Practical Life in the Red Mansion

In the 23rd year of Kangqing, Lin Yang was three years old, Lin Hai and Jia Min's filial piety period was also over, so after entering June, the Lin family was busy getting rid of the ceremony.Those who take the cut and decline should be removed at the latest, and it must be removed at the time of the 27th month.The 禫祭 is to hold a sacrificial ceremony when the mourning clothes are removed, and this ceremony is called the 禫祭.After taking it off, take plain clothes for the whole month, and then change to regular clothes.Removing clothes not only means that Lin Hai's family's clothing and lifestyle have changed, but also means that Lin Hai can become an official, and the Lin family can enter normal social activities.In the entire Lin family, Jia Min was the busiest. Not only did she prepare the spirit streamers and other items for the sacrifice, but she also had to prepare the curtains, furnishings, clothing and other things after the ceremony. The old friends and relatives of the Lin family distributed invitations, telling them that the Lin family was going to be a filial piety, and they could socialize.

On the day of the ceremony, Lin Hai welcomes Lin Mu's spirit streamer and memorial tablet, and puts them on the altar with his own hands. Lin Hai and Lin Yang stand on the east side and weep to express their condolences. crying in the room.Then, led by the head of the Lin family who is the chief priest this time, fruit offerings, offerings, rice offerings, reading sacrificial texts, offering wine, ordering rice, offering incense, and burning yellow paper (burning paper) are carried out in sequence.In each link, Lin Hai and Lin Yang have to perform three kowtows, a total of 24 kowtows, that is, the 24 kowtow ceremony is also called the filial son ceremony.After the chief priest announces "24 kowtows" (the end of the filial son's sacrifice), relatives and friends begin to worship.After the worship, Lin Hai personally returned Lin Mu's memorial tablet to the ancestral hall and closed the door of the ancestral hall.The ceremony is considered complete.Lin Hai's family can take off their plain clothes and put on ordinary clothes.

Because Lin Yang was young, after visiting the clansman and relatives of the Lin family and several close friends of Lin Hai with his father, he was led by his wet nurse into the backyard. When he saw Jia Min, Lin Yang's eyes lit up. Peony woven gold brocade double-breasted lapels, 24 dark red peony moon skirts with entwined branches, wearing a flowing cloud bun, wearing gold silk inlaid ruby ​​double luan dotted green steps, earrings are adorned with gold inlaid ruby ​​earrings. His skin is like snow, and his eyebrows are like a painting.Lin Yang rushed towards Jia Min with his short legs. Jia Min hurried a few steps in a panic, leaned over to stop Lin Yang, "What are you doing running so fast, brother Yang, be careful to fall down." Jia Min picked up Lin Yang and taught him a lesson. After finishing his son, he lightly reprimanded Lin Yang's nurse and maid: "My brother is still young, you should follow along." The servants nodded in agreement.

"Mother," Lin Yang put his arms around Jia Min's neck, "Mother looks so good today." Jia Min smiled and said, "Little guy, your mouth looks like it has been smeared with honey." Jia Min hugged Lin Yang entered the room, and said to a 50-year-old kind-hearted woman in a peony jacket embroidered with autumn fragrance and folded branches, and a crimson silk silk horse-face skirt: "Auntie, you just laughed, this is my son who does not live up to expectations, Brother Yang." .”

Lin Hai's mother is the youngest girl in the family, and she has three older brothers.Lin Hai's eldest uncle has passed away. From the first rank to the Minister of the Ministry of Officials, he was posthumously named the crown prince, Taifu, and doctor Ronglu. Only the eldest son became an official, and he served as the fourth rank Guozijian to offer wine. She died young and left no heirs. The third uncle is currently the chief envoy of Zhejiang Province from the second rank, and the woman who came here is Lin Hai's third aunt Wei Jiangshi.When Lin Hai's mother was not married, she had a very good relationship with her sister-in-law, so Wei Jiang was very concerned about the only blood left by her sister, so she came here alone to attend her nephew's funeral.

Jia Min put Lin Yang on the ground, "Brother Yang, go pay your respects to your aunt and grandma." Lin Yang took a few steps forward and saluted respectfully: "Greetings to your aunt and grandma."

"Hey, get up quickly." Wei Jiangxu helped Lin Yang up, pulled him to his side and looked at him carefully, Wei Jiang's heart melted when he looked at the round little face and big black watery eyes, and couldn't bear it. He couldn't help hugging him: "My brother is so good-looking. I looked at him carefully, he looks like his grandfather." While talking, he swayed Lin Yang's little head.

Jia Min sat down at the side with a smile: "My master also said that Brother Yang's appearance is the most similar. Let's take the test first."

"I think my brother is smart, you and Ru Hai should teach them well, and you must not spoil the family style of the Lin family." Wei Jiang couldn't help telling a few words, Lin Hai and Jia Min had been married for several years before they had this son , it must be love like a treasure, if you dote on this son and lose your upbringing, I am afraid that your sister-in-law will be in trouble.Mrs. Wei Jiang came here this time, first to see Lin Yang, the Lin family has a descendant, so that her sister-in-law will not die with regrets, and secondly, because of her husband-in-law's instructions, she came to inquire about Lin Hai's recovery.

