The Happy Man in the Red Chamber

Although An Lan had negotiated a deal with Jia Amnesty, she didn't do anything.If it is just to help the younger siblings share the burden, then Mrs. Wang will have to lose her hands after confinement.Although she said, she didn't have to pay attention to the things in Jia's mansion.But in the final analysis, there are really one or two things that she really wants.

One is a dish that the old man got his hands on when the country was founded.It seems that it should be something from the Han Dynasty.Not to mention the bronze casting, it is even more delicate and exquisite.

The other is a small incense burner.I don't know which year it was produced, but the jade is clear and looks very gratifying.What made An Lan even more overjoyed was that the function of the incense burner was that it could not only diffuse incense, but also refine it.It is a treasure that can be used in the foundation building period, and it seems to be in line with her preferences.

Originally, she could find someone to get a counterfeit and replace it.However, if she wanted these two things to enter her house legitimately, she had to have the right to enter the warehouse to take things legitimately.

After pondering over and over again, add Jia Amnesty's request.She was waiting for Yi Shi to come back from the tea party, and her face was full of anger as soon as she stepped off the sedan chair.Liuli on the side watched, but couldn't figure out what An Lan was doing.It's still good when you leave in the morning, even at the tea party.Why is it so bad when I go home?

An Lan did not enter the side room, but sat in the main hall near the door panting, with an ugly expression on her face.Liuli made tea for her: "Madam, it's getting hot, drink some tea and take it easy."

She meant well, but An Lan waved her hand and swept the tea bowl out: "What kind of wife am I? Everyone knows that there are only old ladies and second wives in Rongguo Mansion. What kind of wife am I? It's just them." The family spent 1 taels of silver to buy a daughter-in-law, pretending to be a facade, so that people can say that the family is still owned by the big house.”

"Ma'am!" Liuli was stunned by her attack.She looked at the people outside, and some women who were rough envoys were still sweeping the floor, she frowned.An Lan pointed at her: "Shut up. I get angry when I think about it. My natal family is also a big family. How did they let their family be so humiliated. 1 taels of silver... It sounds nice. Bullying me for a small dowry My natal family didn’t get any money? They were ashamed to say such things, and they didn’t look at what I brought when I entered the door? Could that be exchanged for 1 taels of silver in their family? Dead to practice?"

Liuli looked at An Lan, and immediately realized that she might be planning something.She sighed, and carefully picked up the fragments of tea bowls on the ground, which were blue and white porcelain from the former dynasty.In the future, I will have to find a porcelain repairer to fix it.She handed the things to the little girl on the side, and told her to wrap them up carefully: "Madam, take a breather, such things are not worth it. If you get angry, the one who feels uncomfortable is not the madam herself?"

An Lan turned her head to look at her, pointing slightly at the corner of her mouth outside, with a sharp voice that seemed to be heard clearly by the people living in the back yard: "Why isn't it worth it? You look down on me too! Good Mrs. Yipin, you are so noisy It's not even as good as a fifth-rank pleasant person. In the final analysis, it's not the fault of my natal family not being in court. In the final analysis, it's not my fate. My parents passed by one after another and missed the time. In the end, I had to make trouble like this. Originally I’ve said it all, the old lady is a good one. I really thought about it, if I was a good one, I would be my own mother. But look, this is a huge yard. There are so many wives and wives, if the old lady didn’t privately They all know how to agree. In this Rongguo Mansion, the big house is not in charge of the family, but it still occupies the latrine and does not shit."

Speaking of this, her voice became choked with sobs: "Liuli... Let's pack up and go back to our mother's house. Although my brother is a bit useless, my sister-in-law is good. Don't suffer such grievances here."

Liuli looked at her, sighed and squatted down: "Why is the madam talking about anger, isn't it? If you get angry, tell the old lady and the second wife."

