Ordinary clear day

Chapter 82 Concubine

Tong lowered her head and begged: "I'm also worried. If the old lady really let someone in, how can we prevent it? Of course I can trust you, and I won't eat any nonsense, but that person has entered the house and has a second room. Is it possible to hide the details of the family from the mansion? In the past, when we were in trouble, we never saw them help us. Now that we have managed to accumulate some family wealth, do we want to distribute it to them instead? You don't want it either, do you?"

Zhang Bao's expression softened a bit after hearing this: "Even so, you shouldn't say such things to that grandma Xiao Liu. Don't you usually treat their sisters as friends? Wouldn't it be a waste of her life to do so? ?”

Mrs. Tong hurriedly said: "I've already heard about it. Little sister Liu doesn't want to marry again. First, she always misses the dead man, and second, she cares about her son. She married here just to make a name for herself, and it doesn't count. I'm sorry for her man, and we will help her by taking her son over after we return to Beijing."

Zhang Bao still felt that it was wrong: "If you want to help her, you can just recognize her as your sister, and you can take her back to Beijing in the future."

But Tong said: "You know the situation in the earl's mansion. If it's my god-sister, how can you tell her to gain a firm foothold in the mansion? Let alone bring her son over."

Zhang Bao sighed, and said: "I don't agree with you doing this. She is also from a family in the banner, and she is a widow. It is thanks to you to think of her as the second wife. Forget it, I don't want to talk about it again, you just Go back to your room, I have to read the official documents for a while."

Seeing that her husband looked unhappy, Tong had no choice but to leave.

Afterwards, Mrs. Liu never heard back, but Mrs. Liu heard about it a few days later, so she hurried over to see Mrs. Tong.She said angrily: "How can Sister Tong do such a thing? Could it be that we misunderstood you before?!"

Tong quickly laughed and said: "I definitely don't want to wrong your sister, but I always want to help her and reunite her mother and son. I also wanted to recognize her as a sister, and it would be fine to go back to Beijing with us in the future, it's just like this For one thing, it's not easy for her to stay in our house for a long time. I just wanted to find someone to occupy the second room, so I asked her for help. It's really just a false name, if your sister likes someone in the future..."

"Don't talk nonsense!" Mrs. Liu stopped, her face was a little livid, and after a while, she calmed down and said: "She grew up with our grandmother in the countryside and received some teachings of the three obediences and four virtues, so she has always refused Remarry. I would have given up on it a long time ago. If she hadn't had a bad time at her uncle's house, I wouldn't have cared about her." She paused, and then said, "I know what you mean too. Am I still not clear about the private matter? Your proposal can be regarded as taking what it needs, but it is not fair enough for you to use Xiaobao as bait."

Mrs. Tong hurriedly said: "I also know that this is not good, and our master doesn't approve of it. You know how we get along as husband and wife. We have always been very good. He even scolded me for this matter. It's just my mother-in-law It's really hard to say who will be installed. There are also disputes in the other houses over this matter. I don't want an outsider to spoil the harmony of the family, so I have to act first. This is also forced. Besides, Your sister is in a bad situation now. She came to our house as a guest, but she didn’t even have any better clothes. She said that her cousin and daughter-in-law went to relatives and took away her decent clothes. Tell me, why did she spend her whole life there? But she doesn't want to remarry. If she really agrees with me, not only will she not have to worry about her livelihood in the future, but she can also be reunited with her son. She only bears the name, and she doesn't have to worry about being sorry for her dead man. Do you think it makes sense?"

Mrs. Liu was also very angry when she heard about the clothes. After listening to Mrs. Tong's words, she sat and thought for a long time before asking: "Are you so sure that my sister will not stand between your husband and wife? As the saying goes, Aren't you afraid of falling in love with each other for a long time? If that's the case, how will you treat her?"

