The maid of the red house

In a blink of an eye, it was another spring, the flowers bloomed just right, and the spring was full of vigor. Xueyan sat in the upper room, checking the account books sent by Xue Biao, and estimating the family's expenses for this year, and there were maids and servants talking back.

Over the years, I have invested money in Xue Biao's business, and I have made money every year. Even if Xue Biao does not travel far, he will have his own shopkeeper to take care of it. They have already saved up to one hundred thousand taels, and the money in the family's business has also increased more than ten times under their own management, to about three to forty thousand taels. Although their family is not as rich as a million dollars now, it is not too thin.

Xue Biao's business has become more and more prosperous in recent years, faintly surpassing the millionaires of Xue's parents, so Xue Biao intends to bring his wife and children, return to his hometown and return to Beijing, and wants to find a job under the household department, repeating the past emperor Xueyan knew that Shang's scenery could not be greedy, and she heard that he had such a plan, so she wanted to take all the elements back.

After calculating the total account, Xueyan showed a smile on her face. When she takes it back this year, her ladder can be doubled, but the smile on her face disappeared immediately. Looking at the income at home, she sighed. A wide range of fertile land was set up, but the income was not good. In the first year, there was a severe drought, and the compensation was several thousand taels. The next year was better. Even if the weather was good, the income was not as good as the fertile land near the capital and the land in the south of the Yangtze River. The fertile land under her name There is no need to pay taxes anymore, even if this is the case, one mu of land can only collect two shi of grain at most, and because it is not easy for tenants to sell grain, she does not let them convert it into money and hand it over. In the library at home.

Often interacting with people, Xueyan knows that tenants are willing to pay grain instead of money. Although it is easy to pay, the price of grain fluctuates from time to time, and they are often not sold at a good price. When I bought the land, there was a severe drought, and there was no harvest in the land, and several counties were hit by disasters. It was several months before the imperial envoys were sent to the capital to deliver the relief food, so Xueyan collected the food and stored it at home just in case. If there is no disaster, when new grain is harvested in the next year, the old grain from the previous year will be sold, and this has been the case for the past few years.

Xiaolan asked: "Grandma, after the next year, everyone paid the rent and came here. Should we sell the grain from the previous year this year? If I sell it, I will let Guanyue take care of it. It must be sold for a good price."

After Guanyue and Shangfeng got married, Xiaolan and Cuiliu worked as daughter-in-laws at home, and Xueyan asked Guanyue and Shangfeng to take care of the land rent and shops outside. Several houses and shops collect rent every year.

Xueyan shook her head and said: "Our place is most prone to severe drought. It didn't rain a little last year, let's keep it for now."

After Xiaolan heard this, she didn't speak.

Since harvesting the grain, the Zhao family has built several large granaries, all of which were built by Zhao Yun and the soldiers in the camp. They are very strong and spacious inside. Even if the old grain from the previous year is not sold, they can still hold it. .

Xueyan ordered: "Send someone to Xue's house in a while, and write a message to Grandma Xue, asking her to come and enjoy the flowers tomorrow." Since Xue Biao had other plans, Xueyan didn't want to be muddled, and just wanted to take it back earlier. , Buying things at home also spent a lot of money.

Xiaolan smiled and said, "Got it, I'll send it now."

Xiaolan took the post from Xiangju and sent it to Xue's house. Cui Liu came in and said, "Grandma, the red sandalwood tree that grandma took a fancy to last time has been prepared and brought here, grandma please check."

Xueyan hurriedly ordered people to carry it into the courtyard, red sandalwood was more expensive than gold, she had two small dowries in her own dowry, but she didn't have any furniture, she spent a lot of effort buying dowry for Haoer these years, They also did not get red sandalwood that can be used for large furniture, because all the wealthy families in the imperial court liked red sandalwood, and most of the red sandalwood was cut down. Even some of the best red sandalwood were brought over by foreigners. Once she took a fancy to something that was brought over from a foreign country.

Alice's elder brother came here by boat for the first time to do business. After he landed, he came to see him. He heard that Xueyan wanted to buy red sandalwood, so he brought a friend who was traveling with him. He brought a very old red sandalwood tree, which was enough for Xueyan to buy. It is more than enough for Hao'er to build a Qiangongbabu bed. Although red sandalwood is expensive, they don't want gold, but ask Xueyan to give them some in return for Alice's gift. use.

