[Red Mansions] The big maid struggles daily

"What are you talking about! Who became the master of the Imperial Merchant? And who turned into the lady of the Imperial Merchant?"

Xue Baochai looked at a third-class girl in Rongqing Hall with a slightly solemn face, and asked directly.

The little girl was pulling the curtains on the flower hall today, and Madam Zhu came to give gifts to the old lady beamingly, she pricked up her ears and overheard a few words, now she had to show off in front of the little sister, who knows, she was caught by Miss Bao Yinger beside her heard it.

This Yinger is also a hateful and mean person, she just listened to it, and she was born to talk to her master.

"I... I just heard Madam Zhu say that her brother fell into the eyes of the chief manager and was appointed as a comprador by the Ministry of Internal Affairs. He has already been named, and all the errands are down..." Girl Bao has always been gentle and honest, girl Biyun The temper is easy to dry and irritable, so that people like it, the little girl has never seen such a serious Baochai, she hurriedly spit out in fright.

Baochai felt golden flowers appearing in front of her eyes, and Yinger hurriedly supported her, "Girl, shall we go to the old lady's place?"

Hearing this, the little girl hurriedly said tremblingly: "Second Master Bao and Miss Yun are in the old lady's room, and it's time to send someone to invite Miss Bao in a while."

Baochai remembers that she still has these thoughts about her mother and brother at home, and said: "Mom sent someone to deliver things. I'm going home to have a look."

Ying'er hurriedly fastened the Guanyin pocket, and Baochai walked away holding her hand.

After the people had gone far away, the little sisters who had been scattered just now gathered around again, and said: "Usually we say that Miss Yun is straightforward and has a mean mouth, so she is not easy to get along with. This Miss Bao is always kind. He's gentle and generous, but just now, when he looked at it, it's frightening when a gentle person changes his face!"

"No, it scared me."

The little girl who was caught snorted angrily, and scolded: "Sisters are very affectionate on weekdays. Once this matter came up, you will see your sincerity! You are running fast, so leave me alone here." !” As he spoke, he wept angrily.

The group of girls who were no older than thirteen or fourteen started to chatter away, and a neat girl in a red silk jacket was a bit smarter, and she changed the subject: "Mr. Get such a pale face in such a hurry?"

"Who says it's not? I've heard that Madam Zhu's brother is doing well in business. The curtains and aprons in our family's relatives' hospital are all made by his family. I heard that it was the money given by Mrs. Lin. The business is successful. In this regard, it is not surprising that this is selected as a comprador in the palace."

"I've also heard that his house has complete sets of curtains, curtains, enclosures, and other things that are indispensable for furnishing the house, and the styles are fresh and unique. Many big families are holding money to order. Mother Zhu belongs to the Lin family If it wasn't for Mrs. Lin's face, she wouldn't treat our mansion highly, so the mansion would choose the ready-made ones first."

"Who cares how big his business is, I only envy sister Zhuxiu, she is the same girl, but she is the only one in Zhu's eyes. None of us know that Zhu's mother loves her more than his own. Now it's good, She has become the girl of the Imperial Merchant."

"How can this be the same? No matter how good sister Zhu Xiu is, she is not a girl from her uncle's family, let alone a righteous daughter without blood..."

"Why is it different? It's not like you don't know that uncle is a widower. He didn't save any bones and blood on his knees. He hurt her like something. My mother was on the second door and told me that the housekeeper and wife of that house were neat and tidy. , It’s not bad compared to these decent sister-in-laws and mothers in our family. People like that come to deliver things every three days and keep saying ‘my auntie’. Tell me, which of the girls in our family is The grandmothers in charge used to call this. That’s not counting, I heard that sister Zhuxiu lives in the big garden of my uncle’s house, and she is no worse than the decent girl in our family!”

A group of people stopped talking, envious and jealous, feeling uncomfortable in every way.

After a long while, one of them said: "Why didn't I catch up? If I was appointed to serve Mother Zhu, maybe this good thing would have happened to me!"

The other girls all spat at her and scolded: "I don't know how to be ashamed! I don't even look after myself. How can I compare with sister Zhuxiu? If you have a good character and appearance, you can do well. How can you stand on the stage?"

