As parents of older men and women, the potential for wedding preparations is unlimited. Sheng Wei and the Kang family hurriedly prepared everything. The wedding was scheduled for the end of September in the crisp autumn weather, so that the new daughter-in-law could go to the ancestral hall at the end of the year to offer New Year incense to her ancestors; Sheng Hong got the letter , so he went to the Yamen later that morning and gathered his children together to talk.
Ming Lan suppressed a yawn and when she was dragged into the house by Dan Ju, she saw that Sheng Hong and Wang were already sitting on two paulownia high chairs in the hall, one sitting on the east side and the other on the west side. The brothers and sisters were standing, and Changdong, the last one standing on the left, quietly cast a relieved look at her. Minglan knew it was okay, walked lightly to Rulan's side, and stood still.
Sheng Hong took a sip of the hot tea. Wang watched him put down the tea bowl and said, "You all should sit down, I have something to say."
Minglan sat down, looked up at Sheng Hong, and saw that he said happily: "Your uncle's family is going to have a happy event, and it's a good thing to get married." After saying that, he stroked his beard and laughed.
No one dared to ask Sheng Hong, so they all opened their eyes to look at Minglan. Minglan smiled cooperatively and said, "It's brother Wu Er and cousin Yun'er. The eldest aunt liked my cousin very much after seeing each other. She said she was quiet and elegant. The eldest brother." My wife wrote a letter saying that this is all because we, the old ladies, are trying to protect the matchmakers. Dad, did your uncle send you red envelopes for the matchmakers?"
Sheng Hong pointed at Minglan and laughed: "You kid! You are already a grown-up girl, and you are still so naughty!"
Mrs. Wang said proudly: "When it comes to Yoon'er's character and family background, it's really hard to choose. My uncle's family is lucky to have such a daughter-in-law. It's fate that this happened!"
Mo Lan smiled sweetly: "Fate is fate, but to put it into detail, my uncle's family has such blessings and dad's face."
This sentence is very vague. A family like the Kang family is willing to marry their legitimate daughter into the businessman Sheng Wei's family. It is partly because of Sheng Hong's face. Mo Lan's hint hit Sheng Hong's itch. Sure enough, Sheng Hong didn't say anything after hearing this, but his expression was different. Feeling a little more happy, she nodded repeatedly towards Mo Lan, her eyes full of pleasure.
Minglan lowered her head and looked at Rulan, who was clenching her fists in her sleeves. She sighed secretly: If Mo Lan was an idol before, she has become a powerful person in recent years. No matter what kind of virtue she is in front of Rulan Minglan, but As long as Sheng Hong is present, she is a gentle, meticulous and good daughter, caring about her elders and considerate of her younger sister.
Sheng Hong said with a smile: "The eldest lady wrote a letter saying that this wedding will require the old lady to go to a banquet. If she doesn't go, she will have to come and invite her in person. I discussed it with the old lady yesterday and will leave for Youyang at the end of the month. I have I can't go because I have official business. My term as magistrate will expire at the end of October. Changbai will go to the capital to tidy up his mansion soon. Changfeng will prepare for the Qiu Wei exam. Changdong is still too young. Minglan must accompany the old lady. Mo'er, Ru'er, are you willing to go?"
Rulan turned around and glanced at Minglan. In fact, Minglan was also surprised. According to the old lady's usual cold and bored temperament, Minglan thought that she would definitely not go this time. She was thinking of helping to find an excuse, but she didn't expect that this time the old lady would not go. The wife agreed immediately.
Mo Lan glanced at Ming Lan and said with a smile: "Originally I was very willing to go to such a happy event, but our family is moving to the capital, and my wife has a lot of housework and is too busy to handle. We have to do the packing ourselves. , I also have to help with the cooking for the fifth sister and the third brother, so I won’t go. I would like the sixth sister to come and say my best wishes to the second brother Wu."
Minglan smiled and agreed.
Compared with the colorful world in the capital, Youyang is naturally far behind, not to mention there is Qi Heng there! Rulan also thought of it, and said coldly: "Who wants you to help with the cooking?! If the fourth sister doesn't want to go, just don't go. , don’t attack me!"
Wang frowned and looked at Sheng Hong. Sure enough, he had already shouted in a deep voice: "How can you talk? You have been careless since you were a child. Your sister is kind enough to help you, how can you be so ignorant?! Don't go if you have no rules. No shame!”
