The oil bottle of the Red Chamber

As soon as the words were finished, Aunt Lan who was standing aside let out a faint sigh.Putting her arms around the fourth girl, she said, "I'm sorry to see you. I think the elder girl thought of her own mother when she saw his wife come in and had a deep affection with the second and third girls."

When the eldest girl heard the words, she took a quick look at Mrs. Chen, and said in an excuse: "That's not the case. It's really the ashes from the tassels of the lamp that caught the eyes. Auntie, don't talk nonsense."

Mrs. Chen scoffed, glanced at You Ziyu, and said in a strange way: "Aunt Lan is not talking nonsense. Your father said that Aunt Lan is the most gentle and considerate person. of."

You Ziyu was very embarrassed by what she said, and Aunt Lan was also annoyed, and she didn't know what to say when she wanted to say something.

Chen simply stared into You Ziyu's eyes and said, "Master, I have something to tell Aunt Lan. Let's talk about it as soon as possible while everyone is here."

When everyone heard the words, they were not surprised, and all looked at You Ziyu.You Ziyu originally wanted to talk to Aunt Lan in private, but Chen Shi just pointed it out.I had no choice but to put aside the original plan, and told Aunt Lan that she should replace Chen's vegetarian copying scriptures and pray for the old lady.

Aunt Lan is a character who has been in the back house for a long time. After hearing this, she still doesn't know what Chen's plan is.It's just that Mrs. Chen's excuses are high-sounding, not to mention the fact that she has attracted three girls and invited You Ziyu to be a lobbyist, so she can't help but refute.At the moment, he could only readily agree, and said a few beautiful words to flatter the old lady.Yin also suggested: "Although the fourth girl is still young, she is also the granddaughter of the old lady. Since the first three sisters have to copy scriptures and pray for blessings, she can't be lazy. Although she is a small family, she can't bear it. She also copies a scripture every day, which is also her filial piety."

After hearing this correct answer, You Ziyu felt more and more that Aunt Lan was gentle and gentle, and she looked at Aunt Lan with a little appreciation.

Seeing this, Aunt Lan lowered her head in embarrassment, with a timid expression.

Mrs. Chen couldn't see her aunt and concubine making such a flirtatious appearance to seduce a man, so she immediately sneered.I cursed secretly in my heart, "I don't even look at how old I am, I still behave like such a little girl, it's not disgusting", but said in my mouth: "It is not only to worship the Buddha and copy the scriptures, but also to eat vegetarian food, and to serve The most important thing is to pray for the old lady, and you must be sincere. Tomorrow, I will order my servants to clean up a Buddhist hall in the side room at the back of the main courtyard, and Aunt Lan will copy scriptures in the Buddhist hall. The soup and water are also ordered to be prepared by the kitchen and sent in.”

Since you are a vegetarian, you can't touch meat.Naturally, it should be distinguished from the food of other people in the mansion.

After saying this, I thought of the other girls who copied scriptures.Afraid that Aunt Lan would take advantage of this to cause trouble, she hurriedly added: "The girls are still young, and they are all growing up, so it's not good that they don't eat meat - copying the scriptures is to pray for the old lady, if or Therefore, starving a few sisters and children is not the original meaning."

Auntie is different, let alone a 30-year-old, it’s okay to have a light diet, even if there is something, in front of the old lady and the master, would Aunt Lan dare to refute?

Chen sneered inwardly, it is best to deal with this kind of master who loves to pretend to be a virtuous man.He has been putting on airs in front of the crowd for a long time on weekdays, so he doesn't have to do anything himself, he just needs to give a few casual orders in the name of filial piety, and put his hat on, so it's impossible for people to refute.

So it's hard to be a good person in this world.What's more, the bottom of my heart is not very good, but I insist on pretending to be a good person?

Thinking of these, Mrs. Chen couldn't help gloating.In front of You Lao'an and You Ziyu, I deliberately asked Aunt Lan: "This is also my selfish idea. If you think it's inappropriate, or if you don't want to part with rich clothes, that's fine. After all, the sage said Well done, don’t do to others what you don’t want to do to yourself. For example, I feel as uncomfortable as a knife cutting the flesh of my body after being away from fish for a day. If my aunt is as fond of meat as I am, it’s not easy to force. "

In the early years, Mrs. Chen followed her daughters to study with Mr. Wu, firstly in order to recognize a few more characters, and in the future it would be convenient for the housekeeper to read the account book and posts.Secondly, I also learned some idioms and verses that I thought were useful, thinking that the words of scholars are tricky and sharp, and sometimes it is just right to use them to gag people's mouths.It was used on Aunt Lan today.

