[Red Mansions] The big maid struggles daily

Now that the old lady agreed, Wang Xifeng pretended not to see Mrs. Wang's eyes, and smiled all the way to lure Daiyu to rest.

The servants of the Rongguo Mansion have always been open-mouthed, and it has only been a while since Mrs. Lin sent twenty thousand taels of silver to everyone.Those mothers-in-law, daughter-in-law, long-term attendants, and young servants all seem to be prophets. One said, "I thought of it a long time ago, and I can see it from the festival gifts sent by my aunts these years." That is to say, Aunt Lin's ancestors were also princes and lords, so the dowries of the mistresses of the past generations are just as much, and the tens of thousands of silver, we think it's too much, I'm afraid it's not in the eyes of others."

Even though the Lin family came here for half a day, they didn't use big dustpans to put money in rewards like the Xue family did back then, but for some reason, they seemed to be more popular. Everyone praised it, and some people even sighed meaningfully "... ...is the grandeur of a big family, unlike other people who have no roots, who only know the smell of money and don't know how expensive they are."

Aunt Xue was extremely uncomfortable, but she was not in her own house, and she had nowhere to do anything even when she had a fit, and she had to flatter Jiamu, and she couldn't come out of the upper courtyard until Jiamu called out.She didn't care about Mrs. Wang for the time being, she just said that something happened at home, and she took Baochai back to Lixiangyuan.

Aunt Xue couldn't hold back her smiling face when she sent off Jia's mother-in-law who came over to ask for a reward.

"My son, you have been wronged! The people in this mansion are so hateful, listen to what lies and nonsense they are saying! After staying for a day or two, I must tell your aunt well, Those people are not their own heads, and dare to arrange us!" Aunt Xue held her chest, as if she hated something.But they dare not say what about the Lin family. After all, the Xue family's foundation is in the south, which is within their reach; besides, no matter how wealthy they are, they have the tact of a businessman in their temperament, and they don't want to offend others.

How could Xue Baochai not feel sad? She asked herself that her appearance and talents were not inferior to others, but she was half a head shorter, as if her own bones were half lighter than others, and those people outside held them when they needed them. Flattery, if you can't benefit for a while, your mouth will be corrupt and contemptuous.

But she still had to persuade her mother to be relieved, "Mom doesn't care what the screwdriver is doing, you don't have to get mad, and you don't have to tell your aunt about it. My aunt is in charge of the old family, so she may not know the virtues below. Now and then, if we don’t mention it, it would be more magnanimous of us.” Even though the old woman was temporarily wooed by her own money, she can’t believe what she said, these people like to stir up muddy water. , so she benefits from it.

Aunt Xue cried suddenly: "If your father is still here, who would dare to look down on our family, but your elder brother can't support the family business, so that we girls will suffer this kind of grievance." As she spoke, she pulled Baochai and hugged her into her arms , wiped away tears.

Aunt Xue was originally the youngest daughter, and she has been more pampered than others since she was a child.Later, when she married into Xue's family home in Jinling, she was the housekeeper's clan wife as soon as she entered the door. In those years, the Xue family was in a good situation, and Aunt Xue was used to being praised by the whole family.It wasn't until Xue's father left that the family changed from year to year, and I didn't realize what it means to be in a cold world.

Ever since she entered Beijing and lived with her sister, the old lady in this house has been indifferent. Aunt Xue is very upset. There are only two mothers and daughters in the house at the moment, so she has to complain: "Everything is the same. Relatives, why do you have to step on this side! Your aunt and I are still direct sisters, and this aunt has gone, and the Lin family girl is separated by an extra layer. We are closer than close relatives. Skin sticks to meat..."

"You don't even know how close you are, but you're confused." On the other end, Mrs. Wang scolded Wang Xifeng, "Listen to what the family is saying, thanks to the generosity of the Xue family, they don't care."

Wang Xifeng just finished her work, watched the Lin family's cages being sent into Meishouyuan like running water, and before she came out, before she could take a breath, she was called by Mrs. Wang, who took the lead and complained.A little impatient in my heart, this sister of the Lin family has the blood of her own country's father-in-law, so why is she not as close as the Xue family.

But with a smile on his face, he said: "I don't know what my aunt said, and I can take care of it because of my closeness. Auntie, let me free up my hands and treat those slaves who have no masters or laws in their eyes!"

