Foster son and husband

Chapter 225
228 guests
No matter how disheartened the old lady was, Xu Xiaojuan was the first to pick up a big deal, and everything she had planned came to fruition. She was very happy, and lived a happy little life with her husband Li Zhao and a pair of children in Yuehua Courtyard. day.Li Zhao lived in the Hou Mansion, enjoying the splendor and wealth different from when he was at home. At the beginning, he was able to study hard, and when he went out, he met a group of dudes from aristocratic families in the capital and officials. Relaxing, the time spent sitting in the study is getting less and less, and there are more and more papers or various entertainment projects going out. Xu Xiaojuan was a little bit critical at the beginning, but she was coaxed by Li Zhaosan, so she ignored it, thinking about it two years later. The scientific examination is just doing my best. No matter whether I pass the examination or not, this official will definitely become an official. There is no need to be too hard on the husband.

Serving her husband every day, taking care of a pair of children, and entering the inner courtyard to say hello and greetings, Xu Xiaojuan gradually became a little bored, and she couldn't get any housekeeping power from her sister-in-law, so she started to run outside the house. Jewelry shops, spice shops, silk and satin shops in the capital In Xiuzhuang, she is a frequent visitor to any place that women are interested in. If you want to know what kind of clothing and jewelry are most popular in Beijing and China, just ask her.Occasionally, the old lady has a wedding banquet, so she likes to take her there, and let her meet many young mistresses and wives from wealthy families, forming a circle of friends, exchanging famous cards with people, comparing clothes, jewelry and ostentation with people. However, the husband and wife have only been in the capital for only two or three months, and they have already behaved in the style of people in the capital. They have not gained fame, but they pretend to be alternate officials.

According to the usual practice of each courtyard, Yuehua Academy also allocated a dozen women and servants, a dozen girls of all sizes, Xu Xiaojuan's personal nanny Zheng Shi and the girl Shuixiang Yuexiang, the nanny of the two children and the little girl who played with her, There are quite a few people around, but few seem to be satisfied. Hearing Xu Xiaojuan complaining in front of her, the old lady closed her eyes slightly: A girl who is satisfied with her has not been trained for three or two years. How can she be so easy? of?
She thought of Ruixue. Selling Ruixue was the worst thing she did. She regretted it very much. No one in Ruiyu Ruiyun Ruifeng could comb her gray hair well. I don't know if it is possible to send it, but these girls can't eat hot or cold, eat a candied fruit no matter what, Ruixue can pierce it without seeds and put it into her mouth, Ruiyu put two in a row There are nuclei in her mouth, and her teeth are about to fall out. She thought that beating and scolding Ruixue, the best seller, could stop the mouths of these people, but the Manchu people and even the people in that house said it The word "Xi Mansion" has already been separated from the Xu Mansion. This is an indisputable fact. Why did she have to force herself to block everyone's mouths?When she heard Meimei say "the girl of the West Mansion" and Bai Jingyu say "our second and third masters of the West Mansion", she knew what it means to be different today. Today's Jinhuatang is no longer the former Jinhuatang. In the past, the Jinhua Hall symbolized authority, and a word or deed could shock the people of the whole house, but today, the Jinhua Hall is nothing more than a place where the old lady lives!

Unable to bear Xu Xiaojuan's noise, the old lady conveniently gave her granddaughter two newly-bought maids, which were difficult for her to use herself. First, there was the pearl Ruixue, and after that, these servants were all dirt.

Xu Xiaojuan got two more servant girls, she brought them back to Yuehua Courtyard with a smile, and handed them over to Yuexiang to arrange. Thinking about it, the uncle just kicked out the little girl who was studying ink yesterday. He thought she was clumsy, so with a thought, he led the two new girls to the study to meet the uncle. Li Zhao was writing, and he knelt on the ground The two girls called raised their heads, looked carefully, asked their names, and said with a smile: "Let's change their names, one is red jade, the other is green jade, red fat and green thin, complementing each other, it's really Add some interest to my study!"

This means that he is willing to accept the two maids and let them wait and study in the study.

Yuexiang secretly breathed a sigh of relief, and finally caught the uncle's eyes, otherwise where would she go to find a smart one?Among the girls in this yard, my uncle couldn't find a suitable companion to study Yanmo. In the past two days, he wanted to write a long speech, and the girl who came into the study to serve tea, send snacks, grind ink, and take rice paper was scolded by him and ran away five or six times.

First take the two girls down to find a place to live, let them share the same room, and then go back to the grandma. When Xu Xiaojuan heard that Li Zhao changed the names of the two girls and stayed in the study with her, she was relieved and told Yue fragrant:

"Give them two more good silk jackets and skirts. Those who study and study ink with the uncle in the study should be neat and elegant. Don't be disheveled and sloppy, it will spoil the mood of the grandfather to study!"

It was hot in July, and Zhuang Yulan had to cheer up and go out. Fortunately, the period of pregnancy and vomiting has passed, and she can eat and sleep. good.