Ru Lan suppressed her blush, but did not dare to talk back. Wang was afraid of scolding again, so she quickly advised: "Children are not sensible, and sisters quarrel sometimes. Master, please speak up quickly. It is getting late, you still have to Where is the Yamen?"
Sheng Hong glared at Mr. Wang, turned around and said warmly: "Minglan, this time you will accompany the old lady to Youyang alone. The old lady is old, so you should keep an eye on her along the way!"
Minglan was willing to go out to play. She had not been out since ancient times, but when she thought of riding in a carriage again, she frowned and said: "Dad, you are contrary to what you said. I am the only one who will faint when seeing a carriage. Don't be tired." It's good to have the old lady looking at me, how about I walk?" Sheng Hong looked at Minglan's sad face and thought it was funny. He said with a straight face: "Your short legs will only break if you run. Can catch up with the full moon wine!"
The atmosphere in the room relaxed and everyone laughed. Minglan became even more worried: "How about I don't go too?"
Sheng Hong looked at Minglan's fair and pretty little face, liked it in his heart, and said: "Go! Take this opportunity to meet your relatives at home, and then go to the ancestral temple to add incense. If your brothers and sisters have any gifts to send, you can give them to them." Take it with you."
After saying that, Sheng Hong stood up, and all the children on both sides also stood up. Wang stood up and helped him adjust the purple cloud, crane and flower brocade ribbon on his body. When Sheng Hong walked past Minglan, he warned again: " Minglan, hurry up and pack up. Don’t let the old lady worry about you. Go outside and be polite and receive gifts. When you return to the capital just in time for the New Year, daddy will take you to the street to see the New Year lanterns."
Minglan immediately nodded her head, Sheng Hong smiled and touched Minglan's head, turned around and waved to Changbai, then strode out, Changbai followed, Changfeng looked at the backs of the father and son if they were disappointed.
"Dad asked eldest brother to go, why don't you know?" Mo Lan saw that Chang Feng was worried, so she asked casually, pretending not to care.
Rulan glanced at her disdainfully: "If you want to know, ask daddy." Then she waved her handkerchief and followed Wang into the back room. Minglan was most afraid of this, so she hurriedly slipped out.
As soon as she entered the back room, Ru Lan was scolded by Mrs. Wang: "You are getting older and getting better and better. Even if you can't imitate the scheming of the fourth girl, you can still imitate the obedient and lovable girl of the sixth. Your father has liked her so much in the past few years. In my opinion, I often praise her for her gentleness, gentleness, and kindness, and she often tells me that I must not wrong her when I use it every day!"
Rulan snorted coldly: "I just know how to make a few pairs of shoes and a few purses to please you!"
Mrs. Wang was even more angry: "Although shoes are a small matter, they are full of filial piety. Even when I wear the shoes she gave me, I still feel that she has put her heart into it. Why don't you do it? You just keep fighting and making nonsense with the fourth girl! Your father This time I asked Minglan to go to the ancestral temple to offer incense, just to let my uncles and relatives back home know that this child will be in my name!"
Ru Lan was shocked: "Really? What about the fourth sister? She also went to the ancestral temple in her early years. Could it be that she also...?"
"I don't know, let's show him off at first sight." Mrs. Wang tiredly sat down on the kang.
The mother and daughter here are suffering from headaches. Over there, Ranfa Zhaosheng Hong is walking along the garden, talking to Changbai: "I have asked Laifu to control those boxes of gifts. Your mother will order some more before I leave. I wrote a letter to you Uncle Liu Shi. If nothing happens, he will be transferred to the position of Minister of Household Affairs at Dali Temple after his term in Dali Temple. You also wrote a letter to Brother Wu and told him some details about Mr. Liu's likes and family. Let him I have prepared it early so that I can visit you when I return to Beijing."
Changbai nodded, and after a while, he suddenly said: "Uncle is very capable."
After just seven words, Sheng Hong suddenly turned his head to look at his son, his eyes full of admiration: "It's good if you can think of this. Even if we are relatives in this world, I respect others every step of the way. Speaking of which, Your eldest uncle is most like your great-grandfather, but with a little help from me, he worked hard to build such a big business with nothing. With a pair of sons who inherited the family business and entered official careers, their family will definitely not be defeated in the future; Bai'er, I only hope I hope you and Feng'er can take care of each other in the officialdom in the future. Dong'er seems to have no bookishness, but he is quite clever and thoughtful. When he is older, let him do business and buy real estate. In this way, the three of you brothers will be rich and wealthy! "
Changbai looked at his father's high-spirited side face and coughed lightly: "When the old lady goes to Youyang this time, I'm afraid she will meet the third old lady again. The eldest old lady... is also very good."
