serious man in the red chamber

Chapter 119
The days in Japan are short in winter, and with the snow falling again, it is already dark before Youshi.

Two Xue family women walked in front with lanterns.

Aunt Xue came out from Mrs. Wang's courtyard, wearing a cloak and a Guanyin bag, supporting the little girl, and a woman behind was holding an oilcloth snow umbrella.

A group of people walked to Xue's courtyard.

Xue's Courtyard
The backyard was empty and dark, with only wisps of faint candlelight shooting out of Baochai's house through the doors and windows.

Under the lamp, Baochai is sitting skillfully doing needlework.

A large pot of charcoal fire was burning redly.

There was the sound of "cracking" fire from outside.

Not long after, Ying'er came in carrying a small stove, followed by Xiangling carrying a copper pot.

Xiangling put the copper pot on the small stove and said to Ying'er: "It's getting dark, let's light another lamp."

Hearing this, Yinger hurriedly looked at Baochai, but seeing that Baochai was silent, she shook her head.

At this time, the door was pushed open with a "snap".

Yinger and Xiangling shouted in unison in surprise, "Who?"

"it's me."

The door curtain was lifted, and Aunt Xue came in wearing a cloak.

Baochai quickly put down her needle and thread, and came up to meet her, "Why did Mom come back?"

Taking off Aunt Xue's cloak and handing it to Xiangling, Baochai said to Ying'er, "Pour a bowl of hot tea."

Aunt Xue pushed Baochai's hand away, walked to the edge of the kang and sat down, took the tea bowl, and said to Xiangling and Ying'er, "I'll talk to you girls."

Xiangling and Yinger replied in unison: "Yes." They turned around and walked out.

Aunt Xue took a sip of tea, and when she heard the door closing outside, she said to Baochai, "Your uncle is coming back soon."

Baochai was taken aback.

Aunt Xue continued: "The Wang family sent a letter to your aunt, saying that Uncle Ni has entered the customs and is on his way to the capital."

Baochai: "For the errand of the infantry commanding the yamen?"

Aunt Xue sighed: "If it wasn't for that man from the West Mansion to intervene, your uncle would have been the commander of the infantry commander's yamen long ago."

Hearing Aunt Xue's words, Baochai lowered her eyes and did not speak.

Aunt Xue sighed in her heart. Since that incident, Baochai has become taciturn. Not only did she rarely participate in the activities of Lin Daiyu and others, she even seldom went to Jiamu's house. came back.

Seeing Baochai's change, Aunt Xue felt very sad. She put down her tea bowl and asked with a smile, "Miss Shi invited you to go to Xifu to set off fireworks today. Why don't you go play with them?"

Baochai raised her head and replied, "I haven't been feeling well for the past two days, and it's the same situation over there. It's not good."

Aunt Xue pondered for a while, then said: "You are right. However, you should go out for a walk and always stay in the house, and you are sick if you are not sick. Today, the old lady asked about you again and said You didn't know how to go and joke with her, and then asked if Baoyu and the others had bumped into you somewhere. I said you haven't been feeling well these few days, so I went to pay her respects in two days. The old lady just gave up."

Baochai hesitated for a moment, then replied, "Understood."

Only then did Aunt Xue show a little smile, and when she picked up the tea bowl, she said, "That's good, no matter what, we must not lose our manners. You must know that the old lady is not just an elder."

After a pause, "Don't look at how well your aunt and the others said, I always feel that this matter is unreliable. Even if your uncle becomes the commander of the infantry commander's yamen, it is impossible to bring much power to the Wang family. On the contrary The Jia family is getting richer and richer. The power in the hands of the East mansion is getting bigger and bigger, and it is real power."

Speaking of this, he glanced at Baochai, "We still have to rely on Jia's family in the future. Your aunt only needs to spend a little money, and the old lady is different. As long as the old lady doesn't open her mouth, our family can live in peace live here."

Baochai lowered her eyes: "Brother just came and said that there was a message from the West Mansion that a New Year's gift was prepared for our family, and it would be delivered in two days. Brother has already asked the old housekeeper to prepare the gift in return."

Aunt Xue's heart was sour, and she notified the Xue family in advance, so that the Xue family could have a psychological preparation, so as to save the embarrassment of the two families.

Baochai suddenly laughed and said, "Actually, that's pretty good."

Hearing what she said, Aunt Xue was taken aback.

Baochai: "There are not many families who can make the Xifu take the initiative to send New Year's gifts. At least in their eyes, the Xue family is very close. As long as there is such a relationship, and the Xue family has something to do, they will not stand by. This is already a great deal.”

Aunt Xue's eyes lit up.

Baochai went on to say, "As for the future, let's talk about it."

"Okay, let's not talk about these things. Look at Miss Sister, who never cares about these restraints"

"Don't talk about it, Mom, we are different. They all grew up together. Don't you think the jokes are not shameful enough?!" Baochai finally couldn't help but say what was in his heart.

Aunt Xue was stunned, looking back at Baochai: "You, you know everything?"

At this moment, Baochai calmed down, sat down beside Aunt Xue, and said in a low voice: "Mom and brother, stop messing around. If there is a conflict, you may not even be able to be a relative. Do you know why the Wu family's shop is so busy?" Will it be smashed?"

Without waiting for Aunt Xue to speak, Baochai said directly: "It is because of the rumor that the peace of the Jia family has been affected." Holding Aunt Xue's hand, "Mom, don't pay attention to this matter, I have my own destiny."

Looking at her daughter's beautiful face, Aunt Xue sighed heavily, patted Baochai's hand, and said softly: "Mom knows, it's getting late, you should go to bed early, and do these needlework during the day. "

Baochai: "Yes."

Beijing Palace, study room.

It is also brightly lit.

Beijing Wang Shuirong was sitting in front of the desk, looking down at the account books.

The butler stood by the desk with his head down and his hands down.

After reading the last page, Shui Rong raised his head and thought silently. After thinking for a while, he closed the account book, and said to the housekeeper: "The rest of the industry can be dealt with quickly. It’s fine if it’s easy to shoot. Safety is the most important thing.”

The housekeeper: "Yes." After thinking for a while, he said: "It's the end of the year, and every bank is short of cash, so we can only wait for the New Year."

Shui Rong nodded.

"My lord, there is news from Tongzhou." Chang Shi's voice came from outside the door.

Water-melting eyes flashed: "Come in."

A corner of the cotton curtain was lifted, Chang Shi got in, and said to Shui Rong: "My lord, Zhen Fu has entered Tongzhou City."

Shui Rong snorted, he had already got the news that Zhen Fu took Jia's fleet to Beijing as early as last month, from Tianjin to Tongzhou, it was only this distance, and he could climb it, obviously, Zhen Fu had something important to do. telling secret.

Thinking of this, Shui Rong said to Chang Shi: "Tell Zhen Fu, I want to see him before tomorrow evening."

Chang Shi: "Yes." Turned around and walked out.

The steward hesitated for a moment, then said after deliberation: "My lord, my concubine hasn't taken any medicine today. Look."

Shui Rong closed his eyes sadly, and murmured: "I understand."

A gloomy look flashed in the butler's eyes, no one understood Shui Rong's mood better than him, he sighed silently, turned and walked out.

(End of this chapter)