Shi Songmao carefully helped her into the carriage, told the driver to walk slowly, and said to Zhuang Yulan: "I can't accompany my husband because I have important matters. I have taught women and maids to be careful. You should also pay attention to it yourself. Go early and return early... Seeing my aunt and grandma sue for me, I will visit my cousin again when the Lord Hou returns home!"

Zhuang Yulan nodded slightly, Shi Songmao put down the curtain and backed away, and the carriage left slowly.

Luo Zhuang, who was sitting in the back of the same car, sighed and said, "If you can be a few years younger, you will be really good!"

Zhuang Yulan turned her face away and ignored her. This aunt of the same family didn't know what to do. She was pregnant and even went out for her.

In the morning, seeing four concubines, good concubines and concubines, concubines and concubines lined up to pay their respects, my aunt said in front of the servants: "My son! You, the mistress, did it too late. ...It's not as good as a lowly concubine, she has two sons there, and she will be able to marry a wife in a few years!"

She was so angry that she almost fainted. How could there be such an aunt?It's a girl whose parents have taken care of her until she was sixteen or seventeen years old, and married off with a full dowry. Why is her upbringing, thoughtfulness and mind inferior to that of an orphan girl like herself!

The aunt of this family met when Shi Songmao took Zhuang Yulan back to Jiangning to visit relatives last time. At that time, she made an appointment to visit and gather with relatives in her hometown. I agreed to all of them, and I don't remember some of them afterwards. When my aunt appeared in front of her with a pair of daughters, Zhuang Yulan's jaw almost dropped in shock—she promised to find a husband's family for the two cousins?God, this is not true, it must be my aunt talking nonsense!

But people have come to her house, how can she still sweep the relatives out with a broom?Will she, the daughter of the Zhuang family, return to her hometown after that day?What would the uncles and cousins ​​in the clan think of her?People need face and trees need skin, she doesn't want to be that unkind and unfilial daughter who is pointed at her neck and scolded!Zhuang Yulan pondered for a while, thinking that she was unable to find a good husband's family for the two beautiful cousins, but she could find another way for them, that is to send the three of them to Weiyuan, a powerful and well-connected place. Go to the residence!
Luo Zhuang said: "I should visit my aunt, but don't I have another reason? This time, I only prepared a gift for the historian, and you can make other preparations when I go back, Auntie." That mansion doesn't have a few hundred taels of silver to buy as a gift, how dare it be listed at will? I only know that you are my dear niece, and you promised loudly last time in your hometown, don't be too formal, at least help me take in your two cousins, Stay in Beijing for three to five months, find a good marriage, but you drag me there again, doesn't that embarrass me? You don't want to take care of our orphans and widows, so let me go. I'm going to find another way!"

Zhuang Yulan stared at her aunt, with a gleam of cruelty in her eyes, Luo Zhuang could not help but startled for a moment, Zhuang Yulan noticed it, lowered her eyes, and sighed, she used to be gentle, graceful, virtuous, but these days in history The mansion and the concubine's concubine and concubine are fighting with each other, and they have long forgotten to maintain a good image.Fortunately, Shi Songmao treated her sincerely, supported and cared for her with all his strength, and did not allow concubines to bully the main wife, which kept the family from being too chaotic. Even so, there were still many obstacles behind the scenes. The two dowry servants taught her: In such a large mansion, it is impossible to live a dignified and dignified life without being tough and setting up the majesty of the main wife!
"Auntie, don't be impatient, listen to my niece to speak slowly!"

Zhuang Yulan pretended to be relaxed and brushed off her sleeves, and said to Luo Zhuang: "In the past, when my niece saw my aunt in her hometown, she would probably agree to this matter casually when she was happy, but at that time, my niece didn't know she was pregnant, so she returned to Beijing for a doctor's appointment. I have a happy pulse, my aunt is someone who has experienced it, and knows how uncomfortable it is to be pregnant. My niece can no longer take on this important task. I am afraid that it will delay the two cousins, so I kindly lead my aunt to visit my aunt. My aunt married in her teens. Hou's Mansion has lived in the bustling capital for decades. The queen mother in the palace is somewhat related to the Zhuang family, but she hasn't seen each other for a long time. She only recognizes our aunt as a cousin... Doesn't she know more dignitaries than nieces? Hou's Mansion Honorable and honorable, if the two cousins ​​can fall into the eyes of my aunt, be taken in by my aunt, and live in the waiting mansion for a while, that is beyond the reach of ordinary young ladies, and worry about getting married? I do my best for My aunt and my cousin are planning, but why does my aunt think that my niece is such a shallow person who doesn't care about family affection?"

