[Red Mansions] The big maid struggles daily

However, it is said that the Lin family has encountered difficulties here, and if they really build a family-friendly house, it is impossible not to let it go without reason.

Even if there is no such thing, I am afraid that the people in this mansion are fluttering, and everyone is complacent, and there are many people who want to make a fortune through this.

"Sister Zhu Xiu, you are here, but it is easy for me to find you." Zhu Xiufang came back from the outside, and before he entered the gate of Luo Cuiwu, he was stopped by Jin Chuan'er.

"Why do you come here when you have time? It's a busy time for my wife, and I'm so busy that I don't have a moment to spare. How can I leave you?" Zhu Xiu hurriedly stopped and asked with a smile.

Jin Chuan'er was dressed in water-red than armour, and her ten fingers were brightly colored. Her expression was much more arrogant than before. I saw her pretending to wipe her forehead with a handkerchief, a gust of fragrant wind greeted her face, and she said, "Miss Lin's foot Sprained, my wife sent me to visit. One more thing, my wife wants to borrow the cloisonné enamel Baibao grape bonsai from Ms. Lin for a display. In addition, I would like to ask Ms. Lin if there are any extras here. If my wife can exchange it with silver It's ready to be used to congratulate the empress, this kind of decoration is very good for the empress shop palace."

Zhu Xiu was surprised: "My wife wants to borrow Miss Lin's things, what are you telling me? But are you confused?"

Jin Chuan'er sneered and said, "Sister, why bother pretending to be confused! Miss Lin is ill, and there is no elder around. How can my wife speak directly to the younger generation? Wouldn't it be nice if you had a word with the younger generation?" More gentle? Second, Grandma Zhu can be half of the family here, and she only has you as her daughter. It looks like growing up at Miss Lin's place now, but don't turn your elbows outside!"

This made Zhu Xiu laugh angrily, he was so high above, even cutting and hitting, this posture was not much different from insisting on grabbing.

"Did your wife tell you to say this? My wife is kind, she has never said such a thing. Miss Jin Chuan'er is very clever when she opens her mouth, but don't go too far, it's not good to offend people." Zhu Xiu sneered, Turning around and walking away, flicking Jin Chuan'er's elbow lightly when rubbing shoulders, "Young lady, why is your elbow turning outward, shouldn't it be turning inward?"

Jin Chuan'er felt like a mosquito bite, but her elbow was itchy and painful, and she couldn't even bend it. She stomped her feet angrily, and when she went back, she wanted to complain to Mrs. Wang, and asked her sister to hold her back: "Mr. Let me see your arm. She is the girl of the old lady. If you speak so impolitely and let her poke out what you said, will you get good fruit? Besides, your wife didn't let you find her. If Miss Lin It's inconvenient there, just report back to the two housekeepers."

Jin Chuan'er is eager to make contributions, so he decides to do things beautifully.She was very eager to win Mrs. Wang's favor, because since the Dragon Boat Festival, the eldest lady of Rirong Mansion was named a concubine, the posts received at the gate had to be carried in baskets, and some rich merchants and their families came to cast under the gate; Second Master Bao With a decent status, all boats go up when the tide rises. I don't know how many eyes and hands are exerting force on him.Jin Chuan'er alone heard that there were seven or eight households who wanted to send their young ladies to their master as slaves. Although the wife did not let go, Jin Chuan'er was very restless.

Yu Chuan'er took off her sleeves gently, and her white and plump lotus root arm didn't have any bruises or injuries at all.Yu Chuan glanced at her sister suspiciously, gently held her arm and bent it twice, Jin Chuan'er showed no pain on her face, and immediately became annoyed: "Madam is busy these days and has a bad temper. White Fang complained about it, and his wife was annoyed by the incompleteness, what is that! I'll talk to Mom about it."

Jin Chuan'er yelled and cursed angrily, but didn't stop Yu Chuan.What's more, she was also very afraid, this arm would do nothing if she didn't use her own strength, and it didn't hurt to hold it with the other hand, but as long as she exerted a little strength, the itching, numbness and pain would be unbearable.I've never heard of such a thing, even if it's in front of a doctor, I'm afraid it's useless, I have to think she's just pretending, Jin Chuan'er only feels that Zhu Xiu is very evil, and later she will report to Mrs. Wang and dare not mention half a word.

Nanny Zhu in Luo Cuiwu was furious, and said ruthlessly, "It's really rampant when you gain power, now you're just going to cross the street like a crab, and become rampant!"

