[Red Mansion] Marrying a wife like jade

Before dawn, Shen Yue woke up from the cold, heard no one moving around, he stood up and moved his body, and because the number room was too narrow to move around, he sat down again depressed and waited for the dawn.

It was so easy to hear the sound of yamen servants walking outside, Shen Yue couldn't wait to knock on the door of his number room, and the yamen servant's footsteps sounded like one step at a time: "What are you doing?" Students who are not awake.

He was not afraid, and Shen Yue was even less afraid: "I need to fetch water."

Li Zhi's strong voice forced the yamen servant to open his number door, and then watched him fetch water, lit a small stove and put water on it.When the water boiled for a while, Shen Yue kept half of it for cooking noodles, and the other half was used for washing, which made the yamen servant who watched him from a distance feel incredible.

Students also got up in the room next to it, and when they passed Shen Yue's room, they found that they had already eaten silver noodles on the small stove.Although there were no side dishes on that side, but Shen Yue put meat floss in it, and the smell of Lai Shengsheng made the students salivate from a distance—it was hot noodles, why did I bring dry food, I didn't think I could bring dried noodles in ?

When the red sun rose in the east, the sound of the students fetching water and walking outside finally subsided.After a while, Shen Yue heard the sound of wheels, and Shen Yue sat down on the small stool, waiting for the yamen servant to pass the roll in, and even smiled and thanked people, which stunned the yamen servant who handed out the paper.

Opening the reel, Shen Yue read all the titles, and there were three scriptures and four scriptures, four classics and five classics, which was not difficult for him, as long as the explanations were written clearly according to the scriptures.However, he was not in a hurry to answer the questions, but put the paper back into the roll, poured the water from the water bowl into the inkstone, and focused on grinding the ink.

After his mood completely calmed down, Shen Yue took out the paper again, pressed it well with a paperweight, dipped the pen into the thick ink, licked it lightly once or twice, and answered stroke by stroke.

The questions were not difficult, and the answers were fluent. It didn't take two hours. Shen Yue had already checked the paper. He felt that there was no problem. After confirming that the ink was dry, he carefully put away the paper.

Such three days passed in a flash, and Shen Yue stood in front of the gate of the Gongyuan, letting people flow, while waiting for Shen Chao.After finally seeing him come out, Shen Yue found that his complexion was not very good-looking, and hurriedly asked: "But you caught a cold? Why didn't you use the pills you brought at home?"

Shen Chao waved his hand: "Don't mention it, the person next to me didn't know what happened, she started crying after the paper was handed out, and it didn't stop after the paper was handed in. I didn't sleep well for the past two nights."

That is, the examinee's psychological endurance is too poor, and he has a nervous breakdown when he finds a topic that he does not know?Shen Yue comforted him and said: "Such a person, I guess he will be dismissed in the first game, and he will not be there when he enters the game tomorrow, so he won't be able to bother you." He leaned on the young servants he had found, and let the young servants lure him into the car, and followed Shen Yue to the inn that he had booked in advance.

Fortunately, after a night's rest, both of them were in better spirits, and they went into the second round with renewed vigor.In the third case, when Shen Yue finally left the tribute courtyard, he was almost unable to hold on, so Shen Chao's situation can be imagined.

This time I went straight back to the scholar's mansion, where the head steward had already greeted the two young masters, and said to the two young masters: "The old lady told the two young masters not to greet you, just go back to your own yard to rest."

Shen Yue and the two of them didn't even have the strength to refuse, they nodded to the housekeeper, and wanted to go back to their yard.Shuang'an who stayed at home stepped forward and whispered in Shen Yue's ear: "Young lady came over in the afternoon, she is in the old lady's room."

What's the situation?Shen Yue glanced at the big butler suspiciously, and found that the big butler's eyes were a little dodgy, so he let out a noise from his nose, which made the gray-haired big butler unable to straighten his back: "This is how the old lady ordered the old slave to pass the message. of."

Shen Yue didn't speak any more, and was supported by Shuang'an back to his own yard to wash up, then ate two mouthfuls of porridge, and walked towards Wanhui courtyard.There was a little girl at the gate of the courtyard looking towards him on the way, and when she saw him coming, she turned around and ran in. If Shen Yue didn't know what she was doing running back, all these years would have been in vain.

