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

Xiangling smiled and explained: "I was on duty at night in my wife's room. My wife probably slept too much at noon, and couldn't fall asleep this night. She wanted to talk to the girl, so she ordered me to come and invite her. I don't know if the girl fell asleep or not. ?”

Both Ying'er and Qianxue said, "Nothing. I just drank the porridge, and I'm afraid I won't go to sleep until later."

Ying'er hurriedly said: "It's not for your business, but now the girl has taken care of a lot of things. You don't know, those accounts are all muddled accounts, the girl exhausted her mind for this, and has to spend every day. It's late at night."

After hearing this, Xiangling was very disturbed.Seeing her expression, Yinger felt a little regretful, and turned around and said, "I don't know. It's so late, what will Madam want to tell the girl?" Xiangling thought for a long time, but said she didn't know, Yinger smiled and nodded Her head: "No wonder the girl always said that although you were born well, you are a bit dull. I just asked this casually, and you really thought about it. The wife and the girl are kind and filial to each other every day, and everything is helpful." It's a matter of discussion, what can't be said? Even if you want to break your head, how can you think of it? Maybe it's just that you can't sleep, looking for a girl to talk to relieve boredom. What are we doing here? Why don't you go quickly?"

Hearing this, Xiangling suddenly felt reasonable, so she picked up the lantern and continued to go to Baochai's house. From a long distance, she saw the light in her house, which was particularly conspicuous in this dark winter night, making people secretly feel warm and stable. .Before picking up the curtain, he stepped heavily and raised his voice slightly: "Did the girl fall asleep?"

Baochai's peaceful voice came from inside the room: "Nothing. Listen to the voice, but Xiangling is here?"

Then Xiangling carefully opened the curtain and entered the room, and saw Baochai sitting in the shadow of the candle, holding needlework in her hands, with a gentle smile on her face, and a pair of bright black eyes looking at her deeply .Xiangling only felt that the candlelight spread on Baochai's body, casting a faint radiance on her whole body, making her look extraordinarily dignified and beautiful, and she was a little stunned.When I realized it, I was even more flustered and uneasy. I looked around and saw the books piled up on the desk in front of the window. I was even more grateful, and said softly: "I heard from Sister Yinger that the girl is so late. How can Xiangling feel sorry for having to look at so many ledgers? It is important for the girl to take care of herself. If not, Xiangling will go to the uncle and let him be a cow and a horse, but he can't teach the girl So tiring."

When Baochai heard this, she was surprised and said, "Where did you come from! That ghost girl Ying'er must be joking with you and talking nonsense, isn't she? Most of our family's property has been consumed in recent years. Now that my brother has come to Beijing, It's about getting back on track. He has too many things to do, so I, as a younger sister, naturally want to help him. But what does this have to do with you?"

Xiangling's face was flushed red from choking, and he hesitated to explain, but didn't know what to say, so Baochai slowed down her tone and said slowly: "Of course I know the kindness in your heart, just look at the account book. It’s definitely not because of you alone, so don’t take it to heart. Besides, I’m physically strong and I can’t bear it, so I sleep more deeply after reading some books at night.”

Xiangling tearfully said: "Although the girl has a good foundation and is not afraid of hard work, she can't go too far. After reading the account book at night, she has to do needlework to send Miss Lin. It is absolutely impossible for the girl. If the girl trusts Xiangling, why not take these Let Xiangling do some needlework?"

Baochai shook her head and said, "I know you are doing it for my own good. I appreciate this kindness, but this birthday congratulatory ceremony only cares about one heart. If I didn't spend more time on it, I would It’s boring. You’ve been here for a short time, so I’m afraid you don’t know yet. Ying’er is very handy when it comes to needlework. She also said a few days ago that she would do it for me, but I said no. Leaving this aside, it stands to reason that you should be in the mother’s house tonight. I was on duty in the room at night, and now I am here at this time, I think my mother is looking for me?"

Xiangling answered yes, and Baochai went with her to Aunt Xue's room.I saw Aunt Xue with a fluffy bun, sitting on the bed, and there was another big maid named Wen Xing, who was serving by her side.Seeing this, Baochai hurriedly asked, "Mother is so late, why doesn't she rest?"

Aunt Xue sighed: "It's not about your brother! The more I think about it, the more annoyed I become, and I can't fall asleep because of tossing and turning."

Baochai hurriedly used some words to relieve her, but just as she started, Aunt Xue stopped her and said, "Although I said so, your father left early, and your brother is like this. How can I be relieved?"

Before Baochai could answer, she heard that voice suddenly said: "Since you are worried, you should discipline yourself a few times when you were young. I'm afraid it will be fine. Now that you've become like this, you don't let people talk about it." Occasionally a word or two of remonstrance is stopped in the head, for fear that the younger sister will say something serious and offend the elder brother. Although it is said that it is the three obediences and four virtues, marrying the husband, and the husband dying, but your stupid overlord Brother, maybe you really set up the door? In the world, men are respected, and as many privileges as there are, there should be as many obligations. Since he is ignorant and incompetent, he only knows to cause trouble outside and hinder his sister. How can people respect this? ?”

Baochai always felt that the voice was eccentric and extreme, but now seeing it talking about her brother like this, she subconsciously wanted to refute it, but this time it was not so rough, and she couldn't think of any rebuttal words for a while. .

