The Happy Man in the Red Chamber

Sure enough, Jia She lived up to expectations, and soon fell in love with one of the four.He also named the four of them, □□Xia Qiudong, and they went over to tease them if they had nothing to do.An Lan just took over the housekeeper's business, she didn't care about anything, but asked the people around her to start sorting out the Jia's account books, bank notes, etc.Although it is said that the big head is in the hands of Jia Mu, but the daily and annual flow of water can still tell things.

From the Bai family, they asked for an accounting room capable of precise calculations, and conducted a thorough liquidation of the account books in the past ten years since Jia She inherited the title, and it took a month to reorganize the account books.

When Jia Amnesty was there, the accounts of the inner government were very clear, and they were correct in terms of incoming and outgoing materials.It's just that Jia Amnesty's ex-wife passed away for three years, and after Mrs. Wang took charge of the accounts, the amount of the accounts gradually became problematic.

The first thing that started was a year after the funeral, the things used in the kitchen were frequently replaced.Either this one is broken, or that one is broken.The biggest one was to re-make cabinets and shelves for the kitchen, which cost more than 300 taels.

After that, it was food. The original ten qian was made into twelve qian.Such price increases were originally there.After all, prices do not follow your pricing, but follow market conditions.But in just four months, a catty of green vegetables has risen from the original three renminbi to sixteen renminbi, which is not an ordinary price increase.She asked the price of the chicken alone, and immediately laughed.

At first, the price of a chicken was half a penny.Because there is Zhuangzi nearby, there is no need for money if there are many of these things.It's just that there are more people serving at home, and more people are using it.Jia Mu and Mrs. Wang always like to pretend to be charitable people, so the food for the servants has increased.

Looking at it one by one, Mrs. Wang has made no less than ten thousand taels of silver from this food and use in just two or three years.This kind of fishing method made An Lan feel different, but at the same time, he also lamented that the emperor's first confiscation of the house would be the Rongguo Mansion.

Jia Baoyu was full moon, and Jia Yan was sent to Jinling.Seeing Mrs. Wang's smiling face, An Lan pursed her lips and smiled.Because of Jia's mother's request, Baoyu's full moon was held in Rongxi Hall.Although Jia Amnesty was angry, he finally agreed.It's just that An Lan conveniently let people spread rumors around the capital, saying that Jia pardoned pure filial piety, and his own son didn't get the chance, so he gave it to his younger brother's family who was said to be extremely wealthy.He also said that the old lady of the Jia family intended to let Baoyu inherit the title in the future, and so on.

The gossip was not spoken in the house, but An Lan believed that it would not take long for it to be passed on from the outside to the inside.The lives of ancient people were too boring, especially those who were servants.In Sijiu City, there are not many people around, but there are many waiters.After working, what men, women and children like most is to listen to others talk about the corner, and where to chew their tongues.

Of course, the outgoing message and Baoyu are actually not Jia Zheng's, but Jia Amnesty's.Otherwise, Jia She died and his wife married a new daughter-in-law for three years, and still let his younger sister-in-law take care of his backyard?

The favorite of the working people is the sordid affairs of those rich and powerful households on August [-].As long as there is a leader, the following developments will become the unfolding of God.I believe that within three to five months, even Jia She and his sister-in-law's [-] martial arts skills will be well-known, as if they had seen it with their own eyes and heard it with their own ears.

She was happy to watch Mother Jia and Mrs. Wang having fun, but she was bored anyway.

After Baoyu's full moon passed, that Baoyu of Zhen's family also began to pass the full moon.The difference of one month seems to have separated the two children.At the same time, after the full moon, they were going back to the Jinling capital, and they didn't put the two together.

On this day, Mrs. Wang said that she wanted to eat chicken soup.The big kitchen itself doesn't have this dish, but she usually uses the big kitchen with Jia Zheng and Jia's mother, and the dishes are all branded.An Lan hadn't changed the rules yet, thinking that Mrs. Wang was not in charge at the moment, the big kitchen seemed to be falling on two sides.

I asked Mrs. Wang for material money of [-] Wen coins a piece.It wasn't a big deal at first, but since she wasn't Mrs. Wang's housekeeper at this time, she had a reason to find fault with An Lan, and made a fuss with Jia's mother over a chicken.

Mother Jia was also very surprised to hear that a chicken cost [-] Wen.They are all things that can be bought for a basket of money, how can they be so valuable?Someone called An Lan, and taking this opportunity, An Lan also went over with the sorted account book.