However, his footsteps were not chaotic at all, and he was still walking so unhurriedly. The woman who guarded the door did not dare to stop her, but only announced in a trembling voice: "Second Young Master, please greet the old lady."

A little boy brother ran out of the house, followed by a brother who was still walking unsteadily, both of them called second brother, and then looked at Shen Yue's purse eagerly.

Shen Yue did not disappoint the two of them - it has become a habit for him to put candy in his purse these years, and the first reaction when he saw the two brothers was to take out his purse, which made Shen Chao want to win over Nege. My heart was empty again.

Before the candy was distributed, Daiyu, who had grown taller, also came out of the room, looked at Shen Yue and smiled.Shen Yue felt her gaze, and when he looked up, he could see the pain in that gaze, and understood why the old lady had such an order.

"Are you the only one here?" Seeing Daiyu bowing to him, Shen Yue held back his desire to help him, and asked with a smile.

Daiyu smiled generously: "I don't feel at ease at home. Seeing you come back safely, I should go back."

As he spoke, he turned sideways to let Shen Yue enter the room.But Shen Yue refused to take the lead, just looked at Daiyu quietly, seeing Daiyu coming out, Ne Geer forgot who gave him the candy just now, and swayed forward like a dog and pulled Daiyu's hand: "It's windy, sister, come into the house."

Daiyu took his little meaty hand, no longer being polite with Shen Yue, and helped Negeer step over the threshold, and slowly entered the room.The old lady's laughing voice came over: "I said that he must come to my yard once, you must believe me."

Daiyu smiled: "It's the old lady who knows Brother Ai best. It's because I heard the master say that these nine days will be difficult, and I wanted Brother Ai and eldest brother to rest early, but I did something wrong with good intentions."

Just as he was talking, didn't Shen Chao also come over?Yangeer and Negeer only called "big brother", but they had no enthusiasm for Shen Yue at all.Shen Chao has long been used to two defecting younger brothers. After seeing the old lady and his wife, he collapsed on the chair and complained to Liu's distress: "Didn't you let you rest in your own yard?"

Shen Chao pointed at Shen Yue weakly: "This guy is the best at acting, I knew he would go through this. The hearts of the whole family let him go, and if I don't come, I will be even less welcome." Shen Chao The more proudly he raised his head at him, and then looked at Shen Chao's sleeve meaningfully.

Shen Chao's face was flushed by him, which made Daiyu a little puzzled: "Brother is suffering from the wind and cold? Let's go back to rest earlier. Even Brother Ai will also go back to rest in his own yard, don't make the old lady worry."

Shen Yue smiled at Mrs. Liu: "Auntie will interrogate him well." Without saying anything about Mrs. Liu's interrogation, he had already stood up and said goodbye to the old lady, wife and Daiyu.When Shen Chao saw him go, he followed him out, making the Liu family members look at each other in dismay: "It's just an exam, what else can Chao'er do?"

Daiyu stopped Liu Shi with a busy smile: "Auntie, don't be too busy, it must not be for the exam." After talking about something she thought of, she lowered her head and smiled and said: "The last time Sister Li asked me to show off, I'm afraid it's for the exam." Got to the top of this."

Only then did the old lady and others suddenly realize: "What's the matter? A person who is betrothed gets a stitch and a half thread. This is something that everyone has experienced, and it is not a crime to hide it from the family."

Seeing that Daiyu was feeling uncomfortable, Mrs. Shen pulled her to comfort her: "It's okay. You're still young, and besides, Yue'er is the last person in the family who doesn't want you to sew. Everyone has their own way of getting along, so there's no need to learn it." others."

Even Mrs. Liu laughed: "Last time on the old lady's birthday, you respected that wiping forehead. Do you think the old lady dares to wear it? After wearing it, Yueer just stares at it once, and wears it again and again. Come back, the scared old lady only dared to take it out at night to have a look.”

Daiyu was just a little guilty at the beginning, but she was relieved after listening to the comfort of her elders. She just thought that she would do something for Brother Ai after returning home, so that he would not lose face in front of others. Keep it in your heart forever.

After sitting for a while, Daiyu was about to go back to the house, and Brother Yan followed her to see her off, asking her all the time: "Brother Kuan, when will you go to Mr. Li's place, sister, please let him remember to call me. This time Make sure you don't let Nege follow, and you won't spoil Mr. Li's flowers."

