novelraw Chapter 107 Red Mansion 107
Chapter 107 Red Mansion 107
107
Before the Dragon Boat Festival, Jia Zheng met an unexpected person in the mansion.
Jia Zheng was not familiar with this person, but because the post was edited by the Imperial Academy, Jia Zheng ordered the housekeeper to greet him according to the etiquette.
Two uncles and nephews came in. The older one seemed to be over 60 years old, or more, and the younger one was over 40 years old. The younger one saluted Jia Zheng as a junior. Guests of the same generation meet each other with courtesy.
Jia Zheng was very curious. He had never had any contact with the Imperial Academy. What happened to Zhang Zhao, the editor of the Imperial Academy, at his residence?
The older man, seeing Jia Zheng full of doubts, politely gave up his seat and ordered tea, he said: "I haven't seen you for many years, does the second son of Jia's family still recognize me?"
When Jia Zheng saw that someone called him the second son, he thought about it, but he couldn't remember knowing this person.He cupped his hands and said, "Please forgive me for my clumsy eyesight."
"The old man is the former Minister of the Household Department, Zhang Er of the Prince Taifu's residence."
Jia Zheng looked at this person carefully, and the outline seemed to be that person, but it was really difficult to see from this face the demeanor of the second son of the Zhang family who was famous in the capital.The second son of the Zhang family was a child of a proper neighbor at the beginning, and he was an example of a character to be studied by the school teacher since he was a child.I also really determined to follow in the footsteps of Zhang Er and leave a solid mark on the imperial examination.It's a pity, decades have passed by, I have made no achievements in the imperial examination, and the Zhang family has been away from Beijing for many years, but this is how I see you again.
Master Zhang Er pointed to the young man beside him and said, "This is my elder brother's eldest son. He is second in this class and is now an editor of the Imperial Academy." Sister dowry."
Jia Zheng hadn't woken up from his worship of the second place in this subject when he was stunned by Master Zhang Er's words. "Dowry? What dowry?"
"My sister was given a marriage by the majesty, with ten miles of red makeup, to marry Brother Ling. After she passed away, the dowry was taken away by the old lady of your mansion. Now Lian Er has grown up and has a son, and he will set up a separate branch with your mansion. My sister's dowry, should I give it to my sister's parents and children?"
Jia Zheng nodded again and again, "Yes, yes." After Mrs. Zhang passed away, his mother took care of all the funeral affairs, and then Mrs. Zhang's dowry was put into her mother's private treasury. He knew about it.
"However, my mother is not in good health recently. Can you give me a few more days so that I can sort out Zhang's dowry?"
Master Zhang Er said: "Okay, ten days will be the period. This is my sister's dowry list. I left the transcript in Yingtian Mansion back then. I want to have a copy in the hall. Remind your mansion that all the Zhang family's things are there. Remember it, don’t get confused.”
Master Zhang Er explained the matter and did not say anything to Jia Zheng, so he took his nephew and left.
Jia Zheng held the copy of Zhang's dowry in his sleeve and went to the inner house to meet Jia's mother.
"Mother, someone from the Zhang family has just arrived. They want to replace Lian'er and ask for Zhang's dowry."
Mother Jia was a little dazed, the Zhang family?When I heard that I was asking for Zhang's dowry for Lian Er, I met the Zhang family. "Who is from the Zhang family? Didn't you say that the Zhang family was not allowed to return to Beijing?" Jia's mother was a little reluctant. She regarded Zhang's dowry as her own and planned to leave it to Baoyu.When Jia Lian got married, Jia Amnesty had mentioned this matter. Jia's mother thought that the second Lian was still young, and it was a waste of money to hand it over to him. Amnesty never mentioned it again.
"The second son of the Zhang family, Zhang Yu, the second son of Zhang Yu who was famous all over the capital."
"He's still alive?" Mother Jia's eyes were full of disbelief.
"Well, alive. He also brought his eldest brother's son, the second place in this class, and the editor of the Imperial Academy." The second generation.That Zhang Yu was also a child prodigy with amazing talent at the beginning, and he got a small three yuan at a young age.My road to the imperial examination was bumpy, and looking at my own Baoyu, I haven't even had a child.
Jia Zheng handed the copy of Zhang's dowry and Zhang Zhao's post to Jia's mother.
Jia Mu looked over and over again, "Is this post sure to be fake?"
Jia Zheng looked at his mother, wondering why the old lady said that the post was fake.
"You send the housekeeper, no, you send Zhou Rui, take a few old people who know Zhang's family, and carefully visit how the Zhang family is doing now."
Jia Zheng agreed and went out to give orders.
In the evening, Jia Zheng brought Zhou Rui in to report to Jia's mother.At that time, Zhou Rui had already inquired about the Zhang family's entry to Beijing, "Returning to the old lady, when the Zhang family first entered Beijing, the elder sent someone to pick him up, and then he lived in the Hanlin. This time, one person from each of the three households of the Zhang family participated in Enke. Zhang Chen was only 23 years old and not yet married. Mr. Cheng, the servant of the Ministry of officials, was a matchmaker, and the marriage was concluded with the empress's cousin. After the Zhang family brotherhood test, some people questioned the Zhang family's entry into Beijing, and today they accepted it. Zhang's family The others all came to Beijing after passing the test."
After listening to Jia Mu, her heart was ups and downs, the family was about to rise again.After sending Zhou Rui away, Mother Jia made up her mind, it seems that Zhang's dowry must be returned.
This boss has his business everywhere, and he really owes him in his previous life.