When she enters the palace, she will not only be generous and kind.In the queen's palace, especially for a queen who has a favorite concubine who targets her every day, those tricks and means are seen as commonplace. She doesn't have the chance, and she doesn't bother to use these arrogant and shallow people, it's not that she can't!

Grandma Zhu patted her daughter's head, she just hoped that her daughter could live a peaceful and peaceful life in the future, there is no need to let her know about these dirty things, "You stay in this room, I will discuss with your mother Chen , don’t worry about this matter, don’t talk about it with the old lady.”

On the second day, Xingyue Taoyue took Zijuan Xueyan to Mrs. Wang's place with the box in person, and replied: "The cloisonné enamel Baibao grape bonsai that my wife wants has Lin's imprint on it, which is not good-looking." Coincidentally, there is a Cuitaiping statue with an elephant chime in the vault of the Duzhong residence, and the girl ordered to fetch it overnight, so it is more appropriate whether it is placed here by the wife or presented to the palace."

When Mrs. Wang, Aunt Xue, Xue Baochai, Sanchun and the housekeeper and servants in the hall looked at it, it was carved with a very large and extremely moist emerald jade, with some white spots in the emerald color. The giant elephant in relief is extremely vivid and smooth.The four characters "Taiping Youxiang" in the seal script in the cloud pattern are also calligraphy by famous masters, with gold hooks and silver strokes, which is quite extraordinary.

Needless to say, the Bina grape enamel bonsai is precious, but its grandeur is very suitable.

Mrs. Wang hurriedly laughed and said: "Is the eldest girl better? There are people coming and going here, and when I think of it, I just say it, and the girls at the bottom are attracted to it, and they talk to the eldest girl, and the eldest girl is very serious." That's too polite."

In other words, the Taiping elephant chime was placed in the main hall of Rongxi Hall that day.

When Jia's mother heard Yuanyang laughing, her eyes darkened with anger: "This is disgraceful, and none of the younger generations in the family know about it."This emerald jade statue with an elephant chime was originally a dowry gift from Jia's mother-in-law's sister-in-law's family. Because Jia's mother really liked it, she made a way to report the damage and secretly exchange it back to the private treasury. Give birth to a child, so that Nanny Lai can come out.Unexpectedly, when I was young, I didn't keep secrets, so the old Hou Ye heard the wind. Mother Jia was afraid that she would find out that it was not beautiful, and she was reluctant to break it up and dispose of it. It was like a hot potato in her hand. When Jia Min got married, she hurriedly took this Put it in the daughter's dowry.

Unexpectedly, Jia Min is a left-hearted person, and she was careful, and found the Huiwen imprint of Zhenbei Hou Yu's family in the cloud pattern of the chime. Ku, even when he left Beijing with Uncle Lin, he refused to take him with him, and he didn't cherish it at all.Just put this priceless treasure in the rotten warehouse to shed ashes like a chicken rib.

Jia's mother was sick in her heart, and she was sullen.She is an elderly person who can't eat well, and her complexion is not good the next morning.Mrs. Wang and Xifeng are in a hurry. Moreover, Mrs. Wang feels like stepping on clouds when Yuanchun receives such favor. She has a superficial heart and many flatterers.

Furthermore, Mrs. Wang is the birth mother of the empress, and Mother Jia is the grandmother. From the perspective of outsiders, it is natural that Mrs. Wang is closer and more important. There are decent people in Rongfu who worship under the horse of the main courtyard.Because of the saying that "the county magistrate is not as good as the current one", the negligence of the servants of Jia's family had already planted thorns in Jia Mu's heart as early as last year, and even more depressed these days, Jia Mu must beat him to do something. But I don't know why it still hasn't been cited.

"What does the old lady have in mind about the main courtyard?" Zhu Xiu was chatting with her mother while she was working.When the anger value is full, it's time to make a big move.

Daiyu was leaning on her forehead with one hand, holding a book in the other to read again, her right ankle was wrapped in cotton gauze, she raised her eyes and said, "How do you say this? The old lady is safe now?"

During this period of time, Daiyu was also very annoyed. Apart from her filial piety and sincerity towards Jia's mother, Mrs. Wang, who was not close to her at all, had exhausted that little affection.Knowing that she had hurt her foot, in order to show off her dignity, she even sent two long shoulders to invite her at the banquet. The person her father sent from Yangzhou to treat her was still there. Obviously, her father has also passed away now. I don't see it anymore.Daiyu couldn't help but choked and cried twice.

