every spring [comprehensive]

Baochai said: "Master Yun didn't know what to think. He betrayed the rich man and withdrew from the guard's family. Marriage between a man and a woman is not a forced thing. This matter can just pass away. Who knows, the rich man's family The young lady was violent, so she bumped her head to death, and the son of the garrison family thought of her deep love, and died of love! The two families that were supposed to have a happy event, respectively, held a funeral. Although there was no follow-up to this matter, That Master Yun will not delay his official career because of this, but there is a lot of rumors in Chang'an County. Our family has a manager who went there to buy things. He stayed there for a month, and his ears were full of this matter. Come back and tell me."

Seeing that Wang Xifeng was in a daze, Xue Baochai said, "You're tired after talking for a while. I won't disturb you, so I'll go back first."

After Wang Xifeng asked Ping'er to send Baochai away, she hurriedly asked her, "Miss Bao, do you know that this is the lawsuit I took?"

Ping'er said: "It doesn't look like he knows, otherwise he wouldn't come to your bed and talk about this at grandma's time. Besides, only a few of us knew at that time, they usually talked to Miss Yubao It’s hard to say where the letter will be delivered, so I guess she doesn’t know.”

Wang Xifeng pondered: "I think it's true. Girl Bao accidentally told me about it. Ping'er, you should ask someone who came back from Chang'an Mansion to see if there's a lot of fanfare about the truth!"

Ping'er went out for a trip and came back with a worried face, and nodded slightly to Wang Xifeng.Some criminals said in fear: "Grandma, we have to be vigilant. Grandma is not feeling well. Don't be troubled by the little ghost." She was talking about the ghosts of the dead man and woman. "What a coincidence, someone just died over there. Grandma almost had a miscarriage, and her healthy body collapsed again."

Wang Xifeng has always enjoyed the satisfaction of being able to do things that others cannot do by relying on power.

She abused her power, offered bribes, broke up marriages, and caused a pair of young men and women to commit suicide, leaving 3000 taels of silver in their pockets. She never believed in hell retribution, but this time, even if she still did not believe in death Ping'er said that someone who had been killed could come and harm her.

Sure enough, after taking care of the house for a few days, Mrs. Wang felt that there were too many things to do and she was out of energy. She came to look at Wang Xifeng, and saw that she still looked like she couldn't get out of bed, and she couldn't say that she should take care of it at this time. , so she found her eldest daughter-in-law, Li Wan. She knew that Li Wan was too good-natured on weekdays, and she was afraid that she would not be able to suppress those old fritter-like managers, so she let her make a decision, and she still took it back to her with some hesitation. .Li Wan, a knitting girl, is good at teaching her husband and children, and can tell right from wrong, but her personality is too rigid, and her temper is really too soft, so she still has a lot of things to bother Mrs. Wang, which makes Mrs. Wang feel uncomfortable for a day. idle.

Ping'er took back a bag of silver and said to Wang Xifeng: "Grandma, this is last month's interest money. Now we don't care about family affairs, and we can't touch the principal money in our hands. Wang'er's family asked, next month. Are you still posting?"

Wang Xifeng wiped his forehead with a hand inlaid with brocade and turquoise. After a few days of idleness, some flesh grew on his cheeks, and he said: "No more, since everyone's monthly expenses can't reach me, should I take my own money?" I can’t lend the money in my hand! Tell Wang’er’s family to recycle all the previous ones, and take back all the interest and capital owed to me before, and I’m going to stop doing it for the time being.”

Ping'er said: "That's fine, you should just take care of your baby and put everything else aside."

It turned out that when Wang Xifeng was in charge of housekeepers, the monthly expenses received from officials and the monthly money and silver of all servants were at least more than 1000 taels.Every time she presses not to pay, but takes it out to usury, and after recovering the capital, she can make a lot of money by paying wages to the servants.She and Jia Lian have a lot of expenses, and there are many places where the money can be used, and there is no other income. The one or twenty taels per month is not enough to treat guests to a meal, so she naturally thinks of a way. Make money to make up for the shortfall in the family, otherwise she would have to be a dowry at this time.

This is the first month of the lunar year, when there is an annual holiday in the school, and needlework is avoided in the boudoir. It is a time of leisure. The family studies of the Jia family are naturally not open, because Baochai treats Jia Huan the same as he treats Baoyu on weekdays. The sisters in the family were not very well received by others, and they were unwilling to play with him, so they ran to Aunt Xue to make fun of him.

Baochai is holding on to an idle book in her hand, looking at it one after another, and from time to time glance at the games of a few maidservants beside her. Jadeite, amber, beeswax, and tourmaline are playing Go together.Jia Huan came over to look at it, and couldn't help but click his tongue: "Sister Bao is still gentle enough here."

