novelraw Chapter 77 The Red Mansion
Chapter 77 The Red Mansion
After Xue Baochai left, Xiao Daiyu couldn't wait to find Mrs. Ye.
Seeing her coming, Mrs. Ye waved to her, "Daiyu, come and watch together."
Xiao Daiyu stepped forward, stood beside Mrs. Ye, lowered her head to look at the portrait spread out on the table.The woman in the portrait is beautiful and graceful.In the blank space on the right side of this woman is a girl from a certain family, aged 13 years old.
"Mother-in-law, this is..."
Madam Ye was not in a hurry to answer Xiao Daiyu's question first, but asked, "What do you think of this girl?"
Xiao Daiyu looked at the woman in the portrait again, and commented very objectively: "She is very beautiful."
"Looking at the portrait, it looks very beautiful."
"Mother-in-law, you won't arrange marriages for brother anymore, will you?" Xiao Daiyu asked tentatively, "These portraits of beauties are not from young ladies in the capital, are they?"
Seeing that Xiao Daiyu guessed it, Mrs. Ye was not surprised at all, "Your brother is fourteen this year, it's time to arrange a marriage for your brother."
Xiao Daiyu looked surprised: "It's true, then these portraits are of you..."
"No, these portraits were sent by a matchmaker." Madam Ye reached out and rolled up the portraits spread out on the table, and then took out a new portrait from the painting tube, "These portraits were sent by a matchmaker."
When Xiao Daiyu heard this, she was astonished and said, "Isn't that what you want?"
"I didn't want it." Mrs. Ye smiled, "Although your brother is old enough to arrange a marriage, I'm not in a hurry to arrange a marriage for your brother."
"Since you are not in a hurry, why do you still accept these portraits?" Her brother is only 14 years old, and he has not passed the provincial, general and imperial examinations, so naturally he is not in a hurry to get married.
"Others have brought it, so you can't throw it out." Mrs. Ye opened another portrait, and saw the woman in the portrait with a bright face and a plump figure. "Although I'm not in a hurry to arrange a marriage for your brother, you can still take a look at the portrait sent by the matchmaker, maybe you will use it later."
"Then will you show it to my brother?"
"You have to ask your brother if you want to see this first. If your brother wants to see it, I will show it to your brother. If your brother doesn't want to see it, then I will send someone back."
"Then my brother will definitely not read it." Xiao Daiyu knew her brother very well, "For my brother, the most important thing now is to take the provincial examination, general examination and imperial examination."
"Maybe your brother wants to see it, after all your brother is not young anymore."
Xiao Daiyu said firmly, "Brother won't read it."
"I don't care if your brother sees it or not, we mother and I will take a look first." Mrs. Ye beckoned Xiao Daiyu to continue looking at the portrait with her, "What do you think of this girl?"
"Quite good looking."
Mrs. Ye asked, "Daiyu, what kind of sister-in-law do you want?"
Xiao Daiyu was stunned by Mrs. Ye's sudden question, "Mother-in-law, I haven't thought about it." She never thought about her brother getting married.
"You can think about it now." Mrs. Ye said meaningfully, "When your brother finishes taking the palace examination, maybe there will be a marriage." Given the importance the emperor attaches to Lin Ruhai, it is very likely that he will marry Lin Huaiyu.
Xiao Daiyu was very clever and immediately guessed a certain possibility.
"Mother-in-law, do you mean that if my brother is in high school, the emperor will give him a marriage?"
"It's very possible." Mrs. Ye said thoughtfully, "Even if the emperor doesn't grant the marriage, someone will be listed to catch the son-in-law."
"Ah, to catch a son-in-law under the list?" Xiao Daiyu didn't know what to think of, with an unbelievable look, "No way..."
"It's really good, let me tell you..." Madam Ye told Xiao Daiyu a few interesting stories about catching her son-in-law. "Back then, your adoptive father was almost captured and taken as a son-in-law. Fortunately, he was appointed by me in advance."
Hearing Mrs. Ye's "heroic" words, Xiao Daiyu couldn't help laughing: "The stepmother is amazing." She didn't expect her stepfather and stepmother to have such an interesting past.
"So did your father."
"Did Daddy almost be caught as a son-in-law back then?" Xiao Daiyu didn't expect Lin Ruhai to have such a past.
"Your father was the most beautiful Tanhua Lang back then, and many girls fell in love with him."
"Then how did my mother snatch daddy?"
"That's a long story..."