Daiyu tapped his forehead: "I just want to play, and now I'm still in school, let's talk about it when I rest and take a bath."

Brother Yan was a little displeased: "Why don't you invite a gentleman for us? Now it's a mess, and it's not easy to meet." He asked Daiyu again: "Sister knows, Brother Kuan, he and Brother Kuan How about me and Brother Kuan?"

Now Daiyu's thoughts turned to Fang who was about to return to Beijing: Shen Ren has been the magistrate for three years now, and it's time to return to Beijing to report on his duties.In the past three years, Shen Ren's performance appraisal has been excellent, and if he is not good enough, he can be re-elected.It's just that Xueshi Shen will be 75 years old during Chinese New Year, and the Shen family intends to let Shen Ren return to Beijing to serve as a Beijing official.

Therefore, Mrs. Fang has decided to bring the children back to Beijing first, thinking that if Shen Ren has to be re-elected, he will go to Yangzhou first by himself, and she will be a filial piety in Beijing on behalf of her husband, and it is also for Shen Yue's spring affairs in Beijing. ——Because some industries in Yangzhou needed to be handled by Fang's family, Shen Yueqiuwei did not catch up, so Fang wrote several letters to Beijing, begging Jia Min to take care of his son.

"Brother Xun and Brother Kuan grew up together, but you spend as much time with Brother Kuan as Brother Xun. When Brother Xun returns to Beijing in the future, wouldn't it be more interesting for the three of you to play together? What?" Daiyu comforted Brother Yan.

After returning to the Lin Mansion, Lin Ruhai was also there when he arrived at the main room. It seemed that the two years had left no trace on his body. A few wrinkles.Seeing Daiyu come back, Lin Ruhai asked in the first sentence: "Is Yue'er in good health?"

Daiyu replied with a smile: "Looks in good spirits, and her complexion is fine." Jia Min smiled gratifiedly: "Wait for the kitchen to cook a soup tomorrow, and give him a supplement. Don't wait for Second Grandma Shen Come back and say that we didn't take care of Yue'er."

Daiyu then asked Jia Min for instructions: "After a few days to calm down, I would like to go to the scholar's mansion again. I told my grandma that I would clean up the house for her. Now I will pack it up and wait for grandma and the others to enter Beijing. Also convenient."

Jia Min originally wanted to say that the scholar's mansion has its own staff, and Shen Yue himself is a veteran in house cleaning, so there is no need for Daiyu to go to the mansion.Seeing that Lin Ruhai had already nodded in response, he couldn't help but sigh: "Master, Yu'er is getting bigger every day, and the one over there is getting bigger."

"They grew up together, if they avoid it now, when will they be able to avoid it?" Lin Ruhai said, pointing to Jia Min with his eyes.Jia Min saw that her daughter's expression fluctuated according to the words of her husband and wife, so she shut up - even though Daiyu is two years older now, compared to Shen Yuelai, who was 13 years old at the time, she is still childish.What kind of love does such a child know?It's just that it became natural to be close to Shen Yue since childhood, and he didn't want others to be as close to Shen Yue as he was.

Jia Min knows very well that her daughter has a domineering temperament inside, although she usually looks like a big sister to Brother Kuan and Brother Yan, but when she is in front of Shen Yue, she has to take the lead in everything.But Shen Yue liked her way the most, no matter what request Daiyu made, it was fine with him, and he never rejected it.

This is the fate of each person.Seeing that her mother didn't dismiss her father's words, Daiyu smiled early, "Then I'll ask Shuilan and the others to measure the size together, so I can embroider a bed for grandma."

Jia Min couldn't help laughing: "Why don't you say that you embroider by yourself, let the girl do the things you give away, and be careful of Second Grandma Shen's picky gifts."

Daiyu raised her head triumphantly: "Today, the old lady also advised me that everyone has his own way of getting along, and there is no need to learn from others. Who won't agree with my own tricks? Wait until I think of a fresh one. Baorang grandma only cares about the flowers, not the stitches, who cares who embroiders it?"

But Daiyu had an idea in her mind, how could she endure it for a few days before she could move?On the second day, Xueou took Shui Lan to the scholar's mansion to see Shen Yue.After a night of rest, Shen Yue came back to life, and after hearing the intention of the two, he asked Hongliu to take them to the main room in the west courtyard.