Madam Wang looked at those ledgers, and her heart skipped a beat.She wondered if something had been seen in her account, and also thought that the account room itself was her companion, and she was always meticulous.He relaxed again and watched Mother Jia waiting for the news.

"You took care of the house these days, and I didn't ask anything. It's just that a chicken in the big kitchen costs [-] Wen? Whose property is this, so expensive?"

An Lan glanced at Mrs. Wang, smiled and stretched out her hand to press the account book on the small tea table: "Speaking of which, I just took over it for less than a month. I originally thought about it after a while, so I asked the old lady to talk about it." I didn't set the price. I'm afraid my younger siblings sat down during confinement, so I don't remember clearly. When my younger siblings were here, I set such a price. I thought it was expensive. I just asked the old woman , Leng said that the chickens of the chickens are raised with the water of Yuquan Mountain. The chickens are naturally expensive and blocked back. It’s just that our family will eat the chickens of that house for two or three years. If we change the old lady rashly I feel that the taste is wrong. In the end, I am the eldest daughter-in-law, so I didn’t say anything. I just waited to find a better one in the future, and put it on for the old lady alone.”

Listening to her soft words, Mrs. Wang frowned and lowered her head: "The original ones are for the old lady to eat, and we can just eat some cheap ones. But how can it be that this is the only one here?" One copy?"

Mrs. Wang used words to point out that the expensive one was for the old lady.They all use cheap ones, but they are expensive when they arrive.

Why didn't An Lan know what she meant, so she changed the concept and put a hat on herself.She lowered her head and smiled, took out two books from a pile of ledgers, and handed them to Mother Jia: "Siblings say that, but are you blaming me?"

She glanced at Mrs. Wang, and said to Jia Mu: "Look, old lady, I didn't see that there are two kinds of chickens in our house. I was wondering if my younger siblings were special. But from my sister So until now, the price of chickens has been rising all the way, and now twenty cents a piece is considered cheap. When the year is cold, it costs fifty cents a piece!"

Mother Jia glanced at Mrs. Wang, feeling very unhappy.How could she not know the tricks in this, it was just a matter of turning a blind eye and closing one eye in the past.But now it's on the table... This Mrs. Wang is really a no-brainer.Isn't the other party a fool who can handle such things?

She looked at the account book, took a deep breath and shook her head: "I'm afraid she is kind-hearted, and she is too lazy to steal. Let's find those cheap ones in the future! They are so expensive, even my old woman can't afford them. If the family has a big business, It can't be like this. If you eat it, you won't see anything, so it shouldn't be a thing."

"Hey!" An Lan didn't want to continue to quarrel, she insisted on making a fuss.Just a reminder to the old lady and Mrs. Wang, she knows what they do, so don't say anything about what she does in the future.

May itself is the season when flowers bloom everywhere, and the Jiang family held a flower viewing feast.An Lan got the post, and seeing Mrs. Wang was idle and had nothing to do, she invited her to go with her.Mrs. Wang also hasn't gone out for a long time. When Mrs. Jiang was still there, she couldn't bear these things.Later, when Mrs. Jiang left, she took the lead.It's just that after this woman got the imperial order, she never got pregnant again.

Went to Jiang's house, got off the carriage, An Lan went to look after Yi's mother: "Mother An...how old are you!" An Lan approached affectionately: "The weather is hot, why don't you stay inside .”

"My wife heard that my wife was coming, so I asked me to watch at the door. That is the second wife of my in-laws! Please come in..." Sister An led An Lan and Mrs. Wang into the main room with a smile. At this time, he was pulling his little granddaughter to have fun.Seeing An Lan bring Mrs. Wang in, she didn't get up and greeted An Lan to sit down: "Come on, do it later, you can try the new tea you just got a while ago. This is the white tea from my mother's house. It tastes very unique." Very. My second wife, I haven’t seen you for a long time. I heard that I just got a brother, and our lord has something to do with the emperor, so I don’t have time to go there. My health is not very good, I just waited for the flowers to bloom Yes, just saw it."

She spoke calmly, and An Lan smiled and glanced at Mrs. Wang: "It's a treasure! My brother and sister are watching every day, and want me to see so many old ladies at home, it's better to go out to relax. I just pulled it out, I'm also afraid that Ma'am, you don't want me to make my own decisions!"

"How can I blame you?" Yishi looked at Mrs. Wang, and handed the little granddaughter to the nurse at the side: "Our two families are in-laws, so why do we need such things in normal exchanges. It's you, when will you get some news?"

