Red Mansions Dressed Into the Forest

No matter how smart and intelligent Sister Feng is, she can't figure out her seemingly taciturn aunt. After all, her life experience is more than 20 years behind.

When Mrs. Wang first married into the Rongguo Mansion, her father-in-law Jia Daishan was still alive, and she lived under the hands of her mother-in-law Jia Mu and her former sister-in-law for many years.

Mrs. Wang's sister-in-law was Jia Lian's own mother, and she came from an extraordinary background—anyway, it was not comparable to the Wang family at that time.Fortunately, this sister-in-law lost her care after giving birth and left early. The Rong Mansion had a falling out with Jia Lian's mother's family, and it was almost to the point where she would never see each other again. Otherwise, Wang Xifeng might not be able to marry Jia Lian smoothly.

It is said that when Prince Teng of the Wang family did not make a fortune, his family was not very good. Although the eldest daughter married into the Rong Mansion, the second daughter married into the Xue family. Merchants... The Imperial Merchant is also a merchant.

Huang Shang himself could not take the imperial examination, but fortunately his children and grandchildren would not be affected, unless the son inherited his father's business.Fortunately, Xue's family is bold and generous. After marrying the second lady of the Wang family, they gave full support to Wang Ziteng, and Wang Ziteng is where he is today.

In fact, before Xue Pan got involved in the murder case, Wang Ziteng's wife, Mrs. Gao, had different attitudes towards the two sisters-in-law. She was obviously more affectionate towards the sister-in-law, Aunt Xue, than the elder sister-in-law, Mrs. Wang.

Sister Feng was born at a good time, and the most difficult days of the Wang family when she was growing up were all a thing of the past, and when she got married, the dowry was much thicker than that of the two aunts.

All in all, Mrs. Wang's life is much more ups and downs than Sister Feng's, and her scheming and methods have been experienced, and she is much better than her niece and nephew's wife.At least Mrs. Wang is more restrained, unlike Sister Feng's arrogance and complacency.

It is said that after Mrs. Wang vented, she calmed down a little: she needed Sister Feng's helper, and she heard from her master that Brother Lian was going to be the head of the sixth department, and she would give Sister Feng a stick and a sweet date.

So Mrs. Wang took Sister Feng to sit on her own hands, and said carefully, "After you become a concubine, how much money is left in our house's accounts? Well, the old lady said that she would use her body to make up for it... [-] to [-] is probably the best. But our house still needs to be repaired... How much money can the family have left? If it sells the field and sells the shop, how can it be spread? "

What this means is that there is only so much money in the family, and it is a pleasure to spend it, and the future life will not be able to live?

Seeing that the corners of Sister Feng's upturned mouth gradually tightened and drooped, Mrs. Wang reminded again, "I'm afraid it's just the beginning for Brother Lian to make up for the vacancy. The top is not filial? The subordinates don't win over? These are short of money?"

Although Sister Feng's dowry is more generous than that of the two aunts, but with the accumulation of these years, it only looks like thirty to fifty thousand—these money can only buy five or six grades. shock.

Ever since her uncle Wang Ziteng was promoted to the first rank, the fifth rank official... She didn't pay much attention to it.

It is said that Qin Keqing was pregnant and raised a baby at home, and she never committed suicide in shame because of being raped by You Shi, but Sister Feng still "gave power" again as in the original book-Sister Feng did not go to Shuiyue Temple, quietly You have long legs, can't you come to the door?

Anyway, Sister Feng once again harmed a couple of lovers with a letter for three thousand silver: Don't forget that Brother Zhang Jin's loving and righteous fiancé is the son of Shouwei, and Shouwei is the fifth grade.

But from this incident, it is enough to see Sister Feng's hobby: just two words, silver!

This time her second uncle made a mistake, and the family was willing to use money for the second uncle. She was full of confidence: the old lady must give them some benefits.

Anyway, that's all the family has, if you spend more, I'll spend less... The old lady's self-esteem is also the same, Sister Feng sneered in her heart: Aunt is partial to Brother Bao, who doesn't know who is looking at it ?If she doesn't fight for it, the family property in the mansion will be guaranteed to be "equalized" by the aunt to the empress and Brother Bao!

But Mrs. Wang and Wang Xifeng, the aunts and nephews, were talking together with their own minds. Jia Mu thought for a long time in the room alone before calling Yuanyang to her eyes, "Go to Brother Lian and call their young couple. If If anyone is not there, just wait patiently for a while." After a pause, he instructed, "When you go back to the Lin's house, you follow along and listen carefully to what your son-in-law has to say."

