Pingyang Fu of the Red Chamber

Chapter 414 Family Banquet at Rongqing Hall
In Rongqing Hall,

Jia Mu shouted in surprise.

When did she start practicing Taoism in her house? Why didn’t she get the letter about this? All Taoist priests who became immortals were just fooling people. How could Jia’s mother not know about these things? I am an ancestor. I have lived in a Taoist temple outside the city for so many years. I don’t know whether I have become an immortal or not. The money from my family is not small, and it is not necessarily that good.

As for Jia Zhen being obsessed with Taoism, it is understandable. Her father practiced Taoism, and it makes sense for him to follow his father's legacy and practice Taoism. But when did Jia She of Rongguo Mansion also think about that? Didn't the boss always like those maids? Beautiful concubine, a cultivator cannot have sex with women, but he can hold it back?
He looked at Jia Lian again, but didn't say a word from beginning to end. He was afraid that he knew something hidden, so he shouted,
"Jia Lian, come here and tell me what happened to your father in Dongkuoyuan? What kind of Tao is he practicing? Are the people in the house still there!"

Jia Lian was sitting below. When his name was called, he could no longer hide.

"Going back to my ancestors, my grandson is not sure about the specific situation. I heard that the eldest master and Brother Zhen invited a wandering Taoist priest from nowhere. They said he was a direct descendant of Taiqing Temple. He traveled far and wide and came to the capital to meet him today. It turned out that the two gentlemen were destined to live together, and after getting to know each other, they said that they would practice Taoism together and prolong their lives."

The corners of Jia's mother's mouth trembled. She really couldn't understand why the men of the Jia family were so troubled. They just believed in some crooked things and even hung out with Taoist priests. If it weren't for the visitors in the house, there would be The younger generation, who is full of grandchildren here, must be scolded severely.

"Don't worry about him, we will discuss this later."

Zhang Jinyu came back to his senses and looked at Jia Lian. His expression was quite strange. He couldn't be fake. He really didn't expect that the wandering Taoist priest was so powerful that he even tricked them into the courtyard of the Duke's Mansion. He didn't know who the wandering Taoist priest was. , thinking of Jia Jing outside the city, the man who claimed to have put aside the worldly affairs, could really be independent of worldly affairs, and find time to test it out.

After watching the masters finish talking, a wet nurse came to ask about the house where Daiyu rested.

Jia Mu was concerned about where Lin Daiyu lived. There were many houses and yards, but Jia Mu wanted to arrange it by her side, so she said,

"Now take Baoyu out and sleep with me in the warm pavilion in the suite. I will temporarily put you, Miss Lin, in the blue gauze cupboard. After the last winter, we will clean up the house with them in the spring and make other arrangements."

Baoyu replied anxiously:
"Good ancestor, I'm perfectly safe on the bed outside the Bisha cupboard. Why should I keep my ancestors quiet when they come out to make trouble again?"

I thought that Jia Baoyu would be able to restrain himself after being beaten a lot, but he didn't expect that the left ear went in and the right ear went out. However, this time Zhang Jinyu didn't say anything, but Lin Daiyu refused.

"Old ancestor, Yu'er is not young at all. How can she occupy other people's houses? I remember what my mother said before she was alive. She also had her own small courtyard before she came out of the government, and it was always kept by her grandmother. So in order to save trouble and fulfill her filial piety, it is better to put it in Leave that yard to Yu'er."

What Lin Daiyu said was reasonable and reasonable. Jia Mu was not embarrassed and said,
"That's all,"

The west courtyard is close to your sister-in-law's yard, but there is a quiet small courtyard. It's just that no one lives in it for a long time, so it's probably not very convenient.

Zhang Jinyu answered the question and didn't care.
"Old lady, just make arrangements. Yu'er also specially brought incense altar, spiritual tablets, etc., just to pray for her parents day and night. As for the yard being dirty, she is not afraid of it. She brought so many maids and women and cleaned it up in an hour. .”

"Okay, since the Marquis has said so, the Xiangyuan in the west courtyard will be given to Yu'er. Yuanyang, you take the maids and mother-in-law over there and clean and tidy up the house first."

