[Red Mansions] The big maid struggles daily

On Gulou West Street, a rather poor and shabby donkey cart stopped in front of an embroidery shop with five large bays and two storeys.

The little Yao'er who promised at the door was surprised, but he didn't show it on his face, and still walked out to greet him warmly and cordially.

He saw a white-faced scholar in a blue robe and Confucian robe get off the donkey cart first, followed by a middle-aged woman with a thin face, three wrinkles between her eyebrows, and two deep lines at the corners of her downturned mouth, jumping off the donkey cart.

This is not like someone who can patronize his own silk, satin, weaving and embroidery shop.Xiaoyao'er was puzzled, but subconsciously became cautious. Let's not mention this scholar for the time being, but this old lady knew from her face that she was not easy to mess with.

The woman took out ten big coins from her sleeve and gave them to the driver of the donkey cart, and said in front of the youngest son: "For the fare, I will give you the rest!"

It turned out to be a donkey cart, and the driver put the money in the purse, put the purse in his pocket, didn't even say "thank you", just whipped a whip in the air, and drove the donkey cart just go.

The corners of the lady's downturned lips pulled even harder, as if she was very dissatisfied, and she was worried about suppressing all of this.She doesn't understand, but Xiaoyao'er knows that although not all the nobles come and go on this Gulou West Street, they are all people with family wealth. There are very few people who need to hire a car here, so it is very far away from here. It's a little far away, and the few big bucks are just enough for the fare, so why not reward it.

"Madam, young master, please come inside!" Little Yao'er bowed and greeted with a smile on her face.

The woman stepped into the threshold first, looked up, down, left, and right, and even pointed to a piece of blue brocade with cloud patterns on the cabinet to look at. The clerk on the cabinet took it down from behind and put it on the counter.The woman was groping and twisting, and the waiter secretly raised his eyes to look at the shopkeeper and the shopkeeper's wife over there, seeing that both of them were busy greeting the previous distinguished guest, without expressing anything, he also complimented him in a good-tempered manner: "Madam has good eyesight! This is satin produced in Jinling, you can see its thick texture, and its color and texture... That young master is a scholar, it is very suitable to make a Confucian robe with this."

The woman looked very proud, and only then said: "No, my son has passed the county and government examinations, and now he is a master of Tongsheng, and soon he will be a scholar."

Xiaoyaoer, who was doing the work and guiding the way, hurriedly handed over his hands and apologized with a smile and flattery.

The Tongsheng master was fiddling with purses, sachets and other things on the other side, and seemed to be very fond of these fragrant and delicate little objects.When the middle-aged woman saw her, she frowned first, and the three incisions between her eyebrows were deeply drawn together, her face became more severe and mean.

The woman pushed the cloth, raised her face, and said arrogantly: "Where is your shopkeeper?"

The workman was stunned for a moment, and the shopkeeper over there heard that he hurriedly ordered the youngest to invite the two distinguished guests upstairs to draw up a deed, and asked them to drink tea and wait for a while, then came over with a smile on his face and said: "Madam, may I ask you?" What's the matter?"

The woman said impatiently: "Your shopkeeper invited us here, where is the person?" The word 'big' was bitten very hard.

The shopkeeper's wife here stepped forward and smiled and invited the two of them to the small back room separated by a screen, "Madam, young master, come here. Serve some good tea."

Xiao Yaoer, who had been clever for a long time, slipped to the back to report.

After a while, the housekeeper came out with a smile on his face, and said with a smile: "The master is waiting for you two. I thought I would go to the house, but I came to the shop."

But he didn't go directly into the backyard of the shop, instead he came out from the gate, asked the woman and the scholar to get into the sedan chair, turned to the back street, and walked for another quarter of an hour to arrive.The woman got out of the sedan chair, and in front of her was a grand mansion, the black lacquered door was opened, and the word "Cheng Zhai" was written on the plaque.

It turned out that this was the Cheng family's house. Although the house behind the silk and satin embroidery shop was large, it was not a proper residence, but it turned out that Uncle Cheng was alone, so he simply regarded it as a proper residence.The door of this Cheng's house has been locked, only empty.Today is different from the past, my sister and niece often come here, and the niece has also reached the age of seeing people, so it is inappropriate for people to come and go in the backyard of the shop. Uncle Cheng just moved back to live in the house in a serious manner a few years ago.

