[Red Mansions] The big maid struggles daily

The invitation letter from the Lin family was delivered to the gate of Rongguo Mansion early the next morning. According to the rules, Lin Ruhai's worship box still contained the gift slip.

Not long after, Lin Ruhai came to the door in person.Jia Amnesty and Jia Zheng rushed out to meet him and opened the middle door wide.Although Lin Ruhai has not yet been appointed by the imperial court, his official career was prosperous a few years ago, and his real job was to inspect the salt affairs in the south of the Yangtze River. With the continued title of the temple doctor in his body, it is not a ritual to enter and leave the middle gate of Rongguo Mansion.

Lin Ruhai got out of the sedan chair, and after a little exposure to the sun, he didn't give in a few times as Jia Zheng expected, and entered the hall through the middle door without hesitation.

In recent years, Jia Amnesty has been obsessed with gold and stone antiques, and has taken too many concubines, and his wine and sex hurt his health. He always only likes to nest in the east courtyard and doesn't like to see guests.Today, however, he came here with great interest, squinting his eyes to carefully look at his brother-in-law whom he hadn't seen for many years, only to see that Lin Ruhai described him as clean and hale.

Can't help laughing: "After a long time, my brother-in-law is still as handsome as before... It is said that the salt service is the widest difference, which is far better than the dilapidated Houmen in the capital. Does my brother-in-law have any insight?"

Seeing the vulgarity of what he said, Jia Zheng frowned secretly.

Lin Ruhai boiled his head in the salt pond, drunk, lustful and rich, and had never seen anything before.No matter whether he is elegant or rough, he is not a Tanhua Lang with little experience in his days. Rao Jia She has no taboos, and he still smiled gently: "Brother, what you said is very true. Although we are poor, look at the huge salt merchant in the south of the Yangtze River. Jia, he sits and sleeps extravagantly, if he hadn't seen it with his own eyes, it would be hard to imagine..." Then he talked with Jia She about the salt merchants fighting for wealth, and the gold and stone antiques they had seen.

"... I once saw an ancient fan, which was written by Prince Jing, the seventh son of the sage of calligraphy, and covered with the golden seal of the king of Tang Dynasty.

These words were scratching Jia She's itch, and he hurriedly asked if it belonged to the He family, Lin Ruhai smiled: "It used to be the Zhen family, but now... I'm afraid it's..." He raised his hand to offer tea in the direction of the palace.

Jia Amnesty felt very sad and wished to see him.Because of Lin Ruhai's vivid and elegant rhetoric, even Jia Zheng was fascinated by what he said. At this moment, Jia She patted his thigh and lamented, as if waking up from a dream.

After a while, Qing Ke came in and whispered in Jia Zheng's ear. Jia Zheng interrupted and said with a smile: "The old lady has been waiting impatiently. Please meet my brother-in-law in the inner hall."

Hearing this, Jia Amnesty lost his spirits, and only said that he was tired, so he went back to the East Courtyard to rest.

Lin Ruhai happily went in with Jia Zheng, Jia's mother was already sitting in the main hall of Rongqing Hall, the grandmothers and girls were all in the small room behind, only Daiyu, with tears in her eyes, was behind the curtain, but couldn't help raising the curtain Mu Yin looked out eagerly.

Jia Zheng led Lin Ruhai in. Lin Ruhai raised his head and saw the big three words "Rongqingtang" on the red gold plaque. Below the plaque was a famous landscape with ebony couplets on both sides. Above, there are incense burners, plum vases and so on.A square table of eight immortals is next to the red sandalwood table, and a Nanmu Taishi chair is placed on each side.Jia Mu sat on the right side of the main seat.

At the bottom of the main hall, there are two rows of eight nanmu chairs facing each other, and each has a small table of the same color carved in the middle.The two wives of King Xing sat opposite each other.

Seeing Lin Ruhai coming in, they all stood up quickly.When Lin Ruhai entered, the first thing he saw was not this magnificent hall, let alone the extremely wealthy old lady, but a tearful little face at the small door behind Jia Mu.

Seeing her father looking straight at her for the first time, Lin Daiyu hurriedly covered her mouth with a veil and tried her best not to whimper.Tears glistened in Lin Ruhai's eyes. The father and daughter hadn't seen each other for many years, and they didn't think about it for a day.

In the end she held back, she lightly signaled with her eyes, Daiyu nodded, and then was helped into the small door by Xingyue and Taoyue.

Seeing that the futons had been placed on the ground, Lin Ruhai met Shang Jiamu's eyes and said inwardly, "In any case, after all, my family borrowed this Rongfu place to protect Yu'er, and I deserve a bow for the kindness of living here."