After hearing this, Aunt Lan couldn't help but change her expression.Her ancestry is from the south, not to mention that she was born in a family of poets and officials since she was a child. Under the influence of her elders, her diet is relatively light on weekdays, and everyone in the You family knows about it.

If she followed Mrs. Chen's advice and refused to become a vegetarian, the old lady would be the first to disbelieve her, and even You Ziyu would be very disappointed.Aunt Lan was afraid that her fault would cause You Ziyu to doubt her filial character, so she knew that Mrs. Chen had thought of a way to humiliate her, but she didn't dare to reveal it to her face.It's just that she is unwilling to fall into Chen's trap and let her manipulate her.When he was hesitating and not knowing how to open the handover, I heard You Laoan interjected: "Aunt Lan is just copying the scriptures for you, and she doesn't really want to become a monk to practice. And there is no need to clean up the Buddhist hall. The small Buddhist hall in my courtyard is just copying scriptures. As for eating and drinking, it should be separated, so as not to offend the Buddha."

Even You Lao'an spoke, no matter how dissatisfied Aunt Lan was, she had no choice but to swallow it.It's just that he was aggrieved in his heart, and still looked at You Ziyu sadly.You Ziyu didn't think too much about it, but thought that the instructions of You Lao'an and Chen's family were all in the meaning of the title, so she smiled and asked Aunt Lan: "You should copy the scriptures and pray for good luck, and ask the Buddha to bless the old lady for a long time." Live a hundred years, be healthy, and have a fat grandson in your arms."

This sentence fit You Lao'an's mind, and he couldn't stop laughing from ear to ear.He also told You Ziyu and Chen Shi, "It's been a hard day, so go back to your room and have a rest. You don't have to come over for dinner, just stay in your room."

He also told the eldest sister, "You are the eldest sister, you are better than the younger sisters, you have to take good care of the younger sisters. The second and third sisters have just come to our house, so I'm afraid they are still a little timid. You have to be more careful, don't restrain them."

The eldest girl sat in the upper room for a long time, except for the second sister who asked her a word, and Aunt Lan who used her as a raft, she was like an invisible person.Now, after listening to You Lao'an's order, I have mixed feelings in my heart, and hurriedly got up and said: "Grandma, don't worry, I will take care of it."

Only then did You Lao'an nodded in satisfaction, and took the second and third sisters to give some instructions, and then let everyone leave.

The youngest, the fourth girl, is usually the most loved by her grandmother and father, but today she is ignored, and she tastes what it feels like to be left out.I am very dissatisfied.Quickly said: "Grandma and father ignore me, I'm going to be angry."

Youlao'an has a grudge against what Aunt Lan provoked Chen to attack her confidant and nanny, but the fourth girl is her own granddaughter after all, and since she looks so grown up, she is treated the same as Aunt Lan. different.He smiled and beckoned the fourth girl to come forward, hugged her and talked for a while, then told the big maids Jixiang and Ruyi to open the box and get some things to coax the fourth girl to play with.For a while, I thought of the two sisters from the Chen family, so I had to find two silver Jiulianhuan to give to the second and third sisters.

The second and third sisters thanked each other with smiles, took Jiu Lianhuan, and saw the eldest girl standing aside, silent and peaceful, they were startled.

That night, Mrs. You Laoan left the fourth girl to have dinner in the upper room. You Ziyu and his wife went back to the room at their own convenience. The eldest girl took the second and third sisters back to the room for dinner because of Mr. You Lao'an's orders.It's just six dishes and one soup, the soup is sour bamboo shoots and chicken skin soup, and the dishes are four meat and two vegetables.The second and third sisters ate too much for lunch and were still a little impatient, so they ate less in the evening.

The eldest girl didn't know if it was because of her appetite, or because of other reasons, she only used soup to make rice, and filled half a bowl with two plates of vegetarian dishes, and called the maids to come in.He didn't order to remove the table, but asked the maids to have dinner with the leftover dishes.Those two girls must be used to such things, they both thanked them with a smile, took their own meals, and ate standing at the table.

The eldest girl took her second and third sisters into the inner room for tea.The third sister now has time to look at the eldest girl's room, but she sees that the furnishings in the room are simple and simple, although it is not like a snow cave, there are no playthings.There is only a set of blue and white porcelain tea sets on the table, and only the most common light gauze curtains are hung on the bed, which is very unlike the embroidery room of the official lady.It's not as exquisite as the houses that You's family tidied up for the second and third sisters.

Seeing this, the second sister couldn't help being surprised.He looked back at the third sister.The third sister didn't know what to say, so she could only make up her mind to tell Mrs. Chen later.

