Daiyu's wife in the Red Chamber

As before, Rongguo Mansion did not tidy up Daiyu's house in advance.

In the end, Mother Jia arranged for Daiyu to still live in the east wing of her courtyard. In the spring of the following year when she first came to Beijing, Daiyu no longer lived in Jiamu's bisha closet, but moved to the east wing. She was seven years old at the time.

There are three rooms in the East Wing, which are slightly lower than the main room. They are respectively used as bedrooms, small halls and study rooms. They are quite complete, but they are not enough to hold the books, calligraphy and paintings accumulated by the Lin family over the past century.After thinking about it, Mother Jia originally wanted to order people to put all these books in Baoyu's outer study in front of the Chuihua Gate in her main courtyard, where the courtyard is wide and the houses are clean.Daiyu said that it would be inconvenient to study in the future, and Jia Mufang ordered Sister Feng to have someone clean up the three small side rooms connecting the main room and the east wing to store all the books Daiyu brought from the south.

Daiyu kept some books that she read often and Lin Ruhai made a list of must-read books when she was dying. The rest moved into the anteroom, busy cleaning the bedroom, installing utensils, and distributing some paper and pens to welcome the spring and explore the spring. , Xichun, Baochai, Baoyu and others.

Baoyu tasted Daiyu in his heart, and felt that she was becoming more and more relaxed. He hurriedly took out the wagtail incense string presented by King Jingjing when Daiyu was giving gifts, and gave it to Daiyu. He said with a smile: "Daughter-in-law Rong When I met Prince Beijing at the funeral, what Prince Beijing gave me was something given to him by His Majesty, and I was not willing to give it to anyone, I just kept it for my sister."

Nanny Liu was leading someone to clean up the room, but Daiyu couldn't stop her and said, "What kind of stinky man took it! I don't want him."

So, throw it and don't take it.

Baoyu has become a habit, but he doesn't feel embarrassed, so he has to take it back. By chance, Xiren came and said his wife was looking for him, and left in a hurry.

Grandma Liu has never been idle since she followed Daiyu. She inquired into everything about Daiyu and Rongguo Mansion, and the temperament and character of everyone. : "The next time Master Bao comes to look for the girl again, he is not allowed to break into the girl's boudoir. This is the first thing, and the second is to send someone to tell Miss Hua when he sees Second Master Bao coming."

These women and girls were all arranged by the Rongguo Mansion to serve Daiyu in Daiyu's room. Daiyu never sent them away after being familiar with them. All of them knew about Baoyu and Xiren. Hearing Madam Liu's words, carefully After careful consideration, they all laughed.

Mammy Liu ordered Xueyan to brew a cup of red jujube tea and Daiyu, and went into the bedroom to watch everyone tidy up.

Although Lin Ruhai said that he had changed all the family property and sealed up the dowry that had been completed one by one, he did not leave his thoughts for Daiyu. In addition to books, calligraphy and paintings, he also had some utensils that he and Jia Min had set up in the room before his death. , or large screens, or copper tripods, or vases and tea bowls, or pine smoke and clear mud, they are quaint and heavy, rather inconspicuous.Daiyu missed her parents, so she ordered them to be set up in the room, and hung the words "Zizhen Zizhi" written by Lin Ruhai before her death on the bedroom wall, and she was taught by him every day.

Nanny Liu looked at the brocade quilt and satin mattress in the bedroom, reached out to touch it, frowned and told the palace maid Zihao, "The quilt is a bit damp, and it must have not been exposed to the sun recently. Bring the girl's bedding in for the time being." For one night."

With a promise, Zihao rolled up the bedding, and together with Songyan, Qingtan, and Chengbi carried in Daiyu's bedding and unfolded them one by one.

Chengbi is the youngest among the four court ladies. She is 15 years old this year, and she has a disposition. It should be cleaned up, but who knows that it is not cleaned up at all, and the girl must not rest."

There was a trace of sarcasm at the corner of Qingtan's mouth, he bent down to smooth the moon-white silk quilt, and said in a low voice: "It's not like you don't know how our girls are treated in this mansion, according to what I got out of it from Wang Momo In other words, the last time our girl entered the mansion was even more pitiful than today. The last time I went back to pick up the girl, Wang Momo saw that there was still no one to clean up the girl's house after dinner, so she had to ask in person, so she was arranged in the old lady's room. In the green gauze closet, Kaichun cleans up another room, which is now the east wing."

The four young eunuchs moved all their luggage into the room and asked them where they would live in the future.Although they are eunuchs, it is very convenient for them to enter and exit the inner courtyard, but there is a difference between men and women, and they cannot accompany maids and servants in Daiyu's room.

