[Red House Chai Dai] Salted Pork Knuckle, Crab Rice Wine

"You know the reason, but you deliberately pretend not to know." One day, that mysterious voice said to Baochai.

Baochai hurriedly said: "She is born with a weak body and lack of effort, so she has such a temperament, and she didn't treat me like this on purpose. I have the opportunity to walk outside these few days. Firstly, my brother asked me repeatedly. Take precautions against Xiangling's matter, lest it will be difficult, but Sanlai also wanted to take the opportunity to find out if there is any good doctor in the capital, but if her disease can be cured, I'm afraid she will change her temper from now on.

The voice snorted coldly, and said: "You clearly know the reason, why bother to drag it so far? First, the 'Gold and Jade Story' spread, and then you asked Qianxue to be your maid, how could she not be more suspicious of you? ?”

Baochai was taken aback, then smiled and said, "That's right. She has always been a careful person, and she grew up with Baoyu. Needless to say, she has a close relationship. Now that she has realized what Second Aunt meant, although it is still nonsense, But it also has a little sister-in-law's picky mentality, and it is reasonable to treat me like this. This is simple, and when I try to reveal it to her, I don't have any intentions, so I'm afraid it will be fine."

Hearing her ramblings, the voice couldn't help feeling anxious, and said: "Now, are you still thinking of denying it? Don't you see that she prefers Baoyu?"

At that time, the theory of marriage was nothing more than the orders of parents and the words of matchmakers. If a boy and a girl exchange affection privately, seriously speaking, it would damage the girl's reputation.Baochai knew that Lin Daiyu was born in a well-known Lin family, and she was from a scholarly family. Qingyu was naturally very important. Hearing what the voice said, she hurriedly clarified for her: "What's the matter? She is still young, how could she Pay attention to this? If it is said that Mrs. Shi arranged the two of them together since they were young, I am afraid that there is some intention of getting closer, but if she is young and still does not understand the matter, she will go Thinking about this, you are slandering her. Those servants are just listening to the wind, spreading rumors, and chewing their tongues, so why do you say that?"

The voice said: "When I was young, I only felt close and speculative, like brothers and sisters, and couldn't bear to be separated. When I grow up and become sensible, don't I just want to be a husband and wife so that we can stay together for a long time? This is not a random rumor, just to remind you, understand early her mind."

Baochai felt quite uncomfortable, and argued: "She is still young, and the Lin family will be in charge of the marriage in the future. Now that Uncle Lin is an official in Yangzhou, I am afraid that he will choose young talents from the local area for her in the future. In this way, Xu also went back to the south of the Yangtze River to see her. Although the precious jade skin was born well, but I look at it coldly, it will be difficult to become a great weapon in the future, and it may not be what Uncle Lin meant. I still have a little bit of opinion If he doesn't go up, why would he dare to match up with Sister Lin?"

Hearing what she said, the voice sneered twice, and said, "You don't believe me, so let's take a look at it. I said that someone is your rival in love. Why don't you admit to such a simple thing?"

Baochai didn't know what to say for a moment, so she diverted it with other words.

Xue Pan harassed Baochai once to check the accounts of the silk and satin shop, and made this example, which became the norm. After that, he harassed Baochai again and again, saying: "Now the shop assistants are saying, our family invited A gentleman who knows the accounts very well, when he came to a place, he didn’t have to ask too many questions, he just took a look at the accounts, and he could see the frauds inside. He was so panicked that he didn’t dare to do those sneaky things in the past. , This is all thanks to my sister."

He was busy showing his courtesy again and said: "My sister said last time that you are a good doctor. I am paying attention to the doctor, but I can't find it for a while. What is my sister looking for a doctor for? Is it because I am sick or I am tired of taking Lengxiang pills? Want to get rid of the root of the disease? I have already asked the shopkeeper and the shop assistant to pay attention, and if I encounter a good one, I must tell my sister as soon as possible.”

Those few days were the end of the year, and everything in the shop was busy.Xue Pan has recently rectified the family business, and has seen some results. He couldn't help but come to trouble Baochai again today, and said with a smile: "My sister always embroiders at home, or she just goes wandering in the mansion over there. I'm afraid it's boring. Or take this opportunity to go out and relax."

