Aristocratic family's career in the Red Chamber

Mrs. Xu's invitation soon went to Rongguo Mansion, and she didn't hide the reason. She said that Xu Mansion intends to hold a small banquet to congratulate Zeng Sa, and please forgive Mrs. Zhang and wait for the mansion to explain.

When Mrs. Zhang saw it, her heart skipped half a beat. Seeing Jiamu's livid face, she thought to herself, I'm afraid this trip is hopeless.Sure enough, the next moment, Mother Jia slammed the invitation in a rage, slapped the table and said, "What does the Xu family mean? Sending this kind of invitation, isn't it to humiliate our Rongguo Mansion?!"

Mrs. Zhang was dissatisfied. The Xu family was Jia Hu's master's house. She lowered her head and said in a low voice, "How could this happen? Mrs. Xu and his wife are all sensible people... I am afraid that I thought of Brother Hu, so I specially sent an invitation card." Come……"

It is also Jia Zheng's luck. Generally, the rich and powerful families have countless old friends. There are always some sons and daughters of the family who take the imperial examination, and the Rongguo Mansion is used to making friends with noble and noble families. This time, the few candidates who participated in the imperial examination all failed. Therefore, everyone kept a low profile with aspirations, and no one sent invitations to poke Jia Mu's heart.But the Xu family is different. Zeng Sa is Xu Wei's direct disciple and Jia Hu's senior brother. The Xu family wants to hold a congratulatory banquet for Zeng Sa. If they really don't even tell Jia Hu, they will treat him as a outsiders.

Jia's mother also knows this ceremony, so she just feels unhappy.Since Jia Zheng failed the list, he was devastated, bored in the room, without even a trace of a smile and few words.After Jia Daishan comforted her for a long time, Jia Zheng gradually ate more.Compared with the misery of the youngest son, the Xu family actually said that they would hold a banquet to congratulate Zeng Sa for passing the imperial examination?This was like a slap on Jia Mu's face, it made her feel pained and ashamed, wishing she could throw this invitation back to the faces of the Xu family.

Hearing Mrs. Zhang say this, Jia's mother immediately said: "Brother Hu is also ignorant? Doesn't he know that his second uncle is not in good health? Right now he just wants to have fun. Master Xu said to him at that time This matter should be rejected immediately, and the invitation is sent to the house! Does he still have any brains?" He said angrily, "I don't care about my elders at all, it's not filial!"

What Jiamu said about Zhang was good, but when she said Jia Hu, Zhang couldn't rely on it. She changed her color in an instant and said, "Ma'am, this is over, right? The second brother has been recuperating for a long time, and his body is weak." Nothing serious at all. Xu's family is brother Hu's master's family, and Zeng Sa is his senior brother, so he should have gone to congratulate him. He is a man, and he has never learned so many human relationships before. Can't go to congratulate the senior brother? If my mother is unwilling, she should have told me to wait a long time ago, saying that she is not allowed to go out for a banquet, then Brother Hu will definitely not make a mistake. How can he take care of his son so much now? I can bear the word unfilial!"

Since the old Mrs. Madam passed away, Mother Jia has been the one and only master in the Rongguo Mansion. Mrs. Zhang has also been suppressed by Mrs. Jia these years. I was stunned for a while, and then flew into a rage: "You still dare to talk back to me? So, is it still my fault? Shouldn't you, a mother, tell him about this kind of thing early? Don't you have to let me do everything? Explain it again?"

Mrs. Zhang lowered her head, showing a gentle expression, and said in a deep voice: "Mother, calm down, my daughter-in-law didn't intend to offend you. It's just that my daughter-in-law really didn't see what was wrong with going to congratulate Zeng Sa. It's not a big deal for the second brother to fail the ranking. After three years Just re-examination. Now this banquet is the face of the Xu family and the Zeng family, if we flatly refuse, what will Brother Hu do in the future?"

Mother Jia spat and said, "After brother Hu? After what? His second uncle is like this, and you only think about your son, you, you bastard, why did our Jia family marry you?" Such a poisonous woman came in! She hacked her heart!" He picked up the pillow next to him and threw it out.

Mrs. Zhang also became angry, and raised her head to refute, but saw Jia Daishan hurried in, shouting: "What are you doing?!" Mrs. Zhang held back what she was about to say, and turned to Jia Daishan. First salute.Jia Daishan glanced at her, and nodded: "I listened to it outside first. The old man, your mother also cared about the second child, and she was a little impatient after worrying about it. Don't take what you said to heart."