These years, because of the Xue family's business, Xueyan and Yu Liansheng often asked them to bring things to each other. The silk, silk, satin, porcelain, tea and tea that Yu Liansheng gave her were all useful, and she was also happy that these foreigners only wanted these things. , and nothing else.

After the red sandalwood was brought in, Xueyan collected the account book and ordered someone to send it to the bedroom and lock it up, before going over to check it carefully.

The red sandalwood sent today is the whole red sandalwood cut into several sections, it is very complete, ten sandalwoods are empty, but this one is not empty, its color is thick, dark purple with red, and there are many dark vermilion lines, snow geese He was very happy to see it, and said: "It is an excellent red sandalwood. This kind of red sandalwood is not very common. If I hadn't followed Grandma Zhou, I would not have recognized it."

Cui Liu smiled and said: "Master and grandma really love our girl. I don't know how many people are envious of her when she is married off with such a step-up bed. It's just that it's too early? The girl is only four years old this year."

Xueyan was very satisfied with the red sandalwood in front of her. On the one hand, she asked people to send over the silk and satin official kiln porcelain and tribute tea that had been prepared, and on the other hand, she ordered people to put the red sandalwood into the warehouse, saying: "Such a good wood must be entrusted to The craftsmen in the south of the Yangtze River don’t know when to start construction, and if they work for three years, they don’t know when they can get it, how could it be too early?”

A thousand work means one thousand days, and it takes three years to make a thousand workmanship bed. At that time, according to the customs in the south of the Yangtze River, it is not good for a craftsman to make a bed, so you can't hire a craftsman to do it, but a craftsman is required. After finishing the work, send the bed to the home, and send a red envelope to thank the craftsmen instead of paying wages.

When Xueyan bought a dowry for Haoer, Daiyu specially reminded her to buy wood for making furniture. Good wood is hard to come by. Daiyu said that when she was born, Jia Min had already started buying her dowry. Pearls and gemstones, as big as the bed, found excellent huanghuali wood and rosewood, but Jia Min passed away from illness, and she went to the capital again, and the red sandalwood, huanghuali, etc. that had not yet been furnished, followed Lin Ruhai's home. Jia Lian was in charge of the business, and he was never seen again.

According to the rules of the world, when you go up to a scholarly and noble family, and down to a well-to-do family with farming and education, the dowry of a dignified daughter from a family is bought from birth. It usually takes more than ten years to buy a girl. Although Xueyan is not from a famous family, her husband has been promoted step by step, so naturally she does not want to wrong her daughter.

Cui Liu followed the snow geese for a long time, so she naturally understood the reason, and said yes with a smile.

After collecting the red sandalwood, Xueyan prepared a gift to thank Alice's brother. Although he was still buying wood, he never encountered high-quality red sandalwood, but he also bought a yellow rosewood tree and saved it up.

At that time, Xing Xiuyan had already replied to the post, and Xueyan was busy waiting at home.

After Xing Xiuyan married Xue Biao, she socialized with others in a dignified manner, not as inconspicuous as in the Rongguo Mansion, and Xue's family was rich, well-clothed and well-dressed, and she was very well-dressed, like a grandma in charge. Here, Xue Yan wanted to say hello, but was lifted up by Xue Yan, and the host and guest took their seats respectively.

After exchanging pleasantries, Xing Xiuyan asked with a smile, "Where are Brother Qi and Miss Hao?"

Xueyan pursed her lips and said with a smile: "Brother Qi goes to class with Brother Xuan at Zhou's house. Grandma Zhou said she was lonely around her, so she took Haoer to live there for a few days, but she hasn't picked her up yet."

Xing Xiuyan knew it in her heart. Looking at it coldly in recent years, the relationship between Daiyu and Xueyan is extraordinary. If she didn't know that they are master and servant, they would be sisters, and the two families are as close as one family. Together, Daiyu treats Zhao Qi and Haoer like her own nephews, even if Xueyan doesn't tell her.

Xueyan smiled and said: "I invite you here for no other reason than to hear that your family is going back to Beijing?"

Xing Xiuyan hurriedly said: "Exactly, in the past few years, sister Menglin has been taking care of her, and the family's business is getting better day by day. Our uncle wants to repeat the glory of his ancestors, and wants to return to Beijing to find a job in the Ministry of Household Affairs." She knew that With Xueyan's disposition, she sighed secretly, no wonder everyone said she was smart, and she was indeed so.