The old lady always felt that her son and daughter-in-law were all there, and the son-in-law seemed to have something to say, so she couldn't say it clearly.

Jia's mother also loves to have fun, especially when she is old. "It's a pity" that Lin Hai didn't die, and the Rong Mansion couldn't get the million-dollar property in the original book. Not to mention it was stretched, but it was really not very rich-if something happened, "people's minds would change".

Daughter-in-law and grand-daughter-in-law have their own thoughts, and a mature person like Jia's mother can almost see through it at a glance!

Jia's mother knew that she could no longer blindly be happy, she had to show up to her children and grandchildren in person... Mainly because of the careful planning of the grandchildren.

Jia's mother has been the wife of the country for most of her life. Not only her daughter-in-law and grandson's daughter-in-law are incomparable in vision and means, but even the two sons together are not as deep as Jia's mother.

I have to say that Mother Jia is kind. She is willing to spend a lot of money to pave the way for her children and grandchildren, as long as she thinks it is a good opportunity.

Yuanyang took the order and went to Jia Lian's yard. Seeing that Jia Lian was neatly dressed and his face was slightly happy, he heard his explanation: even if Yuanyang didn't come, he would still go to his grandmother to talk.

But Sister Feng is "leading training" in Mrs. Wang's room at this time.Grandpa Jia She didn't give his son any advice, Mrs. Xing didn't say anything, Sister Feng was called away by Mrs. Wang first... Jia Lian said a few words for his daughter-in-law, and felt a little embarrassed: Yuanyang must report this matter to his grandmother when he returns home. .

Yuanyang waited for a full quarter of an hour before Sister Feng came back.When Sister Feng saw the mandarin duck, her face turned reddish: the old lady was out of the body and was looking for a future for Brother Lian. The young couple should thank the old lady first.

Yuanyang smiled slightly, but said nothing.

Jia Lian and Wang Xifeng followed the mandarin ducks to the old lady's house - Sanchun knew how to be interesting, and they had already hidden away.

Tanchun knows the most, even if he is a little curious, he never dares to come forward: his father has been working hard in the Ministry of Industry for more than ten years without any accidents, and when the eldest sister Feng Concubine and uncle return to Beijing, all the troubles will come , How can the word "coincidence" make sense?

Ever since his elder brother was forced to ask Uncle Lin to visit him once, Xichun has also understood a lot: her family's situation is not as good as she imagined.

Tanchun and Xichun had to "grow up" at a young age, but their second sister Yingchun was still ignorant.

Now that the garden is being repaired at home, the space has been cleared, and people come and go, so the three girls can only sit with Mrs. Zhu.

Although Li Wan didn't care about things, he was well informed.

On my sister-in-law Yuanchun, my father-in-law Jia Zheng, and my uncle Jia Lian, it cost a total of more than [-] taels. Although the old lady made up for it... But everyone understands that the old lady's money will be shared with the grandchildren in the future. It's worth it, now that the flowers are used up, I'm afraid I won't be able to get anything good when I come to Lang Ge'er in the future.

Since her husband's death, Li Wan thought thoroughly enough: Mother Jia and Mrs. Wang doted on Baoyu so much, and they didn't find a good teacher for Baoyu... I'm afraid they answered the sentence: If you don't want to, you can't.

She guessed that her mother-in-law, Mrs. Wang, planned to let Baoyu become an official as a "brother of a noble concubine".

If it is said that Li Wan has no complaints in his heart, then it is not true, but she is indeed one of the sensible people who discovered early that "there are few reliable families in this family".Don't count on them, and won't be implicated in the future.

Now that father-in-law Jia Zheng wants to use money to make holes, doesn't that fulfill her guess?

Of course, Li Wan couldn't tell Sanchun, who was here as a guest, about Li Wan's full of ideas.Among the three springs, Tanchun and Xichun obviously have something on their minds...

In short, the entire Rong Mansion was "shy in the pocket", and conflicts broke out early, forcing the whole mansion, including Jia's mother, to face the status quo, and many people were thinking about retreat... It may not be a bad thing for Rong Mansion.

But Jia's mother asked Jia Lian and Wang Xifeng to speak to her, and she also asked them to thank her uncle: there will be many times when you will rely on my uncle.

Jia's mother was partial to her son-in-law, and she didn't mean to satirize her grandson-in-law's uncle by the way, but Wang Xifeng was still hot-faced.

It’s fine not to be explicit about some things, everyone can pretend to be ignorant, but now it’s hard to lie to others: Wang Ziteng is a first-rank, Lin Hai is a third-rank, how has Wang Ziteng helped Rongfu after all these years in a high position?But it hasn't been long since Lin Hai returned to Beijing to take up the post, and he can help Brother Lian to fill in the vacancy.

