Dowry maid's daily life [Red Mansion]

When Aunt Xue heard her words, she knew that the girl in her family was talking about a candidate for a daughter-in-law.It just so happened that Aunt Xue recently fell in love with a good man, because she said with a smile: "My son always wants to go with my mother, and I have exactly the same intention."

Baochai laughed and asked, "Who is Mom talking about?"

"Mom, don't blame me for being rude..." Before Baochai finished speaking, her mother had already hugged her into her arms.

Aunt Xue's eyes were red. If it wasn't for Bao'er helping her with housework and supporting the family all these years, relying on Pan'er's evil handicap, the Xue family's family business is decent and can be maintained to this day?

"It's said that our family has climbed the ladder, but I really like it." Aunt Xue put her mind back, and smiled again: "Dignified and stable, with an outstanding appearance, at first I thought it was too docile, but now it seems that I can handle it A good person. Apart from being a concubine, she is really a good girl with all four corners."

"It's just that our family's gate is a little low. If it's a good child born in the aunt, I wouldn't dare to open my mouth to ask for it. I think the old man and the big wife are both people who love money. As long as we promise a lot I'm afraid I can agree to the betrothal gift." It seems that Aunt Xue has already thought about it in private.

Baochai frowned slightly, because she said: "Is the second sister in the old man's house over there?"

In fact, the difference between Baochai's birthday and Yingchun's birthday is less than one month, but Yingchun's birthday was in the twelfth lunar month of the previous year, so when the sisters are together, they are sometimes called "Sister Bao" and "Second Sister".

Aunt Xue also saw that what Baochai wanted to talk about was not Yingchun, and she didn't bother to ask who it was. She wondered: "Isn't Baoer thinking about the second girl? There is nothing wrong with her child's foundation, appearance, and temperament." , Are you also afraid that your brother will not be worthy? This is also my concern, lest that evil will ruin other people's girls, and it will be difficult for us to explain." If Jia She and Mrs. Xing hadn't been waiting for the vernal equinox, they were not sincere. Beloved, Aunt Xue didn't dare to think about it.

But Baochai shook her head: "Second sister has nothing wrong with me, but we talk about our own affairs, I'm afraid that second sister can't control brother."

What's more, the family's financial situation is difficult and declining day by day. If there is no shortage of new subsidies, I am afraid that it will be impossible for the family to recover, and the family business created by my father in the past will never be restored.

Yijia Yingchun's character and temperament should have been the most desirable sister-in-law candidate for a powerful sister-in-law like Xue Baochai who can manage some family business at home.It's just that Xue Baochai was concerned about the family business, so she felt that it was not appropriate. According to her usual opinion, first, welcoming the spring into the house not only could not make up for the family's shortfall, but because the old man was greedy for cruelty, he might still go inside like a trickle of water. Second, although Yingchun has stood up now, Baochai has been here for so long and knows her reputation as a coward in the past.Therefore, there is no need to say more, only these two items are not suitable for Xue's wife.

Aunt Xue had always been able to listen to Zhang Zhu's words, so Baochai nestled in her mother's arms and told her worries in detail.When Aunt Xue heard this, she felt sad. She really liked elegant and gentle girls. If she married her, she would be able to get along with her mother-in-law and daughter-in-law. In the future, when Bao'er left the family, she would still have a caring daughter-in-law.

It's just that what Bao'er said was very reasonable, and Aunt Xue complained about her husband again. If he was still there, how could she have fallen into a situation where she couldn't even choose her daughter-in-law as she wanted.

"Then who are you talking about?" Aunt Xue asked.

"What do you think of Sister Yun?" Baochai laughed.

"Her?" Aunt Xue shook her head before listening to anything else: "Don't even think about her, your aunt will never give it to you. Besides, your brother can't match up with a good boy." Now it's not decades The old calendar of the former "Jia Shi Wang Xue": Jia's family is okay, it is considered stable; the historian can no longer support the family, and I heard from Xiangyun's child that even the ladies sent a lot of words to make up for flowers; It's not as good as before; but the Wang family is the only one of the four that is thriving. Whether it's family business or power, they are all going up-now the other three families are relying more on the Wang family.