Xueyan nodded and said: "Uncle Xue is capable and able to make a living, and he can do business in a safe and sound manner. It may not be impossible to repeat the old prestige. Now that this is the case, I will cut straight to the point. When you return to Beijing, although there are still people here Your shop, after all, is not as cheap as when Xue's family was in business, so I want to withdraw some money."

Xing Xiuyan hesitated for a moment, and said, "There are 3 to [-] taels of income every year, are you willing?"

Xueyan smiled lightly when she heard this, and said: "There is nothing to be reluctant about. At the beginning, I also thought that our family's foundation is weak. When our uncle is not an official, it's fine. When he is an official, all kinds of entertainment, which one does not cost money? Based on the income from the few acres of land, it was far from enough for expenses. I also wanted to save more capital for my children, so I followed Grandma Liu to join in, and I didn't want to save such a family business. enough."

With these funds, the family will add more houses, land and shops in the future. Although the annual income is not as good as the dividends given by Xue Biao's business, it is still enough for a family like them. It is very unnecessary to continue to receive dividends from Xue's family. Get a bad reputation.

Xing Xiuyan pondered for a moment, and said, "I'll go back and discuss it with my uncle before I get back to you, okay?"

Xueyan smiled and said, "It should be so."

After changing the subject, Xueyan asked again: "When do you plan to leave?"

Xing Xiuyan hurriedly said: "The date hasn't been set yet, but all the luggage and things have been packed. We just wait for the date to be fixed before we start our journey. It will be around March or April, and it will be June at the latest."

Xueyan counted and said: "If we leave in March or April, it will only be more than a month. Fortunately, although I sent family letters and things with the Zhou family to Beijing last year, after leaving for a few years, I still remember it. I wish I could have letters every year. Come back, I will pack some things when the time comes, and when you go to Beijing, at least bring them to my brother and the others for me."

Year after year, there were not only those from Yu Liansheng, but also those from the Zhao family's old house and the Han family, but she entrusted them to Yu Liansheng's place, and then entrusted Yu Liansheng to send them to Bajing Town in a letter to distribute them to everyone, so as not to The Zhao family's old house said that they only remembered Yu Liansheng and others after they left for a few years, but didn't remember them.

Xing Xiuyan smiled and said: "When the time comes, you can just send someone to our house, and we will surely deliver it for you safely."

Xueyan smiled and thanked.

Xing Xiuyan sat down again, admired the flowers, ate wine, Fang left, and returned home to tell Xue Biao, but Xue Biao was reluctant to give up the snow geese and took the members back. After all, there were snow geese in the group. He also relied heavily on the Zhao family, and outsiders dare not bully him, but he also knows Xue Yan's thinking, after all, he is a scholar, and it will not be good if things go on like this.After thinking about it, Xue Biao asked Xing Xiuyan to go back to Xueyan, and three days later, he sent over the money Xueyan deserved, a total of 5 taels, together with the account book.

The Xue family's goods have not been sold yet, and Xueyan's money is also included in it, but Xue Biao thinks carefully, and waits for several months until the goods are sold out. It's home.

Xueyan looked at the account book and found that there was an excess of 3000 taels of silver, so she returned it and only received 7000 taels.

Xue Biao and Xing Xiuyan looked at each other with wry smiles and had no choice but to give up.

Xueyan collected 4 taels into her private house, and put 7000 taels in the public house. Now all the elements invested in Xue’s family are her dowry money, and they did not use the public house. After Zhao Yun came back from the outside, he learned that, : "It's all your dowry money, why put it in the public house? You just keep it for yourself. In the past few years, because you have been the master, the public house has no shortage of money."

Xueyan said angrily: "Why do you and I share each other? Whether it's a public house or a private house, it's all ours."

Zhao Yun smiled softly, and said: "If you put it in the public house, it is ours. If it is your private house, outsiders can't get it. You can only give it to the children. Which one do you think is better?"

Xueyan thought for a while, looked up at him, nodded and said: "Since that's the case, that's all."

Indeed, her private house can only be given to her own children in the future, but the one in the public house is different.

Zhao Yun smiled, took Xueyan's hand, and sighed: "In these years, I have been away for more than 200 days a year, and I have left all the family affairs to you. It is really hard for you. Brother Bai is sick. Huizi, General Zhou was not at home, and when I found out later, I felt like I regretted something, and it’s really not safe for those of us who went out to fight with us.”

