Prequel to the Red Chamber: I Am the Second Wife

When Zili and Jia Zheng arrived at the gate of Wang's house, some family members had already received the news and opened the gate to welcome the aunt and uncle. Jia Zheng rode on the horse and said to the butler hesitantly: "How can I dare to go through the main gate? Let’s go in through the door. It’s not good to make too much of a fuss.” As Wang Changchun is the chief assistant of the imperial court, only the prince can enter the main gate of the Wang family, even the six ministers may not have the face to enter through the main entrance.It would be bad if I was such a small person.

"Don't worry, my aunt. This is the master's order. Besides, I don't care about official positions today, only relatives. Our second aunt married far away, and hasn't returned home for three dynasties. The aunts and uncles who come back are all spoiled guests, so naturally they should Go through the main entrance. Young Master, please dismount and go in." The butler personally took the reins of the horse and asked Jia Zheng to dismount.Jia Zheng thought about it, he couldn't be too stubborn and out of gregarious, so he got off his horse, said to the butler that he was presumptuous, and entered the gate, followed by Zili's sedan chair, put it down at the second gate, and put it on. The boy from the inner courtyard came in, lifted it up again and walked away with a stone's throw.Having arrived at the Chuihua Gate, Mrs. Tang was already holding her son's hands and looking forward to them. Zili got off the sedan chair and Jia Zheng stepped forward.

Mrs. Tang hugged Zili into her arms, and cried before she could speak. Jia Zheng looked at their mother and daughter and dared not speak, so he quietly backed away.Mrs. Tang took a closer look at her daughter. Zili has gotten better over the past year, and her brows and eyes have lost their jerk and become more charming. Mrs. Tang is relieved knowing that her daughter is doing well in her in-law's house: "It's so easy to hope that you will come "Wang Ziteng popped up at this time and said, "Let's go in quickly, the weather is so cold, I haven't seen my brother-in-law for a long time." Said Wang Ziteng stepped forward and patted Jia Zheng's shoulder hard, and hooked his shoulders and made out with him Greetings.

Jia Zheng has been exercising since he got married, and he is no longer the soft-legged chicken in Hangzhou. Although Wang Ziteng exerted seven or eight parts of his strength, Jia Zheng still stood steadily. Wang Ziteng nodded in satisfaction, secretly Thinking that Jia Zheng is not bad, my sister is well trained.

When everyone arrived in the hall, the little girls put down the mats, Zili and Jia Zheng knelt down to kowtow to Mrs. Tang and Wang Dingqian, and saluted. After the salute, the little girls wanted to help Zili up. Woke up.Wang Dingqian watched the interaction between his daughter and son-in-law, and exchanged glances with his wife, feeling a little relieved.Everyone sat down and talked about their respective scenes this year.Wang Dingqian asked Jia Zheng about the exam, and Jia Zheng took out his papers and asked his father-in-law to look them over.Wang Dingqian took a rough look and said: "The writing style is not bad. It is well-regulated, not flashy or ostentatious. This is the true meaning of the golden mean. When you come to the capital, you can live in peace of mind. I have already arranged the residence for your husband and wife. I've read your father's letter, don't worry about Chun Wei's affairs, I'll ask someone to arrange those trivial matters properly, you can just study at ease. Your family also has many relatives and friends in the capital, and you should visit around when you settle down." Wang Dingqian said. I told Jia Zheng to rest in peace and study carefully, not to worry about anything else.

Jia Zheng stood up and bowed deeply to his father-in-law: "My son-in-law is very grateful, thank you for your thoughtfulness of father-in-law and mother-in-law."

Mrs. Tang saw that Jia Zheng was good-looking, gentle and slow in speaking and doing things, and now that she was selected for the exam, she really cared about her daughter.She smiled and said: "A son-in-law and a half, you and Ziteng are the same in my heart. You live in a house on the back street, which is convenient for commuting and can also study quietly. You are welcome, just live in peace of mind." Don't waste time, you go to see the old lady. The old lady has gone to the palace, see you when you come back." Zili and Jia Zheng hurriedly stood up, and Wang Ziteng accompanied them to see the old lady.

