By Jia Xiuzhen

The winter solstice is approaching in a blink of an eye. Last year, the Seventh Prince sacrificed to the heavens, but there is no follow-up. I don't know what the situation will be this year, and there will inevitably be undercurrents.Li Wan made the arrangements for the winter early, and the winter days were short, so she took her mothers and maids to rush to make clothes, and she didn't go out when she had nothing to do.Mother Xu came a few more times, saying that now Duan Gao's eldest son is very concerned about mechanical things, and he is really the material for making them. If there are some minor problems in the machine, he is the one who fixes them.

He also asked how much he sold to Sihai Trading Company; Ji Liang had already settled the bill, and the amount of autumn tea was large, [-]% of which was directly given to the English businessman, and the other [-]% was also given to the Sihai Trading Company, and the price offered by the Sihai Trading Company was the same as that of the English people. The price he offered was almost the same, which was beyond his expectations; and the second boy of Ji Liang’s family actually said that he wanted to go to sea with the English people this time, but he was locked up in the house by his mother for a full month, but he didn’t go to the root. Seeing how he still doesn't give up...Looking at the people who were busy chattering, Li Wan seemed to be in the world of fireworks.

After sending Nanny Xu out, Biyue, who was guarding the door and chatting with Miao Er, entered the room. Nanny Chang saw her smile and asked, "Anything else you want to tell us? You If it's interesting, I'll give you the Rose Bingtang melon seeds I just bought."

Biyue laughed and said, "Is Mammy serious? It's nothing unusual, but I heard from Miao'er that Master Lin's family in Yangzhou sent a boat to give New Year gifts!"

Mother Chang wondered: "This matter has nothing to do with you, you are so happy to see what Yahuazi is doing?" Biyue said, "Where is it? I thought we would get a lot of things from the south in spring and summer. Those rice dumpling candies with pine nuts are really sweet, I wonder if Mrs. Lin will bring some to Miss Lin?"

Su Yun laughed out loud when she heard it, and Li Wan also laughed and said, "It's strange that Nanny Chang likes to tease her, this temperament is really... somewhat similar to Nanny."

Nanny Chang didn't think it was disobedient, she nodded and said: "You can remember the benefits of the pine nut rice dumpling candy, which is a bit of wisdom." Everyone was more and more happy when they heard this.

Li Wan went to Jia's mother's place, thinking of the scene just now, he couldn't help laughing.When I arrived at the upper room, I saw everyone was there, and sat down after saluting. Mother Jia looked at it and asked, "Why are you so happy today? But Lan'er has been praised by Mr.

Li Wan hurriedly replied: "It's not Lan'er's business, it's actually Coke, the girl in my house." Then he told Daiyu about Biyue's concern about Zongzi Tang, and said to Daiyu, "Sister, don't talk to this gluttonous girl. Care about, I really can't do anything with her."

Daiyu only heard that the family was going to send someone, and she felt joyful and anxious at the same time, she couldn't care less about these, she hurriedly grabbed Li Wan's hand and said, "Sister-in-law, who did my father send? Has it arrived yet?" ?”

Li Wan was taken aback, and hurriedly said: "We are just talking about it, but we don't know the details."

Mother Jia hugged Daiyu and said with a smile, "Yu'er is really in a hurry and went to the doctor. You shouldn't ask your sister-in-law about this, but your second sister-in-law."

Sister Feng got up and said with a smile: "Sister-in-law is so well-informed. I was about to say it to please the old lady, Sister Lin, but I was robbed of the credit. I have received the news early in the morning. I'm afraid I can arrive this afternoon. I'm afraid this is the moment."

Jia Mu said with a smile: "You monkey, you can't hide it. Could it be that, like that little girl, you want to take advantage of the cakes brought by my aunt!"

Mrs. Wang said: "In the past, my aunt took care of the annual ceremony. I always sent my mother-in-law here first. This year, only a young man came to report. Just now, my niece asked who came, I really don't know."

Jia's mother said: "Anyway, the meeting is coming soon. If there is a mother-in-law and daughter-in-law following, let her come and kowtow. If the old family members who come here, they are not easy to see, my wife is not shy about anything. Call me to ask how many times." What you say is fine." Mrs. Wang quickly agreed, and Sister Feng went out to make arrangements first.

After a while, I heard that the people from Lin's family had arrived, and later I saw Sister Feng leading a daughter-in-law in. Others were fine, but the eyes of the snow geese beside Daiyu were bright.The daughter-in-law kowtowed to Jia's mother, saying that her master greeted the old lady and uncles and wives, and thanked everyone for taking care of Daiyu; To be filial to the front, and to have sisters as companions to support the master can also be at ease.

