Xian Sun of the Ning Mansion of the Red Chamber

Chapter 241 The Kid Who Doesn't Know How to Count More Than Two

A donkey cart swayed on the dirt road outside Beijing, unhurriedly, and an old woman in her sixties, a half-child about five or six years old, with braids on her head, was sitting in the cart. driving the donkey cart like a little grown-up.

On the donkey cart, there are rows of bamboo baskets covered with rain cloth.

The old woman sitting in the car stretched out her hands to cover the poncho that was blown by the wind, lest the contents of the swollen bamboo basket fall out, and turned her head to the child driving the car and said, "Hurry up, Ban'er, There’s still a trip back.”

"Understood, grandma." The clear child's voice sounded in the wilderness.

Honor Hall.

"What's the matter?" Mother Jia asked the servant waiting outside the palace gate.

"Returning to the old lady, the younger ones just watched the officials and masters come out outside the palace gate, but we didn't see our master and second master."

"Where are your master and second master?" Mother Jia was surprised and asked anxiously.

Mrs. Wang also showed a worried look, and the handkerchief in her hand was tightly clenched.

"Later, Master Yan, the official of the Ministry of War, sent his family members to inform him that the master and the second master were fine. After leaving the court hall, they went to Fengzao Palace."

Everyone breathed a sigh of relief.

"You boy, you can't finish talking in one breath, go down." Jia Mu reprimanded.

In Fengzao Palace, Jia Zheng and Jia Ying met Yuan Chun again.

When father and daughter met, there should have been endless personal words to say, but Jia Zheng adhered to the way of monarch and minister, so Yuan Chun didn't know what to say. After asking a few simple questions about Jinling, the father Between the two women, it became silent again.

Jia Ying, on the other hand, wanted to ask something in her heart, but unfortunately, in front of Jia Zheng, it was not easy to make Yuan Chun retreat, nor to ask directly.

At the moment, he can only swallow the words in his stomach and look for another opportunity.

However, it can be seen that after Yuanchun entered the Fengzao Palace, the emperor allowed Jia's mother family to visit the Jiaofang on the [-]th day, and the whole person looked much better than when he was a female official. I can see smiles.

Just as Jia Ying's thoughts were flying, Yuan Chun looked at him.

"Although my brother and I are not from the same mother, they are the closest to me. In the past, when I was on duty in the imperial study, I could see each other every now and then. On the contrary, since I entered Fengzao Palace, it has become inconvenient. I haven't seen you coming to the Jiaofang for six days, if I hadn't called you this time, I'm afraid I wouldn't have seen you."

Jia Ying also had this feeling in her heart. When she was in the imperial study, she often met with Yuan Chun, but since he became a concubine, except for the last visit to his relatives, he heard all the news from Jia Zheng. .

Although the emperor said that the quasi-family members would enter the pepper room, he was not Yuan Chun's younger brother after all, so he couldn't be so casual.

Jia Ying smiled and didn't say much.

Yuan Chunyou asked about him and Daiyu.

"The last time I returned to the province, I forgot about the matter between you and sister Daiyu. You are engaged to sister Daiyu. I should give you another gift."

After saying that, she ordered the maid to fetch the gift that she had already prepared. It was not too rare. Yuan Chun was in the palace, and most of the things she had here were rewards from the emperor during festivals, but they were royal rewards after all. Its value is not in the object itself.

"Lao Madam Empress Love, I have thanked Madam on behalf of Sister Yu'er." Jia Ying took the gift and kowtowed again.

"This is my palace, we can meet as a family at will, and don't have to stick too much to the rules and etiquette outside." Yuan Chun said with a smile.

Jia Ying was stunned for a while when she heard the words, but she understood the meaning of Yuan Chun's words.

Some words, it is inconvenient to say it clearly, it can only be so tactful and implicit.

It seems that Yuanchun's seat in Fengzao Palace is secure.

The emperor's harem is like a large backyard of Jia's mansion. The trivial things that can be seen in Jia's mansion inevitably happen in the palace.

If you want a stable position, you must cultivate your own cronies.

Of course, Yuan Chun was able to go all the way from an ordinary beautiful girl to this point, these truths, needless to say, the other party also understands.

However, Jia Ying's main worry is that one day in the future, things in Fengzao Palace will be unclear.

