Daiyu's wife in the Red Chamber

Last time, I mentioned that Fu Shi proposed marriage to Jia Zheng on behalf of his brother and asked to marry Tanchun. He thought that Jia Zheng would definitely be willing. After all, when he saw his brother just now, Jia Zheng admired him very much, and kept saying that even his own son was being compared. It's enough to see that he is satisfied, but he didn't know what to say, but Jia Zheng shook his head amidst his eagerness.

Fu Shi looked stunned, and couldn't believe Jia Zheng's refusal. Although Jia Zheng just shook his head, Fu Shi knew Jia Zheng's character well, and he wouldn't shake his head even if he hesitated.

Jia Zheng smiled apologetically, and frankly recounted what Mrs. Wang said in front of Jia's mother and outsiders. It was just when the imperial court ordered the selection of concubines, and his family was eager to promise their daughter an engagement. Loyalty is suspected, and he said slowly: "Nowadays, the affairs in the mansion are complicated, and August is the ancestor's [-]th anniversary. It is only two or three months ago, and everything must be arranged in advance, so neither my wife nor I care about it. In dealing with this matter, besides Baoyu hasn't said goodbye yet, the third girl has to wait, there is no reason to go beyond your elder brother, so don't miss your brother's lifelong event."

What a smart person Fu Shi is, besides, he had attached himself to Jia's family before his father was in high school. He knew the way of being an official and Jia Zheng's nature. Don't dare to think about it again, the old lady's birthday is important."

Jia Zheng smiled and said, "It is a blessing to be a teacher if you are considerate in your heart. Your brother is 17 years old, one year older than Baoyu. If you are in a hurry to get married, your parents came to the capital. They don't have much contact, if you are willing, you can ask your wife to come forward as a guarantee tomorrow, and you can also tell your brother a perfect marriage."

Fu Shi did not expect such an unexpected joy. His family wanted to marry Tanchun, maybe it was because of their shallow foundation. The rich and nobles in the capital may not be willing to marry her with a daughter, and their family has no way to make friends with high-ranking officials. You are a dignitary, but Tanchun is far inferior to Yingchun's status. Now that you have Jia Zheng's promise, why worry about not having a better marriage?After thinking about it, I hurriedly thanked Jia Zheng.

Jia Zheng laughed and said, "Don't rush to thank us. We don't have the final say on these matters. It's just the mediator's sway. Everyone is happy only if they agree. Not to mention these things, come here, and I will test your recent homework."

Fu Shi studied with his father since he was a child. Although he was an official recommended by Jia Zheng without the imperial examination, he also had real talents and learning.

Just after two or three exams, I saw Baoyu and Fu Gui coming together.

Seeing that Baoyu was calm, unlike before, Jia Zheng frowned and was about to scold angrily. Fortunately, Fu Shisu knew everything about the Rongguo Mansion, so he came forward with a smile, took Baoyu's hand and said, "Brother Bao, We haven't seen each other for several months, and you don't go out at home, tomorrow I will be the host, and I will invite my brother to drink, ask my brother to accompany him, he can drink well."

Baoyu said: "If you are free, you must go. If you are not free, please invite the two Haihans."

He likes to make friends with beautiful people, such as the king of Beijing, such as Jiang Yuhan. However, although Fu Gui is born with both talents and looks, and has a romantic manner, he is vulgar in his bones. Baoyu hates from the bottom of his heart, and does not like Fu Shi. .

Seeing the two brothers, Baoyu thought of Fu Shi's sister, Fu Qiufang, and sighed in her heart, wondering what happened to her at the age of 26.

Fu Shi wanted his brothers to make friends with Han Qi and Chen Yejun through Baoyu, which would be very beneficial to his family, so he naturally had no second thoughts about what Baoyu said, and said with a smile: "It should be, we must not miss Bao'er's important affairs. "

Jia Zheng said disapprovingly: "He has something serious, but he is just doing something wrong at home. I don't know, but I am busy and don't care about him. It is the right way to talk about economic affairs with you." Immediately ordered Baoyu to ignore it when the time comes Let go of everything, and take Li Guiren and others to Fu to test the invitation of Brother Fu and Gui.

Baoyu lowered her head and said yes in a low voice, her heart grew more and more disgusted with Fu Shi brothers, she sent them away with great difficulty, and hurried back to the Grand View Garden, so as to wash away the filth with the atmosphere of the boudoir.

