Survive in the world of Red Mansions

When Lin Daiyu heard that the little maid in the mansion came to report, she only thought that her father and younger brother were right. She didn't know whether she should praise her father for his foresight or his insight.

Wang Xifeng's coming to the Lin Mansion today was really not what she wanted, and she just obeyed others, following the orders of the old lady and the second wife, to come to the Lin Mansion to borrow money. I hate it secretly.

Thinking that before coming to the Lin Mansion, my aunt specially asked me to go there, saying that the Lin family was rich, and that Uncle Lin had made a lot of money after working in the salt administration for so many years. This time, he borrowed 20 taels from the Lin family. .In the past few years, Uncle Lin's family has been far away from Rongli, so I don't know if I can agree.

The old lady and her aunt clearly knew that Lin's house had been away from the house since before Aunt Min left, not to mention anything else, just look at the rituals and annual ceremonies sent to the house in the past few years.Perhaps, the old lady and her aunt are also aware of this, so they let me take this trip.However, Wang Xifeng felt more confident when she thought that now that her eldest daughter was conferred the title of concubine, and that the Lin family was also a relative, she would also follow suit.

"Second sister-in-law, why are you free today?"

Wang Xifeng had been thinking about this all the time, and unknowingly, she had arrived at the second gate of the Lin Mansion, and saw Lin's cousin wearing a pink-blue Confucian dress standing in front of the courtyard, waiting for her.

"You girl, haven't I seen you for a while? The old lady is thinking about you, so she sent me, an idler, to run errands. Let's see how my cousin is doing during this time."

"Hey, look, Second Grandma Lian can say that she is idle, so we are ashamed to live. It just so happens that I got a few horses of material a few days ago, and I was discussing what to do with Xueyan and the others just now. Fortunately, the second sister-in-law is here, so she has to help me out."

"Okay, then I have to go and see."

Accompanied by Lian's second grandmother, Lin Daiyu went directly to Lin Daiyu's Meiyuan, and when she entered the house, she happened to see a few pink brocade horses on the table.

Wang Xifeng looked at the several bolts of cloud brocade placed on the table. The colors were sky blue, light green, and light purple, all of which were suitable for making shirts for a little girl like Daiyu.When I saw these fabrics, I thought of the situation in my family's house, and I couldn't help but sigh in my heart. The mansion is now living on top of the grain, and my own housekeeper often puts in the dowry. Like these good fabrics, now every time I cut clothes, only the old man The wife can have it, even the wife and the others can only get one or two horses occasionally, not to mention the few girls in the house, the life in the house is getting more and more difficult.

It is the honor of the whole family that the empress can come back to visit her relatives this time, and she is full of face when she walks outside, but thinking about the situation in the mansion, she can't help but have a headache.However, even if Mrs. Lin stayed away from her family a few years ago, but now that the eldest girl in the mansion has become a concubine and is about to come back to visit her relatives, the Lin family will follow suit as relatives. state government.

Wang Xifeng thought it was good, but she probably subconsciously forgot that even after Yuanchun became a concubine, the Lin family did not change their behavior in the past few years.After Yuanchun became a concubine, the Lin family also visited Lin Daiyu and gave her a gift that was neither salty nor light, without any other actions.

"Second sister-in-law, look at these pieces of material, how many sets of summer shirts can you make?" Lin Daiyu asked casually as she saw Wang Xifeng laying out the fabrics on the table.

Seeing Xueyan bring the little maid to bring tea, she called Wang Xifeng to sit down, "A few days ago, I happened to get a few taels of Liu'an melon slices. The second sister-in-law will try it and see if she likes it."

"Is this the new tea this year? But your second sister-in-law and I are a rough person, so what do you know about tea tasting?"

Lin Daiyu heard what Wang Xifeng said, and replied with a smile: "It doesn't matter if you understand it or not, the most important thing is that you like it."

Lin Daiyu probably knew the purpose of Wang Xifeng's visit this time, but if Wang Xifeng didn't bring it up, she pretended not to know, and chatted leisurely with Second Mistress Lian about clothing, jewelry, and refreshments.

The two of you have been back and forth for less than half an hour. Daiyu saw that the time was almost up, so she asked people to prepare the dinner.

When Wang Xifeng heard Daiyu's words, she hurriedly declined, "Sister, don't be busy, I will go back to the mansion later, these days the mansion will build a family home, and I am in the mansion, either someone is looking for it here, or there is something to be busy there, okay? Only when I have free time can I come to my sister's place."

