Lin Jiajinyu of the Red Chamber

After the cabinet was disbanded, Lin Jinyu didn't go home, so she went to Qiqiaozhai first. The eldest princess's birthday is a big event. Xu Yulin started making birthday gifts two months ago. Lin Jinyu ordered a white jade statue at Qiqiaozhai in advance. Take out the portrait of the princess and give it to the staff of Qiqiaozhai to carve it according to the picture.

This Qiqiaozhai is good at strange and obscene skills, and has a group of skilled craftsmen. Since Lin Jinyu ordered a private parasol here a few days ago, Qiqiaozhai has become famous, specializing in private orders, and the business is not too good.

When Lin Jinyu got out of the car, he saw the housekeeper of Wu You's family guarding the door. Butler Wu had seen Lin Jinyu's evil behavior before, so he hurried forward to salute. Lin Jinyu waved his hand and asked with a smile, "Is Xiaoyou in there too? Really? Where is the share?" He went in with a smile.

Wu You was sitting in the rocking chair with her legs crossed, admiring a... spirit card?Just as Lin Jinyu walked in, the backlight was turned on, and Wu You sat facing the door. Lin Jinyu saw that the outer edge of the thing was painted with a layer of gold, which was shining with gold, and looked like a spiritual tablet.

"Why are you here when you're free?" Wu You put the things on his chest backwards without moving, looked at Lin Jinyu, and raised his eyebrows, "Could it be that you are following me? All right, don't waste your energy, "Speaking and looking Lin Jinyu up and down, Wu You said critically, "If you want to be cheeky or have a figure like you, even if Ganoderma lucidum suddenly grows on your head, I won't be interested. Yes, forget it, huh?"

"Say you are a narcissus, you really deserve your name." Lin Jinyu glanced at Wu You, saw the shopkeeper come out holding a blue leather account book, and smiled charmingly at Wu You, "Master, this is last month's book. account." Turning around, I saw Lin Jinyu, and hurriedly greeted, "Hey, why did Mr. Lin come to the door in person, and the little one was just saying to send it to you. Xiao Mingzi, here is some boiling tea!" He sat on the edge of the stool, brushed the dust with his sleeve, and helped Lin Jinyu to sit down, "Master Lin, please sit down. The younger one got half a catty of Dahongpao, and I heard it was a tribute to be paid. It's so good." Tea, where is the small one suitable for drinking? I specially keep it for adults.” On the one hand, he took a green jade cup from the tray in Xiao Mingzi’s hand, and held it to Lin Jinyu with a smile, “Your Excellency, don’t worry about using this green jade cup. The lamp is specially prepared for the grown-ups, and it cannot be touched by anyone else, it is the most clean."

Lin Jinyu held it in his hand and looked it over. It was plain and unadorned, but the water green of the emerald was held in place, which made a cup of tea even more beautiful, and said with a smile, "This is dug out from the rough stone I gave you. "

The big shopkeeper laughed, "Master Lin takes care of the business of the small shop, and the small ones can't take advantage of it. The jade statue has already been carved, so this small thing is to honor the adults." He went to fetch the jade statue himself.

"Hey, where did you find such a treasure?" Lin Jinyu wanted to laugh every time he saw the big shopkeeper of Qiqiaozhai. , with a high voice, full of exaggeration and flattery, every time I listen to him, it's like listening to a cross talk, making people laugh for no reason, but I didn't expect that Qiqiaozhai was actually Wu You's property.

Wu You raised his chin and looked at the green jade cup in Lin Jinyu's hand, "Such a big jadeite is really rare, and its color is also of high quality. Is it a birthday gift for the princess?"

Lin Jinyu's mind was very fast, thinking that the big shopkeeper had sworn at the time that his master's craftsmanship was so ingenious, there is no such thing as unparalleled in the sky, now he has reacted, and exclaimed, "Could it be Xiaoyou's craftsmanship?"

As soon as Lin Jinyu finished speaking, the shopkeeper came out holding a box of huanghuali wood, and said, "Isn't the master holding the knife himself? This is not to brag about you, Mr. Lin, you can go around the capital... "

The big shopkeeper blew his master into the sky. Lin Jinyu couldn't put it down when he saw this box. It is a lifelike jade statue, Lin Jinyu looked at it carefully with a smile, and couldn't put it down.Wu You is so young, and his amateur level can be called a master. He is really a genius. Lin Jinyu carefully put the jade statue back, and took out a purse with lake blue embroidered carp from his sleeve to pay the money. Wu You has already He stopped him, and said with a smile, "Forget it, you still have some stone left, let's count that as your reward."