Therefore, I told Yuan Chun early in the morning to find a way to clean Fengzao Palace. If possible, it is best to establish a channel with the outside of the palace that can be contacted at any time.

Haida has already sent a group of maids and eunuchs into the palace, but Jia Ying has never seen these people for the sake of safety, but picked out a few clever ones, wrote down their names, and asked Yuan Chun to find a chance, Select people into Fengzao Palace.

The last time when Yuanchun returned to the province, when Jia Ying found an opportunity to talk to her, that's what she said.

These court ladies actually didn't know about Jia Ying's existence, let alone that Yuan Chun had planned everything for them to be included in Fengzao Palace.

Haida's task for them is to work with peace of mind and serve their master wholeheartedly, waiting for someone to wake them up with the promised token one day in the future, and then unconditionally obey the other party's arrangement.

Of course, it was impossible for Jia Ying to replace all the people in Fengzao Palace with his own people. He didn't have the ability, and it wasn't realistic. It would be nice if one or two lucky ones were selected.

The key point still depends on Yuan Chun herself. She has accumulated a lot of contacts in the palace all these years, and she has shown a lot of kindness. Now that she is the lord of the first palace, she can naturally take these people for her own use.

At least in this hall, she can trust, so she took this opportunity to remind Jia Ying.

"I obey the order." Jia Ying still abided by etiquette.

Next, after asking some questions about Jia Ying, the waiting time was up, the uncle and nephew kowtowed again and left Fengzao Palace.

A donkey cart drove into Ningrong Street and stopped at the gate of Rongfu.

Grandma Liu is no longer a stranger to this noble mansion in front of her. The year before last, Grandma Liu was sent out by her wife's companion Zhou Rui's family and helped hire a carriage. The doorman naturally remembered it.

It just so happened that Zhou Rui was seeing off the guests from the courtyard, and he saw this old woman who didn't fit in well with the family of Rong Mansion at a glance.

"Say hello to Uncle Zhou." Grandma waited for Zhou Rui to finish her work before coming forward.

Zhou Rui turned around and said, "Oh, it's Grandma Liu."

He glanced at the donkey cart behind him again, and said, "But you are here to find your wife?"

"This year, we harvested two stones of grain in the field, picked up some melons and vegetables, and gave them to the wives, grandmas and girls in the house to try something new. Uncle Lao will report it." Grandma Liu nodded.

"Well, I'll send someone to lead you to my wife, she's with my wife."

After finishing speaking, Zhou Rui instructed the boy again: "Call some people to help grandma unload the things and move them in."

"Grandma just went with them. I have something to do, so I won't accompany you any longer."

"Uncle Zhou is on his own." Grandma took Ban'er's hand and followed the boy to the house.

In August, osmanthus blooms everywhere, but the crabs in the river suffer.

On Rongqingtang's side, after receiving the news that the palace was safe, Mother Jia and the others also felt relieved. The ladies happened to gather together, so they simply did not disperse. Encouraged by a few maids, they went to the garden to enjoy the sweet-scented osmanthus Come.

Girls are innocent and innocent, at the age of flowers, they like these bright colors the most, and now it is golden autumn, chrysanthemums and osmanthus flowers are blooming and fragrant, and it is indispensable to sing poems and write poems.

The Zhuangzi sent someone to bring several large baskets of crabs, and the kitchen had already prepared a gluttonous feast for the master and nobles to taste after entertainment.

The life of the rich and powerful is so boring and timid.

When things happen, we gather together to be afraid, and a gust of wind passes, we should eat, drink, talk and laugh, and let us forget what we are unhappy about.

Now that the banquet is over, the maids and women clean the courtyard, wash the cups and dishes, and the masters make an appointment to go to Jiamu's place together.

Sister Feng has been able to see the wind for the past two days, and she has been lying on the bed for more than half a month, which has suffocated her. Although she has just given birth, but at this time, Sister Feng is young and strong, and there is no discomfort, so she joined in together.

At this time Zhou Rui's family came in, went straight to find Sister Feng, and told about Grandma Liu. Sister Feng wanted them to settle down first, and then go over. Unfortunately, the old lady had sharp eyes and saw the two I listened to the words.

"What are you whispering again, and you can't let me hear it?"

Sister Feng stood up with a smile and said, "What are you talking about, I can't let you listen to it all the time."

"It's an old relative from the countryside called Grandma Liu, who is also an old man. The crops were not good the year before last. I came here and said that this year I harvested a few more stone grains and picked up some fresh melons and vegetables and brought them here."

