Love of Friends in the Red Chamber

If it was according to Mother Jia's intention that the two grandchildren should marry on the same day, it would be considered double happiness, but Mrs. Wang refused. It is Baoyu's marriage that the imperial concubine refers to the marriage, so naturally it should be more solemn, and it is necessary to marry one month earlier than Jia Cong.As soon as she moved out of the imperial concubine, even Jia Mu couldn't say anything, so she had to pay more attention to Daiyu's dowry as compensation. Although there were no houses and shops, the gold and silver were soft, but they were worth 5 taels of silver After Mrs. Wang found out, she felt distressed and angry, but there was nothing she could do.

On the other hand, in fact, the Lin family didn't want to have a wedding on the same day as the second room, so Aunt Lin only told Jia's house that Daiyu's dowry was not ready yet, and that such a noble lady should arrange it properly, in order to show her dignity, she would specially The wedding was scheduled for autumn, which made Mrs. Xing and Jia She very itchy, wondering how much money the Lin family could pay for the dowry.

Baoyu's marriage was set on the tenth day of May, and the Xue family became more and more hectic. On the one hand, Xue Biao was out all day, busy with Xue Pan's lawsuit; It was agreed that it was not a few days away from Baochai.On this day, Aunt Xue came to Baochai's room and discussed with Baochai with tears in her eyes: "Now your brother's lawsuit has not yet been approved in detail. Spending money is like swimming in the sea—several shops at home have been evacuated, and the manager said back and forth yesterday that not only did she not have any money, but she was also in deficit. Qin'er's marriage was in front of her again, and she didn't know what to do. I can't treat her badly even if I'm a father and mother - besides, the Mei family doesn't want to see her, so I have to move some from your dowry. I think your aunt won't be serious about these, but the ones in the mansion over there People have two rich eyes, my son, I want to make you feel wronged."

But Baochai said nonchalantly: "Mother, why should you worry about these things? It's important to save my brother first. My mother has been suffering terribly these days. If I feel sad about these trivial things, how can I marry in peace?" Such persuasion Only then did Aunt Xue gradually stop crying.

This is because there is not enough manpower in the family, and most of them have gone to Baoqin. Baochai is the most considerate and generous, so it is more perfunctory. In addition to his sister-in-law Xia's sarcasm and sarcasm, his heart was not without sadness.

On the night before the day when she was going out of her boudoir to become a grand ceremony, Baochai and Yinger finished embroidering her auspicious clothes together. On the second day, Baochai dressed up like a celestial maiden and went down to earth. Going in, after the ceremony, being sent to the bridal chamber, sitting on the bed and spreading the tent, all are done according to the wedding customs in the south.It's just that Baoyu is so stupid and doesn't care about himself. When others ask him to pick up the veil, he picks up the veil, and when he is asked to drink a cup of wine, he drinks the cup of wine—how can he be as romantic as before?Baochai felt a pain in her heart.

That night when all the people dispersed, Baoyu only held on to Xiren, who was anxious and comforted him again and again: "Second Master, today is your good day. The bride is sitting there. Be careful that she is angry with you." Baoyu But he sneered and said: "She is the most virtuous and virtuous person in the world, how could she be angry about such a thing?" But she didn't force the attacker to stay, let her go, and didn't care about Baochai's movements, just rolled over to the bed by herself She fell asleep inside, and Baochai just sat there all night staring at the red candle.

Early the next morning, when the bride was going to meet her family, Xiren and Yinger came early to take care of her grooming. Seeing their situation, Xiren was secretly anxious, but he defended Baoyu: "Second master can't eat any wine now. , I drank a few more glasses yesterday and fell asleep like this, leaving the bride in the cold—if Second Mistress Lian found out, I don’t know how many jokes would be made.”

Ying'er was wronged by her daughter, and when she was about to say something, Baochai glanced at her, then lowered her head, not daring to say more.Here Baochai changed her clothes as if nothing had happened, washed and washed again, and waited for Baoyu to go to Jiamu's room to salute together.In fact, Mother Jia didn't dislike Baochai, and Suxi also liked her stability. Now that the uncooked rice is ripe, she naturally loves her more, but seeing that Baoyu and her are not in harmony, she can't help but feel secretly. Sigh, and cast a glance at Mrs. Wang.Mrs. Wang was satisfied, and now Baochai performed the bridal ceremony one by one. All the elders were rewarded, sisters of the same generation also gave presents, and Baochai also distributed gifts to everyone. They all made shoes, socks and purses with their own hands. It is said that it is exquisite, and Baochai's heart gradually irons out.