Jia's mother thought for a while, then nodded and said, "Lian Er has a son, and he is not as tired as he used to be. His mother's dowry should be handed over to him. But it's a long time, so we have to clean up."
Jia Zheng said: "What the mother said is true. I need to check it out. The son has already made an appointment with the Zhang family for ten days. The Zhang family said that the copy of the dowry was copied from Yingtian Mansion. Does the mother have the copy? "
Mother Jia nodded. The daughter-in-law's dowry of a rich family has its own originals, including the mother's family, husband's family, the government, and myself.
Seeing that Jia Mu nodded, Jia Zheng said, "That Zhang Yu also said that all the Zhang family's things are marked. When checking, be careful not to confuse it. Does the mother need to come out and help you?" Check? You are so old, don't be tired."
Jia's mother said: "It is necessary for Mrs. Wang to come forward and check for me. You can go to my mother's house to meet those two evildoers. If the boss is alive, there will be no such things."
Jia Zheng comforted Jia's mother a few words, and immediately took people to Shihou's mansion, asking the Zhang family to ask for Zhang's dowry for Jia Lian, saying that Jia's mother needed Wang's help.
Zhong Jinghou said generously: "Let's forget about that, my cousin will take care of the housework."
Jia Zheng returned home after thanking him again and again.
On the evening of the second day, Mrs. Wang appeared in Jia Mu's room.
Mother Jia threw the copy of Zhang's dowry to Mrs. Wang, "You have also heard about Zhang's affairs, and you are a blessing in disguise. This copy of the dowry list is the same as the original copy, and you have cleaned it up. Wait for the Zhang family to bring Lian Er. Come and get it. The Zhang family said that everything in his family is marked."
The last sentence shattered Mrs. Wang's original plan. After more than 20 years, who would dare to say that what Jia's family brought out was not Zhang's dowry?But there is a secret, Mrs. Wang clenched her fists, her nails pricked her palms, and she cried secretly. She got those things from Mrs. Zhang, and they scattered a lot, where can I find them now?
Also anxious with her is Yuanyang.It turned out that when Yuanyang took over, the boxes had not been opened for many years, and they were piled up in the back of the warehouse.The old lady never mentioned it, so she took something from it and gave it to Nanny Lai.This time, Mother Jia asked her to check, but Yuanyang couldn't refuse. After a few days in the warehouse, she wrote down all the missing items in the warehouse and presented them to Mother Jia.
Mother Jia looked at the list, noting the missing dowry, and her hands kept shaking. "Yuanyang, why are so many things missing?"
"Old lady, when you let your servants take over the warehouse a few years ago, you didn't look at those boxes. You just said that those were boxes that had been piled up for many years and had never been opened. Years ago, this room was handed over to Amber. Repair When I was in the garden, I heard that my wife often came to the old lady to move around because of lack of things."
After hearing this, Mother Jia understood that the lack of these things could not be separated from Nanny Lai and Mrs. Wang.Lai nanny?How to pursue it!She sighed and sent someone to call Mrs. Wang over.
Suppressing his anger, he asked: "Mr. Wang, the dowry of Mrs. Zhang is with you, is it all right?"
Mrs. Wang bowed her head in shame, "Mother, it's been a long time, and it's really hard for my daughter-in-law to get back the original."
"Make it up, give the money to Zhang's family." Mother Jia made a final decision, don't think that you don't know her temperament.
After thinking about it, Mrs. Wang has no other way, and it won't work if she doesn't make up.The third son of the Zhang family became the queen's cousin, but if the Zhang family's things were missing, the Zhang family would report to the empress, and the Jia family would still have to make up for the vacancy.
"Old lady, at this time of year, there is no income in the village, so there is no extra money." Mrs. Wang began to hate Mrs. Zhang now, why did she bring such a large dowry into the mansion.
Mother Jia is impatient, she still lacks a lot here. "Mr. Wang, you pretended that I didn't know anything about it. When you built the provincial garden, what did you take from me?"
With just one sentence, Mrs. Wang stopped complaining and resigned in shame.How can I make up for Zhang's dowry if I go back and plan by myself.With great reluctance, he took out the bank notes retained by Xiu Shengqin's garden from his private treasury.After weighing again and again, I still took out a few more bank notes.
Mother Jia sent Mrs. Wang away and sat silently by herself.After calculating alone for a long time, I ordered Yuanyang to take the bank note.Although the Zhang family has many things, the clothes for the four seasons and the dowry cloth and satin can be ignored according to the age.But Zhang’s dowry Zhuangzi, the shop, the income of more than 20 years, and Zhang’s dowry calligraphy and painting antiques, these make up, it is really a big sum.
Mother Jia's heart twitched, and she finally let Yuanyang take the bank note.He also ordered Yuanyang to prepare the box of gold ingots and return them to Zhang's family together.
Yuanyang clicked her tongue and asked Jia Mu quietly, "Old lady, why did the eldest lady have so many dowries?"
Jia's mother was in a dilemma, and finally told Yuanyang, "The Zhang family has only had such a daughter in several lifetimes. She is so precious that thousands of girls can't compare with it. When the old Duke was in the court, it was the emperor's marriage. At that time The old man of the Zhang family is the grand tutor, and the old thousand-year-old has the same reputation in the court. When Zhang married, it was more than 20 extra for the make-up of the grand tutor’s students, not to mention the gifts from the close relatives. Ten miles of red makeup, That's the dowry I'm talking about. I'm afraid it's not enough to pay back the Zhang family."
What Jia Mu didn't say to Yuanyang, there is another thing—her own dowry, Min'er's dowry, also belongs to the list of ten miles of red makeup.But it is still incomparable with Zhang's dowry.