In fact, the prince spared no effort in conferring the concubine in Yuanchun, so it can't be regarded as "no help to Rongfu", but it was also because of the prince that Jia Zheng had this catastrophe.

In the eyes of several "masters" of the Rong Mansion, this is a balance of merit and demerit, especially Jia Zheng is quite critical, but these criticisms are all suppressed in their hearts.

Both Mrs. Wang and Wang Xifeng were very upset, but so what?At this time, they also felt that Wang Ziteng was not unreliable, but that he didn't really want to support them...

These sisters and nephews are able to keep their word in the Rong Mansion, and they have always had prestige. One is relying on their own ability, and the other is relying on their natal family.Now that the in-laws' family has gradually lost their original respect for their natal family, the situation of these two people has changed drastically, but it is definitely not as good as before... The key is what should they do?Follow her husband's family or continue to rely on her mother's family?

For this, the aunt and nephew stayed up all night.

Of course, this is something to say later, but it was too early for Lin Hai's family of three to leave Rongfu. At this time, they were squeezed into a carriage, with a stove in their arms, and they were talking about themselves.

Lin Hai is a master who is willing to talk to his wife about business and private matters, especially when he finds that his wife has ideas and knowledge, he is more willing to talk more.

"My brother-in-law has been in the Ministry of Industry for so many years, and he has been safe and sound, but ever since his daughter became a concubine, and our next-door brother Wang returned to Beijing, trouble has come to him."

As soon as this remark came out, Daiyu immediately raised her head, looked at her father with bright eyes, and waited quietly for the next sentence.

Seeing that her daughter was very interested, Lin Hai continued, "When I first took office, I saw my uncle's booklet. At that time, there was a lot of money in the treasury, so I allocated the money without hesitation."

The Ministry of Industry has made a budget report, and whether or not to approve the money is decided by the Holy Majesty and the cabinet, but when the money is allocated is the final decision of the Ministry of Households.After the Ministry of Households allocates the money, the money has to go through the Ministry of Industry again, and then distributed to the local area after passing through the provinces, prefectures, and counties...

Thinking about it, if the Ministry of Industry has no right to decide on the "engineering funds", who will give tribute to the Ministry of Industry?

Lin Hai also laughed when he said this, "Didn't my two superiors deliberately put this book in front of my eyes at the time, they were sure that I had no information at that time. There are two princes watching from behind."

Wang Chan interjected at this time: "This is also a plan to trick you once, sir."

Lin Hai responded: "Who says it's not. If I even make a little more money in this matter, it will be a crime. After all, there is my uncle on the other side."

Both Lin Hai and his predecessors adhered to the same principle: only take the filial piety that should be paid, that is, his colleagues will take it, and he will not refuse it, but he will never touch the "only one" windfall.Other than that, never embezzle or embezzle.

Therefore, in the hearts of His Majesty and many officials, gentry and common people, he is truly a good and honest official.However, such a clean and honest official received at least 10,000+ silver in the Yanzheng office... I have to say, this is really ironic.

Daiyu clutched her chest and said in a low voice, "It's so dangerous." After speaking, she asked curiously, "This is the eldest cousin... Which noble person's eyes are being hindered by the imperial concubine?" That is, in front of her own father, She dared to ask such a question.

Lin Hai smiled and said: "With credit, no children and no family background, the first concubine is a noble concubine, and there will be many people who will offend." The other three concubines' sons are all adults, and their minds are no longer competing for favor, but the other concubines in the Holy Palace I'm afraid I can't swallow this breath, plus Rongfu's traditional enemy Zhongshun Wangfu and Wang Ziteng's opponent Suduanwangfu.

In all fairness, considering the current situation of the Rong Mansion, spending all the money to repair the garden and hug the Holy Majesty's thigh is not a problem in itself... The problem is that the Holy Majesty is different from the Supreme Emperor, he doesn't like luxury, at least he doesn't like Rong Mansion's kind of curry favor with him The way.

You are a noble family that is gradually declining, and the money you spent to pick up the driver makes the Holy Majesty speechless... it is the source of disaster.

This truth has already touched the edge of "trying to figure out the holy will". Lin Hai couldn't explain it to his daughter in detail, so he only mentioned one sentence, "It's important to do what you like."

Seeing her father's serious expression, Daiyu nodded hastily, "Daughter will save it."

Wang Chan suddenly said: "Master, I want to go back to my mother's house."

As soon as the words came out, she regretted it.The master loves her very much, she knows it all too well, but it's not easy to be spoiled and arrogant...and in front of the big girl.

