Enemies in the Red Chamber

Mrs. Wang in the Rongguo Mansion was angry at the account book, and a daughter-in-law stood there trembling with her head bowed.

"Tell me carefully, why are there so many candles and incense left? How much is allocated in each room, and who is in charge of it?"

"Returning to Mrs., there are only numbers in the big ledger, and all the odds and ends are recorded in the small ledger of Lian's Second Grandma. The warehouse only needs to record how much it buys and how much it spends every day. It only needs to have a note to match the cards. I really don't know about it. "

Mrs. Wang gritted her teeth in anger, "Get out! Come back and call me Feng girl."

The daughter-in-law was almost crying.She was hired from outside to be a steward's daughter-in-law, and she took advantage of the time when the mansion cleaned up the servants to get her current job with money.I have always heard that the second wife has a good temper and a bodhisattva heart, and Lian's second grandmother was indeed like this when she was in charge, but how did she change her temper when the wife was in charge! "Ma'am, Second Mistress is not in the mansion right now. I heard that she has gone to Miss Lin's house."

Mrs. Wang almost broke the rosary, "Call me Aunt Ping, she will never go out too."

The daughter-in-law responded repeatedly, and hurriedly retreated.

In other words, Mrs. Wang doesn't want to be like a fighting cock all day long, shouting, drinking, and cursing.But whoever knows about the family affairs, although the mansion was not clean a few years ago, there were a lot of old people and relatives, but it was not too outrageous. Lian'er and his husband and wife only hold the important places like the warehouse, and Sister Feng's stubborn temper can't be suppressed.Now, Lian'er, Sister Feng, and her two push four, five, six, and it's even more difficult to manage it in my hands.

When Ping'er heard Mrs. Wang's call, her face became more bitter, but she didn't dare to delay, so she hurried over to answer.

Mrs. Wang flipped through a few pages of the account book that Ping'er brought, threw it back on the table, and asked, "That's all?"

Ping'er replied: "That's all. Some things are not as easy as Caiming's pen, and the second grandma will remember them by herself."

"She has a good memory!" Then she asked Ping'er, "How is Lian'er?"

The bitterness in Ping'er's mouth was even worse, "Since she was promoted to the aunt, the second mistress has been impatient with the aunt holding the rice and beating the curtain, so she can't get up early to say hello. It's better to see the second master a lot in the past, and she doesn't say a few words. Grandpa's business."

Mrs. Wang glanced at her, and said: "Since your position is raised, you are required to take good care of your second master. On the contrary, you are so good that you are even less than before. If you count them carefully, which aunt can treat you like this?" Being able to take care of the family affairs, with more money in hand than serious wives and grandmas, is still restrained. I have let you down in vain."

Ping'er fell to his knees with a puff, tears streaming down his face. "Ping'er really doesn't know what's wrong. It was fine, but the second grandma had a fight with the second master, and it turned out to be my fault. Both of them looked at me with stern eyebrows. It would be fine if I were dismissed. However, the second grandma decided to promote me again, and she didn't kick me out when she was given a decent title, and she still wanted me to take care of things. It stands to reason that I should be content, even if I pray to God and worship Buddha, such a thing will not happen, but I just can feel that the second master and the second grandma can't tolerate me. What can I do if the second master is like this, I can only suffer, or it will be a crime of not cherishing blessings. Please have mercy on my wife, and show Ping'er a way out."

When Ping'er was at a loss, Mrs. Wang happened to hand over an olive branch, and Yuan Chun, who had a bright future as a concubine, just took it.It's really hard to say that he hated Sister Feng and Jia Lian, and he never did anything to betray them, but he just found a way for himself to live a better life.

Mrs. Wang stared at Ping'er for a long time, then sighed deeply. No matter what, there was no reason for her aunt to take care of her nephew's room.He waved her down and talked to Aunt Xue himself.

But it is said that Aunt Xue's family has moved out of Lixiangyuan to another courtyard. When Mrs. Wang came, Baochai was helping Aunt Xue to clean up the house together.Mrs. Wang also pointed out a few places casually, and Aunt Xue, mother and daughter agreed.When she arrived in Baochai's room, Mrs. Wang saw that there were no playthings except the canopy bed, embroidery table, writing desk, and tea table. Mrs. Wang said: "Bao girl's temper should be changed a little bit. Even if we know her good, call her The people below will be negligent if they look at it, but that person has a rich heart and two decent eyes. Look at Tan girl Xi girl, they are not as good as Bao girl. Not to mention Lin girl, how many good things, Many ordinary people will never see them in their lifetime."

Baochai personally took the tea from Yinger's hand and gave it to Mrs. Wang, saying, "My aunt's concerns are justified, but I really don't like those. If I don't like it in my heart and serve it up for someone else, wouldn't it be a slap in the face? What I used to do in the past was to gain fame and reputation. Besides, the people in the house treat us well, so no one dares to neglect us." Baochai also knew that Mrs. Wang always liked her lenient, simple and peaceful temperament, so she dared to say this, if not, how would she dare to say that? turn down.To say that no one dares to be negligent is to praise Mrs. Wang, because Mrs. Wang has gained power and they have this face.

