Prequel to the Red Chamber: I Am the Second Wife

Hearing Ziqian's words, Zili was shocked.She stood up and said with a smile: "My sister is not well, why did you come here in person, I was preparing to take a bath and go to see my sister." She said that she wanted to help Ziqian sit down.Who would have thought that Ziqian's dodge made Zili rush to nothing, she just sat down on the chair and fiddled with the things on the table.

Congratulations sister, I didn't expect my sister to be blessed. I'm fine, thank you for thinking about it.There is nothing rare about these things, you should keep them for yourself.Ziqian didn't look at Zili either, she glanced coldly at the things in her hands after the rain, with deep disgust in her eyes.

Zili bit the bullet and squeezed out a smiling face: "It's good that my sister is in good health. I haven't seen me for the past few days, but I still think it's strange. In fact, those things are also a wish. They are all exquisite things in the palace. My sister holds them to reward people. Right. Is there anything good going on at home these days?" She had nothing to say to ease the embarrassing atmosphere in front of her.In fact, Zili is very puzzled by Ziqian, what is good about the royal family, even if she is married to Jia Zheng, she can change her destiny through struggle.Husband and children both need to be taught.As long as Jia Zheng is taught well and Jia Zhu is kept alive, even if the Jia family loses its former prominence, it will still be passable.I really don't know why Ziqian let the wife who is in charge of the family not be a wife, but only thinks about going to the palace to be the harem of the grandson.The grandson is not married yet, seeing that the maids serving around him are dressed in different ways, there are already quite a few people in the room.Not to mention that the grandson Liangdi has no shadow yet, they have already started to lay out the harem.Jia Zheng was surrounded by Aunt Zhao and Aunt Zhou, and those two people, Zhen Ningshan and Miss Fang's Yuan family were scumbags in front of them.

"I'm someone no one wants to see, so what should I use? I came to see you today, and I left. I'm sick and upset, and I don't like being disturbed. If you say something that makes my sister unhappy, don't take it to heart. " Saying that, Ziqian stood up and supported the little girl's hand before leaving.Zili couldn't get over her face because of Ziqian's trouble, so she pulled out a smile and said, "Yes, after all, she's my own sister, and she still wants to come and see me when she's sick. Sister, go slowly." Zili winked at the rain queen, Tell her to go over with something.

Unexpectedly, Ziqian pretended to tilt his body and bumped into Yuhou's hand all of a sudden, the things on the plate fell sporadically, and the other things were fine, the set of chess pieces fell to the ground like raindrops.Yunzi is fired from agate and other minerals, and its texture is firm and brittle.With an exclamation after the rain, many of those white and black chess pieces fell to the ground and shattered.Ziqian didn't even look at it, and walked away with a cold face.Sitting on the ground with an ugly face after the rain, her face was pale with fright. She looked at many broken chess pieces, and she burst into tears: "Girl, I was really defenseless."

Zili knew in her heart that Ziqian pretended to be after the rain on purpose. Although she didn't care about her sister's attitude, she broke such a good thing for no reason.She doesn't want this thing and forget it, why did she break it. "I don't blame you, hurry up and pick up the ones on the ground. Aren't there still unbroken ones?" Zili squatted down and reached out to pick up the intact chess pieces.But when she picked it up and looked at it, she felt even more distressed.This is not an ordinary palace-made Yunzi.It turned out to be the super boutique pair given by Taisun.The girls must have taken the wrong one just now!Woohoo, Ziqian, you prodigal son, something to accompany me.I heard that each piece of this chess set is worth one tael of silver.

Seeing Zili's pained expression, she felt something was wrong, she persuaded Zili in a panic: "Girl, it's all my fault. Girl, don't be sad, just beat me up to vent your anger."

"It's all fate, did you hear the sound of chess pieces breaking just now? Remember that sound, it's worth a tael of silver!" Zili squeezed out such a sentence with a bitter face.

After the rain, she complained angrily to Zili: "Girl is not as good as before. Although the age is orderly, the eldest girl can't go too far. The girl gave things with good intentions, and not only did she not thank you, she even said something weirdly. Girl We usually tell us that the father is kind and the son is filial, and the brothers and friends are respectful. Since she has lost the feeling of filial piety, does the girl still have to swallow her anger? This broke something again. Although it was a reward from the palace, it was just a good reputation. But it is still called People are uncomfortable."

