serious man in the red chamber

Chapter 149 The Manchus Are Coming

Lin Daiyu's birthday is February [-]th, which is also the Flower Festival.

This is the first time for Lin Daiyu to celebrate her birthday in Ningguo Mansion. Although there are still nine days to go, You Shi did not dare to slack off in the slightest. I was so busy that I went to bed in the middle of the night, and I got up late in the morning. There was no mother-in-law to set the rules, and Jia's mother did it all by herself. On the first day of the festival, I brought the maids, daughter-in-law and mother-in-law to the backyard of Ning'an Hall.

The meeting hall was full of daughters-in-law and maidservants.

Jia Hu took the main seat.

You Shi sat on the chair by the window.

Jia Hu finished reading the brief section, thought for a while, and said to Youshi: "It's too public, it's not the year of Jiji, and it's not the whole birthday, so there's no need to invite people, just sit down and have a drink and watch the show by yourself." .”

After hearing this, Youshi smiled and said, "The matter of Miss Lin is not a secret among the old relatives. The presents given by Princess Nan'an and the others were different from those given by Xichun and the others. Someone will definitely come by then, and they cannot be stopped.

That's not to mention, the Cheng family, Ma family and Wang family's six salt merchants would immediately come to the door with gifts as soon as there was any movement in the house. According to Rong'er, they were preparing gifts for the empresses in the palace years ago. "

Jia Hu nodded, unless there is no show wine, it will spread the word, each family will definitely send a birthday gift, maybe they will visit the house to pay their respects.

It was the first time for Lin Daiyu to celebrate her birthday at Jia's house, and it was impossible not to put on a show and drink, but Jia Hu didn't want to make trouble like yesterday, not only depressed, but also suffered.

Jia Hu didn't want Lin Daiyu to set the rules for this group of old women.

Thinking of this, Jia Hu said: "I will greet my relatives, as long as I am polite."

Yushi smiled.

Jia Hu picked up the copy and looked at it again, then said: "Starting tomorrow, people will be sent to all temples to release the house money."

After a pause, "There is no need to invite the theater troupe."

You Shi was startled: "Not singing?"

Jia Hu smiled: "The people who went south to buy small opera actors have returned, and they will go to Beijing tomorrow."

Youshi nodded. Jia Hu had told her about this, and thinking of Jia Rui and his wife, he couldn't help showing a wry smile.

At this time, Lin Zhixiao's family came in, "Second Master, Second Master Yun from the back street has come and said he has something important to do, and he is waiting in the front hall."

After a pause, "I brought an outsider with me."

Jia Hu: "Oh." Then he said to Youshi: "Just set up a few family banquets in the flower hall, and make one or two other things that everyone likes to eat."

Youshi: "OK."

Jia Hu stood up: "Sister-in-law, take care." Saying this, he bowed his hands and hurried out.

Lin Zhixiao's family said again: "Grandma, Second Master Yun's mother has come to pay her respects, and Grandma Xiaorong is talking with her in the side hall."

You Shi stood up: "Let's go."

lobby
Jia Yun and Ni Er stood in the hall waiting for Jia Hu.

Jia Hu walked in from the back hall, and Jia Yun hurried forward to greet him, and gave a military salute: "For humble ranks, see the commander in chief!"

Ni Er fell to his knees with a thump: "Cao Min kowtows to Lord Hou!"

"This is home, there is no need to salute in the future."

Jia Hu waved his hand, turned around and sat down at the main seat, then turned his gaze to Ni Er who was kneeling on the ground, and asked, "Who is he?"

Jia Yun immediately replied: "Second Uncle, his name is Ni Er. He was my nephew's former neighbor. He helped my nephew when he was in trouble, and he was very generous."

A soldier came in with a tea tray.

Jia Yun held the tea to Jia Hu with her own hands.

Jia Hu took a sip of tea, then asked, "What do you do?"

Knowing that Jia Hu hates lending interest, Jia Yun didn't dare to hide it, and replied: "I do odd jobs in the casino, and sometimes I also lend interest, so I can earn some free money."

Jia Hu glanced at him, then said to Ni Er: "Get up."

On the way here, Ni Er heard that Jia Hu hated usury very much, and he was always worried.At this time, when Jia Hu asked about his livelihood, he was so frightened that he fell on the ground and remained motionless, not hearing Jia Hu's words.

Jia Yun immediately reminded: "Ni Er, get up."

