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Chapter 8

At the end of summer and autumn, the north is not as good as the south. The weather is gradually getting drier and cooler. Sheng Mansion cannot help but cook some sweet soup to moisten the lungs and relieve coughs. Minglan has been sick most of the time since coming here. This change made her even weaker. She often suffers from dry cough and asthma, and the doctor can't help but prescribe some nourishing medicine. However, Minglan hates the taste of traditional Chinese medicine the most. She misses Sichuan Fritillary Loquat Dew and Ke Chuan Ning anxiously. The more she thinks about it, the more she resists traditional Chinese medicine. A bowl of it would cost her more. After vomiting half a bowl, she had been sick all day long, and she couldn't lift up any strength at all. Minglan, who was once strong and had practiced self-defense fighting skills, was really angry.

Sheng Hong and Wang thought about it again and again, and asked around about Yuan Wenshao's character and talents, and finally decided on him. After the gift of receiving the gift, they gave Hualan's birth date and asked for his name. Wang's idea was very magical. , they actually invited an eminent monk and a promising Taoist priest to combine their horoscopes. The monks both said that they had been in good horoscopes for centuries. Only then did Wang feel relieved. Sheng Hong looked at the incense in Wang's room. On the table, there was a whisk placed on the left and a wooden fish on the right. I couldn't help but laugh: "Does Madam believe in Buddhism or Taoism? I can tell you accurately. It will be more effective if you point it in the direction of worship."

Mrs. Wang knew that her husband was making fun of her: "I will worship whichever one is effective. As long as Hua'er is good, I can worship the root of the wall."

Sheng Hong's expression dimmed: "I know you have a loving mother's heart, and you are most kind-hearted. Recently, I think tomorrow will be bad, so you should be more careful. If you keep coughing like this, don't risk your life."

Mrs. Wang said: "Yesterday I received a letter from Beijing. Uncle Zhongqin's Mansion will come to make a small appointment in the next few days. Hua'er saw that I was very busy, so he took over the affairs of Ming Yatou."

Sheng Hong shook his head: "What does a child like Hua'er know? It's better for you to ask yourself."

Wang laughed and said: "Look what I said, Hua girl is no longer a child. If everything goes well, she will get married either at the end of next year or early next year. In the future, she will serve her parents-in-law and husband-in-law, so she should learn to take care of others." ; In the past few days, she gave her portion of pear soup and almond soup to Girl Ming. She scooped out her portion and watched Girl Ming take the medicine every day. She vomited half a bowl and had to add another bowl. Girl Ming was not even scared. Dare to vomit medicine."

Sheng Hong was greatly relieved and nodded repeatedly: "Okay, this is how sisters should be. Hua'er has the style of an eldest sister, which is very, very good."

Miss Hualan is a person in charge of strict execution. She lacks warmth and is more majestic. Whenever Minglan shows that she is unwilling to take medicine, she can't wait to roll up her sleeves and pour the medicine herself. Minglan is so scared that she breaks into a sweat. The illness was more than half recovered. Hualan caught her playing shuttlecock every day. Minglan was like a prisoner being escorted. Under Hualan's supervision, she stood in the yard and kicked the shuttlecock every day. Thirty, five must be accumulated every three days. Miss Hualan actually scooped up a booklet to make Minglan's exercise diary. She kept records every day with a look like a jailer, and she didn't want to kick one less.

Hualan is a big sister-type girl, full of eldest sister complex in her heart. Unfortunately, none of her younger siblings can meet her needs. Changbai has a mature and stable nature. Hualan doesn't want to be scolded by him, but Ru Lan does. Willful, cunning and unruly, Hua Lansu was at odds with her. He would talk back to her even if she said something to her. Wang was protecting her, so she couldn't really punish Rulan. However, she didn't bother to interrupt the two Aunt Lin's people. Dong is too young, so she has never had the chance to play the role of a big sister.

