Enemies in the Red Chamber

Chapter 12

Just like this, he went into the capital with depression and doubts. When he abandoned the boat and landed, there were already sedan chairs, carriages and horses from the Rongguo Mansion waiting for Daiyu and Brother Liu, and the people who stayed in the mansion of the Lin Mansion in the capital also sent carriages to wait behind. After taking over from the housekeeper and the others, the two families blocked the pier tightly.

Among the onlookers, there was a burly Confucian scholar who had just arrived in the capital with a burden on his back. He asked the people beside him, "Brother, I don't know which company this carriage and horses belong to? What a big show!"

The person next to him stretched his neck and exclaimed, "Do you see the decoration on the carriage, the Jia family of Rongguo Mansion!"

The Confucian scholar murmured: "So the surname is Jia!"

The person next to him cast a glance at him and said, "Isn't the surname Jia, the Jia family whose white jade is the king's horse!" He also cheered a little, "I don't know which young master it is, look at the demeanor in his whole body!"

After getting into the sedan chair, Daiyu took off her veiled hat, remembering what Jia Min said and what she had inquired about when she was at home, compared with the women and girls she met when she was about to disembark, she secretly sighed that the Jia family's luxury was indeed true.When I entered the city, I lifted up the corner of the sedan chair curtain and took a sneak peek. The capital was still prosperous, but it was no longer the original capital. They were all called the capital, but there were no boudoir daughters laughing and cursing among the people coming and going. Chinese horseback riding and archery has become today's gate.Daiyu no longer had any interest in peeping, and sat in the sedan chair in a daze.

Brother Liu in the back was held in the arms of Madam Chen and sat in the sedan chair together. Madam Chen was a person who had never been to the capital. She had always heard that the capital was rich and prosperous. Look, I wish I could ride in a carriage and open the window just like the rough envoy.Brother Liu glanced outside occasionally, but he wasn't very interested. It's just that there were too many people and everything else was the same, not as exquisite and beautiful as Jiangnan's things.

After walking for half a day, there was a rough envoy outside the sedan chair to remind him that he was about to arrive.Looking through the screen window, Daiyu happened to pass the main entrance. There were five large characters on the plaque above the main entrance: "Chi Zao Rongguo Mansion", and continued westward to the corner gate before turning in.Daiyu didn't panic, and sat upright again, knowing that it would take a while to get out of the sedan chair.

Brother Liu frowned at the back. He had never walked through the corner door. Even though it was a rule for rich people to not open the door often, there must always be a side door.This change of identity is really frustrating.I swore in my heart that I would earn a title and come back. I probably won't get used to the treatment of saluting and walking through the corner door.

When the two of them got off the sedan chair, Daiyu took Brother Liu's hand and walked slowly forward with the hand of the mother-in-law who followed Jia's mansion.After passing through the hall and the small hall is the main room, Daiyu and Brother Liu kept their eyes on each other.A girl came up to greet her, "The old lady was still reading just now, but it happened to be here." Mother Wang supported Daiyu in place of the old woman, and the little girls scrambled to grab or close the curtain or answer, "Miss Lin and Uncle Lin arrive."

When Fang entered the room, he saw an old lady in brown clothes and emerald jewels on her head being supported by two girls in emerald green clothes. Knowing that it was their grandmother, Daiyu dragged Brother Liu to meet her.With tears in her eyes, the old lady pulled up their siblings, holding one of them, "Show me quickly! Your cruel mother has been away for so many years, and she has never been back, and I don't know that there are still people who miss her." .”

Daiyu said consolingly: "My mother also misses my grandmother and uncles and aunts in her heart. Before she came, she asked her to show filial piety to her grandmother."

The old lady laughed and scolded: "She still has a conscience."

Then he pointed to all the people present and introduced: "This is your first aunt, this is your second aunt, and this is your sister-in-law Zhu, brother Xianzhu's daughter-in-law." Daiyu led Liu brothers to salute one by one.

After a while, three sisters dressed in the same clothes came in. Daiyu knew that they were from the three sisters of her grandfather's family, and she could tell which was which by looking at her stature. Zhu's sister-in-law, Li Wan, just pointed out to her one by one, "This is your sister." Sister Yingchun, this is your sister Tanchun, and this is your sister Xichun." Then he asked Brother Liu: "These are all your sisters, do you remember?" Although there are many girls, the old lady is still alive. There are gifts for girls and boys, and children who are born in the birthday ceremony will also have a share. If it is impossible, you will really not remember the age and birthday, and you can't tell the size of the sisters.If Mrs. Wang really asked about her birthday and age, it was just doing it on purpose.

Brother Liu replied crisply: "Remember, don't worry, sister-in-law Zhu." Then he followed Daiyu to greet all the sisters.Daiyu secretly laughed, the mighty Prince of Huai'an also has today!