Although it is just a four-entry house of an ordinary wealthy family, there is a garden in the front and a lotus pond in the back. There are many houses and the layout is exquisite. The woman is dazzled and her complexion is getting better and better.

Please go to the flower hall. A servant woman has served good tea and fruit snacks. The housekeeper said with a smile: "The master was going to welcome the two of you in person, but an old friend came to visit. Please also Mrs. Fei and Young Master Fei to stay for a while, I am here Go and report to the master."

This flower hall is elegantly furnished, and the scholar surnamed Fei has seen it and is very satisfied.Seeing no one around, he said to his mother: "Mother, why don't you worry about it, just ask Uncle Liutang to make the decision. What are we doing here like this?"

Mrs. Fei looked around, frowned, and said, "You are young, you still don't understand, if you don't see it with your own eyes, I won't let go. I heard from Uncle Liutang that the daughter of this family lives in high school with her mother who is a nun. I've been in a big family for several years. To put it bluntly, isn't she just a girl. My son is promising, and Liutang uncle said good things about marrying a girl. I always feel bad."

Fei Shusheng was quite disapproving, and said with a smile: "It is better to marry a maid from a big family than a daughter from a small family. After staying in a big family's house, I have the knowledge of advance and retreat, and understand some social matters. My mother thinks that the wife of the big hall is good, marry a small door Even though the girl from Xiaohu has a good reputation, she is really not on the stage, and the literati friends of the big hall brother have offended her completely."

Mrs. Fei curled her lips and snorted, "You, you, no matter how bad your sister-in-law is, there is one thing. There are many brothers in her natal family, and there are dozens of taels of dowry. Besides, she is innocent. I don't know what kind of girl she is. If It's better to serve the old lady or young lady, but if it's around those young men, let me tell you, if her family doesn't give out 500 taels...no! Thousand taels of dowry money, you won't be able to enter Fei's house!"

"Mother, Uncle Liutang just talked about this the day before yesterday, and it's a bit impolite for us to come here today. Don't question those people when they come." Fei Shusheng had heard that the maids of those rich families were The good-looking man, thinking of the cute and lovely matchmaker in Yingying's biography, felt hot in his heart, and hurriedly told his mother.

Mrs. Fei snorted coldly, quite disdainful: "Of course I have to ask, otherwise why did you come here in such a hurry? If there is a delay, what else can I ask if I have prepared here?" Lowering her voice, she continued: "The most important thing You have to know whether this girl has been adopted or not, if you want to make a marriage, you have to teach me to test it myself to be sure!"

Fei Shusheng's face turned red, he didn't know whether it was from anger or shame, he struggled for a moment, and said in a low voice: "If mother doesn't want it, we can just decline it. Didn't Uncle Liu Tang say that the family has just heard that they are going to choose a son-in-law for their niece?" Is there any news about it, this business is doing very well, why should we rush to offend others?"

"No matter how good it is, it's still my uncle's house, and it's not her old lady. If uncle Liu said that the owner of the house is a widower and loves this niece very much, I would still look down on her." As he spoke, he patted his son across the small table. "My son, you were admitted to Tongsheng at such an early age. Mr. Shuli said that you are talented and have a bright future. If it weren't for your damn father who didn't leave us a family fortune, wait for you to take the exam." What kind of girl can't ask for a talented person? But I have wronged my son."

"Originally your third uncle's cousin Lamei is very good, but your uncle and aunt can't give you the dowry money. Pity the heart of that good girl. You will have a bright future in the future, so don't treat her poorly."

Just as he was talking, he heard a bang behind the screen of a 24-panel frame placed behind the main seat in the flower hall, as if something had broken.As soon as the mother and son jumped up, Madam Fei got up and went to investigate, when a girl of fifteen or sixteen came out from behind the screen, and said with a smile: "We are cleaning the back room, the little girl who wiped the plum vase slipped her hands. Yes, it surprised the two of you..."

Mrs. Fei pushed the girl away and continued to look, but she saw two small doors behind the screen, with felt curtains hanging on them, so she couldn't see clearly what was going on inside.

Fei Shusheng's complexion turned green, white and crimson. Don't let someone overhear their mother and son's words.

Mrs. Fei seemed confident about her son's talent and good looks, so she grabbed the girl and asked, "Who lives behind?"