Only then did Ni Er come to his senses, and quickly kowtowed: "Thank you, Lord Hou!" He got up and stood in the hall with his hands down.

Seeing Ni Er's forehead covered with beads of sweat at a glance, Jia Hu smiled and said to Jia Yun: "What's important, let's talk about it."

Jia Yun: "Yes." Then, let Ni Er repeat the matter again.

After hearing what he said, Jia Hu raised his head and thought silently. Although he was sure that these people were not spies from the Division of Prosecution and the Division of Zhenfu, their identities could not be determined by Ni Er's words alone.

At this moment, Lin San hurried in and handed a letter to Jia Hu: "Master, an urgent letter from Master Jiao."

Jia Hu took the letter and tore it open to read, his eyes lit up, and he immediately understood the identities of those people, Man Qing Tartars.

This letter was sent by Jiao Da from Daxing. After more than ten days of tracking and monitoring, he finally figured out the purpose of Zhen Fuqian's return to the capital, to meet the Manchu Tartars.

In five days, there were seven batches of Manchu Manchu Tartars, about 400 people. Three or 40 people left Daxing early in the morning for the capital, and the rest dressed up as caravans and went south with Zhen Fu.

Okay, Jia Hu understands that the Manchu Tartars who attacked Henan Wei in Zaoheji sneaked into Jiangsu in this way.

Bah, dog traitor!
It's just that Jia Hu couldn't figure it out, what exactly did Zhen Fu want to do?What does he gain by doing this? !

You can't rush to be a slave to the Manchus!
Also, what did the Manchus send people to sneak into the capital at this time? !

Suddenly remembered something, Jia Hu asked Ni Er: "The other party is seven people?"

Ni Er immediately replied: "Yes. There are only seven people on the other side."

Jia Hu nodded. The Manchus had other strongholds in the capital. Thinking of this, a smile appeared on the corner of his mouth. It has been almost a year, and Jiao Da’s intelligence network has never found any strongholds of the Manchus. breakthrough.

Jia Hu looked at Ni Er and asked, "What do you want?"

Ni Er was dumbfounded, and stood there in a daze, forgetting to answer.

Jia Yun was in a hurry: "Second brother!"

Ni Er just woke up, knelt down immediately, and said loudly: "Caomin thank you Lord for your kindness!" As he said, he kowtowed.

Jia Hu frowned: "The matter hasn't been said yet, how do you know that the Marquis will agree to you?"

Ni Er's Adam's apple twitched, and he replied: "Caomin wants to beg for a bowl of food under Lord Hou's hands."

Jia Hu: "Do you want to be an official?"

Ni Er raised his head, plucked up his courage, and replied loudly: "Yes. The grassroots want to be an official!"

Jia Hu looked at Ni Er for a long time: "Then what can you do for me?"

Ni Er ignored everything and looked straight at Jia Hu: "I can work my life for Lord Hou!"

Jia Hu was startled for a moment, then smiled.

Lin San also laughed.

"I can help Lord Hou."

Ni Er obviously thought it through, and said seriously: "I, Ni Er, a drunk king, has been in the market for nearly 20 years. I have made a lot of friends, and I know all kinds of religions. They are friends of wine and meat, but they still have some contacts. I can inquire about news and collect intelligence for Lord Hou."

Jia Hu smiled lightly: "Okay, for Yun'er's sake, this Marquis will give you this chance. Today is the third day of February, forget about the beginning of February, within ten days, as long as you can bring a useful information, I will accept you."

Ni Erya gritted his teeth: "Okay! I will definitely surprise Lord Hou within ten days."

Jia Hu nodded appreciatively, and continued, "Don't tell the public about this, or you will be killed."

After a pause, "No matter what you do, you must control your mouth. You are called Drunken King Kong, and you must drink a lot. If you want to survive, you should quit this alcohol."

Ni Er swallowed and nodded.

Jia Hu: "Remember. Lin San, the house payment will be 1000 taels of silver, and I will send Ni Er home."

"promise!"

Lin San responded loudly, and then said to Ni Er: "Please."

Ni Er: "Thank you, Lord Hou, for the reward!" He kowtowed again, got up and followed Lin San out.

Jia Hu stood up, walked to the window and watched Ni Er walk out of the courtyard, and then said: "Go with me to the study outside, and write down what you know about Ni Er, including his relatives and friends, who often come and go. The venue and his preferences." After finishing speaking, he turned and walked towards the back hall.

Jia Yun quickly followed in.

(End of this chapter)