The bear child of the Red Chamber, Jia Cong

Chapter 571

Early this morning, the old man of the Deng family wanted to bring his children and grandchildren to visit Su Tao, the prefect of Jingzhou, and his father was named Confucian Su Zheng.The three masters all wore brand-new clothes and went out happily to mount their horses.Suddenly they heard a few "creaks and creaks" not far away, as if something was about to break, which attracted a few servants who followed them to look around.After waiting for a while, there was no movement, and everyone just drove forward as if nothing had happened.After walking about twenty steps, I saw a large section of sycamore branch protruding from the high wall of Deng's house "plop" and fell down, just in front of Mr. Deng's horse.The old man was shocked, and the steward hurriedly stepped forward to have a look. The branch was extremely thick and fell off somehow.Theoretically, it shouldn't be broken; if someone breaks it off, let alone no one is seen, who has such a strong hand?The management is inexplicable.Mr. Deng rode on his horse and bowed his head to look at it for a long time, but he couldn't understand it, so he ordered him to move to the side of the road.

After walking forward again for a while, another person ran out from the mansion and shouted: "Old Master! Master! Something happened to the ancestral hall!"

Grandpa Deng was shocked, and reined in the horse's head: "What happened to the ancestral hall?"

The man was running out of breath: "Just now, a puff of white smoke suddenly rose from under the confession in the ancestral hall, and the servants were too frightened to move. After a while, the white smoke dissipated, and then went forward to check carefully. There was nothing!"

Old Mrs. Deng frowned: "Nothing?"

The man lowered his head and said: "The slaves are all guessing whether we are delusional. There was a strange noise outside, and we were so scared that we ran out to see the movement, but there was nothing outside. When we went back to the ancestral hall, we saw the ancestor's spirit card It fell all over the floor. The kid who didn’t go out said that he suddenly felt a chill on his back, and seeing those signs suddenly fell one by one, he was so scared that he also ran out.”

Mrs. Deng immediately turned the horse's head: "Go and have a look!"

Then everyone returned to Deng's mansion and went straight to the ancestral hall.No one dared to move the tablet that fell on the ground, and the servants guarding the ancestral hall only dared to kneel around it.Mrs. Deng personally checked the tablet, but it was not broken, but I don't know why it fell off.The old man hurriedly packed up these memorial tablets and put them back, and checked the bottom of the confession case, there was really no trace.

Master Deng questioned several servants for a long time, and everyone said the same thing.There was white smoke from the head of the confession, strange noises outside, and the tablets fell by themselves.I went to check the sycamore tree that had lost its branches, but I couldn't see why it was broken.There hasn't been any strong wind these days, so it shouldn't be the wind that broke it.The old man was concentrating for a long time, feeling unlucky.It's just that I have already made an appointment with Su Tao, so I have to go.So I arranged one or two, and the three of them still went to Su's house.

When they arrived at the Su residence, Su Tao personally came out to welcome them into the hall, and met Su Zheng again.As expected, Su Zheng liked Deng Ming very much, and had a good chat with Mrs. Su.Seeing that everything went well, Su Tao was also happy in his heart.He brought up the marriage.

Su Zheng thought for a moment and said: "Back then my son left Beijing to go to work. First he was the county magistrate of Licheng, then he was transferred to Huzhou, and then he moved to Jingzhou as an official. I was afraid that my old man would be desolate in Beijing all the year round, leaving my big Granddaughter. The child was raised in front of me. Brother Deng, with all due respect, she is not suitable to be the mistress of a rich family."

Everyone was shocked.Su Tao said first, "What did father say!"

Su Zheng said: "The big girl has a lively temperament and can't be restrained. The mother who is the mother has to be the director of the family and treat others. She is not at all good at being mature and prudent and good at dancing."

Before Su Tao opened his mouth, Mrs. Deng laughed first: "Why should I blame it? Which girl is not like this at home? When she grows up, she will naturally understand the truth."

Su Tao hurriedly echoed, "That's right! Which woman didn't come here from a young girl's house?"

Old Mrs. Deng said again: "There is no one who is born to be the mistress of the family, and only learns from the elders. With Miss Su's intelligence, she will learn it within three to five months."

Su Zheng shook his head: "The old man doesn't have to stop me. I like Deng Ming very much, but..." He thought for a while, "It's still too late. Your family members haven't seen the big girl yet, Why don't we meet again some other day?"

Su Tao was a little anxious: "Father, the big girl is the most likable."

Su Zheng said: "Our eldest girl is naturally likable, and Mrs. Deng's family will also like it when she sees her. Talk about Mrs. Deng's family, and other female relatives generally like it too." Su Tao was a little confused, and looked at his old man. .Su Zheng sat up straight and said, "That's it, let's meet first." He thought about it again, "Is there anything for the female relatives in Jingzhou to enjoy flowers and theaters recently? Let the big girl join in the fun."