Mother Chen smiled and said: "Da'an, I went to Dong Mansion to attend the banquet the day before yesterday, and I accepted the invitation of the Marquis of Jinxiang and Uncle Shoushan's family a few days later."

"Miss understands, there are some things that we should tell the girl in private, let her hear it, just listen to it." Mother Chen smiled, "The second wife may be a bit arrogant, and I will take advantage of the big girl's joy here, and let the girl listen to it." In the name of checking his studies, the second master planned to move the second master Bao out of the old lady's Dongkua courtyard, but he just stabbed the old lady's lungs. Miss, think about it, no matter anecdotes or opera storytelling, it is always right for a mother-in-law to teach her daughter-in-law Those road numbers..."

Although the words are not clearly stated, but Daiyu has exquisite seven orifices, so there is something she doesn't understand.

Throughout the ages, mother-in-laws have always used the same method of controlling their daughter-in-law-to instigate, provoke, make the son dissatisfied with the daughter-in-law and feel sorry for the old mother.Often at this time, all the intended purposes can be achieved by just stuffing a concubine in the room.

Daiyu felt sad for a while but felt a little unavoidable novelty: in her heart, the old lady had always been a kind and peaceful old man, not as calculating as the second aunt in the house, and she seemed aloof.But looking at it now, he is also a part of the world.

"In the past, I was too lofty. If my father hadn't been there, how could I have been so ignorant." As he spoke, feeling sad, he stood up and wept by the window.

Xingyue and Taoyue hurriedly stepped forward to help, although the ankle injury was fake, but it was wrapped like that, which hindered her movement.Zhu Xiu also said: "Miss is a sensible person, since she knows that Master Lin is here, why bother to suffer in such a situation. What's more, in this room, there is no need for the girl to put on that cover and trip carefully."

Xingyue smiled and said: "Who says it's not? Autumn and winter are fine, and it's even worse to have some prickly heat in this season."

Zhu Xiu thought to herself, since the monk with the scarlet head came here, Miss Lin loves to cry again, and she is often aroused by small details, hurting her emotions and thinking, not only hurting her body, but also damaging her mind over time temperament.If this situation can be solved, most of the deep kindness on my family will be repaid.

-

On this day, Tanchun made a post, and invited brothers and sisters to enjoy the flowers. A few pots of gold-edged hostas in the front porch of Baosha bloomed just right, with white flowers and green leaves, especially graceful and elegant.

Baoyu said with a smile: "The day before yesterday I saw sister Yuchuaner in my wife's room wearing a jade hairpin, which is quite like the ancients' writing of 'leaning on the lanyard and standing on a slim jade'. Her surname is Bai, but it fits very well. "

Xiang Yun sneered and said: "There are still limitations in other things, you only pay attention to these things you wear."

When Baochai heard about it, she pointed to the golden unicorn with emerald greens hanging on Xiangyun's waist and said with a smile, "That's not right."

Xiangyun didn't feel embarrassed, he played with the unicorn tassels and didn't speak.

Daiyu and Yingchun played Go, Xichun watched from the sidelines without looking back, just pretended not to hear.

For a while, Daiyu said: "I can't work hard yet, and I have to change the medicine in the middle of the day. I just come out while the nuns are busy, and I have to have another meal when I go back." After all, there was a woman who lifted her shoulders While her father was waiting outside, a neatly dressed woman came in and picked her up, said goodbye and left.

Zijuan held her shoulders beside her and said with a smile, "sooner or later, the girl came out and went back in a hurry. What's the point of reading and writing in the room all day long. Bao Er Lord, I don’t know where to find a few mynahs who can learn to talk, but it’s interesting, I will accompany the girl to see it tomorrow?”

Daiyu just shook her head with a smile, "It's very hot, and I'm lazy to go out and walk around." I thought that the brothers and sisters were together, talking and joking would also relieve boredom, but who would have thought that the three of them would quarrel again, and finally It's really boring.

As soon as Jianyu entered the corridor, he heard a woman whispering on the other side of the high wall and in the shade: "I heard that my wife originally liked Jin Chuan'er to serve Second Master Bao, and even Second Master Bao knew it, if not I have to fight with her every time, and eat the rouge on her mouth."

"Really, ouch, this doesn't sound good! I thought he was a suitable person, but unexpectedly he is also a foxy and frivolous person."

"I didn't expect that Jin Chuan'er is usually lively and innocent on the surface, but secretly she is full of small thoughts of striving for glory."

"How can I say that?"

"What is there to say, Jin Chuan'er is serving the wife. According to the rules of our family, it is the wife who decides who is promoted in this house. Who knows that she got into the eyes of the master and called the old lady?" Sent the message myself!"

