By Jia Xiuzhen

Just as Aunt Xue was about to speak, Xue Pan lifted the curtain and came in. He saw a square wooden box in his hand, which seemed to be of some weight. After putting it on the table, he shook his hands and breathed a sigh of relief.Seeing that his forehead was sweating, Aunt Xue wiped him with a handkerchief, and scolded: "What a grown-up! What's going on like a monkey chased by a dog! It's so hot, where are the girls who serve you? Where are the boys? They should all be cleaned up!"

Xue Panren scolded Aunt Xue a few times, and said with a smile: "I'm not in a hurry, I've collected everything so easily, mom and sister have a look, if there's anything wrong, just tell me, I'll look for it later !” After opening the lid of the box, there are five or six compartments inside, full of jewellery, and this layer is uncovered, and there is another layer underneath, which is only divided into two compartments, and it is also full.

Seeing Baochai, she knew that she was preparing things for her to enter the palace, so she laughed angrily and said: "Brother! If I go, I can stay until the end, and I will only come to the moonlight when I have all the money. What are you doing with all these things! There are rules for the clothes and jewelry to be worn, and Mom has already prepared them."

Xue Pan shook his head and said: "How can I wear these things for you? They are reserved for you to reward people. I asked the people in the Niu family of Feng's family and the two county princes' mansions. Thank you, our family doesn't care about these things, don't make others look down on you." Baochai and Aunt Xue took a closer look, only to see that these jewelry are not very fancy, but they are made of real materials.

Xue Pan pointed to the lower box again and said: "These are scattered banknotes, and they can be used to reward an ordinary eunuch Xiaogong's daughter or something; these jewelry sisters wear two kinds of jewelry when they go out, and they are directly from the arm when they are rewarded. From top to bottom, those big palace maids who are in charge of the nanny and the like have to use these, and the cashiers don’t like it. If you want to reward the eunuch in charge with these jade materials, how much money should you give to the eunuch in charge? it!"

I dug out two snuff bottles from the top, handed them to Aunt Xue, and said, "It took a lot of effort to get this one. Respectable people in Beijing like this now, and good ones are hard to find. These two, one colored glaze The one painted inside, and the one inlaid with treasures in enamel, even for 1000 taels of silver, there is no place to buy them now. It’s just me, and I can find two of them.” Baochai said, “It’s already cost a lot to manage it this time. Why do you still have such a thing? I just chose a Zanshan companion to read, so there is no need for such a thing."

Xue Pan shook his head and said: "That's not what I said. There are some things that I can't find out from the mouths of Xiaoyu and Xiami. If I have to ask the eunuch, how can I ask the eunuch if there is no decent thing. Take more self-defense." Aunt Xue spat at him: "Pooh, you fool! What kind of defense! Your sister is going to the palace election, you should go to the den of thieves!"

Xue Pan curled his lips and said, "Mom, how would you know? I've been talking to them these days, and I'm afraid I'll scare you if I tell you everything! If I want to do what I want, why don't you report it Illness, I can avoid the choice. My sister Xue Pan, how can I serve others? Even if it is a princess..."

He still wanted to yell and was covered up by Aunt Xue, who beat him and said bitterly: "You can't have a guard in your mouth?! What kind of talk is this! What do you mean even a princess? Everyone in the world is If he can be selected as a servant of the emperor's family, it is a grace! You! I told you, if you dare to be so careless outside, you will get into trouble and hurt your sister. I will see how you go The ancestral hall will explain to your father!"

Although old man Xue is dead, his power is still there. Xue Pan shrank his neck and hummed twice when he heard his mother say that, and stopped talking.Baochai sighed and said, "Mom, brother also has some reasons. We are not the same as before. We spend so much money, we don't know what the end will be."

Aunt Xue shook her hand, patted her hand and said, "He's an idiot, don't pay attention to him! This trip to the palace, no matter whether you can be selected or not, is also an experience, so those princesses, common people, whoever says they see each other I can see you! Isn’t this a blessing? These things..." Turning back to stare at Xue Pan, Fang turned back and said to Baochai: "You can pick and choose by yourself, and pick some suitable ones to bring. Madam Cui and Mrs. The two nuns talked a lot about it, and you know it well, just to practice your skills."

