Daiyu's wife in the Red Chamber

Folk fight for wealth, set up high platforms and build lighthouses, which are more valuable than lottery heads. Most of the lottery heads listed on the stage and under the lamps are gold, silver and jewelry, which are radiant and brilliant. Under the lights, they are even more magnificent and splendid.It attracted a lot of people, and there were a lot of people around, and there was a lot of voices.

Daiyu doesn't like scenes with many people, and she is also afraid that crowds will cause trouble instead. Even with Wei Ruolan protecting her, she is obsessed with cleanliness by nature and feels very uncomfortable when meeting people, so she stands far away in a place where there are few people, watching Once, he felt bored, and said: "It's similar to the scene where the big salt merchants in Yangzhou fought for wealth, and there is nothing unusual about it."

Wei Ruolan smiled and said, "Miss, have you ever seen a salt merchant fighting for wealth?"

Daiyu thought for a while and replied: "When I was young, I met my father a few times, but I never saw him again after I came to Beijing. The handwriting of those salt merchants is bigger than today, and the more elegant ones are either fighting poems or couplets, which won the first prize." Those who win the lottery, many students from poor families rushed to show their faces. Although this behavior broke out, it has benefited many people, and it is still passable. However, some salt merchants have changed their ways to show their wealth, making a mess, and using their wealth as a practice. People, don't feel ashamed, but enjoy it."

Wei Ruolan understood, didn't intend to say more, and asked her if she was tired, and there was a friend's restaurant nearby where she could sit and rest.When he was talking, he was secretly annoyed that he was not tired with martial arts, but Daiyu was delicate and weak, he should have thought of it earlier.

Daiyu felt her legs were sore, but unexpectedly she shook her head and said, "No need, it's not good for people to see."

Suddenly Dai Quan, who was full of beards and pretending to be an attendant, came to invite him. The two of them and the two nuns moved to the restaurant opposite the Gaotai Lighthouse. Emperor Changtai and the Queen had arrived early and sat in the private room on the second floor. , Open the window to overlook the Lantern Festival like two fire dragons.

Emperor Changtai looked at the lottery on the high platform, and ordered Wei Ruolan to copy the lantern riddles, take it back and guess it, and then go to win the lottery.

There are not only riddles hanging on the lantern, but also couplets and titles, which make the viewers compose poems and poems based on them. Those riddles are easy to say, they are absolutely neat and rhyming, and the artistic conception can be matched. Only the poems can be tested. The great Confucianism invited by the rich family to judge, the leader selected will win the lottery, which is more cumbersome.

Emperor Changtai and the empress are not good at this. There are many well-educated people in the capital. None were ever made.

Daiyu sat at the bottom and wrote a lot of poems in a short time, especially the second couplet with the answer to the riddle.

Because she didn't want to show others with pen and ink, Wei Ruolan copied it herself, and then sent it to the high platform. The eunuchs who followed him really won a lot of prizes. The colorful heads are all very valuable, and there are countless golden lamps and jade bowls. The most valuable one is a glass lantern inlaid with many pearls, gems, agates and jadeites. It is about three feet high. Yarn, when lit, fills the room with brilliance.

It's a pity that when the few puzzles that Daiyu guessed were delivered, someone else had already guessed them, and some of the puzzles were not won.

The queen looked at them one by one, played with the small ones in her hands, and said to Emperor Changtai, "Look, they are richer than you. They are spending money like water. This lantern alone is worth several thousand taels of silver."

Emperor Changtai said: "I am the poorest master, so it is meaningless to talk about it."

Because most of the lottery was won by Daiyu, Emperor Changtai gave it to Daiyu. After thinking about it, Daiyu only kept a pair of purple jade rings and a pair of jade cups, and the lottery won in the palace only kept her favorite elegant things , and the rest were folded into silver taels to help the beggars seen at the lantern festival in the name of Emperor Changtai and the Queen.Of course, Emperor Changtai had to send someone to take care of all these things, she couldn't do it by herself.

Emperor Changtai and the queen also saw the misery of the people under the prosperity, sighed, and agreed to Daiyu's request.

It was night, and Daiyu slept in the palace.

Because she went to bed late, guessing riddles and composing poems took a lot of thought, so when she returned to Jia's house the next day, Daiyu rested for two or three days before she recovered.

Relatives and friends from all over the Jia family came to treat them to New Year's wine. Jia's mother didn't like to go because she was too old, and Daiyu couldn't go there either.On the contrary, many people outside invited Daiyu to have a drink, but most of those people invited Daiyu alone, but none of them invited Daiyu alone. Mrs. Xing Wang did not dare to go when she saw that Jiamu would not go, so Daiyu had to go one by one. decline.Fortunately, these people all understood Daiyu's situation, and they couldn't go out to socialize without the guidance of elders such as mothers-in-law, so they didn't feel annoyed after seeing the reply, but were full of emotion.

