Prequel to the Red Chamber: I Am the Second Wife

On the canal, two big ships sailed towards the north. Zili sat by the window and watched the scenery outside. If the weeping willows along the coast bloomed new green in spring, it would be such a beautiful scenery.It's a pity that it's winter at this time, and it's freezing outside, and there are only green pines and cypresses on the mountains in the distance, adding a little color to the silent winter.

"The second master is back. Following the girl's voice, Jia Zheng has already come in: "Why are you sitting by the window, be careful of freezing. "The new master, Jia Zheng, came in with a smile on his face. He saw Zili sitting by the window in only a cotton coat, busy taking off his cloak and putting it on her.

"You're not on the Lin family's boat over there. Why are you here? What if the sampan is unstable and falls completely? There is a pier in front, just wait for the boat to dock and come over. I don't have anything urgent here. What are you doing in a hurry? You should also ask Uncle Lin for advice. I heard that Mr. Wang and the master said that his knowledge is good, and that three people must have my teacher. You should also discuss with him more about academic matters." Jia Zheng Went there to discuss literature with Lin Ruhai all morning. Now that the boat has not stopped, he must have come on board in a sampan.Jia Zheng passed the Juren examination and is preparing for the Spring Festival in the capital next spring.Jia Daishan was busy asking people to prepare boats and asked Jia Zheng to go to Beijing to catch up with the exam.Jia Daishan thought that his younger son's future would require a lot of help from the Wang family, so he waved a pen in a very considerate way and asked Zili to go back to the capital with him.

Jia Daishan had spoken. Although Jia's mother was a little bit reluctant to part with her son, but the future was at stake, she could only tell Jia Zheng to be careful on the road, and specially selected a few experienced family members to follow.Of course, Zili wanted to go home and have a look. During the time in Jia's house, she was almost at ease every single day, she was always uplifted and had to deal with all kinds of strange emergencies.It’s better to go home. You don’t have to worry about being calculated, and you don’t have to carry it all the time. You can do whatever you want and say whatever you want.There is no need to look at other people's eyes at all, and you must be cautious in every move.The boat, gifts for relatives in the capital and their luggage were quickly prepared, and the whole family prepared a banquet to send Jia Zheng and Zili to the capital.

The boat set off from Jinling, and met Lin Ruhai in Gusu, who was on the boat to the capital.

"I don't worry about you. It's so lonely along the way. It's good for me to talk with you." Jia Zheng was full of confidence in the exam, and he became more outgoing. Jia Zheng sat next to Zili and held her hand. , The two casually chatted. "It's only when I come out of my home that I realize how big the world is. It's a pity that I was locked in four high walls at home, and my actions were controlled by someone. Now I'm free. How's the scenery in the capital? What are the favorites of my father-in-law and grandfather?" Jia Zheng and his son Li Yao temporarily lived in Wang's house. Although Jia Zheng was full of confidence, he was still a little nervous about getting along with Lao Yueshan.

Seeing the nervousness of Jia Zheng's son-in-law coming to the door, he couldn't help laughing and said, "Even if my father doesn't want to see you, it's too late. I'm already married. Can I still go back on my word? Don't worry, Your Master Taishan is busy with official business all day long and doesn't have much time to criticize you. My grandfather is a very easy-going person. He never likes to talk around the bush. Don't drop your book bag in front of him, and don't cover up your mistakes. But my sister-in-law is going to give birth again, and I don't know if the baby will be a boy or a girl."

Thinking that Wang Ziteng's daughter-in-law is going to have a second child, Zili is very interested in her future nephew. "Your brother already has a daughter. It's best to be a boy at this moment. Look at how happy your elder brother is to have a son!" Jia Zheng thought that Wang Ziteng already had a daughter and the Wang family didn't have a grandson. Jia pardoned his son, and he was more excited than he passed the exam.A man's mind is nothing compared to his own son, Jia Zheng's tone could not help showing envy.

