Dai Yuxin says

On the second day of the first lunar month, according to the customs of the capital, from this day until the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, it is a day to visit relatives and friends and eat wine from previous years.In previous years, wine can best reflect the status of the family. Rich people are the days to save face and show off their strength.And people like Jia's family just slap their faces swollen to pretend to be fat, and they can't talk about their sufferings, and they lose their teeth and swallow them in their stomachs.

This year Jia's mansion is unusual, there are two big happy events in the mansion one after another.It was reported in the palace that the empress was pregnant, and Baoyu in the mansion married his wife years ago.The high-ranking officials who are especially good at floating have already sent over the wine posts from previous years.Mrs. Wang and her direct daughter-in-law Xue Baochai had already made a list of contacts over and over again, and their hearts were full of sorrow and joy.The joy is that the princes and ministers who were hard to please in the past sent invitations early, and the sadness is that these days, the mansion has to prepare several tables of exquisite banquets every day for the masters, grandmas, grandmas, young masters and girls to entertain the visiting guests.Thinking of the white money flowing out like running water, every piece of flesh on Mrs. Wang's body felt pain.In the past, it was Wang Xifeng who took care of these things.This year, Wang Xifeng said that she was not in good health, so she could only help the new bride, Baochai.In front of the old lady, she handed over the housekeeper's key to herself, and then she refused to come forward for anything.It is impossible for her to pay another penny.Fortunately, the daughter-in-law Xue Baochai is a capable person, and nothing can be difficult for her, and everything is arranged in an orderly manner, but money is a problem, so there is no other way, so I have to pretend to be deaf and dumb and throw this stupid matter to Baochai.Although I have money in my small treasury, the money will be left to Baoyu in the future, but I have to keep the money for as long as I live.Having nothing to do, closing the door, touching the white silver, the radiant jewelry and the bank notes, I feel an indescribable comfort in my heart.I insist on marrying Baochai as my daughter-in-law just because she is my niece, beautiful and dignified?No no, this is all secondary, the most important thing is because the Xue family is an imperial merchant and rich!Now is the time for this daughter-in-law to win glory for herself, let her do it.

Baochai's heart was full of sorrow and joy when she was ordered, and she was so happy that her mother-in-law valued her so much that she took the power of housekeeping from Sister Feng and gave it to herself.Since then, his status has skyrocketed.The daughter-in-law of the housekeeper of the Rongguo Mansion, the younger brother and sister of the imperial concubine of Fengzao Palace.This year's previous wines, who would underestimate that unknown and beautiful imperial merchant girl?It was last year, when Jia's mansion used to drink, and my mother and I smiled shyly and flattered each other. Only then was Jia's mother extra merciful and allowed to follow the girl from Jia's mansion to visit a family with a lower status than Jia's mansion. Go, for fear that talking about a merchant's daughter will humiliate her family.At that time, I really wanted to cry but had no tears!Thinking of my peony appearance and talent of chanting Xu, I was despised only because I was born in a merchant's family.Well now, those miserable days are gone forever.It's only after becoming a family and taking power that I know that the future will not be easy.Jia's mansion is beautiful on the outside, but the money inside is short of money. It's hard for a clever daughter-in-law to cook without rice.What's even more sad is to find a solution to my mother-in-law. The mother-in-law, Mrs. Wang, revealed that it was Sister Feng's own idea to solve the problem in the past.I know the financial situation of my mother's family best. After my father died, my brother was confused, the business made little profit, and my brother spent a lot of money.Fengying's family fortune was soon wiped out.The dowry was used by the mother to put up face for herself, lest the people of Jia's family look down on her and pretend to have all the family's wealth, and they will go back to Xue's house one after another in the future.If it was because of the wine and flowers in Jia's house in previous years, wouldn't mother's life be spared?

Baochai thought so hard, but she couldn't help it, so she had to go to her mother to discuss it.Aunt Xue married Baochai into Jia's house, and she was very happy.The daughter has finally become the master of the Duke's Mansion. What an honor is her identity?Even Xue Pan has increased his social status and has more friends.With a hero and three gangs, it is said that the business has also prospered a lot.A while ago, Osmanthus Xia's family entrusted someone to come and marry their only daughter to Xue Pan.This is a good thing!The Xia family used to be an imperial merchant, specializing in flowers and plants for the royal family, especially sweet-scented osmanthus, which was called the Xia family of sweet-scented osmanthus by colleagues.Now that old man Xia is dead, only his wife and daughter are left, and the family is not weak.This marriage is completed, and the Xia family's mother and daughter are incorporated, which is equivalent to adding a huge fortune out of thin air.He heard from Xue Pan that he saw Xia Jingui, the daughter of the Xia family, with his own eyes. She was very beautiful and she was also a literate woman.Aunt Xue was lying on the nobleman's bed, with her legs stretched out straight, squinting her eyes, enjoying the gentle massage from Xiangling, a girl who was snatched by someone who was killed on the way to Beijing.

"The girl is back!" Hearing Xiangling's surprise greeting, Aunt Xue opened her eyes, stretched out her hands, and greeted affectionately: "My son, you are back." Sitting up quickly, she ordered Xiangling to serve tea quickly Bring fruit.