Next, Mrs. Ye told Xiao Daiyu in detail how Jia Min snatched Lin Ruhai as her husband.
Little Daiyu had never heard of the story between Lin Ruhai and Jia Min.Back then, when Jia Min was still alive, it was impossible to tell her daughter the love story between her and her husband, after all, her daughter was too young.It is even more impossible for Lin Ruhai to tell his son and daughter about the past between him and his wife.
Xiao Daiyu was stunned when she heard this, she never thought that her gentle mother would be so... active and bold when she was young.
Mrs. Ye saw Xiao Daiyu's surprised look, and asked amusedly, "Can't believe your mother is so bold?"
Xiao Daiyu nodded like a chicken pecking rice: "I didn't expect..." In her impression, mother has always been gentle and gentle, and she spoke softly.
"Your mother was a well-known lady in the capital when she was young." Mrs. Ye knew Jia Min when she was young and had contact with Jia Min several times, "Your mother is famous not only because of her appearance and talent, but also because of her temperament. "
"I really didn't expect my mother to be so bold when she was young. She is completely different from the mother in my impression." Xiao Daiyu felt that the Jia Min that Mrs. Ye was talking about was not the mother she knew.
"Your mother became gentle after she married your father." Madam Ye suddenly said with emotion, "Most women become gentle when they marry."
Xiao Daiyu asked, "Are you too?"
"No, I'm much gentler now than when I was a girl."
The nanny who was waiting at the side said unceremoniously: "Ma'am, are you sure you have become gentle?" Her wife has nothing to do with the word "gentle", so how dare Madam say that she has become gentle.
Madam Ye raised her eyebrows and asked back, "Am I not gentle now?"
Xiao Daiyu held back her smile and said, "Gentle, stepmother is the most gentle."
When Mrs. Ye heard what Xiao Daiyu said, she immediately smiled with satisfaction: "It's still my daughter who understands me."
"Ma'am, you..."
"Hahahahaha..."
At this time, Xue Baochai, who had already returned home, was in a state of disarray.
When Aunt Xue learned that Mrs. Ye was already arranging a marriage for Lin Huaiyu, she couldn't help but feel anxious: "Why don't I go to a matchmaker and talk about it."
"No." Xue Baochai immediately denied Aunt Xue's idea, "We can't take the initiative, otherwise Mrs. Ye and Daiyu will think that I deliberately approached Daiyu for Mr. Lin."
Although Xue Baochai was in a state of confusion at the moment, she did not lose her mind.
"Mother, we must never go to a matchmaker."
"If we don't look for a matchmaker, someone else will find a matchmaker to come and propose a kiss." Aunt Xue was anxious, "If Mrs. Ye takes a fancy to a certain girl, then you will have no chance at all."
"No, Mr. Lin will not marry a wife for the time being, nor will he make a marriage agreement." Xue Baochai calmed down a lot, "Mr. Lin has not yet taken the provincial examination, and he will definitely not marry a wife for the time being."
"Of course he won't marry now, but if Mrs. Ye arranges his marriage in advance, what if he gets married after he passes the exam?"
Xue Baochai shook her head slightly: "No. Even if Mrs. Ye has such an idea, it must be approved by Mrs. Lin." She said very firmly, but the handkerchief in her hand was twisted together, "Mr. Lin's Marriage will definitely be arranged for him after high school, and he will never be arranged for marriage now."
Aunt Xue thought about it and felt that her daughter's words made sense.
"Then... what are we going to do next?"
Xue Baochai bit her lips and said, "I plan to reveal my heart to him before he goes to take the provincial examination." Happiness, sometimes you have to fight for it yourself. "He is so smart, he will definitely understand what I mean." Although he must actively strive for his own happiness, he should not be too explicit.
Aunt Xue understood her daughter's meaning, nodded her head in approval and said, "That's fine, but... what if he has no intention of treating you?" In Aunt Xue's mind, her daughter is naturally excellent in all aspects, but Lin Huaiyu is also very good , he may not necessarily fancy Xue Baochai.
Xue Baochai also thought about this question.
"If he doesn't mean anything to me, then..." At this point, Xue Baochai felt sore in his heart, and paused for a while before saying, "That's fine."
Aunt Xue took Xue Baochai's hand and patted her on the back gently, "My daughter is so beautiful and outstanding, she will definitely be liked."
Xue Baochai rested her head on her mother's arms, lowered her eyes, and her eyes were full of anxiety.
