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Chapter 44 The Red Chamber (44)

"I'm short of energy now, so I don't bother thinking about those money matters. After all, my wife is in charge, and you are all capable. I can't worry about it. You can't push your wife, and you can't do anything to me.

It's better to quickly go to Zhou Rui's house a few more times, I'm afraid it's better than going to me. Besides, she is so happy in this house now. But no matter what you say, no matter how courageous she is, she won't dare to be careless."

That's true. The son-in-law of Zhou Rui's family is in prison and is only waiting for the trial in the autumn. Zhou Rui and his wife can't help but keep a low profile in this house. Without a son, there is no hope. Now they have offended everyone. When they grow old

What will they do? What will happen to their daughter when they are gone? So, she seems to be a lot more docile than before.

As long as Zhou Rui's family was urged, she would not dare to take matters into her own hands and not report it to the police. Mrs. Wang had no choice but to pretend to be dumbfounded.

Yuanyang was stunned for a moment, and suddenly thought of herself. The money was short and couldn't be recycled, so I'm afraid my wife should take this idea to herself.

Grandma Liu was eating in the Dongci Room on the other side, and she naturally vaguely heard these words. What she heard over and over again was that the family had no money. She couldn't help but feel a little emotional in her heart. The life of this wealthy family was just

I'm afraid it won't be easy. After all, I have no money. Why does it look more troublesome than my own home?

Seeing Grandma Liu's expression, Xiaohong thought it was because she was asked to see the old lady. She felt nervous. She comforted her in a low voice: "Grandma, don't be afraid. I will accompany you in a while, so don't worry."

"Good girl, there's nothing to worry about. It's just thanks to grandma that I can use it for a day." Grandma Liu said with a smile.

Let’s not talk about how Grandma Liu pleased her mother at Jia’s place. She only said that Ping’er followed her and found Zhou Rui’s family on the porch. She went up to him and complained: “You are enjoying the happiness here, but my life is not easy.

Already."

Her tone was coquettish and she said complaining words that made people wonder if she was really angry. When Zhou Rui's family saw Ping'er, they naturally knew why she said this. It was just the money they had given out this month and they couldn't get it back now.

That's all. She was also anxious, and her wife complained to her a lot about this. But if this really meant killing someone, her wife would be the first to throw herself out to take the blame. She whispered: "Girl, don't just blame me, everyone is the same.

They are all slaves working for the master, what can I do? Does the second mistress really have no idea?"

Ping'er sneered and thought to himself, now his master is more stingy than his eldest grandma. Besides, why does everything in this house go into the wife's pocket, and every expense is taken from her master's side?

, there is no such reason. He first bluffed and said: "Sister-in-law, don't just shirk it. It's not my business alone. Ordinarily, I don't lack money anyway, so there is nothing to worry about. But I can

Okay, where are the others? Yuanyang has already gone to see our grandma just now. Someone wants to complain to the old lady. This alarmed the old lady, please leave me alone. Anyway, our grandma has such a talisman in her belly, what else can others do?

You can't tell her that. I'm just a girl who hangs a key. I can't be a householder or the leader. When the time comes, the old lady really wants to ask her, I'm afraid her face won't look good. Sister-in-law, you just have to do what you want. I'll do it again.

I don’t care anymore.”

Zhou Rui's family was startled, and quickly wrote down these words, and said comfortingly: "Good girl, hold on for three more days. Three days at most, and the money will be in hand. Everything will be easy to handle by then."

That's all for Ping'er.

In the evening, Grandma Jia left Grandma Liu to live at home. She thought that they would go to the garden together tomorrow and have a lively day with the whole family.

But it was said that Mrs. Wang returned to the room and listened to the report from Zhou Rui's family. Zhou Rui's family said: "There are people who say anything outside now. Master, why don't I go to Yuanyang's place..."

Mrs. Wang frowned and said, "Can't we really collect the interest?" She really didn't dare to take the old lady's idea into account unless it was absolutely necessary.

Zhou Rui's family said: "There are already several people who are selling their sons and daughters. It is only natural to pay back debts. But those people outside only talk about being rich and unkind. I don't dare to push it too far. I'm afraid of what might happen.

It would be a good idea for that villain to spread these things and let the master or the old lady know about it. The profit we make from this idea is barely enough to pay for the eunuchs in the palace. But the expenses of our house are...

There are already a lot of debts on credit outside that have not been repaid. Even if the interest is collected, where will the money for this debt come from? Anyway, it has to be from the old lady..."

"But there is no such reliable person outside. If something happens to your son-in-law, take this thing out and let people know about it. We can't escape the relationship." As a daughter-in-law in this era, Wang's respect for her mother-in-law is

born with.