Baochai was sitting in the Yihong Courtyard, talking to Xiren about Jia Mu's birthday ceremony and other things, intending to embroider a picture of a hundred years, and came here to ask Xiren to help split the thread and color matching. Come in, while walking, yelling to take off the big clothes you wear outside to meet guests, you can't help laughing: "Brother Bao, who are you meeting here?"

Hearing Baochai's words suddenly, he raised his head and saw her sitting high. Baoyu hurriedly put on his half-dressed clothes, and scolded the girl who opened the curtain, "Why didn't Sister Bao say anything here? You let me be rude in front of Sister Bao gone."

The girl who didn't want to open the curtain was none other than Qingwen.

She raised her eyebrows upside down, opened her eyes wide, and said, "Why am I blaming you? Miss Bao often comes to talk to attackers, second master, you don't know, should I stop you from calling Miss Bao? Yihong Courtyard It’s not up to me to make the decision!” Yixing said, and he threw the curtain and went out.

Xiren smiled mischievously, and said to Baochai, "Miss, don't pay attention to her words, it's becoming more and more difficult to control her now."

Unexpectedly, Qingwen suddenly raised the curtain, stepped on the threshold, and didn't come in. She said with a half-smile: "Don't call me lazy here, you are the chief manager of Yihong Courtyard, and you are in charge of us little girls. I haven't seen you all year round. What kind of work did you tell Baoyu to do for me? I would rather bother Miss Shi and Miss Bao. Why do you say that you can’t handle me? There is no work for me. Could it be that I lick my face and ask for work? I am not in a hurry. Besides I'm talking to Baoyu, but Baoyu hasn't done anything yet, how can you have room to talk?"

There was something wrong in Xiren's heart. Hearing Qingwen's gun and stick, in front of Baochai, he felt that he couldn't bear it. He rushed up and looked at Qingwen's face and said, "Miss, are you picking on me? Why don't I?" Offended the girl? If the girl really can't tolerate me, I'll pack up and go home, how about leaving the girl alone to serve Baoyu?"

Qingwen took two steps into the room, put down the curtain, rolled up her sleeves, and said with a sneer, "Why is it mine? Don't I just pick on you when I say a word back to Baoyu? Or do I pick on you when I say a word to Baoyu?" No? I don’t dare to say that I can’t tolerate three words. Which name tag am I? Dare to be your master? Who doesn’t know that we will all leave in the future, and you will be the only one left to serve the second master. , no one can compare, who told you that you are the wife's confidant? I don't know what you did in a sneaky way? Don't tell me to say bad things!"

Hearing this, Baochai hurriedly broke down and said, "It's just a trivial matter, why did it get to the point where it can't be tolerated? Just because of brother Bao's face, you two should give up. Brother Bao, come here soon Advise them, Auntie is very busy on weekdays, no one will be left behind if she makes a fuss with Auntie."

Baoyu had closed her skirt, fastened her belt, reached out and took out a fan from the fan cover, opened it, and said, "Leave them alone, we can still quarrel today, but we won't even meet tomorrow." gone."

Xiren couldn't hear these words, tears rolled down immediately.

Qingwen sneered, and said, "It sounds like I'm bullying others, and I don't know where I got all these scheming!" After speaking, she lifted the curtain and went out, and went out of Yihong Courtyard to wander in the garden.

Baochai, Baoyu, and Xiren were left in the room. The other girls, such as Sheyue Qiuwen, dared not say anything. Baochai also felt bored. If you don’t have time to go to my place, I’ll ask Yinger to bring it to you, and help me anyway.”

Xiren hurriedly wiped away his tears and said: "I can't afford to be a girl. You can just tell me what you want. In the past, I was too busy with work, and the girl did it for me. I remember the girl's kindness in my heart."

Baochai smiled, and said goodbye to Baoyu, and was sent out of Yihong Courtyard by Xiren.

The attacker watched Baochai go away, turned back and entered the house, and saw that Baoyu had untied his belt and overcoat, and was sitting on a chair taking off his boots. He hurriedly said, "Second master just came in from outside. After walking such a long way, I am afraid that the clothes inside are already wet, so I take off the clothes carefully to dry the sweat, which is not good for my health, and I will take off the clean clothes after a while."

