Pingyang Fu of the Red Chamber

Chapter 488 What’s going on in Ningguo Mansion?
The small courtyard to the west,
inside the hall,
Zijuan's voice came in,

"Go back to Miss Bao. I was just outside talking to Sister Xiren in Master Bao's room."

After saying that, he put the medicine he had just boiled in a corner of the desk, took out the brocade wrapped with flowers that Xi Ren had just given him, put it aside, and touched it carefully with his hands. I checked it for a moment, for fear of getting it broken.

Lin Daiyu's face turned bitter when she saw the medicine. She drank this every day and it was really hard to swallow. However, the medicine lost its effect when it was cold. She endured the pain and did not wait for the girl to urge her. She picked up the bowl and drank it in small sips. The feeling spread all over her mouth. Daiyu couldn't bear that all their hard work for her was in vain, so she held her breath and drank the medicine in one breath.

As soon as he finished drinking, he immediately put down the bowl, then pinched a piece of cloud cake and stuffed it into his mouth, chewing it carefully. Then he felt better. He looked at Zicuckoo who had not left yet and asked,

"Sister Zijuan, is there anything else?"

"Well, Miss, this thing was brought over by Sister Xiren just now, and then she said it was flowers given to several ladies by my concubine."

Zicuckoo wiped the table with a rag, then picked up the medicine bowl, and finally pushed forward the flowers wrapped in brocade cloth placed on the corner of the table.

Who knows, Lin Daiyu didn't look at it at all, but asked,
"You mean that these flowers were sent by Aunt Xue, but the visitor was sent by Xiren from Erye Bao's courtyard, right?"

"Yes, miss,"

Zicuckoo hurriedly responded, saying the same thing when the attacker came. As for why the flowers arrived in Master Bao's courtyard, she didn't know. If they wanted to send them, they had to send them directly, and there was no way they had gone around in a circle.

Lin Daiyu looked at the ball of brocade cloth on the table and was quite unhappy. Firstly, she didn't like it, and secondly, she felt uncomfortable after passing through so many people's hands. However, after Zijuan took this thing, how could she return it? As for Aunt Xue, I think of Xue Baochai, she is also a beauty, but I don’t know if she will be easy to get along with.

"Zijuan, take a break after cleaning up. Don't be busy. Just let the girls outside do those things. As for these flowers, you and Xueyan each have one. I don't like colorful things. Then prepare some honey cakes next time." , the medicine is too bitter."

"I got it, miss, I'll prepare it for you next time. As the saying goes, good medicine is bitter in taste and good for the disease. You can't miss a bowl every day. I just took this flower. Xueyan will definitely like it. Thank you, miss."

Zicuckoo didn't feel anything. They were just two fake flowers. None of the things sent by the Marquis in the courtyard were extremely valuable. She had seen them so many times that it was just that. She didn't take it to heart. She held a bowl in one hand and a bowl in the other. After touching the flowers, I went out to look for that girl Xueyan.

In Rongqing Hall,

After everyone talked, they saw that the old lady was a little troubled, so they all asked for peace and retreated. Yuanyang took the girl with him, served Jia Mu, lay down on the kang, and rested.

The rest of the people dispersed and went back to their houses to rest.

When it was time to turn on the lights, Rongguo Mansion was busy again. That was the time when there was chaos last time. All the houses and courtyards in the capital, if they were able, organized some guards or servants to start patrolling at night. One was to prevent fire and theft. The second is to patrol the master's house to make the master feel at ease. If there is any movement, he will definitely know it.

Therefore, every evening, those who light the lamps light the lamps, and the stewards lead people around, but they are all busy.

Wang Xifeng also took some time and took Ping'er to the front yard to look around. Seeing that everyone in the house was performing their duties, she was satisfied. Without asking any more questions, she returned to the Liyuan and entered the house.

He sat down to rest, and then asked Ping'er to help him remove his makeup. He sat there still thinking about replying to the second wife, but it was too late and he was afraid of disturbing Mr. Zheng's rest, so he simply stopped going and asked,
"Ping'er, have you collected the things that the Zhen family sent you today? What we sent to him will be taken to them while his family has the opportunity to bring in fresh food."

Thinking that he was the manager of the Zhen family, Ping'er came over with some things and brought a lot of things.

"Back to grandma, I collected the things and brought back the things I prepared."

Wang Xifeng nodded and said:

"Also, have you prepared the gifts for Mrs. Lin'an Qianqiu? Do you know who she sent to deliver them?"