Aunt Xue may lack some scheming, but she has the advantage of knowing current affairs.Because she first saw that her second sister-in-law really loved this goddaughter she knew halfway, she had already become very close to Du Yun'an. Later, she saw that even Wang Ziteng also took this cheap daughter into her eyes, and Aunt Xue really put Du Yun'an in her eyes. For the sake of "my niece", I never forget to send her a portion of the bad goose feet and duck letters that I make at home on weekdays.

It can be said that Jia Baoyu and Du Yun'an are the two juniors of the Xue family who are most attentive in Rongfu, even Sanchun is not as many.

But Baochai didn't think so: "If Mom doesn't try, how will I know that Auntie won't?"

As she said that, Baochai sighed: "Sister Yun is the most suitable person at the moment. I have looked at her coldly for so long, and she has a few advantages that no one else has."

"The first one is that she has a strong temper and can help mother with foreign affairs. Whether she is doing well or not can be known only by seeing that there are only two people left in her family. The second is that she is the daughter recognized by my aunt, and my aunt loves her." She, the nephew and the girl from the uncle's family are common things in the world. The sister Yang of the uncle's family is too young, so she is the only one who is just right. Besides, her brother looks promising and can become our arm in the future. Besides, the Du family Medicinal wine is famous, but its foundation is not strong. If we recommend it, it may become a tribute wine one day. If you help me and I help you, it’s not a good thing for both sides. Mom thinks I’m right?"

In fact, there is another advantage, but Baochai is hard to say as a boudoir girl: Xue Pan is so beautiful, Jia Yingchun is extremely beautiful, but it is gentle and peaceful, not as beautiful as Du Yunan's snowy skin, peach eyes, and body. The graceful posture makes straightforward young masters like Xue Pan even more pleased.Miss Xue claimed to know her brother very well. Even though Xue Pan is a domineering and domineering character, she is actually a bit of a "hard-headed and soft-hearted man". Once he 'surrenders' him, Xue Pan will be like a changed person.Yun'an is also rigid, has a strong temper, and Xue Pan's good looks. Given time, Xue Pan can't help but "love and respect"—or to attract him to do serious things.

It is precisely because of these that Baochai dare not speak up about the candidate to take care of his sister-in-law.In fact, she didn't like Miss Du's background very much.

It's not that she looks down upon her, Baochai actually admires Miss Du's capable temperament, but the foundation of the Du family is too shallow. It's really not the right family to talk about the Du family and the Xue family. I told Aunt Xue about it, and I didn't decide to do so until today when I heard that Eucommia had become a sixth-rank military officer.

The daughter's words are reasonable, Aunt Xue is not tempted, she was just envious of his brother, and thought that if Pan'er was half as sensible and motivated, she would be satisfied.

It's just, "No matter how many benefits you think about, it's useless." Aunt Xue sighed, and then she said what she heard from Mrs. Wang's chat after she gave away [-] silver notes: "I heard from your aunt that Your uncle and aunt are going to hire Miss An back to the clan. What your aunt said is that she wants to keep the child by her side for a long time. Take a look at these words, and she is no different from her own girl. In your aunt's heart, my sister is not at this level."

But Baochai felt that she was more suitable now. If she entered her own house, wouldn't she be closer to her uncle's house.

But in the end, Aunt Xue couldn't resist her resolute refusal to offend her sister-in-law, so she had to worry about it in vain, and all the previous efforts were in vain.Aunt Xue put her arms around her and said with a smile: "If it wasn't for your brother's mouth not being secure, you should really let him know all the hard work you have put in for him! Whether Miss Du or Miss Ying is not as good as my treasure Son!"

The two of them talked about their thoughts, and when it was time to go to bed, Aunt Xue left the girl to live with her, Baochai was a little embarrassed: "I'm too old to sleep with my mother."

Aunt Xue said with a smile: "what are you afraid of, my son, don't be too strict with yourself. For you, I also have to worry about your brother's affairs. When your sister-in-law comes in, I will leave all these trivial matters to her You don't have to worry about it all day long, like those girls, at the age of flowers, you should be indulgent and willful, once you pass this good age, you can't do it anymore."

Aunt Xue was kind, and Baochai knew it.But listening to her mother, she still paid attention to the second sister, Baochai quietly suppressed the soreness in her chest, and at the same time hid the little girl's feelings in her heart, refusing to utter a word.