The Wang family made arrangements for the daughter to return home. The next day, relatives and friends came to see the new son-in-law. Although Jia Zheng had been an old son-in-law for a year, it was the first time that the Wang family's relatives and friends in the capital saw him. It is also new.After a few days of excitement, Jia Zheng also met many people, including relatives and friends of the Wang family and old friends of the Jia family in the capital.Although Jia Zheng can still manage his reading and reviewing his homework every day, he has to go out to socialize frequently.

On this day, Tian Zili came back from visiting his mother, and Jia Zhengzheng asked someone to reply and declined the invitation of the young master of Jinxiang Hou's family to hunt.Zili smiled and said: "I said that the capital must not be quiet. The Marquis of Jinxiang is an old friend of our two families, and his young master is a man who is skilled in bows and horses, martial arts and brave. I heard that he has already planned an errand for the Ministry of War. In the future, you also want to go out to be an official, and it won't hurt to make friends. Second master has been studying for more than ten years, and he is not in a hurry." Jia Zheng put down the book helplessly: "I also want to make friends. Friends, but my father-in-law told me yesterday, don't tell me to get too close to my relatives and children before Chunwei. There is no need to tell people to gossip, and it will be fine after Chunwei. "

"My brother-in-law understands, but you don't have to be too deliberate. Anyway, your background and Yue's family can't be changed. Some people like to be sour and ask him to be sour. What my father means is to tell you to stop visiting the homes of relatives and friends who are officials now. People say that you are seeking a relationship, but you and Jinxiang Hou Xiaohou are fine. He is a general, and he doesn't know a few Chinese characters. If you are with him, no one will say that you are seeking a relationship. Don't be bored at home. I have memorized the book, and followed me to hunt pheasants. People from the Zhuangzi outside the city reported that the pheasants in the pine forest have come out to look for food in the past few days because of the snow, so let's go hunting." Wang Zisheng I don't know when I got out, stood at the door and watched my sister and brother-in-law showing their white teeth.

Zili hurriedly invited her brother to come in, and she said angrily, "Take it easy, your sister-in-law is about to give birth, and you still go out to play all day, isn't it good to talk to her at home, and it's the New Year's Eve again Next, there are a lot of things going on." Zili brought the tea himself.

Wang Ziteng said to his sister: "You weren't like this before, why did you become shy when you got married? According to me, although public opinion is important, you still live your own life. Why are you timid? As long as you can be worthy of your own heart. Even if my brother-in-law hides from people all day to avoid suspicion, some people will use his background to make a fuss. Why do you care about those poor people? If you read like that, you might as well burn the sage books. Brother-in-law will come out in the future If you are an official, if you want to cherish your feathers, then don’t come out at home.” Wang Ziteng talked about his experience as an official very emotionally, presumably Wang Ziteng’s official career will not be easy, with the reputation of his grandfather and father, Wang Ziteng The murmur heard could only be more.

Zili thought about it, so she stopped talking. Jia Zheng felt more and more reasonable when he heard what his uncle said.When he was in Jinling, he met many people in the local literary world because of Mr. Wang. Although they were all scholars, their personalities were too far apart.Some came from scholarly families or officials, so they got along much easier.Those who come from poor backgrounds and rely on hard studies have a lot of tempers and are difficult to get along with.Jia Zheng thought that if it weren't for Wang Jingzhai's face, they would definitely not even look at him.Although looking at Mr. Wang's face, those people are willing to condescend to make friends with him, but their words always reveal their disdain for dudes.Even though Jia Zheng didn't have much of a son-in-law's manners, when socializing with these people, Jia Zheng was always careful not to dress too brightly. If he was cautious and always paying attention, he would not know what touched their sensitive feelings if he was not paying attention. Nervous, satirized.