Suddenly, there was someone eavesdropping outside the corner door in front of the corridor, but it was not from Zhou Rui's family. Before she saw Lin Daiyu and her party, she turned to the other side and scolded: "What are you talking about! You can gossip, wait until I go back to Mrs. It’s better to throw out at least twenty boards!”

All the old women begged for mercy, and swore again and again that they would not talk nonsense again.

Forget about Zhou Rui's family, taking advantage of this time, the Lin family took their steps lightly and left the dispute early.

When Daiyu went back, the boss was uncomfortable. Xingyue waited on her to rest, but Taoyue picked up Zijuan, went to the corridor and asked with a smile: "What are you talking about about the second master Bao in the girl's ear again? Have you seen that?" Looking at the scene in the room just now, I still didn't take it to heart. The mother taught me earlier that the girl lives here as a guest, so as not to cause trouble to the house as much as possible. The wife here is looking forward to the success of Master Bao, so we shouldn't disturb it. My sister has to remember..."

The words were soft but hard, which made Zijuan blush and ashamed. Taoyue just pretended not to see it, and took her foot away.As I walked, I thought about it in my heart. I thought it was a peace of mind, but I didn't know it was wrong. Since there was a concubine in this mansion, Zijuan's whereabouts became more and more obvious.Fortunately, I didn't ask her to serve the girl, I just took it with me when I went out, but I don't need to take it with me when I go out in the future, I have to tell her to stay far away.

After lunch, it became clear what the wives were talking about.

It turned out that a few days ago Jia Zheng was hurt by the hot wind and he was not doing well. Jia's mother was worried about it.Unexpectedly, Jin Chuan'er was also ordered by Mrs. Wang to often go to the front to ask the steward's soup, medicine and diet.As if she had found a treasure, Mother Jia felt that Aunt Liu and Aunt Zhao couldn't take care of her well. Seeing that Jia Zheng also praised this girl, she immediately said, "Your wife is capable and virtuous, and you have brought out such a good person. Just say what I say, tomorrow Pick a good girl and give it to your wife to make up for Jin Chuan'er, cut Jin Chuan'er from your wife's house, and put her in the front yard to serve the master. Her monthly schedule comes from me. , it is very unnecessary to use officials."

But he immediately assigned Jin Chuan'er to Jia Zheng, and was afraid that Aunt Liu, Aunt Zhao and others would make it difficult for her to be jealous, so he pretended to reveal her role from the upper house, and rewarded Jia Zheng as his aunt in a fair and just manner. .

Zhu Xiu couldn't close her mouth when she heard this, and said, "This is messed up."

Grandma Zhu patted her and scolded with a smile: "You know what, this shot kills four birds with one stone. Without the wife's hands, she lifted up the big girl in her room. There is nothing more shameful than this. It's nice to say, it's hard to say. It won the heart of the second master. The old lady spent so much time for him, isn't she full of love. Besides, there is a big girl who is close to me, how many things do I have to know? Weakness, the old lady sits on the mountain and watches the tigers fight, no matter which side wins or loses, she will sit still and not lose."

This was said behind Daiyu's back, after all, the girl is still young, but her own daughter has reached the age when she should meet for marriage.These detours are the same regardless of whether the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law of the princes and nobles or ordinary people fight. It is better for your children to know it clearly, and they are not afraid of changing their temperament.

I heard from Jia Mu's maid that she had to arrange for someone to clean up the house for Aunt Bai, and that the girl surnamed Bai had already taken her to the master's study to serve her.Before she finished speaking, Mrs. Wang felt as if a thunder had exploded in her ears, her chest was throbbing, she couldn't care about anything, she immediately covered her heart.Zhou Rui's family hurriedly took the girl with a smile.

I saw Mrs. Wang's face was pale, but sweat rolled on her forehead, she said angrily with trembling lips: "Master's grandson is so old, and his body is weak. The old lady used to persuade the elder to take care of his body, but now she is screaming A Jin Chuan who jumped out of the floating waves went to serve, but he turned his face off!"

Mrs. Wang was angry and ashamed, and couldn't help complaining to Aunt Xue, "It's never happened before, the old lady has never been like this before."

Aunt Xue's face was a little embarrassed. This mother-in-law put a concubine in her brother-in-law's room. What could she say as a aunt living in her brother-in-law's house? If she was in front of outsiders, she could only pretend that she didn't know.It's just that there will be more time to rely on my sister in the future, so Aunt Xue had to take Mrs. Wang's hand to persuade her: "Sister, don't worry, girl Bao, go home and get some fresh rose dew for your aunt." She sent Xue Baochai out. .