Shui Lan is nimble, she measured the size in twos and twos, and under the leadership of Hongliu, she and Xueou greeted Mrs. Liu.When Mrs. Liu heard about their intentions, she laughed: "I'll make it when I get back home. If it's good, I'll order a picture."

Because of being treated by Mrs. Liu for several months, even though she didn't say a few words to the grandmother in charge, Shui Lanxin still has a close heart to her: "Don't worry, grandma, our girl didn't say anything, let us I came to say hello to grandma, and I also want us to take a look at the size."

Mrs. Liu liked it even more when she heard it, and she was not as polite as they were. She said directly to her girl, "Take water blue to measure the size." Then she told Xueou about her favorite color, and ordered her to reward them both generously.Xue Ou declined: "This is what slaves should do, and I dare not be a reward from grandma."

"I know that your girl's rules are the same as Yueer's, if you are in your family, you will not be rewarded." Liu Shi insisted on rewarding her, and then said to Shui Lan: "There is no need to rush mine, the important thing is to embroider Second Mistress first. "Shui Lan nodded in response.

On the car back home, Shui Lan expressed her doubts: "Sister Xueou, the girl didn't ask us to say hello to grandma, let alone make a bed for grandma. My sister made decisions in private like this, and asked me to say The girl let me go, aren't you afraid that the girl's wife will blame you?"

Xueou smiled slightly after hearing this: "The girl's mind is clear, but she still has a child's temperament. She just wanted to have a good life and welcome the second mistress. But the house is now in charge of the grandma. How can our grandma not know? Grandma is not supercilious, but it's not surprising that many people are polite. The second grandma doesn't know how long she can stay in Beijing. It's true that the girl and the eldest grandma are on good terms. As long as your men work harder, what trouble will it take to embroider one more? "

Shui Lan nodded again and again: "No wonder the wife praises my sister for her thoughtful thinking. Sure enough, I am stupid in doing my work." Xue Ou tapped their foreheads lightly, and the two reported their errands to Daiyu with a smile.

Daiyu heard Xueou talk about her own idea, and clapped her two tender little hands: "It's a pity that you thought of it for me, or next time my aunt won't know how to make fun of me. Xueyan, go and get a few horses that brother Ai sent last time. Here comes the snow silk, you guys also cut some winter clothes."

In the past few years, Shen Yue has received rewards from the palace. If it is cloth and other things, Mrs. Shen and Mrs. Shen should be the first to choose. How can the two old people take advantage of him? One or two times out of ten, they choose one or two, which is regarded as a reward. The filial piety of the grandson.The rest of Shen Yue divided the best one into two, sent one to Yangzhou and the other to Linfu.The inferior ones would be sent over from time to time, so that Daiyu could reward the girl.

Therefore, Daiyu's clothing materials have always been top-notch among the beauties in Beijing, even when her maids go out, they all wear different clothes from other families.Daiyu herself dressed elegantly, and the maids she followed were also quite scholarly, and they always had girls from other prefectures coming to ask for their tricks.Everyone in Beijing knows that the daughter of the Lin family is very precious.

Now hearing that Daiyu wanted to reward the cloth again, Xueyan laughed to herself first: "I have made four or five winter clothes, which is enough even for the New Year. Besides, there are regulations in the mansion, the girl does not need to worry about the slaves."

After hearing this, Daiyu laughed at her: "Now you have learned how to divide the catty into pieces. It's just a few pieces of material, which just collect ashes and lose their color after two years. Why don't you make them out and wear them now? I looked at them. It’s still brighter.”

The girls who talked about it all said that they must choose some bright colors this time, so that the girl can see enough.Xue Lu smiled and said, "I was making a green pleated skirt last time, and this time I'm going to make it a red skirt. It's really fun to wear it." Everyone laughed loudly.

After laughing, the masters and servants discussed again and decided on a pattern. They chose the Xiangfei-colored thick rice, and handed it to Shuilan's sewing girls according to the measured size.I also selected the same material of the honey color and cut it out together for future use as Liu's embroidered bedside.

Shen Yue waited for Lin Ruhai to go down to the Yamen that day before arriving at the Lin Mansion: "I have already inked the paper for my grandfather to read during the day, and my grandfather thinks it's worth reading." After speaking, he handed over the ink scroll he brought to Lin Ruhai.