Su Tao, the grandparents and grandchildren of the Deng family looked at each other for a while, and it was Mrs. Deng who said again, "Since that's the case, let my granddaughter invite Miss Su to go out for a stroll later." Su Zheng nodded.

The good-natured in-laws meeting broke up a little bit, Su Tao and Mr. Deng's family were all flirting with each other.After sitting for a while, the Deng family left.After sending them out, Su Tao came back and asked, "Father, don't you like this child?"

Su Zheng said: "I like this child very much. Think about it, if Cheng'er could be the mistress of everyone, I would have engaged her with the eldest grandson of the Rongguo Mansion long ago? Even if the child is younger, wouldn't there be a second wife?" Eldest grandson? The age is right. She is used to her own whims and cannot be a mistress. It is most suitable to find a second and third child, and let the sister-in-law arrange everything, so she can have a leisurely time."

Su Tao said: "Who can spend a lifetime of leisure?"

Su Zheng said: "Anyway, let the female relatives of their family meet first, so as not to complain in the future." Although Su Tao was uncomfortable, seeing his father's tone so determined, he was a little more flexible.

Turning his head and walking towards the study, he saw his youngest son passing by with red eyes on the way, saying that he wanted to go to the study to find an ancient book.Su Tao warned a few words.The child gave his father a pitiful look, and walked away silently with his face down.Su Tao became suspicious, fearing that he might have been bullied, so he ordered the people around him to inquire.A boy immediately said: "The servant knows!"

"what's up?"

"Um...that..."

Su Tao looked at him: "Quickly say it!"

The boy faltered and recounted the gift from the eldest girl yesterday.Finally said: "The ones for the two girls and the two young masters are far worse than the ones for the maids in the wife's room. I heard that the third girl went to visit the eldest girl yesterday, and when she saw the decorations in her room, she envied her. Terrific! The eldest girl hated her appearance and had never seen the world, so she sent her out."

"Hiss—" Su Tao gasped.Is the big girl such a temper?When I went to Beijing to meet in these years, I was clearly generous.He also knew that his parents and daughter lived a prosperous life in Beijing.It's not that Su Zheng's salary is high, it's actually that his three famous juniors know how to make money and respect their husband.My family and the Rongguo Mansion have long been implicated in one place, and this marriage is more or less intended to win over the Deng family.In case the Jia family has something on their minds, the state of Chu can help.If the big girl is so ignorant, I don't know if there is too much time for temporary polishing.

But at this moment, another kid said: "Master, the eldest girl had something to say yesterday, and it has been spread all over the house, and now I'm afraid it's all spread outside."

"What?"

The kid then said exactly what Su Cheng said, "Do I dare to marry them?"Finally said, "When I was waiting outside just now, I heard from members of the Deng family that something happened to their family this morning. A large tree branch fell out of thin air to stop their old master, master, and uncle from going out. The confession is still emitting white smoke, and the ancestral tablet has been dropped all over the place for no reason. Could it be that the ancestors of the Deng family showed their spirits and refused to agree to this marriage?"

Su Tao changed his face this time.Looking back, I chewed on what my daughter said, and looked arrogant, but every word made sense.Didn't the second son of King Yan play the piano in the garden of the Su Mansion in the early years?She could really be a concubine; if she didn't, she would have to marry into a family of literati.If the Deng family got her to go, it would be like a three-year-old child walking through the market with gold, fearing that the kings would covet her.The child's heart is like a mirror.Then he thought about it again: How could such a transparent daughter not understand etiquette?Could it be that she deliberately gave those gifts to her concubine brother and concubine sister, just to make the Deng family mistakenly think that she is not suitable to be a mistress?Thinking of this, Su Tao suddenly felt distressed: This marriage was decided in a hurry.Nai frowned, and went to the study with his hands behind his back and sat in a daze.

At night, he went to rest in an aunt's room.The aunt cried and complained that the gift Su Cheng gave herself was not as good as that given to the servants.Su Tao's focus on being a daughter was to ruin his own reputation on purpose, and he said angrily, "Cheng'er doesn't owe you anything! It's up to her to give her love." He walked away in a huff.The aunt was stunned, and she didn't come back to her senses for a long time.

Su Tao turned around and went to Zhang's courtyard.Mrs. Zhang has already prepared.If Su Tao asked about the gifts Su Cheng gave yesterday, he would say that the child is still young and ignorant, that he has not had any brothers or sisters in the capital all these years, and then he would order someone to go outside to buy some things, to fight In the name of Su Cheng, she gave them to them - anyway, Su Cheng gave her several big banknotes yesterday, it really feels good to be rich.Unexpectedly, although Su Tao was full of thoughts, he never mentioned that matter.Until the two of them slept peacefully, Su Tao acted as if he didn't know. He mentioned that he liked Su Cheng very much, and praised the child as a sweetheart.Mrs. Zhang was puzzled, obviously someone had filed a complaint, didn't she?Since he didn't mention it, Mrs. Zhang didn't ask.The silver that is ready for purchase is saved.

