serious man in the red chamber

Chapter 148
The Jia family is huge. After Ning Rong and the second prince, there are [-] houses in total, of which the eight houses of the direct line are all in the middle of the capital, living in the back streets.

The feudal society is the eldest son inheritance system, and the Jia family is no exception.

The Duke of Ningguo passed on Jia Daihua, and the Duke of Rongguo passed on Jia Daishan. They were both inherited by the eldest son, and the other sons were all separated.

These sons who were separated only got some private property, and they were barely considered wealthy households. As their sons grew up and then separated, the children of the literary generation were only slightly better than ordinary families. , the property is getting less and less, and the children of the jade generation are poorer, let alone the grass-character generation.

Many people's lives are not as good as those who work as servants in Ningrong and Rongfu to give birth to children. Fortunately, Jia Zhen will distribute some New Year's goods every year to help them celebrate the New Year.

This situation lasted until last year. As long as you are self-motivated, able to endure hardships, and willing to learn, you will get a job and live a good life.

This made those who only knew to go to Ningrong and Rongfu to pay their respects and flatter their grandmas You Shi and Wang Xifeng envious, especially Jia Yun and others who worked in the Yongwei Camp.

Jia Yun is the son of the fifth sister-in-law in Xilangxia. He lost his father since childhood and lived in poverty. After being ordered by the patriarch Jia Hu to enter the military camp, he counterattacked all the way. Now he serves as the commander-in-chief of the Firearms Battalion in the Yongwei Battalion and has become the imperial court's sixth son. Product officials.

Years ago, Jia Yun's mother and son moved into a small three-entry courtyard in the back street of Ningguo Mansion, and there were maids, mothers-in-law and servants in the house to serve them.

Zhou followed the Ming system, and officials "have a bath every five days", that is, they go to work for five days and take one day off.In the military, there is one day off in the first ten days, middle ten days and late ten days of each month.

Today is Jia Yunxiu's turn.

In the side hall, Jia Yun sat down at the round table with her mother.

The maid placed a pair of chopsticks and an empty bowl in front of the two of them.

Two maidservants carried dishes, and a woman came in with a pot of rice.

Four simple home-cooked dishes, a bowl of vegetable soup.

Jia Yun picked up her mother's bowl to fill a bowl of rice, put her hands in front of her mother, and then went to fill another bowl of rice by herself.

Fifth sister-in-law picked up the chopsticks and gave Jia Yun a piece of meat: "Let's eat."

"Hey!"

Jia Yun picked up the bowl, picked up the chopsticks, and began to eat.

The fifth sister-in-law looked at Jia Yun lovingly and said, "It's rare for you to come back, so let's invite your uncle's family to dinner tonight."

Jia Yun paused for a while, and said while eating: "I heard that my second uncle got frostbite on his feet in Xiannong'an yesterday. I have to go to pay my respects. I don't know when I will be back."

Fifth Sister-in-Law: "I'm going to pay my respects." As she said that, she picked up another chopsticks for Jia Yun, and then said, "Everything in our family was given by the patriarch. Your current official position and this yard, you may You must listen to the words of the patriarch and repay him well. You must not forget your roots, let alone your gratitude. Do you know?"

Jia Yun: "Yes."

The fifth sister-in-law had just had a sip of rice when she suddenly remembered something and said to Jia Yun: "Yesterday your aunt told me something. She said that there was a family in Dongcheng who had a daughter who was 15 years old and looked very good. Proficient in literature and ink. The ancestors of this family were also officials and eunuchs, with a basic family fortune, which is worthy of them."

Jia Yun put down her chopsticks, but said nothing.

The fifth sister-in-law sighed softly: "I have told you many times, you are not young, and you are about to be twenty, but you just don't listen."

Jia Yun: "You put it lightly. It was fine in the past, but now it's different. I work as an errand in the Yongwei Camp. To get married to anyone, to marry anyone, you need the nod of the second uncle."

The fifth sister-in-law was stunned for a moment, and asked, "What did the patriarch say?"

Jia Yun shook her head: "At the New Year's Eve dinner, Grandpa Daixiu asked us to."

Fifth Sister-in-Law thought for a while: "How about I go ask Grandma?"

Jia Yun thought about it for a while, she is not too young, it is indeed time to get married, she nodded, and said, "After dinner, I will go to West Market to buy some gifts first."

The fifth sister-in-law showed a smile on her face: "You are right, let's eat."

Jia Yun picked up the chopsticks and started to eat.

At this moment, the door curtain was lifted, and the old woman came in and said: "Master, there are visitors outside."

Jia Yun: "Oh? Who is it?"

Mother-in-law: "It's an old acquaintance of the young master, called Ni Er."

Jia Yun smiled: "So it was him who invited people to the living room for tea and said that I would be there in a while."