Liu Mama came out to have a look, first went to Jiamu's room and asked if there was anyone living in the servant's room in the Ming courtyard, then arranged herself and the four maids in the servant's room adjacent to the south of the east wing of the inner courtyard, and other maids and servants arranged In the servant's room in the second entrance to the east wing, the four eunuchs were arranged further south, and in the servant's room in the outermost courtyard, they sent someone to report to Sister Feng.

Jiamu's courtyard is very large, not to mention the backyard, but to say that the inner courtyard is divided into three halls to the south, apart from the main room where Jiamu lives and the east and west wing rooms, forming a courtyard with three entrances; There is another courtyard, with rooms on the left and right, which are two entrances; between the hallway and the vertical flower gate is another courtyard, but it is the front yard, which is also the first entrance, and houses are still on the left and right.Outside the Chuihua Gate is Jia Baoyu's study, which is a large courtyard, and further south are four complete courtyard houses where Jia Baoyu's four nurses live.

Sister Feng is so busy now that she doesn't touch the ground, she just said that she knows, and then sent someone to deliver a pedal stove and two baskets of silver frost charcoal.

Before he left, Jia Lian had seen the old men and returned to the room. Sister Feng welcomed them in. Seeing that there was no one in the room, she blessed her body and said with a smile, "My uncle is very happy! My uncle has worked hard all the way! I heard yesterday's story I started to report to Malai, saying that today I am driving back home, and I have prepared a little water and wine to dust off the dust. I wonder if I will give you Guangyao?"

Jia Lian didn't wait for her to finish, and said with a sneer: "What is the uncle? Who is the uncle? The real uncle is in the old lady's yard. What does it have to do with me?" After finishing speaking, he went to his seat.

Sister Feng restrained all her complacency before, and said, "Where did Second Master get all his anger and send it to us?"

While speaking, the idea of ​​having Ping'er and all the maids come to pay homage and offer tea suddenly dissipated.

Jia Lian glanced at her, and although Sister Feng's face was pink and glossy, she couldn't hide the tiredness and fatigue in her eyes. She couldn't help touching her heart, and beckoned her to come closer and hold her hand, and said in a low voice: " Feng'er, I just want to ask you, do you want to inherit our lord's title, or do you want to hand over the title and the family's foundation to others?"

Sister Feng turned pale with shock, and blurted out: "Second Master, what are you talking about? How can our family property be given to others? Whether it is the property in this mansion or the title of Grand Master, don't they all belong to Second Master? Otherwise, why bother me?" Busy inside and out?"

Jia Lian sneered and said, "Now anyone who asks outside will say that our Rongguo Mansion will belong to Baoyu in the future, whether it is title or property, where did you mention you and my wife? Hey! I also mentioned you. Me, it's a pity who doesn't say that we are a housekeeper and a housekeeper's wife who work hard without complaint? Let me ask you, apart from paying monthly money to make clothes, make clothes, eat, feast and mediate trivial matters such as disputes between servants and other trivial matters that are easy to offend, you can make the decision. Serious matters in the mansion? Have you touched the key to the warehouse? You may control the large expenditures in the mansion? Think about it for yourself, are you the head of the house or the housekeeper’s wife? You and I only have a big sister and a daughter, and you want to earn money Who will inherit the money without a son?"

Sister Feng frowned, and couldn't help lowering her voice: "I said, Second Master, where do you get your ideas? At first glance, you seem to understand everything, but when you think about it carefully, I don't understand at all. Don't worry about me now. Whether it's a small matter or a big one, who's daughter-in-law doesn't take care of the small things and give it to the master? Could it be that everything in this mansion will not belong to you and me in the future? No one can take it away!"

Jia Lian pointed to the Rongxi Hall in front of him, and said, "Haven't you ever thought that you and I make wedding clothes for others?"

Sister Feng was stunned, and a look of panic gradually appeared on her face, she said: "Second Master, why not? Anyway, the title belongs to the Eldest Master, so it's never his turn!"

"Now who doesn't say that the head of the Rongguo Mansion is Mr. Zheng? When it comes to our lord, who pays attention to it? What if you and I violate the laws of the country and the family? Usury, exploitation and monopoly are serious crimes! If you and I Busy and disregarding his body, how can he end up without a son? How can he inherit the family without a son? What if the empress is his backer? If the mansion goes out with the posts of the master and me, covering up the servants and colleagues to do all kinds of evil, in the end all the crimes will be blamed on you What about my wife and the master? Apart from me, Cong'er, a black-browed and black-mouthed guy, the master has no other flesh and blood. If you and I are convicted, then there will be no successors. If the title is not given to him, who will it be? Can't give it to Huan'er. The old lady is full of heart!" Jia Lian was expressionless, recalling the past, and hurriedly asked: "I sent Zhao'er a letter to you last time, did you listen? Did you make a big profit? The two major crimes of exploitation and champerty?"