Xueyan was stunned, then smiled and said: "I have been here for so many years, how do you talk about this? I knew you were away all the time, do you still regret it now? I have never regretted it. You are for the country, not for your family Are you having a good time?"

They trained sailors at sea, and they went there for nearly half a year. I heard that they set up defenses at sea, and they were able to resist the harassment of several small countries every year. At that time Zhou Bai had gradually recovered, but after hearing that Zhou Hong found out, he sat with Zhou Baiku in his arms in the middle of the night, and only told Daiyu that he was sorry for their mother and son.

Zhao Yun said apologetically, "Even so, I'm sorry."

Xueyan glanced at him with displeasure on his face, and said: "You say that, it makes me feel ashamed even more. Could it be that Grandma Zhou and I blamed you and General Zhou when Brother Bai fell ill because you defended our home and country? Is it okay to not be at home? Brother Bai is sick, and General Zhou is not a doctor. Although you are good at medicine, you are not as good as the doctor who accompanied the army. ?”

Hearing these words from the bottom of his heart, Zhao Yun felt his heart warm up.

With a wife like this, what can a husband ask for?

Zhao Yun has been outside for many years, and after experiencing Zhou Bai's incident, he suddenly realized that Xueyan was the one who took the most care of family affairs, so he was full of guilt.

After this incident, the relationship between the couple became deeper and deeper, and it was a little like the intimacy of the newlyweds.

Not only their husband and wife are like this, but Zhou Hong and Daiyu are also like this. Compared with Zhao Yun, Zhou Hong is more guilty. Although he brought Daiyu with him, it is Daiyu who suffers more. Taking care of the children and traveling frequently in the capital are more labor-intensive than him who marches and fights.

In the dead of night, Daiyu could often hear Zhou Hong's talk.

When Zhou Bai was seriously ill, Daiyu complained in her heart that Zhou Hong was not with her mother and son, but when she thought of Zhou Hong's ambition, she thought that because Zhou Hong was sitting in the West Sea, the small frontier countries did not dare to harass them, and the people lived and worked in peace and contentment. No official dared to enrich his own pockets and greedy for disaster relief food, so she no longer blamed Zhou Hong.

As Xue Yan once said, the country is above the family, and she can't restrict Zhou Hong's ambition because of family affairs.

Everything outside has been properly arranged, this time Zhou Hong can spend more time with Daiyu mother and son, five days in the camp, one day at home, just came back from the camp this day, joking with Zhao Yun on horseback, before arriving at home, he saw the moon watching He hurried over, and after inviting Ann, he said to Zhao Yun, "Master, something happened at home, grandma asks you to go back earlier."

Zhao Yun was shocked, and hurried away from Zhou Hong and rushed home.

Zhou Hong didn't know what happened to the Zhao family, so he went home and told Daiyu. Daiyu thought about it and sent someone to find out the news.

Half a day later, the person who went to inquire about the news came back and said: "I heard that the old lady of the Zhao family is gone, so I sent a letter to ask Mr. Zhao and Mrs. Zhao to go back to Beijing for the funeral."

Zhou Hong frowned when he heard this, and said, "Why is it such news?"

Daiyu also felt very reluctant, and sighed: "That means, Mr. Zhao's family has to go back to Beijing."

Zhao Yun is the great-grandson, Mrs. Zhao is gone, Zhao Yun not only has to return to Beijing, but also Ding You for three years, Xueyan and Zhao Yun have always been husband and wife, and now something like this happened in the family, they must return to Beijing as soon as possible.

Zhou Hong nodded and said: "Send people to prepare ships for them first, and send more soldiers to accompany them."

Daiyu sent someone to Zhaojiadao again to make trouble, and sent Zhao Qi and Hao'er home.

The inside and outside of Zhao's house were all plain, and Xueyan also wore filial piety clothes, which were also ready for Zhao Yun.

It was the third uncle Zhao Li who came to deliver the letter. After Zhao Yun finished his visit and cried bitterly, he hurriedly asked Ding You to relinquish his post. He is Zhou Hong's staff, and with Zhou Hong in charge, he can set off immediately.

At that time, Zhao Li knew that Zhao Yun had already reached the fourth rank, so he couldn't help being secretly surprised.