"If we don't come forward, that girl Ping'er will find a way to deal with it. We only collected the money and gave her the things. She will deal with it. I'm afraid she will only think that it is the wife's dowry." Zhou Rui's family added.

Mrs. Wang pondered for a long time and said: "You are just sending messages back and forth. Don't touch the things. Just ask Yuanyang to take the things and give them directly to Ping'er. You can just collect the money. If something happens, it has nothing to do with us."

The Zhou Rui family nodded and smiled, "Yes!"

On the second day, while all the masters of the family went to the garden, Zhou Rui's family quietly went to find the mandarin ducks. "Young lady also knows that life is difficult nowadays..."

Yuanyang half-smiled, snorted, and said without raising his head: "You just say what you want to do."

The man from Zhou Rui's family forced a smile and said, "I'm just looking for some inconspicuous things. The girl personally gave them to Ping'er and asked her to exchange them for some money. It's just a two-day turnover. I will redeem them when my hands are loose."

of."

Yuanyang sneered in her heart, she was indeed treacherous. She actually had no intention of getting involved from the beginning to the end. If she was really obsessed with it, she was not sure what would happen to her. She thought about it in her mind, but it was the old lady who acquiesced.

Yes, she nodded easily. She felt that seeing Zhou Rui's family jumping up and down like this made her look more and more like a clown.

Ping'er was holding the things in the box, her hands were shaking. She lowered her voice and said to Yuanyang, "Don't do anything stupid."

When Yuanyang missed Ping'er, she even reminded herself: "Be careful, don't be betrayed by your master." In her eyes, Wang Xifeng was definitely not a good person.

Ping'er didn't say anything, and now she couldn't move forward or retreat. She just nodded, and the two separated. Ping'er took the things and went to see Wang Xifeng.

Wang Xifeng looked at Ping'er's frightened face and said: "You are stupid to be a mandarin duck. If the old lady doesn't know, she won't dare to take it out." After saying that, she opened the box and found three scrolls of paintings. She actually liked this one.

I'm really not good at it, and I don't know the value. These things will probably be treated as the least valuable things in the Jia family. Otherwise, they wouldn't take out three paintings at once. But Wang Xifeng has been with Lin Yutong for a long time, so he naturally knows that these things

If the thing were a treasure or an orphan, what would its value be? I couldn't help but feel happy. But on my face, I said calmly: "I went to change the money and give it to my wife. I won't stick to my hands, so I won't be annoying."

Too bad."

"I'm afraid this thing isn't worth a few bucks. I'll ask someone around first," Ping'er said in a low voice.

"It turns out that there is a store opposite Zhou Rui's son-in-law, and the prices are pretty good. The key is that the person is reliable. I don't want you to go there and ask." Wang Xifeng said as if unintentionally, "I asked Xiaohong to give me my gold collar to Dian."

This is the shop we went out to. The price is quite reasonable. The key is that the shopkeeper of that shop has some friendship with our man. When we first built the garden, we had many contacts with him. He is trustworthy."

"So good." Ping'er breathed a sigh of relief. After all, external matters still depend on the man. If he knows Jia Lian, he will naturally feel at ease.

Watching Ping'er go out, Wang Xifeng breathed a sigh of relief. It finally started.

But it was said that Jia Mu took Grandma Liu to Xiaoxiang Pavilion. Today, Shi Xiangyun lives in Xiaoxiang Pavilion.

"This is my grand-niece's house." Mother Jia looked at the house and said to Grandma Liu with a smile.

Grandma Liu thought to herself: This family even has to support nieces and nephews, no wonder they are short of money. She smiled and praised again and again, this house is really good, she has never seen a house like this in her life.

Jia's mother seemed to be dissatisfied with the house, and she couldn't help but talk about changing the window screens. Grandma Liu kept praying to Buddha in her heart, telling her that he was a prodigal son. Ordinary people live their lives, and every family does not count carefully, and does not worry about the younger generations.

, I'm afraid they won't be able to live a good life, it's too extravagant. Why did this old lady throw away her money first? If this works well, wouldn't it be even more extravagant down below? I told Grandma Liu that this old lady is a first-class fool.

.And he is a foolish person who does not plan for the future of his children and grandchildren.

These days are difficult, doesn’t the old lady know? An old man who has lived in a home for so many years will not know what is going on at home. But even though he knows it, he still doesn’t want to save money quickly or think of a way.

Just having fun like this doesn't look like an old mistress. Who's parents don't plan for their children and grandchildren first? This old lady seems to be enjoying herself day by day. She doesn't think about it at all, when her eyes turn over

How should the remaining children and grandchildren live?