In the days that followed, Baochai still took needlework as her main business. In her spare time, she enjoyed talking, playing games and reading Go with her sisters. At the same time, she secretly kept an eye on the movement of the upper court and Sister Feng, just waiting for her mother to plan the marriage.Unexpectedly, they waited and waited, but it's been a long time since Aunt Xue moved, and even the special intimacy with Yingchun that she made at the beginning has disappeared.

Seeing that the weather was turning cold, Baochai was startled by Aunt Xue's "holding her breath" this time, so she went home frequently to talk to her mother.

After all, Aunt Xue is not the kind of woman who is particularly wealthy, so she stayed with Baochai for the night, first took a good look at the girl, and then let out long and short sighs.

Only the old and prudent girl Xue was taken aback.

Just as Baochai was about to speak, Aunt Xue asked her seriously: "Bao'er, tell the truth, do you like your brother Bao?"

The so-called knowing daughter is more like mother, when Aunt Xue was discussing Xue Pan's marriage that day, Aunt Xue felt that Baochai had something on her mind. Afterwards, the child became depressed for some days without knowing it. Others could not see it, but she couldn't escape Aunt Xue. s eyes.Aunt Xue herself was also young, and she also had two girls' concerns. She wondered about Baochai's age, so she paid more attention to it. I found an excuse to call Yinger for an interrogation. Yinger was shallow-minded. After Aunt Xue asked her some twisted questions, she was sure of Baochai's intentions.

Baochai blushed blushing, wanted to deny but didn't want to disobey her sincerity, but admitted that she really didn't have the guts to do so, and thought that she really could be called "shameless and deviant" this time, So before the lips were opened, two crystal clear teardrops had already fallen on the lotus-colored skirt.

Aunt Xue's heart ached so badly that she couldn't remember the "golden body" that she had planned to send the girl to run as the princess and princess, so she just focused on coaxing her daughter: "Good boy, isn't Mom?" I blame you..." If you don't send Bao'er to participate in the election, in fact, Baoyu is really the best son-in-law you can find.

Until the two mothers and daughters opened their minds.Aunt Xue said with a smile: "I am responsible for this matter. You just get along with your brother Bao as before." She also comforted Baochai: "Just make another plan for your brother's affairs. I was afraid that I would be wronged and welcome the girl. Let me apologize now, don't worry about it."

If you want to marry Baochai to Baoyu, you can't bring up the matter of Pan'er taking Yingchun, otherwise, even though you are not married, you will be suspected of "changing relatives", and the Jiaxue family can't afford to lose this person.

"It just so happens that your uncle said that he is often in the army because of his busy schedule, and he has no time to control your brother. He also said that he has entrusted your uncle to let us live in this house with peace of mind for now..." Aunt Xue was still a little uncomfortable before, but now she feels two It's a good thing that brother didn't pick him up.

"..." The mother and daughter who talked heart-to-heart didn't fall asleep until Dongfang was white.

Two days later, when everyone was chatting with Jiamu to relieve boredom, Mrs. Xing asked Xue Baochai, "Where is the golden lock of the eldest girl? You were not there when my son came over. Today I think of it, and I am going to appreciate it."

As Mrs. Wang "recovered from her illness", Mrs. Xing and the Xue family also got closer. Besides, the Xue family is used to being a good person, and the family is very rich. Mrs. Xing's left-handedness is also cured by those expensive gifts. Therefore, Yingchun never got the kindness towards Baochai.

Xue Baochai blushed.

Jia Baoyu has his affairs everywhere, and finally took advantage of Jia Zheng's recent busy work and asked Lai "not in good health" to ask his family to take a few days off.Therefore, when he heard Mrs. Xing's words, others were still puzzled, and he couldn't wait to speak.

"My good sister, don't you have a golden unicorn that you have been wearing since you were young, just like Sister Yun?" As he said that, he leaned over to ask for a look.

Mother Jia raised her eyes, looked back and forth at everyone, and waited until Jia Baoyu pulled her to act coquettishly, then she smiled and said, "It's not gold and jade, and it's not good enough for our young lady. Your sister Yun's unicorn was originally born by her." At that time, an old concubine gave it to her to save her life, so she had to wear it for so many years. If it wasn’t for this reason, she should have changed it long ago——now your sister Yun is considered to be standing, so she also wears it not enough."

