I am a man in a dream

It was late at night after finishing his official duties. Lin Hongming returned to the mansion and changed into his regular clothes and asked, "Is my sister happier?" Baochai put his mansion on the shelf and said, "It's much better. At noon, my sister and I had dinner at Fanghu Shengjing. I also invited my second elder sister, and everyone chatted and laughed, and my younger sister was happier." Saying this, Baochai ordered Yinger to prepare the meal.Lin Hongming looked around and asked, "Why isn't Yaqi here?" Baochai said, "A few days ago, I opened a warehouse and took two bolts of satin. We were making two new sets of clothes, and there happened to be two top-quality Shu brocades, the color and pattern of which my sister liked, so I sent them to sister Lin with Yaqi."

Lin Hongming said: "It's hard for you to be thoughtful. In this case, you should take out a few horses and send them to your mother. It will be March 1000rd. I want to invite your mother and let's have a good get together." Baochai was busy arranging the dinner. Lin Hongming looked at it and said, "Why is it so rich today? How can the two of us finish eating?" Baochai said, "Second Master forgets everything when he is busy, even his own birthday." I don’t even remember.” Only then did Lin Hongming remember that today is his birthday.He poured a glass of wine and toasted Baochai: "Sister Bao is bothering you, I will toast to Sister Bao." Baochai said with a smile, "What's the matter? It's just a matter of duty." It’s rare that Sister Bao pays attention to everything.” Baochai picked up a chopsticks dish for him and put it on a plate, and said, “This is Erye’s favorite dried bamboo shoots and shredded pork. It’s chicken soup. I just put it in the pot." Lin Hongming tasted it and said, "It's really fresh." He also took a chopstick of purple eggplant for Baochai: "You can try this flavored eggplant." Baochai held up the chopsticks and tasted it. After tasting it, he said: "The taste of this dish is really strange." Lin Hongming said: "This dish is taught by the chef myself. Use mandarin fish to boil ginger juice, mix it with bad oil, and fry the eggplant until it is half-cooked. After pouring it on, use sesame oil to enhance the flavor and take it out of the pot. It is fragrant but not greasy, and it rots without losing its original flavor." Baochai laughed and said, "As the saying goes, a gentleman stays away from the kitchen. I didn't expect the second master to be very knowledgeable in cooking." Lin Hongming said: "A gentleman's stay away from the kitchen is to remind men not to play with things and lose their minds. It's okay to have fun occasionally." Baochai said again: "Relaxation is the way of life." Lin Hongming took two more mouthfuls, put down his chopsticks, and drank Taking a sip of tea, she asked, "How's the matter with my sister?" Baochai tried the corner of her mouth, and said, "I took the second master's post to pay homage to Master Sun of Jinling Mansion, and Qianqing personally sent it to him. I replied a few days ago, and Sun The master went to Jia's mansion and said that some buildings in Jia's mansion violated the regulations. If it is investigated, it will be a serious crime. My uncle was so frightened that his face was livid, and he has already gone to plead guilty." Lin Hongming smiled and said: "This Sun Daotai is shrewd. Where is Sister Feng? Baochai said with a smile: "Sister Feng is even more powerful. First she pretended to be sick and slept for two days, resigned from all affairs, and then bought a house in Beicheng, and moved out quietly. My aunt sent someone to invite her." , She actually said that she fell ill and couldn't get up." Lin Hongming praised: "Sister Feng has always been decisive, and she is a person who does things. What about the money for buying a house?" Baochai added a cup of tea and said, "I have asked Qian Qing explained that 20 taels of silver was used to buy a house. There is a Zhuangzi in the west of Jinling City, about 1000 hectares, with an annual interest of [-] taels of silver. Sister Feng is good at calculating, so she will not follow her." Lin Hongming snorted and said: "I Jia’s supply has already been cut off, if my aunt still persists, I admire her somewhat.” Baochai smiled and said, “Sister Feng wrote to say that since the Jia’s cut off money and food, Mrs. Wang doesn’t even have money to eat rice. I pawned a few bottles from my family a few days ago, and they were smashed." Lin Hongming sighed: "People's hearts are not enough. I think that since my sister is married, she will naturally have to act as a front. Everyone felt uncomfortable. So they gave them money to buy some property, but they thought we were soft persimmons to handle." Baochai said: "In this way, next time they will not dare Lin Hongming disagreed: "Natural nature is hard to change. Only by grasping their lifeblood can they be obedient. If it is loose, they will run away by themselves. If it is too tight, it will be broken. When this matter is settled, there is no need to give them They also have a taboo for buying any property, sending money on a monthly basis, and living a tense life."

