Honglou Xing

What kind of person is Lai Da? Even Jia Qiang from the East Mansion would call her "Grandpa Lai" when she saw her.His mother, Nanny Lai, has served the old master all her life and devoted herself to it for decades.The situation of one person serving in Jia's mansion is better than four or five people.

"No, no, he is the son of our family who has survived for two or three generations. He has worked hard and made great achievements, and he is a gift of love. You must not dispose of it casually. After it spreads, others will call us mean and ungrateful masters." , but tell me where to put my old face." Mother Jia tugged at this eyebrow, and a hundred people disagreed.

Mrs. Xing was not convinced when she heard this: "Let's raise them for two or three lives together, just to raise an ancestor to support them? To put it bluntly, brother Huan, the concubine of the second room, is also a master no matter what, but the wife sees him I don’t live like a big family. What’s this called? The master’s life is not as good as the slave’s, and he still has to pay for the slave. My daughter-in-law thinks it’s embarrassing if such words are spread, and it’s embarrassing for our house.”

Mother Jia frowned, disapproving. "What's the point of mentioning that monkey? If you don't live up to it, you'll eat nothing if you keep it."

Xing smiled lightly: "Mother, that child is younger than Baoyu, and even Baoyu is not ready to make a living, let alone him. Children, they are eating for nothing at this time."

Mother Jia gave Xing a dissatisfied look, disliking her for comparing Jia Huan with Baoyu.These two children are very different, not at the same level.Compared with his mud monkey, Baoyu loses more.

Mrs. Xing couldn't argue, and said firmly to Mother Jia: "This Lai's family is the biggest moth in our mansion. They have done a lot of private work to make money with their half-master status over the years. Not to mention the distance, Let’s just say that they earn at least this amount from the purchase of furs every year. This is not counting the kickback he got from others.” Xing held out three fingers.

Of course Mother Jia knew that it couldn't be 30 taels of silver. 300 taels, enough food and clothing for a family of five for more than ten years.Jia's mother was obviously shocked by this figure, she didn't expect Lai everyone to be greedy for so much.

"Mother, I think that in a few years, we will not be able to eat as much as a servant. Now the place where they live is also called "Lai's Garden". Our hardships are nothing, you have the heart to suffer Suffering? What do we want to live to this age, is it to leave some property money for future generations, and shade it to our children and grandchildren.”

When Xing mentioned Baoyu, he touched Jiamu's weakness.But Nanny Lai really worked hard at the beginning, she was someone who served the old man.Mother Jia really didn't want to be too harsh on them.

"You can catch mistakes, but please don't make it difficult for their family for the sake of their meritorious service."

Xing shook her head with a smile, expressing that she could not agree to what Jia Mu said.

Jia Mu was angry and wanted to say more.

Xing said with a smile: "Mother, you said you would keep your promise. Now as long as your wife is doing the right thing, you don't care about it, right? My wife cleared up those unruly slaves in the mansion, and put on a face to offend so Many people, what are you trying to do, it’s not for the future generations of our Jia family. The embankment of a thousand miles was destroyed by an ant nest, mother, what I’m doing now is to kill these little ants that eat into the embankment.”

Jia Mu is old and confused, but also a person who understands the truth.Since what the eldest daughter-in-law said was well-founded and it was for the future of the Jia family, she couldn't say much.

As for Lai Da's family, Mother Jia always felt reluctant. After all, when she was the daughter-in-law's housekeeper in the Rong Mansion, Nanny Lai helped her a lot.She must repay this master-servant relationship.Therefore, Mother Jia had a small thought in her heart, and planned to inquire with Mrs. Xing about the approximate time of her action. She could have informed Lai Da's family before then, and told them to hide if they could hide.

"When do you plan to act?" Mother Jia asked, staring into Xing's eyes.

Mrs. Xing raised her eyes, bent her eyes fearlessly, and said to Jiamu with a smile, "The sooner this kind of thing happens, the better, so as not to cause more losses in the house. My daughter-in-law thinks that today is very suitable."

Mother Jia was stunned, and then squinted her eyes to observe Xing's confident look, and was suddenly shocked: "You won't do it now?"

Xing nodded.

