The Royal Merchant of the Red Chamber

"If you want to know what will happen next, let's listen to the next chapter to break it down—"

The storyteller raised his hand and knocked on the gavel, and the crowd below waited for a reward.

Lin Mozhi sitting upstairs in the private room saw this scene, he couldn't help shaking his head and said with a smile: "This time your Xue family is really famous."

"Hey, in fact, I have always been a very low-key person!" Xue Pan sighed pretendingly, and sang in a long voice: "I gave my heart to the bright moon, but the bright moon shines on the ditch—"

"It's not appropriate to use this sentence here." Lin Mozhi smiled lightly.

"Don't stick to words." Xue Pan gave Lin Mozhi a vicious look, "It took me a long time to remember such a sentence... I forgot the following when you interrupted me."

Lin Mozhi chuckled, and didn't argue with Xue Pan.Instead, he asked: "Have you mentioned the matter of imperial examination qualifications to the Holy Majesty?"

"I don't have the guts yet, I vaguely feel that this seems to be a big trouble." Xue Pan frowned and said bitterly.

"It's not just a big trouble, it's a big trouble." Lin Mozhi shook his head, and the Holy Majesty was so angry that he didn't eat two meals when he heard Xue Pan's words from his eyeliner.I really don't know where Xue Pan got the courage to even undertake such a thing.

"I didn't promise this kind of thing. I'm painting cakes. Do you understand painting cakes?" Xue Pan emphasized emphatically: "This person, you have to have hope to do things. I also have a good intention. Let everyone have a head start! Look at how active and proactive these businessmen are today!"

Either building bridges or paving roads, what a merit this is!

Lin Mozhi shook his head helplessly and said, "Just do it, and sooner or later I will make trouble for you."

Xue Pan shrugged his shoulders disapprovingly. This kind of worry is too vague, and he is not so worried that he can't fidget right now.Let's wait until the day when disaster strikes!

Lin Mozhi looked at Xue Pan's indifferent appearance, and after holding back for a long time, he still babbled and said, "I really don't understand you, it's just a happy thing to seek revenge, how can I cause you so much trouble?" If you want to promote businessmen, it is a matter of changing the country. No one knows how many people will be involved. But throughout the ages, how many people clamoring for reforms have gained good fruit? You are rich in food and clothing, comfortable and rich Isn't it good to be your son of a rich family? Why did you get involved in such trouble. It's really..."

Lin Mozhi didn't ramble on about the rest.Xue Pan also pretended not to understand, and watched with a smile as the storyteller left the scene and put on a big play of "Nan Ke Meng".

Seeing this, Lin Mozhi couldn't help feeling sullen again, and said again: "Even if you don't think about yourself, you have to think about your family too! Why do you think about such a big thing that often loses your head..."

"What are you afraid of? I just said it casually, not to mention that I ordered them to seal their mouths at that time. I will not admit anything when I go out of that door. Take a step back and say it, even if it is passed on What can I do if I go out?" Xue Pan said with a smile: "My Xue family is in the forefront because of the matter of becoming a Marquis by Shang, so how many pairs of eyes are looking at it? You won't be happy if you get the benefits, and others will also worry about it? I just said something casually, but it's not like I'm sure I'll go down. From our ancestor Ziwei Sheren to my father's generation, the Xue family donated a lot of silver to get such a position. They If you have money, feel free to use it! There have been a lot of things to donate money to officials throughout the ages. Is it really missing such an imperial examination procedure? If they want to end the scientific examination, they have their own way to go up and down. Bai Huahua's money is in front of you, if you are really stubborn, you would rather die than do it, can't the cow drink water and press the head?"

Hearing this, Lin Mozhi stared at Xue Pan thoughtfully and remained silent.