The girl was taken aback, so unreasonable, she suddenly asked this, who are you.He only pursed his lips and smiled, and hastily excused himself to resign.

Seeing the beauty of this girl, Fei Shusheng couldn't help but look forward to the girl's appearance in this family.

Little did they know that the girls of this family could hear every word that their mother and son had just said, even the little chatter between the two of them.Mammy Zhu's face was livid with anger, the two of them were just behind the screen, although Nanny Zhu could not hear as clearly as her daughter, but she knew who these two were and what their intentions were.

I couldn't bear to hear it any longer. When Nanny Zhu pulled Zhu Xiu to lift the curtain to go in, she walked too hastily, and kicked the door inside the door, and the vase on it fell to pieces.

Uncle Cheng was in the small hall outside the Nuan Pavilion in the back asking the housekeeper about the situation of the mother and child. When he saw his sister and niece coming in, he stood up and asked, "You can see the appearance, how is it?"

Nanny Zhu sent Zhu Xiu: "Go and have a look at the yard that your uncle cleaned up for you."

Uncle Cheng also said: "If you don't like it, Uncle will rearrange it for you."

Zhu Xiu leaned over and gave her mother some comfort first, and said in a low voice: "Didn't mother teach me earlier, saying, 'everyone slaughters more dogs with righteousness, most of them are scholars if they are ungrateful'." I married in the past, there is no need to be angry."

After all, the butler in Cheng's house hurriedly led her out.

Madam Zhu's face softened a little, but she was still a little unhappy.There is still something that Uncle Cheng didn't understand. The mother and son who came here uninvited must not be a good match. Several families have asked about it. I think it is a right thing for a family of women to ask for help. Therefore, yesterday, shopkeeper Fei from Liuli Hutong said that his family nephew was young and promising. I didn't shirk it when I sent them to ask us to have a look. Who knew this house was very interesting, and the young gentleman came here on the pretext of delivering things for his uncle, but he even brought his widowed mother with him In the shop on the front street, I have shown a bit of prestige. But I can't understand it, and I don't like it."

Mammy Zhu served tea to suppress her anger, and said, "Not only can't you see it, it's unreasonable!" As she spoke, she briefly said what the mother and son had said.

Uncle Cheng sneered angrily: "Well, it's a good plan. You don't even get a poor scholar, that's all!"

Grandma Zhu was silent for a while, and then persuaded: "I know you want to find a husband's family for Xiuxiu to study and become an official, but it is really difficult. Doesn't it mean that Xiuxiu has been a girl for several years, even if the dowry is generous Miss official, but in the eyes of some people, it is a crime after all. If you marry in and find out that you are contemptuous and contemptuous of children, it will be too late. Besides, you are looking for a scholar who has not yet become famous, just like the one in the front hall. A boy surnamed Fei, not to mention the idea of ​​using our embroidered dowry and favors to climb up, if you still can't climb up, there is still a little room, if you really get ahead, then the hard days will come."

Uncle Cheng really has this in mind. In his opinion, his niece has become more aggressive, and her character and appearance are not bad at all. According to what my sister said, marrying into a merchant or a commoner will ultimately humiliate her niece. Besides, he also has My own consideration: "If Xiu'er's appearance and ability are really given to those squires with a hundred acres of land, or ordinary wealthy households, it will be a problem. It is not just to make people jealous that they overwhelm sisters-in-law and aunts everywhere. I hate it; and the dowry is also a difficult matter. If we give it to her as an escort, the money will touch people's hearts. If it is given to her in private, the children can't take it out. What's the point? Besides, how can ordinary people protect her ability? she!"

These words are exactly what Nanny Zhu is worried about, Xiu'er is a bit of a lucky coincidence, if she is really hired by an ordinary family, she will have to live a life of caution, not to mention that the Cuihua bag can no longer be used, even that embroidery skill is also the culprit.When Zhu Mama was young, she heard that someone put in so much effort to marry back an embroiderer. The embroiderer changed her face as soon as she entered the house, and she was locked in the room doing embroidery work from morning to night. In the days when the servants were called to serve as servants, the embroidered lady who was oppressing her was blind and trembling in less than ten years, and went away without knowing why.Born in the inner house, it is difficult for outsiders to know, but it was the brothers at the back of the family who broke up and yelled at themselves.