She vaguely knew that Jia She would not be able to keep this woman, and the nurse next to her said that even though she had been married for a year, she was still a girl.She was joking, but Mrs. Wang was silent.An Lan pouted and lowered her head: "Ma'am, are you kidding me again? I don't know, our master has Lian'er as a doll right now, it really hurts my heart. If I give birth to a baby on my side, wouldn't Madam want to Shaved me off?"

"What am I scratching you for?" Yi Shi ordered the tea to be distributed.An Lan didn't move the tea bowl, she wanted to wait a while as it looked hot.She covered her mouth with a handkerchief: "Women look different when they have children and when they don't have children, and when their children grow up are also different. Madam, if you look at my younger siblings, you will know. I didn't get precious jade before. He is also a sharp and capable person. But on the other hand, when Baoyu came, his whole mind was attached to the child. Even the older brother Zhu, he had to stay a little further back now. If I had one, I would not let Lianer Throw it to the back? At that time, Madam, who is an aunt, is going to blow me away? Besides, watching the siblings give birth, it will really come and go, and it will make people feel uncomfortable. I don’t want it .”

"How is this? I'm still worried about your conduct?" Yishi shook his head and smiled, and politely said to Mrs. Wang: "It's weird to always call your in-laws second wife, for example, Wang Yiren! This white tea is the most beneficial to the body. Well, you tasted it and drank it smoothly. I think you look very good, and I'm afraid you are doing well this confinement."

Mrs. Wang took a sip of her tea, but she didn't know what was good or bad about it.What she likes most is a cup of plain water. If there is color in the tea, if someone accidentally adds it, she won't know what it is.She was used to being careful, she put down the tea bowl and wiped the corners of her mouth: "What's good and bad, it'll be fine if you have more children."

Her voice was soft, and she wore a compassionate and restrained look.Yi Shi didn't do anything else, but just talked to An Lan: "My brother-in-law came here not long ago, so I had a good meal. It seems that it doesn't go well. I wrote to ask you to go to the frontier and was rejected. Did you get annoyed when you went back? Our master was so drunk that he didn't sleep until midnight. Fortunately, he rested on the second day, otherwise it would not be a joke."

An Lan smiled and covered her mouth: "I'm dissatisfied with Madam, but I heard from the people below that he drank too much wine. I thought that I would not be pretty if he made a fuss, so I threw him in the study. Let him make a fuss." Go, I'll sleep well all night."

"Are you young after all!" Yishi shook his head as a joke.Mrs. Wang lowered her eyebrows, listening and thinking about the things in the mansion, whether what she knew was right.

At this time, a woman came in outside, bowed and saluted, and then walked to Yi Shi's side: "Madam, the letter from the other side of the garden said that it is ready. The wife of Cheng Enhou's residence has arrived, and I am waiting for you, madam."

"Let's go!" Yi Shi nodded and got up to greet An Lan.

The Jiang family's garden is only one street away from the Jiang family's house, and it is built behind a small bridge with flowing water and stones in Taihu Lake.It is very dignified and beautiful. Although it has more Jiangnan style, in the final analysis, it still has more atmosphere in the north.

An Lan couldn't let Mrs. Wang alone, instead of stepping on Yi Shi's arm as usual, she walked behind with Mrs. Wang.

Entering the garden, Mrs. Wang was attracted by the exquisiteness inside. She couldn't see a clue, but she knew the precious and high-quality materials used inside.

An Lan watched her move around a lot, and smiled as she walked in the veranda while introducing: "It is said that this house was a peony garden in Tang Dynasty, but after Wu Zhou, the owner sold it to a merchant because he didn't have enough money to manage it. The merchants are also elegant, but their hometown is near Taihu Lake. I missed it so much that someone made a lake stone to make a landscape. Later, it was very noisy and desolate. After the establishment of this dynasty, the first Jiang Taishi looked at the garden. It’s a pity that it was abandoned, so I asked the emperor to forgive me and build this garden. It’s just that most of the craftsmen are from the north, so I have the scenery in front of me.”

Listening to An Lan's introduction, Mrs. Wang nodded: "This looks like a young man, but you come here often."

An Lan lowered her head and smiled: "I don't come here very often. It's just that the house is very hot in summer. Mrs. Taibao lives in the garden in bitter summer. After all, it's cooler. A lotus pond was dug later a few years ago, and it's cool with the wind. beneficial."

The two of them walked through the veranda, passed through the two moon gates, and saw a beautiful scene of willow trees and rippling lake water.Some birds with red tops and white bodies are flying freely on the lake.It is said to be a lotus pond, but it is probably a small lake at this time.

Not far away came the girl's Cui Ling-like laughter, from far to near.There were three little girls who hadn't reached the age of hair, and they were very familiar with An Lan.One by one came over, the leader smiled and took the lead to salute: "Long time no see, Mrs. General is well!"