She mentioned the second wife on purpose, An Lan slapped her across the face, and Liu Li was stunned and fell to the ground.An Lan stood up and took two steps, just in front of the door: "Second Wife...Second Wife...What is she? My majestic first-rank wife, I have to accept her fifth-rank pleasant talk. A daughter-in-law of a brother-in-law's family, who manages the property of the uncle's family, doesn't know how to avoid suspicion. I gave her a little humility, and thought that she would definitely go down the stairs. Now it's a good thing, and she won't let it go in this confinement. She is a What do you mean? Or, did she do you any favors and let you be her lobbyist here? If you are really with her, then get out as soon as possible. "

There was a lot of noise in the yard, and Liuli's slap didn't really hurt.It's just loud, how can she be afraid of this as a martial arts practitioner.But when he heard the bustling voices outside, he burst into tears.

"Cry, cry, cry... what's there for you to cry?" An Lan was about to step up to kick her, when she heard Jia Mu's voice: "What are you doing? Well done, what's the point of humiliating a girl?"

"I abused her there, she was just one of my dowry girls. It's only been a year, and she turned to the second wife..." Her second wife's words were very heavy.Mother Jia frowned when she heard this, and asked someone to help Liuli up: "It's good to get up and answer, what's the matter?"

She sat in the main seat, and An Lan sat down near the door.He turned around and didn't speak.Liuli looked at it, lowered her head and covered her face and said in a low voice: "At the tea party earlier, my wife heard some gossip and got angry. She said that the family affairs were so troublesome that the wives outside knew about it, so someone must have said it. I was so angry that I wanted to go back to my mother's house. I said that grandma was angry, so I went to the old lady... the second wife, because..."

With a bang, An Lan threw the teacup that was just served at Liuli again.Liuli hid cleverly, pouring a tea bowl of hot water directly on Lai Erjia who was supporting her.The mother-in-law hurriedly apologized, and Liuli knelt on the ground trembling.The body was trembling, and Jia's mother saw this.

He patted the armrest of the chair: "What kind of gossip is it, tell me. The maid is not sensible, you just tell her she is, so why lose such a temper? This child has always looked sensible, and you like it too. Now If you lose your temper and attack her, it won't be you who will feel distressed in the future?"

"Old lady..." An Lan wailed, covered her face with a handkerchief and knelt down:

"Going to the tea party today, everything was so short. Someone started talking about it, saying that my daughter-in-law was bought by an old lady for 1 taels of silver for the master. If you get a cheap price, you will have a first-grade order. That's it. It's a vase decoration, it's outside... outside my house... I have 1 taels for any dowry..." An Lan lowered her head and began to cry, and continued crying for a while before choking on her sobs:

"Sooner or later, I belong to the second brother's family... They say that I don't care about the money, and the master doesn't care about the house. In the future, I will be swept away... The old lady must have no choice but to marry us. If you like it, why do you let the uncle and daughter-in-law take care of the uncle? housework."

She wiped her tears, looked at Jia Mu who was frowning, and continued to add fuel to the fire: "I didn't want to say this, but the old lady came earlier and asked me to be a housekeeper. Familiar, I'm afraid I'll make a mistake. Second, I think the siblings are kind enough to help, so it's not good to snatch them away as soon as they come. But in the end, the uncle and daughter-in-law are in charge of the affairs of the uncle's house, and it's unreasonable to be placed in that person's house. I originally thought that if my sister-in-law is pregnant, we will be able to reach a new level. But in the end, the trouble has come to this day..."

She made a hard-hearted look, stood up and took two steps forward: "It's not that I provoke the relationship, the old lady didn't listen to how ugly the words of those wives and wives are. My natal family is also a big family in the south of the Yangtze River. 1 taels will buy us criminals. The girl at home... I don't believe that the old lady's younger siblings don't know. I usually don't care about the house in Nuoda's courtyard. But you are the ones talking about everything. How can I live outside with the door closed? The people inside are clearer than those inside?"

Mother Jia looked at her with an aggrieved but aggressive manner.She frowned and thought for a moment.A few days ago, she had someone deliver a message to Concubine Zhen in the palace about Baoyu.Now that the boss's plan to find an errand has been rejected by the emperor, he can see that his words are probably coming true.From this point of view, the only thing left is to stay in the Rongxi Hall with clear evidence.