As soon as Jia's mother opened her mouth, Mrs. Xing didn't dare to insist on reading it, but after a while, Jia Baoyu suddenly heard Ying'er mumbling something, and picked up the psychic jade hanging around his neck to look at it. , and got up to pester Baochai to appreciate her golden lock, because he said to Jiamu: "Old ancestor, when I was a child, I asked the sisters if they had any jade, and everyone said no. I just heard today that Sister Bao There is no jade, but there is a golden lock, so I have to look at it..." He turned to Baochai and said, "Sister Bao has seen my jade in the past, why is she so petty and refuses to show me your golden lock?"

Everyone in the room couldn't do anything about his obsession, Xue Baochai had no choice but to hide behind the screen, unbuttoned his clothes and took off a collar from his neck, on which was a golden wreath with seal characters.

"Never leave and never give up, and the youth will last forever."

All the female relatives looked at the golden lock, were amazed, and asked Aunt Xue.

Aunt Xue didn't expect Mrs. Xing to be so indifferent. She asked this question on such an occasion before she was close to her family. She secretly observed Jia Mu's expression, and she felt a sudden shock in her heart. When she asked, she said lightly: " It was given by a monk with a scarlet head. The original is no different from Miss Shi’s, the monk said that it can bless and eliminate disasters and keep you safe forever.”

Others would pass her words, but only Daiyu listened and said with a smile: "Could it be the same monk who wanted to make me a monk? I was sick when I was young, and a monk with a scarlet head wanted to save me. He said some more things, but my parents don’t want to, so that’s all.” Lin Ruhai once told her not to say those crazy things to outsiders, but now that Daiyu is older, she also knows that those words are not good.

Aunt Xue was a little guilty. Jinling is not far from Yangzhou. She had heard the words of the Lin family girl who was ordered by the eminent monk, "except for parents, all relatives and friends with other surnames should not be seen, so that this life can be safe for the rest of my life." Later, Lin Ruhai believed in this sentence very much, and Aunt Xue knew that Sister Lin finally stood up.This time, a monk with a scarlet head was also made up, just to lend a layer of credibility to Baochai's golden lock with the help of Sister Lin's story.

Mrs. Xing is Yulu, she has heard about the Lin family's affairs in a daze. In the past, Jia Min didn't bring her daughter back to Beijing for many years. Because of this, she hurriedly asked Daiyu: "So it's the same eminent monk?"

"But I don't know." Aunt Xue laughed hurriedly, "I'm afraid it's not accurate."

As she said that, she looked at Daiyu, and her aunt asked: "I also heard that the eminent monk protected the eldest girl before, I don't know if it is true?"

Ask Daiyu, what can Daiyu say, she just purses her lips and smiles: "Although my parents are not willing to let me become a monk, the serious illness is indeed cured. After that, I stood still and asked the eminent monks of Daming Temple, The eminent monk’s verses have helped me survive the catastrophe, as long as I entrust my horoscope in front of the Buddha, I can be regarded as an incarnation and become a monk—now I still offer Changming sea lanterns, and my father goes to kneel to sutra every year on my birthday.”

Aunt Xue's face was full of kindness, Madam Xing said with a smile: "It must be an eminent monk, so accurate!"

Daiyu has always been a bit narrow-minded, now she is afraid that she will not be able to hold back her laughter and call her concubine unattractive, so she hastily pretended to be with her sisters and went to Yingchun's side to play Go with her.

After playing wildly for a while, Gu Kong'er whispered privately to Yingchun: "That monk is crazy, and what he said is all nonsense, I just hope that it's not the same person who gave Yingluo to Sister Bao!"

The little girl snuggled into her second sister's arms and smirked: "It should not be alone. The monk you told me about, according to my father's words, probably doesn't have the money to get a golden lock."

Yingchun gave a "puchi" smile, pressed her face into her arms, and said in a low voice: "Only you can say, with your mouth, if someone else hears it, I don't know what to make up for you! I can't control you You little monkey, I just hope our sister will come back soon!"