In Ye Mansion, Lin Huaiyu was studying with Ye Wenfu.When it was time for lunch, Mrs. Ye suddenly asked him what kind of girl he liked, which made him startled.
"Brother Huai, what kind of girl do you like, good-looking or gentle?"
Ye Wenfu glanced at his wife, "Why are you asking this?"
Madam Ye glared at Ye Wenfu, "It's none of your business, don't interrupt."
Ye Wenfu didn't dare to say anything else, so he ate his food obediently, otherwise he would have no more meat to eat.
"Mother-in-law, why did you suddenly ask me this question?" Lin Huaiyu was puzzled by this question.
Seeing Lin Huaiyu's dazed look, Mrs. Ye knew that he had never thought about this question.
"Brother Huai, you're fourteen, you're not young, it's time to think about your lifelong affairs."
When Lin Huaiyu heard this, she was so shocked that she almost choked: "Ahem... Stepmother, I'm only 14 years old!"
"14 years old is not too young, you will be able to get married next year."
Lin Huaiyu: "..."
Seeing Lin Huaiyu's frightened expression, Mrs. Ye asked helplessly and amusedly, "What is your expression?"
Xiao Daiyu said: "My brother was frightened."
"I asked you what girl you like, why did it scare you?" Mrs. Ye said dumbfounded.
"No." Lin Huaiyu came back to his senses and said, "I was frightened by the fact that you said that I could get married next year." Although he knew that people in ancient times got married early, he never thought that he would marry in his teens. time to get married.
"What's so scary about it, you can get married next year?"
Lin Huaiyu shook her head again and again: "It's too early, I never thought about getting married in my teens."
"Then when do you want to get married?"
"When I was in my twenties."
"In your twenties?" Mrs. Ye was startled, "Get married so late?"
"It's too late, I don't think it's too late." Lin Huaiyu thought about it seriously and said, "I think it's most suitable to get married in your twenties. At that time, everything should be stable." If he is lucky, he will pass the exam next year , the next year's high school champion or second place, then he will stay in the Imperial Academy for a few years.
No matter whether it is the number one pick, or the second place, or the third prize, they will first go to the Hanlin Academy to stay for a while.Some people only need to stay for one year, some need to stay for several years, and some even stay in the Imperial Academy for the rest of their lives.
Lin Huaiyu felt that if it was him, he should have stayed in the Imperial Academy for a year or two.After completing his "advanced studies" at the Imperial Academy, he may be transferred to other places to serve.If you go to another place, it will take at least a year or two to settle down.After he was completely stable in other places, he had the mood and energy to think about starting a family and starting a business.By that time, he was almost 20 years old.
"Don't even think about getting married in your twenties." Mrs. Ye directly smashed Lin Huaiyu's unrealistic idea, "Tell me first what kind of girl you like?"
"I haven't thought about it." He didn't think about it at all, "Mother, I just want to study hard now, and strive to pass the Jieyuan exam next year, and the champion and champion in the next year's exam. How can I have time? Think about these things."
Xiao Daiyu was not surprised at all when she heard what her brother said.
"Mother-in-law, I just said that brother didn't think about it."
Ye Wenfu said: "That's right, his main task now is to take the entrance examination for the university, so he has no time to think about it."
Madam Ye ignored Ye Wenfu, looked at Lin Huaiyu and continued, "Someone sent me portraits of many girls, do you want to see them?"
Lin Huaiyu said without thinking, "I don't want to read it, I'm not interested." After finishing speaking, he suddenly realized something, and asked in surprise, "Mother-in-law, why did someone give you a portrait of the girl?"
"Stupid boy, what else could be the reason? Of course someone wants to kiss you."
Lin Huaiyu was shocked: "Why would anyone want to propose marriage to me?" He was only 14 years old and hadn't yet won the first prize in the exam. How could anyone be so anxious to propose marriage to him.
"Many people have taken a fancy to you." Mrs. Ye said, "But the people who came to say goodbye are not rich and powerful. They want to fix you before you get the first prize in the exam."
Ye Wenfu snorted coldly when he heard that, "It's a beautiful idea."
"Mother-in-law, please help me to refuse." Lin Huaiyu said with a serious face, "I just want to take the entrance examination of Zhongda Sanyuan, and I don't want to think about getting married for the time being."
"Okay, I'll help you refuse, but you should also think about what kind of girl you want to marry in the future."
"Let's talk about it later."
