The Five Girls of the Lin Family in the Red Chamber

After bringing the two of them into Lihuawu, they saw Yunling and two young nuns standing beside them. When they saw Lin Jing, they were slightly relieved, and said with a smile: "Thanks to Jing'er today, the chef cooks I ordered your favorite sweet-scented osmanthus rolls."

Lin Jing smiled sweetly, "I know my sister loves me the most!" Then she pulled Mu Ning and ran away. Son.

The Fourth Young Master suddenly shouted: "I am called Tu Hongfei."

Lin Jing turned her head and was stunned for a moment, then she gave Tu Hongfei a big smile, shook her hands and shouted: "Understood." Then she took Mu Ning and ran away.

Yunling didn't seem to see it, with a smile on his face, he clasped his hands together to Tu Hongfei and said, "Two benefactors, the teacher has been waiting for a long time, please come with my little nun." The tone was respectful But not humble.

Tu Hongfei's face was cold, but he just nodded, motioning for her to lead the way, showing no signs of happiness or anger.

Lin Jing just heard the name, and didn't take it seriously. In her opinion, it was just a name, but she couldn't think of what the surname meant. She didn't know, but it didn't mean that Mrs. Zhao didn't understand. When the girl heard the words Tu Hongfei, she knew that even if this person was not a member of the royal family, he should be a relative of the emperor.

This made Mrs. Zhao a little worried. Mrs. Zhao didn't understand her daughter's temperament. She looked at the letter in her hand, thought for a while, and said, "Lianrui, let's go home."

"Go back home?!" Lian Rui's eyes widened in surprise, she looked at the letter in Mrs. Zhao's hand, and asked wonderingly: "But what happened? Why do you suddenly want to go back home?"

Mrs. Zhao was silent for a moment, and then said: "Cousin, he was handpicked as the censor of salt inspection in Yangzhou. Before he went to Yangzhou to take office, he wanted to go back to the ancestral house in Gusu to worship the ancestors. My aunt is old. She came from Beijing to Gusu. I'm afraid we'll have to rest for a while." Mrs. Zhao sighed, and said, "After my uncle passed away, my cousin went to Beijing, and the house on the other side of Ping'an Lane must have been abandoned."

"Ma'am, don't worry too much." Lian Rui said with a smile: "The house in Ping'an Lane is also regulated by the Hou Mansion. There are servants in the mansion to look after it, so it can be abandoned."

"It's always good to go and have a look." Mrs. Zhao smiled, looking very happy, and said: "There is no need for a major rest, just sweeping, painting new paint, and fumigation the house. That's all." She sighed, rubbed the corners of her eyes, and said: "Since my aunt came to Beijing, I haven't seen this farewell for ten years."

"That's not true." Lian Rui bit off the embroidery thread and said with a smile, "Young Master Biao is getting bigger and bigger." She sighed lightly, her eyes were a little dazed, "If you married Miss back then..."

"Lianrui!" Mrs. Zhao frowned, shook her head and said, "It's really becoming more and more unruly, what should be said or should not be said without thinking?" She lowered her head, sighed softly, Cai said: "Don't call him Young Master Biao, if people hear it, maybe we have lost the rules, he is now the head of the Lin family, don't lose your sense of propriety."

Lian Rui's eye circles were a little red, but she smiled and shook her head and said: "Your servant knows you're wrong, don't worry about it, madam." After she had finished packing the needlework, she said, "I heard that Mrs. Lin is a young lady of Rong Guogong's mansion. The temperament is excellent, but the aunt seems not very happy."

Mrs. Zhao glared at Lianrui, and asked the girl to beg for mercy: "Okay ma'am, why don't you stop talking about it." After she finished making the bed quickly, she said: "Madam, let's rest earlier, even if If you want to go back to the mansion, you don’t need to wait for a few days, you have to tidy up after all.” She waited for Mrs. Zhao to take off her clothes, and then said: “Tomorrow, I will ask you to go back to the mansion and tell us that we have been living in the past few years. Outside, the wife's dowry shop has already started to make a profit. Even if we go back, we don't have to be afraid. What's more, when the aunt returns to Ping'an Lane, no one dares to underestimate the wife for the sake of the aunt. .”

The master and servant talked for a while before resting.

Lin Jing was stunned when she heard that she was going back to the mansion. She thought she would give it to Mu Ning, but she didn't expect that she would leave the Lihuawu first. There were oil bottles on the corners of his mouth and lips, and he complained: "Mother, we live here well, why are we in such a hurry to go back."

Mrs. Zhao gave her a helpless look. Naturally, she would not say that she was afraid that her daughter would bump into the nobleman, so she just said softly: "Didn't my mother tell you about your aunt earlier? Your cousin and aunt are coming back from Beijing, let's go back and tidy up your aunt's house first, the journey is exhausting, so we can take a good rest, right?" Mrs. Zhao pinched the tip of Lin Jing's nose and smiled He said: "Your cousin still has a son and a daughter by his side. Jing'er will be able to play with her younger siblings then. Are you happy?"