These people sat together, chatting about Jia Min and what happened on the way to Beijing, the time passed quickly.Suddenly I heard a burst of laughter from outside, and then a resplendent figure who looked like a fairy concubine walked in through the curtain, "I am late, and I have never greeted guests from far away!"

Daiyu looked carefully, and nodded secretly, "Among the people in this room, she is the only one who can afford these clothes and jewelry." Brother Liu secretly slandered, "What an arrogant daughter-in-law!" The two hurriedly got up to greet her.

The old lady laughed and said Feng Lazi and other words, Mrs. Wang and Mrs. Xing also smiled but did not see the slightest anger. Sister Yingchun told them, "This is Lian's second sister-in-law", and the two siblings only knew that it was Wang Xifeng, and they bowed and saw each other.

Wang Xifeng pulled the two of them around for several times, "What are you saying about the golden boy and the jade girl? I thought it was a nonsense in the drama. Today, I saw my sister and little brother and I realized that there is really something. It's just my lack of experience. " And sent the two into the arms of the old lady, "Look, snuggling beside the old lady, it doesn't look like a grandson or granddaughter, but the grandson and granddaughter of a direct relative."

Then he said to the two siblings: "You are like home here, just tell me if there is anything you want to eat or play, and if the girls and women are not well, just tell me."

Then I asked my mother-in-law: "Has the girl and brother's luggage been moved to Songzhuxuan? Has the person who brought it been arranged properly?"

At this time, Nanny Yi came out to speak, "Give my respects to Second Grandma. Thank you Second Grandma for your painstaking arrangements. The girl and brother are young, and my wife trusts me to hand over all the chores to this old slave."

Wang Xifeng was stunned for a moment, and seeing that Daiyu and his brother didn't interrupt, he knew that it was really the aunt who explained it. Then he remembered that Aunt Lin sent a special letter to explain it, and smiled and said, "Since the aunt has explained everything to the nanny, then I'm also lazy, and Mammy will go directly to Ping'er who is next to me, and see if there is anything incomplete, so don't be polite." Mammy Yi replied yes.

No one spoke for a while, Madam Wang took the opportunity to ask: "I see that my niece seems to be suffering from insufficiency, what kind of medicine is she taking?"

For a moment, everyone from the Lin family frowned, and Nanny Yi thought to herself: How did you say that? Isn't it common for girls to be delicate and weak? They can't ask questions in private, how can they be on such occasions? If you say it, it is rumored whether the sick and famous girl will live in the future.

Nanny Li, who hadn't spoken all this time, gave a light laugh, stood up and bent over to Mrs. Wang and replied, "Back to Mrs. Second Uncle, our girl has no deficiencies, but she looks a little weaker. When I was in Yangzhou, the master looked worried." I went to see the imperial doctor who went back to take care of me, and said that there is no disease, I just need to pay more attention to my daily diet. Speaking of which, I have to ask the old lady to agree to set up a small kitchen in the yard where the girl lives." After returning, he still returned to the original place and stood.

The old lady felt a little dissatisfied in her heart, what is Min'er doing, is she here with such a powerful nanny because she is afraid that I will treat my granddaughter badly.Even if the words of the second child's family were a bit wrong, it was the housekeeper's wife who was in charge of the house. It was too much to embarrass her like this. Those who didn't know thought it was embarrassing to her mother's family.Twitching the corners of her mouth, she said to Daiyu: "What is a small kitchen worth? Just ask your sister Feng to send someone to build one. But the body is not a joke, and it is better to take care of it from an early age. Don't be afraid of trouble, I am here. As for dispensing the medicine, just tell them to make more ingredients." What was meant was that she must be given pills to eat.

Daiyu couldn't laugh or cry, so she had to use the words of the imperial physician to evade, "When I was in Yangzhou, my mother said the same thing at first, but the imperial physician said that she was afraid that the deficiency would not be replenished, so she didn't dare to take pills, so she had to stew it with bird's nest and cinnamon. Eat, I don’t dare to eat too much of these, half a bowl a day is enough.”

The old lady was speechless.

Mrs. Wang saw that the old lady was supporting her, and she just wanted to talk about Yueli's silver clothes, so that Daiyu and the others could know the wealth of Jia's family, so that they could live in peace in the future.At this time, Chuncao, who was by Nanny Yi's side, came in and reported, "The housekeeper at the second gate has already packed up the things, and asked where the girl is taking them?"

The butler sent by Lin Hai is also an interesting one. The master is not idle when he is making preparations. He has sent someone to inquire in the capital. When I got off the boat today, I heard the report that the Jia family is the most wealthy and arrogant, and even the servants are like that. I am afraid that the little master They were underestimated, and they followed the Jia family's car and pulled the things they were going to send after they settled down to the second door, and sent An and the boy to communicate with Mother Yi through Chuncao.