"Isn't this taking advantage of you?"

"It's okay, I'll remember it for you, and you will repay it when the time comes." Wu You looked at Lin Jinyu's purse and suddenly smiled, and asked curiously, "It's interesting to get your name, Jinyu, then What do you call fish in your family? Could it be loach? Or water snake?"

Lin Jinyu put the lotus bag back into her sleeve, and smiled, "If it rains like you do, does my family say that there is loach in the sky to avoid my name? There are so many things, so call it whatever you want. Obscure Words are easy to avoid, like my name is common, and there are so many homonyms, there is no way."

Wu You beckoned, Lin Jinyu approached, Wu You said, "You don't have eyesight, let me remind you, this jade statue is an extremely valuable thing, and it is rare nowadays. Since you are going to make a birthday gift , you also have to know the truth that you can’t overwhelm the host, understand?”

"Oh. I don't put it in the birthday gift."

"There is no need to make a name for me."

Lin Jinyu expressed his understanding that after all, Wu You was a minister of a country, and if it was spread to make these things, it would be a talk of playing with things and losing one's ambition and competing with the people for profit.Wu You didn't bother him, and saved a lot of money, Lin Jinyu was still very happy, and left with a smile.

Xue Pan sold a lot of goods from the south this time, and just in time for the New Year's Eve, the peak sales season, the shop's business was quite good.Many people boasted and praised Xue Pan. Xue Pan was a person who didn't know the heights of the sky and the earth. Hearing these words, his bones suddenly became lighter, and he almost floated into the sky.

Xue Baochai counted the amount of silver taels on the account book in the shop, and praised her brother a few words with her mother, and said with a smile, "Sure enough, it is right to ask my brother to go out. After all, the shop can only prosper if I take care of it personally. My brother is promising. My sister-in-law doesn't make troubles much anymore, and everything is going well with the family, and Lao Lier has always been the most accurate."

Aunt Xue had been dissatisfied with her daughter-in-law for a long time, and she snorted coldly, "For her sake, she sent Xiangling away, what else is she thinking? You have to be content to be a human being."

Xue Baochai sighed softly, and said regretfully, "Perhaps Xiangling has no fate with our family. It stands to reason that Xiangling is a good person, behaves with a good temper, and can't make mistakes. It's just that she is a maidservant, and sister-in-law is My elder brother hired three matchmakers and six regular wives to marry into the door. If my mother stopped her and refused to send Xiangling away, it would spread that our family did not understand etiquette. Perhaps it was Xiangling's fate, because as soon as she arrived at our house, my elder brother would I got into a lawsuit in Jinling, and because of her, my brother and sister-in-law have been quarreling for two years; " Baochai closed the account book with a smile on her face, and offered tea to her mother, and said with a smile, "How do you know that once she leaves, brother I have also grown up, and our shop has also prospered. My daughter thought, this is the word "discord" that the ancients used to say, maybe Xiangling had a conflict with our family somewhere, and now that she is gone, our family will be fine. .”

"My son is right." Aunt Xue sipped two sips of tea and frowned, "It was originally because your brother went through a lawsuit with her. Although it was not a big deal, I always felt ominous. I wanted to dismiss it several times. But your brother's How can you be willing to accept evil. Xiangling was born with such a vicious look. I just stopped your brother from getting close, lest your brother be deceived by her. Hey, I didn't expect that in the end... that's all, it's okay to send it away. It's just where is your sister-in-law? He has a quiet temperament, now that he has sold Xiangling, he has started to take advantage of Baochan again."

"That's right," Xue Baochai said, "Pian Baochan is also my sister-in-law's dowry girl, so it's hard to talk about it even if mother and daughter are idle. The daughter just loves her brother with all her heart. Another thing, it doesn't look like a person who is so noisy. My son. If relatives and friends come over, it would be a joke to let people hear it."

