Prequel to the Red Chamber: I Am the Second Wife

The next day, Jia Zheng brought Zi Lizhen to visit Li Shouyi's wife. Compared with yesterday's poor clothes, today's Mrs. Li Shouyi is much more decent.It's just that the new clothes shaking on her body are obviously Mrs. Li Shouzhong's clothes, which don't fit her well.Zili pretended not to notice, but held Mrs. Li Shouyi's hand and spoke affectionately, while Li Shouzhong's wife was guarding them every step of the way.Zili smiled and said to Li Shouzhong's wife, "I'm here to disturb your wife."

Li Shouzhong's wife hurriedly said: "There is nothing to disturb or not. We are all one family. My sister-in-law has a hard life. Seeing that with the support of noble people, life will be better in the future." Zili said with a smile: "No Dare to be some kind of noble person. Our old master was an official in one place, so we are familiar with each other. Why don’t you see Li Yue and Li Jin from your family? They were still so tall when we were in Qingzhou, and my girl Yuan was still talking about your young lady By the way, I heard that the daughter of Li Ji Restaurant is also good. I don’t know if I’m lucky enough to see you.” Zhou Rui’s family didn’t wait for Li Shouzhong’s wife to speak, so he smiled and said to her: “Mrs. What are you waiting for, hurry up and invite your young lady out to meet our wife. There is a saying that an ugly daughter-in-law should also meet her in-laws."

Zili reprimanded Zhou Rui's family with a straight face: "What are you talking about here! Do you have a place to speak here? Don't go out and wait!" Zili apologized to Mrs. Li Shouzhong with an apologetic face : "I told my wife to read a joke. The servants of my family have always had no rules. It's because I don't manage the family strictly. I was the most soft-hearted at first, and there are rules in the family that can't be harsh on the family members, so I indulged them even more. Now I'm getting old and short-spirited, but there are old ladies on top, and the girl is still young. I can just count on Zhu'er getting married and I can relax." Mrs. Li Shouzhong listened to Zili's words, thinking that the Jia family's marriage is really serious OKIt is said that Jia's family is rich, and Jia Zheng is polite and respects scholars.If this kind of marriage is established, the master's official career will be greatly benefited in the future, even the sons of the family can have a good brother-in-law to help, and save the dowry and get more gifts.Looking at Jia Zheng's wife is still a talkative and temperless person.Then after the daughter is married, won't she be able to be the housekeeper? At that time, she had the final say in the huge Rongguo Mansion.

Li Shouzhong's wife was secretly happy, and hurriedly asked the girl to invite Li Wan out. When she turned her face and saw Zili talking to Li Shouyi's wife, she could only say aggrievedly: "Call Yue Geer and Jiner to come see the guests too." .” As she spoke, she winked at the woman beside her, but unfortunately the woman ignored it and went out to pass on the message.Li Shouzhong's wife was in a hurry and wanted to chase her out to give orders, but she was entangled in talking by Zili.

After a while, a girl came in surrounded by a group of maids, and Zili knew it was Li Wan when she saw that dull face.Li Wan was wearing a blue dress with her head down, underneath a white satin skirt, on which was embroidered a bright red plum blossom with silk threads, a golden phoenix with silver threads on her head, and a newly plucked hibiscus flower on her temples , just in response to the meaning that Furong is like a face and Liu is like an eyebrow.Li Wan behaved decently, bowed his head and came over to greet Zili softly, timidly like a delicate flower in the cool wind.Zili smiled and stretched out his hand to take Li Wan's hand to look carefully. Li Wan had a twisted silver bracelet on his wrist. All girls like jewelry, so a bracelet is nothing.It's just that Li Wan's bracelet was thoughtful, with several glazed beads on it.This Zhuzili is no stranger, just like the teenage girls nowadays, there are always some small, exquisite and worthless gadgets that are popular among them.In modern society, these things are sold in the small jewelry store in front of the school, but in this era, they are sold together in the rouge gouache store and velvet flowers.