Then all the relatives and women of Jia's mansion came in to listen to the master of ceremonies reporting the dowry, Baochai's heart trembled, she had forgotten that there was such a custom in the south.At the moment, everyone was chatting, laughing and drinking tea, listening to the stewards in the next hall, together with the master of ceremonies among relatives, reporting Baochai’s dowry in a single pen and registering it one by one—this is the daughter-in-law’s private house, and the husband’s family cannot use it at will. Yes, but it also represents the dignity of the mother's family and the importance it attaches to the girl. I only heard a note from the side hall:

There are a total of 32 pieces of red gold jewelry, complete with jewelry.Two hanging pearls, two pairs of gold bowls and chopsticks, two gold spoons, six sets of silver bowls and plates, and two sets of silver jugs and wine glasses.A set of hardwood and vermilion lacquer furniture, a red sandalwood glass screen, 24 pieces of four-season lint jackets, embroidered shoes of various colors, silk socks, needlework, and hand towels, six pieces of black fox fur, six pieces of caramel sheepskin, a roll of velvet, and satin One volume, 24 volumes of silk, 120 volumes of gauze, [-] volumes of Gebu, six pieces of jade antiques, [-] gold ingots in five taels each, [-] silver ingots in five taels in total, and [-] strings of Qing coins.

Not only the people in the hall over there curled their lips, but the people listening in the hall were also surprised - in the name of the wealthy Xue family, Baochai only has such a small dowry, which can't even cover up the courtesy!

Mrs. Xing was the most impatient person, and immediately whispered to Youshi: "Could it be that this dowry list was copied wrong? Why is it different from the one given at the ceremony? Well, there are tens of thousands of silver, this idea You can’t even afford 5000 taels. And what about the shop? What about the farm? The Xue family is too stingy, right? There is such a girl in total, not to mention the imperial concubine’s marriage…”

You Shi didn't dare to answer, so he just smiled.Mother Jia glanced at Mrs. Xing, and Mrs. Xing also shut up. However, among the relatives, some of Meng Lang's frivolous people chatted and laughed in low voices, and they all ridiculed Baochai's meager dowry, saying, "Oh, hardwood and vermilion lacquer." The furniture, which room is this going to be put in? I’m afraid that the wood used for the chamberpot’s shelf in Bao Erye’s room is better than this.” Some said, “Even sheepskin and Gebu are on the dowry list. , tsk tsk..." Some even said, "I heard that half of the Xue family's things went to court as gifts, and half of them were moved to her natal family by her sister-in-law. The Xue family really lost..."

For a while, there were many rumors, and Mrs. Wang felt uncomfortable.A few days ago, Aunt Xue had come here on purpose to tell her about the difficulties in the family. She had no choice but to embezzle Baochai’s dowry to save her brother, and said that when Xue Pan came out, she would definitely make it up for Baochai. What else could Mrs. Wang say? However, just because she doesn't speak, doesn't mean that others don't speak.Fortunately, Mother Jia understood righteousness and knew that the Xue family must have difficulties, so she didn't show any displeasure on her face. Instead, she took the forehead wipe that Baochai honored her, and praised her craftsmanship repeatedly, and others naturally gradually quieted down——Mother Jia No matter how unhappy this marriage is, my family still has to maintain it.

At this time, Aunt Lin was here, just watching the excitement, neither contributing to the flames, nor giving charcoal in the snow, but she saw that Baochai was ashamed, but still generous, with an upright and calm expression, and secretly admired Baoyu, and then looked at Baoyu's loss. She looked like a ghost, and felt worthless for Baochai.

When I went back, I told Daiyu about the situation. Although Daiyu didn't say anything else, Aunt Lin also understood what was on her mind: Although she had admitted the fact that she was married to Jia Cong, how could she have a deep-rooted relationship with Baoyu's childhood sweetheart? Is it easy to let go?To put it bluntly: she has already had that kind of unforgettable relationship with Baoyu, and the rest is just a matter of doing.

Aunt Lin once said this to Jia Cong, but Jia Cong smiled and said: "As long as you marry her, it will be a blessing for the rest of your life."