Lin Jing snorted a little, and complained: "I don't want to play with my younger siblings, I want to play with Ah Ning." She took a careful look at Zhao's face, and then muttered: "Okay, okay , I will take my younger siblings to play, okay?"

Only then did Mrs. Zhao pinch Lin Jing's little face, and said, "Jing'er is the most obedient."

"That's natural." Lin Jing immediately said proudly: "Mother, what about Aning?" She sighed rather sadly, and said, "Will I still see Aning in the future?"

Seeing her daughter's frowning expression, Mrs. Zhao immediately burst out laughing, "This is really rare, as long as you have the heart, you will definitely want to see her in the future." Seeing her still frowning, she said with a smile: "Didn't Jing'er say that Has Tu Hongfei already promised you that he will take care of Aning?" After a pause, he continued: "What's more, this child, Aning, is not bad at all, so you don't have to worry too much even if you go to Beijing."

"That's true." Lin Jing listened to Zhao's persuasion, nodded with a smile and said: "Mother, Aning originally planned to let Aunt Lan leave her hair and stay in Lihuawu. I think Aunt Lan will not be relieved." Ning went to Beijing alone, and that's why he persuaded him to give up the idea."

Mrs. Zhao nodded with a smile, stroked Lin Jing's hair, and said: "Mother can do anything for her child. Although your Aunt Lan is cold-tempered, she also loves Aning from the bottom of her heart. won't agree."

"I think so too." Lin Jing smiled and nodded, then got up from Mrs. Zhao's side and said, "I still have a lot of things to pack, and I have to say goodbye to Aning tomorrow, so I won't stay with my mother." It's gone." He said and ran out.

Three days later, Mrs. Jing'an prepared a cartload of gifts for Lin Jing, some silk cloth, ginseng bird's nest and other cloth, and cakes made by sister Yunling. This really made Lin Jing very happy. Mu Ning sent him The gem-encrusted short sword she was wearing was given to her. This thing made Lin Jing covet for a long time, but Mu Ning's treasure was so tight that she couldn't bear to use it. Lin Jing didn't expect that he would give this to her, but she thought Lin Jing felt at ease to accept the red thread that she gave him.

Sitting in the carriage, Lin Jing opened the door curtain and looked at the people who were standing in front of Lihuawu to see off. She suddenly felt stuffy in her heart. She couldn't explain what it was like, but she just felt a little sad and empty. For the days to come There was even a kind of palpitation-like bewilderment.

It wasn't until no one could see that Lin Jing sat on the carriage sleepily, frowning tightly, not knowing what she was thinking. Mrs. Zhao knew that she was feeling uncomfortable, so she hugged and patted her on the shoulder, and said in a low voice, "Go to sleep." , You didn't sleep well last night, you should sleep for a while."

Lin Jing leaned her head against Zhao Shi's chest, and nodded sullenly.

Looking at her daughter's peaceful sleeping face, Mrs. Zhao felt extraordinarily peaceful in her heart. She thought, no matter what the situation would be when she went back, as long as Jing'er was by her side, she would have nothing to fear.

When they reached the gate of the Lin Mansion, Mrs. Zhao woke up her daughter and said softly, "Jing'er, wake up, we're home."

At the door, Mrs. Sun brought Hehuan and Dongqing to wait on her. When she saw Mrs. Zhao and her party, they were all a little excited, and quickly knelt down and kowtowed: "Greetings, Madam and Miss."

Mrs. Zhao quickly helped her up and said, "Get up quickly, there is no need to be so polite."

Mrs. Sun looked at the deserted gate, and said with some guilt: "It's all useless for slaves, but now the house is very chaotic, and the eldest wife is making a fuss every day because of the elder master's concubine. Quiet time."

Mrs. Zhao nodded. She was also aware of this matter, but there was nothing she could do about it. However, Mrs. Chen's natal family was powerful after all, and Lin Jiaping had to bear with it. After a long time, she would inevitably feel resentment .

Under Chen's strict prevention and beating, there are concubines who are pregnant with children, but there are very few who can support them. There is nothing tricky in this, but Zhao can't believe it.

It's just that she has no conflict of interest with Chen, and Chen's misfortune will not make her feel better, but there is a feeling of sympathy for each other. After all, they are all poor people. It's just that she chose to be patient, and Chen chose to be patient. In the end, she was like a soldier, fighting against many concubines, wanting to maintain her majesty as the head of the house, the dignity of her first wife, and even more her love with Lin Jiaping.