The boss couple, although the boss himself looks confused, but he is also a shrewd person who looks confused.How come I don't understand what I'm thinking here, it's just that I have the status of a stepmother right now, and I can't separate my family.A word of filial piety can be suppressed.This eldest daughter-in-law seems to be a shrewd one.She pondered for a while, as long as the mansion of Nuo Da was caught wrong, wouldn't she have to worry about forcing the boss to give up the Rongxi Hall?

Thinking of this, she pursed her lips and said to Lai Er's family beside her: "What's going on, how to let the outside world know about the family affairs."

"Ouch... old lady, I'm afraid it's what people outside looked at us with jealousy and said. The wife is too, and she actually got up seriously. Now who doesn't know, the second wife gave birth to a brother who was born with jade, and it's really auspicious It's very good." The two Lai's family couldn't figure out the plan of the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law for a while, although she was working in front of the old lady, but in the final analysis, it was not as close as Lai's family.

Zhang Yunxi sat down on the nearby chair, crossed his knees and turned his wrists to look at the armor he was wearing.The red and green glazed enamel is very delicate and precious.She turned around for a while and looked at Lai Er's family: "I can't understand what Mom said. This man is right. He also said that he spent 3 taels of silver for the eldest girl. A serious daughter-in-law like me has a high betrothal gift. The old lady made me a first-class wife for the sake of face. A cheap daughter-in-law, I’m afraid she has to do things to save face, right?”

She spoke sharply, and Jia Mu's face was not good when she heard it.It is true that it was 1 yuan back then, but in the final analysis it was just for the sake of face.But it still made her feel a little uncomfortable if she came out so openly.

She frowned and thought of her plan: "You take this matter seriously, and our family can live on our own. How do you count what other people said?"

"A person has a face, but a tree has a skin." An Lan patted her cheek lightly: "Old lady, I'm young and my skin is thin. Old people are also confused. Let me talk to the old lady here. Words. The old lady should return the matter of the housekeeper to our big house! No matter what, the uncle and daughter-in-law are in charge of the big house, and our own house can be used by anyone. But in the end, gossip outside The taste has changed."

"What's the change?" Jiamu's face turned upside down, a little displeased.An Lan snorted coldly: "This little brother-in-law and daughter-in-law are also young, and now they can give birth again... That's not something I, who just passed the girl, said."

An Lan didn't say anything, but Jia's mother thought of it.She was stunned for a moment, but thinking of the people outside, she patted the table: "Okay, I will tell my old daughter-in-law about this. Tomorrow, someone will bring you the keys, cards and account books. As for the outside Yes, I'm not dead yet!"

After finishing speaking, Mother Jia got up and walked out supporting Lai Erjia's arms.An Lan watched her leave, the corners of her mouth curled up.He signaled Liuli to follow her in with his eyes, and served hot tea again.

"But does it hurt?" She looked at Liuli gently, and Liuli looked at her capricious master and shook her head: "It doesn't hurt, I'm not the young lady who can't be pinched or resisted. Offended the old lady."

After all, Liuli came from the big family, so why didn't he understand the truth behind it.An Lan pinched the lid of the tea bowl, fluctuating it lightly, smiling brows and eyes: "You are also from a rich family, why don't you understand. Right now I can't get out of this house, whether it's acting or watching, it's all People in the play. If you want to get out of this situation, you have to be an actor first."

Thinking of this, she shook her head: "Why am I telling you these things? I will drive you out later, so you can go to the wharf with the token!"

Hearing that she was able to enter the Seven Embroidery Workshop, Liuli immediately knelt down and kowtowed.Once she was sent to this person, firstly, because the owner below flattered her, and secondly, because the owner said that if they could enter the workshop, they would be given the status of serious daughters of the direct line.She herself is not weak, but there are many classes in the family.It is very difficult for a concubine who is a concubine to stand out.

Within an hour, before Mother Jia drank a bowl of ginseng soup to refresh her mind, she heard that the girl from Rongxitang had run over her maid, Liuli, and left the house.She thought for a while, and looked at everyone Lai who came to serve just now: "Choose four good-looking ones and send them to the eldest wife. Let's say she left one, and my old lady took pity on her and sent her four."

"Hey!" Everyone Lai nodded in response.

An Lan made a fuss, and even Mrs. Wang, who was in confinement, heard the details.Although she was angry, she had no choice but to endure it during the confinement period.But thinking of his own business in this mansion, he winked at Zhou Rui's family who was her dowry.It means to be inside and do something.