Lin Hai didn't think much about it, "It's done." He almost forgot that women in this era are always a little sensitive when they go back to their natal home, especially when it was brought up suddenly—the family of three were tired from walking, and the wife said that she would stop by and go back to her natal home to rest and talk. , he can still say "no"?

It happened that he wanted to mention the matter of Jia Lian filling the vacancy to his father-in-law, and he was absolutely sure that his father-in-law would not refuse: he would also hand over all the money sent by Jia's mother to his father-in-law.

Wang Chan still wanted to make up a few words, but Lin Hai agreed decisively, and his face was taken for granted, and even Daiyu didn't think there was anything wrong—it was Mrs. Wang who deliberately provoked her, because there were too many things to take care of...

Daiyu has lived until now, and the major setbacks in her life are the same: the loss of her mother, and listening to a lot of sarcastic remarks from servants in the Rong Mansion, but this "servant" was driven to the Zhuangzi by her master himself.

So Daiyu doesn't say she is a fool, but she basically doesn't think of people as bad.And because her own father is here, what is Daiyu afraid of?At first she had the heart to wait and see her stepmother, but now she is not too defensive.Besides, she doesn't hate going to her stepmother's house for a sit-down: there are a lot of sisters who can chat and get along well... It's just that those cousins ​​are a little annoying.

With the reaction of the father and daughter, Wang Chan suddenly felt that he was paranoid again...

However, Wang Chan's natal family happened to be between the Ningrong Mansion and the Lin Mansion, and it so happened that after Wang Chan's father got the news from his daughter that there was a vacancy for the Secretary of the Ministry of Punishment, he immediately sent all the uncles and brothers who were in Beijing and said to be in charge Called home, had a good discussion.

Even if the third rank is a high-ranking official, from the third rank to the second rank, from the second rank to the first rank, every step is very critical and requires some "opportunity".

Knowing that Lao Lu doesn't really want to stay in Beijing, Wang Chan's father can also think about going further: it just so happens that his uncle who is the governor of Guangxi is planning to retire.

However, he also has a cousin who is serving as Minister of Dali Temple... His Majesty is afraid that the royal family will not allow them to be ministers of the Ministry of Punishment and Minister of Dali Temple at the same time-this is simply taking over the judiciary and litigation!

However, the Wang family also felt a little disadvantaged if a Guangxi governor and a Dali temple minister were exchanged for a minister of the Ministry of punishment.However, suffering a little loss at the moment will only make the Holy Majesty feel that the Wang family is sensible, and there will be compensation in the future.Speaking of the Ninth Prince of their royal family, they should have taken a longer view.

The clan meeting of the Wang family was held peacefully and successfully: the clan members quickly reached an agreement.The cousin who served as Dali Temple Minister also took the initiative to say that he is over 60, and seeing the end is coming, he is happy to step back and save some favors for his juniors.

In short, Wang Chan's father was in a good mood. After dinner, he was about to chat with his wife, when his daughter-in-law's eldest girl came to report: The uncle and the girl will be here soon...

When his daughter and son-in-law appeared in front of him together, Father Wang Chan said helplessly, "Look, you are still so self-willed after you are married."

Wang Chan's mother smiled and said nothing, looked at the nourishing daughter, and looked at Lin Hai more and more satisfied.

If you take your father-in-law's words seriously, you'd be stupid.The meaning of the father-in-law is simply obvious: you dote on my daughter and listen to her, well done!Keep it up!

Lin Hai hurriedly said, "She misses you, so she's here now."

Wang Chan's father obviously liked these words very much: the corners of her mouth were tense, but her brows and eyes were really full of smiles.

Wang Chan stepped forward and grabbed her father's beard, "I can't come back at night? I don't agree."

Wang Chan's mother smiled and pulled her daughter, and she did not forget to hold Daiyu's little hand, "Your father is stubborn. Let these men talk, let's go."

Wang Chan's father and Lin Hai watched the "Detachment of Women" walk away hand in hand... Lin Hai remembered that his father-in-law didn't seem to finish his sentence, right?

Wang Chan's father wasn't embarrassed at all. Weng and his son-in-law took their seats and exchanged a few words before getting to the point.The son-in-law informed her family, but Wang Chan's father didn't mention it, but asked about Lin Hai's situation next door.

In the eyes of many people, reporting on King Suduan was too reckless and too eager for quick success.Although everyone knows that the Holy Majesty's patience with the Suduan Palace is close to the limit, but the Supreme Emperor is still there after all, and the Holy Majesty can't ignore his face.