Daiyu didn't know what Chuncao was talking about, but she thought it was arranged by Nanny Yi, so she said directly: "Madam can figure it out." Then she said to the old lady: "Mama Yi is close to my mother, she handles things. Mother is at ease."

Mother Yi saw the old lady nodding, and replied: "Madam misses the old lady and the masters and the masters, so she packed a few carts of earth instruments and came over. The housekeeper was worried that the old house would not be well cleaned up, so he was afraid that things would be broken, so he just went to I have sent the salutes of the girl and my brother here, and I have to ask Second Mistress what kind of regulations it is."

Wang Xifeng clapped her hands, "Hey, no wonder the old lady is thinking of my aunt, the aunt is so caring, she always thinks of the old lady in her heart, even we are all in the same place. Let's do it, Songzhuxuan is busy, go straight Just occupy the old lady’s yard and divide it up on the spot!” After speaking, he laughed again.

Sister Yingchun covered her mouth and smiled, "Sister Feng just likes to joke, do you think it's a play, and you can divide it up on the spot, this is the king of the mountain."

The old lady also laughed, "Min'er is no one else, let's do everything cheaply. Since Min'er has given the matter to the nanny, then you should put more thought into it, as there is space in the small hall."

At this time, someone came to take away the tea fruit, Daiyu said: "Grandmother, I can't help here, I haven't met the two uncles yet, why don't we go there now."

The old lady nodded, "That's fine." Seeing that Mrs. Xing was still sitting still, she said, "My eldest daughter-in-law, you can lead his siblings there." Mrs. Xing had to accept the order.

Daiyu bid farewell to Mrs. Wang and her sisters-in-law and sisters, and took Liu Geer with Mrs. Xing to the garden where the eldest house lived.After getting out of the car, there were a few gorgeous women dressed in beautiful clothes and rich clothes waiting there, seeing Daiyu and brother Liu warmly greeted him, "Mrs., the master is waiting."

Mrs. Xing led Daiyu's siblings to the study, and Brother Liu raised his eyes to take a closer look at the legendary uncle who had no ambitions and was greedy for beauty.I saw that he was still holding an ancient bi in his hand at the moment, dressed as a scholar, his eyes were slightly vain, his eyebrows and eyes looked a bit like an old lady, his whole body lacked energy, and he really looked like he had been hollowed out by wine.

The two met on a weekly basis, and Jia She asked some questions about your father and mother, and the two answered yes, and then asked, "Don't make any difference here, play with your sisters more, and go to you if you have anything to do." Second sister-in-law."

After talking, she wanted to stay for dinner again. Daiyu said she hadn't seen the second uncle and left, and took Liu Ge'er into the car to go to the second room.

In the car, Brother Liu leaned on Daiyu and whispered to her, "Sister, tell me, why did the second uncle live in the main house, but let the first uncle live in the garden? What's the reason for this?"

Daiyu blocked his mouth with her backhand, "Don't talk nonsense, be careful that someone overhears you!" She felt disdainful, I don't know much more than you, so I don't need you to remind me? !

While they were talking, the two got out of the car and looked at the words "Rongxi Hall" on the plaque. Brother Liu kept clicking tuts, and Daiyu knew that he couldn't get used to the things that disrespected his sons and daughters (although he himself It’s not going to get any better), and lowered his head to warn him while he was not paying attention, “Be good, don’t make trouble!”

When they arrived at the door, an old lady brought their siblings into the room, but Mrs. Wang was not there, so they had to sit on the next seat to drink tea and wait.Mrs. Wang came after a while, "Your uncle is going to fast today, see you later."

After listening to Daiyu's answer, she said: "Your sisters are all good. The eldest girl can study, read, do needlework, or play jokes with them. Only one thing, I have a troublesome root. Naughty, big girl and big brother can ignore him as much as possible. Brother Lan and brother Liu of your sister-in-law's family are about the same age, so they can play together even though they are of different generations."

Daiyu knew that she was talking about the legendary Baoyu, and said with a smile: "My brothers all live in other courtyards, so I don't usually see them."

Mrs. Wang smiled and said: "You don't know, the old lady spoiled him the most. She was raised with her sisters since she was a child, so just ignore him."

Both Daiyu and Brother Liu felt very uncomfortable. It was okay before, they were all close relatives. It’s okay to be spoiled in the inner courtyard. Now that they knew that there would be foreign guests, why didn’t the seven or eight-year-old foreign men move away? how about going out?But after all, there is no reason for the host to accommodate the guests. It is hard to say that Baoyu should be moved out. I just meditate in my heart that I must go out less and let the nanny guard the door.