Baochai was a little annoyed, and said sternly: "Since my brother wants to rectify the family business, it is a good idea, and a younger sister should also give her full support. It's just that it's always like this, why don't you hire a real accountant. Would you rather give him more wages and ask him to read carefully every day?"

Xue Pan sighed and said, "No way! There are no accountants in the larger shops of our family? It's just that even if they are talented and learned, how can they be compared with your sister? What's more, they are more foolish. I'm good at it." I invited them to drink with good words, and they agreed on the surface, but when they turned around, they all ignored my words and fooled me like a fool. After all, it is an outsider, after all, it cannot be relied on."

After Baochai heard this, she thought to herself, "It can be seen from this that to be an owner, you must have some talent yourself so that you will not be bullied."In desperation, she had to order Ying'er to clean up and prepare to go in disguise, because she joked, "I've worked so hard, I don't know how can I thank you?"

This was a joke, but it stopped Xue Pan from asking.But seeing him scratching his head and scratching his head, he said with a smile for a long time: "This stumps me. My sister has always been a troublemaker, and never asked me what I want. Even if I need to spend money, it is mostly for the family. Besides, there should be my sister's share in the money, it can't be regarded as my intention.... Now that I have it, I promise my sister a word, if my sister has orders, if I can do it, I dare not No. Is it so good?"

Baochai didn't expect anything at first. Hearing his words, he didn't take it seriously at first, but then suddenly remembered something, and said happily: "Since that's the case, I'll ask my brother for one thing, please don't think about Xiangling again in the future." ,how?"

Xue Pan was taken aback.He originally thought that Baochai's request must be jewelry and clothing, but he thought that he had a lot of bad money, which was a trivial matter, but he never expected that she would actually mention Xiangling.It's fine if someone else pays her back, but this Xiangling was the woman he had taken a fancy to when he was in Jinling City.As the saying goes, "A concubine is worse than a wife, stealing is worse than a concubine, and it's better not to steal than to steal." Xue Pan's desire for Xiangling became more and more intense just because he didn't succeed.Now that Baochai actually mentioned this, he couldn't help feeling reluctant.

However, although Xue Dabawang is dull, when he is impulsive, he is still full of thoughts and wants to do a good job. As the saying goes, he is ambitious and talented, and he also spends two days fishing and three days drying the net, so he rarely succeeds in doing things. Some quit halfway.Now his blood is hot, and when he was excited, he thought that a man should put his career first, so he slapped his chest and said with a smile: "What's so difficult about this? Xiangling was born extraordinary. I think my younger sister wants to stay by my side all the time, as an arm? As a younger sister You have spoken, brother must obey, I will make an oath now, if I dare to make Xiangling's idea again, I will be called to sleep on the street, and I will never return home, how good is that?"

Aunt Xue was listening, and said: "It's so good, you should put your heart into rectifying the inheritance left by your ancestors. People always tell people behind their backs that the children of Xue's family are worthless. In front of noble ladies, I always feel that my face is dull and looks like a dwarf."

But Baochai pursed her lips and smiled: "Just promise, why bother to swear?" After thinking about it for a while, she said to Aunt Xue: "Mother, listen to brother's oath. I don't want to go home."

Aunt Xue nodded and smiled, "That makes sense." Then she took the opportunity to say to Xue Pan, "It's good to socialize outside, but you have to learn it well, and you absolutely must not fool around with that dandy, let alone associate with dubious people. "Although Xue Pan felt that his ears were annoying, but at this moment, he had to nod in response.

On that day, Baochai checked the accounts at Hengshudian again. Because there were so many accounts, it was difficult to sort them out for a while, and she didn't even care about lunch.

Ying'er was serving at the side. Seeing this, she couldn't help urging her, and complained: "Although the girl is helping the uncle to check the accounts, she must also take care of her health. All the year round, she only remembers to persuade Miss Lin that "he who eats the grain lives" and always eat more. Only in order to add spiritual energy and blood, but I was like this first."

