Prequel to the Red Chamber: I Am the Second Wife

"Did the second master know?" Zili was a little worried about Jia Zheng's opinion. "Second Master is talking to Lai Da. I heard that Lai Da has confirmed that the pearl girl next to his wife will be his daughter-in-law, and they will get married in the spring. Second Master didn't say anything when he found out about Fang Ruo. It's nothing else. It seems that the second master doesn't take Fang Ruo seriously." Mingqian helped Zili change her clothes, and told her what happened in the Jia family recently.Zili laughed and said, "It's a good thing. Lai Da's mother used to serve by his wife's side, and Pearl is an appropriate person. Wait until the second master and Lai Da finish talking and ask him to take him away with ease." Rest, it's already late, I'll see you tomorrow. Does anyone know about my going out with the second master?" Zili worried that Wang Dingqian and Mrs. Tang would find out, so she was a little worried.

"Second Mistress, don't worry, the master and wife don't know that today is the uncle's visit. I said that the second master has gone out and grandma is resting. The uncle said something important and left." Mingqian said while serving Zili in exchange. After taking off his clothes and combing his hair again, he asked someone to bring dinner.

As soon as the food was set, Jia Zheng came in. Zili smiled and said, "You're quick to talk. I'm looking at you and Lai Da eating. Is there something important for him to come?"

Lai Zhong is the chief executive of the Rongguo Mansion, and his son Lai Da wants to step into his father's business. Jia Daishan called Lai Da to come to the capital at this juncture not because he was worried about his son, but because something happened in Jinling. "The accounts in Hangzhou don't match up, and Hu Qizhong actually involved his father. Father and Hu Qizhong couldn't help but write a letter to ask your old man to help sort it out. I'll go and talk to the old man tomorrow. How can our family be with the Hu family? What's the matter?" Jia Zhengsheng was sullen and Zili complained.

"That's it, it's difficult. Since your father wrote to the old man, it must be clearly stated in the letter. You don't know about the weaving office. How can you explain it to my grandfather? It's better to read it first. Don't worry, even if I'm not your daughter-in-law, my family won't ignore it based on the relationship between our two families. That Hu Qizhong is a man who is loyal on the outside and treacherous on the inside, so the Holy Lord, Ming Zhuzhao, will naturally not wrong a good man." Lila washed Jia Zheng's hands, helped him to sit down, took the teacup from the girl, and asked him to take a sip of hot tea to calm down slowly.

The hot teacup in his hand warmed his body a lot when he drank it. Originally, Jia Zheng took Zili out to play today, and he was in a good mood.Unexpectedly, as soon as he came back, he was upset by the news of Jinling.When I was a child, I didn't really understand the dangers of the officialdom, thinking that Jia Daishan was very relaxed and comfortable as an official.As he got older, Jia Daishan deliberately took him by his side to let Jia Zheng know the tricks and dangers of officialdom.Hearing the news that Hu Qizhong was biting his father, Jia Zheng's heart was in a state of turmoil. The weaving position was well-known to everyone in the world.Those censors and villains who are greedy for this position are worrying that they have no reason to criticize Jia Daishan. How can Hu Qizhong resist it?

Zili looked at Jia Zheng with a gloomy expression. She seemed to have sensed something. When Wang Changchun was in Hangzhou, Hangzhou Weaving and Jinling Weaving had close contacts and often cooperated. There must be some correspondence in the accounts.When Hu Qizhong came to Hangzhou, Jia Daishan and Jinling Weaving Yamen must still have contact with him.Not to mention that Jia Daishan's hands and feet are really dirty - thinking of this, Zili's heart is at a loss.Zili was worried, but Jia Zheng was comforted by her: "Father has already told me to reassure me. It's my unfounded worry, but I want you to worry about it. I'm hungry, let's eat." Jia Zheng faced the subtle changes in the officialdom Still ignorant, he quickly walked out of his worries, thinking that the Wang family could not just stand by and watch.Even if the Wang family doesn't care, the Jia family has many relatives and old friends in the capital, so things will definitely be settled.

The meal was very quiet. Although Jia Zheng had stopped worrying, Zili began to feel uneasy. She stuffed something into her mouth without taste, but her mind was far away.Does Jia Daishan have anything to do with Hangzhou Weaving's deficit? Will Wang Changchun help?Frozen three feet did not happen in a day, and the falling of the big tree in the Jia family did not happen overnight.Perhaps in Jia Daishan's generation, the foundation of the Jia family began to shake.

