Prequel to the Red Chamber: I Am the Second Wife

"Did you hear that the second daughter of the Wang family entered the palace?!" The two women swept the yard and sat on the porch to gossip. "I've also heard that my in-laws work in the old lady's yard. My girl came back yesterday and told me about it. The Wang family has really lost their words. First, the eldest girl disappeared, and then the second girl's marriage also failed. "There is no reason why all the good things should be done to their family. You think that when Jinling came out to follow the emperor to fight the world, there were only a few families left. The Wang family's title is not the highest, and the population is not the most prosperous. Who knows how many years after their family was unknown, they suddenly developed. Both father and son have become close confidantes of the emperor. If their daughter can still enter the palace and become a concubine, even God will not see it."

"Keep your voice down! Be careful, this was heard by the second master. Our second master is a normal person. The eldest daughter of the Wang family is gone, so many people come to propose marriage. The second master just refuses. It is said that although the girl has not married, the two families He has already changed the Geng Tie and the engagement ceremony. In his heart, he has taken the eldest daughter of the Wang family as his wife. How can he marry again just after his wife is gone. Be careful that the second master will be angry when he hears you arrange the Wang family." The two The two women whispered to each other and chattered endlessly, completely ignoring what they said, being listened to by Jia Zheng, who was studying hard under the window in the room.

Qingyun, who was pouring tea for Jia Zheng in the room, saw that Jia Zheng's expression was not good, and went out immediately: "You are too unruly in your eyes, the wife and the old lady have both spoken, and the second master's homework has reached an important point, you Still noisy. How many heads can you pay for disturbing the second master's hard work? Hurry up and get out of here!" The two women hurriedly stuck out their tongues, begging to Qing Yun: "Miss, we are not easy. We Now go out." The two of them hurried out after speaking.

Qingyun turned back and went into the room to see Jia Zheng was still buried in his studies. She was a little relieved. The three-year rural exam was only a few days away, and the second master was going to take the exam.These few days, Jia Zheng buried himself in the pile of books. He almost swallowed all the wonderful examination papers over the years.Even so, Jia Zheng continued to review his homework day and night, striving to succeed in one fell swoop.

"You really have changed. In the past, you would not spare those two noisy women. The girl who made mistakes in this room is most afraid of you. But now they just smashed the plate in front of you. They didn't make a sound. They had no one to be afraid of, and one by one began to be arrogant. Let me advise you, although you are unhappy in your heart, but we are servants who serve others, and we must not lose our temper with the master. Wait for something to happen. , the old lady and the lady above blamed us, but we still couldn’t eat and walked around.” Qing Yun quietly retreated to the outer room, sat next to Lang Huan and picked up the needlework on the table.Ever since Lang Huan came in to serve again, she seemed to have changed her temper. In the past, Lang Huan used to rely on her relationship with Jia Zheng to catch all the big and small things in the house.All the big and small things in the house and the girls and women are all handled by her with one mouth.But since Lang Huan was kicked out because of a slip of the tongue, Jia Zheng came back after pleading with Jia's mother.Lang Huan has changed a lot. She is becoming more and more distant from Jia Zheng, and she no longer has the intimacy she used to do.

"Who can guard who for the rest of their lives? They are all the same slaves. Why should I offend them? Who can guard who for the rest of their lives? Everyone wants to go out anyway. Lang Huan dropped her needlework and sneered , she stood up and said to Qing Yun: "I want to see what high branches you can climb, don't look at other people who are blind, you know what you did. "Qing Yun was caught by Lang Huan's words, and her face turned red and white, "What did my sister say, I don't know what offended you. "

Qing Yun also wanted to say that there was an impatient coughing sound from inside, and Qing Yun could only sit down and pout and sulk.In fact, Jia Zheng in the room didn't hear the two girls bickering outside at all, and his mind was not on moral articles, but flew to Wang's house in the capital.That day when he went to pay his respects to the old lady, he met the old lady and his mother talking about the second girl of the Wang family. Zili felt sorry.That girl is indeed a good one, and she deserves a brighter future.It's just that the sky is not what people want, and she doesn't know how depressed she is. I just hope that she can cheer up and not be hit by gossip outside.

It's a pity that Jinling is thousands of miles away from the capital, so I don't know what Zili's situation is like now.However, they can't be different from men and women in one place.If I can meet her in person, I should comfort her, or write a letter to Wang Ziteng, asking Wang Ziteng to comfort her.Jia Zheng was lost in thought when suddenly a little girl's voice came from outside: "Is the second master here? The master asked the second master to come over." Jia Zheng hurriedly responded, stood up and went outside to find that neither Qing Yun nor Lang Huan was there. Inside the room, the usual little girls were also sent outside by Jia Zheng these days, but there was no one in the room.