Jia Huan was not yet ten years old. When Baochai saw that his little face was flushed by the wind outside, he said, "You just ran here with a bare head like this? The people who followed you, no one would let you go in nine cold days." Wear a hat!" After finishing speaking, he asked him to sit near the charcoal basin to enjoy the fire, and ordered someone to serve ginger tea.

Jia Huan said: "I'm not anyone's darling. What's the fuss about blowing the wind once or twice? Sister Bao doesn't know, but I'm solid." With stiff hands, he drank another bowl of warm ginger tea, feeling that all the cold outside was driven away.

Jia Huan said: "During the first month of the lunar year, dice are thrown and played for money elsewhere, but here you are reading books and playing chess."

When Fei Cui heard Jia Huan's words and said that everyone was playing to win money, she was very envious, so she said: "The third master said how to play, we just play with you." Here comes Baochai Guests, it's impossible for these servant girls to continue playing chess like no one else.

Jia Huan was very happy when he heard this, looked at Baochai, and saw Baochai nodded and said: "Tell me the rules, my maidservants are smart, be careful that they will take all the money in your pocket. "

When Jia Huan heard this, he hesitated.Baochai smiled again and said: "There are several people from our family, you can't let them bully you together, Hu Po goes to get two slings to give to the third master, and each of you takes one sling. If you lose today, it will be mine. If you win, it will be mine." Put it in your pocket, so you don't have to worry about it!"

As soon as these words came out, Jia Huan and the maidservants cheered thunderously, and they began to play boldly and at ease.

At the beginning, Baochai’s maids didn’t know how to play, so they lost to Jia Huan a few times. Later, they played more and more smoothly, especially Hu Po and Mi Wa, who were about to kill the Quartet. Jia Huan lost both money. After hanging for a whole time, he saw that in front of others, the least tourmaline didn't lose any capital, and it turned out to be worth a penny of one hundred and two hundred. He didn't intend to be too serious with this young master, so he just turned a blind eye and let him go. Anyway, it was just a thing to pass the time. He came to their house to play with him to have fun.

Baoyu and Tanchun are arriving at this time. Tanchun has always been high-minded and extremely self-respecting. Out of anger, he shouted: "Sister Bao kindly let you play here, so you're a man, and you'd be cheating if you gambled with the maid, so you'd have to be ashamed!"

Jia Huan was on the verge of crying, but when Tanchun scolded him like this, he burst into tears. Seeing him like this, Jia Baoyu was very annoyed, so he taught him a few words.

Baochai said, "What do you mean? Huan'er was having a good time here, but the two of you made people cry when you came here! Is this why you two are so powerful as brothers and sisters?"

Fei Cui also hurriedly got up to make amends and said: "We are the ones coaxing the third master to play, so we don't blame him for being anxious, Miss Tanchun, don't blame the second master Bao, he is still so young, he can do this already Not bad." He said, returning all the scattered copper coins other than his hanging to Jia Huan's side, as well as the remaining tourmalines and ambers, and said: "Sir, don't cry, take all the copper coins. Take it easy, we sisters have a tacit understanding, and we shouldn't play with you like this, whoever it is, even if Second Master Bao comes, he will suffer a lot."

As soon as Baoyu heard it, he was distracted and stopped staring at Jia Huan. He said, "What, no matter how tacitly you two are, you can still communicate with each other. As long as you don't make gestures or make noises, I don't believe in you." He lost so badly! Why don't we try!"

Baochai said to Tanchun: "It's just right for Tan girl to come. Don't stare at your brother Huan's idea. There is a trick. I want you to help me palm my eyes." With a wink, he directly pulled Tanchun away.

Under Jia Huan's understanding, he gathered up the capital that Baochai had given him, and left in a hurry. Baoyu thought about talking about him again, and ran out of the hospital back to the mansion to play with others.

Tanchun didn't say anything, but silently thanked Baochai for being considerate of Jia Huan. In fact, he was being considerate for her. I don't know what to make trouble with myself again!That pair of mother and son are thick-skinned and ignorant, and in the end they will only end up like Tan Chun is not human!

Tanchun only felt that this sister Bao, who was not two years older, treated her even more differently from others, and even her second sister Yingchun, who grew up with her since childhood, was much inferior in comparison.The younger sister Xichun is still young, and she can't see anything other than selfishness.Sister Lin, who is a foreigner, has always been petty, mean-spirited, and picks other people's faults.

Thinking about it this way, none of the sisters in the family can talk like they want, and it’s fine to spend time together as companions. If there is something serious and annoying, how dare you tell them to know!In this way, she treated Baochai even more differently.

Baoyu played there for a while, then remembered and asked, "Isn't eldest brother at home? It's the first month of the lunar year, are they also on holiday?"

Baochai said: "The holiday is a holiday. He thinks the house is deserted and there is nothing interesting. He went to Xining Hou's mansion. He heard that there was a good show there. The eldest grandson of the Hou's mansion is his colleague. Please leave early in the morning." Go and see."