"Oh... I know why Miss Bao is very upset. Sister Xiu is a girl, but Zhanyan is on an equal footing with her. They are both ladies of the Royal Merchant. One depends on the elder brother and the other depends on the uncle. At first glance, it seems that the distance is different, but This elder brother is not as good as an uncle after marrying a daughter-in-law. Who can ask for an argument. If it were me, I would also feel guilty in my heart."

Immediately, someone answered: "What's an equal? ​​My concubine's family is fundamentally rich, and the money is like a sea. How can elder sister Xiu's uncle's family compare with others?"

"What do you know! No matter how rich you are, what can you expect from such a spendthrift and troublemaker Mr. Xue!"

As soon as she saw it, there was a quarrel. Seeing that the people waiting in the porch had disappeared, Mrs. Lai came over and laughed and scolded: "Little hoofs, tighten your skin! The family is busy now, and I don't have time to pay attention to you. Wait until you free up your hands." , there are good fruits for you to eat!"

Headed by the girl in red silk jacket, she hurriedly saluted and begged for mercy, but Lai's daughter-in-law didn't argue, she just said: "Don't be lazy here, the old lady has a happy event here, and she is very happy in her heart. The Cheng family sent two daughters , ask the girls to go there together, it’s lively and lively. Go quickly and invite the second girl, the third girl and Bao girl.”

After saying that, he left the back corner door and headed towards Luo Cuiwu, as if he was going to invite Daiyu himself.

The girls looked at each other and rushed to grab: "I'll go invite the second girl!" "I'll go to the third girl." The rest who didn't rush had to bow their heads to Lixiangyuan.

In the Pear Fragrance Court, Baochai personally cut two thimble-sized discs from the red satin cloth, brought a porcelain box of Taiyi Bafeng plaster, picked some out of the silver hairpin, and softened them in a silver spoon over low heat. Then spread it on the round piece of cloth with hairpins.Yinger held up a glass target mirror, and Baochai helped Aunt Xue paste it on the two suns.

Aunt Xue took two photos and said with a smile: "I still have to rely on my son. Your brother, that bastard, hasn't been home for several days. People outside are willing to flatter him, but they don't tell me. Like a horse without a bridle, sooner or later marry him a powerful wife and put on a bridle, so he will know how powerful I am!"

Baochai saw that her mother looked fine, so she forced a smile and asked, "Brother hasn't come back, so did our folks come to sue Mom? I vaguely heard that the Ministry of Internal Affairs has been assigned an errand?"

Aunt Xue said with a smile: "Who did you hear? Our family hasn't received it yet. However, your eldest sister has come out on top. For the sake of your mother and your aunt, next year's errands will not be bad."

Speaking of this, Aunt Xue seemed very happy, her cold and headache were much better, "My son, Concubine Wu's concubine's brother-in-law was appointed a first-class captain of light vehicles. It’s just the short half of the master’s body. If the concubine brother is like this, how can Baoyu’s future be worse? Your aunt doesn’t have to worry about it.”

Baochai was upset, and thought to herself, "Only Concubine Wu's brother-in-law received the favor, and my mother was too happy too early."What's more, no one can figure out what the old lady is thinking.

Seeing her sitting there, Aunt Xue was a little lost in thought, not quite as gentle as before, and hurriedly asked: "My son, what's the matter with you? Why did you suddenly come home at this hour?"

Baochai came back to her senses and couldn't help saying: "Yesterday, when my aunt was talking, she called Yun girl 'big girl', and Mom knew that my aunt always called her that. But no one thought that the old lady would eat her heart, and set dinner at night. When enjoying the food, in front of my aunt, Sister Feng and the whole room, I said, "Give this porridge to you, Miss Xue, and give this bowl of lion's head and this plate of snowflake hoof to Yun'er and Baoyu." Eat it, let Yu'er eat that bowl of bamboo shoot and tofu soup."

Aunt Xue's complexion changed, she hurriedly pulled Baochai and said, "Really?"

Baochai felt aggrieved, but seeing her mother attaching so much importance to her, she could only smile and comfort her: "It's just a word, and Mom doesn't have to worry about it. It's just that Mom should take care of my brother. The mother wants to save her relatives. Everyone in this house is busy." Hitting the back of the head, even the uncle of the Lin family sent someone to take down all the curtains and curtains in the other courtyard. They were all matched one by one, not only money, but also saved a lot of things here. My brother is here, and it is good to help. Besides, our family's business, we all take advantage of the opportunity of building and building other courtyards, how much money we make! Only our shop, I think it is not as good as it is in this account. How much did you go last year?"