Don't ask how Zili knew, because even Yuan Chun, the girl who was wrapped in brocade jewels all day long and accompanied the queen mother, also had a box of beads like this.As for where it came from, Zili certainly knows better.Zili praised Li Wan's gentleness and loveliness, waved his hand and brought up a plate with a pair of gold bracelets, a pair of pearl necklaces, a pair of gold and jade rings, a pair of delicate palace flowers, several boxes of uterine powder and rouge, and Two bolts of satin. "It's nothing good, girl, take it as a reward."

Li Wan hurriedly refused, Li Shouzhong's wife hurriedly said: "It's Mrs. Jia's kindness, you just accept it." Hearing what his mother said, Li Wan thanked the girl and asked the girl to accept it.Zili pulled Li Wan and asked her how old she was, what books she was studying, and what she was doing at home. "...My father said that a woman's lack of talent is virtue, so she only read biographies of women. She usually does needlework with her mother at home." Li Wan whispered with a feeling of timidity. She always dared not look at Zili directly, but It is to take a sneak peek while everyone is not paying attention.Speaking of which, a boy came in outside followed by a girl, Zili saw them busy patting Li Wan's hand, and stood up first.

She took a few steps to the two children and hugged them into her arms. Tears came down first: "My son, I have been looking for you all these years. It's hard for me to see you. Finally, I'm dead now." I can close my eyes too." As he spoke, Zili burst into tears with his arms around the two children.

Li Yue and Li Jin still vaguely remembered Zili, and the two of them also cried when they remembered what happened back then.Hearing Zili and the child cry, and others were fine with it, Li Shouyi's wife also cried out of grief.The girl and woman below were busy trying to persuade him, but Li Shouzhong's wife pretended to say to Zili, "Since we met, we will meet again someday. This is a happy event, so don't be sad."

Zili wiped his face with a towel: "I asked Madam to read the joke. You are right, we will see you in the future." Zili turned from sadness to joy, and asked what the two children have been doing for the past few years. No. "We followed our mother and studied our homework in our spare time. However, my aptitude is not good, and my husband is always unwilling to teach me. I plan to join the army like my father in the future." Li Yue's face was calm, and there was no change in the situation.

Seeing Mrs. Li Shouzhong heaving a sigh of relief from the corner of his eyes, Zili said vaguely, "Since you are all well, I feel a little relieved." As he said that, some maids brought up greeting gifts. Li Yue's was a set of new books, a set of pens and inkstones. A pair of pouches contained the golden fruit of Lianzhong's three yuan. Li Jin's things were the same as Li Wan's, except that Li Jin had a pouch instead of brocade.Mrs. Li Shouzhong was completely relieved seeing Zili's arrangement.

Li Shouyi's wife smiled and said to her children, "Thank you, Mrs. Jia yet." Li Yue and Li Jin thanked them generously, took the gift and put it in front of their mother.Everyone said things that would not be too salty, and Li Shouzhong's wife politely left Zili to eat. Zili stood up with a smile: "I wanted to interrupt, but there is an old lady at home. Let me come back another day." As he spoke, Zili helped Zhou Rui's family to stand up and walk away.

The next day, Mother Jia actually sent someone to pick up Li Shouyi's wife, Miss Li's family, and Li Yue as guests.Li Shouzhong's wife hesitated a little. Jia's mother asked the ladies of the Li family to go and play together for a day. It would be fine on weekdays, but Li Wan's marriage has not yet been settled, and it is not good for young ladies who have not left the cabinet to go to other people's houses casually, especially those who have already been married. Say dear people.She rolled her eyes and said to the person sent by Mother Jia: "I don't know how to call this sister-in-law."

