The oil bottle of the Red Chamber

The next day, Pan Youliang and his wife brought their son Pan Yuanxing into the mansion. They first kowtowed to Mrs. You in the upper room to thank Mrs. You, listened to Mrs. You's teaching, and then kowtowed to Mrs. Chen in the main courtyard.At that time, the three girls were also chatting and joking in Mrs. Chen's room. Mrs. Chen gave Pan Yuanxing a good order in front of the eldest girl.Just say, "You are the person that the master likes. The master often mentions you to me, saying that you are loyal and smart. From now on, if you are with the eldest girl, you must put the eldest girl first in everything. If you let me know that you are double-faced and three-handed. matter, I will definitely not follow."

After hearing the beatings, Pan Yuanxing had no choice but to meet each other loudly, cursing and swearing to express his loyalty.Mrs. Chen didn't think so, but she made a few words and told everyone to retreat.

For a while, everyone went to the upper room to greet the old lady, and stopped by for lunch.Mrs. Chen asked Mrs. You to ask for the life deed of Pan Yuanxing and his wife, intending to hand it over to the eldest girl.Mrs. You was not very happy at first, but Mrs. Chen was so eloquent and eloquent that she spoke every sentence so that the old lady's heart was full of joy. In the end, she followed Mrs. Chen's wishes in a daze.

Here, Mrs. Chen also ordered the eldest girl to accept everyone's deeds.The eldest girl also knew that this was the meaning of the question, she immediately thanked the old lady Chen, and accepted it gratefully.Everyone had to gossip once, and what they talked about was about the dowry of the eldest girl.Mrs. You asked if there was something wrong.

Mrs. Chen said with a smile: "The big items are basically all there, and there are some odds and ends left, and I have to come to the Ningguo Mansion to propose a marriage. After the two families have exchanged Geng Tie, they can start serious preparations."

After hearing this, Mrs. You nodded unconsciously, and stopped asking further questions.

In a blink of an eye, more than two or three months later, the national filial piety has been removed.Every household prepares opera wine and resumes communication.Those who have children of the right age also look at each other openly and secretly.Ningguo Mansion also took advantage of the situation and sent matchmakers to propose marriage.

Because the two families have already established a tacit understanding, this marriage proposal is just a process, and then the exchange of Geng Tie and He Ba Zi is a complicated and complicated process. Fortunately, Mrs. Chen has rich experience and is able to handle it with ease.

Completing the horoscope is to set a small fixed date, and the two families exchanged the ceremony of engagement according to the old customs.The man just gave some gold rings, gold earrings, gold collars, gold bracelets, silk and satin materials and a letter of appointment, and the woman also returned the needlework she made by herself - just some clothes, shoes and socks, purses, sachets and the like.There is nothing to describe.

Then came the next appointment period——because the Ningguo Mansion was the home of Zhongming Dingshi after meritorious officials, its power and wealth were naturally not to mention.So even though the dowry this time was just done according to the old rules in the mansion, in the eyes of people like You Mansion, it was still extremely generous and full of sincerity.

Because of this generous dowry gift, everyone in the You family felt honored, and the old lady You couldn't stop smiling from ear to ear.Whenever chatting with old friends of the same family, he must first mention "my dear son-in-law".His ostentatious attitude is unbearable to look at directly.

And every time they come back from the banquet, they have to pull everyone in the You family to learn their tongues.The most proud thing in her life is to put on airs and look coldly at those royal wives who didn't like to talk to her, and try to flatter and flatter her.

Every time Mrs. You mentions this, she can't help sighing and sighing: "I was a widow when I was young, and I raised Ziyu so much by myself. After all these years of ups and downs, I haven't suffered any hardships. But I never thought that I could have the same. Such a glorious time. It all depends on the good fortune of the big girl. She was able to marry into the Duke's mansion as a wife. I look forward to our family's glory and glory in the future, and we will all be the big girl on the body."

After finishing speaking, he still beckoned the eldest girl to come to her side, stroked her neck lovingly, and sighed in his mouth: "You are really a lucky girl. It can be seen that your master and I did not love you in vain."

Hearing this, the eldest girl had no choice but to lower her head, her face full of shyness, and she remained silent.