Annoyed, Jia Mu slapped the table angrily and said, "Since you have already done it, why bother asking me, it would be better to catch me off guard!"

"Mother, look at what you said. It's not that I'm looking for you. How could I catch you off guard? If a servant makes a mistake, it's not natural for the master to use evidence to arrest her. The daughter-in-law is also hindered by the relationship between the mother and their family. Shen, I was afraid that someone would tell you that you were stupid and could not explain clearly, which would shock you. So my daughter-in-law decided to explain it herself, so that you can feel at ease."

"You—" Mother Jia was speechless, pointing at Xing with shaking fingers.Xing got up quickly, bowed her head and waited for her lesson.Jia Mu was silent for a while, probably not knowing what to say, and finally sighed.He waved his hand helplessly and sent Xing away.

Ever since the Xing family crossed over, they have long been eyeing the Lai family who are domineering in front of the servants in Rongfu.However, this family has been passed down for three generations, and has long been rooted in Rongfu, with intricate relationships, and the evidence of corruption cannot be caught in a day or two.Xing kept silent all the time, and secretly asked people to check it out.

After surviving until today, she can be regarded as keeping the clouds open to see the moon, and she finally doesn't have to be afraid of a servant.A few days ago, at the critical juncture of collecting evidence, there was a young man in the garden who got a free job and neglected his duties and had fun in private.Mrs. Xing wanted to send him away, but everyone who relied on him came to plead for mercy, relying on his own thin face.

Xing still remembers that tone to this day, he was humble on the surface, but there was a hint of arrogance inside and out.Inside and outside the words, all spread the glory of "thinking about the past".To put it bluntly, everyone's fault is to ask her to give her face to this old man.

Xing could not help scaring the snake away, so he obeyed her.But that's only temporary, she is a person who holds grudges, and now she has to settle this account with them one by one.

All the members of the Lai family gathered in the yard, all of them looked at Xing with a look of bewilderment on their faces.

Wang Shanbao's family shouted: "Kneel down!"

Except for a few juniors who were timid and knelt down.Lai Da, Lai everyone, and Lai Nanny who just arrived did not move, but looked at Xing with an innocent face, intending to ask for an explanation.

Xing sat down and threw down the basic account on the four-corner table at hand.

Everyone Lai looked at the account books scattered on the ground, and there were several spots circled by red cinnabar pens.Everyone Lai was puzzled at first, then rolled his eyes, and then carefully looked at the content circled above, what fur, rice, and furniture to buy.Lai Da hurriedly picked it up and looked through it carefully. Behind it were those who repaired houses, built warehouses and pavilions... But all the places he handled were accurately circled, and a few suspiciously expensive places were highlighted.

Lai Da was terrified, his legs went limp, and he slumped on the ground.Lai everyone exclaimed and hurried to support her husband.However, Lai Da felt like his body was filled with lead, and he couldn't get up no matter how hard he pulled.

Nanny Lai walked to Lai Da with a cane, and asked what was wrong.When Mammy Lai saw the circled ledger on the ground, her face darkened, and she immediately knelt down and burst into tears.

"Ma'am, we have been wronged. Our family has been born for three generations. People born in Rongfu are ghosts of Rongfu. We have always been loyal and filial to Rongfu from the bottom of our hearts, and we have no other intentions." , Madam, please enlighten me."

"Really?" Mrs. Xing smiled, and looked at Nanny Lai indifferently: "I also need to ask Nanny Lai to explain to me the discrepancies in these ledgers. If the explanation is clear, it can really prove that you Innocent. I ask you to sit here, how about I kneel down and serve you tea and water?"

"This old slave dare not!" Nanny Lai was shocked, her legs trembled, and she knelt down reluctantly.Seeing this, Lai Da and Lai everyone seemed to have just remembered the matter of etiquette, and they also knelt down.The whole family began to cry, and confessed their innocence to Xing one after another.

Mrs. Xing frowned, and was noisy when she heard it, so she ordered Wang Shanbao's family to deal with it on her behalf.But she turned around and went into the room with her belly upright to give birth.She is no younger than a young man now, and she should pay more attention to safety and rest when she is pregnant, and not to consume too much energy.

Yingchun was waiting in the house early, and obediently came to serve tea to Mrs. Xing.

