The Hairpin of the Red Chamber

In the early winter season, the angel went to Jia's mansion with a decree to tell him about the election in Yuanchun. Everyone in the house was happy, from Jia's mother to the concierge, wishing that everyone could keep a smile on their face all the time.Jia Amnesty and Jia Lian didn't say anything, even Jia Zhen and Jia Rong didn't lose face, and came to congratulate Jia Zheng one after another.

While everyone was celebrating, Jia Zheng, the real head of the country, was worried:

A while ago, I heard that my brother-in-law Lin Haiben was begging for a divorce. Although the emperor refused, Lin Hai was very sincere, and he was not in good health. It is expected that he would resign in the end.Once he resigned, his line of in-laws became weaker and weaker. Except for Wang Ziteng, there was no real power figure anymore, and his own children were useless. They only had the name of wealth and honor but no real position and weight. The family may gradually decline in the future.

Second, this court has always been strict with its relatives. Although it will not make him resign, I am afraid that his career prospects in the future will be very limited. He was originally a son of the government, and he was conceited of his talents. On the way to advance in the imperial examination, now that her daughter has been selected into the harem again, she is more and more inseparable from the name of her relatives and nobles, so she can't help but feel a little discouraged, sometimes happy, sometimes worried, sitting in the room for half a day, getting up and going Go to the back house to see what Baoyu is doing.

It was rare for Baoyu to be in the courtyard that day. Daiyu saw it, and went to stand at the door and talked to him for a while. Why aren’t you happy now that you’re serious about uncle Guo? You’re just frowning here?”

Baoyu said: "Others are fine. Why do you laugh at me with this?"

Daiyu wanted to separate herself from Baochai because of Baochai, so she listened to him and said, "It's true that we were together when we were young, but we have separated now. Don't talk about those stupid things in the past."

Seeing her standing at the door and refusing to come in, Baoyu just smiled wryly and read a book in the room for a while, sighing more and more, Daiyu was about to leave. Yaoyao said to him: "I didn't come here for nothing, you come here, I'll have a word with you."

Baoyu said, "If you want to talk about it, what are you doing standing at the door?"

Daiyu said: "I'm talking about my own private room. You can listen to it if you like it. If you don't listen to it, you won't listen to it. It's up to you."

Baoyu had no choice but to come out, and Daiyu and his party took him to the garden. At that time, the flowers and leaves were withered, and the garden was rather deserted, and everything was empty. If anyone came, the two of them would be able to see it in an instant.

Baoyu looked at what Daiyu said. Daiyu first cast her eyes around, making sure that there was no one else, and said, "I ask you, are you happy to be an uncle of the country?"

Baoyu said angrily, "You brought me here just to make fun of me again?" Turning to leave, Daiyu hurriedly stopped him and said, "I didn't make fun of you. But I didn't come to congratulate you like they did." , I just want to tell you that something big will happen to your family from now on."

Baoyu raised his head and stared at Daiyu.

While thinking about it, Daiyu said: "You have also read history books a lot recently, so you should know some truths. In your opinion, among the men in your family, which one can do the job?"

Baoyu said in a daze, "Brother Zhen, second brother Lian, uncle, father..."

Daiyu sneered and said, "Didn't you used to be the most alert and pretentious and looked down on others? Why are you praising those ordinary people again?"

Baoyu bowed his head and remained silent.

Daiyu said: "Listen to what I'm saying. If you don't feel comfortable listening, just pretend that nothing happened. I won't come to persuade you again. If you listen to it and want to hear the next thing, then Someday, when Sister Bao and I are both here, come and look for us."

Seeing that she was speaking solemnly, Baoyu also pretended to listen carefully.

Daiyu glanced around again before she opened her mouth and said, "It's never been easy to be a family of meritorious officials. The ancestors made great achievements, and their talents and virtues are enough to match such wealth, so they enjoy it without worry. The second life is also born at the end of troubled times Before participating in the peace, although the merits are not great, at least the merits and demerits are offset, and there is no need to worry about the protection of the parents. As for the third, fourth, and fifth generations, they grew up in wealth and honor since they were young, and they did not have to go through life and death. Heart, that’s all, but this kind of children have no merits in the court, and their grandfather’s fortune is gradually being cut off, but they enjoy high officials and honors, they have a name on the outside, but there is no reality on the inside, how can they be stable with such an empty shelf?"

Baoyu argued: "The country's imperial court's demotion to rank and rank is just the meaning of meritorious deeds, so Uncle and Brother Zhen are not high in rank now, and there is no such worry as you."

