The Hairpin of the Red Chamber

Since Lin Hai entered Beijing, he has been inquiring about the children in Beijing in many ways. Most of the good family backgrounds are mediocre, and many of the good aptitudes are from poor backgrounds, or the in-laws’ affairs are complicated, and the family is lonely. Married Daiyu to him, but felt inadequate. Thinking about Baoyu's future, he could only rely on the imperial examinations to advance, let him go out for a few positions, accumulate seniority, and then transfer to the ministry.

Because of repeated requests, Lin Hai asked Baoyu to vote for an extremely senior Hanlin sect. He had been an official for a long time and had a good reputation in Qingliu. He also had a stable writing style and was most suitable for imperial examinations. .

Jia Zheng knew what his brother-in-law wanted, so he called Baoyu, and urged him in every possible way, fearing that it would not be enough. Because Ding You had nothing to do at home, he simply moved Baoyu to live with him in the outer study, and moved Jia Huan and Jia Lan out of his will. Handle the pointer and train the children and grandchildren.

Daiyu seized the opportunity to tell Mrs. Wang that she would go back to live in the garden. Mrs. Wang feared that she would not be suitable for her descendants if she was weak and weak, and Tanchun was also at the age of marriage and was about to learn more about housekeeping. So she agreed, and taught Tanchun to move in front of her. Daiyu lived in the garden, and she was happy when she went in and out.

As soon as Baochai heard the news, she immediately ordered someone to tidy up and clean it up. She was only here to stay temporarily. There was nothing in Hengwu Garden, so she specially sent someone home to fetch some clean and elegant trinkets, which were very well arranged to suit Daiyu's heart.I personally inspected the inside and outside, and cleaned it up as clean as possible. There are long-used old things between the beds. Before Daiyu moved in, she had been busy here for several days, but even if she was busy, she couldn't help it. Feeling sweet and harmonious, there is a smile that cannot be concealed from the corners of the eyes and brows.

Because it was a temporary stay, Daiyu only brought Zijuan, Xueyan and two little maids in, and there was no major change in the furnishings of the hall. Now she has to go to Mrs. Wang's place to serve and eat twice a day. It was dusk in Wuyuan.

When I went there, I saw Yinger and the little girls weaving garlands on the birdcage——Baochai used to raise a few parrots, and later sent them back to Xue's house one after another. It was also delivered, and the two parrots were sitting together, chattering and saying some animal words, which made Baochai laugh backwards and forwards.

Daiyu walked over quietly and patted Baochai on the back, causing Baochai to fall forward in fright. Come here." As he spoke, he urged people to go in, and after a while he brought out a few spinning tops.

Daiyu said: "I thought it was something, but it turned out to be something for children."

Baochai smiled and said, "Look carefully."

Daiyufang bent down and picked up one in her hand. It turned out that the spinning top was very exquisitely made. There were two layers on the top and bottom. There were many pictures painted on it like a revolving lantern, and it was divided into two halves. The one Daiyu held was painted on the top half. It was a man riding a horse, with a dog and a ball on the lower half. Baochai said, "Look at me to play." He took a small whip and whipped it lightly, and the top turned up and down to both ends. It seems that one person and one dog are fighting for the ball, but they can't always fight for the same place, which is really interesting.

Daiyu smiled slightly when she saw it, and Baochai saw that she had smiled, so he handed her the whip again and said, "You come too."

Daiyu raised her hand to hook, but the spinning top didn't move, so Baochai held her hand and said, "Put your wrist hard." After trying a few times with her, Daiyu entered the door, frolicking for a while, with sweat gradually dripping from her head. , It was already dark, so I stopped and went into the house.

Baochai also asked someone to bring ice-flavored sherbet, chicken head jelly, jelly, snow dumpling, sugared beans, etc. on a silver plate, as well as a plate of freshly picked red water chestnuts, all lined up on the table.

Daiyu was overjoyed at the sight of Hong Ling, so she stretched out her hand and picked one up, and gently peeled it off, revealing the white, tender, crispy flesh inside. Peeling, I couldn't get it off for a long time. Daiyu had already peeled off a few. Seeing that she still couldn't break one off, she picked up another one and fed it to Baochai, saying, "Just sit and watch them peel it off, and it will hurt your nails later." gone."

Baochai said with a smile, "I haven't kept my nails since I met you."

Daiyu thought for a while before she understood what she meant. She gave her a white look, took a sip of the sherbet, and said, "It's apricot jelly." Then said, "It's not ice."

Baochai said: "I specially asked them to take it out and warm it for a while before giving it to you. In the hot weather, if you drink something too cold, you will have diarrhea at night." Daiyu just took a sip and picked up the cool crystal soap and lychees. After some ointment was used, Baochai saw that she had a good appetite, so she smiled more happily, and ordered people to light lamps and candles everywhere, so that the house was illuminated like daylight. He took out the box that Xue Pan had sent, and when he opened it, he saw the wooden box inside. Small chariots, small bamboo objects, revolving lanterns, etc. filled a box.There were several Wuxi Da Fu, and Baochai picked up one of them, compared it to her face, and asked with a smile, "Does it look like it?"

