Red Chamber: Bring Xue Baochai home at the beginning

As soon as the end of the year came, it was the busiest time for the Ministry of Rites.

Preparations must be made for the sacrifices to heaven and earth and the many ceremonies of the royal family.

Plus, this year is different from previous years.

Donghai County of the Great Wei Dynasty showed great power overseas and defeated the 20 Japanese army.

Not only that, but also contrary to the norm of tolerance and benevolence, forcing the Wa Kingdom to sign the terms of the peace agreement for land cession and compensation.

Such news made many small countries overseas tremble.

For fear of being disrespectful, Donghai County's fleet would crush it.

As a result, envoys from various countries rushed to Dawei,

While paying tribute, they also reiterated their intention to submit.

As the right servant of the Ministry of Rites, Feng Yibo is also in charge of overseas duties.

While busy with his own work, he received overseas missions that arrived one after another.

On the one hand, when there are no envoys, some other tasks of the Ministry of Rites must be taken into account.

Going out early and returning late every day, I was so busy that I hit the back of my head.

He is busy with state affairs in the ministry, while Baochai is busy with family affairs in the mansion.

She, the hostess, has seen all the New Year gifts sent to each family.

Although there are old rules to follow every year, the rare items in Feng's warehouse are also being updated.

Many things that were not available last year may be available this year.

Or there were very few last year, and there are many this year.

She not only needs to classify according to the distance of the relationship.

It is also necessary to make corresponding increases and decreases according to the inventory situation.

Finally, arrange for people to be sent to the various prefectures.

The whole process is extremely trivial, and it is a test of ability and patience.

On this day, Feng Yibo has been busy until the next day before returning to the residence.

After a hasty dinner, he washed off the dust again.

By the time we got to the main room, it was already the four quarters of Xu.

In winter in the capital, the nights are extremely cold, but the main room is as warm as spring.

As soon as Feng Yibo entered the room, a wave of heat rushed over.

This is a tin stove he had someone build, a sharp tool for heating in winter.

Baochai was only wearing a nightgown at this time, and greeted her with a smile.

"Grandpa came back late today, so he must be very tired, right?"

While helping Feng Yibo undress, she said distressedly:
"I'll relax my shoulders for Grandpa in a while."

In winter in the capital, it gets dark very early.

It stands to reason that the office can be dismissed as soon as the application time is over.

Because as soon as you arrive, the sun has already set.

But Feng Yibo was so busy today that he didn't come back until Xushi.

Now it is the four quarters of Xu.

This is equivalent to arriving home at eight o'clock in later generations and starting to rest at nine o'clock.

In this era, it is extremely rare to work overtime until this hour.

Even in a bustling place like the capital, it is hard to imagine.

Of course, Feng Yibo will be busy for a while at the end of the year.

After all, before the invention of the electric light, [-] was not yet popular.

Feng Yibo let Baochai take off the animal skin cloak outside, and strip off his official robe and jacket.

When Baochai turned to hang up his clothes, he embraced Baochai from behind and said with a smile:

"Madam also has no free time today, why don't I let my husband reward Madam?"

"Go! Every serious!"

Baochai naturally knew what he meant, and blushed softly.

Then she gently broke free from Feng Yibo's embrace, turned around and said angrily:
"I don't think Grandpa is tired!"

"But I think Madam is really tired, I must help you relax!"

Feng Yibo stepped forward with a smile, wanting to hug Baochai horizontally.

Without thinking, she took two steps back lightly.

At the same time, Baochai protects the vitals of his chest with one hand, and raises his other hand up like a stop gesture directing traffic.

While making the rejection form, she said dumbfoundedly:
"Don't make trouble, I still have something to say to my father!"

Zi once said: You can't eat with a thin skin, but you can eat with a thick skin.

As a saint's disciple, Feng Yibo is displaying his shameless spirit at this moment.

While laughing, he continued to lean forward, and said:

"Ma'am, trust me, I will really press it for you, let's talk while pressing if there is anything you want!"

Seeing being forced to the edge of the kang by him, Baochai was not afraid of danger.

She even had time to glance over her shoulder to avoid sitting on something.

"It's Sister Lin's business!" Baochai looked at Feng Yibo with a half-smile, and said softly.

"Oh?"

Feng Yibo stopped his movements, frowned slightly and said:
"What happened to sister Lin?"

He didn't take care of Lin's mansion for a while, and he didn't go there for a few days.

Hearing Baochai mention Daiyu, he hesitated.

As soon as Baochai saw that he was no longer doing bad things, she sat down on the edge of the kang, pursed her lips and said with a smile:

"Sister Lin will reach the age of Ji after the next year, and all the sisters in the mansion are preparing gifts for her these days!"

That's what happened!
Feng Yibo nodded slightly, and sat beside Baochai.

He remembered that next year Daiyu was going to pass through the door, but he forgot about Jili.