Before Lin Ruhai died, she sent people to give presents to her classmates, same year, colleagues, etc. After that, Daiyu never stopped contacting these people. She sent her confidantes to go out because of filial piety, weddings, weddings, etc. Four or five adult families still have friendship, as for the other half of the family, perhaps Lin Ruhai is gone, the Lin family has no heirs, and gradually cut off contact with Daiyu.

When meeting such a family, after thinking about it, Daiyu naturally stopped rushing to avoid making people laugh.

Therefore, nowadays, everyone who has contact with each other is a family of benevolence and righteousness. Unless there is a funeral at home, the rest will send a post to Daiyu.

Zijuan came in with a half-worn red silk bag, and seeing Daiyu wearing homely clothes, leaning on the kang reading a book, she couldn't help saying: "Miss, watch your eyes carefully, if you read, sit up and sit."

Daiyu said lazily: "Just for a while, you have so much to say, what are you holding in your hand?"

Zijuan laughed and said, "What could it be? The gold curries and jewels that were quietly saved during Baoyu's year may be known to be easy to hide. According to Mingyan, there are more than 100 of them, equivalent to silver. Sixty-seven hundred taels is not considered jewelry. Baoyu was afraid that the girl would lack money to spend, so Tete sent it, but still kept it from others."

Daiyu sneered, and said: "What's the fun in hiding? Leave it to Nanny Liu, and I'll use it." Knowing those things from Wei Ruolan, and thinking of Qin Keqing's last words to Sister Feng, she should be prepared to step back and withdraw the way.

Zijuan said: "The attackers are tightly controlled, and Baoyu has nothing to do. Compared with Baoyu, my wife believes in the words of attackers."

Thinking of Xiren's verdict and fate, Daiyu sighed softly, if Xiren knew that what she sought was in vain, would she still do this?I don't know whether it was Baoyu who drove Xiren out, or whether Baochai sent Xiren away after entering the door. All in all, the marriage of Xiren should be on Jiang Yuhan. I don't know what the fate of Jiang Yuhan is now.

Just as she was thinking, Ruhua came over and said that Xichun would not be here today, Daiyu only said she knew.

After the notification of entering the painting, I went back to Ouxiangxie, searched everywhere but could not find Xichun, asked the little maid, she said she was looking for Tanchun, she arrived at Qiushuangzhai, unexpectedly Tanchun was not at home, and went to Hengwuyuan, so she had to go to Hengwuyuan again There is no Xichun in Wuyuan.When she was in a hurry, Xichun came back from the garden with Yingchun on her arm, and said she was going to pay her respects to Madam Xing.

But after Mrs. Xing waited for Yingchun and Xichun to leave, she secretly worried about Yingchun's dowry.

According to the families of high-ranking officials and dignitaries, they began to save dowry for their daughters from the time they were born, until they left the pavilion, they had ten miles of red makeup, including farmland, shops, houses, furniture, silk, satin, cloth, jewelry, etc., food and clothing. The shroud worn at the end of life and the coffin board used are all in it.

None of these things were prepared for the Spring Festival in the Rongguo Mansion.

One is that Yingchun is not Madam Xing's direct daughter, and the other is that Yingchun has not been close to Madam Xing for more than ten years. Sisters saving dowry?Mrs. Wang does have a daughter, but it's a pity that she entered the palace early to become a concubine. There is no need for it. If Yuan Chun was in the mansion, Mrs. Wang would have already saved up ten miles of red makeup for her.

Although I don't know when Yingchun will leave the pavilion, but I have prepared everything for the dowry, silk, satin, cloth and jewelry, and the wood for furniture, especially the high-quality wood, will not be found for a while.

After thinking hard, Mrs. Xing still had no solution, so she called Sister Feng to discuss it.

Sister Feng smiled and said, "What is madam worried about? I have already made up my mind. When the time is over, madam will just go to the old lady."

Mrs. Xing hurriedly asked what her idea was, and Sister Feng said: "Accordingly, the mansion gives 1 taels of silver as a dowry, but what is 1 taels of silver enough for? There is not enough silver in the box. Therefore, Mrs. Ming'er went to the old lady Silk, satin, cloth and antiques are all from the warehouse. There are not many other things in our warehouse, but there are these things. Even if some gold and silver utensils are not new, they can be melted by a goldsmith to make new ones, and jewelry is also available. Same, as long as it’s enough, you don’t need to spend money, and everyone will put in their makeup when the time comes. Instead of letting the whole family squander it, it’s better to make a dowry for our daughter, and make the in-laws happy.”