Child, the corner of Zili's mouth twitched slightly. Of course, Jia Zheng didn't know how much Zhang had endured to give birth to his precious son. Thinking of Zhang's wailing and tragic scene, Zili's hair shuddered.Facing the subconscious rejection of the idea of ​​having a baby, she shook her head: "Brother is happy, but sister-in-law almost died. My Buddha is really scary." Zili patted her heart with lingering fear, unwilling to think about that scene again .

Jia Zheng didn't know anything about having children, but seeing Zili's expression changed, he still asked worriedly: "It seems that sister-in-law has suffered a lot from your appearance, but having children is predestined by heaven, and it's inevitable. But I think sister-in-law's hardships are not in vain. Now that she has her son as a backer, she is very stubborn. Before we left, she kicked out the eldest brother and two girls. The eldest brother followed her without saying anything. "After having a son, Mrs. Zhang suddenly became rich, and Jia Amnesty wanted to give his wife three points.Before she was confinement, she started to act like a domineering, and took Jia Amnesty's girl for surgery.

Thinking of Mrs. Zhang being wrapped round and rumbling, with the expression that I am a great hero and you all kneel down to me, Zili can only shake his head deeply, a poor person must have something to hate.Mrs. Zhang really makes people feel distressed. When Mrs. Zhang was pregnant, she swallowed her anger, and when she gave birth, she had to live and die, but the Jia family cared more about the child in her womb, and didn't care much about the life and death of the mother.Seeing how pitiful Zhang was at that time, Zili felt pity for this sister-in-law, and felt that she was pitiful.

But after waiting for Zhang's delivery, her face wiped away what little compassion and friendliness Zili had left. "She is also a poor person. The eldest brother is unreliable, and she can only rely on her son. But you don't know that she drove away two girls, and then the eldest brother spent five hundred silver to take in a Yangzhou girl. I heard that she is very tall. Good at playing piano, chess, calligraphy and painting." Zili couldn't help but sigh when he thought of Jia She's playboy: "Although his succession to the title is a certainty, but think about it, what's the use of an empty title. Now the master is still there In the officialdom, the emperor holds high esteem, but flowers are not good for a hundred days, the old man is good for one day, and there are many old friends and relatives in our family. We all help each other and get along well. But there is no one who does things without grudges. I've been working for a few days, and there are still people who talk and talk, not to mention Jinling weaving. Once I retire, I should think of a way to get out. The elder brother just lives blindly, what will we do in the future? Our family With a century-old foundation, you can’t sit still and eat nothing.”

"Brother is really confused, but he doesn't listen to me. I am a younger brother and I can't blame my elder brother in front of my father. Therefore, I study hard to reassure my father. God can only do it like this." Jia Zheng said. The meaning is that it is a pity that he is not the eldest son and cannot inherit the title and revitalize the family.

Zili knew what Jia Zheng was thinking. Although he didn't like Jia She, he wanted to seize the heir apparent. He still didn't dare to do something to completely abolish Jia She.After all, he has read the books of sages and sages for many years. The monarch, minister, minister, father and son are deeply ingrained in his mind and cannot be shaken. "Children and grandchildren have their own blessings. The master knows in his heart that elder brother is not useless. What are your plans?" Zili asked about Jia Zheng's future plans. Regarding the future, they hadn't seriously discussed it. Previously, Jia Zheng only had one goal. ——Examination for Juren, examination for tribute students, but what about after passing the examination?To be an official, how to be an official, what kind of official should you be?Jia Zheng's officialdom planning is blank.

Jia Zheng was actually questioned by Zili, his imagination only went to the examination room of the examination, when suddenly Zili asked him about his future plans, he also froze. "I haven't planned yet. The exam is a gathering of masters from all over the world. I don't know if I fail the exam. Even if I pass the exam, it's just a step-by-step qualification. I want to find an official position to hone myself immediately. Even being a county magistrate is fine, but what I say doesn’t count.” Although Jia Zheng has been growing up in the hothouse of Rongguo Mansion, he still has ideals in his heart.

In the capital, Wang Dingqian put a letter in front of Mrs. Tang: "My daughter is coming back. Your son-in-law is not bad, and he passed the Juren examination."