"It's just your mouth. It's been a long time. I didn't come to congratulate you a few days ago." An Lan pinched the girl's cheek. This is the eldest daughter of the Bai family, followed by her The younger sister of the mother's compatriots.Three sisters, born in one birth, look like three good words.After all, being a girl and being a prostitute has weight.

The girl stomped her feet and looked at her sister: "What do you mean congratulations for me? If sister Liuli hadn't returned home, I'm afraid you wouldn't have come. See you today, but I want to play cards and have fun. I'm Just looking at it and kissing you."

"Look at you now, you don't look like a lady from everyone." An Lan shook her head with a smile, and introduced to Mrs. Wang: "This is the younger brother and sister of my husband's family, and her mother's family is the Jinling Wang family. These three belong to the Bai family of the emperor of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. The three concubines, the former son just got engaged to the son of Hou Guoyi's family."

"I've seen Madam!" The three sisters saluted one after another, and the one who was said to be engaged blushed and bowed her head.After all, she is a thin-skinned little girl, no matter how sharp her personality is, she can sometimes be shy.

"You're teasing me with this again, so I don't care about you. The garden of Jiang Taibao's house is just right for paper kites..." The girl pouted, and pulled her sisters away.

Looking at the paper kites in the hands of the maids following them, they knew what these little girls were doing before.Mrs. Wang looked at the backs of the three little girls, and asked tentatively: "I remember, you used the Shen family's boat before entering the gate?"

"My grandmother is from the direct line of the Bai family, but it's not a straight line. When I wanted to come to Beijing, I borrowed the Bai family's relationship and borrowed the Shen family's boat." An Lan didn't hide it, and this relationship died early. .She hooked her mouth and led Mrs. Wang to step on the gravel road to the covered bridge where many wives and wives were. It's also a face to follow me. When I return home in the future, I can have a good marriage. Speaking of it, the Bai family and the Xue family are still rivals!"

As she said that, she laughed softly, Xue Baochai was just three years old at this time, but what disappointed the monks was that she was the most precious sister, so how could she be unhappy.If he sent people upright, Xue Pan would definitely not be a fool in the future.Then Xue Baochai will formally enter the inner sect after the age of six.Thinking of the absence of Sister Bao in the Grand View Garden in the future, she felt very happy.

Mrs. Wang didn't know what she was laughing at, she thought she was just talking about the rivalry of the two families.She pursed her lips and smiled: "That's not right, they are all slaves working for the higher authorities..."

An Lan narrowed her eyes and smiled, and led her into the corridor.

"Ouch...Speak of Cao Cao, and Cao Cao will be here. This man can't bear to be talked about." A woman dressed in purple rainbow embroidered flowers smiled and pointed at An Lan: "Little An Lan, come here quickly, the sisters were still talking about you just now." Woolen cloth!"

"What are you talking about me? I just said that the cochlea felt hot as soon as I entered the door. You must have spoken ill of me behind my back." An Lan looked around at what she was doing familiarly, with her hands on her hips and her feet apart in a teapot shape: "Hurry up and recruit, be lenient when confessing and be strict when resisting!"

"How about being lenient? How about being strict?" A young woman in pale yellow was teasing while holding a handkerchief.

An Lan stretched out her hand and pointed one by one: "Be lenient... If you punish him with three big bowls, it will count as a pass. Be strict... That is to let someone help you go back today." After she finished speaking, she smiled and pulled Wang Madam sat down: "Tell you, I brought my younger siblings here. What about our family..."

"Yo yo... I'm looking for a backer... Look, this is it." A woman who was obviously a little older in the grade greeted the girl to serve tea: "I just said, she is a kind and unforgiving girl. Don’t admit it! I must be a small-minded person.”

"Sister-in-law is wrong. She is not small-minded, she is smaller than a needle nose." The woman giggled and looked at Mrs. Wang: "This is Wang Yiren! Long time no see, last time It was years ago. I heard from the wife of Nan'an Palace that she was a diligent person. I met you today, so don't be unfamiliar. We all love to be lively, and the weather is good to get together. The days are long Yes, but also for fun."

Mrs. Wang saw that the woman looked familiar, but she couldn't remember it.Just smiled shyly: "I'm clumsy, so I just don't make jokes."

She spoke softly, but she looked soft, which made people feel good.But whoever is sitting in front of him is not a sage in the family who helps Mrs. Tiger.How can there be any inappropriate fun in the things in Rongguo Mansion?It's just pity that An Lan, who is so smart, married the wrong man.