"It has always been that state officials are only allowed to set fires, and people are not allowed to light lamps. Those in power limit this and that, or are they afraid that the chair under their buttocks will not be stable? I can't explain it to them, why are you also confused?" Xue Xue Pan chuckled, his expression becoming more and more comfortable. "What is the deficit of the national treasury now? Last year's severe drought, the sage had no choice but to move the money that our Xue family turned over to the internal treasury. It can be seen that the imperial court's finances are stretched. A handful of court officials piled up together to discuss How to increase income and reduce expenditure, but the money in the national treasury has become more and more tense in the past two years, and the east wall is demolished to make up for the west wall? Now someone is rushing to pile up the white money in front of you, begging grandpa to tell grandma I hope you will use it... Isn't this a good thing?"

"You—" Lin Mozhi was speechless for a moment.

"It's almost the end of the year, so why not use money? The chamber of commerce raised 20 taels of silver and handed it over to the inner government... Not to mention anything else, this year alone, the year-end salaries of the officials in Beijing have finally been settled. Have a relatively rich and good year. The common people also say that eating people is short-mouthed and soft-hearted! We are considered a kindred spirit. I don’t believe that they have been eating fat and drinking for a year, and they turned around and scolded Can't I?" Xue Pan said with a pair of almond eyes and hummed.

Thinking of this, Xue Pan couldn't help crying for Tu Zhen.He could see that the so-called wiseness and benevolence of the emperor was basically a matter of losing money and making money.The civil and military officials up and down are naturally grateful and grateful, but the implementation of the national treasury is almost cleaner than their faces.I heard from Tu Zhen that when he first came to the throne, the treasury had a total of less than 600 million taels of silver.In order to win the emperor's favor, he spent nearly 400 million taels on repairing the Qiankun Palace...

Just thinking about it, Lin Mozhi said in ink again: "But this imperial examination..."

Xue Pan couldn't bear to roll his eyes, only to feel that Lin Mozhi has become more chattery than Mrs. Xue since at some point.

"It's a matter of what year. It's said that you have to pay first before you get rewarded. Our Xue family has been judged for several lifetimes. When it comes to them, we don't know what the situation is. Why do I have to worry about it?" In short, Xue Pan just pushed the two six five tenet one by one.I'll draw you a cake, I'll give you a carrot, and you have to ask when it will be fulfilled... Sorry, I don't know either, just wait!

"If you do this, maybe it won't be interesting for them to join together for a few years, and they will quit by themselves!" Lin Mozhi still felt that something was wrong.Although he already had a charter in his heart, for the sake of the long-term, and also to teach someone a small lesson, he still pretended not to know to embarrass Xue Pan.

And I don't know that Xue Pan couldn't help but sneered after hearing this. "Do you think it's so easy to get out of everything? Not to mention that the group of officials and gentlemen who are accustomed to making extra profits every year out of thin air will not let it go. Just this chamber of commerce, when it was established, it was in front of the Holy Majesty. It has been reported, and the dividends handed over every year are also directly passed to the Ministry of Internal Affairs, who has the guts to withdraw immediately?"

"Although this is the case, I'm afraid there will be suspicion of competing with the people for profit in the future." Lin Mozhi said tepidly.

"Compete with the people?" Xue Pan snorted. "Although this world is powerful and powerful, it is generally considered fair. You have gained so many benefits in the Chamber of Commerce, and the government has guaranteed your safety and smoothness. How can you enjoy it for nothing? Since you are willing to get away, Then no one will force you. It’s just that there is only one chance, and if you give up now, if there are any benefits in the future, you can’t even think about getting a single star.”

Although the [-]% bonus was handed over to the internal treasury, Xue Pan had discussed with the Holy Majesty that at least [-]% of the bonus should be returned as the activity expenses of the entire chamber of commerce.After all, inquiring about news, exchanging information, and organizing matters, large and small, require money.And in the chamber of commerce, the guys who are used to reaching out for things and talking when they are annoyed suddenly leave this convenient environment, can they really get used to it?

Furthermore, the businessman's imperial examination is a carrot hanging in front of the mule.Although everyone didn't say it clearly, but there is such a bright example of the Xue family in front of them, how can there be any need to promote it?

To put it bluntly, when something becomes a habit, it is not something that can be broken down in a simple sentence or two.