Sister Feng's complexion was pale, she shook her head quickly, and said in a trembling voice: "Not long after the second master wrote to me, it was the time when Rong's daughter-in-law was going to the funeral, but an old nun asked me to file a lawsuit for Mr. Zhang. I thought my wife used to do this. The thing is that I stopped doing fasting and reciting Buddha in the past few years. I was very tempted and planned to write a letter to Chang'an Jiedu envoy Yun Guang with Erye's post. After thinking about it, I don't know why Erye suddenly asked me to do this. The second master came back to make trouble with me, so he didn't agree."

The old nun later begged Mrs. Wang, but Mrs. Wang refused to take over and sent someone to hand it over to herself. She didn't know what was wrong but shook her head in refusal.Later, Zhou Rui's family sent a letter to Yun Guang with a post from the mansion, and Mrs. Wang enjoyed several thousand taels of silver.

In fact, Sister Feng is not afraid of retribution from the underworld at all, she has already started to lend interest money, and can earn hundreds of taels of silver a month, but she is afraid that Jia Lian will be angry, and she is afraid that Jia Lian will take the money away and spend it on her own, so she only talks about taking the money away and does not mention it. Usury exploitation.

Jia Lian breathed a sigh of relief, and then asked: "What about the loan sharks? Even Jiangnan knows that you put the loan sharks, but did you ever accept them?"

Sister Feng was taken aback in her heart, and Busy Yun didn't do this anymore.

Jia Lian nodded and said: "It's good if you don't do these things. You don't know. I was terrified after reading the regulations. Although we are not afraid of doing anything with the power of our family, who doesn't give three points to the officials? Now Now that I have a concubine again, I'm afraid she will flatter us even more. But what if? Feng'er, think carefully about what I say. Outsiders dare not offend you and me. How about letting the yamen know? Even if our family can keep you and me, I'm afraid we won't be able to keep our title."

Then, Jia Lian carefully told Sister Feng all he had got.

Sister Feng was terrified when she heard it. At first she only thought Jia Lian's alarmist words were a bit disapproving. After hearing Jia Lian's words again and again, she couldn't help being shaken after thinking about it.

Jia Lian noticed something, and said: "Don't take it for granted. I have traveled all the way, and I heard from the husband that Uncle Lin left me that there were many battles in the inner house, and many fools like you were played by applause. In the end, there is nothing. You and I are in such a critical situation, but you and I are ignorant, which is sad! Feng'er, I will ask you the truth again today. You have thought about it and answered me. Are you willing to live a good life with me? "

"Second Master, what nonsense are you talking about? Since I am married to Second Master, I naturally want to live in peace and harmony with Second Master. I am afraid that Second Master dislikes me in his heart and only cares about the benefits of others. To the bastard wife!"

Seeing that Sister Feng was full of jealousy, Jia Lian unconsciously felt ashamed, and said: "We are a couple, you are wrong, I am wrong, it can be said that they are evenly matched, and the degree of stupidity is evenly matched. Feng'er, if I change my past, Only guarding you alone, are you willing to let go of the power of housekeeper in this mansion, and have children to live your own life?"

Jia Lian was very reluctant to part with his concubine Ping'er and her charming lover outside, but Li Ming said that if he really wanted to make a living in the Rongguo Mansion, he must cultivate his character and not break the law of the country.The dispute between wives and concubines is the beginning of chaos in the family. No matter how beautiful the wives are, they really want to eat each other. If there is resentment, there will be troubles. They will do everything to frame each other, and it is absolutely impossible to work together.He thought about how Sister Feng and Ping'er were. Sure enough, everyone scolded Sister Feng and praised Ping'er. Even he thought Ping'er was better than Sister Feng.

Sister Feng looked at Jia Lian with suspicion in her eyes, not to mention she didn't believe it, even the rest of the house didn't believe it.

Jia Lian smiled bitterly and said, "Don't believe me, I'll send Ping'er to match someone tomorrow to show my sincerity. In addition, I have one more important thing to tell you." Just about to use the money that Lin Ruhai gave her I told Sister Feng about buying the farm for 1 taels of silver, and I will collect rent every year. Suddenly, I heard someone talking outside. Sister Feng asked who it was, and Ping'er came in and said it was Xiangling.

Jia Lian went back to the mansion today because he didn't visit Aunt Xue and didn't see Xiangling. He only knew that she was the girl Xue Pan killed and snatched, and she had something to do with Jia Yucun. , just concealed what he was going to tell Sister Feng, and after eating a bowl of tea, suddenly a young man from the second door came to report that the master was waiting for him in the big study. Jia Lian asked which master it was, and everyone in the room was full Surprised, said: "It's the second master."

Jia Lian snorted coldly, walked out of the door, and went to Mengpozhai, Jia Zheng's outer study, but to discuss the matter of visiting relatives.