Baochai laughed again and asked:

"I just wanted to ask the Lord, but have you prepared a gift? If you have already prepared it, it is better for someone to give it along with the New Year's gift."

Jiji is a coming-of-age ceremony and a birthday.

As a fiancé, Feng Yibo really should express something.

Every year on Daiyu's birthday, he would have people send all kinds of rare things to her.

But in this era, if it is not a big birthday, it is generally not a big deal.

But this year is different, Jili is also considered a big birthday.

He really should prepare some special gifts that can express his heart.

But these days he was so busy that he couldn't remember these things.

Even if I'm done with my work for a while, I still have to greet and send off after the next year.

I guess I don't have much free time.

Feng Yibo pondered for a moment, then said:

"After all, Ma'am is thoughtful, so I'll ask someone to prepare it!"

As he spoke, he reached for his coat.

Tomorrow he will be busy in the ministry early in the morning, so he will have some time in the evening.

Since it is mentioned now, it is better to implement it as soon as possible.

It also prevents you from being too busy and forgetting in the blink of an eye.

Seeing this, Baochai chuckled twice, stepped forward to hold him back and said:

"My lord! It's so late, the people going in and out are getting cold again, and the people below have been busy all day."

After stopping Feng Yibo, she turned around and walked to the side of the box, and picked up a brocade box from the lid.

"I know my grandfather is busy with court affairs recently, since I thought of it, I naturally prepared it for my grandfather."

With that said, she stuffed the box into Feng Yibo's arms, and said:
"I just don't know if it fits her heart, so let's help her see it first!"

"Boom!"

Feng Yibo heaved a sigh of relief, he was not in a hurry to look at the gift, but kissed her first, and praised:

"I knew that Madam has always been considerate."

Baochai gave him a light hammer, and said angrily with a smile in his eyes:
"Master, don't talk too much, let's have a look before talking."

Feng Yibo nodded, and opened the brocade box.

He picked up something from it, looked at it and said:
"A comb?"

He looked at it carefully and found that this comb was a bit special.

I saw that it was neither gold nor jade, but it was polished as smooth as jade.

Looking at the light, there is a sense of crystal clear.

In the hand, it feels like a hard plastic texture.

But Feng Yibo clearly knows that there is definitely no plastic in this era.

Looking at the back of the comb, the carved patterns are extremely complicated.

Each comb tooth below is also extremely evenly distributed.

At a glance, you can tell that the workmanship is excellent and exquisite, and it comes from everyone's hands.

Such an exquisite comb might have cost only a few tens of dollars in the previous life.

But in this day and age, anyone can see its treasure.

"What do you think of this rhinoceros comb? Is it still eye-catching?"

No wonder!
It turned out to be a comb made of rhino horn.

In Tang poetry, there is "the rhinoceros is combed obliquely to the side of the temples and clouds", and in Song Ci, there is also "the rhinoceros is inserted obliquely and the clouds are half spit out".

The rhino horn of this rhinoceros comb was actually taken from a one-horned rhinoceros, which is naturally rare in the Wei Dynasty.

Because the one-horned rhino is a creature from the South Seas.

There must be no shortage of Nanyang things in the Feng family's warehouse.

It's just that rhino horn can be used as medicine.

Or sliced, or ground.

After processing, it can be used and stored for a long time.

Complete rhino horns are rarely seen in Feng's warehouse.

Feng Yibo nodded in satisfaction, put the comb back into the box, and said with a smile:

"Madam's actions are extraordinary, this gift must be in line with sister Lin's wishes."

When Baochai heard the words, she seemed to have expected it, shook her head and said:
"Although I prepared one for Master, Sister Lin has always been delicate in her thoughts. If she knew that Master's intentions were not in it, she would be sad."

Thinking of Daiyu's jealous appearance, she pursed her lips and smiled, and said:

"So I still think about it, it's better to add another one myself."

This is Baochai's thoughtfulness, not only checking for Feng Yibo's gaps and making up for the leaks, but also thinking of a way out for Daiyu's sensitivity.

"One more thing... Ji Li..."

Feng Yibo pondered for a moment, then said:

"Would you like to give me a hairpin?"

Jiji's hairpin is a hairpin, so he naturally thought of this gift.

But as soon as Tian finished speaking, Baochai pursed her lips and smiled, nodded and said:
"Jiji's hairpin is quite suitable. I happen to have a newly delivered ivory in the storeroom. I don't know if it is suitable."

Elephants, like rhinos, are rare in Dawei and common in Southeast Asia.

There are still many tooth carvings, tooth chopsticks and the like in Feng's warehouse.

Complete ivory is rare, but not unavailable.

When Feng Yibo heard this, his heart suddenly became clear.

Obviously, Baochai can actually get ready together.

However, he deliberately prepared mediocrely, leaving a hole for him.