Mrs. Wang didn't care about this, but she just used it as a talking point to draw out the matter of Meishouyuan, but Wang Xifeng was not slippery and didn't follow along.He had no choice but to support his head with a mop on his forehead, frowned and sighed: "That's all, why are you so reckless today, and you settled people in Meishouyuan?"

Wang Xifeng pretended to be real, and said puzzledly: "I also took a look at it when it was being repaired a few days ago. Sister Lin brought a lot of people and luggage, so I had to ask for a bigger place, so I remembered it. Ma'am brought it up now, but what's wrong?"

Before Mrs. Wang could speak, she clapped her hands again and said, "Madam, don't worry, I put the plaque inscribed by my ancestors in the treasury a long time ago, and I promise it won't be damaged."

Mrs. Wang really feels her brain hurts, is she because of a wooden plaque!Yuan Chun hadn't lived in that place yet, so it was given to a cousin from outside.

Regardless of whether this Feng girl really didn't expect it or was pretending to be stupid, Mrs. Wang said angrily: "That place is the boudoir of a daughter from our house, and you have been married for a few years, don't you know that!"

Sister Feng stopped going around in circles, and she had to be taken aback for a moment before she said: "I've heard of this, but I've never lived in this mansion since I was a child..." That means that there was no one there. I have cared about it, the courtyard is dilapidated and is not repaired, only the courtyard door is locked, and now it is precious again.

"If it's for this reason, it's okay, my wife thinks, the "Mei Shou Yuan" inscribed by the ancestors in the courtyard is the boudoir of Miss Di. If this plaque is removed and the name is lost, the courtyard is just a house. More ordinary places."

The reason why Sister Feng took the risk of offending her aunt to facilitate this matter was, of course, that it was more important to flatter the old lady, and that she could sell the Lin family well; After coming out, Cousin Lin will stay for a while, and when she returns home, she will be able to live in if her eldest sister is not guaranteed.When the time comes, she will hang up the plaque again, so that everyone can see that the "grass" character of the Duke's Mansion is a descendant of the honor of a big girl.

She has such a clever mouth that dead people can be said to be alive. Seeing Mrs. Wang's expression was a little loose, she even said in a low voice with confidence: "Besides, I have a reason for placing cousin Lin there, Madam, please listen. "

"Cousin Lin looks filial, she must be filial to Aunt Lin..." When Jia Min was mentioned, Mrs. Wang felt uncomfortable, but Wang Xifeng spoke sincerely, so she could only listen to what she said.

"This Meishouyuan is located behind the Rongxi Hall, and everyone who comes in or out has to pass through here. I just thought that with my wife looking after me, Cousin Lin can also guard it with peace of mind. It also means preventing others from playing tricks."

Mrs. Wang's heart moved when she heard this, and she understood a little bit.After thinking about it, it makes sense, a courtyard is naturally not as important as Baoyu, she was glad that it happened that today, Baoyu went out to fulfill his wish, he is weak, so it is very unnecessary to see these relatives in Xiaoli.

He knows the evils of his own birth, and a new sister, he may not be happy about it.It's just that I don't see him for a while, and when the villain comes back, why doesn't the old lady push him to see him? Mrs. Wang was still worried, and she was afraid that one Shi Xiangyun would not be enough, and there would be another girl Lin.

Hearing Wang Xifeng's words now, I really think this is a good way to separate the two.Just thinking of Jia Min came, Mrs. Wang's chest was congested, and she agreed reluctantly.

Only then was Wang Xifeng released from the main courtyard, and when she returned to her own room, Ping'er came over and said, "General Cailin's family has sent someone to deliver something to grandma. This is the gift list. Grandma will listen to Caiming to read it."

After Caiming finished reading, Ping'er said: "Those things are really good things. I locked them in the ear room. Grandma will go and have a look at them when she has time."

Xifeng snorted: "I did so much for her family, shouldn't I be rewarded? Besides, I haven't seen such a good thing, you little hoof, your eyesight is getting shallower."

Ping'er also snorted, "What I saw was his sincerity! Those things were not only for grandma and second master, but also safety locks, toys, clothes, shoes and hats for our eldest daughter. The material of the clothes is soft and thin, just suitable for my sister's delicate skin, but I have never seen anyone put so much effort into it."

Xifeng felt grateful for what she said, and held Ping'er's hand to look at the ear room. If so, the ones for her and Lian Er were also precious and exquisite, and they were just right for the couple's age. "Move these to the eldest sister's room. Let the nurse change it for my sister, and when I have time, I will show her to Aunt Lin, and we recognize her."