Grandma Liu was a real person, so she opened her mouth a few times to try to persuade her, but Xiaohong pulled her sleeve and stopped her from talking. She knew something in her heart that even a smart person like this second mistress would not dare to say anything.

If so, no matter how rash I was, I would just look at it with a smile.

When I came back to my senses, I heard the girl smiling sweetly and saying: "...it's all because of our ancestors' pity, otherwise I wouldn't be able to have the easy life I have now."

Jia's mother said to Grandma Liu: "This child is poor. Her parents are gone. Now she only lives with me. We are engaged to be married. I can't bear to let her do needlework, so I just send her to play with her sisters in the garden. Let's do this

For people, these are secondary."

Grandma Liu was stunned for a moment, then nodded, "What the old Lord Feng said is true." She said in her heart that the girl's family had a marriage, so this needlework should be included in the dowry. The more needlework you make, the more respectable you will be.

My parents are both gone, so I need to do more needlework and calculate an extra dowry. And this material must have been given by my uncle and aunt, so why not take advantage of this opportunity to make it quickly and get it for yourself? Why don’t you wait?

When your aunt prepared the dowry for you, she was as considerate as your own mother. Grandma Liu mentally labeled this young lady from a noble family as 'unsuccessful'.

When they arrived at Hengwuyuan, Grandma Liu couldn't help but secretly look at Xue Baochai a few more times. She suddenly felt that this girl was probably ill-fated. How could a girl's family not like flowers? She was a poor girl in the countryside.

Everyone in the family is also interested in dressing up. Even if it is a two-foot-long red headband, they can still make flowers in various ways. When the wild flowers bloom, some people will pick them and put them on their heads, or simply collect them for home.

, put it in a broken earthen pot to smoke the house. A girl like this is just alive when you look at her. She is no more precious than this girl, she is so young, but she is just like the house of the widow, which is not a good sign.

Because Grandma Liu knew that the Jia family was not as prominent and dazzling as it seemed on the surface, she paid more attention. As she gets older, she has a lot of wisdom in life. She can also see many small details from it.

I don't think this house is very nice, but I feel that the girl's house is like a flower and the girl looks like her life is not good. Even when she was sitting at the banquet, she didn't have much thought to make fun of it.

Mother Jia couldn't help but feel a little bored. When Yuanyang saw Xiaohong in front of Grandma Liu, she knew that this person had somehow got Wang Xifeng's favor, so she didn't make fun of her. Grandma Liu naturally didn't make a fool of herself, let alone get drunk. On the contrary, she didn't know how to eat.

That’s all.

After the banquet was over, the banquet also dispersed. However, Xue Baochai, Shi Xiangyun and Baoyu took advantage of the wine to go to Cong Cui'an.

Seeing that there were three people, Miaoyu welcomed them in and said: "It's you, so there's no need for the Lao Shizi tea before. Come with me."

Seeing how well she was born, Baoyu felt good about her and said with a smile: "What's Lao Shizi tea? Isn't it good to treat guests differently?"

"Vulgar people use vulgar tea, but you are not a vulgar person." Miaoyu said without looking back.

Shi Xiangyun felt that Miaoyu was a bit frivolous. She was so dependent on others, but she didn't have the consciousness of being dependent on others. She shook her head in her heart.

When the tea came, Xue Baochai just looked at the tea set in his hand in a daze. This was a priceless treasure.

Miaoyu saw the expressions of the three people and couldn't help but said: "I thought you were not ordinary people, but it turns out you are just like that. You only look at the tea utensils, but you don't understand the true taste of tea. It's a pity that I have good water and good tea."

"What kind of tea utensil is this, and what kind of tea is it?" Baoyu looked at her and asked. Seeing that she didn't answer, he added: "You probably prepared the tea for the guests earlier and sent it to others. It was also your wish."

"Everyone can use my things. If the good things are dirty, they are just smashed and buried." Miaoyu glanced at Baoyu and said, "You are using the green jade bucket I commonly use at home.

The water for the tea is the snow water from the plum blossoms harvested in the previous year. You can't taste the light and mellow taste."

Shi Xiangyun didn't say anything and just put down the tea cup in her hand. If someone else used her things, they would be dirty and had to be smashed. Then why did she give Baoyu the ones she usually used at home? Baoyu didn't mind being dirty.

She sneered in her heart, she was just a person with an unclean heart. She stood up and said to Xue Baochai: "It's getting late, and we've eaten tea. It's time for us to leave. We don't want to disturb other people's cleansing."