"You child..." Mrs. Ye shook her head helplessly, she stopped talking about the topic of marriage, and changed the subject to talk about other things.
Seeing that Mrs. Ye finally didn't talk about the marriage, Lin Huaiyu let out a long sigh of relief in her heart.
Unexpectedly, he was urged to marry when he was only 14 years old. It was really scary in ancient times!
After lunch, Lin Huaiyu and Xiao Daiyu went for a walk in the courtyard to digest.
"Brother, what kind of girl do you like?"
"Why are you asking this question?"
"I'm curious." Xiao Daiyu took her brother's hand, shook it lightly, and said coquettishly, "Brother, just tell me."
Lin Huaiyu had a helpless face: "I really haven't thought about it."
"Then think about it now."
"Thinking about it now?" Lin Huaiyu was extremely helpless, he thought for a while and said, "Just treat you well."
"Be nice to me?" Xiao Daiyu was taken aback by her brother's answer.
"Yes, the girl I marry in the future, she must treat you as well as I do..." Before he finished speaking, he was hugged by his sister.
Xiao Daiyu didn't expect that her brother's criterion for liking a girl is to treat her well, which moved her very much.She reached out and hugged her brother tightly, and buried her little face in his arms, preventing her brother from seeing her reddish eyes.
Lin Huaiyu raised his hand and touched his sister's little head, "What's the matter, are you moved by your brother?"
Xiao Daiyu nodded and said in a low voice, "Yes."
"What's so touching about this, isn't your future sister-in-law supposed to treat you well?" Lin Huaiyu raised his hand and patted his younger sister's shoulder lightly, "However, don't think about your future sister-in-law for now."
"Why?"
"Because your brother and I won't marry a wife for the time being, so don't think about it."
Xiao Daiyu nodded obediently and said: "Okay, then I don't want to." After finishing speaking, she withdrew from her brother's arms.Although she didn't want her brother to see her reddish eyes, she was still seen sharply by her brother.
Lin Huaiyu pretended not to see it, and changed the subject to chat with Xiao Daiyu about designing jewelry.Xiao Daiyu's attention was immediately taken away by her brother.
After the walk, the siblings went back to their respective rooms for a lunch break.
[Host, what do you think of Xue Baochai? 】
The system popped up out of nowhere to ask Lin Huaiyu this question, which made him stunned, "Xue Baochai? Why are you asking this?"
The system asked again: [Host, what do you think of Xue Baochai? 】
"What do you mean..." Before Lin Huaiyu finished speaking, she understood the meaning of the system, and immediately gave the system a big roll of her eyes, "You, a system, are so gossip."
[Host, the system is also curious. 】The system asked again without giving up, 【What do you think of Xue Baochai? 】
"It's not good." Lin Huaiyu was too lazy to talk nonsense with the system.
[Host, in fact, Xue Baochai is good in all aspects, especially suitable to be the head of the house. 】
"Why, you want to match Xue Baochai and me?" Lin Huaiyu said very speechlessly, "I didn't expect you to have the function of a matchmaker."
[No, this system does not have this function. 】The system chuckled twice, very obscenely, 【This system is just curious. 】
Lin Huaiyu knew that if she didn't answer the system's question, the system would keep asking the question.
"impossible."
[Why is it impossible? 】
"Leave her brother aside, just talk about her family background, that won't work." Lin Huaiyu said, "Even though Xue's family is an imperial merchant, they are still merchants after all. The status of merchants is too low."
The system understood Lin Huaiyu's meaning, [If the host wants to marry Xue Baochai, Lin Ruhai should not object. 】
"If I really insist on marrying Xue Baochai, my father will naturally not object." Lin Ruhai is not the kind of pedantic and rigid person. If he is determined to marry Xue Baochai, his father will definitely agree in the end, "However, I will not marry Xue Baochai. .”
[Why is this? 】
"It's very simple, I don't like it." Lin Huaiyu said angrily, "Besides, she is from the Xue family."
[But, host, I like you. 】
Lin Huaiyu just picked up the pen, and when she heard the words of the system, her hands trembled in fright, and the ink from the pen tip dripped onto the white paper, smearing a large area.
"What did you say?"
[Host, Xue Baochai likes you and wants to marry you. 】The system asked, 【Host, didn't you notice anything? 】
"No, I have no contact with her." Lin Huaiyu put down the pen in his hand, frowned slightly and asked, "Are you serious?"
