Zhen Lian of the Red Chamber

In the blink of an eye, at the beginning of September, Liu Xianglian and Zhenlian were returning from riding horses. Uncle Liu stepped forward and handed over a post, and said with a smile: "This is a post sent by someone from the Lai family. Grandpa and grandma are not at home, so I will Take it and let him go back."

Liu Xianglian looked at it and put it on the table, and said with a smile to Zhenlian: "Brother Lai's house in Beijing has built a new garden, and he sent a post to invite us to visit his house on the [-]th of this month."

A banquet in Lai's garden?Isn't it when Liu Xianglian beat Xue Pan?But now he doesn't sing anymore, and he's also married. I guess Xue Pan won't be troubled anymore. Besides, Liu Xianglian is not a vegetarian, so it's okay to cook. Zhen Lian doesn't worry at all.

"Oh, then you can go, these days you don't go out often, and you also go to get together with friends."

"He not only invited me, but you also invited him, saying that he invited us as a guest." He pushed the post on the table to Zhen Lian, motioning her to read it.

After opening it, I found that the post was about inviting the two of us, "Why did you invite me? I don't know anyone from his family, so it's not fun to go. It's better to stay at home and feel more comfortable." I have to go too, it will be troublesome if there are too many people.

Knowing that she didn't like these gatherings, Liu Xianglian said: "It's just that Brother Lai also came to congratulate us when we got married. This time he specially invited us. It's not good if we don't go. I also know that you don't like to socialize, but you don't want to go out for a day. Just stay at home and go to relax, how about we go out to socialize and come back?" After speaking, he hugged Zhen Lian, lowered his head to her ear, and whispered: "Besides, if you don't go, I will be alone It's not fun to go, I don't want to go, I just want to stay at home with you!"

Zhen Lian's neck was itchy from being rubbed by him, she took his hair back and wrapped it around her fingertips, and replied: "I won't be with you when I go, can you still go in?" Men and women are separated, and they can't stay together. What's the difference between this and him going by himself?

"I can't get in, but you are with me on the way. Besides, the Lai family's garden is not bad, you can also go and have a look and relax." Since I returned to the capital, I spent most of my time just Staying at Zhuangzi, I have less communication with my friends, and I am not very interested in this banquet, but I have to go because of affection.

Zhen Lian listened to the words, and finally agreed with Liu Xianglian's repeated persuasion. It's okay to go, just say hello to people she doesn't know, and she doesn't have to do anything about it.I just don't know who the Lai family invited, and who else is there besides the Jia family. Besides, I can see Lin Daiyu again. Maybe it's a good thing that most people in the red building can meet.

On the early morning of the [-]th, the two of them woke up, washed and changed into the clothes they were going out with, and Zhen Lian also put on her make-up according to the fashion in the capital.Although I don't like it, and I don't wear makeup on a daily basis, I still have to follow the etiquette and solemnly dress up when I go out as a guest, so as not to be looked down upon by others.

I haven't studied the makeup here much, I only said to be more natural and let Liu Er smear on the face.It took half an hour to finish putting on make-up and brushing hair. Zhen Lian looked at herself in the mirror. Sure enough, make-up made sense. Not to mention that people should be more beautiful, just looking at their complexion makes them more energetic, especially The eyes and lips are more obvious.The eye makeup makes people more energetic, and the rouge on the lips and cheeks makes people look more rosy.Wearing the set of headgear given by my aunt on her head added a lot of color.

After changing the clothes for going out, Zhen Lian turned around, and heard Liu Xianglian's voice in front, "Lian'er looks so pretty."

Zhen Lian looked up, and saw him approaching the room, staring at her intently, pursed her lips, and turned around in front of him, "So good-looking? Then I don't look good on weekdays?"

Liu Xianglian walked up to her and held hands, "As long as it's you, everything is good-looking, but your current appearance is rare, and it's just amazing."

Naturally, it looks better with makeup on. It seems that I can try to put on some makeup in the future, and it can also add some freshness.It's just that there are many harmful things in the current cosmetics. The face powder also contains lead powder, which is very bad for the skin and body. It seems that I have to make some by myself.

After tidying up, the two made a carriage and entered the city. When they arrived at Lai's Mansion, someone greeted them at the gate. The carriage didn't stop, and they entered through the gate all the way.After a while, Liu Xianglian stopped at one place, and said: "I'm going down, someone will pick you up later, don't worry, I will send someone to pick you up after we leave, you can have fun here for a while." .”

Zhen Lian nodded in response, and Liu Xianglian lifted the curtain and went down, followed the others.

The carriage stopped after walking for a while, only to hear a young woman's voice outside saying: "The second door is here, please get off the carriage, grandma."

Liu'er stepped forward to pick up the curtain and helped Zhen Lian get off the car, only to see a few young daughters-in-law standing outside, the first one was a young woman in full dress, she greeted Zhen Lian with a smile, "Sister is here, Please come inside." Then he said: "My sister doesn't know me. My maiden name is Meng. Our uncle and Uncle Liu are good friends. I am a few years older than you, so I have the cheek to call you sister. I heard it earlier. Uncle Liu is married, and the grandmother he married is very nice, I just got to see her today, and my sister is indeed a wonderful beauty."