Baoyu kicked off his boots. He was very upset in Jia Zheng's study, and when he came back, he encountered all these bad things. He felt that he couldn't live on anymore, so he said without raising his head, "Don't worry about me. If you can't finish the work in my room, share some with She Yueqingwen, Qiuwen Bihen, what does it mean to ask me to wear the work done by Miss Bao?"

Xiren was stunned, and couldn't help feeling wronged, and said, "Second Lord, is it my fault?"

Baoyu frowned, and said: "Can't even tell the truth? You are in charge of the affairs in my house. The twenty or thirty girls, big and small, gamble and hang out every day, bicker and fight, doing nothing, even their You keep the monthly money, clothes, and hairpins, and you don’t tell them the work you can’t finish, but you bother your relatives and girls to do it, it’s always an unjustifiable thing.”

Thinking of how he had implicated Xiangyun in the past, Baoyu felt pain and regret, how could Xiangyun's family now be as outstanding as Han Qiqingjun?After going through all kinds of things, he had already guessed that it was a pretense for the Marquis of Jinxiang to withdraw the marriage on the pretext of a disagreement after so long.

If the marriage had been consummated at that time, Xiang Yun would not have to marry far away, and Han Qi would not have to waste time.

It's a pity, it's too late to regret.

Although Baoyu knew that it was not her fault, she never asked Xiangyun to do any needlework. If Daiyu hadn't told her about it that day, she would still have thought that the attacker had found a girl who could do the work outside, but I would not kill him. Ren, but Boren died because of me. Every time I dream back at midnight, I always think of the sadness of the long journey to Xiangyun.

To sum up, apart from Tanchun's work, Baoyu is increasingly afraid to wear things made by Baochai. When he wears shoes, socks, purse and fan covers recently, he has to look again and again to see if they are the work of the maids in his room.

Baoyu didn't notice a hint of dissatisfaction in his tone when he spoke.

Xiren's heart froze, he didn't dare to say anything, he just nodded, Nuo Nuo agreed, but when he bowed his head, he picked up Baoyu's boots and put them aside, tears fell on the boots, smudged Come.

Baoyu didn't seem to see it, so she asked Sheyue, "The fourth sister gave me a piece of Qianxiangluo a while ago. Where did you keep it?"

The piece of Xixiangluo was originally left by Daiyu to Xichun before she left the pavilion. It was a tribute from the Queen of Qianxiang Kingdom. It is good for sweat towels and clothes. If you are willing to give it to others, you will give it to Baoyu.

Sheyue glanced at Xiren, and said with a smile: "Second Master Xiren's things are kept by sister Xiren. I don't know where to put them. If Second Master wants to know, he can ask sister Xiren. But he said that Second Master is looking for it now." What are you doing? In the past, the second master didn't ask these questions." As he spoke, he helped Xiren up, took Baoyu's boots, and sent Xiren to Baoyu to talk.

Baoyu said: "If you don't take it out to make clothes at this time, why keep it? You call Shang Qingwen Qiuwen Bihen and Si'er, Ouguan, and Jinxing Glass to make two sweat towels for the old lady and embroider them There are some good flowers on top, and the rest can be used to make clothes for me. Small clothes, middle clothes and outer clothes are good, but it is not good to make big clothes, and trousers are fine. If there are any leftovers, make me two sweat towels, Make one for each of you. This Qianxiangluo is very good, it is most suitable for you girls, the skin is fragrant and does not produce sweat stains."

Sheyue didn't dare to take care of Baoyu and Xiren's affairs. After hearing this, she agreed: "Understood, I will find it out and do it according to the second master's instructions. When the old lady gets it, she will love the second master even more in her heart." This kind of filial piety. It’s just that Jin Xing Glass and Ou Guan are used to singing, but after they came in, they couldn’t bear the meticulous work, so they couldn’t be called, and Sister Xiren had to bother.”

But Baoyu said: "Your elder sister Hua is busy with the birthday gift that Miss Bao made for the ancestors. Didn't you hear it just now? Don't bother her. Besides, I have one more thing to ask your elder sister Hua."

Xiren had already wiped away his tears, forced a smile and said, "Second Lord, what can I ask you?"

Baoyu said, "A few days ago I gave Yun'er 100 taels of silver to handle the wedding. How much money do I have left? The third day of August is my ancestor's birthday. I haven't done my best these few years. The ancestors see if there are any good things."

Needlework is one thing, and money is another.

Encountered more and more things, Baoyu refused to live in a daze.