[It's more real than pearls. 】
Lin Huaiyu suddenly thought that several years ago, Xue Baochai gave him and his sister amulets, maybe from that time...
[Host, Xue Baochai likes you, what do you think? 】
"I don't have any feelings..." Lin Huaiyu thought of another thing, and his face turned slightly cold, "You said she likes me, then she will approach Daiyu..."
[Naturally for you. 】
Lin Huaiyu's face turned very cold in an instant, "Sure enough...you should have told me earlier." Now, my younger sister is having a good time with Xue Baochai, if he tells his younger sister that Xue Baochai approached her because of him, he will definitely hurt her.
[Host, this system only knows about it. ] After the system finished speaking, it added another sentence, 【This system doesn't know much about your human feelings. 】
"It's my fault, I should have noticed." However, having said that, Xue Baochai didn't treat him any differently, and I didn't see my sister say that Xue Baochai mentioned him in front of her.
【Host, what are you going to do? 】
Lin Huaiyu thought for a while, then called Liu Jinu in.
"Go and call Zhang Nanny here." He couldn't go out to solve this matter, and he couldn't directly tell his sister that Xue Baochai's purpose of approaching her was bad.It can only be solved by a third person.
After a while, Nanny Zhang came over, "Young Master, what are your orders?"
"Tomorrow, Miss Xue will come to the mansion again, you go and tell her..."
After listening to Lin Huaiyu's words, Mother Zhang opened her mouth wide in shock, and then said angrily, "It really is."
"Sure enough?" Lin Huaiyu raised her eyebrows slightly, "You saw it too?"
"Master, do you still remember the amulet that Miss Xue gave you and Miss when you returned to Yangzhou a few years ago?"
"You can tell from this that she..."
"Yes, but you didn't wear it at that time, so the old slave didn't talk too much, and after we returned to Yangzhou, the old slave forgot about it." Zhang Momo said, "During this time, the old slave specially observed I picked up Miss Xue, and saw that she never inquired about you in front of the lady, and never mentioned you. The old slave thought that she should not have that kind of thought for you, but I didn't expect..." I didn't expect that she was deceived by Miss Xue. Miss Xue's thoughts and methods are really not simple.
"Tomorrow is coming, you tell her clearly."
"Yes, sir."
"Don't let Daiyu know about this matter." After Mammy Zhang made it clear to Xue Baochai, Xue Baochai should not come to Xiao Daiyu again, so there is no need to let Xiao Daiyu know.
"Don't worry, young master, the old slave will not tell Miss."
Lin Huaiyu believed that Nanny Zhang could handle this matter well, so she didn't say anything more.
"Master, do you want to tell Mrs. Ye about this?" Nanny Zhang thought for a while and said, "Master, I think I should tell Mrs. Ye about this."
Lin Huaiyu didn't think it was necessary, and it wasn't a big deal, but Nanny Zhang said so, and there was nothing wrong with telling Mrs. Ye.
"Then go and tell your stepmother."
"The old slave is going to tell Mrs. Ye now."
"Go."
Mrs. Ye didn't have a lunch break, and she was calculating the accounts of Yueji Rouge Shop for this month.Seeing that Nanny Zhang had something to say to her, she temporarily stopped what she was doing.
After hearing Madam Zhang's words, Mrs. Ye was very surprised, because she didn't see that Xue Baochai had any plans for Lin Huaiyu.
"Brother Huai, let you tell Miss Xue?"
"Yes."
"If you tell her about it, she won't admit it, and it won't do much good." Mrs. Ye was startled that Xue Baochai had such meticulous thoughts at such a young age, "It's better for me."
"What you said is definitely more useful than what the old slave said."
"I still have to tell Daiyu about this, so that she will be careful when she makes friends in the future."
"Miss will be sad."
"It's better to be sad for a while than to be deceived later." Mrs. Ye said, "I'll tell Daiyu."
"That's what the lady said."
The next day, Xue Baochai came to Ye Mansion to play with Xiao Daiyu as usual.However, she came to play today in a somewhat anxious mood. She wanted to know whether Mrs. Ye had arranged a marriage for Lin Huaiyu.
When Mrs. Ye saw Xue Baochai coming, she asked Xiao Daiyu to find her brother. She had something to tell Miss Xue.
Although Xiao Daiyu didn't understand why Mrs. Ye wanted to dismiss her and talk to Xue Baochai alone, she obediently went to find Lin Huaiyu.
After Xiao Daiyu left, Xue Baochai suddenly became nervous.