Jia's mother was not happy and wanted to yell and scold, but Jia Daishan gave her a stern look back. Mrs. Zhang felt better when she heard Jia Daishan's amiable face, she calmed down a little, and said, "How can a daughter-in-law be a master?" Generally speaking, the daughter-in-law naturally understands the mother's thoughts and will not take it to heart."

Jia Daishan smiled: "That's good." He told her to go back first, "I have accepted the invitation, so you go back and prepare, see what gifts you should give, and prepare well." distorted.

Mrs. Zhang looked very relieved, and even pretended to be respectful, and said yes, then looked up at Jia Mu who was furious, and went out.

As soon as Mrs. Zhang left, Mother Jia couldn't bear it any longer, and asked Jia Daishan, "What is the master doing? Don't you know why the Xu family sent the invitation?"

Jia Daishan sat down on the chair and gave her a sideways glance: "Of course I know, not to mention that the people below rewarded me early in the morning. I was just at the door, and I heard you lecture the eldest daughter-in-law so loudly."

Mother Jia didn't think she did something wrong, and she became even angrier: "Since you know, you still agree? The second child is not in good health yet. You let the eldest daughter-in-law go to Xu's house. You think the second child is getting better too soon. Sprinkle a little more salt on his wound, don't you?" As he spoke, Wuwu burst into tears.

Speaking of Jia Zheng, Jia Daishan sighed, with a trace of unbearable eyes flashing across his eyes, but he still said firmly: "Of course I hope my second child is doing well, but no matter what, the imperial examination has passed, and my second child should quickly adjust himself." The old master said something right, it’s not a big deal to fail the exam, just take the exam again in three years. But now is the opportunity for brother Hu to get close to the Zeng family of the Xu family. Who knows what will happen in the future if I miss it? Second child, why don't you delay Brother Hu?"

Jia Zheng has already dropped out of the list, and he has no chance for the past three years.Brother Hu is growing up, and the future is boundless, how can he pass such a good opportunity by taking into account the mood of the second child.Moreover, for so long, Jia Daishan was not without dissatisfaction with Jia Zheng, and it was nothing more than failing the imperial examination, so entangled in things that could no longer be changed in the past, depressed, even disregarding his body, he really didn't look like an upright man!

Where did Jia's mother listen to Jia Daishan's words, instead she became more and more angry: "You know Brother Hu, brother Hu, you just worshiped a master, what's the big deal. At a young age, I know how to join in these fun, just a little You don't even have the intention of being filial and respectful to your elders! Just like his mother, you didn't see it just now, how did you talk to me?!"

"Of course I saw it." When Jia Daishan heard that the Xu family sent the invitation, he knew that Jia's mother would be unhappy, so he came to find her, and heard the conversation between the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law clearly outside the door. Said, I can't blame Mrs. Zhang for this matter, "Don't you look at the tone of your words at that time, and belittle Brother Hu so much, can you be happy?"

Mother Jia's chest was aching, and she laughed angrily: "Is this still my fault?"

After all, they are old couples, and Jia Daishan didn't want Jia's mother to get sick, he sighed and said: "You, if you have nothing to do, please persuade the second child more, put your mind at ease, don't be too stubborn, he is still young, There will be plenty of opportunities in the future, cheer up quickly, don't stay at home every day, you will get sick if you have nothing to do. As for Brother Hu's boss, just leave it alone if you have nothing to do. Xu Wei is deeply favored by the emperor. Come closer, it won't do any harm to our mansion!" He explained again fiercely, "I've already made a decision on this matter, but you are not allowed to change your mind and go to the old master!"

After all, Jia Daishan is the head of the family. Mother Jia didn't dare to say that he would change what he had decided, and if he ordered it so solemnly, Mother Jia had no choice but to admit it no matter how unwilling he was.But in his heart, he made a serious note of Zhang Shi, and only waited to find an excuse to attack her in the future.

But I don't know that Mrs. Zhang is even more angry than her.

Mother Jia dismissed Brother Hu into the mud casually, and said he was unfilial?Jia Zheng is not his own father, but he is not in good health, and his nephew is just going to a banquet, so is he unfilial?Mrs. Zhang was very angry, and as soon as she returned to her yard, she asked her confidant to tell Jia Zheng about the Xu family's treat carefully: "You must tell the second master carefully, that kid from the Zeng family is in the second The top position on the list A, now everyone in Beijing is called a young talent, and can't help boasting. Now that the errands have been found, I work as an errand in the Hongwen Museum. Although I don't have real power yet, this reputation is noble and pleasant, etc. In a few years, when he gets married and gets older, he will gain qualifications. Once he goes to the Six Departments of the Imperial Academy, he will have a fifth-rank official title. This time, the Xu family held a banquet for him and invited many famous scholars to pave the way for him. He will have a bright future in the future. He's only in his teens, so he's promising! It's not like some kids who have gone to school and haven't achieved anything!"