Thinking about it, he knelt down on the futon and knocked solemnly.

The corner of Jia's mother raised her lips, and pretended to say, "Help your brother-in-law up quickly." But she didn't move, she just waited for the last knock of three knocks before helping her.

But I don't want Lin Ruhai to approach the ground with his head but not stay.There are three kneeling rituals, Jishou, kowtow, and bowing of the head. Jishou is the most solemn, and it is a ceremony for ministers to meet the emperor and father.Jia's mother thought that even if Uncle Lin couldn't kowtow, she should kowtow, but unexpectedly she only kowtowed.

What's more, he got up after only one bow.The expression on Jia Mu's face was almost unstoppable.

Lin Ruhai smiled and said, "How is the old lady?" Then she lightly cupped her hands to the two uncles and sisters-in-law.The two wives of King Xing hurriedly returned the gift, but Lin Ruhai had already fixed his eyes on it.

Jia's mother was quite rich, the flesh on her face trembled slightly, but she cried: "Now that I see my uncle, why don't I miss my poor daughter. My Min'er, you left me and left early... ..."

Lin An stayed in the capital for several years, and in letters to Lin Ruhai, the old lady of the Rong Mansion often cried about Jia Min's words, especially when Daiyu was new, she often came back and forth, which caused Daiyu to be depressed and miserable at a young age , I suffered a lot.In the end, this drama was old enough to see that it was put away.

Seeing this, Lin Ruhai thought to himself: Ma'am, Ma'am, if you really have gnosis, you should also see this pretense.Only today did I realize that this kind of kinship is nothing more than that in Jia's family.Villagers slang, saying, "It's a mule or a horse, pull it out for a walk", and now Mr. Jia's move has this meaning.In front of those who really don't forget you, you will be trapped in the land of mules and horses.

Lin Ruhai felt bitter in his mouth, and decided to take the child back to his home today, so that he would not let his daughter be sent under the fence like this, and be treated coldly and wronged!

Mrs. Wang and others came to persuade.Mrs. Wang had a particularly sick look on her face. She only heard that Lin Ruhai came to Beijing to pay a visit, so she hurriedly supported her sick body to say what the empress told her about Lin Daiyu.Jia Mu was very happy, and just wanted to make a pile of two jade children.He also complained that Mrs. Wang shouldn't have said it at this time, and almost missed a major event.

Jia Lian kept the doctor Bao's words a secret, the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law were still dreaming of a noble concubine.

Lin Ruhai, a gentleman, saw her seventy-year-old mother-in-law crying loudly, but she just stood in the hall without making a sound.

While crying, Mother Jia saw his description, her heart skipped a beat, and she was persuaded, "Master, please sit down quickly. I'm old, so please don't be offended."

Lin Ruhai only said: "Please take care of yourself, old lady."

According to the story, Mother Jia became more and more uncertain about his thoughts, looked around, but said to Mrs. Xing: "Go to the back hall and see their sisters. Yu'er hasn't seen her father for a long time, so I don't know how she is crying. Tell Yu'er, I will serve the banquet today, and our family will have a good time."

Mrs. Xing knew that she had something to say, and felt resentful: Who doesn't know that Mrs. Lin has a lot of power, leaving the second couple here, but spending herself, and Mr. Pian is not in front of her eyes.But he didn't dare to disobey, so he had to go out slowly.

Waiting women and maids, etc., also moved out quietly.Yuanyang also walked back and locked the small door in the main hall.

Lin Ruhai didn't wait for Jia's mother to speak, and said with a bright smile: "I'm afraid I will disappoint the old lady's kindness, but I came here today to pick up my little girl and return home. Because I only saw you yesterday, the old inner minister who served the Holy Majesty when I left the palace told me to It is said that if the Holy Majesty will give wine and vegetables today, he will wait in the mansion." This is a lie, and the Holy Majesty's companion will not care about such trivial matters.However, the imperial gift of food and wine is a common practice to show kindness and closeness to the courtiers. Lin Ruhai saw that according to the attitude of the Holy Majesty yesterday, there is a good chance that he will bestow it.

Mother Jia's face froze, and she was furious, and said: "Yu'er is always here with me, I look like Min'er is still there, and now my uncle wants to take it back suddenly, because he wants to gouge out the heart of me, an old idiot. Nah!"

Lin Ruhai smiled and said, "I'm about forty years old, and I only have Dai'er and a daughter under my knees! The old lady's children and grandchildren miss her dead daughter, let alone me?"