Seeing Jia Zheng coming out, the little girl asked, "Why is Second Master alone in the room? I didn't see anyone when I came in. If Second Master asked for tea or water, wouldn't there be no one to serve him? Second Master should change Take your clothes and go over there." Jia Zheng looked at the homely clothes on his body, and the shoes on his feet were still taut, and smiled hurriedly: "I almost forgot, you bring the clothes and put them on for me."

The little girl said awkwardly: "I'm not from this house, and I don't know where the second master's clothes are kept. Why don't you wait for Sister Langhuan to come. Where did they go, this servant will go and see. "The little girl ran away in a hurry.Jia Zheng sat helplessly on the couch, and suddenly sighed.It turned out that when he was in Hangzhou, the second girl of the Wang family looked at him as a joke that he was a waste, and he had to bring a girl with him when he went out. There were countless servants at home, and no girls didn't even have to wear clothes.

"What did father tell me?" Jia Zheng stood in front of Jia Daishan with his hands down. According to the rules of the Jia family, a son must be afraid of his father, just like his elder brother Jia She, who acts recklessly and recklessly in front of Jia Daishan.Looking at his younger son, Jia Daishan's expression softened a little.Jia Daishan has only two sons. The eldest son is stubborn and talented.That is to say, he is a conservative talent, and Jia Daishan didn't have much hope for Jia Amnesty.The youngest son, Jia Zheng, was doted on by his mother and wife. Jia Daishan always thought that the youngest son was also a playboy, and he couldn't help lamenting that the two sons he gave birth to were not those who made a career. The Jia family wanted no successors. up.

Looking at Jia Zheng today, he is also cheerful and upright. Although the eyebrows are still immature, his bearing is still upright.For the past few days, Jia Zheng studied hard, which made Jia Daishan very gratified, as children from ordinary families may not be able to suffer from this.Hearing Jia Zheng's teacher say that his essays are getting better and better, this time he can pass the provincial examination.Parents are children who like to study. Jia Daishan said kindly to Jia Zheng: "You are tired from studying these days, sit down and talk. I heard your teacher say that your essays are still passable. This subject you It’s almost certain.”

Jia Zheng thanked his seat in a hurry, and sat on the chair half sideways, answering Jia Daishan's words one by one.Listening to his son's words, Jia Daishan nodded slightly and said with satisfaction: "You don't have to worry too much about gains and losses. You may not win the first time. Ten years of hard work is still hard work. You only need to know that reading is good. This No matter what the result is after one game, you will be in the weak year, and it is time for me to think about life-long events for you."

Jia Zheng opened his mouth subconsciously: "I haven't finished my studies, and I don't even talk about marrying and having children. I always have to make something famous before I can consider—"

Jia Daishan interrupted Jia Zheng's words with a wave of his hand: "You don't need to say that, start a family and start a business, start a family first and then start a business. Your mother and I are both old and expect you to spread your branches and leaves. Originally, I told you a very good one. You have no fate. Now I think that if you beg another girl from another family, they will definitely dislike you as an engagement before. Now by chance, I am going to tell you about the second girl from the Wang family. Our family We have always been on good terms with the Wang family, since we are already engaged, our two families are in-laws. It would be nice for the second girl of their family to be your daughter-in-law!"

Jia Zheng couldn't believe his ears. He stared at his father in surprise, his face gradually turned red, and Jia Zheng stammered, "This, this, what my father said, is it true? But I He's still a white man, how can he be worthy of—"

"Don't worry about this. I shouldn't have told you about this matter. But I'm going to Beijing soon, so I can only tell you first. You have to work hard. As long as you can pass the exam, this marriage will be possible." Five percent hope." Jia Daishan patted his son on the shoulder with his eyes shining brightly.

Jia Zheng seemed to be in the clouds, he couldn't believe his ears, there was no such luck in the world.After all, he is the best candidate for the former great-grandson Liangdi, and he is just the youngest son who cannot inherit the hereditary title.Although the Wang family has a good relationship with the Jia family, but now Wang Changchun and Wang Dingqian are more prosperous than Jia Daishan.How could their family agree? "Father, even if our family pleads for mercy, the Wang family may not be willing." Jia Zheng squeezed out a word in a hurry.

"Don't worry, I have my own plan. Although many people come to ask for the girl from the Wang family, they can't compare with our family. Because I have done their family a big favor. He wants to pay me back this face." Jia Dai kindly smiled confidently.

A favor?The second monk Jia Zhengzhang couldn't figure it out, he was getting more and more confused.