"As the old saying goes, money is a bastard. But if you don't have any money, it's really hard to do things!" Xue Pan sneered, and said nonchalantly: "Nowadays, there are fat sheep who are rushing to you to let you go. To slaughter, you only need to pay a small promise. Do you want to do such a thing?"

"But in the end..." Lin Mozhi shook his head, a little unsure.

"I know what you're thinking. It's no wonder that businessmen are rich. No matter how high the status is, it's hard for them to make some fools. But why have you forgotten one sentence?" Xue Pan stared at Lin Mo with burning eyes In short, I just feel that after reading ancient books for so many years, it really makes people stupid.

"What?" Lin Mo subconsciously asked.

"Political power grows out of the barrel of a gun." Xue Pan sneered, and said, "In other words, big fists are the last word. If you have money, you will naturally have good equipment and good soldiers. For businessmen, even So what can you do if you take part in the imperial examination? There is an old saying that you are a scholar who is useless, and there are scholars who rebel, and there is a reason why you can't succeed in three years. Since ancient times, emperors have been suspicious, when did they become suspicious of civil servants?"

Seeing Xue Pan's radiant look in his eyes, Lin Mozhi nodded in relief.These words were naturally the one who wanted to ask through his mouth, but now Xue Pan said it so well without his own suggestion.It can only be said... Xue Pan also grew unconsciously after reliving his life.

For a moment, Lin Mozhi suddenly felt the sadness of a child in my family who had just grown up, and subconsciously shook his head to let go of the messy thoughts in his mind.Lin Mozhi sighed softly and said: "But you have to be careful. I heard that because of your handling of the chamber of commerce, many people in the court have great opinions. The impeachment papers in front of the Holy One are almost piled up. The king of Shangnan'an County is returning triumphantly... You should restrain yourself recently!"

"What am I afraid of?" Xue Pan scoffed at this. "As the saying goes, if you have wine today, you will be drunk today, and you will be worried tomorrow. The sky has collapsed and there is a tall one standing on top of it, so it can't hit me on the head."

"You are really confident!" Seeing this, Lin Mozhi had to admire Xue Pan's tough mentality.From the previous life to the present life, it seems that the kid in front of him has never paid attention to the things that caused trouble.If he got into trouble, someone would come out and clean up the mess for him...

Seeing Xue Pan's unruly and indifferent appearance.Lin Mozhi couldn't tell what it was like.A kind of melancholy rises indifferently in my heart.It seems that I have never had such a bright and simple personality...

It was also because of this that I insisted on standing by his side in my two lifetimes, and tried my best to protect him from the wind and rain.This habit has nothing to do with deep friendship. After all, he also wants to protect something that he once hoped for but never got...

Not to mention how Lin Mozhi sighed.It is said that Xue Pan's side, Shi Shiran, went back to Rongguo Mansion, and just entered Lixiangyuan, and saw Mrs. Wang and Zhou Rui's family following behind.Followed by Jia Baoyu and a beautiful young maid.Seeing Xue Pan in front of him, Jia Baoyu called out loudly, "Brother Xue."

Xue Pan turned around, saluted Mrs. Wang and said, "I've seen my aunt, how is my aunt?"

Although Mrs. Wang is a woman in a deep house, she has also heard about the noisy tossing between the Xue family and the Nan'an County Palace for many days.What's more, Xue's family still has the upper hand after all the troubles. For a while, Mrs. Wang felt that her nephew should not be underestimated.He hurriedly replied with a loving smile: "Get up quickly, how is your mother these two days?"

"Mother is fine too. It's just that after hearing the news that my father is going to Beijing, I've been restless for the past two days." Xue Pan said flatly. "I've been bothering my aunt during this period of time in Rongguo Mansion. My mother is planning to move out in the next two days! After all, the house at home has been taken care of, and my father is going to Beijing soon, so it's really hard to continue to bother me. go down."

After hearing this, Mrs. Wang couldn't tell what she was thinking.I had no choice but to suppress the eagerness in my heart, forced a smile and said: "They are all from my own family, just live in the habit."