"Second sister-in-law said this. It's rare to come to our house once and leave without even having to eat. My father will blame me if he finds out when he comes back. Besides, how much time will it take for just one meal?"

"My dear sister, I really don't have time this time. I have time to spare next time. I will definitely not refuse. Besides visiting my sister for the old lady, I have something to talk to my sister about." After Wang Xifeng finished speaking, she looked at the Look at the maidservants waiting on the side.

Wang Xifeng didn't come to Lin's residence today for this table. There was still the most important thing to talk about. Seeing the little maids in the room waiting by the side all the time, she couldn't find a chance to speak, so she could only take the initiative to signal to the Lin family. The cousin will pay out.

Seeing this, Lin Daiyu couldn't refuse, so she could only follow Wang Xifeng's wishes and said, "You guys go out first, I have something to talk to my second sister-in-law."

"Second sister-in-law, what is so important to keep secret and not let others know?" Lin Daiyu said with a smile.

Wang Xifeng came to Lin's mansion to sit for a long time, although it was a little difficult to ask for a loan, but stretching his head and shrinking his head is also a stab, so why not be more straightforward and speak clearly.

"I'm really a bit embarrassed to speak about Sister Lin, but I'm just running this trip on behalf of the old lady. Cousin, you also know that our house is starting to build a family home at this time, and we are a little nervous about money. All of a sudden, there is a bit of turnover, so I wonder if Uncle Lin can borrow some silver for a couple of weeks."

"Although I am in charge of the affairs of the house, my younger sister is only in the inner courtyard. I really can't make decisions about money matters. Why don't I talk to my father after my father comes back and make plans? I don't know if I want to borrow How much, so I can explain it to my father in advance."

"Not much, our mansion has already prepared a lot, this time I hope Uncle Lin will get 20 turnover."

"20 million taels?"

When Lin Daiyu heard the number, she didn't call out loudly. She really wanted to thank Mr. Li Qiu and Nanny Li for raising her, but her eyes widened. This was really not intentional. She was really scared by the amount of 20 taels. .

20 taels!

How dare you speak!

Lin Daiyu smiled wryly and said to Wang Xifeng: "Second sister-in-law, for such a large amount of 20 taels, I don't need to ask my father, I know that our Lin family cannot afford such a large sum of money. I still know a little bit about the situation, the annual income of our mansion depends on the rental of farm shops, if it is possible for a few thousand taels, there is really no way for such a large amount of money."

When Wang Xifeng heard Lin Daiyu say this, his expression became difficult.From the yearly etiquette that Aunt Min sent to the mansion over the years, it can be seen that the Lin family is rich, and Uncle Lin has been sitting in the fat vacancy of the salt government for so many years. Aunt asked herself to borrow 20 taels. I can't borrow all of it, half of it is 10 taels, it's no problem, now the cousin of the Lin family said a few thousand taels, is this sending beggars? !

"It's such an honor for this empress to come back to visit her relatives. Speaking of which, my younger sister is also her cousin. Now that the relatives of my empress are all relatives, I should spend some money to make a living. Cousin Lin might as well wait." When Uncle Lin comes back, how about asking Uncle Lin?"

After Wang Xifeng said this, Daiyu couldn't say anything about her family having no money, so she had to say: "Second sister-in-law, after my father returns home, I will tell my father about it. Reply, second sister-in-law, do you think this is okay?"

"So there's Cousin Laurin!"

After sending Lian's second grandmother away, Lin Daiyu went back to the house and leaned on the beauty's couch under the window to meditate.

After a while, Nanny Li came in and saw Daiyu like this, she couldn't help asking: "What's wrong with the girl? Did someone from the girl's grandparent's family just now say something to make the girl difficult?"

"Mammy is here, please sit down, too!" Daiyu saw Li Nanny asking herself with concern, and hurriedly beckoned her to sit down.

"Isn't every concubine's family building a provincial house now? My grandfather's family is also building a garden. It seems that the money is not available for a while. No, come here to borrow money."

"Girl, seeing you are in such a difficult situation, the amount shouldn't be small, right?"

Lin Daiyu looked at Mammy Li with a wry smile, "Mammy is really right at guessing, 20 taels! How dare you say it! I will tell my father to watch when I come back later."

"Indeed, for such a big matter, you still have to tell Mr. Lin."

