The oil bottle of the Red Chamber

Because the Chen family's mother and daughter have just passed their filial piety, even if the marriage of the You and Chen families is settled, the Chen family will not be able to arrange the dowry for the Chen family with great fanfare at this stall.Fortunately, Chen is the daughter of a remarriage, and she already has a dowry in her hands. Over the years, the second sister has made a fortune, and apart from a small amount of money earned to subsidize the family, it is used to buy and sell land.Counting now, the Chen family has not much, but he also has two small villages and a dozen shops.Coupled with the income from the Rouge Shop, there is an income of 800 taels a year, at least.

In addition, what Chen Gui had promised at the beginning was to share the shipping business of Yutai Commercial Bank and marry Chen's as a dowry.This amount is at least 1000 taels a year.The rest of the silks and satins, clothes, shoes and socks, dowry and headgear, box and cage household items, pearls, emerald hairpins, even antique calligraphy and paintings, porcelain and medicinal materials, etc., some of which have long been there, and some that need to be bought now, are also taken advantage of for Chen Rong and others. When Chen Wan was preparing for the betrothal gift and dowry, she quietly bought it for the Chen family.

Mrs. Chen and Mrs. Chen are nearly sixty years old, and they only have such a daughter; Chen Gui has only such a younger sister; although Mrs. Feng was at odds with her sister-in-law when they were young, after getting along with each other in recent years, they have already become a family, more like sisters.Therefore, the whole Chen family will do their best to manage it, and there is no need for the Chen family to worry about it.

Now let's say that the second sister learned from Chen Shi that Chen Gui begged the imperial physician to take the pulse of Mr. You, and also asked Mr. You to take care of his body, so she couldn't help being moved.Then I discussed with my mother: "There is a saying that it is better to take more care of yourself in your spare time than to go to the doctor in a hurry. Ma Suxi has a strong body and has never had a headache. It can be seen that she has a good foundation. But no matter how good her body is, my mother is still young now. Thirty people. Since I want to ask the imperial doctor to take the pulse, why not ask him to come to our mansion for a while. First, I can show my grandfather and grandmother to see the pulse, and second, I can also show my mother. How can I recuperate my body? "

After all, after a while, he will be married for the second time.Although Mr. You is over forty years old, he didn't know how to take care of himself in the past, he was afraid that his body would be weak and he would not be able to bear a son.But Chen's age is nearly [-], and once she becomes pregnant, according to the current saying, she is also an advanced maternal age.In ancient times, when a woman gave birth, the critical situation was like walking through the gate of hell. Many young and strong daughters-in-law would inevitably suffer from dystocia and bloody collapse, and even die or die twice.Although the second sister had never seen it with her own eyes, she had heard about it over the years, and she was afraid that the Chen family would also suffer this disaster.Had to be careful.

Mrs. Chen was not a delicate person in the first place, so she didn't think of this earlier.Now, after hearing the words of the second sister, I think it is true.At that moment, he nodded the second sister's forehead with a half-smile, and said with a smile: "You are a little devil, I don't know where you read some books, so you have to learn such a tricky and weird temper." Come on. That is to say, if your uncle and I don't argue, if it's someone else's house, how can we allow you to do this."

The second sister covered her forehead and smiled giggly. When the monkey was in Chen's arms, she put her arms around Chen's waist and smiled and said: "I knew that mother and uncle were the best. If you didn't let me go, we would be together." My sisters can’t read and write, let alone read the books when doing business. Now I only ask my mother for one thing, and if my mother agrees to me, it will be great.”

After hearing this, Mrs. Chen suddenly felt fresh.He hurriedly asked with a smile: "What do you want me to do, let me hear it first?"

The second sister said: "I want to learn how to bow horse, ride a horse and shoot like my cousin, can Mom accept me?"

When Mrs. Chen heard the words, she was startled for a moment.Chanting Buddha in his mouth, he said: "Hey, you are dying, and you are becoming less and less like a lady. On weekdays, you settle accounts and do business, because we stand in the front, so no one argues. You are more and more wild. .A good girl, whoever plays swords and swords, is not afraid that she will not be able to marry in the future."