Xue Pan hooked the corners of his mouth, turned sideways and said, "It's cold, Auntie should go inside and talk!"

Mrs. Wang nodded and entered the door with her hands clasped.Immediately after Zhou Rui's family gave way, Xue Pan asked Zhou Rui's family to go in first with a smile on his face.Then he turned his head and said to Jia Baoyu, "Come with me, I have something to say to you."

Jia Baoyu nodded excitedly, left the girl beside him and followed Xue Pan into the study.

Not to mention Xue Pan's side, but Mrs. Wang and Zhou Rui's family entered the main room of Lixiangyuan and found no one in the room.The two little girls were playing with rope while hiding on the twig, when they saw Mrs. Wang, they got up immediately and shouted: "I have seen the second lady."

"Where's your wife?" Zhou Ruijia asked with a smile on his face.

"Our wife and the girl are chatting in the room!" A little girl with a pair of purses replied neatly, only to see the curtains in the room shake for a while, Madam Xue greeted her and said with a smile: "It's so cold, my sister, It’s really hard to think about you. Go into the back room and sit on the kang.”

Zhou Rui's family helped Mrs. Wang into the inner room and sat down.I saw Baochai wearing homely clothes, with only a scorpion loose on her head.Sitting in the kang, lying on the small kang table, drawing flowers with the maid Yinger!Seeing them come in, Baochai hurriedly put down her pen, got up and said, "I have seen my aunt."

Mrs. Wang hurriedly said, "Sit down!"

And Mrs. Xue was on the sidelines: "Here comes the pouring tea."

Mrs. Wang sat on the heated kang at the side, looked around, and asked casually, "Why don't you see Miss Lin?"

Mrs. Xue apologized and said with a smile: "The old lady sent Yuanyang to say that she missed her. Right now, she is talking with the old lady in the Rongqing hall!"

Mrs. Wang nodded without saying a word.

Xue Baochai, who was at the side, said, "Sister Zhou, sit down too!"

Zhou Rui's family took a look at Mrs. Wang, and then sat down on the bed under the kang.One side said: "I haven't seen the girl go there for more than half a month. I'm afraid it's your brother Bao who bumped into you?"

Baochai laughed and said, "Where there! It's just because I've always been a lazy person, and I don't like to walk around at all times. Besides, it's getting colder today. I grew up in the south and never experienced such a cold weather." , adding to the problem of chills. I don’t like to move around more and more.”

"Security at any time, open-minded behavior, this is what a lady looks like!" Mrs. Wang praised with joy in her eyes. "I just love your temperament. I really don't know who will be blessed in the future to marry such a capable person like you!"

Xue Baochai smiled lightly.Concubine Min kept talking for a while since entering the palace last time, although no one confides a word afterward, but the family can be regarded as having a [-]% share.How could it be possible for a rigorous person like Baochai to live in a Hakka mansion and go to the residence of an adult brother alone?I was thinking of leaving Rongguo Mansion as soon as possible and returning to my own home to avoid suspicion. If it weren't for the repeated proposals to move out, Mrs. Wang would have dismissed her in a few words, or moved her to stay with her affection, and what's more, Daiyu It's not easy to drop the head, and they won't drag it until now.

Fortunately, the Holy Majesty was kind enough to urge the master to go to Beijing. If Xue Zhizhang's visit to Beijing was used to propose to move out of Rongguo Mansion again, even if Mrs. Wang was unwilling in every possible way, I am afraid she would have nothing to say.

No one spoke in the room for a while, and the atmosphere was a little awkwardly stagnant.Zhou Rui's family took a look at Mrs. Wang, got up and went to Xue Baochai's side to look at the embroidery on the kang table.Full of praise, he said: "Oh, look at how beautiful and delicate this flower looks, it looks like something you really love. Miss, what a handsome embroiderer!"

When Baochai heard this, she smiled lightly and said: "The old saying is good, a woman who has no talent is a virtue. These needlework girls are the duty of our daughter's family, so naturally they must practice hard."