After half a month, Mrs. Wang secretly came to Beijing with Baoyu, and Baochai took over and arranged for tea in the front hall.Mrs. Wang cried and said: "Master Sun in Jinling insisted on saying something that violated the regulations, so he took him there, saying that he was going to be imprisoned. I tried to say something, but the yamen only revealed a letter. The serious fine of 1000 taels of silver for violating the regulations was sentenced to prison. Five years, fined 5 taels of silver for minor cases, and sentenced to two months in prison. I wrote to my nephew, but there was no reply, so I had no choice but to come to Beijing secretly." Baochai said: "This is strange, there is no one in the mansion. I know, the boys must be lazy and miss the job." The two of them were talking, Yaqi came to report: "Second Mistress, Second Master's hanging beads are gone, and I have to bring them to the banquet tomorrow, you can go find them. Let's go." Baochai got the letter and apologized to Mrs. Wang: "Auntie, sit down for a while, and I'll come as soon as I go." As a result, after going away for a long time, there was not even a shadow. No.Mrs. Wang was angry but didn't dare to lose her temper. She wanted to leave in a fit of anger. She thought that she had become the only valuable clothes in the family when she came here. Now that she didn't even have money to go back, she didn't dare to get angry.

Lin Hongming had already received the letter, so he returned to the mansion in the dark, and saw Mrs. Wang from a distance, raised her voice on purpose, and asked, "You little girl, you don't know if you have a guest at home." Mrs. Wang hurriedly stood up , and said: "Nephew, you are back." Lin Hongming asked: "Why is aunt here? No one told me, so I can come back sooner." Mrs. Wang naturally knew that they were intentional, and she couldn't tell the truth. Can walk down the steps: "My nephew is busy with work, how can I delay the main work because of some trivial matters." Lin Hongming smiled and said: "Auntie's coming is naturally nothing compared to ordinary trivial matters. It's just that there is an order in the Holy Spirit that aunt and others are not allowed to leave Jinling, auntie Why did you go to Beijing without permission?" Mrs. Wang cried after hearing this.Lin Hongming listened, pretending to be surprised: "How could such a thing happen? A few days ago, I heard from Qianqing that brother Bao was going to take a concubine. I thought it would be smooth sailing for my uncle to meet old friends when he arrived in Jinling. Why did you go to jail after a few days?" Mrs. Wang's face was blue and purple, embarrassing, she forced a smile: "It's just a joke, so you can take any concubine. Baoyu and Daiyu were only married for a year. It's the time of the newlyweds, how could they take concubines?" Lin Hongming wondered: "Isn't it? Is it Qianqing's gossip? I heard that my aunt has even arranged the new house, and she is just waiting to have a grandson in the coming year. I think Now, brother Bao is my cousin, and I have prepared a big gift." Mrs. Wang wiped off her sweat and said with an apologetic smile, "It's nothing, I was joking with Daiyu, I think Qianqing got it wrong. How can you ask for a concubine if you have a daughter-in-law like Daiyu?" Lin Hongming patted his legs and sighed: "My aunt said earlier, my sister knew that Brother Bao wanted to take a concubine, and she thought to herself that she was weak, so if the concubine could add a man It's also a good thing to be a half-daughter, so I went to the temple to pray for blessings, and never came back for three or five years. He said that in order to show his sincerity, he should let go of all distracting thoughts, and entrusted me to take care of all the family affairs. For a few years, I waited for Brother Bao to have a child before taking over. I thought, since Brother Bao has a lot of money to take concubines, why would he need my sister’s pocket money, so I just saved it, otherwise people outside will know I thought my aunt and others were greedy for my sister's dowry idea. Our family of hairpin tassels in the Jia family must not lose face." Mrs. Wang blushed.Lin Hongming continued: "As for my uncle, as a Beijing official, I have nothing to do. I follow the law, and Beijing officials are not allowed to make friends with foreign officials. I think Mr. Sun is not a fool, and he will naturally act impartially. Don't worry too much, Auntie." .”

