well that day, the mother will let us Baochai show up on the day of the visit, and there will be another Shi Xiangyun. The old lady in the mansion has always opposed it. I only did it for my sister's sake." Hold on, my sister can give me an accurate word now, otherwise who will be responsible for the delay of our Baochai's marriage? If you have a bad reputation, you won’t be able to get married.”

When Mrs. Wang heard that it meant that she wanted to stop getting married, and she was greedy for the wealth of the Xue family, how could she agree? Yuan Chunji was brought up by her, and I couldn't touch her. If Lin Yatou was allowed to enter the house, there would be no place for me to stand. I would definitely not agree. Baochai entered the mansion, and I will be of the same mind. Apart from her, I would not want anyone else to be my wife."

Aunt Xue said, "What about Shi Xiangyun?"

Mrs. Wang smiled contemptuously: "The girl whose parents both died, maybe Kefu? I can't want such a daughter-in-law, Li Wan's daughter-in-law of Kefu, I really don't want to even look at her. When I think of my Pearl being killed by him If Ke is dead, I can't wait to tear her apart. Baoyu is my heart and soul. Shi Xiangyun wants to enter the door unless I die. Don't worry, the empress is my own daughter after all. Mother and child are united. You can rest assured now."

Aunt Xue still hesitated and said: "There is no evidence for what you say? My sister, you have a green mouth and white teeth, and you can't do it right. The 20 taels, sister, you can write me a letter. When I see that the mother really agreed to this marriage." , I'll return it again."

Mrs. Wang is of course unwilling to establish this evidence. Although she said she wanted Baochai to be her daughter-in-law the most, Yuanchun is now the empress, and Baoyu is the empress's younger brother, and her status is even more precious. What if there is a better marriage? You can't insist on marrying Baochai because of Baoyu's future.It's just that Aunt Xue seemed to have taken medicine today, and she refused to let go, so she finally made a written statement as a last resort.Only then did Aunt Xue leave satisfied, and Mrs. Wang Yuan was angry for a while, but then she thought that Baochai was very suitable for him, and he was seven or eight percent sure of being his daughter-in-law, so that's all.

After Aunt Xue returned to the house, Baochai was waiting impatiently, and her old illness relapsed, so she ordered Yinger to take the cold incense pills. When she saw her mother came back, she hurriedly asked, "But is there an IOU?" Aunt Xue said: "My, don't worry, I think your aunt has indeed appointed you to be her daughter-in-law. Of course I got back the IOU."

Baochai said: "If you are not afraid of ten thousand things in this world, you should be more careful." He also said, "Mom can't borrow money so casually next time." During the festive season, Baochai will show her face in front of the empress.