When Mrs. Xue heard this, she was even more amazed.

Zhou Rui's family also jokingly said: "Miss really understands a person. My daughter's family should learn some needlework skills, otherwise she will be laughed at when she comes to her husband's house."

After a pause, she opened her mouth and said tentatively: "I see that Miss Lin from Yangzhou doesn't seem to do much sewing. What's more, she is weak, and she can't leave her mouth all day long, and she is full of worries. It's hard for you to do this." Take care of her. Those who don't know think how much she has been wronged!"

Hearing this, Xue Baochai said with a calm expression: "My sister suddenly lost her mother, and her heart is inevitably depressed and sad. As sisters, we should comfort him. What's more, my sister and I met in the early years. Although my sister was Anya and demure in the past, she was not as good as she is now. So... I guess it's because of the different circumstances!"

Those words made Zhou Rui's family shut up embarrassingly.Even Mrs. Wang's face is not very good-looking.Just at this time, only the sound of the curtain and the sound of a little girl talking softly can be heard.Mrs. Xue quickly raised her voice and asked, "Who is outside?"

"If you go back to Madam, it's Xueyan." The half-worn red silk curtain at the door was lifted, but it was Xueyan who just went to Rongqing Hall with Miss Lin.Somehow he came back alone.Seeing this, Xue Baochai frowned and asked in a daze, "What are you in a daze for, didn't you see anyone?"

Xueyan snapped back to her senses, and immediately leaned over and shouted: "I have seen the second lady."

Even Mrs. Xue frowned slightly at the appearance of being at a loss, and hurriedly asked: "Didn't you accompany your girl to Rongqingtang, why are you back now?"

"Sister Jinse said that it's cold today, and asked me to come back and make a hand stove for the girl." Xueyan replied with her head down.

Baochai hurriedly said, "Then why don't you hurry up and stay here for a while."

Xueyan nodded in a daze, and went out in a panic.Seeing this, Mrs. Wang frowned with some disdain.Zhou Rui's family immediately said: "It's true... I see that Yinger next to the girl is very good, behaves steadily, and treats people kindly. It is true that what kind of master teaches what kind of servant."

Xue Baochai became suspicious because of the Xueyan incident, but she was not in the mood to argue with Zhou Rui's family.

All of a sudden, Zhou Rui's family came up again and smelled a cool and sweet fragrance, but they didn't know what it was, so they asked, "What kind of fragrance is there on the girl? I've never seen such a smell before."

Xue Baochai smiled and said, "Where is the incense, it must be the smell of Lengxiang Wan!"

Fox from Zhou Rui's family asked, "Lengxiangwan?"

Then Baochai smiled and told Zhou Rui's family what Leng Xiangwan did, which aroused the surprise of Zhou Rui's family.I only know that the Xue family is really rich and powerful, so such troublesome and coincidental things can be done.

Mrs. Xue said with a smile on the side: "It's rare because it's rare! I always feel that the aroma of these meatballs is much fresher than those spices, pollen, etc. It's just right to use it to smoke the house in this cold weather. !"

Mrs. Wang on the side also echoed with a smile: "It is indeed fresher and more pleasant than incense, and it feels more refreshing after staying for a long time!"

Xue Baochai hurriedly turned around and told Ying'er, "Go outside and take out one of the Lengxiang pills buried under the pear tree and send it to your aunt."

Mrs. Wang hurriedly said: "This can't be done. What a coincidence that this man was born. The girl should keep it for herself!"

Baochai smiled apologetically and said, "This thing is just for people to use. What's more, it has a use in winter. Who will use it in summer when the garden is full of flowers!"

Mrs. Wang shied away again.

Mrs. Xue smiled and said, "Auntie, just follow Baochai's words! Although this thing is forgiving, I have made countless jars over the years! In the garden of the old house in Jinling, more than four jars were buried under each tree. Five altars. Now the ones brought to Beijing are enough for ten or eight years. What's more, I don't know how much they are produced in a hurry..."