The eldest girl thought she was used to it, so she didn't care too much. She chatted with the second and third sisters again, and seeing that it was getting late, they separated.The second sister went back to her room to rest, but the third sister used her two-handed abacus to check the accounts under the lamp.

In the next few days, Mrs. Chen remained restrained. Apart from serving her husband in the morning and evening, urging Aunt Lan and several girls to copy the scriptures and pray for blessings, she and her third sister were familiar with the rules of the house and discussed housekeeping matters together.As for the words of those housekeepers and daughters-in-law who were probing or professing their allegiance, they didn't listen to them at all.I only shirk "everything has to wait until the accounts and treasury are finished before making theory."

Unexpectedly, the more calm Chen is, the more uneasy the housekeeper and daughters-in-law are when you see her fierce temper.Even the few people who had previously made up their minds to sit on the wall and watch could not sit still, not to mention those nuns who had the idea of ​​burning the stove, and they spent all day worrying about trivial matters or thinking that they were important The back house secretly came to report.

Seeing it in her eyes, Mrs. Chen didn't say much.

Early this morning, Mrs. Chen helped You Ziyu wash and dress before going out to court.He took several sisters to the upper room to say hello and said something.Just after returning to the main courtyard, Qiu Ju told the story that several housekeepers and daughters-in-law of the family were waiting outside to see their wives.

Mrs. Chen called everyone in. The housekeepers and daughters-in-law first kowtowed to pay their respects. When they got up again, they saw Mrs. Chen changed her attitude of not saying a word in the past few days, and threw a few accounts at the feet of everyone, holding the teacup and opening the tea. Gai scraped off the tea powder, took a sip unhurriedly, and said just now: "Those with red circles on the account books are all wrong expenses. I know you are all trying to blame the public, or It's true that you bully me when I'm young, thinking that I can't handle things and can't settle my debts."

Seeing this, everyone hurriedly bent down and picked up the accounts, and looked through them one by one, but they saw that all the tricky places in the accounts were circled, but some of the days were shallow, and even the evidence of crime was attached to it, and some of them were years old. Not to mention storing evidence, even they themselves can't remember clearly.Even so, everyone was still overwhelmed by Chen's method of checking the accounts, and the intention of underestimating them was dispelled.He opened his mouth in a hurry to flatter or courteously.

Because they are afraid of Chen's temper, even some people rely on their old ladies and masters as guarantors, but they dare not verbally suppress Chen.Just blindly begging in soft words, and even disregarding decency, complaining about difficulties in front of everyone with tears in their eyes.

The reason why Mrs. Chen is so rigorous in checking the accounts is because she wanted to beat Liwei.What's more, the housekeepers and daughters-in-law inside are mostly in charge of internal affairs. Even if they do their best, they have limited greedy things.So there is no need to shout, fight and kill.

Seeing that everyone bowed their heads in submission, Mrs. Chen stopped talking, and only said that she would tell the old lady and the master what happened today, and listen to the instructions of those two.He also told everyone to live well in the future, and if there were any mistakes in her housekeeping, "don't blame me for being unselfish, and then I won't be able to take care of my old faces in three or four lifetimes."

As the saying goes, be obedient and listen to the sound, everyone saw Mrs. Chen saying this, and thought that the superiors would not pursue it anymore. They hurriedly thanked Mrs. Chen with gratitude, and cursed and swore that they would be better off as errands in the future.Mrs. Chen allowed everyone to confide in her confession until they were at a loss for words, and then she made a big move——

First of all, it is clearly stated that the method of bookkeeping in the future needs to be jointly coordinated by the three parties, in order to restrain each other. Then, according to the roster in the mansion and the first errands of the nuns in charge, the scope of responsibility is clarified one by one, that is, someone manages a certain place. , someone receives something, and stipulates a strict reward and punishment system, and finally announces the level of "nourishing money" that the maids in charge can enjoy according to the level of errands.

After a group of actions, there were rewards and punishments, big sticks and sweet dates, and everyone fell to the bottom of the valley and floated into the clouds, and finally they were all attracted by the "money for raising integrity" in Chen's mouth.

Such a benefit is obtained for nothing, and it will be used for a lifetime. Everyone paid no attention to the harsh arrangements made by the predecessors, and all kowtowed to Mrs. Chen in gratitude.Even the nuns who were afraid of Chen's methods before and feared that Chen would find an excuse to mess up their errands couldn't help but be tempted.After all, if the housekeepers are governed according to Chen's new rules, it doesn't matter who they are, what matters is whether they can work hard and do their job well.

Seeing that everyone was convinced, Mrs. Chen waved her hand and told them to disperse.On the other hand, he took the account book and went to the upper house to find You Laoan.She had said a long time ago that she would not talk about the old affairs of Youfu, and how to punish the nuns in charge who were greedy for ink before was all under the instructions of the old lady and the master.