At the other end, the grandparents and grandchildren of the Deng family returned to the mansion, and before they had time to discuss what Su Zheng meant today, someone came to report: "Old master, master, master, it's not good!"

Old Mrs. Deng put down the teacup in his hand: "What's wrong!"

The man knelt far away, fearing that he would be caught in a catastrophe: "Just now someone came to report...to report..."

Mrs. Deng pointed at him: "Say!"

"The person guarding our ancestral grave heard someone crying in a dream last night... wake up this morning and take a look..."

Ancestral grave!Mrs. Deng stood up: "What do you see?"

"A large piece of grass died in front of the old man's grave for no reason! It was still green yesterday."

"Boom!" Old Mrs. Deng was so frightened that he fell down on the chair, and looked at each other for a long time with his children and grandchildren, all three of them turned pale.No one said a word in the hall for a long time, a steward suddenly stepped forward and kowtowed: "Old Master, I heard something outside today... I don't know if I should report it to the Old Master."

Old Mrs. Deng waved his hand: "You say so."

The steward then told what he had heard that Su Cheng might have caused the Deng family to rob everyone. "Today, when you guys are about to go out, the branches and the movement in the ancestral hall seem to be unwilling to let you go. Could it be that the temple in our house is too small to hold such a big Bodhisattva?"

Old Mrs. Deng took a slow breath.Since ancient times, the Tian family has been ruthless and righteous, and he knows it clearly.The king of Chu is young and powerful, and he is only busy wooing the Deng family right now, and has absolutely no power to stop them from marrying a wife.It's just that no one knows what it will look like in a few decades.As the eldest girl of the Su family said, the family does not have an army, and only raising so many servants, how can it be against Western firearms?He suddenly remembered that he heard that anyone who was a sea merchant could buy western firearms, and Rongguo Mansion was a sea merchant.If we can get married and buy firearms and guns through the Rongguo Mansion, then Miss Su will have some way to make money, so I don't have to be afraid of the King of Chu, right?A few thoughts swirled in the old man's mind and he couldn't make up his mind.

So he discussed with his children and grandchildren.Deng Ming was also shocked.I thought it was just marrying a daughter-in-law, but who knows that this daughter-in-law can not only attract wealth, but also whether it will bring disaster.The decline of the King of Chu is really not to be taken seriously at this moment; but these few incidents this morning are really like a warning from the ancestors.The three of you frowned for a long time, but in the end it was Master Deng who said, "It won't be too late to discuss after seeing that girl tomorrow."

Originally, if the Deng family wanted to see their granddaughter-in-law, they would have asked Miss Deng to invite ladies from various families in the city to enjoy the flowers, and Su Cheng would be among them.But now Miss Su's words spread throughout the city in the blink of an eye, and Deng's family had their ancestors warn them, so they were worried for a while and didn't dare to invite her here easily.So he changed his method and troubled Deng's in-laws, a family surnamed Wang, as hosts.He only said that their wives invited all the wives to enjoy the flowers, and by the way, they sent posts to both the Deng family and the Su family.

That day, the men of Deng's family didn't go anywhere, they just waited at home.After finally waiting for the wives and girls to come back, I hurriedly asked Mrs. Deng.Mrs. Deng sighed softly, and said to her man: "That girl, you really look good!"

Master Deng said anxiously: "Who asked what you look like! How is your temperament?"

Mrs. Deng said: "I don't want to marry into our family."

Master Deng frowned: "How did you find out?"

"Her mother doesn't want to either." Mrs. Deng said, "Their mother and daughter are dressed up today..." She couldn't help but envy in her eyes, "Like a fairy concubine, everything she wears on her body and on her head is of value. Liancheng. The garden is full of girls... Man Shuo girls, even the wives of the various families can't hide their jealousy."

Master Deng said disapprovingly: "Don't you want to dress decently?"

Mrs. Deng lowered her head and said, "Even if our family is rich, how dare we wear it like that. Aren't we afraid of attracting people's attention?"

"Then Mrs. Su was supported by the men of the Rongguo Mansion in Beijing, so she is used to it. Anyway, if you marry into our family, you will naturally follow our family's rules."

Mrs. Deng said in a low voice: "So she doesn't want to marry?"

Mr. Deng waved his hand and said, "This is nothing. Is there anything else?"

"The two concubine girls in their family are dressed in ordinary clothes." Mrs. Deng said, "It can be seen that Miss Su has no intention of running the family fairly."

"The concubines are inferior to the concubines, so that's nothing."

Mrs. Deng felt that she was talking like chicken and duck, so she had to say: "That girl is so smart, if I marry in, I'm afraid I won't be as good as her."

Master Deng stroked his beard and said with a smile: "That would be better, you also have an arm to help." Mrs. Deng took a look at him and shut up.