Lin Hai went back to the mansion at night, and heard Daiyu talk about Wang Xifeng coming to borrow money during the day, but she didn't know what to say. The Jia family was so embarrassed to ask, 20 taels!

"Father, this Jia family is crazy about money, and the price is 20 taels, probably thinking that our Lin family's money was picked up from the street?!"

Lin Rui has been in the front yard all day today, just like Lin Hai, only now did he know that Wang Xifeng came to borrow money today, and heard Daiyu talk about the amount of money the Jia family borrowed, although he already knew that the Jia family might come to borrow money , but I didn't expect that Jia's family would spend 20 taels per mouth.

"What's so strange about this? Didn't I say it all? Jia's family has already started to eat their own food, and now they have to take out several 10 taels all at once. How could it be possible? Since there is no one, I can only go to various relatives' homes Figured out a way."

Apart from his great admiration for the lion of the Jia family, Lin Hai really didn't feel anything else. The money was in his hands, and it was not up to him whether to borrow it or not.

"Then how will daddy reply to my grandfather's house? Do you want to borrow it?" Lin Daiyu was still very concerned about this issue.

"It's just borrowed. What will the Jia family pay back? Tomorrow, let the big housekeeper go and send 5 taels over, and Daiyu will go to the warehouse to get two ornaments to add. Don't say anything about borrowing, just say it's for your mother's consolation." , a congratulatory gift from the Lin family in advance."

After Wang Xifeng returned from the Lin family, although she said she still had to wait for Uncle Lin's reply, she also guessed that borrowing from the Lin family this time would not go well, even if the Lin family would agree to borrow at that time, the amount should not be large.

Although the trip to the Lin family was not smooth, the loan of 10 taels from the Xue family did not take much effort from Mrs. Wang.Because of Mrs. Wang's "beauty trick" of Jia Baoyu, Mrs. Wang borrowed the money without much fuss.

Before her own daughter became a concubine, Mrs. Wang always favored her younger sister's daughter. First, she felt that her younger sister's family had a fortune of millions. Another was that she was very satisfied with her niece. Although Baochai was not young, Big, but he is dignified and generous, with a gentle temperament. Although he is two years older than Baoyu, he knows how to take good care of Baoyu when he is older, which is better.

However, since Yuanchun became a concubine, Mrs. Wang has more thoughts. Baoyu was born with a psychic in her mouth. Baoyu must have good luck in the future. Now she has a sister who is a concubine. Maybe she will be a noble concubine or an imperial concubine in the future. , then Baochai's identity is somewhat unworthy, but there is no rush at present, anyway, Baoyu is not very old, so it will be fine to wait a few more years.

Although Aunt Xue was a little dissatisfied with her parents for marrying her into the Xue family, even though she was an imperial merchant, it only sounded nice, but she still belonged to a merchant after all.But when Xue Pan’s father, Xue Min, was alive, Xue’s family in Jinling had the title of imperial merchant, and they had Rongguo Mansion in the capital and her natal Wang’s family to rely on. Even though she saw that those officials and wives treated her well, she didn’t feel anything. difference in status.

But after arriving in the capital, I really felt the huge difference between businessmen and officials, so I was very happy that Mrs. Wang expressed her intention to marry her family.Besides, Aunt Xue has stayed in Rongguo Mansion for so long, and it can be seen that the old lady's preference for Baoyu, and finally the title of this mansion is really hard to say.Looking at the concubine in Yuanchun now, Baoyu will not have to worry about her future in the future. When her daughter marries into the Rongguo Mansion, she will be able to become a decent official wife, and she will be able to help her natal brothers more in the future.

So when Mrs. Wang came to borrow money, she happily took out 10 taels of silver notes.

Although it was not smooth to borrow money from other relatives except the Xue family, the Provincial Family Hospital in Rongguo Mansion still started working as scheduled.

Prepare earth, wood, bricks and tiles; make gold and silver utensils; move mountains, trees, stones, pavilions and railings; go to Suzhou to hire teachers, buy girls, buy musical instruments and so on.

Two months have passed, and the provincial hospital is only half completed, but now there is less than 2 taels of money left in the account.Thinking of the antique ornaments and decorations needed inside after the construction is completed, Mrs. Wang is really upset, but she has no plan to take out her private money, those are to be left to Baoyu, it seems that she can only find the old lady Think of a way.

Although Mrs. Wang had a headache looking at the account book of the provincial hospital, but at this time, some people looked at the account book in their hands and were secretly happy.