Sheng Hong looked at his serious-looking eldest son with some resentment. If Chang Feng were here, he would definitely respond to his plan with loud cheers and maybe even slap him twice, but Chang Bai was so completely uninterested, but it happened that he was the last Yi Zhong was also the eldest son. Thinking about it, he sighed and said: "The third old man's family has become more and more declining in recent years. Jian Tian'er went to your uncle to catch the autumn wind. When he saw that Song Ge'er and his wife had no children, he even encouraged the clan elders to adopt his grandson. , when he sees Brother Wu getting married this time, he will definitely make a fuss again. The old lady will hinder the face of the clan, so it’s not good to go too far. Only your grandmother, with her high status and strong temper, can suppress this third old lady!"
Sheng Hong smiled bitterly as he spoke, while Chang Bai raised his eyebrows and stopped answering.
…
Minglan's cage had almost been packed up, and she thought she had to say goodbye to her best friend and just send a message to someone else. Hong Qingyu was two years younger than me and the most mischievous. She was a steadfast fishing friend, so she closed up the letter. I wrote a letter to explain, and after asking the old lady for permission, I went to say goodbye to Yanran in person. The old lady knew that Minglan was motion sick, so she asked Fang’s mother to prepare her green baize sedan, and she went to say goodbye to Yanran herself.
As soon as she arrived fifty meters away from Yu Mansion, Minglan felt something was wrong. She opened the sedan curtain a little and saw that the door of Yu Mansion was tightly closed. There were many people around the door pointing and pointing. Minglan vaguely heard a few words. The sentence '...Chen Shimei...abandoned his wife and son...used his power to bully others...' What? Minglan immediately ordered Cui's mother to stand outside and call the sedan to go around the back door and go in.
The caretaker of the Yu Mansion was already familiar with the Sheng family's cars, but today she looked embarrassed. She didn't know if she should let Ming Lan in. They were in a stalemate when the wet nurse beside Yan Ran hurried over and welcomed Ming Lan. Going in, she whispered in Minglan's ear with a trembling voice: "...Ms. Ming treats us girls more intimately than sisters. I won't hide it from you. There was a woman early this morning. I don't know her name? She was carrying a pair of The children knelt and kowtowed at the door of our house, saying that they wanted to see the girl and the old lady and the old man. If they were not allowed to see her, they would bang their heads against the door to death!...Oh, how can this be a good thing? How come our girls are so miserable..."
Minglan heard her say that she was clueless. After thinking about it for a while, she finally understood something and said hesitantly: "That woman...is Ningyuan Hou Gu's Second Young Master...?"
The wet nurse was so anxious that she almost burst into tears. She hid her handkerchief and said, "What a sin!... What does this have to do with my girl? The woman kept saying that she wanted to serve tea to the girl and asked her to take pity on the three of them. Otherwise, they would be kneeling and unable to get up. The two children's cries were heard by the whole house. The old man was so angry that he vomited a mouthful of blood and fainted. The old lady couldn't hold on any longer. But the second master's family went to Jinan. This, this , there is no one who can take charge here! Our girl is weak-tempered, can only cry, and has nothing to do... Oh, Lord Buddha, what kind of evil are you doing!"
Minglan felt nervous and walked quickly to the backyard. Just after passing the half-moon gate, she saw
A group of maids and women gathered around, whispering, laughing or discussing. Minglan turned around and told the wet nurse: "Go and invite your second wife's mother, who is in charge, to come and watch. What's going on? ?!"
The wet nurse was startled, suddenly realized what was happening, and ran away quickly. Minglan knew Yu Zhai well, so she walked straight inside with little Tao Danjue, and walked into the courtyard. She saw a woman in plain clothes kneeling in the middle, with her arms around her. A son and a daughter, mother and son couldn't stop crying. Minglan slowed down and walked around her, heading straight into the house.
As soon as they entered the room, they saw Mrs. Yu lying on the soft footboard panting weakly, and Yanran sitting weakly by the couch, her face pale and in a daze. As soon as she saw Minglan, she came up and held her hand tightly, trembling her lips and murmuring. He said: "You are calling your sister a joke..." Then he braced himself and shouted to the woman: "If you don't get up quickly, I won't accept your tea! You hurry up and leave!"