Tanchun said sincerely, "Brother Xue is getting better and better, and he has a harmonious relationship with his colleagues. His official career is getting smoother and smoother. This is the blessing of Aunt Xue and Sister Bao."

Baoyu felt a little uncomfortable, he always disliked people talking about the economics of the official career, and felt that such a person who was dedicated to pursuing a career, or who kept persuading people to manage the economics of an official career, was out of cliché, so he stopped answering.

Tanchun was not without emotion, although the Xue family only had three people, it was a thriving and positive scene.Although the Jia family seems to be a mighty family, none of the children and grandchildren can be successful. She is the young lady of the Jia family. , she also knows some of them, all of them are some unworthy playboy noble children.

Baoyu is so clever and obedient, but when will he use his mind on reading!Tan Chunming knew that he might not like to hear it, but he still said: "Seeing the beginning of the new year, the ethnology school will have classes again. Second brother Bao can study hard and come back with a good reputation. As the saying goes, if you are good at learning, you will be an official. If you If you are promising, you can establish a career by yourself, and you will not always be talked about by the master in the future."

When Baoyu heard this, he was really unhappy, and there was something on his face.Baoyu said: "Third sister, why are you talking about these bastard words again!"

Tanchun was slammed back, even though she was always strong, she felt that she couldn't hold back her face, her face was flushed, she lowered her head and stopped talking.

Baochai said indifferently: "Why is it that sister Tanchun persuades you to study hard and get a good name, and it becomes a bastard? Then you have been studying books for so many years since you were a child, just to know a few words, and you spend all day at home writing poems, couplets, and playing games." No?"

Baoyu said: "That's not what I mean. It's just that those who study only to write stereotyped essays and pass the exam to enter the officialdom are just 'national thieves and ghosts' who are all confused by the word fame."

Baochai said: "Since ancient times, everything has its limitations. Although the eight-legged essay in the imperial examination is not exempt, it can also select talents for the country. Half of the country's important ministers, the civil and military of the Manchu Dynasty, rely on this. Could it be that all those who are selected are 'national thieves and ghosts'? If they all think like you, wouldn't this country be paralyzed!"

Baoyu said: "I don't know if the country is paralyzed or not, but without me, it must not be paralyzed!"

Baochai said: "Brother Bao, since we're talking about this, let's have a debate. I don't agree with your point of view. Let alone one less you, even if there are thousands of people like you missing, the country will suffer a lot." No? It’s just that the family is different. You are the eldest son and grandson of the Jia family. Limited. However, the splendor and wealth of your family in the Jia family, you can now be a rich and idle person freely and freely, do you think it fell from the sky, and it was supported by the uncle and the others. Do you want to see When they get old, there will be no relay, and when you are 50 or 30, you will be the same as now, can you continue to be a gnawing old man?"

Jia Baoyu was startled, and said, "I didn't think so far, I just think about it day by day."

Tanchun was a little surprised that what Sister Bao said was so naughty and insisted on her own opinion, Jia Baoyu, who refused to study, was speechless.

Baochai shook her head and said, "Then you will become more and more hopeless. People have no long-term considerations, and they must have near-term worries. How can anyone really live a day-to-day calculation? They are just immature children."

Ever since Jia Baoyu was lectured by Xue Baochai that day, he just felt uncomfortable seeing her for several days. To make him uncomfortable means that both Jiamu and Mrs. Wang can't feel happy, so Baochai shrugged off the outbreak of old illnesses at various gatherings in the first month, but went to Jia's mansion.

Mrs. Wang asked Mrs. Xue: "Isn't Baochai's health always fine? She's not as sick as Miss Lin. Why did she say that the old disease has been ill for so long?"

Mrs. Xue said: "She does have a little old disease root. When she was only a few years old, she suffered from coughing and wheezing every winter, until she got a monk's son from the sea, and it took a year to match her. It's all about medicine!"

Mrs. Wang wondered: "Oh? You never told me about it. I don't know about it. I've never heard of Bao girl."

Mrs. Xue said: "She! She has the strongest personality. She is used to taking care of everything by herself, and never tells me too much. It is said that Feng girl is a strong person. In fact, our precious girl is not too much. What! The monk who treated her told her about the golden lock that she got back then, and asked her to put it in, and always carry it with her."

Mrs. Wang said: "The golden lock that Bao girl often wears is really beautiful. I said that there must be some origin. It turns out that it is used to cure diseases and eliminate evil. Isn't it very suitable for Baoyu's jade? Gold and gold locks, say They look like a couple!"