"Out of sight, out of mind." Now moving back to Xue's old house, it is also a four-way house. Aunt Xue gave the main courtyard to her son and daughter-in-law, and chose a small courtyard far away from the main courtyard, trying to keep her ears quiet .

Xue Baochai hurriedly smiled and said, "Mom, the new year's goods for my uncle and aunt's family are all ready, mother, let's see if there is anything to add or subtract?" Then he took out two pieces of paper from the account book and handed them to Aunt Xue.Although Aunt Xue has never learned to read, she can already read some characters with her family possessions over the years. Looking carefully, Aunt Xue is a little hesitant when she sees that she is not richer than in previous years. The business of my family is controlled by my elder brother, so the family is naturally well-off. It is not what it used to be. Now that each family is divided and scattered, our family's business is also limited. If we try our best to follow the routine of previous years, it will be a swollen face. You're fat, and this is a long-term solution. Our family will live in the future. Besides, we are all close relatives, and my aunt and uncle are sensible people, so I won't talk heresy."

Aunt Xue agreed with a sigh, and said sadly and weeping again, "It's all useless to your mother. Your father has worked hard all his life to pass down the family business, and my mother has not kept it."

"This has nothing to do with my mother." Xue Baochai persuaded, "Maybe it's God's will. In fact, tell me, although it is not better than before, as long as my brother understands, the hard work will not be in vain. Mom, think about it, business grows slowly. Yes, our family’s foundation has also been accumulated bit by bit. Now that my brother is making progress, he will not have much in the future, and my mother will only have a happy life."

Aunt Xue was gradually coaxed by Baochai, and for a while, Xue Biao came to ask An.Xue Baochai took the account book, and Aunt Xue ordered Xue Biao to come in.Xue Biao saluted first, and Aunt Xue ordered someone to move the chair to the side of the kang. After Xue Biao sat down, Aunt Xue thought that Xue Biao hadn't come for a few days since he separated from the family, and she might come to ask for Qin'er's affairs. Then he smiled and asked, "Why are you here when you are free? Qin'er is okay, I haven't seen her for a while, and I was talking about picking her up to stay here for a few days? The girl has a family, and Yuan Gong can't stay at home for a few days. ?”

Xue Biao smiled and paid homage to the red and gold-plated post, "Auntie, my sister's happy day has been booked. If you have time, Auntie and eldest sister, go over and have a drink."

Aunt Xue picked it up, with a stiff smile on her face. After reading the date on the post, she asked, "Didn't it mean that we will marry next spring?"

"Because Mei's brother is eighteen years old, and the old lady of his family really likes his sister when she sees her. After hearing about the dowry on our side, she wants to marry ahead of time. After all, there are brothers and sisters underneath, so it's not appropriate to marry her again." Delay by one year." Xue Biao laughed, "The Mei family is honest, and my nephew agreed, and it will be on the sixth day of the twelfth lunar month."

Aunt Xue nodded with a smile on her mouth. Xue Biao didn't stay for long, and left because of the many preparations for the wedding.Aunt Xue's face turned livid in an instant, she clenched her fists and knocked on the table and said, "This is my real nephew! In the past when their brothers and sisters came to Beijing, I took them and treated them like your brothers and sisters, providing them with food and clothing. He went to help in the shop. Now that Qin'er is married, there is only a day to get married, they have no mother, so they are looking for someone else to take care of it, where will I be placed as an aunt? "

Xue Baochai also felt dissatisfied. The affairs of a girl's marriage are cumbersome, and there must be a female elder to guide and teach. For example, Xue Biao's parents are both busy, and the closest one is Aunt Xue, who is the aunt. It seems that someone else was invited to host. .It's just that Xue Bian is now the patriarch, what can Xue Pan do against him?This moment, that moment.Xue Baochai had no choice but to cheer up and persuaded him tactfully.

In fact, it was Xue's mother and daughter who really wronged Xue Biao.This was entirely Xue Xi's idea. Because the brother and sister lost their mother, Xue Xi didn't like Aunt Xue's behavior, so he found Cheng Hanlin, the second wife of Cheng's family, a salt merchant in the south of the Yangtze River, who is now Hanlin in Beijing. Xue Xi and Cheng Hanlin have always been There was friendship, which made Xue Baoqin recognize Cheng's family as relatives. Firstly, Xue Baoqin's status was exalted. Secondly, Cheng Hanlin and Mei Hanlin both worked in the Hanlin Academy, so they were old friends. Yuan, the Mei family is also very willing.