Zili stared at Yu Hou in surprise, and then smiled and said after a long while: "Amitabha, you are a heroine. Why don't I get angry. But I'd better bear with the current situation. My grandfather and father are going to go to war. There are too many servants, and I can’t take them all. My grandmother is going to the capital with my aunt. You said that there are so many things going on at home, and my mother can’t help but want to do something. I’m still angry at this time, and I sued my mother. Of course, everyone must have helped at that time. I vent my anger. But in the eyes of others, I am as ignorant as she is. Why bother, even if I don’t need to say what happened today, you can watch it and spread it to my mother without waiting for dinner. Why should I talk too much? What? Eldest sister has her own difficulties, one is honey and the other is arsenic, things that she sees are more precious than gold may not be my treasures. I still understand her thoughts."

Hearing Zili's words after the rain, he lowered his head and thought about it, and suddenly smiled and said, "Young lady is right, this is called knowledge. Madam used to be very interested in the girls, let alone now. Why bother to ask the girl to show up?" Well, the big girl is actually pitiful when you think about it. In the past, because she was a big girl, the old ladies and wives valued her, and the girl and the third girl were also submissive to each other. It must be that the big girl got used to grasping the tips, and seeing that there are tall branches, she is about to fly up Unexpectedly, the girl is much stronger than her. The relatives and friends who come and go praise and envy the girl, and it is boring to put it on anyone. By the way, I also heard that the second master of their Jia family likes to play with girls and read books. There must be a beautiful girl to wait on the side. Those women can't enter his house and can't touch his things. Our two young masters have already gone out to learn how to walk, and he is still pampered at home as a young master. It's easy Don't even go out to the second door." Yu Hou vividly described all the gossip she had heard about Jia Zheng, and Zili was very curious about Jia Zheng's character and behavior.When she watched Dream of the Red Chamber before, she always wondered what kind of father could give birth to such a wonderful thing as Jia Baoyu.Now listening to the gossip after the rain, Zili is holding his stomach with a smile and can't straighten his waist: "Oh, my God. What a second master of Rongguo Mansion, just like the girl's family! From this point of view, their family is Girls are raised like boys, and boys are raised like girls."

The women nearby all smiled and said: "The girl didn't know it all the time in the palace, but what she said after the rain was true. Our house used to be far away from them, but now we live together, but we all know it. A few days ago, the young master Thinking of asking him to go boating on the West Lake, I heard that he likes to recite poems and admire the moon, so the young master specially invited some famous local masters and gentlemen. Who knows that we just arrived at Santan Yingyue by boat together, The old lady of Jia's family hurriedly sent someone to ask their young master to go back. The trouble caused the young master to leave, and the next day there was a rumor that their Zheng brother had caught the cold and asked for a doctor. The old man over there The wife's words were a little bit of blaming our young master, and the angry young master and the second young master didn't dare to pay any attention to him anymore. Wouldn't it be uncomfortable for a young girl to marry such a person. I won't talk about the future. It's just When husband and wife live together, there are multiple sons when looking for a husband. The girl is not as knowledgeable as the big girl, but the girl is really generous."

Zili stood up sullenly, and smiled self-deprecatingly. In fact, she knew that she was magnanimous.If she really entered the palace, the days of arguing with her sister would be gone.However, Zili was really surprised by Jia Zheng's glorious deeds. This is obviously the same personality as Jia Baoyu.But she doesn't have to worry about that.

The life of the Wang family was very busy. Wang Changchun was promoted, but there was no sense of joy in the family. The Wang family had been in the south of the Yangtze River for a long time, and the family members were used to a stable and leisurely life.Hearing suddenly that he was going to fight in Liaodong, he immediately cried and complained to his parents.Parents who have young sons who work at home are eager to keep their sons tied to them.On Mrs. Tang's side, many respectable daughter-in-laws and stewards have come to plead for mercy, and some of them even have the intention of redeeming themselves.For a while, people in the Wang family panicked. How could they endure the bitter cold and wildness in Liaodong after staying in the prosperous Jiangnan for a long time?