You Lao'an became more merciful as she got older, and she was reluctant to let go of the old man who had been with her for half her life. Seeing that Mrs. Chen didn't talk about pursuing it, she kept her attitude vague and stopped mentioning it.As for whether the Chen family will send those people promoted by Aunt Lan, You Lao'an doesn't even care.

When Chen saw this, he didn't break it.Putting down the account book, he mentioned the matter of the eldest girl instead.

"A few days ago I went to her room to talk to her, and saw that her room was like a snow cave, and she was dressed in her usual clothes, and she was very plain. She really didn't look like a lady of sixteen or seventeen years old. As a Although the aunt is not her biological mother, she also has the responsibility of teaching and raising. So I want to discuss with the old lady, open a warehouse to pick some good porcelain, silk and antiques, display curtains and curtains, and decorate her house well. Pick a few horses with good colors and patterns, and make some good clothes for her, and two sets of good clothes. In the future, I will go out with me to meet guests, and we will not lose face of our You family."

It's just that the Chen family will not use his own money to make up for these things, they have to come from the You family's father.Because of the eldest girl's mother, You Lao'an doesn't like the eldest girl very much.It's just that no matter how much I don't like it in my heart, that is also her new granddaughter.It's fine if you don't pay attention to it on weekdays, but since Mrs. Chen brought it up today, You Lao'an couldn't help but agree to her.He patted Chen Shi's hand again and said: "Sure enough, you are a good person. I usually don't have enough energy, so I don't pay much attention to these things. When Aunt Lan was in charge of the house, I'm afraid I didn't pay attention because I was full of attention on the fourth girl. It can be seen This is human nature, it’s useless to just look at what she said, you have to pay attention to it from the daily routine.”

After hearing what You Lao'an said, Mrs. Chen just smiled.Yin said again: "It's one thing to tidy up the house and make clothes for the eldest girl. I was thinking... the eldest girl is also sixteen or seventeen years old this year, and besides a wet nurse, there are only a few maids to accompany her." There is no foster nun to teach her. It just so happens that my elder brother won the grace of the prince and invited an old nun from the East Palace to teach sister Wan how to behave. The meaning of elder brother and sister-in-law is second sister, third sister My son also went back to study. I thought that my eldest sister was growing up, so I might as well go back with me. When we talk about marriage in the future, I heard that I learned the rules from the nanny in the palace, which is also a decent thing. The old lady thinks How about you?"

After hearing this, Mr. Youlao'an had nothing wrong with it, and immediately responded with a smile.Because I thought of the fourth girl, she was already clever and transparent, if she learned the rules, wouldn't she be even more lovable.Then he mentioned it to Mrs. Chen.

Unexpectedly, Mrs. Chen just smiled lightly, and said casually: "The fourth girl is only five years old this year. She is delicate and expensive. She is just the age who loves to play. How can I get the hard work of learning the rules. What's more, my brother invited the nuns in the palace to come over." I originally wanted to teach Sister Wan the rules, so that Sister Wan would leave the cabinet in two years. The second and third sisters went back with them, and they were just studying with the prince. I was thinking that the eldest girl is getting older She was born prudent and peaceful, and she was no longer the kind of person who waits for a quick sell, so she opened her mouth with her elder brother and sister-in-law. This is already too much. After all, there was only one nanny in the palace, and At that age, how much energy do you have left? To teach one more person will be more involved. The old lady wants me to take the fourth girl, how can I speak?"

Speaking of selfishness, if it wasn't for the fear that only taking the second and third sisters back to learn the rules would make the members of the You family feel uncomfortable seeing them.When the time comes to ask for favors, she will be passive, so Chen will not take the initiative to ask the eldest girl to learn the rules.After all, mutton can't stick to dogs, and it's not a species that crawled out of her stomach, so why would she bother planning for them.But if you can see it on the face, it's over.

What's more, the fourth girl is still a concubine, and her aunt has such an appearance, it is obvious that she is not familiar with her.Chen was even more lazy to bother.

Seeing Mrs. Chen say this, You Lao'an had no choice but to do so.

In the evening, when You Ziyu came to the house, after dinner, he went back to his room to rest. He was very surprised when he saw the detailed housekeeping rules written by Mrs. Chen and her third sister.Until he saw the various benefits recorded in the ledger by the compradors in the outer court who were greedy for ink, his face sank even more.

Seeing this, Mrs. Chen even bridged the fire and said: "You are so capable, the things you have been greedy for these years are comparable to three-thirds of your You family's wealth."