Speaking of Xue Pan, Aunt Xue was also full of lawsuits.Reported to his chief follower that this scoundrel lived in Jinxiangyuan for several days, and only spent 99 taels to buy a leading sister named "Yun'er". A room was set up in the back building of Jinxiang Courtyard, decorated with red silk, and let Xue Pan and that Yun'er "go to the hall", saying that they would stay for a month.

Aunt Xue was so angry that she couldn't let the girl Baochai know about these dirty things, and even the old lady and sister in the house had to hide it.

"What is he doing? He's not in front of my eyes. I'm afraid I can live two more days!" Aunt Xue rubbed her temples with her fingertips.

Xue Baochai knew that her mother felt that she gave 10 taels to her aunt to help build a garden in the mansion, and she thought that everything was done.But when she thought that the Cheng family had already got an internal financial errand, she couldn't help feeling flustered: "Mom, listen to me, the Ministry of Internal Affairs has already ordered the new procurement, why haven't we heard from you yet? Brother Su Rite Believe in the chief managers and shopkeepers of our trading bureaus, don't be deceived by others."

Aunt Xue glanced suspiciously, Baochai has always been a prudent person, if it wasn't for Zhunxin, she wouldn't be able to say these embarrassing things again and again.Thinking about it this way, I feel a little flustered. Even though Xue’s family used to have millions of assets, the year after year of management and donations, and the consumption of various businesses year after year, Xue Pan is the most habitual master of spending a lot of money. What you see is empty, but it's just a waste of carrying the huge name of "pearls are like earth, gold is like iron".

If it was still the time of the ancestor 'Ziwei Sheren', the position of comprador of the imperial merchants was nothing more than a part-time job. Xue Gong was a well-learned man, and the Xue family at that time was also the family of scholars.It's a pity that the later descendants failed to pass the examination and become officials, but they are very proficient in business affairs, making up for the shortcomings of the old relatives of various families. The Xue family had no choice but to change their families. On the ground, there is still a glimpse of the demeanor of the ancestors.It's a pity that Xue's father died early, Xue Pan and Aunt Xue couldn't support the family business, and they didn't even have an official title conferred by the court, only the signboard of the imperial merchant remained.

This is really the foundation for the Xue family to gain a foothold in the insurance industry. If this fails, even Rongfu will have to change its face.

Aunt Xue was terrified, and hurriedly said: "There are old family members who follow your brother, and they have been in charge for many years. You can find out what's going on here just by asking."

After seeing each other through the screen, the old treasurer of Xue's family saw that he couldn't hide it, so he revealed the truth: next year's procurement of chores has already been assigned by the Ministry of Internal Affairs, and Xue's family is still in charge of Gong Hua's errand.Xue Panye has already received even the money and food.If it wasn't for this, he wouldn't have hid in a brothel, and he planned to stay for a month, obviously because he was afraid that Aunt Xue would complain and get angry, and planned to come back home after the anger subsided.

Aunt Xue's eyes darkened with anger, but Xue Baochai breathed a sigh of relief, no matter what, as long as the brand is still there.

"Nie Zhan, Nie Zhai!" Aunt Xue was crying, when she suddenly heard the back and forth outside: "The old lady sent someone to invite my aunt and Miss Bao to go up, and the Cheng family sent two daughters who can tell various ventriloquist stories, please ladies and gentlemen Have fun."

Baochai raised her voice and said, "Understood. I'll be there in a while." Looking at Yinger again, she said, "It's a good idea to send it out."

Aunt Xue wiped away her tears and asked in confusion, "The Cheng family? Which one is it? Why have I never heard of it?"

Baochai was a little embarrassed, so she had to tell the whole story slowly.

"I knew you were a lucky child. The old Taoist Zhang said that I have a good man here, with a good zodiac sign, and he was born with blessings. I was still wondering. I saw this Taoist several times a year. Previously I have never said this before, but it was you who reminded me. Didn’t you just send you into my yard. Apart from you, there is no one else added or subtracted. I put this matter in my heart, Sure enough, you have been with me for several years, and everything goes well with me!"