After hearing this, Mrs. Wang smiled and agreed.But he still said in his mouth: "Such a big age actually catches up with an old lady, and competes with the little girl for fragrance."

Mrs. Xue shook her head indifferently, and looked at Zhou Rui's family who were still stunned and envious.Suddenly his heart moved, and he said with a smile: "I have something, take it with you when you leave later!"

As she said that, she asked the little girl who turned the rope outside to find out the palace flowers made of yarn piles that were rewarded from the palace, and said with a smile: "These are twelve fresh flowers made of yarn piles that were rewarded from above. I said it clearly. Let us give it to others. Although it is not worth much, it is worth it to hope for auspiciousness in the coming year. Each of your girls has two, and you will give four to Feng Geer. Don’t tell others about the remaining two. You can take it back and give it to the younger generation at home, or you can make it yourself."

Mrs. Wang said: "Save it for Bao girl, and think about what they are doing."

Mrs. Xue said with a smile: "Anyway, it's a gift from the palace, it's just for auspiciousness."

Saying that, he stuffed the brocade box with flowers into Zhou Rui's family's hands.Zhou Rui's family saw Mrs. Wang had nothing to say, so they smiled and thanked: "Thank you, aunt, so that my wife can know that I have never seen such a good thing before!"

Mrs. Wang said: "Even so, you should go now! By the way, send those flowers to the girls everywhere."

Zhou Rui's family looked at the flowers in the box with joy, and agreed with joy.

Let's say that Zhou Rui's family took the box and walked out of the room.Mrs. Wang looked at Baochai with hesitation, and when Baochai saw this, she immediately shrugged off her business and went out.Only Mrs. Wang and Mrs. Xue were left in the room.

Mrs. Wang said with a smile: "Baochai will be drafted next year. My sister has been in Beijing for so long, but is she doing business?"

Mrs. Xue listened to Mrs. Wang's intimate words, she smiled calmly and said, "It's the business of the men outside to do things around. Before going to Beijing, our master said that I don't care about Baochai. I just wait for him to go to Beijing to do it." deal with."

"But if you wait for Lord Hou to go to Beijing, it will be the end of the year. It's not easy to take care of such things during the New Year. Is it too late for the New Year?" Mrs. Wang asked worriedly.

Mrs. Xue was a little suspicious.Although she didn't know what kind of calculation Madam Wang had in mind, she took Xue Zhizhang's words as her standard, so even if Madam Wang said her sincerity, Madam Xue said unmoved: "There is no rush, the family background, appearance, character, character and habits are all there. That’s it, it’s just such a thing if you do something else.”

Mrs. Wang immediately said: "That's right, with Bao girl's conditions, she will never lose the election."

Mrs. Xue smiled contentedly.Seeing this, Mrs. Wang rolled her eyes, and immediately sighed worriedly.

Seeing this, Madam Xue asked, "What's wrong with Auntie?"

"I'm just sighing, once I enter the palace gate, it's all over the world." Mrs. Wang glanced at Mrs. Xue's expression, and said slowly: "According to Bao girl's conditions, it is not necessary to be a concubine. It's just that the man-eating black man in the palace , I really don't want to suffer Bao girl's ice-like personality there."

If we put this aside, perhaps Mrs. Xue also became worried immediately.But since the last time she entered the palace, she was faintly convinced of Zhun Xin'er, and she wasn't worried anymore.It's just that it's not easy to say such things, Madam Xue had no choice but to persuade: "Everyone has his own blessings, God's fate can't be changed, let her go!"

Seeing that Mrs. Xue was not up to the trick, Mrs. Wang had no choice but to say, "I have an idea."

Madam Xue's heart skipped a beat, and she asked calmly, "Oh?"

"What do you think of our Baoyu?" Mrs. Wang said, seeing Mrs. Xue's disapproval.Hastily opened his mouth and continued: "I don't need to talk about my appearance and character. It's hard to find someone as gentle as our Baoyu in this world. I don't need to talk about my family background. After all, I'm also the son of the Rongguo Mansion. The most important thing is the relationship between our two sisters. If Baochai enters the door, she will never be wronged."