At this time, Aunt Xue said again: "I know you have always been a well-behaved and obedient child, and you can tell the difference between the important and the important. I came up with a great idea to discuss with you, so I called you overnight Come."

After hearing this, Wen Xing and Xiang Ling knew that their mother and daughter had important matters to discuss, so they glanced at each other and retreated silently.Only then did Aunt Xue tell Baochai what she was thinking: "Your brother's mischief is originally a child's temper, and everyone is born like this. It's just because your father left early, he was extra naughty. But I’m angry, but now that I think about it, it’s not a big deal. It’s just that I shouldn’t play at home. I think, I’m afraid he’ll be sensible when he gets married. ——Do you have any good ideas?”

Before finishing the sentence, the voice first laughed and said: "If you marry a relative, you will be sensible! If you are married, you will be sensible! Only those very infatuated parents think like this! It's just that there are many infatuated parents in ancient times, whoever is filial to their children and grandchildren See you? If you marry someone who is gentle and courteous, wouldn’t it be harming other girls? If you marry someone who is powerful and shrewd, I’m afraid that both of you, mother and daughter, will be kicked out by him!"

Baochai hurriedly said to the voice in her heart: "Don't talk nonsense! I know my brother best. Although he is usually confused, he still has a few advantages. This one is the most sincere to our mother and daughter. You Do not slander him!"

The voice argued: "It's not slander, you went through such a experience before, but you just don't remember it. You should think about Xia Jingui, how you were kicked out by his husband and wife together, and how your mother A beggar on the street? Your mother loves her son deeply, and she was confused for a while, but you can't be confused! Now you are obedient to your mother and think that you are the one to be happy, don't you know that you are harming her instead. "

When Baochai saw that the voice said something so solemnly, it was inevitable that he would be skeptical.After Aunt Xue said those words, she paid careful attention to Baochai's reaction, and seeing that she was silent, with an angry look on her face, and she didn't seem to understand her own mind as usual, she was a little unhappy, and turned her voice He put more emphasis on it, and said: "Why don't you talk anymore? Everyone praises you for being knowledgeable about the past and the present, but when it's time to use it, you have no idea?"

Only then did Baochai come to her senses, and with a smile on her face, she said to her mother, "Mother is right. As far as elder brother's age is concerned, it's time to talk about marriage. But now that we are new to the capital, If you are not familiar with the place where you live, you should inquire carefully, and find a girl who is knowledgeable and filial to her parents-in-law. Naturally, my second aunt should take care of this matter and refer to it. My mother went out with my second aunt a few days ago. What wonderful girl did you meet?"

Aunt Xue saw that what she said was reasonable, her face turned pale, and she said to her: "I don't see anything outstanding. Your brother has such a temperament, you must find a very beautiful one, I'm afraid you can hold him down. Where do you go to find it while you are in a hurry? What's more, you have to pay attention to the right family, which is more important here." After thinking about it carefully, he said: "Last time I met a lady named Fu, she looks pretty good, just A little older, already 20 years old, an old girl."

Baochai also vaguely heard about this Miss Fu's family, and knew that she was the younger sister of the judge Fu Shi, named Qiufang, who was the most talented and beautiful.Presumably it was Fu Shi's intention to get married to a noble family, so he let his slaves deliberately spread the text of the boudoir to the outside world.Seeing that Miss Qianjin has such a talent, outsiders have no reason not to flatter her?He even said that Miss Fu was very beautiful, and her reputation became even louder.There was that ignorant and foolish woman who envied Miss Fu's fame and popularity, but Baochai secretly felt sorry for her, worrying that she would be criticized for losing the virtues of a traditional lady in the future.

Now hearing that Aunt Xue mentioned Fu Qiufang, Baochai couldn't help but said: "I've also heard about that Miss Fu's family. She has a good appearance and a good personality. Although she is a bit older, she is also good at controlling my brother."

Aunt Xue shook her head and said, "How is this possible? Apart from being older, I think she is too arrogant. She is better off with her face, and she can read and write. She is busy discussing poems all day long. What's so great about it? "

Baochai was taken aback, guessing that when Aunt Xue saw Fu Qiufang, Fu Qiufang was socializing with some young ladies and discussing some poems.Aunt Xue herself hadn't read much and didn't know many words, so she didn't have enough confidence in front of these educated female relatives.She hurriedly smiled and said: "This is just a pastime when she was not out of the cabinet. If she thinks about it, if she gets married, she will be busy with human relations all day long. It doesn't matter. I'm afraid her brother will be difficult. Since my mother has no In the middle, that’s all.”

Aunt Xue took her hand and said: "I thought about it at night. Your brother said that kissing is a big thing, and it needs his own willingness to do it. After a lot of calculation, it doesn't take a few years, but it can't be done. Now My idea is to get him a concubine first and put it in the house, so as to save him from running around like a horse without a cage. What do you think of this idea?"

Baochai's heart trembled, and she became uneasy on behalf of her future sister-in-law: Take a concubine before marrying a wife. Although this is a common practice of wealthy sons, future sister-in-law will inevitably be displeased when she hears about it. What happened.It's just that seeing the customs of my relatives Jia's family is also the same, so I can only say: "It's a good idea to take a concubine. It's just that you need to stand on the sidelines and visit carefully, looking for someone with excellent appearance and temperament."

Aunt Xue smiled and said, "You don't need to say this, I thought about it a long time ago. After thinking about it, there is no one else who is more suitable except Xiangling."