Daiyu looked at it and saw that it was a fat girl, and said angrily, "It's not like at all." Baochai picked up the one next to her, and made a pair of the two, saying, "It looks like this now." It turned out that One of them is very thin, holding a book in his hand, implying a beautiful woman, and the other is slightly fat, holding an abacus in his hand, implying a wealth of wealth. The two of them are together, and they really look like them. two.Daiyu couldn't help but smiled and said, "You're such an adult, and you still play with these things, Brother Xue is letting you go."

Baochai laughed and said, "That's not a gift from you."

Daiyu wondered, "What does it have to do with me?" After thinking about it, she realized, "Auntie... has started picking a son-in-law for you?"

Baochai nodded and said, "I insist on living in Jia's mansion. Mom was terrified. She thought I was reluctant to part with Baoyu, so she hurried to ask for a matchmaker, but she declined politely after entrusting several families. My brother heard that You have given me a lot of things in the past few days." Then he deliberately pityed himself: "An old girl like me who is old and has a somewhat unclear reputation can't get married, and you don't have pity on me. Even with a smile, I’m reluctant to give one.”

Daiyu said: "A girl like you who can manage accounts and support the family, who can write poems and essays, and who can play spinning tops and shuttlecocks, is so strong that she can't compare with men. It's no wonder who dares to want it."

Baochai laughed and said, "Isn't there a daring man who wants me?" He stretched out his hand to catch Daiyu's hand, took her and said with a smile, "From now on, I will have no one else but you. You have to treat me well. "

Daiyu knew that she was deliberately talking backwards to make herself happy, so she smiled and said, "That depends on my mood. When I'm in a good mood, I will treat you well. If I'm in a bad mood, I won't talk to you."

Baochai said, "Then how can you be in a good mood?"

Daiyu said: "Squeeze my shoulder first, I'll see if your handicraft is good, if not, don't take it."

When Baochai heard this, she walked around and sat next to her, squeezed her shoulders, and asked: "Is it just the shoulders? Is the waist sore? Does the leg hurt? My son knelt for so long, and I called Yinger to take it." Have you applied the medicine from the past?" Thinking about it, she hurriedly went down to the ground, opened Daiyu's skirt with a half-bend, and saw that her legs were still a little blue, so she couldn't help but say, "I'll ask my mother and aunt to talk, don't call you Make the rules."

Daiyu said: "New daughter-in-laws are always like this when they enter the house. My wife is already very considerate of me. Don't worry about it."

Baochai took off her shoes and socks for Daiyu again. Seeing that her feet were also slightly swollen, she rubbed them vigorously, and then repeatedly sent someone to bring water to soak her feet. After all, Daiyu was tired recently, she relaxed at this moment. , gradually yawned, covered his mouth and said: "I should go back, now it's not like that time, so we have to live apart at night."

Baochai said, "Then I'll ask them to bring the water over." She put on her shoes and socks and wrapped her clothes again. Fascinated, half of her body was leaning on Baochai. Baochai felt warm, fragrant and soft, and her mood was restless. She didn't dare to make mistakes, so she slowly sent her to the inner room. Seeing her fall asleep, she went back to sleep again. When she came back, Qingque was already waiting inside, so Baochai asked her, "What did Sister Feng say?"

Qingque said: "Miss Feng said that it is easy to pay tribute. It is my duty to pay tribute to my relatives. You don't have to be so polite. But the tribute students who pay are inferior to others after all, and you may not be able to choose a good one. The uncle has already passed the examination. If you are a student, it is better to seek a superior tribute, wait for one or two years to study in prison, and then she will be a county magistrate with real power for the uncle. It will only cost tens of thousands of silver, but she will have a reputation and a real job, which is much more cost-effective than first."

Baochai laughed and said: "I thought so too, but this matter involves a lot, and I'm afraid it will be complicated. I'm sorry to tell her that since she speaks first, it is naturally the best. You will send two wives tomorrow. Choose some fresh produce from the farm at home and bring them to my uncle's house. Save my few boxes of pearl flowers for Sister Feng, and then spread the word that when autumn comes, invite her to come to enjoy the sweet-scented osmanthus."

Seeing her bowing her head in thought, Qing Que went out in no hurry. As expected, Baochai finished her order and said again: "This time the water chestnut is very good. You go back to admire the person in the pond and tell him to choose a good one and keep another piece for preparation. I want to eat."

Qingque said with a smile: "Young lady said that, there is only half a basket in such a large pond, where is there more left?"

Baochai said: "No? Then next year, we will make more varieties." After thinking about it for a while, he said, "If there are only so few, then send the rest to Uncle Lin. Let's say it's my brother's intention. The cooks from our family also sent it, since my mother doesn’t eat Suzhou food anyway, so it’s better to give it to the Lin family.”

Qingque remembered one by one, and saw that she had nothing else to say, so she went to rest by herself. The next day, she sent her mother-in-law and Sister Feng to greet each other at home. He tried his best to communicate with each other up and down, and arranged them properly. Xue Pan was selected as a scholar in the Spring Festival, and within a year, he was recommended by Xuezheng, selected Yougong, and entered prison.