The Hairpin of the Red Chamber

Baochai gathered up the accounts, and this year there were more than [-] income, and Daiyu got more than [-] yuan. She exchanged half of it for gold, made a small box of more than ten catties and kept it in her bedroom, and exchanged half of it for silver. Put the ticket in the letter and ask Daiyu to keep it by herself.All of her own were exchanged for gold.

Seeing that the profit was very good, Aunt Xue discussed with her to reinvest the capital, and said that the family could also start this business.Baochai hurriedly stopped her and said, "Our small business, which earns thousands of dollars a year, does not attract attention. If it becomes bigger, everyone will come to learn, and if we encounter princes and marquises who come to exploit us, aren't we looking for trouble? Besides "Uncle Lin can help with a little business, and is willing to help. If he is serious about his business, I'm afraid he won't be able to manage it too much. If we lose our helper, where can we find business?"

After hearing what she said, Aunt Xue stopped talking.Baochai then persuaded her to take care of her business as an imperial merchant, exchange economic news with various internal affairs offices, and reconnect old acquaintances in Beijing and China.Aunt Xue obeyed one by one.

Baochai was delayed for a few days because of Daiyu's illness, but these days Daiyu is a little better, so she goes about her family affairs without moving her feet, hoping that she will have eight heads and six arms.After a few days in a row, everything was settled, and only the accounts for the New Year tribute purchases remained to be re-estimated. This matter was done by Xue Pan and a few old servants in the past. Wanting to do it by myself, I sent someone to inquire about the prices and types of goods outside. Who knew that the palace was rushing to rush things, and the supply at home was not good. It's important to finish the errands first after cashing the silver.Baochai looked at the accounts submitted by them, and found that there were only [-] to [-]% more items than in previous years, but the accounts were reported by half more. After inquiring about the market, I took a short break and went to Daiyu's place. I saw her leaning on the kang and writing calculations. I didn't call her, but sat beside her, patted her on the shoulder and said, "What are you doing? "

But Daiyu didn't take her fright, calmly put away her pen, and said with a smile, "Bao Yuyang, I'll copy a few words for him to deal with the master."

Baochai looked at it and saw that it was all Baoyu's homework. He disapproved and said, "He will be the one to start writing in the next year, and now he has nothing to do in the twelfth lunar month. Just when you want to persuade him to be better, you will do it for him again." What to do with this! There is no need to delay him."

Daiyu said, "Of course I have my reasons." Then she called Zijuan.

Baochai thought he was going to serve tea, so he hurriedly said, "I'll leave after a while. I don't want tea." Zijuan came over with a smile, but she was holding a booklet. Baochai looked at Daiyu in bewilderment, but Daiyu just continued to copy.Baochai had no choice but to take it, and opened it to see that it was full of categories, prices, origins, etc. of all kinds of spring fashion goods. Several tributes from the director of the Xue family were listed on it, and the items were clearly listed, and what sources were there Written carefully, if Baochai is more careful, he can ask people to refer to each other. If the accounts reported by the family members are unreasonable, you can tell at a glance. People buy it, so you don't need to bother - this thing looks simple, but in fact it is trivial, and you need to send someone outside to inquire, which is not easy for the daughter of the boudoir, and Daiyu is sick, so you can see the painstaking effort.

Baochai stared blankly, speechless for a while, Daiyu was writing on the bright face, but she was secretly paying attention to Baochai's reaction, seeing that she hadn't moved for a long time, couldn't help but look up, but saw Baochai's eyes as bright as autumn water fixed Staring fixedly at herself, Daiyu's face gradually became hot from the gaze, and she made a gesture to dip the ink, but a little bit of ink on the tip of the pen slowly flowed down, dripping on the paper, slowly fading away, radiating the same arc as Baochai's eyes .

Daiyu's face turned red, she lowered her head, and said softly after a long time, "Why are you looking at me like this?"

Baochai's eyes flickered, and there were thousands of words in his mouth, and the tip of his tongue turned around, but he just said: "Sister Lin, do you like me?"

Daiyu waited for her for so long, only waiting for this sentence, a little annoyed, suddenly raised her head, and wanted to say something immediately: "You are the one I hate the most!" Looking at Baochai's eyes, she couldn't say a word ——There are many things in Baochai's eyes that she doesn't understand. Those eyes seem to be happy and sad, as if there are thousands of styles to show, but they are suppressed by her and cannot be revealed.Daiyu also stared blankly, feeling a little sad for no reason, and didn't know what she was feeling sad for. After a while, Fang Qiang laughed and said, "Why do you ask such a question?"

Baochai said: "I just want to ask you—are you copying books for Baoyu so that he can go out and inquire about these things?"

Daiyu hummed lightly, and said: "I see you are very busy. When you were here to check the accounts, I also took a few glances. I happened to write down a few names. They are all popular items after the festival. , You have to inquire about it in advance before you can buy it. I think you have wasted time taking care of me, and you are very busy during the Chinese New Year. Good things, originally a good exclusive business, not to mention making money, but also being scolded by the superiors, that is the joke of being an imperial merchant! It happens that Baoyu often goes out these days and asks me what to bring, so I ask Baoyu I went to inquire about it on the way, and wrote it into a volume, you can use it, and I will do my best for you, and repay you for taking care of me for so long."