It's not that Xue Biao is incompetent or soft-hearted, it's just that Xue Zhan can always come up with better solutions, and he only has one baby sister, so naturally he puts his sister first in everything.

Here, Aunt Xue's anger had just calmed down a little, and Huang Momo came in again to report: The Zheng Hua family of Rongguo Mansion was ordered to come to pay their respects.

Zheng Hua's family was originally Mrs. Wang's accompanying room, but because her words were a bit awkward, she was no more in Mrs. Wang's heart than Zhou Rui's previous wife.After Zhou Rui's family was dealt with by the old lady for gossiping, Mrs. Wang gradually promoted Zheng Hua's family to the top. Now she is also Mrs. Wang's confidant, and her dress is more decent than before. Hairpin, wearing a shining gold ring on his hand, and wearing a brown silk leather jacket, said hello and hello with a smile, and sat on the twig according to Aunt Xue's words.After Yinger brought tea, Baochai said with a smile, "Sister Zheng also has a taste of our tea."

Aunt Xue asked with a smile, "Why are you free? How are your old ladies, wives, grandma, and girls?"

"Mrs. Lao is thinking about it. It's all good." Zheng Hua's family said with a smile, "Now my mother is in good health. Fifteen old ladies and wives have all gone to the palace to greet the mother. Because the mother's body was not good before, the wife was in front of the Buddha. I have made a wish, and now there is a Buddha to bless and make my mother safe and healthy. My wife has already told the old lady to go to the temple to fulfill her wish, thinking that if my wife is free, I would like to invite my wife to go together."

Aunt Xue said with a smile, "I sleep at home all day long, why don't I have time? I don't know which temple is so effective?"

"My aunt really guessed it. It's not an ordinary temple. It's the Huguo Temple in Xishan. People say that the Bodhisattva there is the most efficacious. They pray for peace, wealth, marriage, children, and longevity. There is nothing wrong with it, the incense is very strong." Zheng Hua's family boasted, but they said that Aunt Xue's heart was moved, so she settled down and said that she would take Baochai with her.

Xue Baochai was at home all day, and apart from her mother, there was no one to talk to and relax, so she wanted to follow her to get some air.

Originally, Xue Pan wanted his mother and sister to go out, so he wanted to ask Xia Jingui to follow him to serve him. He followed him on horseback, so as not to bump into his mother and sister on the road.Unexpectedly, Xia Jingui suffered from headaches all night after hearing this, and was unable to get up the next day. It is not urgent to seek medical advice, how could she have the energy to serve her aunt.Aunt Xue was full of annoyance when she heard this, and she said angrily to Xue Pan who came to pay her respects, "Your sister and I won't go out, and her head doesn't hurt at all! This is really a disease of pinching the time! Hmph! You don't have to come Seeing me, hurry up and serve your daughter-in-law is serious! Since you married a daughter-in-law, how can you still have a mother in your eyes!"

Xue Pan was also embarrassed, and it was Xue Baochai who smoothed things over, and said softly, "Since that's the case, my sister-in-law can't go. It doesn't matter if my mother and I are alone. Anyway, there are still many people at the aunt's side. Our family doesn't need it." It’s a big show. My brother can stay at home with my sister-in-law, and I will tell the kitchen if I want soup or water, and my mother and I will go to the temple to pray for the safety of my brother and sister-in-law.”

Aunt Xue frowned when she got in the car and said, "I don't know in what life I have committed crimes, married such a troublemaker and entered the family, there will be no peace for a day!"

Xue Baochai listened to the sound of cars, horses, hawkers yelling, and passers-by talking outside. Although it was a bit noisy, it also made people feel relaxed and comfortable. There was a bit of joy on her face. Seeing Aunt Xue, she felt depressed. Most of it disappeared, and said kindly, "My son, it's okay to wrap up the cloak a little bit, open the window a little, and look at the market outside."

Leaning in her mother's arms, Xue Baochai shook her head and said with a smile, "Forget it, my mother is getting old, it's not fun to be blown by the wind."

