Prequel to the Red Chamber: I Am the Second Wife

"Madam is here." Following the girl's announcement, the old lady of the Jia family raised her head and saw her daughter-in-law coming in with a sad face. Jia's mother greeted the old lady: "Greetings to the old lady, the old lady looks good today, and the kitchen is busy. Fresh venison, it’s good to cook it for the old lady at night.”

"Why are you here now? What's the important thing? I'm old and I don't like greasy things. Tell them to make the venison lighter." The old lady told Jiamu to sit down, and the girl beside her When the tea was served, Mother Jia leaned forward and stood up to take the teacup: "The daughter-in-law knows that the old lady likes light ones, so she asked them to make clear sauce meat, which is not greasy at all. Things, the daughter-in-law is worried."

"What's the matter? The old lady's health is not good? Old people are always prone to disasters and eight disasters." The old lady thought it was the old lady of the Wang family who was not in good health, but it was an elderly person.Unexpectedly, it would be bad that day. "No, the old lady of their family is in good health. The eldest girl of the family is ill. She said that she has not acclimatized since she arrived in the capital, and she didn't take it to heart when she thought it was nothing important. Who knows that after half a year, she still disappeared. The improvement became more and more serious. I heard that I couldn't get up anymore. I invited countless famous doctors, some said it was unacceptable, and some said it was a serious illness. After all, everyone was accurate. Taking the medicine is like splashing on the body. There is no effect on the ground. I am worried about Zheng'er's marriage." Jia Mu said, frowning with worry.In those days, those who got engaged and then divorced were almost the same as second marriages.

This, the old lady of the Jia family frowned and couldn't help worrying. There is no advanced medical equipment these days, and human life is always very fragile. I lost my life.Even if it is a big family, the children are spoiled and spoiled, but it is more likely to have various minor problems. "After all, young girls are more delicate, just take care of them slowly. Since their family hasn't said anything yet, and we are far away in Jinling, how can we listen to the wind and rain and want to mention the matter of divorce. Even if it is divorce Their family brought it up first. If we open our mouths first, we will despise the girl of other people and be a villain. Go and take out some of the good medicinal materials that are guarding and send them to the Wang family, saying that my wife and I are thinking about her, and call the girl Don't be in a hurry and rest well."

Mother Jia hurriedly bowed her body and said: "Yes, my daughter-in-law has asked someone to pack a box of the best ginseng and ganoderma lucidum, and asked someone to take away the soil ceremony from the south of the Yangtze River. But what I heard from the words of the Wang family's servants is that The Wang family doesn't want to drag our Zheng'er down, and they want to retire, but they can't say it right away and wait for the right time. I mean, the old lady will tell the old lady that we should make plans for Zheng'er again."

"That's the meaning of their family's kindness and unwillingness to let their relatives and friends suffer. You don't have to agree to it when the Wang family proposes to withdraw the marriage. You must always be modest. Although it is all polite, it is essential. It is to show that we are not the kind of cold and heartless people, and secondly, it is not to hurt the face of the Wang family to comfort them. I have a box of dendrobium here and give it to their girl." The old lady thought about it and waved the girl to go Take dendrobium.

"It's the old lady who is thoughtful, so the daughter-in-law will follow the old lady's advice." Seeing that the old lady was short-spirited, Jia's mother got up and said goodbye.

Waiting for Mother Jia to return to her yard, she saw Jia Min's girl standing on the porch, and knew it was her daughter. "Mother is back." Jia Min came to her mother like a little swallow with laughter.

Seeing her daughter, Jia Mu's mood improved a lot.She loved wiping away the sweat beads that didn't exist on Jia Min's face with a silk cloth: "What do the people around you eat, and they told you to wait, don't you know what to say? You've been here for a few days Your complexion is fine, what did you eat at noon, have you taken the pills I asked someone to send to you?"

"My mother must have something important to say in front of the old lady. How can I disturb my mother's business. They sent me to take the medicine. I ate a lot at noon today. I am very fond of the fresh pheasant melon seeds." I like it." Jia Min sensed that her mother seemed to have something on her mind, she peeked at her mother, and helped Jia Mu all the way into the house.Mother Jia hugged her daughter distressedly: "It's fine if you like it. I was thinking of you and asked you to come. The Wang family brought a lot of things from the capital. You can play with what you like. The clothes on your body should also be changed. It’s time to buy new jewelry.” Speaking of the girl bringing tea, Mother Jia waved her hand to the servants: “Go out, let us mother and son have a good conversation.”

Waiting for the serving girls to go out, Jia Min approached and whispered in Jia's mother's ear: "Mother's complexion is not good, what happened?"