Daiyu said: "How many officials are there in the court? How many can be above the third rank? You still don't think it's high, so how can you be high? Besides, look at your house, is it just a first-rank or third-rank pomp now?"

Baoyu was silent.

Daiyu said: "Generally, if a family like this wants to continue the wealth of their ancestors, they either cling to the powerful and seek meritorious service, or let their children follow the path of the imperial examination and gradually get promoted. The second uncle's path to the imperial examination has been cut off, and he has been in the Ministry of Industry until now. , didn't make any progress, and seeing that he was getting older, there was no hope of promotion. Apart from him, there was no one else to look forward to in a short period of time. Therefore, your family has taken the path of clinging to the powerful - your family is so prestigious, it is worthy of your clinging Yes, it’s nothing more than the royal family, now that your sister has been elected to the palace, it’s because of you that you’ve attached yourself to it, so there’s a great celebration.”

Baoyu's face turned red hot when she said it, and he lowered his head and said: "Everyone, girls, when they reach the age, they have to participate in the draft. It's not that we specially want to cling to the royal family."

Dai Yufu sneered again, and said: "Whether you are intentional or not, now that the elder sister has been selected into the Fengzao Palace, your family's status as a relative has been settled, and the wealth and illustriousness outside will advance to another level, but the future of the second uncle I'm afraid it will get darker and darker, and at most it will end up in the place, and others will only be more arrogant and domineering, and they will not make progress. Therefore, the inner shelf will be empty again. Originally, it will only decline faster if it goes up like this. The fame of your family is too prosperous, your false reputation is growing too fast, and your family members are too incompetent. In order to maintain such vain and prosperous, you have to make more efforts to gain popularity, curry favor with the rich and powerful for the merits of cliques, and plunder the weaves of your subordinates for richness. Zhifu, the merger of the two will be a catastrophe in a few years, do you believe it or not?"

Baoyu was dripping with cold sweat at what she said, forced a smile and said, "That's not the end."

Daiyu laughed and said, "That's all I've said. Whether you listen to it or not has nothing to do with me." After she finished speaking, she turned around and left without stopping.

Because Baoyu often read the bibliographies selected by Baochai and him during this year, and also traveled abroad to learn about prices, markets, and people's sentiments, and gradually understood some things, at this moment he thought over what Daiyu said over and over again, and the more The more he thought about it, the more startled he became, and after standing there for a long time, Fang slowly walked out.Just after leaving the garden gate, I bumped into Jia Zheng coming.Jia Zheng, however, was not very picky because Baoyu had been obedient recently, so he just stopped him and said, "Come from the garden? The sun is rare today, so it's good to go out for a walk."

How often did Baoyu see Jia Zheng so caring?He muttered yes, looked up and saw his father's white hair growing on his temples, and remembered what Daiyu said just now, his eyes became sore for some reason, he stopped and called, "Father."

Jia Zheng raised his eyebrows and said, "Huh?"

Baoyu didn't know what to say for a while, and after thinking for a long time, he said: "Son, walk with father in the garden?"

Jia Zheng glanced at him, nodded, stretched out his arms, and Baoyu naturally supported him. Jia Zheng stroked his beard and nodded with a smile on his face. Smile and leave.

After talking with Baoyu, Daiyu excitedly rushed to Baochai to show her merits.Just after entering the door, she saw Baochai packing boxes and cages, and Daiyu asked strangely, "What are you doing again?"

Baochai said, "It's almost Chinese New Year, get something for my brother."

Daiyu laughed and said, "There are still nearly three months until the Chinese New Year, so why are you already packing for the Chinese New Year?"

Baochai sighed: "My mother hasn't seen my brother for nearly two years, and I really miss her. These days, she said she wanted to call him to Beijing. Although I tried to persuade him, I'm afraid she still thinks in her heart. I won't do anything more. How can she feel at ease when the things are delivered?"

Daiyu sighed, "Brother Xue is really lucky to have a sister like you."

Baochai laughed and said, "I am lucky to have my brother."

Daiyu knew what she was referring to, her heart was sore, she bowed her head and said nothing, but she saw Baochai holding her in his arms and saying, "Don't worry, although you don't have an elder brother, you have me."

The next few words were spoken very lightly, but Daiyu listened to them without saying a word. She pursed her lips and smiled slightly, and leaned into Baochai's arms. Baochai, because of the busy business, gave her a little hug and let her in. Taking care of herself in the inner room, Daiyu deliberately said: "Just now I said that I have you, now I have a brother and forget about my sister!"

Baochai had no choice but to coax her with a smile, to make her happy, before she continued with the unfinished business just now. .