When Madam Xue heard this, her heart suddenly became angry, but because Madam Wang's face was not easy to vent, she immediately said lightly: "Baochai is a beautiful girl, and her future is not up to us. Besides Baochai hasn't turned thirteen this year, so we have to wait until the draft is over! I have something to tell her aunt—"

Mrs. Xue paused, and said with a smile: "Our master is about to go to Beijing. People from the Jingzhong Mansion also came to say that the house has been repaired, and we plan to move out in two days. Before that, I would like to invite the Rongguo Mansion The old lady and the daughters-in-law and girls in the mansion have a meal of noodles. No matter how you say it, it has troubled you for so long, so I am sorry."

Mrs. Wang touched a nail that was neither hard nor soft, and she was a little embarrassed at first.When Madam Xue said that she wanted to leave, she panicked immediately, and hurriedly said, "Don't worry—"

"Why don't you worry. We are 28 now, and in two days the master will come to Beijing and we will still be living in the Rongguo Mansion... It really doesn't look like the master looked at it!" Mrs. Xue said with a smile: "At least we have to catch up with the master. It is reasonable to live in the head first, and then tidy up."

Having said that, Mrs. Wang couldn't insist on staying any longer, so she could only say awkwardly: "Then I'll go back and talk to the old lady."

"That's the reason." Mrs. Xue agreed with a smile.

Everyone was silent for a while, Mrs. Wang sat for a while, chatted some gossip, then got up and left.

Not to mention that Mrs. Wang returned here depressed.But it was said that Zhou Rui's family dropped by and sent all the flowers of the girls and Sister Feng out.Just about to turn around and leave the house, the little girl in the old lady's room came over and said: "Sister Zhou happens to be here, follow me quickly, the old lady is anxious to see you!"

Before he could finish a sentence, he took Zhou Rui's family by the hand and walked in the direction of Rongqing Hall.

Zhou Rui's family saw that the girl said it was urgent, so they had no choice but to follow him with the brocade box.When I arrived at the old lady's room, I saw the old lady crooked on the kang holding a reading glasses and I don't know what she was looking at. Miss Lin leaned next to the old lady and pointed, while Yuanyang stood beside her silently. , watching with a smile.

Seeing Zhou Rui's family come in, the old lady put down the mirror in her hand and asked with a smile, "Where are you from?"

The companion of Zhou Rui's family laughed and said, "He came from Lixiangyuan."

The old lady said again: "I heard from Yu girl that my aunt's family is going out, but our family's hospitality is not good enough?"

Zhou Rui's family hurriedly said: "It's not for this reason. It's because Hou Zhongxin has been ordered to go to Beijing. My concubine said that I will go back to Xue's house in Beijing first, and pack up to welcome Lord Hou."

The old lady nodded and said, "It should be."

After a long while, he sighed again: "Since they came, they can talk to me every day. They even show me something new from time to time. Last time, the flowers outside the feudal clan were very rare. A group of It's fun to be noisy. If I suddenly said that I was going to leave, I felt reluctant. Then I thought about asking your wife if I should order my subordinates to set up a few good tables. It's lively. Practice it. Relatives, even if you want to leave, don't make people feel cold. How do you know that your wife has not said a word until now. The girl sent out said that your wife is not in Rongxitang, and Feng girl is not there either. , I just thought that even if I don’t ask her, it’s the same to ask you.”

Zhou Rui's family hurriedly apologized and said with a smile: "So that the old lady can know that our wife is talking to my concubine in the Pear Fragrance Garden!"

The old lady also interjected: "When you say that, I think about it. Miss Xue's family hasn't come here for a while! But it's true, Miss Xue's family is waiting to be selected, and Baoyu still lives in my house. Come out and move around."

Zhou Rui's family could only smile apologetically, but couldn't cope with it.