After saying this, Ping'er hesitated, "Miss Lin is still in Xiaoli, our sister will go over there, and bump into another guest."

Sister Feng waved her hand: "Although it is said that my mother has kept her filial piety for three years, these three years are 'first and last three years'. Although Aunt Lin has only been there for a few months, she has already kept it for a year in terms of etiquette. If there is no such saying, today Our family will be ashamed, your second master and I should have served our aunt for seven months, because after a year, we can count it as a year."

Ping'er counted with his fingers, and said, "Then Miss Lin will be born in January next year. In fact, it will be 27 months? But Ding You, don't they all say it is [-] months?"

Sister Feng laughed and said, "You said it was Ding You too. It's a gift from the officials. Those who are officials don't expect others to move out of their nests so that they can go in. Don't they have to hang on to this month's life?"

Ping'er also laughed when he said it, and after a short rest, Sister Feng took the girl's hand to serve Jia Mu for dinner again.

Jia's mother wanted to hold a banquet for her granddaughter, but the Lin family's intentions were all to be respectful, and Jia Min was her own daughter, so she gave up the idea of ​​having a banquet.

Lin An's family came early to express their annoyance, saying that Lin Daiyu had to be a vegetarian, so she couldn't disturb the old lady's meal.When Jia Mu heard about it, she stopped to pass on Daiyu's intention to eat. After all, she was not satisfied, so she called Zhu Xiu and said, "You are used to having some ideas about those foods. You just came, Miss Lin, just take care of her." Some, if you can’t handle it, just go back and forth with me, put me down here and look at the other side to be serious.”

Seeing that Zhu Xiu answered "yes", she then instructed: "You tell your godmother, just say what I say, and let her not be too attached to the girl. Your Miss Lin's family is now the second year of filial piety. There is no need to be too rigid for some redundant etiquette!"

Zhu Xiu hurried back again, she was also thinking about it, when she saw Lin Daiyu today, she was not only thin but also short, she didn't look like an eight-year-old girl at all.It's the time of growth and development, if she is still a vegetarian every day, how can her body be able to bear it.

Mother Jia didn't give up, and pointed to the parrot who was following Zhu Xiu in the waiter, and gave her to Daiyu.

Zhu Xiu thought that this should be Zijuan, but the old lady was doing her own way, she was not in front of her eyes, so she suddenly sent a girl to her.I didn't give it when I was there, but now I give it, Lin Daiyu must come to thank her, it's not enough to toss.

It's just a surprise that Jia's mother issued an order in front of everyone, asking her to take care of Mu's mother and Lin Daiyu in a legitimate manner.

Just about to retreat, Shi Xiangyun smiled and changed the subject, and said charmingly: "Old ancestor, why is the second elder brother not coming back? He is not here, and the room of the old ancestor is deserted."

Shi Xiangyun is not feeling very well today. Originally, she is an orphan girl. Her uncle is a man who doesn't care about her outside. The aunt in the inner house is a step-wife and treats her with superficial affection. Only the ancestors love her more than their relatives. The granddaughter is even worse, giving her a foothold.

But who would have thought that there would be a sister Bao, who had a mother and a brother, and she was even more desolate, and she felt better when she heard that the big brother Pan was very ugly.But she didn't want to pick up another sister Lin. Although she lost her mother, the pomp and pomp made her feel that she was the lady of the Duke's mansion, and she looked like a commoner girl.

Unexpectedly, this is the grandson of the ancestor, who is closer than her niece. Seeing the appearance of the ancestor, it also hurts badly.If it goes on like this, wouldn't it squeeze her to the point that there is no room for her to stand?

For the first time, Shi Xiangyun disliked Lin Daiyu in his heart, several times more than Xue Baochai before.

Mother Jia patted her hand and said with a smile: "No, it's a coincidence that his aunt's sister came, but he was not there. If not, he might be so happy now."

When Shi Xiangyun heard this, he thought of Baoyu's temperament. He always liked those delicate and weak people and things more than others. Lin Daiyu's sickly and slender appearance was just right for him.I don't mention this anymore at the moment, thinking about how to cage my second brother here, and don't ask him to get close to sister Lin.If the second elder brother only treats himself well, the ancestor will love himself a little more for the sake of the second elder brother.

Now I don't mention Baoyu anymore, but secretly pray that the sooner Baoyu comes back, the better.

Only now did Zhu Xiu have a chance to meet her mother and Daiyu. As soon as she arrived at Meishou Garden, she saw a girl dressed as a big maid came over and said with a smile: "But sister Zhu Xiu?"