Mrs. Wang was forced to come to the capital to see Lin Hongming because she had no other way out. Seeing that he didn't want to get in, she had no choice but to put down her old face and apologize: "Nephew, you are an adult with a lot. I am a woman and I don't know much, but It was because of a few words from the servant that I made a mistake. After Daiyu left, I knew I was wrong. I wanted to find an opportunity to explain it. Who knew that something like this happened to your uncle, so I left it in a moment of anxiety. Alright." Lin Hongming interrupted her, and said with a smile, "Auntie, what are you talking about? Taking a concubine is not a crime. Since ancient times, men have three wives and four concubines, and Brother Bao is my aunt's heart. What is it to take a concubine? The third bedroom and the sixth courtyard also made it. I am also tired, so my aunt should leave Beijing early, otherwise it will be another crime if someone sees you." Mrs. Wang burst into tears and begged: "My nephew just doesn't look at your uncle. For the favor of the late old lady, please help me a little bit. My aunt really has no idea, and my aunt is also getting old. From now on, the young people will have the final say on everything in the family." , Lin Hongming couldn't stay still, so he asked Baoyu, "I don't know what brother Bao thinks?" Baoyu burst into tears: "Of course I think of Sister Lin." For the sake of the old lady's face, I have to ask for help. However, my sister asked my aunt to persuade her. It's not a problem for her to stay in the temple. Since Brother Bao doesn't take concubines, it's necessary for my sister to offer incense in the future What if I live in the temple all the time?" Mrs. Wang hurriedly said, "That's natural, I will go to the temple to invite my wife back." Lin Hongming continued: "In addition, my sister's body is weak. Traveling back and forth during the holidays is not a burden, and it is not good for inheriting the incense. I still invite my aunt and uncle to come to Beijing. I ask the emperor to allow my uncle and others to stay in Beijing for half a month every two years, during the Mid-Autumn Festival and the New Year. Besides, at home It's better not to buy your property. My aunt and uncle are getting old, and my sister-in-law has to take care of Brother Lang. Don't be tired anymore. Every three months, I will ask the servant to send someone to send the monthly money, and my aunt will take care of the day. Just wait until the year of Qingfu.” Mrs. Wang is not willing to agree, and wanted to argue hard, but Lin Hongming said immediately: “Otherwise, my aunt is still in charge, we juniors learn a little bit, maybe we can’t handle uncle’s affairs well. Aunt is disappointed." Mrs. Wang immediately shut up and had no choice but to agree again and again.

At this time, Baochai came out and said, "Second Master always loses everything, and it took a lot of effort to find the bead. Otherwise, tomorrow, my colleagues will laugh at me and lose face." Lin Hongming blamed himself, "It's all my carelessness, Mrs. Lao I've been busy for a long time." Baochai said with a smile, "Fortunately, I found it. It's getting dark, and my aunt is hungry, let's have dinner." Lin Hongming said, "It's time to eat, but I don't know if my sister has used it yet? Auntie is here. Now, it’s time to come and say hello.” Mrs. Wang hurriedly stood up and said, “I’ll go to the temple to see Daiyu first.” Lin Hongming said, “Well, it’s getting dark, let’s go together, or the gate of the city will be closed. It's troublesome again." Mrs. Wang went to the temple, persuaded for more than two hours, Baoyu apologized again and again, Daiyu finally returned home, and the whole family had a hasty meal and then rested.The next day, Mrs. Wang left Beijing, and Lin Hongming comforted Baoyu a few more words. After five or six days, he wrote a letter to Master Sun and sent a thank you gift, and Jia Zheng was released.