Mrs. Xing thought about it well, and said with a smile: "Sure enough, it's a good idea. I don't know how many things have been collected in the mansion every year. Although there are gifts in return, have all the filial people returned? You don't have to worry about silk, satin, clothes, jewelry, and antiques. Now, what about the furniture? Even if you can’t afford red sandalwood, you need red rosewood to look good.”

Sister Feng said: "Purple sandalwood is rare, so is huanghuali, and red rosewood and chicken wing wood are not easy to get. Tomorrow, I will ask Lian'er to take care of it. It's just such a girl. It's up to his brother to do his best. I don't think it will cost much. Lian'er and I paid the money, so we don't need to touch the 1 taels of silver. Besides, our storehouse doesn't have furniture such as red sandalwood and huanghuali. If we just take out a few screens, tables and chairs, repaint them and add them in, it's okay. Decent enough."

Mrs. Xing clapped her palms and smiled, and said: "In this way, 1 taels of silver only need to be used to buy houses, land and shops, 7000 taels to buy houses, land and shops, and 3000 taels for money."

Sister Feng couldn't help but said: "Why is this so useful? All 1 taels of silver will be given to the second younger sister to make a box of silver."

Mrs. Xing was stunned, and said: "Where is the mansion willing to agree? Zhu'er's daughter-in-law is the most stingy, how much has she been reduced after she took care of the house? I am afraid that their mother-in-law and daughter-in-law will not be willing to the previous idea. Besides, the original mansion said The dowry of 1 taels of silver actually included silks, satin, cloth, jewelry, antiques, houses, shops, land, and box money.”

Sister Feng smiled faintly, and said, "So what if you don't want to? Madame just leave it to me, and I'll take care of it properly."

When Madam Xing heard that she didn't need to worry about it, she immediately agreed.Now that she has grown closer to Yingchun's mother and daughter, she knows the benefits of dowry, and she doesn't want her to have only a dowry worth 1 taels of silver.

Sister Feng didn't find anyone, so she went to find Jia Mu by herself, and after she finished speaking, she said at the end: "There are really a lot of those heavy silk, satin and cloth things in the warehouse. It's unknown if they are covered with an inch of dust. It's a pity to leave them in vain. It’s better to find out what is not needed in the house and take care of it. It doesn’t cost money and can show dignity. The second girl is the first girl in our family to get married, and her husband’s house is Baoning Hou’s mansion. I heard that the dowry is worth two 3 Wan Liang, if we are too stingy with the dowry and make people laugh, the second girl will not be a good person in the future."

Every time she thinks that apart from the ancestral property, half of the things in the house will be half of the second room when the family is separated, and it hurts when she thinks that she has spent more than a million taels of silver on the construction of the family-saving villa. You must know that 50 taels of it should belong to their first room of.

After Yuanchun became a concubine, the mansion was respectable. Jia Zheng hadn't been promoted for many years. Last year, he was hired as an apprentice, but their eldest wife didn't get any benefits. Jia Amnesty, Mrs. Xing and Jia Lian didn't even have a single courtesy. Year after year, the money for Yuanchun's preparations, and the eunuchs who often came to ask for bribes, which cost less than half of their house?

If you continue to spend like this, how much property will you have when you divide the family in the future?I'm afraid there is not much left, if you don't get some early, there will be no hope in the future.Although Sister Feng doesn't care about the family, the magistrate's mansion has long been free of food. Li Wan often asks Jia Mu for things to pawn.

After hearing this, Jia Mu was silent for a long time, and said softly: "Everyone is like this, how can there be many things to share?"

Even after experiencing countless ups and downs, Jia's mother couldn't help showing a trace of melancholy.

Sister Feng shook the handkerchief in her hand, and said with a smile: "What is the old lady worried about? With the empress here, the things that were taken out were taken back within a few months. Every three festivals and two birthdays, the empress did not reward things. My wife and I didn’t expect the lion to open his mouth. We only need 120 bolts of silk and satin and [-] sets of clothes for the four seasons, a total of [-] bolts. In what year did we receive [-] bolts of silk and satin? Our family sent them out I don’t know how many there are. Antiques and heavy furniture are not needed in the house, and jewelry has been refurbished from those that have been accumulated for an unknown number of years, and the wages are paid by ourselves.”

Compared with the cost of repurchasing jewelry, the cost of refurbishing the jewelry will cost three to five hundred taels of silver at most. She and Jia Lian have thousands of taels of income every year, so they can easily take it out.