For a while, You Ziyu returned home from the court, and her face was full of beauty, and she was full of power at every step.Ever since the news of their You family's marriage to Ningguo Mansion was about to spread, the attitudes of those colleagues in the court, Shang Feng, towards him were totally different.If we say that in the past it was business affairs, then because of the marriage between the You and Chen families and because of Chen Gui's face, it was just a matter of mutual respect, but now when those people greet him again, it is a bit more Flattery, envy.Every time after going down to the court, he invites guests to dinner and wine in every possible way, looking for love and establishing relationships.Even his old Shangfeng changed his usual way of confessing to him. Not only did he lose his usual aloofness in his words, he even lowered his figure and asked him to take care of him in the future.The former is humble and the latter is respectful and prepared, and he is no longer the reserved and proud that seemed close and far away.

It made You Ziyu feel elated, as if she was several years younger at the same time.Even when he was talking outside the house, his voice became stiffer when he was a child.

She was so happy that Mrs. Chen only talked to the third sister behind her back. It was true that a man was alive and had no right to do so.

Seeing that You Ziyu didn't even change his official uniform after returning home, and just rushed into the back house to go to the room, Mrs. You and Mrs. Chen unconsciously looked at each other and smiled.Before he could speak, You Ziyu laughed loudly and said: "It can be regarded as a free time today, and I can come back earlier. You don't know, I have been bothered by them these days to invite you to dinner It’s not good, how can my body be able to bear it if they come on like this one after another. It’s really making me cry like hell!”

After finishing speaking, he smiled and said to Chen Shi: "You think this person is strange. I was envious when I saw Zizhang was invited to a table and poured wine by them earlier. I just thought about when I would have this time The scenery is proud. Unexpectedly, now that this is really happening, I don’t feel good about it.”

When Mrs. Chen heard the words, she smiled and ordered someone to bring the soup that had been warmed on the stove, and personally held it to You Ziyu, and said with a smile: "We women and Taoists, how do we know that the outside is upside down. I I only know that drinking is bad for your health, so the master should take care of it more. Drink this bowl of tonic soup quickly."

You Ziyu reached out to take the soup, smiled in his mouth and said "Thank you, madam", and then drank the soup in one gulp.Glancing over at the big girl at the side, she couldn't help but think that all her glory and glory depended on him, so she put down her figure and said softly, "How about big girl at home today? What if you want to eat and play?" , tell your wife all about it. Time flies, I still remember that when your mother first left, you were such a young girl with such a big idea. In a blink of an eye, you are also a big girl who is going to marry a wife. You must know how to do it for others A daughter-in-law is never better than being an aunt at home, you also have to learn the three obediences and four virtues, housekeeper and director, learn more from your wife in this aspect, you must be virtuous and gentle."

When he said the last sentence, You Ziyu unconsciously glanced at Mrs. Chen.Chen Shi squinted at him with a half-smile.You Ziyu suddenly coughed in embarrassment, and hurriedly asked: "By the way, why didn't you see Brother Bao?"

When Mrs. Chen asked, she was just about to agree, when she heard that someone at the door said that someone had sent a letter of invitation to see the master.When You Ziyu heard the words, he was immediately suspicious, and still said with a smile to everyone: "It's so late, why did you come here at this time?"

However, due to the news of the marriage with the Ningguo Mansion recently, the You family has already become a big family.It is not surprising that someone came to the door at this moment.Knowing about this, You Ziyu just complained casually, and ordered people to lead the outsiders to sit in the main hall of the outer courtyard to have a cup of tea, while she went back to her room, changed her official uniform and changed into a regular one, and then hurried to the outer courtyard in a leisurely manner. Son.

Not to mention the fact that You Ziyu received foreign guests here, but that the female family members of the You family saw You Ziyu coming and going in a hurry, and they laughed and made fun of her.Mrs. You Yin said: "How old is he, he still has such a hot temper. It reminds me of the years when he insisted on marrying you..."

When Mrs. You said this, she couldn't help but think of Chen Gui, Chen's elder brother.Immediately asked: "I heard that your elder brother went south on business, so it's about time to return to Beijing now?"

Seeing the question, Mrs. Chen replied with a smile: "I heard from my sister-in-law before that my brother came to write a letter from home. The letter said that he would return to Beijing for a review at the end of July and the beginning of August."

Old Madam You couldn't help but nodded when she heard this.After pondering for a moment, he said just now: "Zizhang has done a great job in helping the disaster and handling the case. Presumably the saint will reward him when he returns to Beijing this time."

After hearing this, Mrs. Chen laughed and said: "Whether you will be promoted or not, I am a woman and I don't know. I just hope that my brother will come back soon, and then the whole family will have a reunion and Mid-Autumn Festival, so that's all."