The choked Jia's mother paused, no matter how Daiyu was a granddaughter, her surname was Lin, Lin Ruhai came to pick her up, how could the Jia family keep her.

Upon hearing this, Mrs. Wang laughed and said, "It just so happens that my aunt came here. Today is an auspicious day. The empress ordered her sisters to move into the relatives' garden."

Lin Ruhai looked at Jia Zheng: "Oh?"

Jia Zheng said with a smile, "it's true. My mother ordered my nieces and daughters and told them to choose their own pavilion." Then he looked at Mrs. Wang: "where did the nieces choose?"

Mrs. Wang was a bit embarrassed by Lin Ruhai's attitude of not talking to her, and when Jia Zheng asked this, she couldn't help being annoyed: That girl Lin is so sick, when did she ever choose a pavilion!It's just that the old lady picked a place and called it a proper arrangement.

Lin Ruhai didn't seem to hear it, and just smiled: "I heard that the garden in my uncle's mansion is quite large, with mountains, rocks and water canals. The girls are timid and scared carefully. Besides, it's for visiting relatives, so it's not appropriate to ask them to live there. "

Mrs. Wang hurriedly said: "Your Majesty asked Baoyu to go in to study, and there are still those mothers and girls, so I won't be scared anymore."

Lin Ruhai's face drooped like a trick, and on his thin face, the two nasolabial folds were more serious and frightening.

"Is that brother Bao in your mansion probably in his teens?" He paused, as if falling on Jia Zheng's face.Baoyu is two years old. At this time, people say that age is false, and it is indeed not young.

Jia Zheng's face was burning with panic, Jia's mother frowned, and the ominous premonition in her heart became more and more real, she only smiled and asked Lin Ruhai: "Min'er has gone, and Yu'er has no mother to teach, it's a bit embarrassing. I thought, Min'er still When I was there, I showed some tone, if I don't follow Min'er's wishes... Yu'er will be in front of my eyes in the future, and I don't have any thoughts." The mother and eldest daughter are one of the five not to marry.

Hearing this, Lin Ruhai lowered his eyes, raised the corners of his mouth suddenly, and said with a smile: "I don't understand what the old lady said. Dai'er's mother's suicide note said that it was ominous for her blood to flow back! I also brought this letter into Beijing. In the middle, do you want to take it and show it to the old lady?"

"What's more." Lin Ruhai looked at Jia Zheng with a smile: "Brother Zheng also thinks he is compatible? My son-in-law doesn't have to be rich, but he has to be very knowledgeable... Brother Zheng's son can learn a lot? Or? Above calligraphy and painting, are there some geniuses? Or like brother Zheng, who is good at talking?" Jia's mother's words pierced Lin Ruhai's lungs. .

Jia Zheng liked scholars very much, and he also regarded himself as a literati, but he regretted all his life that he did not become an official through the imperial examination, but instead received the favor of his late father.Being an official has no achievements.These two things made Jia Zheng, who was already arrogant, feel uncomfortable when he saw Lin Ruhai was short. At this time, Lin Ruhai asked his face again and again, which made him blush with embarrassment.Baoyu's evil, with his niece, is indeed high.

Jia Zhengqiang said with a smile: "The child is stupid. He was ordered by a superior two years ago, so it is not suitable to marry early. Besides, I also hope that he will improve his studies, and he will make plans when he has fame." .

Lin Ruhai smiled, and said some polite words in a gentle and gentle manner.

Jia Mu's face was gloomy and she didn't say a word, Lin Ruhai didn't notice it at all, she just talked with Jia Zheng.For Lin Ruhai, it couldn't be easier to talk to someone's heart: "Brother has two sons, and he loves teaching. The style of writing in the south of the Yangtze River is at its peak, and I have a few sets of classics annotated by the great Confucians of the time. Why don't you give it to your nephew? They should be of great help to the imperial examination."

As you come and go, Jia Zheng's face gradually brightens up.I also regretted that because my mother called Baoyu to live in the garden, I was not worried, so I sent Baoyu out when I moved today.If Baoyu is in front of you, and your brother-in-law sees that he behaves elegantly and has a good life, maybe he can ask his brother-in-law to recommend a famous teacher to teach him.

Lin Ruhai returned Jia Mu's tentative intention with a few words, and refused to say a word more about it.

After eating two cups of tea, Lin Ruhai took out the imperial pocket watch and said with a smile, "It's getting late, if you don't go back, I'm afraid you'll miss the Holy Father's favor." Immediately ordered the two old mothers of the Lin family standing outside: "Ma'am, please Come, say goodbye to her grandmother, uncle, and aunt."