"Yes, old lady."

Jia Mu asked Yuanyang to take someone to take a look in person and clean up first. Lin Daiyu was a little anxious and wanted to follow her to have a look. However, Zhang Jinyu shook her head at Lin Daiyu and only sent her own soldiers to follow behind. They carried the things and went with them. There were not many things, only four boxes. As for the soldiers carrying the boxes, they were also the guards left by Zhang Jinyu for Lin Daiyu.

outer room,

Wang Xifeng actually changed her clothes, walked over and said;

"Old lady, the banquet in the east room is ready."

"Girl Feng, you send someone over first to prepare. Mrs. Wang and Mr. Marquis will go have dinner together."

"Okay, old lady, let's go together!"

Jia Mu seemed to be really hungry. After a whole room of things, she felt a little tired. She got off the bed. Li Wan and Wang Xifeng, one on each side, came over to help Jia Mu. Jia Mu held Lin Daiyu's hand, and then asked Sanchun to follow.

"Mrs. Wang, Lord Marquis, we are guests from afar. We will talk about the future later. There is nothing to entertain at my house today. Just like my family, just have a home-cooked meal for now. How about."

Mrs. Wang stood up and took Lin Daiyu’s other hand, smiling;
"Old lady, you're welcome. I'm going to disturb you again. As for the rest, we can discuss it later."

Seeing that Mrs. Hou Fu was so reasonable, Jia Mu was overjoyed. She led the people from the back corridor to the west and out of the corner gate, there was a wide north-south road.

keep going,

Directly entering the inner hall, four or five young men stood waiting with their hands down.

Wang Xifeng and Jia Mu then walked through an east-west hall, which was the east room of Jia Mu's backyard. Then they entered the back room door and stepped into the compartment. There were many people waiting here.

The whole room was extremely spacious, and the table turned out to be a long table that could seat many people. Mother Jia naturally sat at the top, and Mrs. Wang and Zhang Jinyu took the first and second chairs on the left. Wang Xifeng didn't ask anyone else, and took Lin Daiyu with her. I took the third and fourth seats.

Daiyu saw that other people in Jia's family had not yet sat down, and she was very reluctant.

Jia Mu laughed and said:

"Your aunt is not eating here to pay homage to the Buddha. She is just keeping company. You are a guest, so you should sit like this." Dai Yufang said and sat down.Jia Mu ordered her to greet Yuanyang again, and called Baoyu to come over. She took the first seat on the right, Mrs.Li Wan was sitting on the lower left hand side of Wang Xifeng.

The second wife didn't stay long. After everyone was seated, she got up and left the room.

There were two men at the same table. Zhang Jinyu couldn't help but feel a little embarrassed. She took a look and confirmed that Jia Lian had not followed, but he was a big-faced person. Jia Baoyu was very happy there, as if she was very happy. Looking at Mrs. Xing again, her face was full of joy. Unpleasant, no wonder the elders had objections. Jia Baoyu was able to sit in front of Mrs.

Before I thought much about it, the maid next to me walked in holding a whisk, a bowl, and a handkerchief and stood by the door. Although there were many maids and daughters-in-law waiting outside, they didn't even cough.

Then the dishes were served one after another. There were not many, more than forty dishes were served, and it was extremely luxurious. All the people sitting there were women. Zhang Jinyu was the only one who really ate. He thought he was eating normally, but when he tasted the dishes Only then did Zhang Jinyu understand why the Jia family had to eat up half of the money in the public account in a year. It was indeed delicious. In Jiangnan, the two dishes that the chief minister Shi Zhuang asked him to taste were compared with the Jia family. One day One piece of land is out of hand.

However, they were very polite during the meal, and no one said anything. Unlike Zhang Jinyu who ate at home and talked to Qin Keqing and others from time to time, he didn't get used to it for a while.

After a while,
Everyone put down their bowls and chopsticks one after another. It seemed that they had finished eating. Zhang Jinyu also put down their bowls and chopsticks along with everyone else. After dinner, each maid brought tea on a small tea tray.