It stands to reason that Zhao Li is the only son of Mrs. Zhao, and he should have taken care of the funeral at home instead of coming to tell Zhao Yun that Mrs. Zhao is gone. It's not that their family doesn't have long-term workers, but Mrs. Niu wants to know what Zhao Yun said. Regarding the situation of the couple in Xihaiyanzi, they persuaded Mr. Zhao to bury Mrs. Zhao first. After Zhao Yun came back, he asked Zhao Li to come over in person, and then returned to Beijing with Zhao Yun and his wife.

Five or six years since Zhao Yun and his wife left Beijing, Zhao Feng took the exam twice, but failed to pass the exam, and the family's expenses increased day by day, not only for Zhao Feng, but also for pen and ink, so Niu wanted to rely on Zhao Yun's power to do something. Others earn a living.

Xueyan didn't know at all that Niu had already thought about how to rely on their family to make a rich living. She was busy packing her luggage and assigning servants. Guanyue and Shangfeng stayed in the family, and the rest followed to Beijing to house and farm. The store and the food at home were all entrusted to Daiyu. Even if they returned to Beijing this time, it would be two or three years later. If Zhou Hong was still here at that time, they would naturally come back with him. If Zhou Hong was not here Now, I asked Daiyu to help take care of these, and Daiyu naturally had no problems.

The Zhao family has bought a lot of things over the years, especially the dowry for their daughter, and it has been a hectic few days.

It happened that Xue Biao hadn't set off yet, and when he heard that they were going back to Beijing for the funeral, he asked to go with him.

The Zhao family has added a lot of things over the years, especially the dowry for their daughter. It was very busy for a few days. Xueyan thought that her family would have to come back, so she didn't take away all the things in the house, only brought Household things, and the money from the public and private houses were sent to Daiyu for deposit.

Daiyu knew exactly what Xueyan was thinking, and also knew that it would be inconvenient to take them away, so she took them away for her.

It happened that Xue Biao hadn't set off yet, and when he heard that they were going back to Beijing for the funeral, he asked to go with him.

A group of people set out on the road in April, and arrived in the capital in the middle of the month, abandoning the boat and landing. At this time, Zhao Yun was no longer the young juren who was separated from the Zhao family's old house, but a master with a fourth-rank official position. So they sent people to pick them up, most of them were young children from the clan, who surrounded Zhao Yun's family back to Bajing Town.

Zhao Yun and Xueyan took a pair of children to worship the spirit of Mrs. Zhao first, and wept bitterly. They saw it with everyone. Except for Mr. Zhao, Han Qingshan and a few foreigners in the Zhao family, the rest dared not To accept the gift, they all came to see them.

It was not easy for the parties to meet each other and take their seats.

Han Qingshan saw that their husband and wife had both children and described their behavior as different, he was secretly happy, but he knew that it was not when he spoke, so he just sat and did not speak, but it was Mr. Zhao who asked about Zhao Yun and Xihai.

Zhao Yun was sitting outside with the guests, while Xueyan was inside with the female relatives.

Seeing Xueyan, Doumu was very happy. If it wasn't for the funeral of Mrs. Zhao, she would have been weeping with joy. She was about to speak, but she heard Mi Shi speak first: "I heard that elder brother has been promoted to the fourth grade now." Have you tasted it?"

Xueyan's heart moved slightly, she nodded and said: "It's all the grace of the saint, and it's also the merit of the uncle fighting on the battlefield."

Hearing this, Miss Mi was both envious and jealous. She was anxious and angry when Zhao Feng failed in many trials these years, but she also knew that Zhao Feng's talent was not as good as Zhao Yun's, and the imperial examination was not something that could be accomplished overnight. The Yan and his wife returned to their homeland in fine clothes, aloof, unavoidably feeling a little uncomfortable, and said: "Since big brother has such abilities, he should drag the family a little bit."

Before he finished speaking, he heard Chang's saying: "Daughter-in-law Yun just came back, and the tea didn't even touch her lips. Daughter-in-law Feng, go and remind me."

After listening to Mi Shi, he had to go out.

Xueyan was very surprised, but her face remained calm. When Mi Shi brought the tea, Mother Dou took a bowl sideways and handed it to Xueyan. Xueyan suddenly felt that Mother Dou secretly wrote a few words on her hand. I couldn't help but be taken aback by this word.