Mrs. Wang just came back to her senses and regretted her slip of the tongue.

At this moment, Mrs. Wang was angry and resentful, needless to say.Let's say that Aunt Xue went back to Lixiangyuan to rest at night, when the lights were turned off and everything was quiet, she could only hear a chuckle of "poof" from inside the curtain.

Many people in the world are more competitive, especially Aunt Xue and Mrs. Wang are both daughters of the Wang family. One is married into the Duke's mansion, while the other is lowly hired into the business family.At the beginning, Aunt Xue only felt that Xue's family was a millionaire's imperial merchant's family, and it was not an insult to her, but when she got through the day and went out to socialize, she found that her family was far less noble than she imagined, and she often had to rely on her own daughter of the royal family. Her status and the prestige of her brother-in-law's Rongguo Mansion are no more than that of her sister.There was already a gap in her heart, but when Xue Pan's father died, her family's situation was even worse than before, and she became more jealous.

What's more, Yuanchun has obtained such a noble fortune. According to Aunt Xue's thinking, if the mansion is willing to work hard that day, her own Baochai may not be able to be so honorable.Elder Sister Biansheng has her own selfish intentions, fearing that Bao girl will be better than Yuanchun, and it won't be a success if she suppresses her.

Seeing Mrs. Wang in distress today, Aunt Xue felt a little more sympathetic, and she sighed "you have today too", thinking of Mrs. Wang's letters in the past, there were many bragging words about husband and wife and children's progress. It's not too much to come.Aunt Xue felt relieved and slept soundly all night without saying a word.

Early the next morning, Mother Jia ordered Yuanyang to invite his wife in person. Mrs. Wang sat down, but she didn't mention anything about Jin Chuan'er. Then I sent it to the empress, and placed it in the bedroom hall, which is majestic and dignified."

Mrs. Wang was full of resentment, she didn't dare to say it, but at this moment, her heart moved, and she said tentatively: "I'll take a look at it too, but it's been in the main hall for two months, and I'm about to return it to Miss Lin. I have to send it to the empress. , what can the eldest girl say?"

After all, he even glanced at Zhu Xiu who came to deliver the soup.Zhu Xiu's heart sunned, and his wife also learned to lay maggots.

Mother Jia paused, and said calmly, "I'll talk to Miss Lin." It's not the newly promoted nobleman Zhou, who sent a half-human high white jade Guanyin statue to his family. Seeing that the old concubine liked it, nobleman Zhou offered it up and called it holy. Praise his filial piety.There is also a newly named Concubine Wu, who has taken away Yuanchun's limelight with this position of favor. If it wasn't for this, why bother to use the emerald jade chime.Fortunately, Zhenbeihou's family has long been extinct, and no one remembers his family's Huiwen mark, not to mention that the mark is also very hidden, and ordinary people can't find it at all.

Mother Jia thought that everything was settled, and Mrs. Wang got a grape bonsai inlaid with many treasures from nowhere, and gave it to Yuanchun as a mid-autumn gift.

In Yuanchun, there are also rewards for the whole family.

It was the family banquet in the palace on the [-]th of August. At the banquet, the matter of visiting relatives was announced to the Supreme Emperor. The Supreme Emperor was overjoyed and praised the present's benevolence, purity and filial piety.On the night of the festive season, a decree has been made.

On August [-]th, the Empress had a banquet for the concubines in her own palace. When the banquet was played, the music was probably louder. The Cuitaiping chime presented by the virtuous concubine Jia Yuanchun shattered on the floor.

In full view of the public, the chime was placed on the high table near the window, within ten feet there was not even a maidservant, it just broke suddenly, and the emerald jade pieces fell to the ground, and it was smashed into pieces.

Jia Yuanchun's face was pale, and the queen was also stunned.

Fortunately, the Holy Majesty sent many rewards for a while, which eased the atmosphere.A few days later, he accepted the Jia family's request to invite Luanyu from the inner court to enter the private residence, and Jia Yuanchun's face was restored.

It's just that Concubine Xiande won't get half a good face from the queen, and even the holy family seems to be thinner.For a while, everyone in the palace was watching jokes.

The author has something to say:

Note: This "Elephant Chime in Cuitaiping" does have this object, and it is in the collection of the Forbidden City.In ancient times, there was often a saying of the so-called "golden bell and jade chime".Therefore, such furnishings are called "jade chime", which is not uncommon.