Mother Jia still wanted to stop her, but Jia Zheng shook his head slightly, that's all.

Mrs. Wang forced a smile and said: "I'm afraid the big girl's cage hasn't been packed properly, this..."

Lin Ruhai spoke to Mrs. Wang for the first time: "It's okay, it won't be too late to get it later."

Jia Mu and Mrs. Wang looked at each other, their hearts moved slightly, and they didn't stop them.This man is still careless, how can the girl's things be left outside privately, if he asks the outsider to take some of them, it would be bad.

Lin Ruhai personally watched Daiyu get into the car, and Mrs. Wang waited to send it to the second gate. Seeing that each of Lin Daiyu's personal maids only carried a small burden, she was relieved.

A dozen capable, long-standing and easy-going mothers came from the Lin family, and they went first in Lin Daiyu's carriage.While talking with Jia Zheng about current affairs and court, Lin Ruhai was escorted out of the main gate.

Unexpectedly, when Lin Ruhai wanted to get into the cart, an extremely crude donkey cart rushed out from the outside of the Rongguo Mansion's stone lions.The donkey cart came to the front, and the door of the Rongguo Mansion hurried forward to drive it, but saw that the cart made a bend, and a person fell from the cart, the donkey cart didn't stop, it rushed to the door and ran away.Menzi didn't even see the coachman's face.

The person who fell was filthy and smelly, with bloodstains from the whip all over his body, even on his face under the grass-like hair.

Before he could be chased away by the door, the man pushed the blood on his face to the back of his head, rolled to Jia Zheng's feet, and cried, "Second Master! You don't know your servant! This servant is the personal maid who waits on the second master Bao and Jia Baoyu. !"

It was a woman, her voice was hoarse and unpleasant, as if her throat had been scalded by burning coals.

The door came up to pull her, the woman went crazy, grabbed Jia Zheng's trousers and robe, let the door punch and kick, screamed loudly: "Master! I am wronged! I am wronged!"

A girl in the son's room grabbed my father's robe in the street and called for grievances. It was really a scene from the West. Jia Zheng was so smoked that he was disgusted, but he was shameless, and he was in front of Lin Ruhai.He had no choice but to dismiss the door, and reluctantly said: "My family has never treated a servant harshly. If you were my girl, how could you be like this? If there is really a grievance, if you don't go to the mansion and tell the wife, she will naturally uphold justice."

It's fine not to mention Mrs. Wang, but when Mrs. Wang is mentioned, Bihen laughed maniacally, and cursed: "Mrs. bastard! I look like this because of this good wife who speaks like a Buddha and has a heart of snakes and scorpions! It's because of Bao The second master knew about personnel affairs, and he pulled me to play tricks, who would have shocked others! Deserved! Deserved! Your Baoyu phoenix egg is useless, hehe, useless! What's the matter with me!"

"My wife has such a vicious heart, so don't deal with me yet. I am grateful to Dade, and I wish I could be a cow and a horse for the rest of my life in return! Unexpectedly, within a year, she asked someone to cheat me out and married me to a manure picker in the village. Husband! God damn thief, she won’t let the people in the village treat me like a human being! Even a fool who sleeps in a donkey shed can trample me! Make me drown in horses! Eat dung! Beat me every day... You guys Listen! God, listen! Her son did his own crimes, why should he trample on me like this! Even strangling me to death is better than living like this!"

Shouting and crying heart-piercingly, Menzi couldn't even stop him.

Jia Zheng's face was as yellow as paper, and he panicked, so he asked the door to be pulled in.

Lin Ruhai stood aside, listened silently, and suddenly said: "I have learned from the kindness of the old lady. Brother Zheng, please stay! This is farewell, please come to the door again! There is [-] silver in the box, and it is only for the little girl to borrow for the past few years." For rental purposes!"

Jia Zheng hurriedly stopped to explain.But Bihen grabbed hold of his feet, and he could only watch Lin Ruhai get angry with his sleeves.

Bihen cried and laughed, and suddenly lifted up the ragged clothes on her body, so that people could see the rotten skin on her body, and the bones could be seen deep.Seeing her let go of the door, the door was overjoyed, and several people rushed forward to pull her, but Bihen was tortured so much that she didn't want to live long ago, but she couldn't die in the past, but now with her last strength, she bumped into the stone lion.

Immediately, his brain burst open and he died without a breath.

Lin Ruhai was in the carriage, saw it from a distance, sighed, and ordered Yang Lin in a low voice: "Go and investigate, how did this man named Bihen escape from Jia's Zhuangzi?"