The confidant woman was brought by Mrs. Zhang from her natal family. Although she married the Jia family and had children, her heart has always been with Mrs. Zhang. She has never had a good impression of Jia Zheng's first house. Shi rest assured: "I will pass all these words to the ears of the second master."

Turning around, in front of Jia Zheng's confidantes, pretending to be chatting with others, he said the matter cryptically.The rules of Jia's family are not very strict. Although Jia's mother Wang is very shrewd with money, she has a good face. Some things are for the sake of gaining a reputation for generosity. Just turn a blind eye and close one's eyes. He has developed the temperament of being respectful in front of his servants and gossiping behind his back.Especially talking about Jia Zheng, who is the most important person in the mansion, everyone is gossip-inducing, laughing and talking about the rumors about Jia Zhengbi High School in the mansion, and comparing Jia Zheng's physical and mental fatigue now, he sneered and laughed.

"Also said Mr. Xiao Zeng's article is not good, but in the end I..."

Everyone looked at it tacitly, laughed, and yelled at Jia Zheng's anger, but there were too many people talking about it, and they were all slaves. The family had children, so it was inevitable that they were related. , In the end, he was just angry with himself.

It's not enough to be natural.The woman sent by the Zhang Clan was in the Zhang Manor back then, and she had seen old Jingyuan Hou Auntie Li's methods of doing things, and learned some of them.She didn't send someone to gossip directly in front of Jia Zheng, for fear of finding out that it would hurt the Zhang family, but after inquiring about Jia Zheng's route, she asked someone to speak from a distance. It would not be very clear, but it was enough for Jia Zheng who passed by. Faintly heard words such as "Second Master", "Xu's Family", "Imperial Examination", "Failure", and "Banquet".The effect was really good. Jia Zheng scolded the speaker to come out, but at this time, the person had already run away. With Jia Zheng's arrogant temperament, how could he not get to the bottom of it?He hurriedly recruited his confidants to drink and asked what was going on?What rumors are circulating in the mansion?

If only one person knows the rumors, he may not dare to speak out, but several people know about it.When Jia Zheng asked each of these questions, there was always someone who couldn't hold back, and when one opened his mouth, the others naturally couldn't hide it.Everyone wanted to hide things for their close friends or relatives, so they chose to say some things. As a result, the words of several people were different, and Jia Zheng felt that his affairs had been discussed in the house, and everyone Look at his jokes.There are also Zeng Sa's appointment as an official, Xu's invitation card... Jia Zheng swung his hand and swept all the teapots and cups on the table to the ground, staring at everyone with bloodshot eyes...

He knew it, he knew it!Jia She and Jia Hu are his nemesis, if they meet them, nothing good will happen.One took the title that should have been occupied by him, and one by one "Second Uncle Must Win" pushed him to the forefront.Finally, he took painstaking efforts to set up the game and used his own body as a bet to win back Jia Daishan and Jiamu's heart, but these two are still lingering!Once this invitation from the Xu family comes, what will the servants in the mansion think of him in the future!

"Damn, damn!"

Squeezing out these few words between his teeth, Jia Zheng was so angry that his body was trembling...

That night, the servants rushed to find Jia Mu, saying that Jia Zheng's illness was serious again!Mother Jia was so anxious that she burst into tears, and asked Dr. Li to give Jia Zheng several injections, and the atmosphere in Rongguo Mansion froze for a moment.

Mrs. Zhang didn't care. A few days later, under Jia's mother's hateful eyes, Shi Shiran took the gift for Zeng Sa, got into the carriage and went to Xu's mansion.

Mother Jia was so angry that she lost her temper with Jia Daishan: "Look at her, look at this good wife you hired!"

Jia Daishan was also dissatisfied, but he couldn't see Mother Jia like this: "Who are you blaming now? If the second child passes the exam, there will be no such trouble!" Now in the whole house, brother Hu is the best. Can he be happy as a mother?Jia Daishan gave Jia Hu face, and only hated his son for being worthless!

Mother Jia was so choked that she couldn't speak, she wiped her tears with her handkerchief!

