Prequel to the Red Chamber: I Am the Second Wife

As expected, Mother Jia had no intention of raising Xichun until Lan's coffin was buried in the soil, and Mother Jia seemed to have forgotten that there was this grandniece.On the contrary, Zili and Mrs. Xing were still thinking about the poor child, and they often asked people to come over and give Xichun's nanny some fresh and nutritious food, so that the child would have enough milk to drink.On this day, Fuling and Zhou Rui's family went there to see Xichun again. Zhou Rui's family said to Zili, "Don't worry, madam, Miss Si has gained weight a lot. I asked her and she can sleep peacefully at night. The reward has already been given." I asked the nanny, but she refused for a long time and refused to accept it. When Fu Ling and I were about to leave, she quietly told me that if the second wife really cared about the fourth girl, she would take her over and raise her. That mansion really It's hard to stay."

"You think I don't want to take Si Yato over, but what can I do if Master Jing didn't say anything? She just lost her mother, not both parents. You think I'll propose to bring Si Yato here at this time, over there By the way, what is Master Jing doing?" Zili asked about Jia Jing's situation, as if Lan closed the door and said something to her husband before he died. Jia Jing was heartbroken at the funeral. If it wasn't for that day Someone grabbed Jia Jing, and he might have bumped his head on Lan's coffin and killed him.At that time, everyone thought that Jia Jing would not be able to accept such a big change suddenly.Who knows that waiting for Lan's burial, Jia Jing is still immersed in his own world all day long, not seeing people, not going out, and ignoring family affairs.A country cannot be without a king for a day, and Ningguo Mansion cannot be without a headed family at night.

Jia Zheng and Jia Amnesty could only help out, as the affairs of the Ning Mansion had to be handled by their own people.At this time Jia Zhen came out, with a sad face, he brought Jia Rong over here and cried to Jia's mother: "My father is now in despair, no one cares about the family affairs, and it's messed up inside and out. It’s a mess. I’m young and I don’t know what to do and I can’t manage the family, so I asked the old lady to ask the two uncles to help my family manage things for a few days for Rong’er’s sake.”

Now that Jia Zhen talked about this, Mother Jia also understood what he meant: "You are grown up now, I heard your two uncles say that you can take care of yourself this time. Your father is so sad that you are too sad." As a son, you need to persuade them well. Although your two uncles have helped you for a few days, you will have to live on your own in the future. But after all, you are relatives of the whole family. If you don’t know what you are young, just ask them. From now on Our two families still need to support each other." As she spoke, Jia's mother asked someone to help Jia Zhen up, told him to sit on a chair, and asked Jia Rong to come to her, hug him and talk to him.Jia's mother is the most senior person in the Jia family.Now that the old lady with the highest seniority recognized Jia Zhen's status, all the big and small matters in Ningguo Mansion fell into Jia Zhen's hands.

Xichun naturally became Jia Zhen's thorn in the side, without her mother, her father didn't care, and Zili even thought that if it wasn't for Ning's family's face, Jia Zhen might have sold her sister.Seeing Zili's silence, Zhou Rui's family could only sigh: "The motherless child is pitiful. There are so many people in the Jia family who never thought that this child is the eldest wife and the wife still thinks about her. What is unexpected is that the eldest wife , she has always been unwilling to meddle in other people's affairs, and she doesn't like to contribute money and energy to help others, but she is so concerned about the fourth girl's affairs."

It may be that the eldest wife also wants to have a child. Lian'er is not close to her, so there is nothing she can do about it. Lian'er has grown up so much that she already remembers things.The second girl was being kept by the old lady's side again, even if the old lady went to see her every day, it was just a matter of face.Forget it, this is other people's business, our family's business has not yet been handed over.Zili remembered that Jia's mother had an unpleasant fight with her two nephews because of Xiangyun's embrace.

Zhou Rui's family suddenly gave Zili a mysterious wink, and Zili asked all the girls to go out. Zhou Rui's family said in a low voice, "Now that Mr. Zhen is in charge, many rules have been changed. I heard they After his wife’s funeral, Uncle Zhen asked people to lock up their wife’s house so that no one could enter. I heard that at night, someone could still hear the sound of someone crying inside. Uncle Zhen beat up a few times when he heard the people’s discussion, and said goodbye Anyone who speaks nonsense will be kicked out. I must have something to do with Uncle Zhen when I look at their wives."