Minglan has a good-natured temperament and does whatever she is told. She won't even say a word to her, she will just look at you timidly, her big watery eyes flickering, and occasionally she will be in a daze, Hualan I am very satisfied with this little sister, I almost like her more than my own sister.

Uncle Zhongqin acted very quickly, and it didn't take long for him to make a small decision. Because Yuan Wenshao was really not young, they promised to get married in the middle of next year. Sheng Hong scooped out the articles he had written when he was taking the imperial examination, and wrote something about the clouds and mountains. The excuse was in the letter, and I don’t know if others could understand it. It probably meant that the daughter was still young and could not bear to marry early. She sincerely expressed her love for her daughter as a loving father. The Yuan family immediately added a lot of betrothal gifts and invited A ceremony official from Honglu Temple came to make the appointment. Sheng Hongli was so proud that he added some dowry and set the wedding date in May next year. Both families were very satisfied.

After that, Hua Lan was locked into the boudoir to embroider dowry and lose her temper. Minglan breathed a sigh of relief. She had now kicked 65 shuttlecocks every day, which made her legs cramp. Now the guard himself was locked up. She You can also go back to the life of a little pig, eating, sleeping, and sleeping. Of course, you will be harassed by Rulan from time to time.

The weather is gradually getting colder, and spring, summer, and autumn are all fine. When winter comes, the difference in climate between the north and the south is immediately apparent. Every house has its earth dragons burned, various kinds of earthen brick kangs, and exquisite and beautiful wooden kangs—— It is a bedding that combines a wide and comfortable bed with a kang. Minglan is originally from the south, and she never knew that such a warm and comfortable kang bed existed in the north in ancient times. It is probably due to the shuttlecock kicking that the weather is so cold. I didn’t get sick with a cold, but others got sick.

After all, Old Mrs. Sheng was old and had moved too far from north to south, so she was somewhat acclimated to the climate. She also started to cough after autumn. She had always been dignified, and the maids and women in the house did not dare to force her to take medicine and play shuttlecock, so the root cause of the disease never disappeared. As soon as winter came, I would have a low fever from time to time. On this day, I suddenly felt so hot that I almost fainted. The doctor came to see me and said it was very dangerous. The elderly are most afraid of this kind of fierce cold syndrome. Sheng Hong and his wife were frightened when they wanted to go there.

If Mrs. Sheng is gone, Sheng Hong will have to be Ding You and Hua Lan will have to observe filial piety. Then Yuan Wenshao is already twenty, how can he wait? Sheng Hong and his wife immediately realized the seriousness of the matter, so they worked together day and night with one heart and one mind. She took turns to take care of Old Mrs. Sheng. She had to carefully consider every recipe and taste every bowl of medicine. She almost fell ill from exhaustion. However, this appearance of a filial son and a virtuous woman attracted the attention of all the officials and gentry in Dengzhou. Praise can be regarded as a mistake.

A few days later, Mrs. Sheng's fever finally subsided, she regained her breath, and finally saved her life. Sheng Hong and his wife did not dare to relax, and rushed to deliver various tonic medicines in the warehouse to She'an Hall. To Minglan For me, no matter how expensive the tonic is, it is still a traditional Chinese medicine. The taste is not that good. I can't help but secretly sympathize with Old Mrs. Sheng. I haven't sympathized with her for two days when a news suddenly came from Ji'antang, saying that Old Mrs. Sheng was old and lonely. I want to have a girl by my side to relieve the loneliness.

As soon as the news came out, some people were happy and some were sad. Let me talk about the happy ones first.

"Why did mother ask me to go? They say that the old lady has a bad temper and is cold-tempered. She can't say a few words all year round. The house is very shabby and there is nothing good. The old lady has never wanted to see you, so I won't ask for it. Boring." Mo Lan was nestled in a cage on the kang, wearing a maroon squirrel fur jacket with gold touches, and holding a horizontal golden gourd filigree enamel hand stove in her arms. She was already mature at a young age. Beautiful and elegant.