"Oh, you got me into it again. I'm afraid those scholars are too devious and have mixed thoughts, but they didn't say to send their children to ordinary people's homes. Besides, this poor scholar has a future, but those things we worry about They are all here, not only relying on the wife's dowry, but also unable to protect people..." Zhu Mama pinched the center of her eyebrows and said: "The merchant is good, the rules are looser, and we can persuade him to live, not afraid that he will treat the children badly. "

Grandma Zhu has thought about it thousands of times, and it is more appropriate to compare it to a merchant with family wealth.

Uncle Cheng shook his head and said, "That's not right. I've seen a few of the same businesses in private. Hmph! Those children are worthy of my sister-in-law and grandma!" , or a frequent visitor to Goulan, or who is ignorant and only fools around.If he hadn't even visited a few of them, Uncle Cheng wouldn't have gone all the way to the scholars. In his opinion, the scholars should be more decent.

Parents all over the world want to find a good marriage for their children with all four corners. They also want the family resources to be worthy, the in-laws have a good temper, and most importantly, they want their children to have a good character and get along well.

But how difficult it is.

"Master, those two in the flower hall have been waiting for a long time." Seeing that there was no order, the inner housekeeper had to remind him outside.

Uncle Cheng just remembered, got up and said, "Wait until I send them away, sister will talk about it when I come back."

When he walked into the flower hall, Uncle Cheng already had a gentle and kind smile on his face: "Oh, I've been waiting for a long time."

Housekeepers are used to Master Cheng's appearance, but this woman surnamed Fei's ability to change faces is not weaker than their master's.Originally a drawn mean face, but with a smile on his face, there is actually a bit of kindness.

Mrs. Fei had eaten fruit, drank tea, and enjoyed this rich mansion. She was very happy with it. When she saw Uncle Cheng, she went straight to get married. "I heard that Master Cheng has a niece who looks very good... ..."

Even if Uncle Cheng was not a wealthy businessman, he was usually a respectable butler from a wealthy family. It was rare to see such a grinning and anxious, hurriedly stopped the conversation, and said with a smile: "Brother Fei said he sent his nephew Here is an invitation to run a philanthropic hall, this philanthropic hall is a good thing for accumulating good fortune and virtue, my silk and satin shop is worthy of his attention, so I must do my part."

Scholar Fei took out a post from his pocket and sent it. Uncle Cheng took a look, and Madam Fei opened her mouth to say something.Uncle Cheng said: "The eldest sister in the family is a high-grade nanny released from the imperial palace. My niece followed my sister and grew up at the knee of the old Fengjun of the Duke's Mansion. There is a sister here, and she is still young." Little, don't be in a hurry."

These are the details that Mrs. Fei doesn't know. Upon hearing this, the corners of her naturally sloppy lips raised, and she hurriedly said, "Uncle is too big! Master Cheng's words, there is nothing wrong with it."

Uncle Cheng saw that she was so ignorant, he was annoyed, but he said: "I dare not say that." With just this sentence, he did not answer Mrs. Fei, but said to Scholar Fei: "Go back and tell your family. Uncle, just say that the day the shantang is completed, I will definitely go there."

He also ordered the housekeeper: "Send the two of you back, and seal one hundred silver coins for repairing the good hall."

This move was 100 taels of silver, and Mrs. Fei was both heartbroken and distressed, as if she had spent her silver, on the way back she couldn't help muttering and talking about throwing money away.

But shopkeeper Fei is different from the Cheng family, he is just the shopkeeper, and there is an owner behind him. This post was also embroidered for Cheng's silk and satin by the owner, but it was just for this reason that he asked his nephew to come.

When the housekeeper of the Cheng family brought Fei Shusheng's mother and son back, shopkeeper Fei's face was cracked. He never thought that his father would be so confused, and he would join with the mother and son to tell the widowed mother to bring the son to the door of Cheng's house without telling him.Seeing that pitiful 100 taels again made my heart even colder.The Cheng family has always been generous to all kinds of good deeds. Although the Fei family's mother and son saw the white flowers and hundreds of taels of silver, they thought it was a lot of money, but in the eyes of the Cheng family and Fei's boss, this was a slap in the face.