Baoyu quickly ate all the tea in the green jade bucket, causing Miaoyu to say: "You are drinking like this, you come alone, I will not give you anything to eat again."

Xue Baochai chuckled lightly. What he said was really meaningful. Should he call Baoyu here or not?

After leaving the Cuicui Temple, Shi Xiangyun said: "Those tea utensils do have their origins. But who is still holding a bowl that was used by famous people eight hundred years ago to eat? It's nothing more than that. How can it be more elegant than others?"

"

Xue Baochai nodded and Shi Xiangyun said: "These words are too harsh."

Let’s not talk about the liveliness of the Jia family, just that Lin Yutong took the three paintings that the shopkeeper took back with 800 taels of silver and carefully appreciated them. To be honest, I really don’t understand these appreciations.

The shopkeeper said excitedly: "This is really a good deal. These are the works of famous artists in the previous dynasty, and you can't even buy them for three thousand taels of silver. Now they only cost a few hundred taels of silver."

"This is a business that earned more than two thousand taels of silver." Lin Yutong said with a smile.

"There are only 2,000 taels of silver. One painting costs 3,000 taels. Three paintings cost 9,000 taels. These three paintings are sold at the same time, and the price can still rise. Because these happen to be the works of this painter in different periods, and they are extremely valuable.

Representative." The shopkeeper said with spittle flying around.

"Ah!" Lin Yutong chuckled. It is estimated that Jia Mu only knew how to hide things, but did not know the value of some items inside. "This thing, in the eyes of a knowledgeable person, is worth thousands of gold. In the eyes of an ignorant person, this thing is worth thousands of gold."

In the eyes, it is also a painting. It is also a painting that is not bright even when it is hung. I guess people still think that it is pretty good that these few scraps of paper can sell so much."

The shopkeeper shook his head and said: "If the eldest and second masters of the Jia family were involved, it would be impossible for us to miss it. I'm confused. The whole family is on guard against each other, aren't we waiting for outsiders to take advantage of the loopholes?"

Lin Yutong shook his head and said with a smile: "Who says it's not the case? So, when the family is in harmony, everything will be prosperous. Disharmony in the family is not the root cause of the family's ruin."

But when Ping'er received eight hundred taels of silver, he felt at ease. He could still continue to fool around these days. He said to Wang Xifeng, "I only got eight hundred taels of silver for a few volumes of calligraphy and painting. It's quite fair. The second master used to do it."

I stole the paintings from the great master’s study, and each of them cost me two hundred taels of silver.”

Wang Xifeng felt happy because she could give out eight hundred taels, which proved that the object itself was much more than the eight hundred taels. For a moment, she wanted to just accept it herself. But reason still prevailed. This thing

You must not get involved with yourself, otherwise if the government finds out, it will be really bad. She stroked her belly and said: "Send it to your wife quickly, so that you won't be suspicious of you again. When you get this money in the future, you

Don't go back to my house, just send it over directly. It was taken from melon fields and plums, and the provincial wife misunderstood it and thought I took 10% of it."

Ping'er nodded in agreement and turned around to go out. Unexpectedly, he met Jia Lian face to face before he left the yard.

"It's been a long time now, and you're still running out. Her temper is getting wilder and wilder. Your grandma has a golden knot in her belly. I don't dare to let her take care of her. Now you don't plan to take care of me anymore, right?" Jia Lian groaned angrily.

, I don’t know where my life was unsatisfactory again.

Ping'er followed her resignedly, and the two returned to Ping'er's house. At this time, Ping'er said: "I must have drunk too much here."

"You drank too much, you hoof. Don't think that I don't know what you have in your arms. I'll bring you two hundred taels now. I'll use it." Jia Lian heard Wang'er say that Ping'er took a box from Yuanyang and knew this.

What the hell was going on? He hurried back in a hurry. Who would be willing to pay without scraping the money he passed?

"I only have eight hundred taels of silver, and I still need two hundred taels. My Lord, how do you tell me to pay my wife the debt?" Ping'er hid quickly, not daring to let Jia Lian succeed.

"You are not honest now. If you don't turn to your own man, who can you turn to? I don't believe that your master has no involvement at all." Jia Lian sneered at Ping'er.

"My second master's words are so chilling. Have you ever seen my second grandma go out of the yard these days? She still has a child in her belly. It would be more considerate of me not to say this, but to say this to hurt people's hearts." Ping'er

He swore: "If our master and servant use a penny of money, we will not die in peace."

"Come on, no, no, I dare to say anything." Seeing that Ping'er didn't seem to be lying, Jia Lian said, "You really need to give me two hundred taels. I saw a small shop in the east of the city. Although the shop was small, the prices were high.