Xiren was stunned, and then said: "These two years, I brought back two taels of silver every month, and it was only 24 taels a year. In leap months, it was more than two taels, and it was only 26 taels. Every time the girls play cards and gamble, it is only 100 taels." From the inside, someone gave gifts to the second master, and they all used the money there to reward the women and servants who brought the gifts, and the previous son took another [-] taels of silver and went out, there is not much left."

Baoyu frowned and said, "Gambling rewards are just using copper coins to smash silver. Where do I get the gold and silver ladles I have received over the years? Whether it is to see guests or at the end of the year, there are always hundreds of them every year. The old lady is afraid of me. There is no money to send, and money is sent every month."

Seeing the two of them settling accounts, Musk Moon retreated quietly, tugged at the skirts of Qiuwen and the others, and went out together.

Baoyu pretended not to see him, stared at Xiren, and remembered that when Xiren went home for a funeral, the maid in her room once asked for money, and when she opened the cabinet, she saw that there were only a few strings of money and a few pieces of silver left in it. In my heart, now I feel something is wrong.

After Daiyu left Beijing, he felt that he was bored at home. He went out every day to wander around. He followed Lin Tao to a village in the suburbs of the city, and learned a lot about the hardships of the people. For a family like Grandma Liu, 20 taels of silver a year is enough for five people to have enough food and clothing.He passed by Grandma Liu's house, and Grandma Liu was overjoyed, saying that the money she got in the mansion that year had bought many fields.

Seeing this, he couldn't help but think of the Xiren in his house who was sold to the mansion since he was a child. What he saw in Xiren's house that year was not so poor that he sold his daughter, and the fruit and so on were better than those in Grandma Liu's house. , I presumably already have some family business, but I don't know how Xiren's father died long ago, how Hua Zifang's orphan and widowed mother regained their vitality in just ten years.

In addition, when Daiyu and Wei Ruolan set off, everyone else prepared Cheng Yi, Han Qi, Chen Yejun, Feng Ziying and others each sent 200 taels, Jia Mu and Jia She, Jia Zheng, Wei Mu and Wei Bo, Wei Wei The third uncle, uncle Chen Qi and Chen Lin each gave 500 taels of silver. Jia Lian and Sister Feng were especially generous. They gave 200 taels publicly and 1000 taels to Daiyu in private. Even Yingchun thought of sending someone to give 200 taels of silver. , Xichun gave 100 taels, but I didn't expect this, so I was ashamed.A few days ago, when Jia Yun and Xiaohong got engaged, they couldn't hide their reluctance when they ordered Xiren to give 100 taels of silver. When Baoyu frowned, he kept the matter of money in his heart.

Seeing Baoyu like this, Xiren had to explain: "The gold and silver locks are kept, and several boxes are locked in the cabinet. Usually, the monthly money is not enough, so I have to move some. There are about a thousand left, but it can be done." use it as money."

Baoyu blurted out and asked, "Since you have been in charge of my room for more than ten years, there are only a thousand?"

In the past few years, he has privately withheld more than a few hundred gold and silver zippers. Even though he now earns a lot more thanks to the dignity of the empress in the palace than in previous years, in previous years, relying on his good looks, he won the gold from everyone. There are only a few dozen silver zizi.

Xiren heard that Baoyu suspected that she had intercepted her secretly, and his face turned purple, anxious and ashamed, and said with tears: "Second master has always been very loose in his hands. The money is locked in the cabinet, and he is always allowed to be taken by others. The second master asked them to collect the money they played cards and gambled by themselves, plus the reward mentioned above, in what year will most of the collected money not be distributed? If the second master suspects me, I will prove my innocence by proving my innocence!"

Baoyu was thinking about the old love, but he didn't dare to say any more, so he hurriedly pulled her back and said, "I don't care about these things, but I just ask a few words when I need them, so I'm looking for death and life?"

Xiren was also afraid that Mrs. Wang would find out, so she held back her tears, opened the cabinet, took money, and showed it to Baoyu.

Baoyu took a look, and inexplicably felt that there seemed to be fewer golden harps than silver harps. Obviously, most of the harps he received were gold harps, and there were very few silver harps, so no one would give them as a gift. Silver locks, and the maids don't even touch gold, so why are there so many silver locks in the box?Thinking of this, Baoyu only felt cold all over, and understood that what Xiren said before was mostly a lie.