The Xu family's banquet was indeed a small banquet, but the Xu family specially opened a table of wine for Zeng Sa. Except for the Xu family, only Liu Yan, Jia Hu, Zhang's family, Jia She and other outsiders were present at the table.

Jia She and Zhang didn't know that the small banquet on the invitation was really a "small banquet", so they were taken aback. When they came back to their senses, they were all grateful for the Xu family's kindness. They were specially invited here to give Jia Hu has a long face.

I was grateful in my heart, so I made a show of it at the banquet. To Zeng Sa and Liu Yan, I didn't put on airs of elders. The big house of the national government is very outrageous, why does it look like this now?

After the banquet, the brothers sat down together, Xu Wei called Jia She away, but Mrs. Xu left Mrs. Zhang behind.The Xu and Zhang families are very good. Mrs. Xu treats Zhang like her own daughter. After pulling her to sit down, she asked without hesitation: "Why do you look haggard again? Could it be that old woman from Jia's family?" Are you tossing you again? Brother Hu said let me send you an invitation to invite you out to relax. I know you are not doing well, so tell me quickly, if there is any difficulty, I can give you some advice. Your mother came to ask me about you before, so you can't hide it."

Mrs. Zhang and Mrs. Xu are really close. When I asked her, she really vomited bitterness to her unabashedly: "I am not afraid of my aunt's jokes. Others say that I married the eldest son and heir, and I will be the son of the Rongguo Mansion in the future." Mistress, Fu Shen Ze Hou, who knows my suffering? If it wasn't for my aunt who thought of me, wrote a post for me, and then stayed in the mansion, watching the old lady love the second master so much, But I trampled on my brother Hu, I was going crazy!" As he spoke, tears rolled down his face.

Madam Xu hurriedly asked what was going on: "Brother Hu is such a smart person, he has already seen extraordinary things at a young age, don't your old lady think that this is her own grandson? Are you acting like that?"

Mrs. Zhang sneered: "What is a grandson? Our uncle is still her eldest son. Doesn't she never want to see him?"

Mother Jia's eccentricity is also well known in the ladies' circle, no one knows it.Mrs. Xu sighed, but still persuaded: "After all, you are your own flesh and blood, how can you be so cruel and heartless? You can also bear with it."

Mrs. Zhang cried, "If my wife would have cared about family ties, she wouldn't talk about brother Hu like that." The girl who threw Jia Hu off the rockery was sold off in a hurry, but her apprentice came to Jia Daishan, Jia Zheng, and Jia Zhu. , studying with Xu Wei, and was ordered by Jia Daishan to create opportunities for Jia Zheng to deliver articles, because Jia Zheng was not feeling well, they were not allowed to attend the banquet, and Jia Hu was not filial... All kinds of things, Zhang did not hide anything, and it was completely clean: "Brother Hu used to be young and playful, our uncle had that kind of temper, and my mother's family was not good. My dead second brother was jumping up and down. My spine is not straight. Even if I feel wronged, I will bear it." "Ms. Zhang wept so distressedly, "But her old lady never misses it, at least Brother Hu and Brother Lian are her grandsons, so it's fine if she insults me and uncle, don't they all say that the old son is the grandson The best of my parents? Our brother Hu is the eldest grandson, how can she bear it? When I gave birth to Lian'er, I almost couldn't make it through. Auntie, you don't even know, seeing brother Hu's head covered in blood At that moment, I really wanted to die!"

Mrs. Xu's eyes were also red when she heard that, she shed tears, hugged her and said distressedly: "Poor child!"

Mrs. Zhang wiped away her tears, shed her sadness, and said through gritted teeth: "Finally, Lian'er was safe and sound, Brother Hu also opened his eyes, and the uncle also changed his temper. I don't ask for anything. She is the second wife of the old lady They still want to bully me. My son’s apprenticeship, the second child’s imperial examination, all treat my son as my nephew and grandson, but that’s the flesh that fell from my body, and I’m pregnant in October, why should they!”

Mrs. Xu is also a mother, asking herself if anyone dares to use her son like this, she will fight with others, she understands Zhang's mood very much, and echoed: "Your old lady's doing this is really too much. "

Mrs. Zhang looked at her: "If my old lady was like you, I wouldn't worry about anything." After a pause, he said, "Master and wife used to praise my second brother's knowledge, I think he is so great, Unexpectedly, he failed the list! How can I be convinced? Could it be that he is joking about my brother Hu's future for such a person who has spent all his efforts in training, but has passed all three exams?! There was a fierce light in Zhang's eyes, "I can't swallow this breath, I can't swallow this breath!"