Zili smiled wryly: "Is there any way, the cause and effect of this incident has been going on for decades, how many people have been involved? Now even if the truth is found out, the whole family will lose face. People can't be resurrected after death. Why don't you think about it?" There is a way to bring Xichun over there and raise him. At least it can cheer up the old man over there, it would be good for him to come out and protect Xichun."

That's right, I don't know what the old lady thinks, she insists on meddling in her nephew's housework, leaving an ancestor's grandniece alone.Zhou Rui's family couldn't help complaining in front of Zili about Jia's mother's partiality and indifference.Zili's eyes lit up suddenly after hearing Zhou Rui's family's words, and she waved at Zhou Rui's family: "I have an idea, you can do it like this..."

Jia's mother was sulking in the room, her son and daughter-in-law were unreliable, Jia's mother insisted on raising Xiangyun, but the two Shijia brothers couldn't let go anyway, especially Shi Ding, Shi Ding was unlikely to inherit any title. It's not the credit of the big brother who worked hard to earn it, so how can he have his own Lord Hou to do it?Shi Ding had vowed in front of his sister-in-law that he would raise Xiangyun to grow up. Now the soil on the grave of his elder brother and sister-in-law has not yet dried, so he puts his niece in the house of his old aunt who has been married long ago.What do people think of historians?How to say about myself and my younger brother, when others mention Zhongjinghou and Bowlinghou in the future, their brothers' backs will be bent.

However, relying on her own seniority and the prestige of the Jia family, Jia's mother clearly expressed her attitude, "I don't trust you to take care of Xiangyun, and you all have things to do now. Why don't I have nothing to do every day and can take better care of the children?" How did Xiangyun’s parents take care of your brothers back then, but now you are going to wrong your children.” Facing Jia’s mother’s intention to impose a crime, Shi Ding and Shi Nai could only stare blankly and dare not refute anything.But now the two brothers have discussed the countermeasures. No matter what Jia's mother said, they just pretended that they didn't hear Xiangyun who refused to let go.

Seeing that she was wasting her thoughts in vain, the two brothers pretended to be confused, and when they were depressed, they suddenly heard the little girl announce: "The second wife is here." Seeing Zili come in with a few girls, Jia's mother asked: "What is this?" What are you doing then?" Zili said with a smile, "I was packing up the old things, and I was thinking of finding some of Zhu'er's playthings for Baoyu. I found this." The little girl came up with a plate, and Mother Jia looked at it. There are some exquisite small cups, small bowls, small cabinets, tables and chairs, everything is exquisite and lovely, just like the itchy furniture in life.It's just that the size has become very small, which is just right for children to play.

"This is a game for girls. I used to play this when I was a child. It's just that Baoyu is a boy. Now his father complains that Baoyu is not manly, and he is angry with me. I can't afford to take this little girl's things there." Give it to him to play with. Why don't you let Yingchun play with it." Mother Jia casually picked up a delicate cup to look at and then put it down.

Zili smiled and said: "This thing needs several people to play together. This is my plaything back then. I remember that my grandfather gave each of us a set for each of our sisters. I originally prepared this set for Yuan girl. Yes. It’s just that she was the only daughter at the beginning, so she let it go when no one played with her. It’s better for the old lady to ask a few girls to play with Yingchun.”

Mother Jia's eyes lit up when she heard Zili's words, and she immediately regained her spirits. You are right: "Young girl is celebrating her birthday soon. Although it's not easy to celebrate a birthday with great fanfare, it's just a chance for everyone to be lively. I'll pay 100 Two silver coins, make Yingchun's birthday more lively and ask Xiangyun to come too."

Zili smiled and reminded Jia Mu: "Since it's my sister's birthday, I should invite girl Xichun over there. I heard that Xichun has learned to walk now."

Mother Jia nodded after thinking about it: "Very well, let's do as you want."

Yingchun finally had a lively birthday. Jia Zhu and Yuanchun happened to be at home that day, and Jia's mother was also very happy to see these grandchildren. Baoyu and Yingchun, who were dressed up like the golden boys and girls in the New Year pictures, sat on the head.Both Jia Lian and Jia Zhu had grown up, they came up to greet Yingchun's birthday, saluted Jia's mother, and then went outside. Yuanchun and Xiangyun sat at the first table, followed by Tanchun and the nanny. Xichun sat at the second table.Zili and Mrs. Xing were sitting on the table outside the Bisha cabinet, watching a play and drinking.

"Why don't Shi Ding and Shi Nai's wives come? Xiangyun asked his nanny to bring them here at a young age, and no adults followed?" Mrs. Xing saw that there were no other Shi family guests besides Xiangyun.