When Aunt Xue and Xue Baochai entered the door, they just heard Jia Mu laughing.

After seeing each other, they returned to their seats. Aunt Xue said with a smile, "it's true. There's nothing wrong with the people the old lady has adjusted. Not to mention the one I saw her before, that's the kind of It's really rare to act like a pie. No wonder the old lady loves her."

Nanny Zhu pulled Zhu Xiu who bowed her head shyly into her arms, and said with a smile: "Old lady, ladies, don't praise her, no matter how good she is, there are limits to her. Among the girls in this house, which one is not strong enough?" She will go a hundred times. If I continue talking like this, my mother will blush!"

Listening to their confrontation, Zhu Xiu felt that even if she wears it this time, an ordinary person can't become a smart person.Just like herself, she thinks that she is not stupid, and her hearing and eyesight are far better than others, but she is still just an ordinary person, and she can't compare with these mindful people.Now just listening to them talk, my brain is not enough:

The meaning of the old lady, although she said it was flattering and promoting, she was saying that she was "prosperous" in the open and in the dark, and she also said that she was happy, and she didn't want to let people go.Aunt Xue, on the other hand, praised and derogated, and still put herself in the group of girls and servants.As for Mu Ma, she is neither soft nor hard, and she seems to be modest, but in fact, it is a few decent ladies from Rongguo Mansion who are doing the comparison. This is a reminder that your identities are already very different.

Mother Zhu stroked her daughter's hair back and forth, and said with a smile: "My brother loves this niece the most, saying that the girl in our family is pitiful, and she was abducted by a kidnapper. I got it, I can't wait to give her all the good things I can find... In the end, I have to thank the family. If it wasn't for your family to save this child, what's the point of our sisters and brothers being empty in front of their knees. If It’s not for the children, my brother has some family background, he only wants to enjoy the wealth and honor, just be an ordinary rich man, why bother to pursue these jobs.”

After a pause on purpose, she said to Aunt Xue: "The aunt who is involved in the lawsuit here knows best that royal errands are hard to hear, and I don't dare to make a single mistake. Don't talk about making money with this, put those wasteful hearts elsewhere. Why can’t gold and silver be earned back! Her uncle said it just for the sake of dignity, lest people look down on the girl in the family in the future.”

When these words were vague and not factual, the women in charge and servants standing outside the hall could only murmur in their hearts. Could it be that this Zhuxiu girl is really Zhu Nanny's daughter... But it makes sense to say so, no wonder This mother Zhu and her brothers dote on a foster daughter so much, it turns out she was born to her.

There was a woman outside whispering: "I said, they are all surnamed Zhu, and they still hurt like eyeballs. It would be too much to say that they just closed their eyes. It turns out that they are their own daughters. I am afraid they have kidnapped two people." In [-], it was sold to our mansion again, it’s hard for Mother Zhu to explain it right away, I’m afraid there are still some things we don’t know..."

"Hey, never heard that Madam Zhu has a husband's family?"

"Hey, you don't need to think about it with your stupid brain, Zhu Mama's younger brother is surnamed Cheng! If there is no reason, can a woman's family set up a female household, let alone the child is lost..."

"Didn't you say that uncle is also a righteous brother?"

"He said it himself? If it's a adoptive mother and adoptive daughter, a righteous sister and a righteous brother, how can they be so close? Is it worth it?"

"That's right, strange way, it's all a blessing. It's really not easy to find my daughter after losing her!"

Zhu Xiu nestled in her mother's arms, and couldn't help giving a thumbs up in her heart. What she said was true, so that she could fill in the loopholes by herself.Pass it back and forth, even everyone in your family will believe that you are really born by your mother.

Madam Zhu had already made up her mind that no one could tell about the origin of the embroidered girl before Chai Yaren. It's all gone, who knows what happened in those years.If those old sisters listened, they could still find faults from Xiu'er's age and the year when she left the palace, but the old sisters don't talk too much, who knows here.What's more, the girl's horoscope is a secret, even if it is suspected, it is difficult to verify. Besides, who in this mansion has the ability to go to the Ministry of Internal Affairs to check the old files and turn over their own old accounts.