Lin Ruhai put aside all the scriptures and meanings first, and only looked at his test post poems, and he was relieved when he saw that the rhythm was neat and the conception was still worthwhile—he knew that Shen Yue was a bit dull when it came to composing poems .

When he read the scriptures again, his expression loosened up little by little, and finally he put the ink scroll gently on his desk: "It's more beneficial than the previous one." Come to the preferences of the examiners.

Shen Yue knew that Lin Ruhai should be satisfied with his answer, so Anxin heard Lin Ruhai's introduction: "...Regardless of Enke, this Qiu Wei is the first time since the enthronement of a saint, and it is at the feet of the emperor. The examiner is fairly fair. It’s just that people have different preferences, some people like to be aggressive, while others want to be calm. The ranking of your article depends on which room teacher it falls into.”

Shen Xueshi is not as detailed as Lin Ruhai said, just saying "I have seen it" is considered a compliment to his great-grandson, but Lin Ruhai, together with the temperament, likes and dislikes of the examiners, talked to Shen Yue, so that if the Shen family really let him If he participates in next year's spring, he will not be at a loss when he enters the officialdom in the future.

Shen Yue also understood his intentions, and after listening to it, he smiled and said: "It's just a name, who can really regard the master as a gentleman?"

Lin Ruhai's face sank slightly: "Nonsense again. You and Shen Chao naturally don't care about the same year as the teacher, but how many poor children have studied hard for ten years, and even if they are selected as Jinshi, they are helpless in the officialdom. The teacher will support you. Don't mention this again when you go out."

Shen Yue despised himself in his heart: Except for a few top students or class cadres, modern students mostly respect their teachers at a respectful distance, and within a few years after graduation, there are still some who even forget the teacher's last name. The reason is not the teacher. Have nothing to do with everyone?

This era is different.As Lin Ruhai said, there are not many children from poor families who are successful in studying. If you want someone to support you in the officialdom, the teacher who hits your paper is a ready-made thigh hug.And those of the same age and fellow countrymen are more likely to hold together to keep warm.

Shen Yue sneered in his heart when he said that scholars regard money as dung, but it's just that the fertility is too little and not attractive enough.Just like him and Shen Chao, naturally they will not be like the poor students, they have to curry favor with the teacher to be introduced to participate in the literature and poetry meeting in Beijing, but those who have no way to enter, but they can't wait to show their ass for the teacher. Ask for a like.

Let it go, even if you have decided to be an official, let's act according to the rules of officialdom in this world.Shen Yue had already stood up when Lin Ruhai's face sank, and he didn't bow down until he finished speaking: "It's all the students' wrong thinking."

"Get the hell out of here." Lin Ruhai liked his persuasion, and cursed with a smile: "I'll come out after seeing your teacher's wife, I still have homework for you."

A bitter look appeared on Shen Yue's face: "Sir, I just finished the Qiuwei exam."

"Practice one day of kung fu, one day without ten days of pine. If you want to learn, you must study hard. Is it okay for you to be lazy?" Lin Ruhai didn't want to let go at all: "I still want to go to the Imperial College."

When I went to those people to eat me up again, Shen Yue really had a bitter face: "Sir, all the people in the Imperial College directly participate in the Chunwei, and I have to participate in the Qiuwei is already a different kind. If there is a class, someone will come How can you stay if you didn’t pass the exam?”

Lin Ruhai was unmoved: "Gentlemen don't take pleasure in things and don't take sorrow in themselves. Even if a doctor says in class that you didn't get in, it's better to be a student." Said that he waved his hands mercilessly, waving Shen Yue like flying flies. go out.

Shen Shangshu was not as cruel as Lin Ruhai, after hearing Shen Yue's complaints, he specially asked Shen Xin to go to the mansion to discuss with Lin Ruhai, saying that Shen Chao was worried about gains and losses after passing the exam, and wanted Shen Yue to stay in the mansion to enlighten him for two days.

Lin Ruhai knew that this was an excuse, but how could he really refute Shen Shangshu's face?But he responded to Shen Xin with a smile, and then said with a smile: "Sure enough, we are not relatives in the next generation, so we have no choice but to be this villain." Shen Xin nodded his head, feeling that what Lin Ruhai said was absolutely right.