When Jia's mother heard this, she became interested and wanted to see her. At that moment, Sister Feng asked Zhou Rui's family to invite people.

What's going on here, let's not mention it.

It is only said that when Jia Ying and two came out of the palace, Jia Zheng would naturally go to the Ministry of Industry to be on duty. Jia Ying himself did not have to go to the Ministry of War because of his foreign business, but he was free again.

Yang You is no longer in Beijing, Xu's second child is still brushing horses in Yunnan, Fu Sinian is on duty and cannot leave, and Gong Shangren is still in Fujian and has not returned yet.

The few acquaintances were not in the capital, and they couldn't help feeling lonely and boring, so they went to Ningrong Street immediately.

When I walked to the gate of Rongfu, I saw an extra donkey cart outside the gate of the mansion, and I was surprised.

Which poor relative came to the door, riding a donkey?

After asking the boy, I found out that it was Grandma Liu.

Jia Ying's heart skipped a beat, she wanted to meet her last time, but it was a pity that she didn't have the chance, this time it was a coincidence.

Jia Ying was still very curious about this village woman. Grandma Liu was a real witness to the rise and fall of the Jia family. The rare thing, the simplicity of the country people made her the noble Liu family in Qiaojie's life.

It is really embarrassing to say that today's poor relatives will become tomorrow's nobles who will survive.

So, don't get carried away with complacency in life, and it is still necessary to accumulate virtue and merit.

When you are in trouble, even a straw may save your life.

Jia Ying walked towards Rongqing Hall.

From a distance, I could hear the noisy voices coming from the room, and Jiamu was amused to laugh from time to time.

"Second Master Ying is here." After entering the courtyard, a servant girl reported inside.

"Whose child is this?" Jia Ying looked at the child playing in the yard and asked.

"The grandson of Grandma Liu's family is called Baner." The servant girl replied.

Jia Ying looked for a hand towards Ban'er: "Come closer."

Ban'er was a little shy of strangers, so he hid behind the servant girl, peeking at the man in front of him, looking at the man in a luxurious crimson and embroidered unicorn court dress, his eyes sparkled with curiosity.

The maid pushed Ban'er from behind to Jia Ying.

"How old are you?" Jia Ying squatted down and asked.

"Five years old." Ban'er replied crisply.

"Have you ever read and read?"

Ban'er shook his head, holding the patched corners of his clothes with his two small hands, looking a bit restrained.

"What do you do at home on weekdays?"

"Herding cattle and farming."

Jia Ying became silent when she heard the words, her eyes were in a daze, as if she was thinking about something.

Children from poor families are already in charge of the family, and a five-year-old child can already help the family.

Jia Ying herself was like this in her previous life. When she came home from school, the first thing she did was not to finish the literacy homework assigned by the teacher, but to mix the pig food and cattle, talk to the family animals for a while, and help them clean up the house by the way. , and then go home to cook a pot of boiling water, rice porridge.

"Do you want to study?" Jia Ying looked at the child in front of her and asked.

What is reading?
Ban'er may not know that there is such a thing as reading and writing in this world, and he tilted his head and thought for a long time, but he didn't know whether he should agree or not.

The servant girl watched anxiously from the side, not daring to speak casually.

"What do you do with reading?" Ban'er couldn't figure it out, and asked in a crisp voice.

Hearing the child's question, Jia Ying opened her mouth to answer, but stopped.

For such a big child, telling him that knowledge can change fate is pure nonsense, what can he understand?
After thinking for a while, he opened his mouth and said, "How many animals are there in the family?"

Ban'er thought for a while, and pointed out a finger to Jia Ying, as he said just now, there is a cow at home.

Jia Ying pointed outside again: "Whose family is that gray donkey at the door?"

"My family."

"How many animals are there?"

Ban'er began to count with his fingers, one at a time, and two at a time, but he felt that it was wrong, or he would add another one.

Jia Ying looked at the child in front of him, his forehead was covered with black lines.

If this kid didn't study in this life, he would probably only be able to raise one cow, and he wouldn't be able to count too many, and he probably wouldn't even notice that his donkey was stolen.

Forget it, single-digit arithmetic is too difficult for children, and it is useless to say anything.

"Want to eat meat?"

Ban'er heard the words, smashed his mouth, his eyes were bright, and he nodded heavily.