Baochai waved her hand and said in a low voice, "Xiangling, go and do your work. I'll talk to my mother." Get out and close the door behind you.

Seeing Baochai's gloomy expression, Aunt Xue asked uneasily, "My son, what's bothering you? Tell your mother quickly." Baochai turned around and murmured in Aunt Xue's arms. Said: "Mom, it's better to be mother."

Aunt Xue lovingly stroked Baochai's thick hair, and said cordially: "No matter how good my mother is, I can't keep you forever. At least you married into the Duke's mansion, your aunt is your mother-in-law, and Baoyu is a good-natured person. Such a large family business, you are in charge of it when you enter the door, it is really a blessing." Baochai raised her head, curled her lips and said disdainfully: "Donkey dung balls, the surface is smooth." Aunt Xue was stunned, then paused and said: "My son, How do you say that?" Baochai couldn't help talking about the troubles of being a director.Aunt Xue's heart sank when she heard this, and she said after a while: "My elder sister has been greedy for money since she was a child, but at this age, she didn't expect it to get worse. I know she chose you because she thought we were still The Xue family is so rich. Alas! If your father is still alive, you can spend whatever you want. Now our family is almost gone. The fields and shops in Jinling have been sold, and there is no house left. There is still money in this capital. There are a dozen or so shops, but they are just holding on. Otherwise, how could I live here and please the Jia family everywhere. No matter what, your dowry can’t make up for the Jia family. It is my lifeblood, and your brother is left with you. Click on the bottom of the box."

Baochai sat upright, looking at Aunt Xue, wondering: "Mom, my aunt asked me to take care of the house. The official account has long been full of rations, and she can't make ends meet. She can't afford money, and she doesn't give me subsidies. Done well, isn't it obvious that I want me to use our Xue family's silver to stick it in?" Aunt Xue rolled her eyes a few times and said with a smile: "I heard from your brother that there is a family named Lin in the capital who is repairing a garden and wants to buy some. A good decoration. Now you have the key to the Jia's warehouse. You secretly picked up a few unnecessary antiques and sold them. Anyway, those things are public. Even if the Jia family is defeated, you will not be poor." Baochai nodded and said, "That's what I have to do."

After discussing the money matter, the couple turned the topic to Daiyu.After all, Aunt Xue knew her sister best. She concluded that Mrs. Wang would not let Daiyu marry Baoyu even if she died as a concubine for Baoyu.Baochai didn't take it seriously, she thought Mrs. Wang was a woman who wanted money and life, and Mrs. Wang would compromise in the face of interests.Aunt Xue was confused, and couldn't help asking: "As far as I know, Miss Lin came to Jia's mansion when she was a few years old. My sister checked her things countless times, but she didn't find any money. A few years ago, my sister The elder sister also used the excuse that Miss Lin's nanny, Wang Momo, was getting old, so she was allowed to go back to her hometown in the south, but she sent someone to stop that Wang Momo on the way, and interrogated her secretly for a long time. Asking what kind of money came out, I had no choice but to kill Wang Momo quietly. Now, what kind of Yuyuan are you talking about? Could it be that your aunt is really suspicious, and Lin girl is really hiding money? Is this impossible?"

Baochai told about Yuyuan.Aunt Xue shook her head like a rattle, and said with a smile: "My son, I heard about this too. Your aunt sent a dozen people to search Yuyuan, and almost turned Yuyuan upside down. Still nothing. After so many years, if the Lin family is rich, they will not be secretive. Although girl Lin is not stupid, she is still young. Apart from Zijuan Xueyan and the two girls around her, the older nanny Wang Momo has long been taken care of by your aunt. Send it away, and the rest are the eyeliners planted by your aunt. Not only is there no one in the Lin family, but there is no money left behind. Lin Daiyu is what the saying goes, the hairy phoenix, my son needn't be afraid of her."

Baochai looked at her mother suspiciously, blushed and said in a low voice, "Girl Lin and Baoyu grew up together, and they still have feelings for each other. Baoyu's temper. Mother knows it."

"What I said is very true. Baoyu's heart will be hard to get back when this Lin girl stays in Jia's house for a day. It doesn't matter, anyway, this Lin girl is about to reach her age, but you want to keep her for a few more years. , it may not be possible, even if the old lady wants to stay, it is difficult to do so. All in all, your aunt hates her very, very much."

Baochai had a conversation with his mother, and his mood improved a lot.Walking out of Lixiangyuan, I let out a long sigh of relief, feeling that in the days ahead, difficulties are temporary, but happiness is long-term.As the saying goes: There are still three thousand nails in the boat, and a family like Jia's mansion is protected by a concubine in the palace. No matter what happens, they will not lose their housekeeper.Turning to think about it carefully, people have no long-term worries, but they must have near-term worries.Money is a hard commodity, whoever holds it in his arms belongs to it.Sister Feng has retired, and she has made enough money in these years.The waves behind the Yangtze River push forward the waves ahead, and a new generation replaces the old ones. Now it's time for us to show our talents.Don't you believe that you have a lot of education, and you can't compare with Sister Feng who doesn't know many big characters?Thinking of this, Baochai was smug, shook her head, and walked towards Rongxi hall in high spirits. **