Daiyu didn't follow her, she was tired of her and said: "What I tell my sister is the truth! When I was at home, I got sick once every three to five days, but when I came here, I lived with my sisters, and my body became healthy—" —The eldest sister said that exercising the muscles and bones can 'eliminate all diseases and prolong life', which is really good, and she is also particular about it, teaching us to exercise according to the weather and solar terms, which is how I got better."

Yingchun agrees with this statement, and she feels much healthier now.

While listening to the elders above, the two younger sisters felt bored and wondered when their elder sister would come back.

Daiyu was tired of Yingchun, and said to herself: Second sister's arms are not as soft as big sister's...

----

Du Yun'an, who was missed by the little sisters, was torturing his brother very much at this time.

The girl had a great plan, and she put her arms around Huzi's big black head to discuss with his brother: "Before it cools down, let's dry the last crop of fruits and vegetables into dried vegetables and dried fruits. Dried bamboo shoots in the sun for three days in the early summer." One hundred catties, I went to the back room to check it first, and it was well preserved, and it didn’t get damp and moldy at all. Cowpeas, beans, eggplants, cucumbers, gourds and other meaty and plump vegetables can be dried into dried vegetables...My brother loves eggplants, An extra [-] jins of sun-dried, Senior Brother Song loves gourds, so he also sun-dried an extra [-] jins, but at the end of autumn, there is still a batch of fresh winter melons. Love to eat fresh vegetables..."

Du Zhong was in a bad mood, because he said: "I still like cabbage, why didn't An An tell me to dry more dried cabbage?"

Yun An glanced at her brother, and said curiously: "Brother said earlier that dried gray strips of vegetables are not as good as the sauerkraut I stockpiled? Besides, it's not yet time to harvest cabbages, and when the time comes, I will also cook." The little girl There is still some grievance: "When did my brother lose his favorite food?"

Du Zhong didn't dare to be sour anymore, so he rubbed Huzi's dog head in a fawning manner, and he sighed in his heart, his sister is getting older, and it's hard to rub his hair anymore, Huzi's hard and dregsy hair is really hard to touch.

"Why do you let the farmer put all those vegetables in the sun?" Du Zhong asked, did An An know about those things, and was afraid that there would be nowhere to buy vegetables?

Du Yun'an didn't know what her brother was thinking, and said honestly: "These dried vegetables are not rare in the countryside, but those wealthy families who don't make them like to eat them. Just wait until the comprador of the family is willing to go to the countryside to buy."

"That's strange." Du Zhong snorted, "It's because the peasants didn't have enough food to eat, and they took advantage of the abundance of fruits and vegetables to dry them out to fool their stomachs. In these Gaoliang mansions, they became rare things."

Du Yun'an also shook his head, and said with a smile: "We can't control other people, it's just that the farmer at home has to leave enough grain for the tenants for the winter."

The girl was very sincere: "When it snows, our family will have a gift to send to the Wangfu and Rongfu. When the time comes, leave a portion for me, and our sisters will eat it."

Du Zhong laughed: "You know how to eat."

"Just don't worry, every family in the village has left enough food. They didn't sell rice and wheat this year, but bought some back." Du Zhong felt that his sister's little brain always had so many wonderful ideas, and now All the tenants in the village said that they met Bodhisattva's owner.

"According to your words, even the lotus leaves from the wild pond were not wasted. They were all picked and washed, cleaned and dried. I never thought that this dried lotus leaf was worth two copper coins? Even if we If there is no food left, each of their families can buy it from outside with money.” Not to mention the sour fruits and weeds that no one eats all over the mountains and plains.

Du Yun'an stroked the big black dog, kissed the dog's head, and said with a smile, "When it's cold, the price can still go up, at least three or four copper coins per piece. But brother, why don't you sell food?"

There are not many tenants on Zhuangzi, so I'm afraid they won't be able to eat so many.

Du Zhong knew that his sister could hear it, because he whispered: "I don't want to say anything else, but you remember, I am afraid that something will happen at the end of this year. I will discuss it with you, Brother Song, and find a way to pick you up in a short time. I also asked for leave - the people in Rongfu are too casual, and his family has always shown off its wealth, I am afraid that someone will be eyeing his family."