Ping'er replied,

"Grandma, my servant asked you about this matter, but the second wife didn't take it seriously. My servant told me about this matter, but my wife sent two women to take things with them. She also said that she came to ask me about something serious. .”

Wang Xifeng put down the unloaded gold hairpin and didn't care.
"Since the wife has said it, let's do what she wants. You don't have to worry about it. No matter what happens, Uncle Lin'an won't dare to say anything. By the way, Sister-in-law Zhen is here today and invites me to go shopping tomorrow. It’s nothing, I’ll go over there once the arrangements are made.”

Ping'er thought about it for a moment. All the arrangements for these days have been made, and he is really free tomorrow.

"Grandma can go with peace of mind. Everything is well arranged in the house, so nothing will happen. However, Mrs. You's invitation this time is strange. Every time she comes to invite you, she always invites you in a circle. Naturally, grandma is uncomfortable with it. But today, Shan invited grandma, so we can tell that she sincerely asked grandma to come over and say some thoughtful words, just to be casual, even if something happened, she should go there."

"What you said makes sense. I have been so busy these days that I forgot about Sister-in-law Zhen. I don't know what she wanted to say. After all, Ningguo Mansion is also a direct descendant of the Jia family, and some things in the house are much simpler than Rongguo Mansion. , these family matters are nothing more than Brother Zhen’s affairs. Alas, does it mean that the cultivation of Taoism is boring, you are right, learn how to respect the master, learn this and other cultivation and alchemy, it is indeed from the same ancestor."

Wang Xifeng was minding her own guessing. After thinking about it for a while, she didn't guess accurately, but she was pretty close to it. Now that she is older, she knows to be more careful, but she has never heard of practicing Taoism and keeping in good health. Could it be that It means respecting the master.

But Ping'er beside him quickly tugged on Sister Feng's sleeve.

"Grandma, you can't say this. How could such a thing spread from you? If someone else were to say something, it would be said that the second grandmother of Rongguo Mansion is jealous of Ningguo Mansion."

"I think who dares to tear his mouth to pieces and chew his tongue between the two houses? I think he is tired of living."

Wang Xifengfeng's eyes narrowed, and a ruthless look flashed across her face. Although she was lenient to others, if she violated taboos, these slaves could be beaten to death. It suddenly occurred to her that at noon today, the people who arranged to go to Laiwang to buy food have not been able to do it until now. There is no letter, but the boss of the Xue family is handing out food in the alleys of Ningrong Street. What is going on.

"I'm all confused. I asked Lai Wang to take people to buy food. Why don't I even get a letter now? And Xue Pan of the Xue family, what's going on over there giving out food?"

"Now, let's go back to grandma. Laiwang hasn't come back yet. As for Mr. Xue, I heard that Mr. Xue bought food in the morning and gave it to the Jia family members for free. Every family has it. Now Everyone in the family was very happy after giving out the money all afternoon. As for why, I don’t know the reason. Anyway, it was paid out as soon as it was given out, and we didn’t spend any money."

Ping'er also felt a little strange. The Xue family had only been here for a few days, but they had done a lot of things. Although it was nothing, they always felt a little restless.

Wang Xifeng thought a lot. Although her aunt did not lack these things, the Rongguo Mansion lacked them. How could she put the prestige of her master's family in such trouble here? Although she might have good intentions, she could not do bad things.

"Stop talking nonsense, quickly ask Zhao'er to take a few people to see where Wang Wang died." "Yes, grandma,"

Ping'er responded and went out to arrange for someone to find Lai Wang.

And outside the house,

The back alley of Ningrong Street,
Xue Pan was in the limelight today. Not to mention the number of Jia family members, there were hundreds of people who came to pay homage to Xue Pan. Moreover, where Xue Pan was, the whole place had already been set up with tables and chairs. Fruits, pastries, and tea were all prepared. A few students from the school, and a canvas they found somewhere, set up a stall on the spot and surrounded the wind vent to block the wind for Xue Pan.

Xue Pan, on the other hand, was half lying on a chair, eating cakes and drinking hot tea. He looked at the busy people and was still shouting.
"Brother Qiang, look at it, fill it up for this eldest sister, fill it all up."

Jia Qiang and her assistants were sweating like rain as they loaded bags for everyone. After hearing what Mr. Xue said, they even weighed a large amount of grain and put it in.
"Uncle Xue, you can only pretend that this is so much. If you pretend that this eldest sister can't carry it any more,"

"Thank you, Brother Qiang, and also thank you, Mr. Xue. I didn't buy any food today, so I'm worried. If it hadn't been for Mr. Xue, I wouldn't have known what to do."