Tong was silent for a while, and then said: "I believe in your sister's conduct, and I also believe in our master's conduct. More importantly, I believe in myself. Take a step back and say, I would rather be my man's younger sister than your sister." , is better than letting an ignorant Hu Meizi enter our house. If that day comes, even though I feel bad, I will not harm her."

Da Liu looked at her when she heard the words, sighed and said: "Forget it, let's see what she says, if she nods, I won't stop her; but if she doesn't want to, you can't force her! "

Mrs. Tong hurriedly laughed and said: "How could it be? If I really do this, who will I become? If she really doesn't want to, I will recognize her as my sister and let her go back to Beijing with us. At worst, I will pay for it." She rented a house and let their mother and son live together."

Da Liu said: "That's the way it looks. I'll tell her this right now, so that she won't think wildly and wrong herself for the sake of her son."

After she said that, she got up and said goodbye, Tong Shi sat there with a sad face, if Xiao Liu listened to this arrangement, she might not agree to be the second wife, it seems that she still needs to find another way to prevent it.

Zhang Bao kept talking about this incident, and by the way, he was also angry with his wife.Shu Ning sensed the undercurrent between her parents, she didn't know what was going on, she just coaxed them to reconcile in different ways, even her younger brother was ordered by her.I don't know if it's the son and daughter's warm offensive that worked together, or Tong's daily low posture made Zhang Bao feel better. After a few days, the couple finally reconciled as before.

Afterwards, Zhang Bao had no choice but to take a concubine. On the one hand, he felt that his wife's method might be useful, but on the other hand, he was worried that it would harm Xiao Liu.

The atmosphere in Guangzhou became more and more tense, and there were fewer pedestrians at night.All the yamen received rumors that people from the Tiandihui had already arrived in the South China Sea area, and it was very likely that they would arrive in Guangzhou in the near future.Notices and sea arrest documents have been posted at the gates of each city, and people entering the city must be searched before they can be released.Zhang Bao was busy in the yamen all day long. In order to avoid danger, the government yamen had issued an order to prohibit subordinate officials from leaving the city.

At this time, Xiao Liu came to the door again after a month.Tong Shi hurriedly welcomed her into the upper room, and after greeting her for half an hour, she asked her what her decision was.She hesitated and asked: "Others say I am Kefu..." Tong's heart relaxed, and she hurriedly said: "When I went to Hualin Temple to pray for blessings last year, I asked you for your horoscope, and I have already asked someone to read it. You will be able to overcome each other, you can rest assured."

Little Liu hesitated for a while, and then asked again: "Is it really just a name? Your adult..." Tong said hurriedly: "Really." After a pause, gritted his teeth, and said: "If he really wants to add someone in the future, I will make another arrangement."

Xiao Liu thought for a long time before sighing, and said: "After all, I want to be with my son. Although I can go back to Beijing if I become sworn brothers with you, if I enter your house, I can take our little treasure with me in the future." One hand, I don't care anymore."

Tong Shi breathed a sigh of relief, the matter was finally settled.

Su Yun was also relieved when she heard the conversation inside.Tong Shi was worried that Xiao Liu would not agree, and seeing that Suyun was still honest, she wanted to use her as a backup.Suyun looked around, took advantage of people's unpreparedness, and quietly walked away.

When Shuning knew that her father wanted to take a concubine, and that it was Xiao Liu, she was shocked and felt very conflicted.Mrs. Tong told her the ins and outs of the matter in a good manner, and said: "You just treat her as just moving into our house, just as usual. She is a kind person, and she loves your siblings very much on weekdays, no What's going to happen."

Shu Ning felt very complicated, but thinking about it, it was a bit like a fake marriage, except that she married a concubine instead of a wife.

Tong originally wanted to do things decently, so that Jingli would know the importance of this second-bedroom grandma.But Xiao Liu was determined not to make a big deal, and the atmosphere in the city was not suitable, so she had no choice but to compromise, and only set up two tables of wine at home, and invited two relatives and friends to have a meal.