Just as her daughter was asking about the hidden worry in Jia Mu's heart: "It's nothing important, I just heard from the Wang family that the eldest girl in their family is very sick. I'm worried about your second brother. He is stubborn, honest and stupid. Look for a path and go to the dark. I am worried that if something happens to the girl of the Wang family, your second brother will get into the horns." Jia Zheng is the youngest son loved by Jia's mother. He has been obedient and obedient since he was a child, unlike his The elder brother, Jia She, acts willfully and recklessly, and defies his parents and elders.Mother Jia knew that she would have to rely on her youngest son to be filial in the future.Jia Zheng was very satisfied with the girl from the Wang family. If the Wang family suddenly resigned, Mother Jia worried that Jia Zheng would be sad.Moreover, after the Wang family resigned, Jia Zheng was considered a second marriage candidate in the blind date market, so he might not be able to choose a daughter-in-law of comparable family background.

"I've seen the eldest girl in their family, but she's not sick. It's just that she's not very pleasant, and she's always cold towards people, as if she's separated from something. She's far less amiable than the second young lady in their family. If I had a relationship like the second brother's, it wouldn't be a pity to retire, and I could choose a good new sister-in-law." Jia Min thought about how she got along with the three girls of the Wang family in Hangzhou, and she had a real impression of Ziqian. not so good. "It would be great if the second lady of their family could be my second sister-in-law." Jia Min couldn't help but lean into Jia Mu's arms and act like a spoiled child.

"Our family can't get a good girl like that. She is the empress dowager and the queen's acquaintance. In the future, the grandson Liangdi will be hers. No matter how good your second brother is, you can't get a good girl. But you, a girl from every family, Why are you talking about this so much? Could it be that you want to find a son-in-law too?" Mother Jia looked at her daughter and teased her jokingly.

"My mother really only knows how to make fun of me. I just see that my mother is a little unhappy. I want to make you happy. If there is something depressed, I can just joke a few words. It's better than vomiting in my heart. Who knows, it's kind of like—— My mother will only bully me, and I will not obey!" Jia Min twisted her body and stomped her feet, sticking to Jia Mu's arms like brown sugar.

"What's there to be ashamed of? Although a girl should be reserved, she can't be a fool who doesn't know everything. You will be a housekeeper in the future. Among other things, it's a university question to let the girls out. It’s just men and women who eat and drink. You should gradually know the world.” Jia Mu caressed Jia Min’s satin-like hair, wishing to give her all her experience of being a daughter-in-law at once.

Jia Min lowered her head. She remembered that her second sister, Jia Yan, had already made a deal with her. I heard that she was only the son of a small guard, and she was a concubine. In the future, her second sister's life would be as comfortable as it is now.In stark contrast is Jia Zheng and Jia Min's marriage. Jia's mother and Jia Daishan have already begun to choose a son-in-law for Jia Min. People in Beijing, Hangzhou, Suzhou, Yangzhou and other places have school-age sons and have already sent people to find out what Jia Mu and Jia Daishan are saying.

Although Jia Min is from a girl's family, she is afraid to avoid people who come to her door to say goodbye, but the news of people from Yangzhou Yanzheng's family today and tomorrow from the Hou's family is still blowing into her ears, Jia Min thinks Looking at the marriage of the two older sisters in front of her, her heart, which has never known sadness, was also shrouded in a layer of shallow dark clouds.Both the elder sister and the second elder sister were born by the aunt of the father. The mother of the eldest sister Jia Mei died of dystocia when she was born. It was Jia's mother who brought her to raise her until she was 16 years old.Jia Mei's marriage is more respectable than that of the second sister. She married the concubine son of Cheng's family, a retired scholar from the Imperial Academy.The son-in-law is also eager to learn and make progress, but he broke his body because he studied too hard.Seeing that the eldest sister was widowed for a year without getting married, Jia Mei came back to celebrate her father’s birthday last time. When Jia Min saw the eldest sister, she couldn’t believe that the angry woman in front of her was her gentle and lovely elder sister. up.

The second sister has always had a heart higher than the sky, but her fate is thinner than paper. Her background hindered her from marrying a wealthy son-in-law.After the marriage was settled, the second sister was obviously disheartened, and she no longer looked forward to being shrewd.The two sisters in front of her were unlucky in their marriages, and Jia Min began to worry about her own fate.

Like Jia Min, Jia Zheng was also worried about his life-long events. The news that the eldest daughter of the Wang family was ill had already reached Jia Zheng's ears.Qing Yun stood at the door of the study and peeked at Jia Zheng who was staring at the book in a daze. She was about to go in to add incense to the censer, but Lang Huan gently pulled her sleeve.Since Lang Huan was kicked out last time because she annoyed Jia Zheng, even though it was still Jia Zheng and Jia Mu who begged her to come in a few days later, Lang Huan had lost her previous coquettishness and became more cautious.She is no longer as strong as she used to be, and now the most capable girl around Jia Zheng is Qing Yun.

"Second Master is worried about that side. Are you going in at this time to get scolded?" After all, she had been with Jia Zheng for a long time, so Lang Huan advised Qing Yun not to go in and hit the gun.