Seeing that she was enthusiastic and open-minded, Zhen Lian also had a good impression of her in her heart, besides, she was the wife of Lai Shangrong from the Lai family. Liu Xianglian had a friendship with him, and she would deal with her in the future.Then she called her "sister-in-law." The two greeted each other, and Mrs. Meng pulled Zhen Lian into the second door.

The beautiful and prosperous road along the way can be regarded as the best that Zhen Lian has seen in this world. The architectural decoration and scenery are more than ten times better than Liu's.Sure enough, it was the home of the slaves, and the money from the Jia family was needed to help them manage these properties.

It is also ironic to say that the Jia family, the head of the family, has run out of pockets and cannot make ends meet, and the director of the housekeeper has to rely on Wang Xifeng as a dowry. Let’s not say whether Wang Xifeng is real or fake, just by saying this, we can know that the situation of Jia’s family is not good .However, this Lai family is just a domestic servant of the Jia family. Not only did he get the grace to let his grandson redeem himself to study for the imperial examination, but he also became an official with the help of the Jia family.The family is so rich on the surface, with a lot of houses and fields, and now they have built a garden. Although it is not as good as the Grand View Garden of the Jia family, it is still very good. I don't know how much I got from the Jia family secretly.The master is weak and the slave is strong, but the Jia family is still dreaming and dying, thinking that they will be rich and honored for thousands of years!

"In front is the garden that our family just built." After walking for a while, Mrs. Meng pointed to a door in front and smiled.

Entering this gate, there is a mountain, stone and water pavilion in front of it. Looking around, there are pavilions, terraces, pavilions, mountains, rivers, flowers and stones.

All the way around, I came to a yard facing the water, strolled into the house, and there were a few ladies and ladies sitting and chatting inside.Meng shi brought the two parties to the ceremony, and Zhen Lian sat down beside them, listening to what they had to say.

"I heard that the old ladies and wives of Rongguo Mansion are coming too, but are they here?" Just as they were talking, a woman in her twenties said, Zhen Lian saw that her name was Wu's, and her husband's surname was Zhang, and she asked curiously. Montenegro.

Mrs. Meng smiled quite complacently, looked at the sky outside, and said with a smile: "My mother-in-law went to invite her early in the morning, and it is almost here now. Their wives, grandmas and girls are all here, as well as the imperial merchant Xue's family. Miss Ma'am, for a large group of people, it will naturally take some time."

"That's great, and only your family can invite such a family. Today, with the help of your family, we can also see the grandeur of the Duke's family." Several people on the side quickly flattered.

Zhen Lian just laughed and listened without opening her mouth. Seeing how many people flattered the Meng family and the Jia family, she felt annoyed, but she could only smile and drink tea with her head down from time to time.This is also the reason why Zhen Lian doesn't like to attend these banquets. There are always some people who like to flatter and flatter.Either flattering people or talking about jewelry and clothes, it's very boring.

It's also because I haven't fully integrated into this place. It's hard for me to agree with and understand many of their ideas, and I don't get along with them.

After sitting bored for a while, Zhen Lian also looked forward to the arrival of Jia's family, those are the real daughters of high families, each with their own advantages.Just thinking of this, I saw a little girl trotting in and out of the Meng family, "Grandma, the old ladies in the house have entered the garden."

Overjoyed, Mrs. Meng stood up and said, "The old lady from Rongguo Mansion is here, I'll go pick her up."

Everyone also got up and said: "Go together." Zhen Lian had no choice but to follow, and just as she reached the gate of the courtyard, she saw a group of people walking slowly not far away.

Mrs. Meng rushed up to greet her, exchanged some pleasantries, and everyone had seen each other before welcoming Jia Mu and her group into the courtyard.Zhen Lian had seen Lin Daiyu in the crowd a long time ago, seeing her rosy face, smiling at Yan Yan, it seems that these days are going well in Jia's house.Lin Daiyu over there had a keen sense, turned her head to look, and saw Zhen Lian in the opposite crowd, it was she who was looking at her, and the two of them looked at each other and smiled.

Jia Baoyu saw that she ignored his words and looked elsewhere, followed his gaze, and said pleasantly: "She is here too, and Second Brother Liu is here today, so I should have thought of it." He only looked at Zhen lotus.

Lin Daiyu glanced at him and said with a smile, "What? Don't you recognize him?"

"Of course I recognize her. She is my friend's daughter-in-law who just married this year. I saw her when I went to Hexi that day. I didn't expect to have the opportunity to see her again today. It's fate."

"This is also called fate, there are so many fates in the world." Lin Daiyu ignored him, just followed the crowd into the room and sat down, thinking about finding a chance to say a few words.

"Her family is also from Gusu, and she is from the same town as you. When did you know her, sister?" Jia Baoyu sat down beside Lin Daiyu and asked lazily.

"When I came back from Gusu, she came on a boat with her family. It turned out that you were friends with that person. It was a coincidence. But I never saw her again when I entered Beijing. I didn't know that she was married, but It's a happy event." Then he asked Jia Baoyu: "Do you know where her home is? We met once, and it's a good match. I'm thinking of going back and giving her a wedding present."

"I know this, just leave it to me. I happen to be going to his house in a few days, and I will take it for you myself."

Lin Daiyu thought that it would be more convenient for him to send someone than herself, so she agreed, thinking about what to send.