Probably the historian was angry, and the old lady asked someone to pick up Xiangyun in her own sedan chair, which was obviously angry with her nephews.Zili casually played with a fruit in his hand.The opera about whipping reed flowers is being sung on the stage, and Min Ziqian is being abused by his stepmother, and he wears cotton padded clothes made of reed flowers in winter.After being discovered by his father, his father wanted to drive away his stepmother, and Min Ziqian begged his father to forgive his stepmother.Suddenly, Xichun's nanny was heard crying. Jia's mother and everyone present were startled by Xichun's nanny's sudden behavior.Tanchun and Baoyu burst into tears, and Jia Mu was busy asking the nanny to coax Baoyu and Tanchun. She asked with a sullen face, "Why are you crying when you have a good life?"

"I can't bear it anymore. My girl is not as good as Min Ziqian, who has a vicious stepmother. She was tortured by a servant, and we are not allowed to tell the master." Said the nanny, the servants in the Ning Mansion on weekdays How to treat Xichun harshly, secretly said that Xichun Ke died of the Lan family, he was an ominous person, and he wanted to drive Xichun out to live in a desolate village and live on his own.Mother Jia's face turned red when she heard this, and she said angrily, "Send someone to invite brother Jing, but I want to see which slave is so bold."

Zili and Mrs. Xing rushed in to persuade them, and Zili said: "Old lady, please calm down first. I think a man like Brother Jing will definitely ignore these trivial matters. If there is no wife in charge at home, it is inevitable that some servants will take advantage of the opportunity. Why don't you call first?" Si Yatou will live with the old lady for a few days, waiting for Brother Jing to continue, and someone will take care of Si Yatou at that time. The old lady is a veritable ancestor. This bit of face must be given to Brother Jing. If it goes out like this, today's There are a lot of guests, so why don't you save Brother Jing's face?" After listening to Zili's words, Jia's mother calmed down a little, for her to adopt Xichun was a matter of little effort, and there were advantages and no disadvantages.

The good thing is that from now on, the East Mansion can't stand upright in front of Jiamu. If there is any conflict between the two sides, Jiamu can talk about their abuse of Xichun.How much Xichun can spend for a girl is just a few girls and women. When she grows up, Jia Jing will naturally take it back and marry her. She doesn't even have to pay the dowry.Moreover, Mother Jia seems to have an idea, she can use the matter of Xichun to put pressure on the two nephews.What Shi Ding and Shi Nai were most worried about was that others would accuse them of mistreating Xiangyun. If the two of them did not answer, she would be able to put pressure on public opinion.

So the banquet broke up that day, and Xichun and Xiangyun were left by Jiamu's side.Xichun and Tanchun Yingchun live together, each with a nanny and maid to take care of them, but Xiangyun and Baoyu live together in the east wing of Jiamu's courtyard, eating and living the same as Baoyu.

Zili went to see Baoyu that day, and brought some things for Xichun and Xiangyun.Waiting for Zili to come back, he saw Jia Zheng waiting for her with a troubled face. "The old lady has offended the two nephews by making such a fuss. Shi Ding and I complained for a long time today. You don't know that Shi Nai's wife always felt that she didn't take good care of her because she missed Xiangyun, so she cried for a few days. sick."

"No wonder, today I saw the Shijia sent all Xiangyun's things. Their mother-in-law saw me with a smile on her face, saying that the old lady has worked hard, and asked the wife to worry about something. I It’s hard to ask about their family’s situation. It turns out that’s the case, but children can only follow the old lady. Xiangyun looks very good, and now she speaks fluently and walks very steadily. Look It looks like she was raised by historians like a treasure. Compared with her, Xichun is pitiful. Those clothes and supplies are also made up, and I asked someone to change them. Let me ask you, what is Brother Jing going to do? How?" Thinking of Xichun's pitiful appearance, Zili suddenly became angry, since having a child is the worst thing to see a child being wronged.

"I think the meaning of respecting elder brother is to hide from the world. He asked me to go over today to discuss the matter of calling Zhen'er the title. He said that he is too sinful to enjoy the prosperity of others here. By the way, Zhen'er seems to be in line with the sequel recently. Object. Even though it’s a sequel, I don’t think so much.” Jia Zheng talked to Zili about the East Mansion in a depressed manner.

"It's someone else's business what good the sequel can be." Zili is not interested in who Jia Zhen wants to marry.

"That's right, I have something serious to discuss with you. Zhu'er, someone proposed marriage to Zhu'er!" Mentioning his son Jia Zheng's face became much better.