"Are you still angry about Brother Zhen's gift? I remember that in the future, no matter how happy I am, I have to be tense, and I can't embarrass you by being frivolous." Jia Zheng thought that Zili's silence was because of the teahouse I lost my temper and got angry.He quietly pulled Zili's sleeve across the table, and looked at her with pleading eyes.

The grandson Zili had a headache for a while, her face became darker, and there was no calm time. "I know I was wrong, so don't vomit in your heart and get sulking. Carefully, you will be so angry that you will break your body. I really want to read the writings of the chief examiner of this subject. When you read Qiu Wei, Mr. Wang took my teacher's Explain to me about the works of the Four Books. With my talent and learning, even if I passed the exam, I couldn’t rank so high. We came all the way to the capital to get the title on the gold list. It’s best to look around for the writings of the chief examiner. Xie Gong, the chief examiner of this subject, has always been arrogant and arrogant, and there are very few people who can catch his eyes. Even the father-in-law and the old man dare not get too close to him. It's nowhere. This book was not published in the world, only Xie Gong's blue-eyed people will have the honor of donating the book. Brother Zhen is kind, and that book is also rare." Jia Zheng explained to Zili that the grandson gave it to him. the importance of his book.

Zili squeezed out a stiff smile: "It's because I was too narrow-minded. I think the second master is still studying at home these few days. There are many things to do at the end of the year. If you go out again, you may be running wild and waiting for Chun Wei. I can't take it easy. Since someone gave you that book with good intentions, it also means to hope that you will win the toad palace, not for anything else, but for the kindness of others, the second master should study hard." Zili looked at Jia Zheng with clear eyes. She knew that if she revealed the identity of Mr. Zhen, Jia Zheng, the unlucky boy, would definitely be greatly stimulated.He might think about it, and ask some boring questions, seeing that the Chinese New Year is Chun Wei.She decided to hide it from Jia Zheng first, tell him to study and review at ease, and wait for Chunwei to talk about it.

The lawsuit between Jia Daishan and Hu Qizhong soon came to a conclusion. Hu Qizhong's shortfall in Hangzhou Weaving has nothing to do with others.Although the emperor reprimanded Hu Qizhong for his shortfalls, he did not erase his official status. Instead, he asked him to continue to do so in order to correct his mistakes and make up for his shortfalls.As for Hu Qizhong's involvement in Jinling Weaving, there is also a deficit, and the emperor's efforts to prove that the deficit is a system problem and has nothing to do with weaving officials have also been lightly ignored by the emperor.

"Second aunt, the old lady is waiting for aunt inside." Tian Zili was talking in front of Mrs. Tang, but Wang Changchun called him away.It was still Wang Changchun's small quiet and deep courtyard full of pines and cypresses, Zili stood in front of the door and waited for Wang Changchun to call her.

As soon as he entered the room, he didn't wait for Zili to ask An to salute, when he heard the angry voice of Mr. Wang behind the partition: "Come in, girl. I have something to say to her when you go out."

Mr. Wang is older than a year ago. His beard and hair are all white, the skin on his face is loose, and the spots of longevity spots have begun to climb his face.The old man was reclining on the chair with his eyes closed, he stretched out a finger and pointed to a chair beside him, and Zili went over and sat down.Before he could speak, the old man said slowly: "Your father-in-law stretched his hand too long. Fortunately, the emperor's thoughts are not on money. If it weren't for this, I don't know what the end will be. From now on, you will have to rely on yourself." .In that family, your son-in-law is the youngest son, so let’s leave as soon as possible. I’m worried that you will suffer even in middle age.”