Zhu Mama knows that words are not full, and the more vague the words are, as if there is something unspeakable, the more people believe them, and they will help others to believe them too.

Madam Zhu's words made Jia's mother a little suspicious, but it didn't matter if she was her own daughter, as long as she knew that she couldn't keep her.

Simply be more generous, just listen to Jia Mu laughing: "You two are blessed. This is good and good rewards. If you didn't have to work hard from Yangzhou to the capital to teach your mother a lesson, I'm afraid I would have missed it too. He asked again: "It was a misunderstanding, and it was the girl's good luck. I returned the deed to your family back then, but it's done?"

Grandma Zhu hurriedly pulled Zhu Xiu to stand up, and thanked with tears: "Thanks to your family for saving my son, her uncle has some friendship with Jing Zhaoyin, and it has already been settled. Xiu'er, kowtow to the old lady, if it wasn't for the old lady Where can I find you as a mother. Although you have served the old lady for several years, the old lady is like a mirror in her heart. How have you ever taken it up as a girl? Don't feel wronged. You can learn some etiquette from the old lady. What about your creation!"

Yuanyangben was also moved and wiped his tears. Hearing this, he hurriedly motioned to fetch the futon.

The futon was fetched and placed in the middle. Zhu Xiu restrained his face, and solemnly kowtowed three times to Jia Mu.In any case, the old lady did not treat her badly. All the girls in Rongqingtang came here to enjoy their blessings. They were well fed and warmly dressed. When they went out, no matter the serious young master or girl, they would look at her highly. I should be grateful for this kindness.

"Good boy, Xiu girl, get up!" Mother Jia said tearfully, "You don't know the benefits of this child. She has been with me for the past few years, and everything is done properly. She is really a filial child."

It was only then that everyone realized that Zhu Xiu was already free, and wondered how the old lady treated her so leniently. During the whole day, she could go wherever she wanted, went to Yangzhou, and stayed in Luocuiwu day after day. The old lady said nothing.One must know that even the mandarin ducks are not as respectable, and dare not leave the old lady for a moment.It turned out that she was raised as a half master girl.

At this moment, everyone has become an afterthought, and they are full of words such as "it's a strange way", "I said it a long time ago", "know it a long time ago", "it should be so".

Zhu Xiu really didn't expect this situation, Sister Feng smiled and said: "How about the words I usually say? Today, I really answered my words."

While chatting and laughing, he helped Zhu Xiu up, and pushed her to sit down next to Madam Zhu.

Daiyu said with a smile: "Mammy is grateful to mother, she has only stayed at home for many years, even though the master of the Cheng family wanted to take them home several times, Mammy refused. According to me, this is the fate between you and sister Xiu, very happy. It doesn't have to be."

Zhu Xiu was taken aback for a moment, and now he was solidified, as expected, they were all smart people, and nothing they said would be criticized by anyone.

"Okay, okay! Mother Zhu is overjoyed here, sending those two female gentlemen, I have never seen such a ventriloquist, and the two of them can make a room full of people, birds, cats and dogs, but It's very rare, if we don't call up quickly, we'll have some fun and fall here weeping..." Sister Feng laughed and joked, and everyone in the room laughed.

In the dead of night, in Luocuiwu, Mother Zhu and her daughter were nestled in warm tents with only their coats on.

Grandma Zhu smiled brightly, "You're just afraid of being confused, let's not talk about it sooner or later, and now we're messing around with this?"

Zhu Xiu shook her head and said, "I used to think that I was a smart person, but the more time passed, the more I felt that I was not. I have to think about those words for a while."

Grandma Zhu smiled and said: "Smart people think a lot, so it's good that you are like this. Mommy doesn't ask you to be smart and well-rounded, as long as you are safe and happy." It doesn't matter if it's a family matter or not. But people outside don't think so, besides, your uncle and I don't want someone to make a fuss about you serving the old lady of Jia's family. Although it's still unavoidable to talk about it today, but After all, no one can use this matter to humiliate you face to face."

There is another thing, Mother Zhu said in her heart, your uncle has taken care of a marriage for you, the young man of that family is really good, and it is also good for this marriage to settle the argument with the help of the big business of the imperial business.