Xing and Yingchun were eating melon seeds and chatting about homework.When it was getting dark, Wang Shanbao's family came to report profusely with sweat. "Master, everything has been dealt with properly. They have no way to deny it in front of human evidence. The slaves have already ordered them to be tied up and sent to the government together with the evidence."

"What about Zhou Rui's family?" Mrs. Xing didn't raise her eyes.

"What good will she do. She dared to break her mouth in front of outsiders, and almost ruined the future of our second girl. The servant will deal with her according to the family law. The [-]th punishment for slapping the mouth has been passed, and now all that is left is to leave the house. There is nothing good for Lai Da's family, let alone such little stewards! They will be sent away tomorrow, and they will not be allowed to enter Beijing." Wang Shanbao's family replied, with excitement in their eyes.

Xing glanced at her sideways, and continued to play chess with Yingchun in silence.Wang Shanbao's family didn't get his wife's reply, and they didn't dare to leave. They just waited with their waists bowed, and occasionally served tea.

After playing two rounds, Xing sent Yingchun to make a wedding dress.

Wang Shanbao's family looked at the second girl who left with a sneer, and praised: "Who would have thought that our second girl has changed so much, and how long it has taken so long? She has a refreshing temper and is quick in handling things. No matter what kind of family you marry in the future, you will be a real one. Put the steward's good hand."

"Well, as a wife, you should have this ability. Men are sometimes unreliable, so you have to rely on yourself. As long as the position of the main wife is not shaken, it doesn't matter if you have no heirs. If you adopt one, you will be successful in the future. Reliable." Thinking of her past life, Xing said casually.

Wang Shanbao's family quickly said: "My wife is wise and sees things thoroughly, but how many wives have died of depression because of the heirs. You are like an aunt, because your brother has left. I can't think about it, and my body is hollowed out day by day."

"The situation of the Lin family is special. The Lin family is single-handed, and the number of heirs is very thin. There are no relatives in the fifth suit, and adoption is impossible. It is understandable that she is under pressure and feels uncomfortable. No one can avoid worrying." Xing analyzed.

Wang Shanbao's family nodded, looked at Mrs. Xing with sneaky eyeballs, and sweetly complimented: "I am allowed to be talkative. I have always admired my wife's swift means. You are a person with all kinds of ideas. I really want to ask you , if you encounter a situation like that of your aunt, how will you deal with it?"

Xing looked up at her: "What do you think?"

Wang Shanbao's family frowned and thought for a long time, then shook their heads: "I don't think my wife will be depressed because of this, but I really can't think of a specific solution for the heirs."

Mrs. Xing smiled lightly, and glanced at Wang Shanbao's house. "Fortunately, you told me this assumption in private, so don't let the master hear about it. If I were to be the mistress of the Lin family, the heirs would not be able to ask for their fate. If there is no one, let it be. Even if you have a good daughter who can teach you. "

"My daughter is going to get married after all." Wang Shanbao's family sighed.Once the daughter gets married, the Lin family has no one to inherit, and the property will have to be confiscated in the future.

"Who said that a daughter must be married." Xing raised her eyes lightly, and met the doubtful eyes of Wang Shanbao's family.

Wang Shanbao's family reacted for a long time, and finally realized: "Madam, you mean, recruiting a son-in-law?"

Xing smiled slightly: "Okay, it's not about my family, so it's not good to criticize behind my back."

Wang Shanbao's family quickly nodded in agreement, resigned from the Xing family, and turned to work.

Xing squinted at the back of Wang Shanbao's family who had left, her voice was not loud, but it happened to be heard by Wang Shanbao's family. "You take care of yourself, I don't want you, or Lin Zhixiao's family, to be punished next time."

Wang Shanbao's legs froze, and he turned around in embarrassment and bowed to the eldest wife to say yes, with cold sweat already breaking out on his head.Wang Shanbao's family went out, heaved a sigh of relief, and turned around to pass the message to Lin Zhixiao's family.

Lin Zhixiao's family was so frightened that they covered their chests, and looked at her in horror: "Ma'am, is this the evidence against us?" Now Lai Da's family and Zhou Rui's family in the mansion have been wiped out, setting an example, and everyone is panic-stricken. ;Anyone who has done bad things is guilty, worried that the old lady will find out about them.