It's no wonder that Aunt Xue loves Xue Baochai, it's because Xue Baochai is a hundred times smarter and considerate than Xue Pan, and also has a gentle speech. Aunt Xue wishes she could love her from the bottom of her heart. The temple also wanted to ask the daughter about her marriage in front of the Buddha.

Huguo Temple is on the mountain. This is a royal temple with a great reputation. Because it is far away, the mother and daughter set off after breakfast. When they arrived at the gate of the temple, they saw Zheng Hua's family waiting at the gate. Aunt Xue and others had arrived. , rushed to the car door to help Aunt Xue Xue Baochai get out of the car, and said with a smile, "The madam ordered the servants to welcome the concubine and the eldest girl here. There is a quiet room in the temple. Please go and rest first." A group of Xue's family passed by.

In ancient times, ladies didn't pay much attention to going out, like Xue Baochai, it was very rare to see the statues of monks and nuns in the temple.However, it was Jia Baoyu who came with Mrs. Wang, which was a bit subtle.Mrs. Wang took Xue Baochai's hand and said a few words, then said, "Baoyu, this is the first time for your sister Bao to come to the temple. Yes." He smiled kindly at Baochai, "Girl Bao, Auntie knows you are filial and wants to serve me and your mother. It is worthwhile for us to love you. It's just that you come out once in a while to relax. Come on, let us old sisters chatter about the past, you will feel bored now."

Jia Baoyu is quite a gentle gentleman to all the beauties who don't talk to him about economic and official careers. Besides, he and Xue Baochai haven't seen each other for a long time.In the quiet room, Aunt Xue hesitated a bit, and said softly, "Bao girl is not a restless person, and she hasn't traveled a long way. It's cold outside, and Baoyu is not a strong person. I'm not at ease. Let people find her." Let them come back." Aunt Xue didn't want to play with the Jia family anymore.

Mrs. Wang waved her hand, and the maidservants stepped back and picked up the teacups.Because she was coming, I sent someone to book the room two days earlier, cleaned it up and smoked it with incense in advance, all the supplies were brought from the mansion, this tea is also always in the mansion, but it is not as fragrant as in previous years .The Jia family is indeed changing day by day. Mrs. Wang took a sip of the slightly bitter tea and said in a low voice, "The girl of the Zhen family is dead." Aunt Xue covered her lips in shock and stared at her sister. The madam shook her head and sighed, "You don't have to think too much, I also hope that she will be fine. It may be that she was frightened in the prison god temple, and was almost sold out. When she was taken back to the mansion, her expression was always in a trance. , lying in bed for a few months, getting thinner and thinner, and asked for medical medicine ginseng and deer osmanthus as an offering, but I still couldn’t keep it, and the previous one was gone.” As her eye circles turned red, she had long wanted to have a relationship with the Zhen family. Before the marriage was dissolved, Miss Zhen San died at the right time, and she had to say that she was right in Madam Wang's heart. She pretended to shed tears, and Madam Wang said, , "These days in our house are like flying dogs and dogs. Something happened to the Shi family, and the old lady's health is not very good. The Zhen family sent a letter. Fortunately, the mother is in good health, which is also a blessing for our family."

Aunt Xue sighed for a while, she couldn't help comforting her, and her heart was a little lively.

Outside, Xue Baochai paid homage to the Bodhisattva in the main hall, put on the veil and hat, and was about to return to the quiet room.In fact, Jia Baoyu was not very energetic, after all, his fiancée had just died, and Zhen Dai'er left a good impression on Jia Baoyu when she was alive, but now that she died suddenly, Jia Baoyu was also somewhat sad and lazy.Xue Baochai is a person with clear elves. Although I don't know why Jia Baoyu is listless, Xue Baochai said, "Brother Bao, I still know the way back, and I have Yinger by my side. I can go back to the quiet room by myself. You If you feel bored, go and relax, study at home all day long, and come out once in a while, don't worry about it, I'll just talk to my aunt."

"How did this happen? There are too many believers in this temple, and people come and go. If someone is rude to my sister, I will die." Jia Baoyu said.

Xue Baochai couldn't help laughing, "Brother Bao is still the same."