Seeing that she still had to pick and choose, Xue Pan was unhappy, and said, "I picked these out from a few big trays. Everything is good. My sister brought them with me, so what else to choose!" Aunt Xue had to ask again. Give him a moment, and scolded: "You say you are stupid, and you remember to do something, and you say you are not confused, but you have no brains! Your sister can't bring a maid when she enters the palace this time, what do you want? You struggle to hold the box, how can your sister handle it?!"

Xue Pan opened his mouth and said, "Ah? No girl? Not even a little girl? How can this be good? How can this be good." Seeing him like this, Aunt Xue really felt sorry for her, she was angry and laughed Said: "Okay, okay, your way is just like you, and you can't even wash your face without a maid." Baochai couldn't help covering her mouth when she saw Xue Pan's face, "I don't have a girl to wash my face." happy.

Day and night came and went, and within a few days, it was the day when Baochai entered the palace.I didn't know how many times I cleaned things up. Although Aunt Xue tried her best to put on a confident and relaxed look, when Baochai got in the car and went out, she went back to her room and shed a few tears.It's a pity that my family has no head of the family, so I have to work hard on such things. If I have no roots, I am afraid that Baochai will be wronged if he enters the palace.

The more I thought about it, the more sad I felt, and there was no one to talk to, so I didn't even eat dinner, and just lay down on the bed.Just as he was in a daze, he heard noises from outside, sighed and raised his voice and asked, "Tongxi, what's going on outside?" Tongxi replied through the curtain, "Ma'am, it's the second wife from the house."

Aunt Xue got up when she heard that Mrs. Wang was visiting, and was about to ask someone to come in to serve her, when Mrs. Wang opened the curtain and came in.Seeing her sitting on the bed, with tears still on her face, she waved her hand to get the people who followed her to retreat, and then sat close to her, sighing and said: "I knew that since you were young, you have always been so stubborn. If you don’t want to lose face, you have to hide and cry when no one is around. Every time I see butterflies and dragonflies following you guarding the door, I know you are hiding and dropping golden beans again.”

Aunt Xue couldn't help laughing when Mrs. Wang talked about the past.Mrs. Wang shook her hand and said: "Don't talk to me. I know your thoughts at the moment best. When Yuan'er was elected, the whole family was happy, and they all said that they cast the eyes of Zhonggong at that time. Fate is a great blessing. I had no choice but to laugh at the scene, went back to the house, betrayed someone, and hid in the Buddhist hall to cry. Dreaming at night, once dreamed that she was punished, bullied, and scared I have to wake up in sweat, and I can't help but feel sad when I think about it. The master knows that I am sad, tearful, and unlucky, alas."

Aunt Xue couldn't help shedding tears when she heard this, and choked up, "Sister, I won't hide it from you, Chai'er has a hard life. If it wasn't for losing her father, and I'm such a soft-tempered person, she would also Or go this way. I also know her thoughts, thinking that with Pan'er's temperament, she always has a good way out for herself, so that we can save our family.

It's just that this kind of thing should be a matter for men, but she is a girl, and she has to worry about it. How can I not be sad.Girls from other families live their lives jokingly. Here, she spends her days practicing female celebrity and distracting herself from the affairs of her family's shop.Without Pan'er, there will be no one outside who can go in and out, but if there is no Chai'er, what can be done with just a Pan'er!I felt sorry for her and had to send her away. Thinking about it, my heart felt like it was frying. "

After hearing this, Mrs. Wang said: "Since you think so in your heart, why didn't you say it earlier. Not to mention the selection of a female historian, even the selection of a concubine, we can find a way to avoid it. I was very happy to see you earlier. , I still take it as your heart's pleasure."

Aunt Xue said in tears: "This is not so easy. Seven elders in the Xue family clan recommended me to go, and the first letter of the name was sent directly to Beijing, without even passing through Jinling. I am just a woman. , what else can I do besides preparing something that can be used.”

Mrs. Wang asked: "I was recommended by the elders! Why haven't I heard you mention it?" Aunt Xue said blankly: "Didn't you say it was recommended early in the morning? We didn't apply for the election by ourselves." Mrs. Wang clutched the handkerchief Said: "Hey! You are so confused, the recommendation is different from the recommendation. Normally, you have to go through the screening of the prefecture and county. This old man can only be selected by the joint names of three prominent families and old people. You are good. Seven, I'm afraid they have all been marked in the palace!"