Mrs. Zhao took Lin Jing directly to the Furong Courtyard. The old lady and Mrs. Chen were already waiting in the house. Mrs. Zhao saluted, then raised her eyes, Mrs. Chen was sitting on the right hand seat of the old lady, She looks a little haggard, her temples are a little white, but the wrinkles at the corners of her eyes can't be concealed. Zhu Qing looks refreshed, and she looks extraordinarily young and beautiful in her white butterfly brocade clothes. I think the days in the past few years have been very beautiful. It is comfortable.

Thinking about it, Zhu Qing was not an eyesore in the Lin Manor, and Zhu Qing was backed by an old lady. In the second room, no one dared to offend her. It's strange that she is not young in such a comfortable life.

"I've been eating vegetarian food and praying to Buddha these years, after all, I've made some progress." The old lady squinted at Lin Jing, and then hummed.

Mrs. Zhao just smiled and didn't say anything. She just asked people to share the gift she brought back with everyone. Mrs. Chen smiled and pulled Mrs. Zhao to sit beside her, "I came back when I came back, why did I bring such a gift?" Some things.” She took a look at Mrs. Zhao, and jokingly said: “No one in Gusu City does not know about this vegetarian restaurant in Lihuawu, and now I am completely convinced, look at my sister’s red full moon Yes, it must have been excellent."

When the old lady heard what Chen said, she snorted immediately: "I don't know if the child can stand this day's great fortune."

Mrs. Zhao clenched her palms tightly, brushed the ends of her hair pretending to be calm, and said with a smile: "My wife likes Jing'er, this is her blessing, I can't stand it." She turned her head and looked at the old lady , chuckled and said, "Isn't that what the ancestors said?"

The old lady didn't expect that she would directly refute it. Thinking that Mrs. Zhao has been away from home for five years, even though she returned with a festival gift on New Year's Day, she has been away for so many years. There is no place for her to stand in this house. She has been away for a long time now. Can't see where you are?Dare to choke with her, it can be seen that he has lost his temper, and immediately patted the bed and said angrily: "It's the other way around, you have been away from home for five years, can you still be reasonable?! Why are you talking to me?"

Mrs. Zhao pursed her lips, as if suppressing her grievances, and said: "The old lady dare not respond to the daughter-in-law. Earlier, the old lady hurt her finger for no reason, and the daughter-in-law couldn't sleep at night, so she went to the nunnery to help the old lady." Pray, for the past five years, you and your daughter-in-law have been praying in front of the Buddha every day, as long as the old lady is safe and healthy, your daughter-in-law will be content." A slightly mocking smile appeared on the corner of her mouth, and it disappeared in a flash.

She went to Lihuawu to pray for the old lady with great fanfare, and no one in Gusu City was unconscious, but now she can no longer use disfilial piety as a reason to attack their mother and daughter.

Zhu Qing quickly laughed and said: "Of course my elder sister's filial piety is spared." She pulled Mrs. Zhao, and said with a smile: "Earlier, my ancestors often talked about my elder sister. They only said that my elder sister was eating fast and reciting Buddha in the nunnery. It was hard to avoid suffering. I have long wanted to take my sister and sister Jing back home, but I have not been able to see my sister, the ancestor is also anxious."

Zhao's face was pale, and she was no longer smiling like before. She calmly shook off Zhu Qing's hand holding her, lowered her eyes, and said softly: "A wife is a wife, and a concubine is a concubine. After all, this concubine is nothing more than a slave girl, so don’t be called sisters in the future.” She looked at the old lady’s and Zhu Qing’s livid faces, and said with a bent lip: “If you think about it, you know that most of the little nuns in Lihuawu were formerly The son who serves the teacher in the palace is the one who understands the rules."

Zhu Qing nodded stiffly, only to hear Mrs. Zhao say again: "I am also doing it for your own good. I will enjoy as much blessing as I have as long as my life. Let's see if there is any house where the wife of the master and the slave aunt are called sisters." Sister."

"You, you, what are you talking about!" The old lady fell on her back angrily, and said angrily: "Miss Qing, she is a good concubine, and also my niece of a direct relative, why is she out of luck!"

Mrs. Zhao said with a smile: "What the old lady said is true." She then sighed, and said earnestly: "It's just that my daughter-in-law has served in front of the Buddha these few years, so she inevitably believes in karma, and my daughter-in-law is also worried about her. I just can't stand this blessing." These words hit the old lady's face like a slap in the face, she swayed a bit, and almost fainted, Zhao looked at it coldly, and when she saw the old lady calmed down, she started again Smiling, said: "Old ancestor, my daughter-in-law has a happy event to tell the old lady."

Seeing that she ignored him, Mrs. Zhao didn't feel uncomfortable, and said directly: "Linhou's Mansion in Ping'an Lane..."

"What Marquis Mansion! That title has been inherited for four generations, and now it is gone." The old lady said bitterly when she mentioned this, but it was just a branch of the Lin family. What about Marquis Mansion, how could it be so respectable.