When Jia Mu saw this, she stopped talking, and just rubbed Daiyu's neck and asked, "Did my aunt say that she is leaving this time, and do you want to take girl Yu with her?"

After all, there is also a serious recognition of the god-in-law over there, and it would be bad if the housewarming ceremony is not there.

Lin Daiyu, who was sitting beside her, hurriedly said, "I'm not leaving. My godmother said that I'm a granddaughter, and I should spend the New Year with my ancestors."

After hearing this, Jia's mother was relieved for a while, and she showed Lin Daiyu a face of kindness, and said happily: "You can live here with peace of mind! Your mother left early, and only you are left to take care of me by my side. I'm at ease."

Seeing the box in Zhou Rui's hand again, he asked, "What is that in your hand?"

Zhou Rui's family felt embarrassed for a while, and quickly apologized with a smile: "It's the palace flower that my aunt gave to all the girls."

When Jia Mu heard the words, she looked at Daiyu and said casually, "Is there any girl Yu?"

This is really not.

It's a pity that Zhou Rui's family didn't dare to say that.Just now, he was overwhelmed by the joy of Mrs. Xue sending palace flowers.It's hard to speak at this time.If you tell the old lady clearly, let people know that a slave and a master don't have the same things.But if he shirks the past... Now there are still two palace flowers left in the brocade box...

Thinking of Zhou Rui's family, he regretted it more and more.Why didn't you hide it before entering the house!

At the same time, he complained more and more about the old lady.Normally, the older generation would not call her once, but they rushed to ask her to talk about something good this time, and they brought up such an embarrassing question again.Look at the old lady's appearance, she was a little dissatisfied with their wife just now, if she knows the reason now.Maybe I will have to suffer a meal.

The old lady was just asking casually, so she naturally knew the benefits of the Xue family's treatment of Yu girl.I didn't take it to heart.This should be said before, and Zhou Rui's family's casual fooling will be over.Who would have thought that she was somehow deceived by lard today, so she couldn't even say a solid sentence.

The old lady was angry, and the old man's stubbornness also came up.The smile on his face became more and more loving, and he asked in his mouth: "I would be reluctant to let me see any precious things."

As she said that, she waved her hand to signal Yuanyang to open the brocade box and have a look.

Yuanyang walked forward with a smile and took the brocade box.While the old lady was not paying attention, she gave Zhou Rui's family a wink.Only then did she turn her head and say, "If you go back to the old lady, they are two fresh flowers."

Hearing this, the old lady looked up, recalled what Zhou Rui's family said just now, and laughed again and again: "Look at this system was passed down from the palace, my aunt is so polite."

Then he said to Zhou Rui's family: "Since that's the case, you can just answer quickly, and stand there for a long while, still hesitating. These girls have all been delivered, why only these two are left?"

Zhou Rui's family couldn't deal with it in time, so they had to laugh a few times in embarrassment, and approached the old lady to apologize, "The remaining two are Miss Lin's."

After hearing this, the old lady became suspicious, blinked her eyelids, but said nothing.

When Lin Daiyu heard this, she was a little puzzled.Leaning forward to take a look, I saw that there were only two dry red flowers left in the huge box, one red and one purple.Knowing it well, he said with a sneer on his face: "Sister Zhou remembered wrongly, how can there be anything for me here?"

Zhou Rui's family didn't know why, and seeing Jia's mother's suddenly gloomy face, he could only say with a flattering smile: "It is true that the remaining two belong to Miss Lin."

Seeing this, Lin Daiyu couldn't help being angry, and said with a sneer, "Don't talk about the affection Sister Bao treats me, will she give me the rest of others. Besides, I still keep my filial piety now, this red one Where do you want me to take the purple one?"

After finishing speaking, seeing Zhou Rui's family's stunned face, but couldn't stop feeling tired, he added: "You think everyone is as confused as you are."

As he said that, he got up and shook his sleeves, and said to the old lady: "Grandmother, Yu'er feels a little uncomfortable, so I'll go back first."

After finishing speaking, Jia Mu was not allowed to answer, so she threw the curtain and went out.