The old man is really a god.If things develop according to the original track, the Jia family will decline, wouldn't it be 30 or [-] years later.At that time, I was already middle-aged, pampered and pampered all my life, I never thought that I would become a prisoner one day.Zili glanced at her grandfather with admiration, and suddenly a feeling of sourness came to her heart, she said in a muffled voice: "I will remember what my grandfather said, although I help manage some trivial matters at my in-law's house, but the big things are decided by my wife. I don’t know either. I looked coldly at his family’s life and spent more money than ours. I’ve already had suspicions from Jinling’s letter, and it seems to be true from my grandfather’s words today.” Jia Daishan will give Jia Mu at the end of each year With a large sum of private money, he usually tinkers with some exquisite antiques and jewelry from time to time, not to mention the exquisite brocades that come from nearby buildings.Just for this item, at least it costs tens of thousands of silver, and Jia's daily pomp is more than that of Wang's.The annual salary is only so much, and the filial piety money received is also countless. Jia Daishan earns a full year, and the white and gray income will definitely not be able to support the expenses of the Jia family, but the life of the Jia family is still very good. Silver can be imagined.

"That's right with me. Jia Daishan is also very courageous. But since the Holy Majesty only asks questions, I don't have to speak out to annoy others. Your son-in-law, I coldly see that he is not bad in nature, and a very smart child is taught to be stupid. In terms of worldly wisdom , It can’t be said that I don’t know anything, and a little cleverness is also a little cleverness learned from watching my wife and aunt at home. If he is a woman, he is smart enough. However, he is a man, and his ability is not enough. Since he has become my grandson-in-law, Even if he and I have some fate, for your sake, I will guide him well, and support him if I can. As for how much he can learn, how far he can go and how high he can fly, it depends on his own fortune." The old man opened his eyes and looked at his beloved granddaughter. Wang Changchun's voice became loving: "My grandchildren. That is, your brother and you are doing well, but unfortunately you are not a man. If you were a boy, the Wang family would still It has been prosperous for hundreds of years. This is the only thing that grandfather can help you with, and what happens in the future depends on your own destiny."

Zili's eyes were wet, and she took her grandfather's hand and choked up, "Grandfather will live a long life if he is healthy. I don't want to leave him."

"You silly child, of course I will live a good life, and I still want to hold my little grandson." Wang Changchun patted Zili's head lovingly, and wiped her face with a handkerchief.

Jia Daishan's matter was satisfactorily resolved, and Jia Zheng was able to study at home behind closed doors with peace of mind.Brother Zhen, who Zili was most worried about, did not appear again, except that Jia Zheng would sometimes lament that this brother Zhen was so indifferent, why there was no news all of a sudden, Zili was still satisfied with the current state.

Time turns and it is already spring. With the wild geese flying across the sky from time to time, the spring light comes to the capital with a spring rain. There are many things in the streets of the capital. Scholars from all over the country have been struggling for ten years, starting from childhood. We have come to today step by step, moving towards the ultimate goal.Jia Zheng didn't have time to think about anything else, he was absorbed in the pile of books, Zili didn't bother him, he just told the maids to take good care of him.She also pays special attention to Jia Zheng's diet and daily life in daily life, for fear that he will feel uncomfortable and delay the key event that determines his future.

This day, Tian Zili was sitting in the room with Jia Zheng reading a book, she was poking with needlework, stitch by stitch, but her mind was far away. "Is brother-in-law and sister here?" Wang Ziteng came in with a smile.I met the young master of Lord Lin's family on the street, and he wants to come and visit you.I don't know if you are free or not. If you are free, send someone to tell him. He recently organized a tea party, and everyone discussed articles and studied some test questions together. "Wang Ziteng has a wide range of friends in the capital. Whether it is a scholar-bureaucrat who thinks he is noble, or a martial artist who practices martial arts all day long, even traffickers and pawns, Wang Ziteng can get along with them.

"It's brother-in-law, please sit down. I've been thinking about finding a few people with similar temperaments to discuss the next article together. I'm worried that I'll get off track when I stay at home all day. Thank you brother-in-law for sending the message. Go and reply." Jia Zheng hurriedly stood up and asked Wang Ziteng to sit down and talk.

"I won't sit down anymore, just to let you know that I won't delay your study. I'm leaving!" Wang Ziteng didn't expect Zili to be at home instead of his mother. Wang Ziteng regretted why he came to deliver the message in person. Instead of calling the servants to pass on the message.Ever since Jia Zheng got acquainted with "Brother Zhen", Wang Ziteng intentionally or unintentionally avoided this opportunity for Zili to be alone.He watched Zili look at him tenderly and kindly (staring like a tiger), and Wang Ziteng was about to leave without even sitting down.