He hurriedly led her to see Nanny Zhu, and took over the task of arranging Brother Parrot.

The mother and daughter said goodbye that day, they didn't expect to reunite after such a long time, they had already thought about it ruthlessly, Mother Zhu hugged her daughter in her arms, the mother and daughter cried and laughed, and it took a long time for them to calm down.

The couple has never lost contact with each other, and they know everything in general, but Zhu Xiu kept pretending that Jia Min passed away suddenly. Although it was a year later than in the book, it was very unexpected. It was Jia Min who came back to the capital with his daughter.

"There's a lot of clues here, and I'm not entirely clear about it, but there's only one thing. Madam Lin didn't suffer from a sudden illness. In the past few years, she has been good at taking care of herself, and her body and bones have improved a lot, but all of a sudden... I didn't expect that either. But when I thought about it later, she seemed to know that she was going to die. In those two months, she suddenly became tough. Many servants of the Lin family were sent to Zhuangzi, and there were two old aunts in the house family."

Mammy Zhu paused as she stroked her daughter's hair on the temples, and her voice became lower: "The mansions in the capital city and Tongzhou were ordered by Mrs. Lin to clean up, not under the instructions of Master Lin. It was Mrs. Lin's handwriting. Mr. Lin may know something. The outside of the house are all assigned by Mrs. Lin. Even the concubine that Mrs. Lin gave to her when she was alive disappeared without a sound, and Mr. Lin did not ask. .”

After hearing this, Zhu Xiu knew that she couldn't figure out the turbulent turmoil here, so she stopped talking and said instead: "When Miss Lin settles down here, I will invite her Let’s make some healthy fruit wine and send it to Master Lin.” There is also fruit wine for detoxification.

"That's right, you don't have to wait for your uncle's merchant ship this time, someone reliable will deliver it." Madam Zhu knew that the girl is very good at this, and she guessed before that it was the wine that the girl gave Mrs. Lin. The fragrant ones made Mrs. Lin last longer. After Mrs. Lin passed away, she went to see them, and those things were almost used up.Besides, if there is no reason, Mrs. Lin can no longer give 1 taels of silver to a girl she has never seen before she dies.

"Mrs. Lin also left you 1 taels, which she said was a gift for you as a dowry." Nanny Zhu took out a box from the kang drawer, which contained not only bank notes but also a document, and Nanny Zhu picked up the paper document , with some emotion, "Mrs. Lin has worked so hard for her daughter."

Speaking of showing the document to Zhu Xiu, it turned out to be a document from the family, Zhu Nanny said: "Master Lin's mother, Mrs. Lin's surname is Zhu, and she also comes from Gusu. I don't know how Mrs. Lin managed to mediate, but she actually connected with my branch..."

Zhu Xiu was taken aback for a moment, as expected Jia Min was not simple, and it was a testament to his skill to be able to facilitate such a clan affair in a short period of time.

Grandma Zhu laughed: "Speaking of which, your seniority has risen in the face of the wind. From Mama's point of view, you and Master Lin are of the same generation."

How do you say, isn't Namu's mother Lin Daiyu's clan grandmother?This is unexpected.

While talking, a little girl came to report: "The girl is awake."

Grandma Zhu came over with Zhu Xiu, only to see a little girl with sleepiness on her face.She took off her coat in the room, making her look even more petite and thin.

As soon as Zhu Xiu covered her chest, this was the dream of thousands of people, but she felt it was real.

The little girl's facial features are all small and exquisite, and when they are combined together, she has a natural aura. Zhu Xiu looked at her nicely, but made the little girl feel a little ashamed.

Mammy Zhu smiled and said, "Don't be weird. Yu'er has been thinking about you all morning."

Daiyu pursed her lips and smiled, took down a box from the shelf, and handed it to Zhu Xiu herself, "Sister, do you like it?"

Even the voice is so agreeable, Zhu Xiu thinks that she has never pursued stars in her previous life, and this time she can experience the feeling of being a "mother fan".

There are Zhuxiu's body deeds and two-color needlework. You don't need to ask, it must be done by the little girl herself.

Zhu Xiu only felt that her chest was hot and swollen, and she didn't know what to say. Zhu Nanny held one in each hand, sat down with her arms around her, and then smiled and said: "The few Mohula-shaped toys that Xiu Xiu made , Yu'er likes it very much, and I also made a sachet and a pendant for you." He was talking about the dolls and dolls made by Zhuxiu.