Zili stood beside Madam Tang and saw the situation getting worse and worse. She said worriedly: "The people in the servants are panic-stricken. What can mother do? In fact, according to my advice, they are willing to leave. It's better to let it out. It will save you a lot of trouble in Liaodong." In Zili's opinion, the most important thing is that people's hearts are united.

"Do you think that people are born with the same heart? They are all slaves of our family, and they have been working in our family for generations. Among these people, there must be some people who steal, cheat, and run away when the wind is not in the right direction. Most of the rest are foolish people. What kind of insight do they have if they are slaves? They are just following what others say. I am just about to clean up the house, kick out those bastards who have half-hearted intentions, and Liwei straightens up and down by the way. You only Take a good look at me from the sidelines. I see with a cold eye that you have done things for me these days, and your rules are not bad. It’s just that you are not good at making decisions. If you don’t fight for the human heart, you won’t come. There are always foolish people in the world. There are more people than understand, you know!" Mrs. Tang looked at Zili's account book and nodded in satisfaction: "I should have told you to relax these few days, but it's a pity that there are so many things at home, but it's tiring you."

Zili listened to Mrs. Tang's words and silently remembered them.

Mrs. Tang asked the steward to pass on a message, and those who were willing to redeem themselves and go out the next day came to speak together.As soon as the news spread, the servants of the Wang family began to discuss in whispers.Some people want to redeem themselves, but they don't have a decent job and no money to redeem themselves.Some people are worried about their own safety, but they are lucky with their passbooks. If Zili enters the palace and Wang Changchun wins the battle, they can follow suit.Some made a lot of money and just wanted to take the opportunity to leave their citizenship.All the servants in the family were in a state of panic all night, they were planning their own plans, and rumors were flying everywhere.

Zili went to bed early, but she wanted to see how Mrs. Tang would organize the housework tomorrow.The next day, there was a crowd of people standing in front of the room, Madam Tang said to Zili, "Help me spread the word later, and I should ask you to study." Zili was stunned, she hesitated and said: "Should I ask my sister to come over?" Although the marriage between the Wang family and the Jia family has passed the Ming road, Duke Rong Jia Daishan and Wang Changchun had made an agreement in person a few days ago, and Ziqian would definitely be the daughter-in-law of the Jia family.Zili thinks it's time for her to learn how to be a housekeeper.From the book, it seems that Mrs. Wang's housekeeping ability is not very good.

Mrs. Tang said with a half-smile, "Your sister doesn't have that kind of thought. She has a heart disease. No matter how hard others try, it will be in vain." Zili heard Mrs. Tang's words in a bad tone, so she stopped talking.What happened that day quickly reached the ears of the old lady and Mrs. Tang, although they didn't express anything in face.However, the family's attitude towards Ziqian has undergone an imperceptible change.Although Zili was not the person involved, he couldn't empathize with him.But whenever Zili and Ziqian greeted the old lady and Mrs. Tang together, she could feel that the elders treated them differently, and Ziqian recovered from his illness.But she seemed to be a different person, and she was depressed.

"Ma'am, everyone is here. Madam, please speak. The steward outside asked Mrs. Tang to go out and talk. I am very tired, so I asked the second girl to go out and talk. I know you are all old people for several lifetimes, and you are all big and deep-rooted." Even my foreign daughter-in-law is ignored, and now seeing that the second girl is a girl, she is even more ignored." Mrs. Tang didn't ask the housekeeper to come in through the curtain.

Hearing Mrs. Tang's bad tone, the housekeeper hurriedly said, "What's wrong with Madam, as slaves, how dare we despise the master. If anyone has such thoughts, he will be hit with a thunderbolt and die in front of the master immediately. Second girl, please give me a hand!" Let's talk to them." The butler said he opened the curtain himself and asked Zili to go out.Zili hadn't lectured to so many people before, so she looked at her mother a little uneasy.Mrs. Tang gave her an encouraging look: "You are the master, you should order whatever you want. Don't be afraid, just follow what I said yesterday and give them orders."