In fact, Lin Zhixiao's house and Wang Shanbao's house were not very clean before.The two also knew each other.But since the eldest wife changed her mind, everything in the house has been ordered, orderly, and life is going smoothly.Since then, the two of them have been devoted to the eldest wife with all their strength, and they have never thought about it carefully.

The two muttered anxiously for a long while, and each became worried.

Lin Zhixiao's family frowned and said: "There is no other way, we two will work harder in the future, do practical things for the wife wholeheartedly, and don't play tricks. The eldest wife has sharp eyes, won't she see our loyalty? The merits have been redeemed, and my wife will definitely spare us both."

Wang Shanbao's family didn't pay more attention, nodded, and could only follow Lin Zhixiao's idea for the time being, hoping that the eldest wife would know their repentance if they knew their mistakes.

The two comforted each other, and finally relieved their tension a little.

Wang Shanbao's family pulled Lin Zhixiao's family and whispered: "You know, I'm going to chat with my wife about the Lin family today, and ask her what she thinks. The wife said that if she is the master of the Lin family and has no heirs, it's okay. Recruiting a son-in-law. Tell me, is this a good idea?"

"That's right." A deep, magnetic male voice sounded.

Lin Zhixiao's family looked up, but saw Jia She and her husband Lin Zhixiao standing at the door.She and Zhou Rui's family glanced at each other, and both apologized to Jia Amnesty in horror.

Jia Amnesty narrowed his eyes, took a big stride, and sat down in the upper seat.

Lin Zhixiao's family hurriedly scolded his daughter-in-law: "Hurry up and apologize to the master!"

Lin Zhixiao's family and Zhou Rui's family hurriedly knelt down, intending to smack themselves.

"Well, no need." Jia Amnesty waved his hand, signaling them to step back for now.

Jia Amnesty sipped a cup of tea in the small wing room, then shook his sleeves and went to the main room to look for Mrs. Xing.

Xing is still the same, he chooses to read when he is quiet.

Jia Amnesty quietly sat beside Xing Shi and looked at her.

Without raising her eyes, Xing pointed to the fruits on the table. "The meal will be served in a while. If the master is hungry, eat some first."

"I'm not hungry." Jia She looked at him affectionately and said quietly.

"Oh," Xing continued to flip through the book.

Jia Amnesty frowned slightly, thinking of something, he curled his lips into a playful smile. "That Sun Shaozu was beaten back to his original form."

"Oh?" Xing raised her eyes.

Jia Amnesty felt that he was being 'valued', and said with a smile: "Originally, he was waiting for a vacancy in the Ministry of War. After such a trouble, he proposed a marriage without knowing the etiquette. The people in the capital hated him, and his reputation was so bad that he went to the prime minister. , do you think he still has a vacancy for the Ministry of War?"

"My lord prime minister can hear the complaints of the people, and it's thanks to your officials' message?" Xing asked with a smile.

Jia Amnesty was taken aback for a moment, then smiled and put his arms around Xing Shi: "My woman is smart."

"Tell me what happened to him?" Xing said.

"The original post was abolished, and most of the Qiancai mansion was confiscated." Jia She replied, with a flash of success in his eyes.If you dare to mess with his family, you should be prepared to suffer a miserable end.

"That's okay. For a person like him, the punishment is light."

Jia She smiled and rolled his eyes: "Oh, I forgot to tell you, this guy has some food money left over, but he hates not having enough money. He wants to make big money with small money, so he went to the casino to gamble and lost himself."

"Dead?" Xing asked in surprise.

Jia She shook his head: "He didn't die, because he had no money to pay off his debts, he sold himself into slavery."

"It's not surprising that he has such an end." Xing put down the book and sighed casually.

Jia Amnesty took the opportunity to stretch his arm to the other side of Xing Shi's neck, and hooked Xing Shi's chin with one hand, making Xing Shi half tilt his head.Jia Amnesty smirked and moved her head closer...

Xing burst out laughing, clutching his belly, and said to Jia Amnesty with an inappropriate smile, "My lord, you seem to have forgotten something."

Jia Amnesty let go of his hand cautiously, then put his hand on Xing's stomach, and said with a helpless smile, "I almost forgot about this little guy who got in the way."