Jia Baoyu said, "There is a plum grove in the back mountain that blooms just right, but it's a bit far away from here. It's inconvenient for my sister to go. I came here once with my friends..." Jia Baoyu was about to introduce the scene of the plum grove in the back mountain to Xue Baochai. When he accidentally saw a group of people walking side by side, his expression became a little more respectful. The group of people had already approached him, and he obviously saw Jia Baoyu who was about to salute. "You don't need to be too polite, does Baoyu also come here to offer incense?" This man was dressed in a maroon embroidered plum robe with a ferret fur over his head. He was well-dressed and about the same age as Jia Baoyu. The appearance is even more unparalleled. Jia Baoyu is to this person what a jackdaw is to a phoenix.What is rare is that there is another person beside this person who is as dignified as him, but looking a little older, there is a kind of coquettish charm in the long and narrow phoenix eyes, which is very eye-catching. Even if Xue Baochai is reserved, he can't bear it I took a few more glances.The man was very keenly aware of Xue Baochai's gaze, and there was a vague smile on the corner of his lips, and a gleam of autumn flashed through his phoenix eyes through the tulle of the veiled hat, Xue Baochai blushed immediately.The man's smile deepened, and his eyes gradually moved down from the veiled hat, all the way to Xue Baochai's plain hands, as white as jade and as soft as fat, and the onion-like fingertips were dyed with bright red vermilion.Xue Baochai had never been scrutinized so openly by anyone before, her heart pounded like it was about to jump out of her mouth, from her face to her neck, she was dyed a light rouge color, her hands twisted her handkerchief, she couldn't tell whether she was ashamed or annoyed, pink The neck gradually drooped.

Jia Baoyu's energy was on the two princes in front of him, and he didn't notice Baochai's strangeness, so he replied respectfully, "Accompany my mother to the temple to fulfill her vows."

"That's a coincidence." The other person had already moved his eyes away from Xue Baochai, and said to Jia Baoyu, "My seventh brother and I also came here to fulfill our wish. I didn't expect to meet Baoyu and this girl by chance." I feel that the word "girl" brings an indescribable beauty from this person's mouth.Her heart was beating even harder, and she wanted to show the dignity of a lady in the past, but her mind was full of dramas she had read when she was a child, such as "The Romance of the West Chamber", "The Peony Pavilion", "The Story of Jade Hairpin", etc., in which the coincidence of a gifted scholar and a beautiful lady came.

Jia Baoyu hurriedly said, "This is my cousin."

The seventh prince saw that the old problem of the sixth prince had committed again, so he gave the sixth prince a look, "Sixth brother, let's go in, and don't delay Baoyu and the others."

"Seventh brother, Baoyu used to be common, but seeing his family members, although there is nothing to congratulate." The sixth prince took off a suet jade pendant from his waist, and handed it to Xue Baochai with both hands, smiling slightly. "Don't be too disrespectful. This is a jade pendant I often use. If you don't dislike it, girl, you can play with it."

Xue Baochai seemed to be choked by something, unable to say a word, bent his knees and blessed him, and took it with both hands.However, the fingertips were scratched without a trace, and his face immediately became even more red.At this time, Xue Baochai couldn't help but rejoice that she wore a veiled hat when she came out.

The sixth prince gave the gift, but he didn't wait for the seventh prince to give it. He nodded slightly to Baoyu and dragged his younger brother away.

After walking so far, the Seventh Prince felt ashamed, such an unscrupulous elder brother, of course, can't be called Huangxiong now, it should be Xining Wangxiong.

The newly released King of Xining received his younger brother's gaze and said with a smile, "Don't look at me with such an expression, that woman has a good figure and a plump figure, she must be a beauty."

"Sixth brother, that's a decent girl, didn't you hear Jia Baoyu say she was his cousin?"

The king of Xining took the Chuanjin folding fan coldly and shook it pretentiously, and smiled softly, "I'm really stupid, but I don't blame you, you are still young. This woman, you only need one look. I can tell if it's a good piece of meat. Cousin Jia Baoyu, hmph, in a few days, you'll be waiting for your little sister-in-law to serve you the bar."

The Seventh Prince couldn't help but shouted, "This face is covered by a curtain, so I can't see clearly. Sixth brother should be more careful, don't bring back a salt-free girl on a whim, isn't it worthy of seeing sixth brother with his golden eyes? "

"Salt-free or salt-free, anyway, there is no shortage of food at home."