Mrs. Zhao pursed her lips, and said in a favorable manner: "The cousin of the Lin family in Ping'an Lane was hand-picked as the censor of Yangzhou salt inspection. My aunt wants to go back to Gusu to worship the ancestors first, and then go to Yangzhou to take up the post after worshiping the ancestors. Go to the mansion to have a look, the master has not been here for many years, it is inevitable that there are some omissions, and my aunt is old, if she catches the wind and cold due to the heavy humidity in the house, it is not worth it." As long as the Lin family in Ping'an Lane is mentioned, it is poking Mrs. Lin is their heart, liver and lungs.

"Xunyan Yushi?" Chen asked quickly, seeming a little surprised. Seeing Zhao nodded, Chen said with a smile: "Congratulations to my sister, this Xunyan Yushi is a fat vacancy. My grandfather said that anyone who is not a sage is not qualified for this position, it can be said that Jane is in the heart of the emperor."

Mrs. Zhao smiled, but did not speak. Mrs. Chen glanced at the old lady, and curled the corners of her mouth under the cover of the handkerchief. She knew the old godmother's ability to bully the weak and fear the hard. At that time, this old lady was very flattering in front of people. Then Mrs. Hou Ye was Zhao's real aunt, and the Zhao family was at its most glorious back then. The temperament, disposition, and momentum of the noble ladies in Kyoto are all full, how can old lady Lin, a daughter of a businessman, compare with her?The one is the clouds in the sky, and the other is the clay on the ground.

The old lady inevitably lost her timidity in front of Aunt Zhao, but she felt in her heart that she was from the Lin family, and no matter how noble and powerful Aunt Zhao was, she was also a branch of the Lin family in Gusu. She also needs to be ranked behind her, which made her feel proud, so when she faced Aunt Zhao, her inferiority complex and pride coexisted, but in the end, inferiority dominated. When this merchant faced the government, he always It will be inferior.

The expression on Mrs. Lin's face couldn't tell whether she was more happy or more frightened. She suddenly raised her head and asked, "Is she in good health now?"

Mrs. Zhao said with a smile: "It's still tough." She brushed her hair and said in a nonchalant manner, "Although my cousin-sister-in-law was born in the Rongguo Duke's mansion, she is still filial every morning and evening."

Mrs. Lin frowned, waved her hands after a while, and said, "You all go out."

Mrs. Zhao glanced at Yingying and Yanyan in the room, and then walked behind Mrs. Chen, and the two walked out of Furong Yuan together.

Mrs. Chen took Mrs. Zhao's hand, and said with a smile: "Sister, this is the end of all hardships." She pointed to the direction of Zhu Qing in the East Court, snorted disdainfully, and said, "You don't know In the past few years, she has been so insolent, she seems to have become the mistress of the Lin family. If you want me to say that the younger siblings were so talkative before, let these things climb on her head, now seeing how the younger siblings can When I understand it, I feel relieved."

Zhao said with a smile: "I made my sister-in-law laugh."

Mrs. Chen waved her hand and said with a smile: "It's not a joke, we are all the same." She wiped her tears with a handkerchief. Now that I’m back, the younger sisters who usually communicate with some wives will also move around, and this kind of human relationship is just like this.”

"Sister-in-law said yes, I saved it." Zhao said with a smile, and then said: "Earlier, Mrs. Jing'an gave Jing'er some Qianxue yarn, and tomorrow I will ask Lianrui to send it to sister-in-law."

"This is a tribute!" Chen's eyes lit up, and he said with wide eyes: "This ordinary family can't get Qian Xuesha." She quickly declined and said: "Even if it is for Jinger, I will make it for her." Wouldn't it be just right to wear clothes."

"She used so many of them, and happened to cut one for Sister Wan. They are at the right age now, and they look good in clothes."

Only then did Mrs. Chen nod her head, and said with a smile, "That's why our sister Wan has been all over Sister Jing."

Mrs. Zhao talked with Mrs. Chen for a while, and then returned to the Rose Garden, but happened to see Jing'er throwing things outside with a stern face. The voice was calling, Zhao Shi and Lianrui looked at each other, and hurried over.

"What's the matter?" Looking at the mess, Zhao quickly asked, "Jing'er, are you messing around again?"

"Mom, I don't have any." Lin Jing snorted, pointed at a girl and said angrily, "She took over my room, and I just threw her things out."

Only then did Mrs. Zhao look at the girl who was dragged out by her daughter. The girl was wearing a red coat embroidered with peonies, a long skirt embroidered with light yellow and white magnolia, earrings inlaid with red gold rubies, and a bracelet made of red gold with a drop of oil. Angrily pointing at Lin Jing and cursing: "What kind of bastard are you, how dare you treat me like this!"