Aunt Xue shook her head and said, "What's the difference? They don't all have to go. Everyone said that Chai'er had a good life and could hold back wealth, so they handed it over silently. Coming to our house is to announce the good news. At that time, I had no other ideas." Seeing Aunt Xue's behavior, Mrs. Wang had no choice but to persuade her to leave, and then hurried back after watching her eat some clear porridge.Aunt Xue sat leaning on the couch, twisting the little golden lock that Baochai wore when she was a child, and murmured: "My son, the road is always walked out step by step."

Mrs. Wang came back to the yard. Jia Zheng was sitting on the couch drinking tea. Seeing her coming in, he asked, "Why did you come back so late?" Se said: "Today is the day when Baochai enters the palace to be elected. I went to have a look, but I didn't expect to find out after asking. This time it was actually recommended by the elders. Usually I only heard that it was recommended, but I didn't expect it." so!"

Jia Zheng drank his tea slowly, seeing Mrs. Wang's anxious face, he said suspiciously: "It's not the same, but I just choose a princess to read with me." Mrs. Wang said impatiently: "How can this be the same? The elders' recommendation is the same as ordinary ones. How can it have the same weight. Although it is chosen to accompany the princess, the noble concubine in Luanming Palace is not the companion of the original eldest princess and now the eldest princess? Even in several palaces today, there are also princesses who are born as companions. .”

Jia Zheng frowned and said, "Oh, why do you want me to listen to these trivial matters in the back house? It's so vulgar!" Mrs. Wang shook her head and said, "Master, why can't you understand? I'm just thinking that Baochai is also a Those who are outstanding, if they fall into the eyes of nobles..." Jia Zheng said: "That is another relative, why are you so anxious!"

Mrs. Wang said: "What if it falls into the eyes of that person in the palace? Now our family and even the Zhen family are working hard for Yuan'er. Baochai was recommended by the elders of the Xue family. If he also enters the palace, This Xue family will definitely not lend us any more strength, and even my brother has to be flat, our house is not in the past, if this happens..." Jia Zheng twisted his neck and pondered for a moment, He said again: "This... this can't be... Where is that identity?"

Mrs. Wang said: "If you choose your concubines directly, you can't do it. It's hard to say that you have to read with the princess first." Ask the old lady, how can we understand what's going on there." Mrs. Wang knew that Jia Zheng was limited in these matters, but it was just inconvenient to pass him by. So I went to discuss with Jia Mu.

Li Wan was sitting in his own yard talking to Nanny Xu, and Nanny Xu brought some fresh vegetables from the farm, most of which were naturally taken to the big kitchen.Nanny Chang got her own share, and said with a smile, "I'm embarrassed to do that." As he said this, he frequently touched the jar in his hand, which was obviously very satisfactory.

Mother Xu said: "Come on, look at your wrinkled face when you smile, and you are so polite. Didn't the elm cake and locust flower cake go to your taste last time? I'll go back and talk about it, Qiao Niangzi Thinking that I might miss the season of Sophora japonica flowers when I come again, I made this Sophora japonica flower sauce, and here I bring it to you." Li Wan said with a smile: "If there is nothing in our house, but the ones that Nanny Chang loves I really can't find it."

Mother Xu laughed and said, "Grandma didn't know that the thing she likes most is something that can't be given to her! She likes pickled things like stinky dry seeds and pickled shrimp paste. If she really wants to have a meal for her, This room can stink for three days!" Yan Momo couldn't help laughing and said, "You still remember the time when you lived in the same room." Xu Momo shook her head again and again: "It's really miserable, miserable That's right. But at that time, the old lady at home was still pampering her."

Then Aunt Chang smiled and continued: "The old lady also likes this one. Steamed tofu in old soup with amaranth stalks must use the good vegetable oil of the year to be delicious." Aunt Xu repeatedly sighed, making everyone laugh .Talking about the matter in the village, Nanny Xu said as if thinking of something again: "By the way, the fleet that arrived in the south is really the same as the ones we went out in the past. This time, I got the trust, it is really Amitabha, so far away , who came and went in the wind and waves, came back safely, really blessed by the Buddha."