Shopkeeper Fei was thinking about how to explain it to his master, when he heard the elder of the master come calling, and the attendant seemed to be smiling but not a smile: "Treasurer Fei is so majestic, our master also said that the fourth young master's marriage is difficult, I'm afraid we won't be able to reach the threshold of the Cheng family. Son, his family..." After a pause on purpose, he continued: "The Ministry of Internal Affairs has called the name and asked Gong to enter the new albums of his family for selection by the Ministry of Internal Affairs. Does the shopkeeper Fei Da understand what this means?"

The Cheng family's business has been very good recently, and the complete sets of curtains, aprons, embroidered covers, and embroidered screen ornaments that they have launched are very popular.If it wasn't for this, shopkeeper Fei wouldn't have moved his mind, and called a nephew who was the most literate among the nephews and nephews of the Fei clan from his hometown, and Baba sent him there for someone to look at and choose.But it was unexpected that Cheng's family had gone through the route of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and was about to become an imperial merchant.

Originally, the family nephew had a good appearance. If he was valued, he would go to the official media to make peace after he passed the examination of a scholar. In terms of future prospects, he would probably be worthy of it.But if it's really an imperial merchant, then it's really not right for the family. Even the boss's marriage with the fourth young master, a concubine, is very difficult.

Coming out of the host's mansion, shopkeeper Fei's forehead was covered with sweat, and he didn't care about anything else, so he immediately ordered his family to send Fei Shusheng's mother and son back home overnight.

Fei Shusheng was at a loss, and when he returned to his hometown, the mother and son waited and waited for the good news to come, but they finally found that Fei's most well-established master of the Six Clans no longer supported Fei Shusheng's thunderbolt from the blue sky, but instead subsidized the entire Fei family. Tong, if there are really good seedlings, you can just study in the school.Don't want to take care of all the expenses of their mother and child like a scholarship student.Fei Shusheng's mother and son did not mention all kinds of grievances and resentments, but Fei's clan all praised them.

Zhu Xiu didn't know that her own marriage was up and down, those of higher family status cared about her being a girl, and those of small families had many concerns.She didn't expect to find a single-minded lover, she hadn't found it in her previous life, let alone this life.According to her thinking, if she can set up a female household, it would be good to have a new husband. As long as the husband is honest and responsible, she also has a fair reason to support her mother and uncle, so why can't she live a lifetime.

"Even if it's a farmer who suddenly made a small fortune, he still wants to take a small fortune. If mother and uncle follow their own ideas, they just don't have to marry, that's what I like, mother..."

Back at Luo Cuiwu, Mammy Zhu was still preoccupied and frowning, Zhu Xiu hurriedly came over and said with a smile.

Zhu Xiu's thoughts were revealed to Grandma Zhu, but she was severely reprimanded by Grandma Zhu.She has never seen Muma get so angry, so she dare not talk about it.

Hearing her daughter's words, Mother Zhu spat first: "I'm not ashamed, you girl, don't talk such nonsense." After all, she was afraid that she would lose her temper, so she said earnestly: "Where did you hear these bastard words, don't say it!" Peasant households are the small rich and landlords in the countryside, and there are very few concubines. Country households, where do these flirtatious people come from. It's a pity that such gentry and rich households value the rural nature, and often the clans hug each other tightly. This daughter-in-law If there is no clan as a backer, I am afraid that it will be difficult to protect the family and marry privately, otherwise, it is a good choice."

For those who fetter Zhu Xiu's marriage, compared to the clan, being a girl is just a trivial matter.Nanny Zhu and Uncle Cheng are both duckweeds without clans, but fortunately they have backgrounds and backers. There are many nobles in this capital, and there are royal clans, so they don't pay much attention to clans.This is also the reason why Zhu Xiu's uncle never thought of returning home.

"Okay, your uncle mentioned a way, I think it's okay." Madam Zhu sighed: "Not only are there many scholars in the capital, but there are also many young soldiers in the soldiers and horses, and the camp in the western suburbs... look again. Well, after all, Mama and your uncle have to find someone worthy of my son."

Nanny Zhu mentioned a little bit, paying attention to the girl's complexion, the little girl's heart, always likes those handsome and gentle scholars more.Although Grandma Zhu also heard Zhu Xiu secretly say that "most people who have a bad heart are scholars", she was still afraid that she would not like Wu Fu in her heart.

Zhu Xiu's eyes lit up. Compared with sour scholars, it is natural that a heroic young soldier wants to suit his heart: broad shoulders, narrow waist, and long legs!