Zhu Xiu was a little embarrassed, even though she had a lot of things she wanted to give to Daiyu, but they were in Cuihua's pouch, and she couldn't take them out right now, so she said: "Miss likes it, I have everything there..."

Daiyu was leaning in Zhu Nanny's arms, looking very close. Zhu Nanny picked up the deed and sighed: "I wanted to find a chance to mention it to Mr. Jia Laofeng again, but I didn't think my wife had already arranged it. It is." This is the meaning of asking Daiyu to be kind, Jia Min really took great pains for her daughter.

Even though he knew that he would definitely quit his nationality, looking at this deed representing freedom, Zhu Xiu felt like a dream, and the feeling that the biggest stone in his heart had been moved was really extremely complicated.

Grandma Zhu put away the body deed, and with this, she can go to the government to cancel her slave status as soon as possible, so she can rest assured, and then told Zhu Xiu, "I think Mr. Jia Laofeng didn't tell anyone about this, so don't say anything, let's talk about it quietly. It’s serious if you do it.” If it doesn’t go away, there will be disasters, as long as the Rongguo Mansion reports to the government that it’s lost, the government can make up for it according to the retained deed.

Then he said to Daiyu: "We're new here. With Xiu girl here, everything is cheap..." Otherwise, the news of Xiu'er becoming a good family will spread, and he will definitely not be able to stay here, not only the separation of flesh and blood, but also them. Ladies owed Jia Min a kindness and had to repay it.To support this girl to grow up together is to live up to my great kindness.

Although Daiyu is young, she is intelligent, so she naturally knows this truth, but when she thinks of her loving mother, her eyes turn red again.

There was no one else in the room, Zhu Xiu and Daiyu talked for a while, and they got used to it.

"Second Master Bao of this mansion came back from the temple, and the old lady sent someone to pick up the girl and meet her there." The girl stood outside and said back.

First meeting with Bao Dai!As soon as Zhu Xiu was excited, she saw two maids in the same clothes and dresses coming in to help Daiyu comb her hair and change her clothes.

Nanny Zhu arranged Daiyu's clothes with her own hands, and at the same time told Zhu Xiu about the population of the house.

But it turned out that this time Daiyu brought four big maids, namely Xingyue, Taoyue, Guiyue and Juyue. In a few words, it is in charge of Daiyu's box and cage to salute, and there are records of what to take and put in.

In addition, there are four second-class people, headed by Xueyan, and the rest are more women, there are eight of them, and it is easier for these people to go out, much easier to handle than girls.

As for the nanny, there are Wang Momo and Jiang Momo. These two usually just restrain the maids in the room and let them be naughty, and they are not often around.There was another Nanny Chen, who was also the one who taught Yin. Zhu Xiu heard her mother say with a smile, "Mother Chen is well-mannered and well-versed in dealing with things. If you learn five points from her, you will immediately get out of my sight, and I will die too." Don't worry about it."

At this time, she didn't care about meeting that Nanny Chen, Zhu Xiu just pulled her mother and asked, "Can I have any jade pendants for the girl?"

If you don't bring it with you, Jia Baoyu will make another crazy Jade Throwing, and you don't know what bad words will come out.

Nanny Zhu knew all about the master of the Jia family, so she immediately realized that she was preventing that phoenix egg from the Rongguo Mansion from scaring her daughter.

It's just that Brother Parrot has been brought here, but it's not easy to talk to Daiyu in detail. After thinking about it, Zhu Nanny asked Juyue to take out the jade ring she gave to Daiyu that day, and hang it around her waist in person. Above, this jasper panchi ring is an old item of Empress Hui, and the apricot yellow used by the clan even used the sash, so you can tell the origin of this thing at a glance.

Daiyu touched the jade ring and said, "What's the use of hanging it? It's heavy. You need to bump it carefully." Besides, the tapes are also very bright.

Grandma Zhu smiled and said, "It's not taboo to give gifts from the royal family. The girl is so plain, it's not good to see her elders."

Zhu Xiu looked at the green jade ring with the apricot-yellow auspicious knot, it was really conspicuous, and anyone who was not blind could see it at a glance, and she also let go of her half-suspended heart, thinking that Jia Baoyu would not ask again, "But is there any jade?" "Are.

The parrot outside stayed here for half a day, and he already knew that the behavior of the Lin family was very different from that of the mansion, and the rules and regulations were solemn, just like now, except in the girl's room, the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law stood silently on the ground outside.Unlike in the mansion, even in the yard of the old lady, the girls used to laugh and curse.