"The maidservant is the wife of the old lady. Madam just call me Wang Qin's family. Madam, just say what you want. Our old lady said that your family is the benefactor of the Jia family. From now on, the two families will be considered relatives. Since they are relatives, there is nothing to say." What Wang Qin's family said made Li Shouzhong's wife a little dizzy.She smiled: "This, my eldest girl—"

"It turned out to be this. Everything is arranged by the wife. In fact, it doesn't matter. Our old lady likes to be lively, and likes to joke with the grandchildren. So I just thought of picking up the girls from relatives to play together for a day. If the family If it’s inconvenient for my lady to go, I’ll just go next time. Ma’am, don’t worry.” Wang Qin’s smooth tongue said that Jia’s mother just likes to joke with relatives’ children, and picked up her natal nephew and grandson. The girl was by his side, and there was also a girl from the second wife's natal family. Thinking that Li Shouyi also had a little girl in his family, he wanted to meet her.

Mrs. Li Shouzhong left Li Wan and did not ask her to go to Jia's house, and Li Wan's younger sister went to Jia's house with Li Shouyi's wife, Li Yue and Li Jin.Zili was worried at home, she was really worried that Li Wan would follow her, if Li Wan came, wouldn't she really become acquainted?No matter what the result is, the Jia family is not authentic, and the one who called other girls to his home still said he didn't like it!Hearing the girl report that Li Wan didn't come, Zili was relieved: "Where are they now?" Zili hurriedly went to the mirror to straighten his clothes and came to Jiamu.

"Don't worry, ma'am, Mrs. Li has just entered the second gate and is walking towards the old lady." Fu Ling tidied things up for Zili.Help her out.

Seeing Li Shouyi's wife thanking her in a loud voice, Jia's mother pushed Baoyu and asked him to come out and kowtow to Li Shouyi's wife: "This is your savior. If there is no her master, you don't know if there is one. Baoyu was always clever, and he knelt down in front of Mrs. Li Shouyi: "Baoyu greets my wife." Li Shouyi's wife hurriedly helped Baoyu put him in her arms: "This is absolutely impossible."

Both Zili and Jiamu said: "This is what it should be." After everyone exchanged pleasantries, Li Yue, Li Jin and Li Ling came up to greet Jiamu and everyone had their own gifts.

Mother Jia asked someone to take Li Yue to play with Jia Zhu, and asked Yuan Chun to take his younger sister out to talk with Li Jin and the others.After a while, the banquet was ready, Cairo sang on the stage, the servants of the Li family were entertained by members of the Jia family, and Mrs. Li Shouyi no longer had any members of the Li family. Li Jin said what she said about being Jia Zhu's wife.

Mrs. Li Shouyi was naturally unwilling. She resigned loudly and seemed to have something hard to say, but Zili said straight to the point: "You were so straightforward when you were in Qingzhou, why are you so hesitant now? I think it's just because of your uncle." You can cover up the family’s face. In fact, I saw that day, you orphans and widows are being bullied by others, and you are dependent on others, so naturally you dare not say anything. But I advise you to think about your own children, you can still rely on They can't do it all their lives? Even if you can rely on them for a lifetime, can your two children live comfortably in your uncle's house? The most important thing in a girl's life is that my master has identified your daughter. I think Jin'er Much better than her cousin. You can't bear to see your own daughter--"

Before Zili finished speaking, he saw Li Shouyi's wife crying. She cried and said, how did Li Shouzhong trick them into the capital, and silently embezzled the money left by Li Shouyi? Where are the three of them? I have said everything about being treated like a servant with trepidation.

"You really don't have enough hearts. You don't have to be sad now that it's over. I won't watch you get bullied." After hearing what happened to Mrs. Li Shouyi, Zili became more and more contemptuous of Li Shouzhong. No wonder Li Wan's verdict was written in the original book. Full of sarcasm, Li Wan was young and widowed, but no one in the Jia family had treated her badly, but she made trouble for Baoyu and others after the decline of the Jia family.Under her education, Jia Lan is also an indifferent and selfish person. She wholeheartedly pursues fame and wealth, but in the end she has no life to enjoy the fame and fortune. Li Wan's painstaking efforts are all in vain.Her selfishness and indifference can be described as chilling. In the past, Zili only thought that Li Wan was young and widowed, forced by the environment, but now that she thinks about it carefully, her selfishness and indifference are engraved in her bones.