"If I can't get married, I will stay by my mother's side. I will be with you all my life and make you laugh. Isn't it good?"

When Mrs. Chen heard this, she laughed instead of anger, because she said: "The more you talk, the more you lose your rules. How can there be a girl who doesn't marry. Just tell me what you said, don't take it outside. Hun said. Others would die laughing if they heard it.”

After finishing speaking, he shook his head again and again, and did not agree with the second sister's idea of ​​learning bow horse riding and archery.

The second sister didn't give up, she still pestered Chen and said with a smile: "I also heard people say that I practice martial arts to strengthen my body. What's more, I learned martial arts to ride and shoot on my body. If someone bullies my mother in the future, I can also vent my anger on my mother. If or When I meet the kidnapper and villain during the Shangyuan Festival that year again, I don’t have to worry about what to do.”

When Mrs. Chen heard the words, she shook her head and said, "This doesn't make sense. You are a daughter of a thousand pieces of gold. When you go out to socialize in the future, naturally you must have maids and mothers-in-law. There is no time to be alone."

The second sister said again: "As the saying goes, there are no absolutes in the world. How can mother be sure that I will not be alone in the future? What's more, it is better to ask for others than to ask for yourself. If I marry someone in the future, that man will love to beat his wife." Well, if I have no strength to restrain a chicken, wouldn't I let him bully me? If I am also a stubborn stubble, he will not dare to touch me when he sees that I am not easy to mess with."

Mrs. Chen was anxious and angry, and spat: "What a shameless girl. You are so old, yet you think of men. To be blunt, be careful with your skin."

After that, he scolded the second sister again and told her not to talk nonsense in front of outsiders.It is also said that everyone in the world thinks that women are virtuous without talent, but now the second sister can not only make calculations, but also do business, and her ability to calculate accounts is better than men.Seriously speaking, this move has already left Geer.If the second sister continued to make bows and horses to ride and shoot, I am afraid that no one would dare to propose marriage to her in the future.

Chen Shiyin said: "Now that your cousins ​​are busy discussing marriage, it is the most critical time. You have to be honest, and don't delay their marriage because of your own reasons. I also know that you Nian is tightly restrained at home..."

Mrs. Chen thought for a while, then smiled and said: "I remember that when you were young, you liked to play at the Huangzhuang managed by your Uncle Zhang's family. Now that our family has passed the filial piety, you two sisters don't need to stay at home. When will If you have time, I will ask your Aunt Zhang to take you to Zhuangzi to have fun for a day, just to relax."

Seeing that Chen's attitude is so determined, the second sister will find it difficult to turn back.I had no choice but to rest my mind for the time being, and had other plans in mind so I don't need to elaborate.

For a while, there was an old lady Chen from the upper room who sent a girl to pass the meal, and Mrs. Chen took the second sister to the eldest sister's room. At that time, the eldest sister was doing needlework under the window in the room. Said: "My sister went to talk to my mother again, and she didn't call me?"

Much of the conversation between the second sister and Mrs. Chen should not be known.What's more, the eldest sister is young.Mrs. Chen said with a smile, "Your sister has a wild temper, she can't compare to you who can calm down and do needlework. What's more, what your sister tells me is the business experience of the shop, and you don't like to listen to it."

When the elder sister heard the words, she pursed her lips and smiled, because she said, "It's not that I don't like to hear it. It's just that I'm not as smart as my younger sister, so I don't understand it well."

The mother and daughter talked and laughed for a while, and then they went to the upper room together.At that time, Chen Gui's family was also in the room chatting with Mrs. Chen and Mrs. Chen.Chen Gui seemed to be in a good mood, and the excitement in his words was beyond words.Hearing that Mrs. Chen intends to ask the imperial physician to take pulse and take care of her body, she immediately responded with a full mouth.Immediately, he changed the subject and talked about his own business again.

Mrs. Chen listened carefully for a while, and only then did she know that a member of the household department, Wailang, returned to his hometown and recommended him to fill the vacancy before leaving.

Because of an encounter during the Shangyuan Festival that year, Chen Gui was appointed by the prince to be promoted to the title of head of the household department. Because he is well-versed in life, tactful in means and cautious in doing things, and he has the backing of the prince, these two In the past few years, things have become more and more chaotic.If he is recommended by someone this time and can make a further step forward, he will become a fifth-rank Yuanwailang.