Jia Cong's wedding date was set on the eighth day of August, and the man had nothing to prepare for. It was just because Jia Cong was already an official, and the editor of the Imperial Academy was a seventh-rank official. Pointing it out to him, it is not against the law, and there is no need for additional expenses. The ancestors of Jia's family often used this method to separate before they separated.

So from the beginning of June, Jia Cong had his own mansion in name, and Jia Amnesty also assigned him a farm under his own name, in name to separate the official son from the family. up.Ordinarily, Jia Cong should take care of the new house and farm by himself. However, he is only 17 years old after all, so Jia Lian and Sister Feng will take care of it for him. Sister Feng even teased him. My own sister-in-law is going to let Xian go.

Jia Cong was pleased with what he heard, so he didn't share the certificate with Sister Feng. Because Wang Xifeng was on good terms with Daiyu on weekdays and was not worthy of his aunt Mrs. Wang, she did her best to renovate the Lixiangyuan. Moreover, Jiamu was concerned about this matter. I went to see it in person every now and then, and I made my own decisions about whether to add or subtract, and Xifeng didn't dare to neglect, so the interior and exterior of Lixiangyuan were completely renovated, and all the furniture was newly made in the most fashionable style, including high-quality red sandalwood brought from Guangdong and Guangxi. Wood, and specially invited an embroiderer from Suzhou to make a corresponding curtain embroidery work. As for the jade and antiques displayed in the room, they all came from Jiamu's private treasury——it was more careful than Baoyu's marriage. .

As for the farm that Jia She gave to him, Jia Cong took the time to look at it, and couldn't help but shook his head with a wry smile—it turned out to be a farm in the outskirts of the capital with only a dozen acres of fertile land, and the rest of the more than one hundred acres of land were all saline-alkaline dry land. , It's hard to be promising.Zhuangzi is not small. There is a mountain top with ravines and ravines. However, the manor house at the foot of the mountain has been in disrepair for a long time and is already half-declined. There are a few tenant farmers, most of whom are old and weak. ——The annual interest is less than 200 taels of silver.Thinking that his father could sell his own daughter for 5000 taels of silver, Jia Cong really dare not complain that his father treats him meagerly.

In the blink of an eye, it was mid-July, and Jia Cong had served in the Imperial Academy for more than three months. The academician in charge of the academy ordered him to lecture at a feast, specially for the princes to lecture on "Zi Zhi Tong Jian". If there is a mistake in a sentence, disasters can never be predicted, so I walk, sit and lie down, and don't release the scroll. Whenever there is a word whose meaning is unclear, I have to search for chapters and excerpts, ask teachers and friends, and strive to be proficient.So she walked more and more frequently to Lin's mansion, but Daiyu was embarrassed to see him because her marriage was already settled, so she avoided him every time.

On this day, Jia Cong brought another copy of "Zizhi Tongjian" to the side of the Qinfang Bridge in the garden, looking at the scenery and reading at the same time, just as Tanchun came, and the book attendant behind him was holding a fishing rod in his hand.Jia Cong laughed and said, "Third sister is very elegant. Linyuan envy fish is worse than fishing with a pole." Tanchun smiled and said, "You are going to get married next month, but your son is also very leisurely now. What are you doing here by the river sooner or later?"

Jia Cong handed her the book in his hand, and seeing that it was "Tong Jian", Tan Chun smiled and said: "It is said in "You Meng Ying" that reading the scriptures should be suitable for winter, and its spirit is special; reading Shi Yixia, it will take a long time; Reading Zhuzi Yiqiu is unique; reading collections Yichun is refreshing. It’s already early autumn, and you should read Zhuangzi’s Autumn Water.” Jia Cong laughed and said, “That’s right. Two days ago when I was speaking at the Jingyan banquet, I heard the King of Beijing lament that living in a tall mansion, I often think of mountains, marshes, fish and birds. The third sister is also a broad-minded person." Tanchun because he mentioned the outsider, Feeling uncomfortable, he refused to say more, and walked away embarrassingly.It turns out that since last year's Jiamu's birthday, Tanchun was the number one among all the sisters, and some people came to propose marriage. Among them, the concubine of Nan'an wanted to tell Tanchun to be the concubine of King Beijing, because Jiamu was the concubine. , So he postponed and refused to agree, but the news had already leaked out.

The author has something to say: Baochai is married, and I have always felt sorry for this girl. Life is so transparent, but I still can't help myself.