When Mrs. Xu heard this, her heart turned towards Mrs. Zhang. She patted her hand and said straightly: "Why didn't you talk to me earlier? If you tell me earlier, I can think of a way for you. You are alone You are holding back in that mansion, and your mother can't see you often, so many grievances, who can tell!"

Zhang's tears almost fell out again, she wiped her backhand, and said: "Auntie, don't worry about me, I have figured it out now, no matter how I try to please, she will not be satisfied. The more tame I am, the more she will When I get weaker. Hmph, now that my son is promising and my husband has taken care of me, I have nothing to be afraid of. The youngest son she loves the most is the one who is useless. She dares to bully me in the future Brother, I won’t bear it any longer!” He said again, “My son received the news that the fourth brother has done a good job in his post. In this imperial examination, 12 local pilots were taught and praised. I’m afraid I will be promoted to prefect soon. Eldest brother is in much better health. It’s not true that there is no one in my natal family, no matter how bad it is, there are people who can speak for me. I don’t believe it, I have to live by watching her face !"

Mrs. Xu agreed: "Jia Zheng made a fuss before the imperial examination, but the result is such a result. He is anticlimactic and has ruined the reputation of Jia's family. If he has a little self-knowledge, he should treat you better. Besides, you But after marrying into his family, and now that the old master is gone, his family has such a face, it's really too much, you just come and tell me, don't talk about others, auntie will make the decision for you! You just let it go, this matter You have the gift, no matter how hard your mother-in-law dares to criticize, you just have to be tougher, you don't have to compromise like this. Just one point, don't chill your husband's heart."

Mrs. Zhang nodded with tears in her eyes: "Don't worry, Auntie, I know." Putting aside her emotions, she looked at Mrs. Xu embarrassedly, "Auntie has met my mother, but if you want to say hello to me, don't make her worry."

Mrs. Xu saw that she was cheered up and full of fighting spirit, she was a little relieved, and agreed: "I understand that, just one thing, if you have something to do, don't hide it from me!"

Mrs. Zhang naturally agreed, and said gratefully, "Thank you, Auntie."

Mrs. Xu thought about it, but still felt that it was not enough: "The old lady has the status of an elder, and there is always a way to embarrass you. If you don't know it, I'm afraid I will misunderstand you. In this way, I will invite you often in the future. At that time, invite some wives to come to the house. You are so lucky to associate with them. Always let people see your character and spread your good reputation. Don’t be the same as before, hiding at home, ten banquets, nine and a half times You don’t want to go, but your sister-in-law made a name for herself.”

Mrs. Zhang smiled wryly, it wasn't that she refused to go, it was that Jia's mother kept making excuses not to let her go out, she couldn't stand upright in the mansion, so how dare she confront her.Zhang is naturally willing to go out to avoid Jiamu Wang's family and make new friends, but she also has some concerns: "Auntie, you don't like excitement since you came here, how can I ask you to worry about me so much?"

Mrs. Xu was displeased when she heard this: "You are still so polite to me? What is the relationship between our two families, you are so heretic? What was the situation of my Xu family before your Uncle Xu was not elected? If it weren't for your father, Can your Uncle Xu have today? Your mother is also good, I still remember when I gave birth to my second child, I had a difficult labor, it was your mother who took the person with me, and talked to me bit by bit to help me, otherwise I would die I don’t even know if I survived. And you, I never had a daughter, I watched you grow up, you are sensible and caring, and you played with Brother Tao and Brother Jiang when you were young, that’s their real sister! I I only hate your father for being stupid, marrying you into that den of tigers and wolves, and causing you to be so wronged! If you still recognize me as an aunt, you can't be polite to me!"

Mrs. Zhang couldn't hold back for a while, looking at Mrs. Xu, tears came down.Mrs. Xu wiped her tears for her, and said decisively: "Everything is up to me. I am twenty today. I will hold a banquet at the beginning of next month. When the time comes, you can tidy it up so that people can see it, Marquis Jingyuan." The demeanor of a concubine's daughter!"

On this end, Mrs. Xu gave advice to Mrs. Zhang, and on the other end, Xu Wei also pointed to Jia Amnesty: "I introduced you to Mr. Shui Wen on the basis of intercession, so you must be careful when the time comes. Your second brother is now famous. It's all smelly, be careful yourself, don't get stained with sewage, talk to people, talk more about yourself and less about your brother."

Jia Amnesty blinked, unable to react, Master Xu is saying that his brother is not good?Is he more famous than Jia Zheng? !