Even if a kind-hearted person has Li Shouzhong's parents, there is a great possibility that he will grow crooked.Zili got up and personally took the towel from the girl to wipe her face. Jia Mu also sighed for a while, and said to Zili: "I don't want to hear those things now, and I'm tired too. Please forgive me and go to the crooked place first." I'm asleep." Zili hurriedly said: "The old lady is tired." As he spoke, he asked the girl to help Jia Mu to rest, and Zili took Li Shouyi's wife to the flower hall to sit and talk.

Of course Li Shouyi's wife was willing to marry Li Jin to Jia Zhu, but now she knew that the gap between her family and Jia's family was not even a little bit. Li Shouyi and Jia Zheng were colleagues when Li Shouyi was here before, so this marriage was not a high-profile affair.But now she has nothing, Li Yue's studies have been wasted, and Li Jin can only do needlework with her in exchange for the leftovers of Li Shouzhong's family.Looking at the prosperity of Jia's family, Li Shouyi's wife felt more and more that her daughter might not even be able to compare with other girls.

"My wife also knows the situation of my family. If my old master is here, I won't say this. The pension money given by the court plus my old master's savings in those years is now gone. In their house, The three of us, mother and son, can only do our own food and live on our own. As a woman, I can’t teach my son to read, let alone teach my daughter. Jin’er is just doing needlework with me now. She has never seen anything in the world, let alone Knowing piano, chess, calligraphy and painting. I think the girls in your house are more noble than Jin'er in my family. Although I am willing to do this, I can't delay your son. There are so many famous officials in the capital. Please also invite Madam and Jia My lord, find another good one." Li Shouyi's wife turned down Zili's proposal after a few turns in her mind.

"I know what Ma'am means. You are worried that if the two families get married. The current state of your house can't even get the dowry together. In the future, your daughter will be ridiculed when she enters the door. This place is full of eyes of wealth. The room is also half a head short. Besides, there is your brother-in-law's family, who are eyeing up, and Jin'er is married, but her brother is still in his hands." Zili told Mrs. Li Shouyi what was on her mind. She was worried about her daughter. If you are wrong, you will be wronged in the future.

"Madam's words touched my heart." Madam Li Shouyi looked up at Zili with admiration in her eyes.

"Since I broke the words with you face to face today, I have discussed it with my master long ago. The past is over. You, a woman, and my brother-in-law are the ones who hurt too much. , everyone gradually realized it. Mr. Li only left this pair of children back then, and we can't watch them being ruined. Your family is still young, and it is not necessary to be born in the imperial examination. The elder brother of my natal family also came out of the army. I told him to find a job for your family's Yueer. After all, I can support myself and you, and you mother and son don't have to suffer from other people's eyes, let alone swallow your anger in other people's houses. As for Jin'er I think she is a clever child, and the most rare thing is that she can not be shocked by honor or disgrace. If other children have encountered so many things, they may not know what they are like now, but she is still gentle and calm, which is already rare. Where is her bearing? As for As long as you are willing to study, you will surely catch up. If you believe in me, hand over the child to me. I will treat her as my own daughter and teach her." Zili and Li Shouyi's wife had a long talk, expressing their thoughts put out.

Hearing Zili's sincerity, Li Shouyi's wife was also very moved. She suddenly stood up and knelt down in front of Zili: "If Madam doesn't give up, I'd rather give Jin'er to you as a girl."

"No way, I'm counting on her to be my daughter-in-law." Zili pulled Li Shouyi's wife up, the two had another conversation, and Zili told her: "Don't show anything when you go back. I have my own arrangements for everything." As they spoke, the two of them got out of their outfits again, still not mentioning the show.

A few days later, when Jia Zhu returned home, taking advantage of no one around, she said to Zili, "I never thought that my father would say such a thing, and I thought he couldn't turn a corner in front of him." Zili glanced at Jia Zhu, and said solemnly: "Your father is not like you, he puts everything on his face. He is best at pretending to be a pig and eating a tiger. We were cheated by him and even helped others count the money. You Tell me, what is it?"