Zili was encouraged and gained some confidence, so she nodded and led the girl out.Zili stood on the steps and looked at the people below. Before she could say anything, the manager had brought the two daughters-in-law over to carry the chairs.Zili didn't give in either, so he sat down.She took over the teacup handed over by the butler and wanted to get up to take it without getting up: "I will work for you, just let the girls do it, and I will work for you." The butler hurriedly bowed and replied: "It is the duty of slaves to serve the master. , how dare you take big in front of the master."

"Everyone is here?" Zili glanced at the people below without any nonsense and called Yuhou: "Take the booklet and roll your name according to which line they made." The servants didn't know about Zili's regulations, so they fell silent for a while.Zili took the opportunity of the roll call to get an idea of ​​these people. She naturally knew those who often served inside, and she had never seen some who worked outside.But Zili can probably guess their personalities through their errands and their attire and demeanor.First, after the roll call, she looked at the people below and said, "You are also old people who follow your grandfather. Since the Wang family is the emperor's servants, they must be loyal. You must be used to life here in Jiangnan, or you have old people and children at home." You are willing to go to Liaodong, and your family will remember your loyalty. You can't go, and you have your own reasons. I heard that some of you want to redeem yourself, but there are?"

The people below looked at a girl in Zili who was not familiar with the world, and those who wanted to take the opportunity to leave hurriedly said: "Miss Grace, it is really the old and the young in the family. In fact, we want to go to Liaodong with the master to earn a living." Battle exploits, it’s just that it’s impossible. Whether you redeem yourself or not depends on the grace of the master.”

"Everyone is raised by their parents, and I can't stop you from being unfilial sons. If you want to redeem yourself, stand up and register with the manager. If you write down the reason clearly, I'll go back and talk to my wife." Zili called out. The steward registered those who wanted to redeem themselves and could not go to Liaodong.

It took a while to finish writing, and Zili saw that there were more than a dozen families who wanted to redeem themselves and couldn't follow.She first called the buyer from Song Ming's house to come up. "You said that the parents in the family are not in good health and the child is still young. You are a newcomer, and your parents and in-laws are slaves in the Wang family. Am I right?" Zili looked at Song Ming's family coldly, who was also dressed in silk, with a smudge on his hand. As for the gold bracelet, it was fair and slender without any trace of care.Song Ming's family smiled and said: "Miss Shengming, my mother-in-law and father-in-law are getting old, and my son is still young. The servants are willing to pay for the redemption."

"Okay, what a good slave. You look at me so coaxing. Who doesn't know that you are in the position of purchasing, and your family is more comfortable than others. Your parents-in-law is only sixty, and your father-in-law is also a comprador, and now he is no longer a job , watching business in your own shop all day long. Your son is not young. He followed my brother at the age of 16. Your family is full of children, and you sold the contract to death. Let alone tell you to go to Liaodong, just fight now Dying is also according to the master's will. You dare to talk to me about redemption! You are just relying on a fat job to fill your own pockets. You have lost your money and are worried that something will happen to you, and now you want to run away?" Zili sneered and looked The words were repeated like a cannonball, saying that Song Ming's family's face was ashen and trembling all over.

"Go and seal up the accounts of the purchase right away, don't ask the people in the purchase to run away. After checking the accounts, call Ren Yazi to sell them all!" Zili waved his hand and immediately several women came up and entrusted Song Ming's family. go out.

The people below didn't expect that a little girl in Zili would suddenly put down her face and become tough. They were so frightened that they didn't dare to make a sound, and they all stood under the sun holding their breath and hands down, not daring to feel contempt in their hearts.Zili didn't look at the people below, and then called people up to ask about the situation.She didn't beat her to death with a single stick. Seeing that there was really no one at home, or that they were weak and sick, Zili agreed with them to stay.For example, there are those who are serious and honest in their daily work, and there are also Zili who don't even ask someone to write paperwork to be a citizen even if they are worth money.

Seeing Zili's understanding and fairness, everyone admired him.In the whole morning, she had sorted out the people who had been verified to go to Liaodong, and the rest who were not suitable to go were either sent out of nationality and asked them to leave, or they were arranged in Zhuangzi, or they went to the capital to serve the old lady.

Seeing that Zili's handling was almost the same, Mrs. Tang came out and nodded, everything was done according to Zili's wishes.With the consent of the head wife, the uproar was calmed down.