Hearing this, Old Madam You agreed with her very much, she also nodded and said with a smile: "That's not bad. When your brother's house comes, you will take a few girls and Brother Bao back to have a look. This is also ours. Mind."

After hearing this, Mrs. Chen hurriedly got up to thank her.The old lady You nodded, smiled and said to the eldest girl: "Since it is your wife's natal family, it is also your natal family. When I see your uncle later, remember to kowtow to him. After all, on the day you get married, you still have to be a brother. I went out behind your back."

When the eldest girl heard the words, she hurriedly got up and agreed.Seeing this, Old Madam You nodded in relief.

Originally, the Chen family was not the eldest girl's biological mother, and You Ziyu had only one male son, Brother Bao.In this case, when the eldest girl goes out, she can ask the cousin of the You family to carry the eldest girl into the sedan chair.However, Mrs. You and You Ziyu had considered it several times, and finally discussed with Mrs. Chen, and asked Chen Ling to carry the eldest girl on the sedan chair.One is to use the power of the Chen family to tell the Ningguo Mansion that his family is not a poor relative who has no background and only knows how to come to fight the autumn breeze, and the other is to show his closeness to the Chen family.

The eldest girl has gone through all kinds of things, and has long regarded Chen as her own mother.Hearing this remark, how can there be no courtesy.

Chen Shi also has a motherly affection for the eldest girl.What's more, being able to establish a relationship with the Ningguo Mansion is beneficial to both her and the Chen family.So Mrs. Chen only went home to discuss with her parents and sister-in-law once, and Mrs. Chen, Mrs. Chen and Mrs. Feng immediately agreed.

In this way, Chen Shi and the eldest girl became even more intimate.

While all the female relatives were talking, the old lady's maid, Ji Xiang, came out of the inner room holding Bao Ge'er.I saw Brother Bao who had just woken up staring at the crowd with big black grape-like eyes. Seeing that Mrs. Chen was present, he hurriedly stretched out a pair of small arms like lotus root joints, smiling and wanting to hug.

Mrs. Chen hurriedly got up and hugged Brother Bao.Bao Ge'er was already familiar with the way, and pressed against Chen Shi's chest, wanting to breastfeed.Seeing this, Mrs. Chen couldn't help laughing and scolding a snack—this was learned from the mouth of the third sister.

Seeing this, the old lady You couldn't bear to let her precious grandson be scolded, so she just smiled and defended her grandson: "Such a big kid can only eat and sleep. Our brother Bao is already very sensible. The mother still despises him. Hurry up and hug my grandson to nurse."

Before saying a word, You Ziyu had already sent away the foreign guests who came to visit and returned to the inner house.Just after entering the main entrance, everyone laughed and said: "Guess who that person was just now? It's strange to say that even I don't know such a person. It's just a general from the east of Guangdong who was ordered to return to Beijing to report his duties. Said that our family is married to the Ningguo Mansion, so I posted a post to pay homage. I didn't say a few words, but I gave a small basket of Poria Cocos Cream..."

As You Ziyu said, he couldn't help laughing and said to Mrs. You, Mrs. Chen and his sisters: "I heard that there are the most pines and cypresses in their place for thousands of years, so I just took the semen, liquid and medicine of this Poria cocos, and I somehow managed to get it. Come out with this strange and handsome hoarfrost. Use human milk or milk and eat a cup every morning when you get up early. It will nourish your body and beautify your face. From tomorrow onwards, you will all eat it too. By then, our whole family will be white and fat , that would be great."

After You Ziyu finished speaking, she didn't know what came to mind, and she still smiled at Chen Shi: "By the way, you will order a boy tomorrow to send two bags to the Yue family. Just say that I, a son-in-law, don't have any good things. Filial piety. It's just borrowing flowers to offer Buddha."

After hearing these words, Mrs. Chen couldn't help getting up to thank her.You Ziyu waved his hands generously, and said with a smile: "You and I are husband and wife, the closest family. How can you thank me for such a small matter?"

After all, I thought of something that could be used to make fun of Mrs. Chen.It's just that since the old lady and several sisters are present, it's hard to say it.

Only after dinner, and absent-mindedly eating tea and fruits, chatted again, and parted ways.When she went back to the bedroom with Mrs. Chen, she couldn't help but put her arms around Mrs. Chen and said with a smile: "I heard that Fuling cream is best eaten with human milk. It's even better than cow's milk. I'm taking it one after another now. I'm suffering from alcohol, I just ask Madam to love me more..."