Therefore, after seeing Lin Yang giving the gift, Wei Jiang handed Lin Yang to the wet nurse, and said with a smile: "My brother is obedient, and he doesn't cry or make trouble. After sitting for a while, I'm afraid it will be too late." I'm bored, take him out to play." The wet nurse Li Shi took Lin Yang, glanced at Jia Min, saw Jia Min nod, and led Lin Yang and the maids back out.

"Brother Hai has just become a filial piety. I don't know what your plans are for the recovery." Wei Jiang asked after taking a sip of tea.

Jia Min hurriedly stood up and bowed to Wei Jiang: "Master and I have received a letter from my uncle a few days ago, and there are some regulations. I also want to thank my uncle for his kind words on the Holy Spirit, and thank my aunt for her concern."

Wei Jiangshi saw Jia Min for the second time. Seeing her gentle and amiable manner, she was generous and polite to others, and she liked her very much. , your uncle should care about supporting you." Jia Min then sat down.

"Master Ding Youqian was the editor of the Imperial Academy, and he has served for three years. This time, he will not be in his original position again. I am afraid that he will be re-appointed. I just don't know whether to stay in Beijing or to be released." I'm not worried about whether Lin Hai can recover smoothly, not to mention that Lin Hai himself is talented, Jane is in the heart of the emperor, and he also has the help of his natal family Rongguo Duke's Mansion and Lin Hai's nephew Wei's family. If he is released outside, if he stays in Beijing to work, I am afraid that Lin Yang's life experience will cause trouble. There are many people in Beijing with good intentions. Yang's life experience was exposed and exploited, and no one would be able to escape.Although it is farther away from her natal home, and not as comfortable and comfortable as Beijing, Jia Min still wants to go outside.

"There is nothing to worry about." Wei Jiang smiled lightly, "Where to be an official is not an official, and Brother Hai will never wrong your mother and son." Wei Jiang didn't know what Lin Hai and Jia Min said. I thought they were unwilling to let them out, so I comforted them: "Although staying in Beijing has the advantages of staying in Beijing, but there are many nobles in Beijing, you must be careful in everything. If you ask me, it's better to let them out. There are few noble people in the place where you can be your own masters, and secondly, it is difficult for us women to go out, so I can go out with my husband so that I can see this great river and mountain, open my eyes and not be a frog at the bottom of the well."

Jia Min said yes with a smile, and said: "After listening to what my aunt said, I think it's better to be released outside. Being a butcher for an official is all for the benefit of the people. If you are released as an official, you can do more practical things, but." Jia Min's voice turned slightly joking, "If it can be sent to the south of the Yangtze River, I will need my uncle and aunt to support me."

Wei Jiangshi heard Jia Min's words and secretly praised Jia Min's transparency. She has been an official with her husband for dozens of years. She has seen a man who has a prosperous official career because of his wife's rationality, and a man whose family has been ruined because of his ignorant and greedy wife. Naturally, she knows How important it is for an official to have a good internal assistant to take care of the internal affairs of the inner court, so he is very satisfied with Jia Min's virtuousness, and secretly relieved, and joked: "Don't worry, your uncle and I really hope that you can come to the south of the Yangtze River to be officials, with your uncle covering you, so that the blind man dares to bully you."

Mrs. Wei Jiang also thought that Gusu was far away from the middle of Beijing, and she didn't know how Jia Min was doing, so she asked, "Brother Hai must be going to Beijing soon, so you're going back to Beijing with him? Just pack your luggage. Okay? Are you going by water or by land? Are the gifts you ordered ready?"

"Thank you aunt for your care." Jia Min is very grateful to the third aunt, and thanks to the advice of this aunt, and the third uncle is a local official, and Lin Hai will need his support in the future, so I would like to thank this aunt The third aunt was very respectful. "Master, discuss with me. Master will go back to Beijing alone, and brother Yang and I will stay in Gusu."

Mrs. Wei Jiang was a little surprised when she heard the words, and said in a puzzled tone, "I remember your natal family is from the capital. You haven't been away from the capital for three years and won't go back to see it?"

"My aunt remembers well. My natal family is from the capital city." Jia Min lowered her eyes. It’s hard to go back to Gusu. I’ll stay to take care of some clan affairs and buy the sacrificial fields. Besides, brother Yang was ill a while ago and his body hasn’t recovered yet. I want to wait for him to recover and wait for the master After taking office, Yang'er and I are rushing over there." Having said that, Jia Min still misses her mother's family, and although there are letters, it still can't ease the feeling of homesickness, but thinking of Lin Yang's life experience, which is more important , she can still tell the difference.

Seeing that she and Lin Hai had already discussed it, Wei Jiang didn't say much, she was just an aunt, she just had to give them advice, and it was over.Therefore, he changed the topic and instructed Jia Min on other matters, such as how to prepare luggage, how to manage it, and how to communicate after taking office.Wei Jiang has been in charge of the family for many years, and he ordered his wife from the second rank, so he has his own advantages. Jia Min humbly obeys her advice and regards it as a standard.

After sending Wei and Jiang away, Lin Hai brought a group of servants and all kinds of gifts and luggage to Beijing in early July.