Seeing that Mother Jia was a little moved, Sister Feng continued her efforts: "We have a lady in our house, and even for the lady, we can't wait until it's time to put on makeup, so that people can see the worthless dowry. On the contrary, these old antiques from the mansion Old furniture, when others see it, they will know that our family has been flourishing for nearly a hundred years, and it is not a house of new prosperity."

Hearing these words, Jia's mother fell into deep thought. After a long time, she called Mrs. Wang and Li Wan and asked them what they thought.

Li Wan felt a little unwilling. Taking those things out would bring back a lot of silver for the expenses of the mansion. Two hundred bolts of silk and satin were worth 1000 taels of silver at five taels, not to mention that many silks and satins used in the market cost ten taels of silver. Not necessarily available.If the dowry for Yingchun is so tricky, wouldn't it be the same when it comes to Tanchun?And Daiyu, I have to prepare a copy, how much will there be left in the mansion?

Mrs. Wang pondered: "According to the old practice, the mansion has always given 1 taels of silver as a dowry."

Sister Feng laughed and said, "Auntie, don't say that, how can you say it according to the scriptures? If you calculate carefully, how much money did our house spend on the empress? If we can't prepare a decent dowry for the second girl, I'm afraid people will say that the empress No."

Mrs. Wang was taken aback for a moment, and said, "Why do you say it's not your mother's fault?"

Sister Feng said: "Auntie, don't you understand? Our family spent no less than one million taels to build a family-saving villa for our mother, but we only gave the second girl a dowry worth 1 taels of silver. Such a dowry was exposed in the Baoning Hou Mansion. How can outsiders Look at the empress? Don’t you have to say that the empress has spent all the money in our family, so that the sister’s dowry is extremely shabby, even inferior to ordinary people. This younger sister is the only daughter of the uncle Xijue. Therefore, it is not as good as 1 taels of silver. The box money, silks, satins, cloths, antiques, jewelry and other things are all from the mansion, and then two small villages and two shops are allocated from the public house. They are decent and good to both of them. It won’t affect the mission fee in the public office, but it will only reduce the income of a few hundred taels of silver every year in the future.”

Mrs. Wang was startled, and hurriedly said: "Very, very, our empress works hard in the palace, dare not say a word, take an extra step, our family's actions can no longer ruin your empress's reputation."

Hearing that Mrs. Wang agreed, Li Wan had no choice but to agree.

Satisfied that Sister Feng had achieved her goal, she glanced at Li Wan's back and sneered secretly in her heart. After only one or two years as the housekeeper, they really owned everything in the house.When Ping'er was around, she often praised Ping'er in front of everyone, saying that she was inferior to Ping'er, thinking she didn't know that she was expressing her dissatisfaction with her?He even refused to pay the 50 taels of silver from the Poetry Club.

Seriously speaking, when I was in charge, the mansion did not treat their mother and daughter badly. Li Wan's monthly salary was equal to that of the old lady, which was twice as much as his own. , Li Wan was clutching the dowry Zhuangzi shop and the ladder left by Jia Zhu. Jia Zhu's concubine had already been dispatched, and there were less than ten masters and servants left. All expenses were paid by the public. What else? insufficient?Although she was acting a bit more ostentatious and did a lot of hateful things, but she was the eldest daughter-in-law of the big house and was the grandmother of the housekeeper before. How could she compare herself to herself?It is also reasonable that Jialan is inferior to Baoyu. He is the great-grandson of Jiamu, and Baoyu is the first-line grandson.

As the eldest son and grandson, Jia Lian can't stand shoulder to shoulder with Baoyu. Why do their widows and young grandchildren think that Baoyu is valued in the house and not them?To be resentful, to resent Jialan's serious grandparents, not his brother and wife next door.

Therefore, Sister Feng disliked Li Wan very much.

She went straight to the storeroom to pick out the things she liked and moved them to her courtyard. She didn't dare to hand them over to Mrs. Xing for cooking, for fear that something would be missing on the way, and then she called Yingchun, saying: "When I left the pavilion, I brought out antique calligraphy and paintings. When old things come to your husband’s house, why don’t you leave them in the mansion? Find out all your gold and silver jewelry over the years, and while I’ve selected 24 sets of red gold hair masks for you from the warehouse, take them out together and call them gold The craftsman has melted it and made a new one, and you will look decent when you go out."

Yingchun was very grateful, and hurriedly ordered Siqi to go back to find out the jewelry that is not needed now.

She doesn't get much jewelry every year, and many of them are damaged and can't be worn anymore, but the old jewelry accumulated over time is not too small, and with the fact that she has acquired more in the past two years, Sister Feng reckons that she can make twelve sets again. Full gold face.

Putting things together, Sister Feng made a list, excluding the box money, the dowry items were worth around 2 taels, Mrs. Xing was overjoyed when she heard that.