Mother Chang said: "Is it the news from your daughter and son-in-law? Her second boy is also back?" Mother Xu shook her head and said, "I haven't seen Ji Liang for a while, I don't know if the second boy has returned Glancing at Li Wan, he smiled and said, "I'm not worried about him. This time the news came from the newly built Beishi Mansion. The people who bought and sold things in the village went in and out, and they were related to the people who worked there. Come and go, I heard the news. It is said that some people have come to Beijing by boat."

Mother Chang smiled and said: "I said earlier that they were all captured by bandits and blown by the wind. It can be seen that there is no certainty." Mother Xu nodded and said, "This time it is true, most of the fleet has returned Yes, not much damage. Now there will be a large number of fan goods for sale, and I don’t know what kind of clothes will be popular.”

Nanny Chang smiled and said, "Well, in our house, we only look at the second grandma. There are only one copy of crape, satin, western ointment and glass mirror." After saying that, she looked at Li Wan, Li Wan He laughed and said, "Don't look at me, mama, you won't even wear a skirt made of flowered crepe for you." Everyone laughed again.

Jia Lan asked, "Mother, isn't our Zhuangzi far from Beishifu?" Mother Xu said, "It's not far, and it won't take long to pass the aisle. Now the village is building the road and it's finished." It’s faster to go by car or horse.” Jia Lan regretfully said, “If I had known this, when my husband took me to the academy, I should have walked to the village to see how the house Mother said was built, and if I could Meet Little Qiwazi."

Mother Xu smiled and said, "Hey, Xiaoqi will be happy again if he knows that brother misses him so much. Is the academy that brother is talking about the one next to the Beijing Teacher's Mansion?" Liancheng Academy. That place is really big, and there are not too many people, not as many as in our mansion."

Mother Chang laughed and said: "If you want to compare the population with our mansion, there are really few people who can compare." Mother Xu said: "This time I know the place, next time I will go to the other end. Let grandma send a letter to the village first, and the village will send someone to pick up my brother. Speaking of which, the main courtyard at the head of the village has always been empty, but even though it is the main courtyard, it is very rough, so it cannot be the same as our house. Libby."

Jia Lan said with a smile: "Mr. asked me about the books I studied in the ethnology school. He didn't seem very satisfied. He also said that when he settled down, he might pick me up to study in Liancheng Academy." The nuns were stunned, Looking at Li Wan, he said with a smile: "This is nonsense! How can a serious brother in the family go to such a long distance to study! It's not impossible to find a gentleman if he thinks that the ethnology is not good. Little one, how can I let you go outside to study alone!"

Seeing that everyone was looking at her, Li Wan said with a smile, "I told you about it a long time ago. As long as the masters and wives agree, I will let him go." Everyone looked at each other speechlessly, Li Wan smiled He said: "You don't know, that Liancheng Academy is not an ordinary place, and ordinary people can't go there even if they want to. If he has that fate, I have nothing to worry about. But such an idea, I really don't feel at ease. I send it three times a day. It doesn’t take much for people to go and have a look.”

Mother Xu laughed out loud, and Jia Lan quickly waved her hands and said, "Don't, if this is the case, I might as well not go and just hang out in the ethnology school." Li Wan nodded his forehead and said: " You see, you are in the ethnology school now, and someone is in charge of the tea and rice. Don’t you have to take it from home? If you go to the academy, you will have three meals a day and snacks. I really don’t need to send someone to bring it to you ?”

Jia Lan quickly shook her head and said, "There is a dining room in the academy, so there is no need to bring it from home. But... But if Niangxin cooks something to eat, I can ask Chang An Yan Ming and the others to bring me a copy. Not bad." Madam Xu hurriedly said: "There is also a dining hall in our village, it is very big, and it takes care of the food for a hundred people, so don't worry, I won't be hungry." Madam Yan shook her head and said: "Okay Talk about going to the academy, don't ask Mr. Shanchang's background, don't talk about the people in the bookstore, just rush to eat, ask me to tell you what is good." Jia Lan quickly laughed: "Mommy, this is called 'before the soldiers and horses move, the food and grass go first'!"