It's not expensive. You can almost buy it with money. Your grandma is pregnant with her. If this is a son, our expenses will not be greater. I can't calculate it. Anyway, the thing passed through your hands. I know the owner of the pawn shop.

Say hello and you won’t reveal your secrets. What are you afraid of? You only said six hundred taels. If the wife doesn’t believe it, just tell them to just go to the pawn shop and ask. The wife knows how to put it in her pocket, why are you so stupid and don’t know how to put it in your own house?

They are just like your master, a pair of stupid roe deer."

Ping'er really couldn't refute these words. After pondering for a long time, he took out two hundred taels and handed it over, "The person who agreed to buy the shop, you want me to know which of your sweethearts this money will be given to. This matter doesn't count between us.

over."

Jia Lian stretched out his hand, took the banknote over and said, "What a shame! Don't worry about my business from now on."

"You heartless..." Before he could finish his sentence, Jia Lian had already opened the curtain and walked out. An angry Ping'er cried in the room before going to the main room and telling Wang Xifeng.

"Who let us meet such a man?" Wang Xifeng looked very calm, "You don't have to reply to me, it's troublesome. You can just give me more advice." He looked like he was letting go.

Ping'er finally realized what the problem was. This grandma's attitude towards the second master was obviously wrong. She was a little frightened.

Yes! She was finally scared. Something was really wrong with grandma. Since she became an aunt, grandma has really treated herself and the second master differently.

She suppressed the panic in her heart and wanted to explain something. But Wang Xifeng urged: "Go and send the money quickly. After a while, the eldest lady may hear the letter and come to ask for the money. Let me see what happens to you. If you don't have any money,

It's okay to say that, but you can't give me the money in your hand, which is unreasonable. If there is a real trouble, you will be wronged."

Ping'er didn't care about anything else and hurried away.

When Zhou Rui's family saw the six hundred taels of silver, they didn't believe it at first. They said with a half-smile, "It's just this little money."

Ping'er was not a good person, and said: "I usually pawn things in my sister-in-law's shop, and all the calligraphy and paintings cost two hundred taels. This is a price that everyone knows. Doesn't my sister-in-law know about other prices?"

Zhou Rui's family choked, these words can kill people. There are not many masters in this family who have never pawned things. Two hundred taels is considered a high price. Whatever I say now is not like admitting that I know that my son-in-law is cheating people.

Okay? Who in this house is reasonable? If you go back and find fault with yourself and ask yourself to make up the money, it won't be a big loss. Therefore, even though you know that the amount given by Ping'er is wrong, you can't have an attack. Not only can't you have an attack,

They had to cover it up in front of their wife. She forced herself to smile and said, "I thought the market could get better, didn't I?"

Ping'er stopped running, made a clear explanation, and turned around to go back.

Zhou Rui's family felt secretly resentful, but they still had to give the money to his wife and send her back to the house.

"Is the number right?" Mrs. Wang asked.

"It's not a big deal. If you are greedy, it's only thirty-fifty taels of silver. I guess it's for the second mistress. On the surface, it's right." The Zhou Rui family gritted their teeth and said, "These antiques, whoever encounters them, then...

It's worth a thousand pieces of gold, but if you have bad luck and meet the wrong person, it won't be worth the price." She told Mrs. Wang the business experience she had heard from Leng Zixing in the past.

Mrs. Wang then gave up. She collected the money and said, "Let me pay you the monthly payment tomorrow."

Unexpectedly, the next day, another thing happened to Jia's family. It was Jia's mother who caught a cold due to the wind in the garden. Wang Xifeng prepared a lot of things and sent Grandma Liu away first. Hearing that the old lady was sick, she had to step out.

I went out of the yard and greeted the old lady. As soon as I entered the house, I heard Jia Mu say, "Now the children and grandchildren are here, but Min'er is missing. I just sent someone to call Uncle Lin, and also called Daiyu. I haven't seen him for some days."

I'm so worried."

Wang Xifeng sighed inwardly, they are all sick, and they are obviously really sick. Otherwise, Yuanyang would not go to such a big fight. Everyone is sick, and they are still thinking about what the Lin family is doing. Only their son is always in bed.

I have never seen a son-in-law serve his mother-in-law. He is getting more and more stupid as he gets older. This is the case in ordinary people's homes, not to mention Uncle Lin's current status. Why should I satisfy your request?

Jia Zhen actually took over the conversation and asked Jia Lian to invite someone. Jia Lian was not willing to answer the conversation. When he saw Wang Xifeng coming in, he winked first...(.)


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