Mother Jia waited for further questioning, but the daughter-in-law probably only memorized the phone call, and didn't know much about the rest, only knowing that Lin Ruhai was in good health, so after a few words, someone led them to Daiyu's room and let them talk by themselves. go.Daiyu saluted and hurried away.

Sister Feng presented the gift list to Jiamu, and the mandarin ducks took it and took reading glasses. When Jiamu looked at it carefully, Sister Feng said again: "This gift list is a New Year's gift from Aunt Lin, and there are a few boxes for Sister Lin. It's all out there now."

Jiamu looked at it and said, "All the things for your sister should be sent to her house. This year's ceremony, just follow the usual ones." Sister Feng took the order, and her housekeeper went out to call The mother-in-law carries things.

Let's say that the daughter-in-law followed someone to Daiyu's room and wanted to kowtow to Daiyu first. Daiyu hurriedly asked Xueyan to help her, and said straightly: "Sister Xueyan, don't be too polite, how is your father? Can you send me a letter?" Me? Can you bring me a message?"

Wang Momo stepped forward to help the daughter-in-law, and said with a smile: "Young lady asks repeatedly, but which one should she answer? Why don't Du Ansheng sit down, serve tea, and talk slowly?"

The daughter-in-law hurriedly said that she didn't dare, Xueyan had already brought a small bag over, Daiyu repeatedly gave way, she first took out a thick envelope from her bosom and handed it to Xueyan, Fang Qianqian sat down.

Daiyu was busy opening the letter for a while, and wanted to ask more questions, the daughter-in-law said with a slight smile: "Don't worry, big girl, you just read the letter first, and I will talk slowly."

Daiyu opened the letter, read and listened to each line, and the daughter-in-law went on to say: "This time, it was Mother Qi who came here, but she is not in good health this autumn, and it happened that our family came with Butler Lin." In Beijing, I asked for this errand. Since I sent the girl to Beijing, the master seldom enters the back house. When he comes back, he is mostly busy with official duties in the study, and only occasionally goes to his wife's yard to sit.

The master is in good health, and he is also thinking about the girl. I don't know if the girl is still coughing now that it is autumn?The master said that as long as the girls take care of themselves, don't think too much, listen to the teachings of the grandmother and the aunts and sisters-in-law at the grandmother's house, laugh and have fun with the sisters more, and be happy, so the master can rest assured.By the way, this time the master brought some things to the girl, the list is in the letter, the girl can read it carefully when the time comes.

When I came, Nanny Qi told me to say something when she asked me to kowtow to the old lady. I didn't know what other old ladies asked about it just now.I came here this time to see the girl for the master, how does she look like, but she has grown taller, and I want to ask how the girl lives at her grandmother's house?Wait to go back and tell the master. "

Daiyu opened the letter and didn't read a few lines. After hearing what the daughter-in-law said, she couldn't hold back her tears.Xueyan hurriedly wiped her with a handkerchief, and Daiyu choked up and said, "Go back and tell Daddy that I am fine here. My grandmother, aunt, and sister-in-law treat me very well, just like other girls in his family. My sister-in-law is even better. I take care of the cold and the heat, although I still have some coughs, but it is much better than when I was at home. I just want my father to rest assured, and I want my father to take care of his health."

The daughter-in-law responded quickly, and the two talked about the trivial matters of the Yangzhou family, but now that Lin Ruhai is focusing on official business, the inner house can only be said to be "easy", and the things outside the front are beyond the knowledge of this daughter-in-law. .

Seeing the few words between the two of them back and forth, Wang Momo made Daiyu cry, fearing that she might hurt herself, she persuaded her and asked Xueyan to accompany her sister-in-law to talk outside first, and then she helped Daiyu to wash up.Daiyu took the letter and read it carefully, and saw that besides the list of things brought, there were also several bank notes.

Wang Momo looked at it and said: "The master is also afraid that it will be inconvenient for the girl to spend here. Girl, please put it away carefully. It will be convenient for you to ask for something or give someone a reward."

Daiyu saw that there were several 1000 taels of bank notes and a few hundred taels of silver notes. She was lazy by nature and handed them over to Mammy Wang and said, "This mammy, keep it for me, my daily things They are all in charge of Zijuan, it's just that this father brought it extra, so it's not interesting for everyone to know."

Wang Momo thought it was the same reason, so she took it away and put it away, leaving only 100 taels, and said to Daiyu, "Although the girl has nothing to spend now, this one should be put together with the monthly money. Zijuan has found someone to exchange for scattered silver, so it's good to have it ready." Daiyu didn't want to care about these things, so she just answered casually and buried her head in reading the letter.