Qingyun stuck out her tongue and laughed softly: "I'm confused. The second master has been in a daze all day since he heard that. But if the second master's appearance is seen by his wife, they should scold us for being lazy. Served."

Lang Huan wished that the girl from the Wang family would die of illness, she couldn't help gloating and lowered her voice: "If Shinichi dies from illness, it can be regarded as a good fortune in our previous life, even if we marry a sick child back, we won't have to implicate our second master."

Before Lang Huan finished her sentence, she suddenly heard Jia Zheng's voice calling for someone. Lang Huan and Qing Yun hurried in, "What's your order, Second Lord?"

"I remember that there was a set of Qianjin Fang and Elbow Backup Emergency Fang, but I can't find it now. How many times have I told you, don't mix my things! You just didn't listen, it's all right now, I can't find it when I am in a hurry! Jia Zheng was tossing about on the bookshelf, and many books fell to the ground.

"Second Master forgot, the third girl just borrowed that set of books. I'll go over and get them back now." Qing Yun immediately went to Jia Min to get back the borrowed books, but was stopped by Lang Huan: " But the second master personally borrowed it the day before yesterday, and he will be back in a few days, what does the third girl think? Why does the second master want to read medical books? You don’t need medical skills in the next exam?"

Lang Huan asked knowingly, she saw that Jia Zheng's face suddenly turned red, her expression was awkward, and she faltered to find an excuse, Lang Huan went on to make up: "Second Master is worried about Miss Wang's illness, but the water can't quench her near thirst. The capital is far away from Jinling. It's far away, besides, the imperial hospital in the capital is not well equipped, there is no good doctor or medicine, why should the second master do useless work, according to me, the most important thing is dedication, why should the second master sincerely ask the Bodhisattva to bless Miss Wang, maybe she will It will be fine."

Jia Zheng's eyes lit up when he heard Lang Huan's words, and he said with a smile like enlightenment: "I actually forgot this, I really messed up. I'll go out now and make a wish at Baoen Temple." Jia Zheng asked to change clothes I have to go out to the temple to offer incense and make a wish, and pray to the Buddha to bless Miss Wang to recover.

"Second master, don't be busy. It's already afternoon and it looks like it's time to turn on the lights. What are you doing out at this time? Even the wife and the old lady will not allow the second master to go out. Why don't you wait for the old lady to go to the temple on the fifteenth day?" Shangxiang, the second master will follow when the time comes. What does it look like to go out to mobilize people now?" Qing Yun pulled Jia Zheng not to let him go out.

But Lang Huan urged Jia Zheng: "It's not too late for the second master to go tomorrow. It will take more than ten days until the fifteenth day. How old is the second master, why is he still tied up and asked to go out? In the evening, the second master personally Talk to your wife, just say that you are tired from studying and you want to go out for a walk, and your wife will love the second master so much."

Jia Zheng immediately agreed: "You're right, go and tell my youngest son to prepare the horse." Jia Zheng was so busy thinking about how to make a wish in front of the Buddha tomorrow that he didn't see the meaningful smile on the corner of Lang Huan's mouth.

That night, when Jia Daishan came back, he saw a lot of things piled up on the red gift list on the table, so he knew that someone from the Wang family had come: "This Wang Dingqian is really polite, and I have never seen him give such a rich gift in previous years. We don't want to accept things from others for nothing, and the gift should be generous so that we don't look stingy."

"It's what they deserve even if it's richer. The Wang family is going to retire." Mother Jia was a little bit regretful that this marriage couldn't be successful, but now she doesn't regret it at all, but feels a little lucky.She was obsessed with her son before she got through the door. If she really married in, why don't she hold her son hostage and become the overlord?

"Are they going to retire? Is it true that the girl from the Wang family is dying?" Jia Daishan was thinking about this marriage when Wang Changchun was entrusted with the University of Martial Arts Palace because of his great victory in Liaodong. But it didn't work, and it was inevitable that I would be a little disappointed.

"The Wang family has already shown that intention. Anyway, the eldest daughter of their family is afraid that she will not recover from her illness, so she told us to make another plan. I think they will formally withdraw their marriage in two months. Zheng'er's honest heart Silly child, you are still thinking about the girl's illness, and you have to go to Baoen Temple overnight to offer incense and make a wish." Jia's mother was a little sour and complained to her husband that her son married a daughter-in-law and forgot his mother.

"Isn't this just sickness? I personally wrote a letter to the appointed person. Now that I have made an agreement, I can't go back on my word. Our family is not so poor that we can't afford medicine or hire a doctor. It's not a man to see profits and forget one's righteousness. As. I thought about it, this time I will take advantage of the Wang family’s delivery ship and deliver the gift!” Jia Daishan waved his hand and made a decision without allowing his wife to refute.The advantages of being married to the Wang family outweigh the disadvantages, and he does not want to give up this powerful ally.What's wrong with the daughter-in-law's poor health, it's not a problem to be rich!