Hearing what she said, Baochai had no choice but to put down the account book in his hand, and said with a smile: "I just saw the key point when looking at the account book, so I can't take care of it for a while. If that's the case, it's up to you, it's serious to pass on the meal first."

Ying'er responded, and went to talk to outsiders. When she came back, she said to Baochai, "Miss is very tired these days, helping the uncle to check the accounts during the day, and rushing to do needlework at night. According to me, this After all, the things outside are what men should do. Although a girl is capable, she doesn’t have to work hard on herself. Although the work on needlework is a girl’s duty, she doesn’t have to be so perfect. ——Ms. Lin will be on the [-]th of February next year As for the birthday, there are still several months left, and this year's congratulatory gift to Bao Erye is not seen so wholeheartedly by the girl!"

Baochai smiled and explained: "The affection between brothers and sisters is naturally different. Brother Bao's birthday, send a pair of calligraphy and paintings that are useless at home. He is eccentric and doesn't like things about his career, but he doesn't fall for praise or criticism. The birthdays of the sisters should be dedicated. This year I prepared late, and I feel regretful. Next year, her birthday will naturally have to be made up. .”

Ying'er curled her lips and said: "Speaking of it, it's just needlework. Even if the girl puts her heart into doing it, I'm afraid Miss Lin doesn't care too much. In my opinion, the things that the second master Bao gave are far inferior to those given by the girl. She smiled when she saw it."

Baochai smiled generously and said, "She and Brother Bao have grown up together, so the relationship is different. Besides, Brother Bao is a new gadget collected from outside. It is unique and interesting. She will naturally like it when she sees it. Let's not Speaking of this, do you know that my brother has already promised me that if I help him reorganize his family business, he will never think about Xiangling again. In this way, all our previous arrangements will be unnecessary. Listen and see , wouldn't that be good?"

Ying'er was delighted when she heard this. After a while, someone from outside brought in a food box, and the master and servant ate together.Not long after the meal, Yinger went to clean up the dishes, Baochai picked up the ledger again, and just turned a few pages, when suddenly the door curtain was lifted, and a young man in bright clothes came in, looking around, casually He asked, "Is Uncle Xue here?"

Ying'er was startled when she saw this, and when she opened her mouth to scold him, she was stopped by Baochai.Baochai glanced at the young gentleman, then lowered her head and looked at the account book by herself.

The young son's face became more and more anxious, but he looked at Baochai suspiciously and asked, "Where did Master Xue go? Are you his new Qidi brother?"

It wasn't until this time that the people in the pawn shop outside realized that they rushed in and grabbed the young man, and said one after another: "Master is having a drink outside today, Mr. Jin, please go back. This is the gentleman invited by Mr. It is extremely clear in the accounts, the uncle valued it very much, and told us to treat him well, and we must not disturb him."

The young man called Jin Ye was skeptical, looked Baochai up and down again, and was persuaded by the people in the pawnshop again and again, so Fang went away resentfully.

Not long after, another court servant from the pawn shop asked to see him. As soon as he came in, he wanted to explain the matter to Baochai. Baochai knew what he meant by watching his words and deeds. up.That Chaofeng knew that Baochai was especially valued by Dong's family, and that Ying'er was a very honorable servant girl of the Xue family, so he didn't dare to disobey, so he went out with Ying'er.

After about two sticks of incense, Yinger came back and said to Baochai: "This Mr. Jin is a relative of the Jia family. It is said that he is also studying in the family school now. He has always been very close to the uncle. The uncle recognizes him. Became a Qidi. According to Chaofeng, he has always paid for nothing in the silk and satin shop and business firm at home, and everyone has never dared to say anything. Even this Hengshudian is a frequent visitor. He didn't stop him when he saw it. Because of these reasons, when he broke in just now, everyone had no time to react, but he bumped into the girl."

Baochai waved her hand and said, "Now that I'm dressed up like this, I can't say that I'm going to be a collision or not. It's just that when I saw the man surnamed Jin come in, he had an angry look on his face. I don't know who offended him. Since he is familiar with my brother, maybe he is here to fan the flames and make a complaint. Do you know what it is?"