Mother Wang was able to tidy up, and called Zijuan to come in to take care of her, and went out by herself to find Xueyan and her sister-in-law, who were talking in Xueyan's room.When Wang Momo came in, Xueyan was asking about the family's little nephew and niece. Seeing Wang Momo coming, she hurriedly gave up her seat.Wang Momo didn't refuse, she sat down and asked Xueyan's sister-in-law: "When did you arrive? Can someone send someone to inform the mansion?"

Xueyan's sister-in-law replied: "I arrived early this morning. Steward Lin and the others sent someone to notify me a few days earlier. When I arrived today, people from the mansion here will pick me up at the pier."

Wang Momo's face changed slightly when she heard this, and she asked again: "Since you arrived early in the morning, why did you come in now to say hello?"

Xueyan's sister-in-law said: "When we arrived, a sister-in-law who looked a bit dignified came and said that there are distinguished guests in the house today. Looking at the girl, I also saw Xueyan, so I waited in that room. After sitting for a long time, another sister-in-law came and said that the old lady passed me on, so I can go up."

After saying this, both Xue Yan and Wang Momo changed their expressions.Sister-in-law Xueyan said: "Is there anything wrong?"

Grandma Wang sighed and said, "How can there be any distinguished guests! It was because the grandma made a joke when we were joking, and we didn't know that the mansion had sent someone. The girl asked who was sent and when, and someone replied that it was about afternoon Able to."

Xueyan's sister-in-law was stunned, and said: "How can you say that, we arrived early in the morning..." She seemed to have thought of something, and hurriedly stopped talking.

The three of them looked at each other, and Wang Momo said: "I used to say that I was enslaved, but now it seems that... this is more than a slave!"

Sister-in-law Xueyan said: "I must tell the master when I go back."

Mother Wang said: "Thinking about it now, if you hand things over to someone else, I'm afraid you won't be able to reach the girl's hands. Anything else is fine. Is it possible that the master's letter to the girl will also be ignorant? But if you don't ignorant, I can’t hide the things and money I sent, so it’s just another waste of work!”

Xueyan's sister-in-law was already dumbfounded, and said: "Or, maybe it will be handed over to the girl? Or, maybe, just go through it to see what to send into the house."

Xueyan said anxiously: "Sister-in-law, you are our family! In this mansion, even the slaves and masters are all mothers, and they are all scrambling for the money in the oil pan, let alone this delivered to the door! Think about it, if this matter drags you over, we won't hear anything about it inside. At that time, we will only say that the Lin family sent someone to bring the New Year's gift, and the old lady and girl can still chase it out if there are other urgent matters that have already left. Ask? Can you still tell right from wrong about Jing Er with our master?! Isn’t it just falling into the mouth of a dog!”

Wang Momo wanted to cover Xueyan's mouth anxiously, and said angrily: "How many times do you have to say it before you grow up?! If you can't speak, don't say it! What's the matter with your mouth?! Anyone in this house who farts in a blink of an eye If eight people know about it, are you afraid that you won’t be hated for the girl?!"

Knowing that she was too anxious, Xueyan blushed and stopped angrily.Mother Wang sighed, and said to Sister-in-Law Xueyan: "Of course you have to make it clear to the master, but there is nothing else you can do. The old lady really loves the girl, and now she treats the girl no worse than Baoyu. It's just that the old lady has After the Spring and Autumn Period, where can I see everything clearly, I know what is there, and I still have to take care of the face of everyone.

Besides, this mansion is not as glamorous as our wife said when we were at home. Last year, the rouge at home was stopped, and this year, incense was stopped, and they were all bought. These days, I heard that the annual regulations will be changed.You don't know, we have seen and smelled so many things that we have never thought about during the year we have been here, alas! "

Sister-in-law Xueyan thought of something else, so she asked: "Then the usual letter from the master sent to the girl... miss, did the miss receive all of them?"

Wang Momo thought about it for a while, and said: "I have received it, but I don't know if I have received it all. If you say that, I really...we don't care what the master and the girl said in the letter. I'm too worried. The girl is still young. How old is she? If you think about it, the master won't say anything else. The girl writes letters, mostly to report her safety. What will happen in the future? We can't do anything about it, you just told the master in detail, I think the master has his own opinion."

Sister-in-law Xueyan agreed one by one, fearing that they would be discussed if they left for a long time, Nanny Wang and Xueyan said a few more things to let sister-in-law Xueyan know, and they went to Daiyu's place together.Sister-in-law Xueyan kowtowed to Daiyu and then went to kowtow to say goodbye to Jia Mu, but she met Mrs. Xing there, looking very unhappy.Mother Jia asked Yuanyang to reward her with a high-quality purse, and sister-in-law Xueyan kowtowed and thanked her for the reward, and then went out.