Aunt Lin looked at her daughter, feeling proud and worried at the same time: "Good child, how can I let you suffer, but we have to make plans for the future. Have you seen your elder sister Hualan preparing to get married? She is really a daughter of a family."

Hundreds of families are praying for it, what a scene! I wonder what you will be like when you get haircut in a few years?"

"What's going on?" Mo Lan bowed, but her tone was still so gentle, "Mom, please don't say anything about being a legitimate child. My father has already said that he will never wrong me in the future. He will treat my eldest sister like this, and he will treat me like this."

Yes, I have my own glorious days, and besides, mother, you have an inheritance in your hands, so I have nothing to fear."

"My son, what do you know? Your sister Hualan is so prosperous today. First, your father is an official, has a good official reputation, and has smooth communication. Second, our family has some wealth, which is no better than those poor people who have no wealth.

Officer, the third thing is that Hua girl is a direct descendant. She has an uncle who has been married for generations. How do you compare this last part? Besides, you and Naru girl are only a few months apart. I'm afraid they will have to discuss marriage together in the future.

, will there be a good family for you then?" Aunt Lin scooped out the heater in her daughter's hand, opened it and used the copper hairpin at hand to poke the charcoal inside, covered it and handed it back.

Even though Mo Lan has always been precocious, she couldn't help but blush when she heard this: "What did you say, mother-in-law? How old is your daughter for you to say this?"

Aunt Lin held her daughter's little hands, with a stern expression on her delicate brows, and said in a deep voice: "I have never regretted what happened back then. I have done nothing to offend the old lady, and I am not afraid of her.

Your brother is a young man after all. Regardless of whether he is a descendant or a descendant, he will always receive a share of the family property and will be able to establish himself in a good place in the future. I am only worried about you."

Mo Lan asked in a low voice: "Mom, don't take it to heart. My father loves me so much. Apart from the eldest sister, I am the only one among the girls. She will never treat me badly in the future..."

"But the kindness won't go anywhere!" Aunt Lin interrupted her daughter with one sentence, leaned back on the large Qiuxiang-colored Money Python mattress, closed her eyes and said slowly, "You are seven years old now, you should know something.

When I was seven years old, your grandfather lost his family. Since then, I have never lived a decent life. Your grandmother had no plans and relied on pawns to survive. At that time, she always sighed that she could not marry into a decent family.

, we were just little sisters who played together, some were clad in gold and silver, and some were in a state of poverty, even their parents didn’t want to see them. Finally, she did one thing right before she passed away, she sent me to

Come to Shengfu."

The room was quiet, with only the smoke cage on the ground slowly blowing out smoke. Aunt Lin was slightly lost in thought, remembering the scene on the first day she entered the Sheng Mansion: At that time, although Sheng Hong had a small official position, Grandpa Shengzu had made a big fortune.

She had never thought in her entire life that there would be such a thing like this in the world, with the natural style of the Sheng Mansion, such exquisite and beautiful gardens, such utensils and furnishings painted with gold and silver, and clothes made of silk, satin, feathers and gauze for all seasons.

In the days of wealth, such a pampered life, when Sheng Hong was elegant, handsome and elegant, she couldn't help but have other thoughts...

Mo Lan looked at her mother's hazy and beautiful face and suddenly said: "Mom, why do you have to be this concubine? Wouldn't it be better to marry outside and become a grandma? It's causing gossip everywhere, talking about you, talking about you.

…Satisfactory…”

Aunt Lin suddenly opened her eyes and looked at her sharply. Mo Lan immediately lowered his head, too scared to speak. Aunt Lin stared at it for a while, then turned her eyes away and said slowly: "You are older, it's time to be sensible.

.......The old lady is good at everything, but there is one thing she always likes to talk about: "It is easy to find priceless treasures, but hard to find lovers." The so-called poor and humble couples are miserable in all things. The old lady was born as a concubine of the Marquis, so she doesn't know that she is from a poor family outside.