She said it lightly, but Baochai knew very well that each of these things was not extremely difficult, but it was also extremely troublesome. Daiyu really put herself on the tip of her heart and thought about herself everywhere—— If she treats herself so sincerely, will she... also like it a little bit?As much as I like.But, do I really... like her?

When Baochai looked at Daiyu, Daiyu was also looking at Baochai.Since coming to Jia's mansion, she has been careful everywhere, always tolerant, afraid of making mistakes, and often fell ill in the past one or two years, and the only people close to her were Jia Mu and Baoyu. When Baochai entered the mansion, she saw this man. Behavior and demeanor are all above oneself, and they are also gentle and generous. Everyone in the Jia family likes them, and they are all kind. She only thinks that she will be alone again from now on. Who knows that after getting along, it is Baochai who is close to her. Therefore, Baoyu should be put behind. Isn't it strange that there are some mistakes.But when I seriously think about how they got married, I can't remember how, as if their acquaintance didn't happen at a certain time or place, but for years and months.Daiyu secretly thought about it a few times but couldn't figure it out. She could only attribute everything to fate, and she only thought of doing things for Baochai as sharing the worries of her sisters. She didn't think about it carefully, but Baochai looked at her , her heart suddenly moved vaguely, and she thought to herself: It is not accidental that I think about her so much, but because I like her and respect her. I don't want to repay her at all, but I can't see her worrying. When she smiles, whether it's a smile, a big laugh, a playful smile, even if she is full of nonsense, she is still a happy sister Bao.

Thinking about it this way, many things I didn't understand before suddenly became clear, and I looked up at Baochai with a smile, and Baochai's eyebrows twitched when I saw Baochai, and there was only one thought in my heart: Does she like me too?It's a pity that thinking about it was only for a moment, and Baochai turned her head away after a while, and said calmly: "Why don't we take care of each other? Are we still divided?"

Seeing that her expression changed suddenly, Daiyu leaned over and said worriedly, "Sister Bao, are you here again? Why did your expression change?"

Baochai Fang felt that she was being abrupt, and then said: "I heard from my family that Uncle Lin lives in an orderly manner and is healthier than usual. This is all thanks to your aunt. Don't be stubborn. Write a letter and ask about it." Your aunt, send some small things to show your heart."

Daiyu's face was full of smiles a moment ago, but when she heard this sentence, she immediately changed her expression, and said coldly: "I won't write it." She didn't argue with the righteousness of her concubine, master and servant, she just turned her head and raised her mouth. When Chai saw it, he couldn't do anything, and said, "Up to you." Looking at the sky, he said, "I'll go back first. With you, I'll be free in a day or two. This year there's less snow, but it's cold. Really, you should rest in the house for two days, I got a letter, the old lady will go out to offer incense in a few days, you are not well, so you can't go with her."

Daiyu said: "Noisy, who cares not to go out, why don't you stay at home and play with the birds---by the way, my parrot brother, what do you think of the name Adia?"

Baochai was about to leave, but stopped and said, "Why did you get this name?"

Daiyu gritted her teeth resentfully and remained silent.Zijuan said with a smile: "Yesterday, the sun finally came out. Our girl asked me to dry the melon seeds, but the birds ate them all. The girl is very angry."

Baochai couldn't laugh or cry and said, "What kind of melon seeds are you drying in the winter? Are they not enough for you to eat? Besides, if you really want to eat them, ask someone to go, or it will be over. Why do you dry them yourself?"

Daiyu said: "I want to eat rose flavor."

Baochai laughed and said, "Didn't you think of doing it now after you received winter from autumn?"

Daiyu said: "Who cares so much! I got it from my second sister, and I happened to collect some snow water to make flower juice, so I wanted to make it myself. I hate that beast for stealing it!"

She loves to eat snacks, and everyone in the house knows that Jia's mother is afraid that she will be sick, so she takes care of the daily supply, and Baochai watches over her every day, and she can't even count melon seeds by one. After begging for some, and eating it again, I wanted to make a new taste myself, but who knew that once the bird ate it up, and now I just feel pain in my heart when I say it, and cursed angrily: "He is a silverfish, it is a silverfish." , generally shameless!"

Baochai laughed and said, "That's all, I'll bring you some more, so you can spare it too. You think it's a pity that it's nestled in the house all winter without any snacks."

When Daiyu thought about it, she realized that she was talking about herself in another way, but she smiled and said: "Amitabha, bless me to become a bird in my next life, and please have pity on me."

Baochai said with a smile: "Amitabha, I feel pity for you now. If you become a bird again, you will fascinate many people!"

With a thought in her mind, Daiyu said deliberately: "Are you saying that you are the only one who has fascinated you now?"

Baochai was startled, seeing her eyes wide open and thinking innocently, she smiled softly and said, "Maybe it is."