Jia Zhu stuck out her tongue and made a face at Zili: "I heard the crown prince say that the emperor suddenly remembered those heroes who died for the country in the past, and said that since the Communist Party of China, how many people have died for the country with their lives Today, I don’t know if their family members can live and work in peace and contentment because of the rewards and pensions from the imperial court. Therefore, I asked the Ministry of Rites to immediately take out the list of those who received the imperial pensions, and attach the situation of their descendants. The Ministry of Rites and the Ministry of Officials are busy Then he sorted out the list and sent it to the emperor. It happened that the emperor asked the ministers to discuss the matter. The emperor glanced at the list and said: "This Li Shouyi died in Qingzhou because of the rebellion of the king of Wei. How can the matter just go away a few years?" What happened to his family? After hearing this, my father hurriedly said that Li Shouyi's widow and two children are now taking care of in his younger brother Li Shouzhong's home. My uncle also praised Li Shouzhong for being a good brother who is loyal, filial, and caring. , This kind of person is the Guozijian offering wine. In the future, why worry that the country will not have good people with both loyalty and filial piety! My father went on to praise Li Shouzhong at this time to show his righteousness. The emperor especially praised Li Shouzhong and wrote a special letter to the family .Now Li Shouzhong is also very famous, and has become a moral role model today. I think he is still beautiful, but I don’t know that I have become a duck who has been put on the shelf.” Jia Zhu laughed and fell into Zili’s arms Li: "What a short-sighted person."

"It's not that short-sighted, it's that his heart has long been occupied by fame and fortune, as the saying goes, profit blinds the mind! You child, I think you usually understand why you get confused when encountering things? It's not as clear as your father." Zili stretched out his hand. Poke Jia Zhu's forehead and sighed: "Your father loves you too, and is willing to take care of your life-long affairs."

"Hey, mother, don't be angry. I don't know how many people are worrying about this matter. They even brought my uncle to worry about my affairs. I feel guilty when I think about it!" Jia Zhu's face rose. Flushing red, he gritted his teeth with hatred and said: "It's Li Shouzhong who plotted against me, let's see how I can get this breath back in the future!"

"Forget it, you just have to do your own thing with peace of mind. People like Li Shouzhong are the scariest. Some people are bad on the bright side, and they can be wary of. The most feared are hypocrites. They are thieves and prostitutes who are usually pious. From now on, you need to be careful when you get along with others." Zili warned Jia Zhu about the principles of life.

Jia Zhu listened carefully, seeing that Zili was tired from talking, she hurriedly served a bowl of tea: "Mom, let's drink some tea to moisturize you. That, that girl I heard my sister say about Uncle Li's family—" Jia Zhu looked pitiful Looking at Zili, he stopped talking. "I knew that you came to inquire about the girl. I invited her to come another day and you can take a peek. Now she probably knows about the marriage, but the girl may not be willing." Jia Zhu was busy talking to Zili. He made a pitiful gesture, which made Zili laugh.

The mother and son were talking and laughing when they saw the girl from Mother Jia's side come in: "Madam, please go over and discuss something important."

When Zili arrived at Jiamu's side, she saw that Jiamu was sad and sad. Seeing Zili coming, Jiamu couldn't help complaining: "I didn't expect that Min'er child to be confused. He got into a big disaster! "

How is this going?Zili was startled, and hurriedly took over Jiamu's letter from the ground, and before reading a few lines, Zili's face turned pale.This time Lin Ruhai didn't say anything angry about divorcing his wife or accuse anyone, he just plainly reported to Jia's mother that a concubine in the family was pregnant, who knew that just three months later, he suddenly had abdominal pain and almost had a miscarriage.Fortunately, the adults and children were treated in time, but Lin Ruhai found musk and safflower in Biyu's room.Biyu also said that Jia Min ordered her to do it.