After hearing this, Ying'er went out to ask again, and when another stick of incense passed, she came in and replied, "I have asked all over the shop, but no one knows about it. It is said that the man surnamed Jin is busy going into the shop as soon as he enters the shop." Let's go. Everyone was unprepared and told him to sneak in without seeing him."

Baochai sighed after hearing this: "You also know my brother's temper. It sounds like the wind is raining. This oily-faced, powder-faced man surnamed Jin, with a bad eye, doesn't know what bad intentions are hidden. Don't let him instigate my brother and cause a catastrophe." That's good."

The master and servant have no clue about this matter, so they can only let it go.After reading the accounts, Baochai sent someone to find Xue Pan, explained the disadvantages of it, and persuaded Xue Pan to focus on the big and let go of the small in business, and went home with Yinger and Yingerniang.

A few days later, one day Xue Pan suddenly brought some young princes to his house, and he didn't know what they were doing for a long time, scaring Aunt Xue and Baochai from going forward.Aunt Xue asked the kitchen, she knew it was not a treat, and she also asked the servants who usually go out with Xue Pan, and heard that these were all classmates in Xue Pan's school, thought they were gathering together to discuss homework, she couldn't help but be overjoyed, He hurriedly told Baochai, "Your brother finally knows how to make progress!"

Baochai often checks accounts in the shop these days, has heard a lot of gossip, and also vaguely seen a lot of Xue Pan's behavior outside, so she dare not be as sweet as Aunt Xue, and is hesitating whether to tell Aunt Xue the truth. Ying'er came over and winked at her.

Baochai understood, and went to the side, but heard Yinger say: "The young master surnamed Jin that I met in Hengshudian last time has also come home today."

Baochai had a very bad impression of this surname Jin, fearing that he would provoke her elder brother to do something lawless, she hastily told Aunt Xue about it.

Aunt Xue still didn't believe it, and said: "Since you are a relative of your second aunt's family, how can you have bad intentions? You are too careful and overthinking, so you think of people as bad."

Baochai took the case of Xue Pan and Feng Yuan's fight for Xiangling in Jinling as an example, and argued: "When I was in Jinling earlier, my brother almost killed someone because he wanted to grab Xiangling. When I heard about it, I told my mother, My mother didn't believe it at the time. How did it turn out? It can be seen that it is good to be careful, after all, you must have a defensive heart. My brother's heart is not guarded, and he is provoked by someone if he is not careful. Yes, he's still proud of it."

When Aunt Xue heard Baochai's words, she felt a little stabbed in her heart, so she took Baochai's hand and walked forward. , and didn’t order the kitchen to put wine and cook, maybe it’s good to read in the study. Since you don’t believe it, let’s take a peek outside the window to find out.”

Baochai had no choice but to walk forward with Aunt Xue, surrounded by the maids, daughters-in-law and mother-in-law of the family. When the people in the corridor saw them, they dodged and bowed their heads to avoid it, and then bowed to salute.

Aunt Xue caught a boy along the way and asked, "Where is the uncle now?"

The boy showed panic, and replied tremblingly, "I'm in the study with some masters."

When Aunt Xue heard it, she was exactly as she had expected, and she was even more proud. She said to Baochai, "Listen, I guessed right."

Baochai suddenly had an ominous premonition, and reluctantly said to Aunt Xue, "If my brother really knows that he has made progress, it will be a happy event."

Aunt Xue hurriedly said: "Who says it's not. Let's quietly go and stand under the window of the study, and listen to how your brother is doing his studies. When we turn around, we can burn a stick of incense to comfort your father's spirit in heaven."

Baochai felt even more ominous, and smiled and persuaded Aunt Xue, saying, "Brother is receiving guests, we eavesdrop with such fanfare, it's not nice to be seen by others."

Aunt Xue was in high spirits, she was not willing to listen, and excitedly pulled Baochai and walked over, but she had just walked to the gable at the corner of the corridor when she heard a few indistinct groans and gasps.

Although Baochai was clever, she didn't think too much for a while, but she thought in a panic: Could it be that my brother and those classmates were at odds with each other and started fighting in the study?

Aunt Xue's face changed drastically when she heard this, and she suddenly pushed Baochai away, leaving her and the others to stay where they were, and walked quietly towards the study window by herself.