Xing smiled and continued to read.

Jia She sighed boredly, put his ear on Xing's bulging belly, and listened.

"Hey, listen, he's calling me!"

Xing cast a blank glance at Jia She, and turned to the next page.

"Hey hey hey, kicked me, kicked me!" Jia She covered his face, squinted his eyes and complained to Xing: "I have strong legs, kicking me hurts."

Xing finally couldn't help laughing out loud. "Baby's father, if you know something, don't make trouble, okay?"

Jia Amnesty ignored Xing's ridicule, and still put his face on Xing's stomach happily, continuing to feel the magic of life.

Xing smiled helplessly, and reached out to stroke Jia She's forehead. "You are very busy these days. For this family, the master has suffered a lot outside."

Jia Amnesty lay down next to Mrs. Xing, and said with a smile, "What am I? What is right about the case investigation is right, and what is wrong is wrong. There is no need to talk about affection. You are tired. This family is rotten from the root to the heart, and you still have to talk about it." What is the relationship between affection and affection, when it comes to the intricate relationship between relatives. Not only do you have to solve them one by one, but you also have to dig out the rotten things skillfully, which is really amazing!"

"Your compliments are very useful." Xing said without humility. The family is very tired, but fortunately most of the troubles have been eliminated.The second room is left, Mrs. Wang can't get out of bed now, and she has lost such a right-hand man in Zhou Rui's family. She probably won't be able to stand up for a while.It is even more impossible for Jia Zheng. It is his great fortune in life to guard an official who will not make mistakes for ten thousand years.

……

As the New Year approached in a blink of an eye, the whole Rong Mansion was well prepared, with red hangings on top and bottom, immersed in the atmosphere of the New Year.

On the 28th day of the twelfth lunar month, Qingshan Academy is on holiday.Rong Mansion set up the carriage one day in advance, and went to pick up Baoyu and Jialan early.

Mother Jia hasn't seen Baoyu for several months, and she has long missed Baoyu.At the beginning of the month, I was looking forward to this day, and finally it was the 28th.

Baoyu and Jialan entered the house one after another.Baoyu took the lead, with a slender body, still wearing a red robe, wearing red pearls on her forehead, and her pair of peach blossom eyes looked even bigger because of her thinness.Her eyes were pitifully full of water vapor, and when she saw Jia's mother, she couldn't hold back anymore, and tears fell down her cheeks.

Baoyu jumped into Jiamu's arms in three or two steps and burst into tears.Jia's mother was so distressed that she hugged Baoyu quickly and began to cry too.The grandfather and grandson wiped each other's tears when they had cried enough.Mother Jia held Baoyu's small face distressedly, observed carefully, and said that Baoyu had lost weight and lost energy.

Baoyu wanted to complain, but at this time his father and uncle were present, if he said those outrageous things, he would be punished again.Baoyu had no choice but to say tremblingly: "Grandson is not hard, and studies hard. In the future, grandson will be elected as an official, and he will honor the lintel of Rongfu, won't he?"

Jia Mu smiled and nodded, she liked to hear such sensible words from Baoyu.Jia's mother loved Baoyu more and more, and hugged Baoyu in her arms for a good meal.

Mrs. Wang came here with a weak syndrome. At this time, she seemed to see hope from her son Baoyu, and finally there was a smile on her pale face.

Mrs. Xing did not express her opinion, but looked coldly at the pair of grandparents and grandchildren who were very close, and then looked at Jia Lan who also came to pay her respects with Baoyu.He still stood there awkwardly, although Jia Lan was younger than Baoyu, his expression was unusually calm.He just stood there so motionless, watching their grandparents and grandchildren with cold eyes, the expression on his face unchanged, neither flattered nor humiliated.

Li Wan, who was looking at the distressed Li Wan, couldn't take it anymore, and secretly wiped away tears.Xing greeted Jia Lan with a smile and asked him about his studies.Jia Lan answered politely and methodically.

Hearing this, Li Wan was a little relieved to see that his son had grown up and understood much better than before, and stopped crying.

"Master, Uncle Lin has sent you a letter!" Lin Zhixiao's family reported with the letter in their hands.