Mrs. Xue said with a smile: "It is their fate that the two of them have such things." It is not that Mrs. Xue did not understand Mrs. Wang's meaning, but now that Baochai is still young, she is not in a hurry to talk about marriage, and Baochai Chai has a place to be selected, even if she wants to make a marriage, it should be said after she can't be selected. Mrs. Xue feels that her daughter's appearance is not inferior to Yuanchun, and it is absolutely impossible to be directly dismissed. Therefore, Bao What kind of fate Chai has, should be discussed after the draft, but it is a pity that, just in time for the national mourning period, the new emperor decreed that the draft will be suspended for three years, and then restarted. Baochai may be one year old.

She talked about this with Mrs. Wang, and Mrs. Wang said: "There should be nothing wrong with those who are over one or two years old. What's more, there should be a lot of people who are over the age, and there should be a unified statement. It’s just a little thing, and I’ll help you when the time comes.”

Mrs. Xue also thought that this was a trivial matter, something that could be done by asking acquaintances to say hello.Since Mrs. Wang agreed, she was so happy that she didn't have to ask for help.Baochai was only 17 years old after the national funeral and the election was held, and Yuanchun of Jia's family entered the palace when he was nearly 20 years old.

Xue Baochai did not reappear in the sight of everyone until Shi Xiangyun arrived and Jia's mansion became lively again.Seeing her coming, Xiangyun said angrily: "I've been here for two days, and Sister Bao didn't think of coming to see me! If I don't come, you will play with them at the house all day long. If I come, it will take a few days." can not see you!"

Baochai pinched her fleshy cheeks, and said, "You girl, you're so picky. If I don't want to see you, I'll run out of the house in the cold? If I don't come, you're going to Okay, once I come, you will come to make trouble for me!"

Shi Xiangyun really felt a little wronged, and said to everyone: "You all know that I can't make decisions at home, why don't you want the old lady to take me over early, it seems that it's the first month of the year, and the year is over, so you don't think of me. I'm waiting at home to thank the flowers!"

Shi Xiangyun is also a poor person. Although she was born in the Hou's family, her parents died early, and she was raised by her uncle Zhongjinghou Shi Ding. Her aunt treated her badly, and she had no control over the family. She didn't even have a maid for her own needlework. Helping, you need to do it yourself, only when Mrs. Jia takes over Jia's house, can you relax.I don't know if it's really that difficult in the Marquis Mansion, or if it's deliberately harsh and difficult for her.

But Shi Xiangyun has an optimistic and bold personality, and never keeps those unhappy things in mind.Everyone also knew about her family's situation, but it was a pity that they could only take care of their own family affairs, because no one could extend their hands so far to take care of other people's Hou Fu's house.Only Mother Jia can talk from time to time and take it over to stay for a while.That's it, and it's also the joy of Shi Xiangyun's not free life as a door-waiter.

Baochai was pulled to sit down by Daiyu, and Daiyu said: "Sister Bao, don't worry about her, she got angry at home, she's getting better in the past two days, whoever she saw in the past two days is choking on others! "

Baoyu said: "That's not the case. We have been searched by him one by one in the past two days. Sister Bao has come and saved our family."

Shi Xiangyun pouted and said: "Even if it's about finding people, I'm not half as good as Sister Lin. Who doesn't know that she likes to pick people up so she can't make fun of them. Why, brother Bao, just say me! Who doesn't know you The two are as good as one person, which shows how close the relationship is."

Baoyu and Daiyu's faces turned red when she said it. Although it was Xiangyun's sour and jealous words, it was true. When Baoyu saw sister Lin, he felt a little wronged, but Baoyu was a very fraternal person. As a human being, he also has his heart and lungs for Xiangyun.

Baochai changed the subject and said, "Yun'er has wronged me. I originally thought that it would be your birthday in a few days, so I was still thinking about preparing some birthday present for you at home."

Shi Xiangyun was overjoyed, "Really? It's my sister Bao after all, she didn't really forget me."

Daiyu had already gotten rid of the embarrassment just now, and finally had something to say, saying: "You mean those of us who didn't think about preparing gifts in advance, just put you in the back of our minds, so heartless, tonight Don't come to live with me, just go home with your sister Bao!"

Shi Xiangyun made a funny face at Daiyu, and said, "If you don't stop, don't stop."

Baochai said to Daiyu: "She just got better, and you are annoyed again, and you still want to keep people safe. The way I think of celebrating Xiangyun's birthday is quite different from the previous ones. It is not a wine show, nor is it just If you give her something, you have to ask her for some money, of course, she is a birthday girl, so you can reduce it a lot, but you sisters, you can’t reduce it, everyone can afford it.”

Tanchun and the others were also sitting on the side, and said at this time: "To celebrate Yun'er's birthday, we should give some money. What novel idea did Sister Bao come up with, please tell us quickly."

Baochai tricked her again and said, "It's not as simple as giving me some money, but, just give me as much as you have, and give me all your belongings."

The sisters were puzzled: "Huh?"