"As long as you study, you can have meat every day."

"I still want to eat eggs!" Ban'er added.

Ruzi can be taught, Jia Ying nodded in relief.

"Yes, and you can eat as much as you want."

"How about it, do you want to read?"

"Is there any cake?"

Jia Ying was helpless and continued to nod.

How come to him what other people can't dream of?

"Then I want to read, eat meat, sweet cakes, and eggs."

Jia Ying stood up, touched Ban'er's bald head, tugged at the braid at the back, took Ban'er's hand and said, "Go, follow me into the house."

Walking into the Rongqing Hall, and greeted everyone, Jia Mu was the first to speak, "You came just now, why did you come in?"

Jia Ying pulled out the board behind her, and said to Mother Jia: "Grandson is going to accept a student, this child hits a rapport with me, and wants to recognize him as a student, so we chatted outside for a while."

Ping'er was familiar with Grandma Liu, and she was standing beside her at the moment. Hearing Jia Ying's words, he said to Grandma Liu: "But grandma's blessing has come. There is a disciple of Wenquxing in my family. Thank you, Second Master."

Everyone was also extremely surprised, thinking, is there something extraordinary about this child that they haven't noticed?It actually made Jia Ying recognize him as a disciple.

There is still a big difference between a student and a disciple, especially for an official like Jia Ying who has entered the imperial examination.

Just like Feng Hengshi, who has been an official for half his life, there are many students, who may be called disciples, but there are not many, even Jia Ying, has never been officially recognized.

With Jia Ying's current status, once the teacher-student relationship is recognized, there is no need to think about the future of the child in front of him.

The mothers-in-law and mothers in Jia's mansion on the side are even more envious. They also have sons, and they often show up in the mansion on weekdays, and I don't see anyone who can be liked by Jia Ying. Why did they come from this country? Such a poor young man has such luck.

Really people are more than people, maddening people.

Grandma Liu was still in a dazed state, she didn't know who the man in front of her was, but from what Ping'er said, it was obvious that he was the master of the house.

But the village elders don't understand anything else, but they can understand the word Wenquxing. If there is a family like them, if there is a younger generation who can be as good as Wenquxing, it will be a blessing that has been cultivated for several lifetimes. The green smoke from the ancestral grave is not enough to describe the luck!
The village elders don't know anything else, but they kowtow when they meet noble people, and they still know how to do it.

Immediately, he pulled the board over, regardless of the three seven twenty-one, pressed his head and kowtowed, and knelt down himself.

Jia Ying hastily stepped aside, he was an old man in sixties, he couldn't stand this gift, but he jokingly said: "It's fine if grandma wants to be a teacher, but I don't accept older female students, grandma, what are you doing?" Wrong person."

It's not right for the village elders to get old, and it's not right to kneel, it's a dilemma.

The hall was filled with laughter one after another, and Grandma Liu once again became the source of joy for everyone.

Mother Jia laughed even more from ear to ear. It took a long time before she ordered someone to help Grandma Liu up.

"Old relative, this is my grandson. Everyone in the house calls him Erye Ying. You can call him Brother Ying as I like. He is Tanhualang who took the scientific examination the year before last. If he can recognize Baner as a disciple, it can be seen that it is also you and me." Fate of family."

Grandma Liu was startled when she heard the words, looked at Jia Ying, and said in a very exaggerated tone: "Miss Ping really didn't coax me, it's really true that Master Wenquxing is alive, our family is blessed."

As he spoke, he pushed down the board that had just stood up.

"Knock a few more, get a little more fairy air."

Those words caused everyone to burst into laughter again.

"We are a suffering family. This child, let alone literate, doesn't even have a decent name. He has always been yelling loudly, but now he is better and has become a disciple of Master Wenqu. In the future, I will set up a longevity ranking at home, and see Tian'er offering it."

The village elder took his grandson and said to Jia Mu with a smile.

Sister Feng on the side interjected: "What's the point of not having a decent name? If the most knowledgeable person in the world is in front of you today, ask him to name Baner, and it will be fine."

Grandma Liu looked over at Jia Ying.

Jia Ying shook her head and said, "Let's call it Baner, a humble name is easy to support, and it sounds real."

"Looking back, first ask a gentleman to help teach Ban'er how to read in the countryside. When he is older, he will be sent to me. I will teach him personally."

(End of this chapter)