Zhang Jinyu looked at the tea and was still confused, not knowing what it meant. Lin Daiyu waited for everyone to take it, but she didn't move. She thought about what her father Lin Ruhai said that day, that a goddaughter should cherish blessings to maintain her health. She must swallow all the rice after eating. Drinking tea again will not hurt the spleen and stomach.

Now in the Duke's Mansion, tea was served so quickly. Daiyu saw that many things here were not in line with her family's affairs, so she had to follow suit and change them one by one, so she accepted the tea.

Mrs. Wang did understand these rules. She took a sip of tea and rinsed her mouth. Someone had already brought the basin and spit it back. Daiyu also rinsed her mouth.

Zhang Jinyu looked at the person opposite and felt the same way. He couldn't help but feel cold. He was an evil aristocrat who was extremely extravagant. After eating, he saw it. He took the tea bowl and rinsed his mouth.

After the maid went down with the spittoon, another group of maids came over and brought tea for everyone to eat.

Zhang Jinyu drank again, obviously feeling that the tea she was drinking now was better than before. Then Jia Mu looked over and said,
"Mrs. Wang, Lord Marquis, are you eating well?"

"As expected of the Duke's Mansion, I haven't had such a good family banquet for a long time, and it's getting late. Old lady, I will accompany Yu'er to the West Courtyard to check out the place where I live, and tidy it up before settling in. Jin Yu and I went back."

Mrs. Wang actually opened her mouth to praise her, thinking only about the place where Lin Daiyu lived. Although Mrs. Jia was reluctant to part with it, she still nodded in agreement.

"You go, old lady, I'm tired too. I'm going back to rest. I'm sorry for you, mother and son, but I won't send you off, old lady."

"Old lady, go back and rest early."

Mrs. Wang was polite, then stood up and pulled Daiyu out, with Zhang Jinyu naturally following behind.

Wang Xifeng also got up and followed him over. Li Wan, who was beside him, saw Wang Xifeng and followed him. He didn't know when he got up and said goodbye in a hurry.

Mrs. Xing didn't want to stay alone, so she naturally said goodbye to Jia Mu and hurried back to Dongkuayuan.

Only Sanchun and Baoyu stayed here. Baoyu looked anxious and wanted to follow, but Jia Mu told the nanny beside her,
"Pack everything up, and then wait for Baoyu and the three ladies to rest."

"Yes, old lady."

West Court,

A yard that is neither big nor small,

The yard was messy, with piles of old furniture that had just been moved out, and many old furnishings, as well as dirty curtains, door rails, etc., all of which were shaken out. The servants and maids were there. Mother-in-law, clean the main house of the small courtyard first.

Mrs. Wang led Daiyu and Zhang Jinyu, and Wang Xifeng led them to the courtyard where Jia Min was before she left the cabinet. Lin Daiyu could not help but shed tears of sadness.

"Okay, girl, if you cry again in your mother's yard, you will disturb your mother."

Mrs. Wang held Lin Daiyu's hand tightly and comforted her.

As if it were real, Daiyu held back her tears and looked over. Lanterns had been lit all around, illuminating the courtyard. With the light of the lanterns, she saw a small pond in the courtyard, with a pavilion and a pavilion in the center. The garden is just withered branches and leaves inside, and the yard is dirty and has not been taken care of for a long time.

Wang Xifeng walked in the front, lighting up the path with a lantern, pointing to the yard in front of her, and said;
"Auntie, Lord Marquis, Yu'er, look, the main hall is just ahead."

Looking in the direction of Wang Xifeng's finger, this courtyard is quite interesting. The main house in the middle of the entire courtyard is located on a high place, which is one room higher than other courtyard houses. It is built as a two-story building. I don't know its purpose. .

Standing on the top of the attic, you can see the surrounding environment clearly. I think my mother-in-law must have often stood on it and looked into the distance.

Zhang Jinyu subconsciously looked around. There were small courtyards all around. There was nothing to see. However, there was a vague figure in the corner of the wall courtyard not far behind. It felt like a figure with a big face!

(End of this chapter)