The woman raised her head and saw that she had a beautiful appearance but a pitiful appearance. Her head was stained with blood. She thought it was caused by kowtow. Her eyes were filled with red tears: "From now on, you will be my mistress. If you don't want to tolerate me, what will happen to you?" The earth is so big, how can we, mother and son, survive? If the girl doesn’t respond to me today, we, mother and son, might as well die here! Can the girl bear to watch us die?!"
Yanran has always been soft-faced and soft-hearted. When she said this, she was speechless. She became even more ashamed under Minglan's gaze and weakly shouted: "Get up first, I, I won't let you die..."
Minglan rolled her eyes when she heard this. Mr. Yu Ge was very strict with himself and never took a concubine in his life. Mrs. Yu lived smoothly until now, and her daughter-in-law did not dare to disobey her. Yanran grew up under the care of her grandparents. She and her grandson have probably never met each other. After such a battle, the resistance to blows is naturally weaker. If Wang or Rulan Molan were here, haha... Minglan suddenly missed the strong fighting power of those three women. Watching Mrs. Yu take in her breath Speak less and show off your anger more. Minglan gritted her teeth and whispered in the old lady's ear: "Old madam, please forgive me, Minglan is going too far."
Mrs. Yu opened her eyes and saw that it was Minglan. She understood in her heart, but she couldn't muster the strength to breathe hard: "Just like my own granddaughter, go...go and support my incompetent girl." !”
Minglan stood at the door, looked at the woman at the foot of the steps, and heard a clear voice: "Who are you kneeling down on? If you want my sister to drink your tea, you have to tell me your name!"
The woman raised her head slightly and saw that the servants around her were very respectful to Minglan. She thought this was the second wife of the Yu family, so she stopped crying and said, "My name is Manniang, and these are my poor children!"
Ming Lan had a gentle expression and said with a smile: "Taking a concubine is not just a cup of tea for the mistress. The so-called unrest in the family brings trouble to Xiao Qiang. Even if ordinary people want a concubine, they have to ask about their origins. Besides, Marquis Ningyuan is a nobleman from a famous family and the imperial capital. If she is my sister I don’t even know your origins and past, so I just drank your cup of tea casually. Wouldn’t it make people laugh at the Yu family’s lack of decency?!”
The voice was clear and the logic was clear. Everyone nodded in agreement after hearing it. Mannia looked startled and looked at Minglan with some surprise. At this time, the maid brought a soft dumpling for Minglan. Minglan sat down gracefully and asked with a smile: " Now, my grandmother and sister will ask you a question. Only after asking clearly can my sister drink your tea! I wonder if you want to kneel down and answer, or stand up?"
Seeing Minglan's demeanor, the maids around her had gradually stopped talking. Seeing the mother and son acting like a joke, Mannia gritted her teeth, stood up, and whispered, "But it's up to the girl to ask."
A maid brought a tray to Minglan. Minglan took the time to pick up the tea bowl and took a sip. She asked kindly: "I wonder if you care about the family members?" Mannia lowered her head and said dullly: "...No."
Minglan smiled secretly in her heart and asked again: "Oh, that's the family outside. I wonder how your parents and brothers are doing? What do they do for a living?"
Mannia's pale face suddenly turned blue. She trembled her lips and said intermittently: "...I, I don't have parents, I only have one brother who does some small business..."
"What business?" Minglan asked tightly, and the servants around her were waiting with their eyes wide open.
"At...the water transport terminal." Mannia's voice was almost inaudible.
Minglan was about to say that dock porter was a legitimate profession when suddenly a nun beside the old lady leaned over and said something. Minglan frowned and said: "Then what is your relationship with the Sixth Class?"
Mannia's voice was like a mosquito's cry: "My brother used to work there."
Ming Lan suddenly realized. She knew that it was impossible for a dandy like Gu Er to know women from outside, either in a brothel or a theater. "This is really difficult! I'm afraid my sister can't make the decision. You might as well ask for it yourself." Gu family?"
Mannia knelt down again with a bang, tears rolling down her face, and kowtowed repeatedly: "The Gu family dislikes my low background and refuses to accept me. I have no choice... I can only ask the girl to take pity on me. Seeing that my children have grown up, We have to naturalize them!”
Minglan saw that the two children were only three or two years old and ignorant, and she felt a little pity in her heart, so she tried to say: "Even if the Gu family doesn't recognize you, they will still want these children! I'm just afraid that I will wrong you."