Everyone Lai led four beautiful girls who were fourteen or fifteen years old, and An Lan was sitting at the desk practicing calligraphy.Looking at the four girls, she could understand Jiamu's meaning with a single glance.

She drove Liuli away, and there must be vacancies that need to be filled by the servants around her.At this time, it is common sense for a mother-in-law to send someone over.She put down her pen, and looked at the four girls, each of them looking pretty, all wearing pink and white floral jackets, and the trousers of the same color were the best at first glance.

She put down her pen: "It's true, old lady. Even though I've left here, there is no shortage of people. But thinking about it, old lady is probably because we men are lonely!"

She said it bluntly, three of the four girls blushed, and one lowered her head and couldn't lift her face.

Seeing this, she narrowed her eyes and laughed: "Forget it, I'm willing to look at the watery ones one by one. If I send them back, the old lady will be angry. I will also leave behind an unfilial person." Mingtou, there are some small yards in the back. It’s just right for the four of you to share one room. The mother will arrange a little girl for each of them, two of them and a rough woman, plus four women at the gate of the courtyard. This way of calculation, just follow the girl’s regular money. Madam Qian, I gave them the four pieces of silk from my dowry, plus 20 taels of silver per person. If any of you get the master’s money in the future, Alright, I'll make the decision and just lift my aunt up. It's just that there are a lot of people in the front yard, so don't come here without orders."

Lai Da originally wanted to ask someone to serve his wife, but An Lan was quick to talk and the people around him were quick to do things, so there was no reason for her to interrupt.I had to watch the four girls being led away to the small courtyard behind.

Mother Jia looked at Lai everyone who came back to report. She was eating porridge.Because of Mrs. Wang's confinement, there was no way for Jia Amnesty to share dinner with him after making such a fuss last time.She also didn't want to watch the eldest family make trouble, after all, she was alone.

"She really confiscated all the houses for the boss?" Jia Mu couldn't believe it, she confiscated the houses so easily... Boss is so good... almost everyone in the capital knows.But that woman is also young, so she is so magnanimous?For a moment, she didn't understand.

Jia Amnesty came back after eating at Jiang's house. An Lan made a pot and ate happily by herself.Seeing him come in with a sad face, he greeted him to sit down: "Why such a face? You should be happy today."

"What am I happy about?" Jia Amnesty shook the front of his robe.

"I drove Liuli away, and the old lady sent four girls. They are fourteen or fifteen years old, and they are all fresh. I will make the decision and I will be your girls." An Lan looked at his constipated face. His complexion suddenly became happy.She rolled up her sleeves and enjoyed eating the boiled meat.Jia Amnesty snorted: "If you don't like it, you can just return it. Why do you accept the house for me?"

"Don't be in vain. The old lady said she was subsidizing me, but she thought she was relying on me to be an eyeliner. In the future, there will be a chance to create trouble between you and me. I might as well just do it in one step. You just look at it." That one is pleasing to the eye. Pick up an aunt or something, hold a banquet to entertain some guests, and spend 3 to [-] taels of silver. If you are not satisfied, you can go outside and buy an oiran."

Hearing what An Lan said, he looked up at An Lan: "Have you finished the matter?"

"It's only half done." An Lan ate the buckwheat, put down her chopsticks and held the wine glass: "The old lady will not let go of the management of Zhuangzi and family property in a short time. In other words, what you will compare in the future is to compare with that You can spend money on the side. As for the inside, the old lady will not touch me in a short time. But once I make a mistake, it is time to ask you to give up Rongxi Hall. What you have to consider now is how to speed up this process. After all, the real Wrong, it has to come from you. Fighting opera singers, playing courtesans, etc., is the right thing to do."

Jia She lowered his eyes and thought for a while, nodded, and poured himself a glass of wine: "It's best to get it done within a year. We are our General's Mansion. They are their Rongguo Mansion. Military achievements..." He ticked off The corner of the mouth: "The northwest is not stable, but the military achievements are good. If you rise one step, you will be the Duke of the state."

An Lan respected him and didn't speak.