What Wang Ziteng said immediately hit Jia Zheng's heart, and he immediately pulled Wang Ziteng to complain: "What my brother-in-law said is that when I was in Jinling, I also met many literary figures in Jiangnan because of the blessing of the TOEIC teacher. Although they are all educated people, their personalities are really unpredictable. Zili also advised me not to care about those people, but in this world, how can you do whatever you want, some people and some things always go around I can't go there." Jia Zheng and Wang Ziteng complained.

Zili heard that the two of them had a good talk, so he went out quietly.Wang Ziteng enlightened Jia Zheng for a while and then took him out.

As soon as Jia Zheng left, Mrs. Tang's girl came to invite Zili to pass.

"Your son-in-law and your brother went out?" Madam Tang asked as soon as Zili came in. "Yes, I went out with my brother. What is mom doing?" Seeing Mrs. Tang piled up a pair of cotton cloths on the kang, Zili was very curious.Seeing that Mrs. Zhang is going to give birth in a few days, it's a bit late to prepare things for the baby now.

"I saw your sister-in-law preparing things for the children, and I thought you should prepare this too. You have been married for more than a year, why haven't you heard anything? I think your husband and wife are very intimate, is there any news?" Mrs. Tang straightened the muslin cloth, and took a deep look at Zili.

"Mom, what's the rush? He's busy studying this year, and we have limited time to spend together. Besides, his eldest brother just had a son, so I don't have to worry." Anyway, Jia's mother's attention was attracted by Zhang's son. After leaving, Zili was so happy that her ears were clean.

Mrs. Tang stared at Zili with a serious face: "Don't let my uncle be tripped by someone. I know it. You are a young daughter-in-law with a tender face. I am embarrassed to use methods to rectify the poor girl next to my uncle. You That mother-in-law, I don't think she is sensible. She loves her son and no one can control her, but what's the matter with stuffing people into the son's room!"

Zili smiled awkwardly: "How did Mom know? Mingqian must be talking too much!" Zili took Mingqian back to the capital to stay at home after the rain.

"You don't need to blame her. If I don't even know this, I will be your mother in vain. But you can only bear it for the time being. I think although my uncle has you in his heart, all men are like greedy cats. With a beautiful girl laughing and laughing by your side, you will always be so tempted. You'd better get rid of their faults as soon as possible to be clean. Your stomach has to live up to you. If you have children, others will not dare to say goodbye That's right. I invited the imperial physician to check your pulse and adjust your body, and you don't have to wait on your in-laws during this period, so you have to fight!" Mrs. Tang arranged a pregnancy preparation schedule for Zili and forced her to steam the buns.

The mother and daughter chattered privately, waiting for Zili to go back at night.Jia Zheng also just came back, and the maids are waiting to change clothes.Seeing Zili come back, Jia Zheng said excitedly: "The hunting today is really exciting. I never had the pleasure of running for a while learning to ride and shoot. Today I had a lot of fun. I shot several golden pheasants and hares. It's amazing." You're a lucky guy—a fox, it would be nice to make you a hand warmer. By the way, I also know a friend, a distant relative of the Zhen family, named Zhen Yunlong. He's skilled and knowledgeable!" Jia Zheng talked endlessly with Zili Talking about the harvest of hunting today.

The Zhen family?Ever since Zili was elected, the relationship between the Wang family and the Zhen family has been quietly estranged. Why did Wang Ziteng and Jia Zheng become friends with distant relatives of the Zhen family?Who is Zhen Yunlong?Zili thought for a long time but still had no idea. "By the way, Brother Zhen gave me a nice gift." Jia Zheng stretched out his hand to Zili's eyes, and in the palm of his hand was a warm Tianhuang Zhangzi.

There is a simple little rabbit carved on Zhang Zi's head. Who would take such a rough thing as the precious Tianhuang carving? Zili suddenly remembered the rough black jade pony in the bottom of her dressing box. Black line—this Zhen Yunlong is—someone!