He is busy outside, and Baochai will help him think about things at home.

But when it comes to Daiyu, it's different.

She can remind, but she can't completely take the lead.

If so, it is not comprehensive, but a hidden danger of suspicion.

This comb is not so much prepared for Feng Yibo as an introduction.

Leading Feng Yibo to think of the hairpin, even the ivory has been prepared.

In this way, even if Daiyu knows in the future that she prepared the rhinoceros comb for her.

It can also be said that one person sent one piece.

Thinking of these, Feng Yibo couldn't help but sigh:

"If you have a wife like this, what more can a husband ask for?"

There are two gifts, one is Baochai's thoughtfulness, and the other is Feng Yibo's kindness.

No matter how jealous Ren Daiyu is, she can't find fault with her.

Baochai knew that Feng Yibo could understand what she meant, so she pursed her lips and said with a smile:

"Then tomorrow, in the name of the master, I will find someone to think about the carving carefully, and then send it to me?"

Feng Yibo nodded, and gently embraced Baochai.

This time, although Baochai blushed, she didn't refuse again.

The couple looked at each other affectionately, and then naturally loved each other.

After a long time, his lips and teeth parted, and Feng Yibo massaged her while sighing:
"Madam is so considerate, but she has nothing to repay her husband, so she can only repay her with her own body!"

Baochai's eyes were already shining like water, and when she heard this, she drooped her brows and eyes in shame.

Outside the male lead, inside the female lead, both of them are busy.

During the day, Feng Yibo was at his wits end in the ministry,

At night, he showed off his powers in clones in each house.

a few days later.

Miaoyu went back to her natal home to visit Aunt Lin and Lin Ruhai, and Baochai asked her to bring the New Year's gift with her.

Together with them, there were gifts from the wives and concubines of the Feng family to Daiyu, the future mistress.

The gifts from Feng Yibo and Baochai are naturally among them.

Daiyu unwrapped them one by one, while Miaoyu explained the source of each heart with a smile.

"I gave you this set of tea sets. It is a fine product of Ru Kiln. This is a poem from Qianjia copied by Aunt Zhen herself. This is a silk handkerchief embroidered by Aunt Jia. Aunt You Er and Aunt You made a pair..."

After Daiyu happily tasted them one by one, it was the brocade box's turn.

"This is a gift from my uncle and my wife. This is a carved one-horned rhinoceros comb, and an ivory hairpin with cloud patterns."

Daiyu's eyes lit up when she heard the words,
She had been looking forward to Feng Yibo's gift for a long time, and wanted to pick it up right away to have a look.

But as soon as she stretched out her hand, she stopped and asked:

"But brother Feng picked it himself?"

Miaoyu said that the two sent it together, and Daiyu thought of a possibility.

With Baochai's personality, this might be what she prepared on behalf of Feng Yibo.

Miaoyu knew her younger sister's temperament early on, so she smiled lightly and said:
"The rhinoceros comb was prepared by the madam, and the ivory hairpin was newly made by the uncle."

She didn't hide anything, and directly told her sister what she knew.

After hearing that Feng Yibo personally participated, Daiyu relaxed slightly.

"Assuming they have a heart."

She said "they" on her lips, but she just picked up the hairpin and looked at it.

This hairpin is carved from ivory from Zhenla.

There are cloud patterns carved on it, which are extremely exquisite.

But Daiyu clearly couldn't put it down, but said:
"Hmph! There is no one who gives hairpins, don't everyone give hairpins?"

Single strands are hairpins, and double strands are hairpins.

It is very popular among young people at this time to split the hairpin into two.

One share per person, as a token of love, to express the meaning of "bonding hair".

"We're all engaged, what's the deal?"

As soon as Miaoyu heard it, she understood what she meant, and teased:

"It's great to give you a hairpin. Doesn't it mean that after you wear the hairpin, you can wear your hair in a bun and become a woman?"

Daiyu blushed when she was teased, and said angrily:
"Sister~!"

As he said that, he posted it, intending to pull Miaoyu.

"OK OK!"

Miaoyu begged for forgiveness with a smile, picked up the rhinoceros comb again, handed it to her hand, and said earnestly:
"This is Madam's kindness, and you should appreciate it."

Daiyu was taken aback for a moment, and the smile on her face slowly froze.

When Miaoyu saw her younger sister's appearance, she took her hand and persuaded her like a elder sister:

"As soon as spring is over, you will have to go through the door. When you get there, you can't be petty anymore."

She knew what her sister was thinking, but she just spoke loudly.

Just like this, I don't want my sister to have a rift with Baochai because of this.

Therefore, I will persuade a few words whenever I have the opportunity.

Daiyu was originally in a good mood, but when she heard this, she squinted at her and said:

"My sister has also become a lobbyist for others?"

As he said that, he asked with a cold face:
"I just don't know, is that what she meant, or what Brother Feng meant?"