Aunt Xue also agrees, "Yes, yes, I used to say that Bao girl is too clean, and I took some things and put them on in a lively manner, but Bao girl thought it was a headache. A family like ours is not full of warehouses. With these things piled up, who could be missing. Even if people outside say that this is precious and that is rare, as if it is so great, who really sees it? There is no need to show it for people to see, there is no need to be frivolous. "

Just at this time, someone brought something in from outside and asked where it was placed.Baochai went to watch by herself, leaving Mrs. Wang and her sisters to talk.Mrs. Wang said: "It's because your family is rich that you dare to say such things, and you are always confident so that you don't pay attention to those false faces, but I dare not say such things. Since you say this, I will have the cheek to ask you for something. "

Aunt Xue laughed and said, "Let's talk about what we can't ask for. If you can help, just talk, and if you can't help, you can do your best."

Mrs. Wang said: "Hey! It's not about the big girl's family visit. I'm really worried about this daughter. It's so easy to make a living. I have to continue to worry about it. No, the family's family's garden has been painted and is under construction. , But you can’t just look at the garden, no, the pavilions and pavilions can’t be empty. The warehouse is emptied and my dowry is not filled. I returned it to them afterwards, but one by one was more tricky than the other. I thought it was the same as borrowing and not paying back, and I didn’t borrow any of them. You just said that there are a lot of these things in the house. I beg you, let’s see if you can spare a few pieces from the library to show off, it’s also to give Yuan girl a face, and I’ll move it back to you later.”

When Aunt Xue heard that she wanted to show it to Yuan Chun, she felt very honored, and said nonchalantly: "The word "begging" is still used for such a big deal. Putting it in the garden, it also smells like a noble lady. It just so happens that the warehouse hasn't been cleared yet, so it's easy to find." Immediately, I went to get the key.

Mrs. Wang was secretly happy, and stopped Aunt Xue again, "What's the hurry, I'll ask the boys to carry it later."

When Mrs. Wang left, Baochai came over and asked, "Why did Auntie leave so soon? What's the matter here?"

Aunt Xue said: "Isn't it to make Feng girl angry, and Miss Lin, your aunt refuses to borrow their things to show off, and it's not that she refuses to return them. It is probably because your aunt was forced to do nothing, so she had to find us. Come to borrow. You don't know, your aunt's eyes are red when she said it, which shows that she is very angry."

Baochai's heart skipped a beat, "Then Mom borrowed it?"

"I borrowed it, why didn't you borrow it? Your aunt has helped us so much, your father is gone, and it's your aunt's face to stop the tribe from bullying our orphans and widows. Your brother's lawsuit is your aunt's job. , and arranged a place for us to let your brother go to school. Now your aunt just doesn’t get along for a while, borrowing something, and returning it as it is later, can we not borrow it?”

Baochai was frustrated for a while, "That's not the way to say it! At the beginning, I gave my aunt several 10 taels of silver to build a garden, and also gave me a lot of wood, but I had nowhere to buy the money, and I didn't even confiscate an IOU. Now It’s just a display of playthings, wouldn’t it be endless? Besides, when my father passed away, people in the clan looked more at his uncle’s face, and even my aunt sometimes relied on my uncle. As for letting us live in this mansion, it’s also Because my uncle is not in the capital, and we often send things out because of this, renting a five-entry mansion is enough. We should help you with your mother’s wedding, but you don’t need so much! Brother Poor management, the income of the family has been limited these years, we have to save some money and leave a way out.

Besides, the major family affairs have not been resolved, my brother will marry his sister-in-law in two years, building houses, betrothal gifts, entertaining guests and serving wine, all of which cost a lot of money.My brother can't just be idle in the future. If you don't like to do business, you'd better donate an official and have a family background, so that your nephew and niece will be able to make a fortune. Our family has been in business for several generations, and even became an imperial merchant. It is good to have a false title even if you cannot have a real job.There is me again, I am not afraid of my mother's jokes, I tell the truth, we all know that our family is rich, and then we can't let people look down on us and say that we are ostentatious, and it will be a big expense.Lin Lin finally figured it out, the money in the family is really not that much. "

Aunt Xue was dumbfounded, "Then what should I do? I have already agreed, your aunt said that the boys will carry it in a while."

Baochai sighed, "Forget it, let's forget it this time, at least I have promised my aunt, but there will be no next time."

Aunt Xue breathed a sigh of relief and patted her chest, "Naturally, your aunt won't be ashamed to borrow it all the time." After a while, she became happy again, "We borrowed so much, your aunt will definitely tell the empress secretly, The empress will definitely see you when the time comes. You have to know it in your heart and be prepared, as long as the empress likes you, you and Baoyu will be in the same place, and the old lady can't go past the empress."

Baochai replied yes, and felt in her heart that when Concubine Xiande would meet her, she had to make good preparations.Since then, Baochai has been more in-depth and simple, practicing the rules more carefully, thinking about what Concubine Xiande will say and how she should respond, taking care of her body more carefully, and making sure that she can show her best side to Concubine Xiande when the time comes .