Mannia was panicked and shouted: "Are we going to separate our mother and son? Look at the beauty of the girl, she is so cruel! If you leave my child, I, I might as well die..."
As he spoke, he knocked his head heavily on the ground, and the maid next to him hurriedly pulled him away.
Minglan began to sneer in her heart, and her tone gradually became harder: "Young lady is really clever. Knowing that the Gu family won't tolerate you, she asked my sister to be an unfilial daughter-in-law. She has already disobeyed her elders before she even entered the house!"
Mannia's eyes flickered, then she lowered her head and said sadly: "Girl, if you do well, please pity me! Saving one life is better than building a seven-level pagoda. The lives of our mother and son are in the hands of the girl! In the future, my sister and I will If we serve the same husband together, we will be respectful and obedient. We will only obey your sister's orders. My children are your sister's children..."
Before she finished speaking, a faint cry came from the back room, and Mrs. Yu tried her best to gasp: "Drive out, drive out! Cancel the engagement! Cancel the engagement!..." The voice was very low and could not be heard outside. She only stood at the door.
When Minglan realized it, she stood up and shouted loudly: "Shut up!"
The girl's voice was shrill and loud, which suddenly stunned everyone in the court. Minglan stood up immediately, walked to the steps, looked down at Mannia, and said in a cold voice: "What do you mean by serving one husband together? No matchmaker, nothing.
Pin, what does my sister have to do with the Gu family? If you don’t have a clean mouth, be careful I slap your mouth!"
Mannia was stunned. She didn't expect that this little girl as beautiful as a flower could be so furious. One moment she was gentle and gentle, but the next moment she immediately turned her back and refused to recognize anyone. She felt a little timid. Then she looked at the many people around her.
Then he mustered up the courage and said loudly: "If the girl doesn't let me live, we won't live anymore!"
After saying that, she picked up her children and rushed towards the wall to meet their heads. She was immediately stopped by the servants around her, and then she kept wailing and crying. The two children were also frightened and screamed and cried.
It was a complete mess.
At this time, the wet nurse finally arrived with the mother in charge. Seeing this scene, she immediately told the people to disperse, and then directed two strong women to stand up one on the left and one on the right of Mannia. Mannia was so frightened that she did not dare to cry anymore.
Lan waved her hands gently, looked at them coldly, and said in a clear and slow voice: "Although your background is low, it is not a big mistake. You can live an ordinary life by marrying a commoner. But you know full well that it is difficult for you to be accepted by a wealthy family.
Why did you want to be an outhouse when you knew the Gu Mansion wouldn't tolerate you? Now that you've made it, why would you come here to cry and cry to your death! Could it be that you were forced into such a situation with no choice?...Hmph, your name is
My sister accepted you, a person who is not tolerated by the Gu family, and made my sister unfilial; you frightened everyone in the house and made people criticize you, making my sister feel unjust; you opened your mouth and shut up and took charge of your mother's concubine's room, my sister
I am a pure and pure person, but my reputation has been ruined by you for no reason! - You and my sister are not related to each other. You came to the door so ignorantly, and made my sister unfilial and unjust, and also ruined her reputation. Today I will
It’s not an exaggeration to say that I’ll slap you out with a slap!”
Minglan scolded her eloquently, even the servant who had shown pity to Mannia just now showed disdain. Seeing that the situation was reversed, Mannia wanted to argue again, but Minglan was the first to speak: "Now you have two ways, one is to take care of yourself
Go out, and the Yufu family will take you on the road back to Beijing. One way, you will be gagged, your hands and feet will be tied, and you will be carried out through the back door and thrown on the car and boat back to Beijing! You can choose one!" The mother in charge was very clever.
After hearing this, I immediately asked someone to tie the rope.
Mannia's pretty face changed several colors, she bit her lower lip, looked at Minglan pitifully and softly, and then said a few words: "Girl, I..."
Minglan interrupted her again, looked at her, and said coldly: "You just need to say yes or no! Mom, are the ropes ready?"
The last sentence was said to the mother in charge, who immediately responded: "It's been prepared! Only the girl can speak!" Several strong women nearby were also ready to go. They could only give the order and then take action.
Mannia looked at Minglan with helpless eyes, and Minglan was not afraid to look back. She had witnessed Wang's mother and daughter and Aunt Lin's mother and daughter competing on the same stage for many years. Today's scene really didn't scare her.
The two looked at each other for a long time, and Mannia felt helpless. She pulled the two children to stand up and let the servant girl pull them out.