Misery. A common man born a month only has six or seven buckets of rice and one or two taels of silver. The top girl in our house has eight taels of silver per month. The coat you are wearing alone is worth 50 or 60 taels. You can burn it with your hand.

The fine silver charcoal burned in it costs two taels of silver per catty, plus your daily food and clothing, how many people will it take to afford it?"

A thin line of sweat broke out on Mo Lan's forehead, and Aunt Lin smiled bitterly: "Besides, do poor children have to have good conduct? At that time, a cousin of mine married a poor scholar, hoping that he would be successful in the future.

Day. However, apart from being able to write two ugly essays, that scholar failed in the imperial examination and failed in business. He relied on your cousin's aunt for everything at home and abroad. She went through all kinds of hardships with her husband, gave birth to children for him, and saved a lot of money.

If you plant a few acres of land, the harvest that year would be slightly better, so the poor would have to take a concubine. Your cousin aunt refused, so she

She was scolded for being unworthy every day, and was almost divorced. She couldn't bear it, so she had to let her concubine in. Within a few years, she was pissed to death, leaving several children to be abused. Huh! When the scholar came to propose marriage.

, is also said to be very colorful, full of words about the virtues of saints, how to cherish your cousin, to play the piano and the harp in harmony, to respect each other as guests... Bah, it's all empty talk!"

Mo Lan listened intently, and Aunt Lin's voice gradually became softer: "A woman's whole life depends on a man, a man is a loser, and no matter how strong a woman is, she can't straighten up. At that time, I thought, no matter how big or small,

The husband-in-law must be of outstanding character, value friendship, be talented, and be able to provide shelter for the family... If you follow your father, even though he is a concubine, you don't have to be afraid. At least he can have a peaceful life, and his children can also have a happy life.

rely on."

The mother and daughter were speechless for a while, but after a while, Aunt Lin chuckled: "The old lady originally found me some so-called 'farming and reading homes', and she herself remained poor. How could she buy me a decent dowry?"

Bah! After all, I am also a young lady from a serious official family, so why would I come to the Sheng Mansion if I was told to eat braised vegetables? It’s really ridiculous.”

"Then if you let me go to the old lady's place, can she keep me?" Mo Lan couldn't help but say something.

Aunt Lin smiled softly: "Silly boy, this is your father promoting you! No matter how decent I am, I am still an aunt, and you are not raised by my wife. If you can stay with the old lady and learn some rules and etiquette, you will stand up in the future.

Be more respectful when you go out, and be higher than ordinary concubines when discussing marriage in the future. The master said that the old lady should choose a child by herself, but actually think about it, Hualan is getting married, Mrs. Rulan is reluctant to part with it, and Minglan is a languid person.

There are a few young men who are sick and want to study. Who is left?"

Mo Lan was surprised and happy: "Father does love me, but... I'm afraid of the old lady..."

Aunt Lin smoothed her hair, her eyes moved, and she said with a smile: "I still know the old lady. She has a noble and upright nature. She prefers to pity the weak. Although she is a bit arrogant, she is not difficult to serve. Starting tomorrow morning, you

Just go to the old lady and ask her to serve you. Remember, be careful and docile, and look apologetic and guilty. Don't call me mother anymore. Call me aunt. Sometimes you can even insult me ​​with a few words. Just be sweeter.

Be smart and think that the old lady won't put my blame on you. Well, after all, it's me who has caused you trouble. If you were reincarnated in the wife's womb, you don't have to go out to please the old lady.

…”

"What did mother say? I am the flesh and blood of mother, so what can I say about being involved or not?" Mo Lan smiled angrily and snuggled into Aunt Lin's arms, "With mother teaching me, my daughter will be able to please the old lady.

In the future, if I gain dignity, my mother will also be able to enjoy some happiness."

Aunt Lin smiled and said: "Good girl, when I am promoted to a higher official position in the future, I guarantee that you will be able to marry more decently than your eldest sister. Then there will be great blessings waiting for you.

"


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