People have always been divided into high and low, and it is the same to be an official.Official positions below the seventh rank are called Zhima officials.Even if you wear an official robe and call yourself an adult, you are only the lowest rank in the imperial court, and you don't even have the qualifications for consecutive positions.That is to say, those of them who donate officials and ask for money are rare, and for those ambitious Jinshi gentlemen who came from the imperial examinations, they are nothing more than obstacles to their careers as officials.

He has reached the sixth rank and above, and can be regarded as a middle-level official.Even if the family members of the family go out to socialize, some people respectfully call them "madam".The foreign officials can govern a state, and the Beijing officials can stand in the shift, and are qualified to play the book and listen to it.If you do well, you may be able to enter the eyes of a saint, and you will be on the rise ever since.For example, in the families of officials and nobles in the court, most of the official positions for their children started here.It's a pity that for most of the officials in the DPRK and China who have no backing, they will stop here for the rest of their lives.

If by chance, one is fortunate enough to be promoted to the fourth grade or above, the foreign officials will be the great officials of the frontier, and the Beijing officials will also be the important ministers who hold great power.At this time, it is called Guangzong Yaozu, Guangyaomenlintel.But for officials like Chen Gui, the latter is a legend——

Of course, the above statements were all before Chen Gui received the news of Shangfeng's recommendation today.

No wonder he is so worried about gain and loss today.Even three years ago, Chen Gui never dreamed that he would have the encounter he has today.Who would have thought that a poor eunuch from a poor family, but a meager high-ranking official donating to officials for a living, could win the favor of the crown prince, and even have a chance to be a fifth-rank official in his thirties?

If this happens, doesn't it mean that he still has a chance to fight before he retires.If you can be appointed by His Majesty to be an official, then you will be a great official in the frontier. At that time, the mountains will be high and the emperor will be far away, and the scenery will be in a good place, then this life will not be in vain!

Chen Gui was so excited because of this recommendation that he couldn't stop eating dinner.In the next few months, he was busy running from dawn to dusk. On the one hand, he went to show his loyalty to His Highness the Crown Prince, on the other hand, he went to Shangfeng to seek love and help, while he handled official duties more rigorously, and on the other hand, he was busy wooing his colleagues.Every day, he invites guests to dinner, or gives gifts in secret, or reviews official affairs in the ministry, and it is after the third watch when he returns home at night.

Towards the end of the year, this uproar finally came to a conclusion.The patch on Chen Gui's official robe was also changed from the sixth-rank egret to the fifth-rank white pheasant.

At that time, the scenery of the Chen family was proud and needless to say.It is only said that You Ziyu heard that the matter of Chen Gui's promotion has been settled, and seeing that his former subordinates have become today's top leaders, he has mixed feelings in his heart.After returning home, he hurriedly arranged congratulatory gifts with his mother, You Lao'an.

On the other hand, You Lao'an heard that Chen Gui had been promoted to two levels within three years, and that he had transformed from his son's subordinate to the top, so there was no need to say more about the ups and downs in his heart.One is envious of Chen Gui's good luck, he unexpectedly joined the prince's sect by chance, with a strong backing, and his own means, presumably his future plans are no problem.The second thought is that Chen Gui is his in-law, the more prominent the Chen family is, the more places they will support You's family in the future.At that time, Chen Gui and his son will watch and help each other in the imperial court, and worry about the weak successor of the You family?

Thinking about it this way, You Lao'an felt complacent.Not to mention that without his son's instructions, he increased the dowry gift that had already been prepared by a few percent.On the day when the Chen family puts on a banquet to celebrate Chen Gui's promotion, he will bring the elder girl who is already out of filial piety to the door to congratulate him, and also mention the marriage of the two families face to face.

Seeing that the Chen family is in full swing like flowers blooming brocade, You Laoan doesn't care that the Chen family is a remarried daughter and is not innocent.I'm afraid there will be many nights and dreams, so I must get the letter of approval from the Chen family before the year, so I can ask a matchmaker to propose a marriage and make arrangements as soon as possible.