Although several high-ranking officials who were inextricably linked to King Suduan fell down one after another, King Suduan himself was still safe and sound.After Wang Ziteng returned to Beijing, the Holy Majesty did not give any clear instructions on his career. This move by the Holy Majesty made many people hold a wait-and-see attitude.

It's just that Wang Ziteng is self-made, and he reached the first rank in his 50s. Wang Chan's father still admires him very much.

Lin Hai also thinks that Wang Ziteng has real skills, if he doesn't want to speculate, he may go further in the future.But in the future, as long as King Suduan falls, no one can forget that Wang Ziteng is the No.1 who came forward to make trouble with King Suduan.Of course, there are many people who are not against King Suduan, but Wang Ziteng is indeed the first one who has the weight to fight against King Suduan and is a first-rank official.

In modern terms, Wang Ziteng's ~political~zhi~ capital has been secured.

Lin Hai felt that it was because of this that the Holy Majesty could not like the Old Wang next door.Even if Wang Ziteng joined the cabinet because of this, it may not be a good thing, and once he tasted the sweetness once, Lin Hai was worried that Wang Ziteng's family's family background would make things worse.

The calculating emperor was addicted, no matter whether he died suddenly or his family was ruined, he would not be wronged.

Now that his father-in-law asked about it, Lin Hai told the truth: Wang Ziteng was very calm, and he also walked around with old friends, but not very often.

After that, he confessed everything he asked for today.

As expected by Lin Hai, his father-in-law agreed: even if he had never been promoted to Minister of the Ministry of Punishment, he would always be the master of a sixth-rank head of the Ministry of Punishment, not to mention that this lack is not for nothing.

Here Weng and his son-in-law had a very happy chat, while Wang Chan's mother and daughter talked more intimately.

Seeing that her daughter was doing well, Wang Chan's mother didn't have anything to ask her, she just told her, "In a few days, Empress Xian will ask the two of us to enter the palace to talk, and the noble concubine wants to see you."

Wang Chan responded loudly: "Is the noble concubine and the virtuous concubine joining forces?"After thinking about it, it doesn't seem to be necessarily the case, maybe it's for the sake of the master to meet me?The imperial concubine definitely doesn't want to break her uncle's relationship, especially if she knows what the Rong family has done these days.

Stayed at his father-in-law's house until Xuchu, when Lin Hai's family of three returned home.

The next day, Lin Hai came out of the yamen and was about to go home—Jia Lian and his wife said they would visit today. Xiao Jin, who had been silent for several days, suddenly came out and said, "I want to tell you some bad news. You want to hear it now." Or talk about it later?"

Lin Haidao: "I choose to die happily." Even so, his heart really "clicked".

Xiaojin really said honestly: "I'm too busy. King Yizhong, the third prince and the fifth prince are all taking the medicine according to the prescription you gave, and the fourth prince also intends to try it."

The fourth prince is the same mother and younger brother of the third prince, and has been relatively "invisible" because of his frailty and illness all year round.

Lin Hai understood immediately, "We still don't know when we will see results by casting a net everywhere, so let's focus on one person."

Xiao Jin asked, "Which one should we specialize in?"

"There's good news for the fifth prince. I don't intend to let him have a double happiness. Having a baby is also... a bowl of water is flat. You can withdraw the support from King Yizhong and focus on treating the third prince. If the third prince Let the fourth prince be 'introduced', let the third prince go first, and cure the fourth prince."

King Yizhong~starting point is too low, the third prince is a fast man, "healing" these two who don't know the year of the monkey...they have a lifespan reward for their successful birth of a baby, Lin Hai, so put aside the current situation at first, and save up for it Enough Shouyuan to talk about other things.

If the Seventh Prince and Ninth Prince also want to "cure their illness", it would be the best, but these two are too young, and it will take a year or two for them to recognize "the family history of infertility".

Just as Lin Hai finished talking to Xiao Jin, when he looked up, he saw King Yizhong's big face suddenly appearing in front of him.He was inexplicably guilty.

King Yizhong opened his mouth and asked, "If I don't come to you, won't you go to me? Are you begging for help?"

Lin Hai was inexplicable, "Why did I ask you, why don't I know?"

King Yizhong blinked, "That's not right, your wife told me that you've been inquiring about the old affairs of Jia Jing's family lately... Is it possible that I misunderstood?"

Lin Hai immediately laughed and said, "I'm confused." Then he cupped his hands, "Please teach me. Look, where is the most convenient place for us to talk?"

"It's yours. Cousin can make two more good dishes."

So Wang Chan and Daiyu greeted them with smiles on their faces at the door of their house, and they were only short of King Yizhong and Lin Hai who were hooking their shoulders.