Although the banquet is simple, the bride price list is not sloppy at all.Tong's family gave a full twelve betrothal gifts, and there were not a lot of clothes and jewelry that should be there.The two daughters-in-laws of Wang Er's family and Qiaoyun who were sent to Liu's house to pick up the new couple spoke a lot of flattery to the Liu family's aunt, and then gave their mother-in-law and daughter-in-law a gift from Tong's family—a pair of four and two weights each. gold bracelets.The mother-in-law and daughter-in-law looked at the room full of belongings, and laughed so hard that they couldn't find their eyes, so what else is there to say?
Mrs. Tong tidied up the guest room next to the dining room early on and used it as Mrs. Liu's room.After Mrs. Liu passed through the door, apart from staying in the room to do needlework every day, she went to the upper room to talk to Mrs. Tong, or to take care of Xianning. She didn't care about the family affairs. Even if she helped take care of it sometimes, she didn't touch money. thing.For Zhang Bao, just treat each other with courtesy, and be more careful not to get along with him alone in the same room.

Zhang Bao thought she was a decent person, so he respected her very much.According to his attitude, Xiao Liu is more like his sister-in-law than his second wife.

Seeing this situation, Tong's heart was even more determined.In fact, she is not without selfishness, with such a second wife, and a decent family background, it is impossible for the old lady to go past her, even if there is a housemate in the future, won't she be at her mercy?
Taking a ten thousand step back, even if one day Xiao Liu really becomes a veritable second-wife grandma, with her weak temperament, and the fact that she has no natal family to rely on in Beijing, and the widow remarried, it is impossible to overwhelm her. Therefore, he will never become his opponent.

And now seeing her husband's attitude, she is more confident.

She has already started to write a letter. First, she explained her husband's marriage to the second wife. , couldn't bear to see her sister being wronged, so she decided to let her go through the door first.As for the young lady from the aunt's family, she is so outstanding that Zhang Bao feels that she is not a good match, so he can only wish her a successful marriage and prosperity.

In the letter to her eldest son Duanning, she confessed to take good care of Xiao Liu's son Guo Xiaobao.Not only should he be fed and clothed, but also to prevent others from bullying him.Now Xiao Liu has not returned to Beijing, but she is already a member of their family. If the aunt of the Guo family treats the child really badly, she will simply take her home and take care of her.She hinted a little in the letter so that her son would not have any resistance to this concubine.

Shuning also wrote a letter to her brother, in which she clearly told Duanning the truth of the matter, and also told her little confusion.But she writes more about younger brother Xianning, what Xianning is already memorizing the Three Character Classic, what Xianning likes to ride a wooden horse the most, what Xianning was mischievous yesterday and tore up Ama's book Broken, wait.

The letter was sent out quickly.Now there is a more convenient and efficient official postal service. Although it is limited to the Central Plains and Jiangnan areas, their family only needs to ask a businessman surnamed Huo who they know on weekdays to bring the letter to Hangzhou. The time for the yamen servants to send the letter back to the capital was greatly shortened to half a month, which was much more convenient than before.When Jingzhong responded to the letter, he sent the letter to the courtyard of the merchant named Huo in Hangzhou, and asked his shop assistant who traveled between Hangzhou and Guangzhou every five days to deliver it.

Shu Ning continued to live a peaceful life with her family. Although the atmosphere in the city became more and more tense, it did not affect her.At most, when Ah Yin came to see her, she mentioned that the noodle stall at home was severely raided by officials, and the business was greatly affected, so she had to close down, but she planned to rent a decent shop to do business.

However, when Zhang Bao came back from the yamen that day, his face was very ugly. When Tong asked, he told his wife and daughter that the people from the Tiandihui had arrived nearby and set fire to a government office in Foshan. There are several granaries, where all the grains that are about to be handed over are stored.

(End of this chapter)