Zhuang Yulan pulled out her handkerchief to wipe her tears as she spoke, Luo Zhuang-shi panicked, and hurried up to her, apologetically comforting:

"Oh! It's all my fault, my bad aunt! Good niece, don't cry, don't wrong the little treasure in your belly! Good niece brought her niece and son-in-law back to the hometown this time, that's a great thing for the glorious family. Everyone in Baxiang knows that the daughter of our Zhuang family married a second-rank court official, and my niece and son-in-law are high-ranking and powerful officials. My aunt and I couldn't help thinking about it—your uncle was a seventh-rank county magistrate before his death, and he left some property before his death. Originally, I also wanted our mother and daughter to live close to the farmer’s house, so that they could live in peace for a lifetime, but the two cousins ​​grew up day by day, but they didn’t want to marry and die in Jiangning, and wanted to go back to the capital—the Luojiazhuang outside the city Your uncle's hometown is also a big family. They live on their ancestral property. There are not many people who have become officials. My two cousins ​​and I brought back your uncle's bones and put them in the ancestral tomb. The memorial tablet went into the Luo's ancestral temple. But your cousins ​​are not reconciled Married to a farmer's family, you must come to the city. I have already agreed with you, so I have given up everything to prepare a gift to meet you and the historian first. But I dare not go to my aunt's place. Yes, she's the waiting mansion there! I'm a girl from the sideline of the Zhuang family, and I'm not as lucky as you. I've only seen her once when I was a child, and I can't find a suitable gift money for a while. I'm afraid I won't be able to see my aunt. Instead, they were chased away, losing face and losing money..."

Zhuang Yulan sighed, and looked at Luo Zhuang with compassion: "It's your fault that you treat my aunt like this! My aunt is getting old, and although she seldom goes back to her natal family to visit her relatives, she always thinks about the folks in her clan. Even if you go to her empty-handed, she will not say anything bad about you, but will respect you as a distinguished guest, not for any other reason, but because you are from your hometown and your surname is Zhuang! Don’t mention it! What kind of collateral gift money, you give me the share, I will bring it together, and your niece and son-in-law add two more valuables, and it will be done. I will take you into the mansion later, no one will stop you, You only teach the cousin in the car behind you, you must pay attention to your words and deeds. I see that the two cousins ​​are very smart and well-behaved. You only let them talk. With my aunt's favor, I can say anything, if not, then my niece is helpless, my aunt brought her cousin, go back to Luojiazhuang outside the city! I will visit my aunt when my niece is better in the future!"

What else can Luo Zhuang say?He only nodded frequently and hurriedly responded.

At night, the heat still lingers, but the Jinhua Hall of the Hou Mansion is cool and comfortable. There are loud voices and laughter in the hall. There is an ice basin under the window sill at the door of the room. When it is half melted, it is replaced with a new one.

After dinner, Zhuang Yulan went back to Shifu while the sky was still bright. Luo Zhuang took her two daughters to sit and chat with Mrs. Xu in the hall. Xiao Wan and Xiao Min were by the side, chatting and laughing, and the night passed.

Mrs. Xu and her niece, Luo Zhuang, both laughed very happily. It can be said that the ancestors of more than three generations are brothers, and the girls married from the same Zhuang clan. They have their own lives. Sure enough, as Zhuang Yulan said, the old lady is not the kind of snobbish and conceited person. Luo Zhuang's enthusiasm for her family was so moved that she shed tears, knelt on the ground and kowtowed no less than ten heads. Mom went down to support her, but she still refused to get up.

Seeing the people of the same clan from her hometown, Mrs. Xu was also happy and sighed, shed a few tears, asked the Luo Zhuang family about the situation in Jiangning, then pulled the two girls of Luo, and looked up and down with a smile , praised:
"Is it the granddaughter of our Zhuang family? She is a girl born and raised in Jiangning. She is so beautiful. There are also beautiful girls in the capital, but how can they have such skin?"

The eldest daughter Luo Zhaoying and the second daughter Luo Xiangying, aged 16 or [-], are indeed beautiful, with a face like a peach blossom, shy and smiling, leaning against the old lady in a delicate and obedient manner, like a branch of twin flowers reflected in the water Son.

The old lady said to Xu Xiaojuan: "Which one will not come tonight with an excuse, your cousin and these two Luo family sisters will stay with me first, and when you go to her tomorrow, just say that I taught her and let her Clean up a yard and come out for my aunt and cousin to live in, pay according to the rate of the ladies in the mansion-come all the way to see me, I have to live in the capital for a while, see the big place, and let's talk when I have enough fun! "

Xu Xiaojuan was a little embarrassed, she went to see her sister-in-law only during the day, and she wanted to pay in advance for next month's monthly payment, but her sister-in-law refused. by?
After thinking for a while, he smiled and said to the old lady: "I live in a small courtyard, why go to her? The old lady can just say a word - the Champs Pavilion next door to us is exquisite, clean and clean, with pandan inside The tree is in full bloom and fragrant, isn’t it great? From now on, I can also be a company with my sisters!”

The old lady pondered for a moment, then nodded: "It's up to you, I will leave this matter to you, and tomorrow I will ask the women to clean up and tidy up. You can add whatever you need, and the money will be counted as kilometers for hospitality. If she dares not to write you a note, Tell me, and I will go find her myself!"

(End of this chapter)