Mother-in-law: "Yes." She turned and walked out.

The fifth sister-in-law hesitated for a moment, and said, "If something happens to him, you can help him if you can, but you can't get involved in breaking the law."

Jia Yun was stunned for a moment, nodded, picked up a few chopsticks of green vegetables, swallowed them, finished the food in the bowl, drank half a bowl of soup, and said to the fifth sister-in-law: "Mother, eat slowly, and the son will go first." After a salute, he strode out.

In the living room on the other side, a burly man with a full face and a beard sat on the guest chair very neatly, with his hands on his knees, silent and motionless.

This person is Ni Er in Jia Yun's mouth, Jia Yun's former neighbor, a rascal who specializes in usury, eats spare money in casinos, and specializes in fighting and drinking.

Known as Drunk King Kong!
Although he is a rascal, he also has a bit of chivalry. When Jia Yun was in trouble, he helped Jia Yun many times.

Since Jia Yun entered the barracks, there has been no communication between the two. One is because Jia Yun spends most of his time in the barracks, and the other is that Ni Er took the initiative to avoid Jia Yun. A person of one class, now that Jia Yun is under the care of Jia's family, he will definitely be able to make a fortune. If he is a rascal who has been in the casino, he will be a little ungrateful, and he will attract ridicule from others.

This time he took the initiative to visit the door because he discovered a major event, a major event that might change the fate of his family.

There is an alley inhabited by the poor in Nancheng. Most of the people living in it are victims of disasters who fled in the early years. The population is large, and it is close to the dung yard. On weekdays, even the guards of Shuntian Mansion are unwilling to patrol, and there are endless fights. The people there It's also a good bet.

Many debtors of Ni Er lived there.

Yesterday he went to a debtor's house to collect debts, and he waited until Sishi and saw no one. He had no choice but to come back. Who would have thought that he would meet a group of weird people just as he was leaving the house? Ni Er could tell at a glance that these people were not locals , all in sheepskin jackets, all of them had ruddy faces, and there was a flash of light in their eyes.And Ni Er can be sure that these people hide sharp knives under their leather jackets.

Years of experience in the market made Ni Er understand that they are not ordinary people, they are probably the secret work of the Manchus, even if they are not Manchus, they are probably the spies of the southern rebels who sneaked into the capital, no matter which side they are, it is a great contribution one piece.

Ni Er first thought of Jia Yun, and he only believed that Jia Yun would not cheat him, so he came here directly instead of going to Shuntian Mansion Yamen.

He saw Jia Yun riding a tall horse on Ningrong Street yesterday, and knew that he was taking a rest today.

Finally, the sound of footsteps came from the back hall.

Ni Er quickly stood up.

Jia Yun in casual clothes came out.

Ni Er: "Cao Min pays homage to Mr. Jia." As if to kneel.

"Second!"

Jia Yun hurriedly supported him, "Don't talk about how you cared for me a few years ago, even if it was a neighbor, I can't accept this gift from you."

Ni Er felt relieved when he heard the words, raised his head slightly to look at Jia Yun, bowed his hands, and said, "Second Master Yun."

Jia Yun stretched out her hand to support her: "Sit down, sit down and talk."

The servant brought new tea.

Jia Yun picked up the tea bowl and took a sip, and said to Ni Er who had just sat down: "Second brother, you are not authentic."

Ni Er was surprised when he heard this, and suddenly heard Jia Yun say: "It's fine if you avoid me on weekdays, why don't you even see me during the Chinese New Year, and the whole family hides out, my New Year's ceremony makes you uneasy like this?"

After hearing this, Ni Ercai breathed a sigh of relief, and said, "Second Master, don't be angry. My old father-in-law fell and injured a year ago, and there was no one to take care of him at home. It just happened to be in time for the New Year. No, just a family It's all over. It's my carelessness, I didn't think of this, I will apologize to you!" Said, stood up and cupped his hands.

"Second brother, there is no need for these false rituals between us."

Jia Yun waved her hand, "You must have something to do when you come here, so just tell me straight up, if I can do it, I will definitely solve it for you."

Ni Er hurriedly replied: "It can be done, it can be done." Then, he stepped forward and explained what happened.

After pondering for a while, Jia Yun asked, "Are you sure?"

Ni Er: "I'm drunk, Ni Er, who has been in the market for more than ten years, and I have never seen him!"

Jia Yun stood up: "Okay, I believe you." She walked back and forth a few steps, and then said to Ni Er: "This matter is not small, I can't decide. In this case, I will take you to see my second uncle. "

Ni Er was overjoyed: "Thank you, Second Master!"

Jia Yun: "You wait here, I'll change clothes." After speaking, she hurried back.

(End of this chapter)