As soon as the woman finished speaking, everyone in the queue around her echoed her words and expressed their gratitude.

Xue Pan's face was flushed, and his tone became louder.
"We are all from our own family. There is no need to say thank you. If you don't have enough, go home and put down the food. Come over and get some. The capital is short of food, but we are not. As the saying goes, if you have food at home, don't panic. If it were someone else who doesn't have food at home, Who doesn't panic when I get rice? I, Xue Pan, saw it today and can't ignore it."

As soon as he finished speaking, everyone in the crowd cheered, and those with children, regardless of gender, old or young, pushed their children to the front of Mr. In the light of the fire, many children knelt down and kowtowed in thanks.

Xue Pan quickly removed the snacks and fruits on the table and asked the boys around him to disperse them.
"Everyone get up, everyone get up, thank you, thank you,"

The children took some snacks and jumped back happily. Then they played together. I don’t know who started it, and said,
"I didn't expect that the in-laws from the south of the Yangtze River would be so loyal and take good care of their relatives. They can be regarded as the actions of a noble man. However, no one from the master's family came to help. They were all students from the school, and Brother Qiang also contributed. , Really, eh.”

"Who says it's not the case? The Ningguo Mansion occupies the clan leader, but no one has ever asked me and other clansmen about anything. They just pray for survival."

"Hmph, those direct descendants are so annoying to us, the side brothers, that they wish we could fend for ourselves."

"That's right, even the old lady doesn't come forward now. There used to be rewards for silver and food. Now if you go to beg them, you only have a few coins to send away the beggars."

"Hey"

The words one after another became louder and louder, all telling the faults of Ning Rong's second house, and even more unpleasant words were said. Xue Pan was also stunned when he heard that, no way, the Jia family is like this, so big In the Duke's Mansion, the boy next to him saw something was wrong, so he came over and said,

"Sir, why did you hear something wrong with your tone of voice? My wife has told me not to get involved in the affairs of the Duke's Mansion."

"Well, how did I know this would happen? I thought that just like the Xue family in Jinling, I would give them some money every year, but I didn't expect that they wouldn't even give them any money. They are indeed a wealthy family, they are so cruel."

Xue Pan also sighed with emotion, thinking that the Xue family had spent so much money on the members of the Xue family's side house before, and it was heartbreaking. Unexpectedly, the Jia family in the capital had already thought of going ahead of him.

Some of the heroes saw something similar, but the boy next to him reached out and tugged Xue Pan's sleeve.

"Sir, we should go back. Someone will take care of these things. The food over there has been distributed."

The implication of the young man's words was that things were almost over and it was time to leave. Only Xue Pan was still unfinished, but he also knew that he could not stay any longer, so he had to respond vaguely, then stood up and turned into the alley in silence, entering the corner gate.

Talking about Ningguo Mansion,
Jia Rong and others carefully moved the borrowed screen into Tianxiang Building. Now Tianxiang Building in Ningguo Mansion has been renovated by Jia Zhen with money. In the attic on the first floor, the house has been completely emptied. The eight formation diagram filled with silver has a yin and yang fish in the middle, and above it is a bronze alchemy furnace bought outside. This is where the immortal master makes alchemy, and upstairs, there are things used by Taoists. Jia Zhen herself has moved out long ago. In this building, I found another courtyard to live in.

Every morning when I get up early, the first thing I do is to come to Tianxiang Tower to practice Taoism. As for the women, I have not missed them. Every night, there must be several bought concubines to serve me. As for Mrs. You, she seems to have forgotten and ignores her. .

As for Jia Rong, he only has a master in the house now. He wishes that his father was refining elixirs every day. Today, he said that he borrowed a screen to receive guests. It was all an excuse. It was just to add a partition to the immortal master's dining room. This matter is also Not being careless, Jia Zhen specifically asked Jia Rong to handle the matter. Jia Rong agreed wholeheartedly, so she went to Wang Xifeng of Rongguo Mansion to borrow a gilded screen at noon.

in the evening,

During the meal, Jia Rong specially asked the cook to prepare wine and food. He also bought sake from Zuixianlou and brought it over to invite Master Xian and Master Zhen to have a meal together.

Jia Rong took the servants and maids and entered Tianxiang Tower with boxes of wine, food and food. On the east side, a gilt stall was erected, which was borrowed from Rongguo Mansion today. After leaving the stall, he went to a high platform. , its own tables and chairs made of high-quality wood and cushioned with soft cushions.

Jia Zhen touched her chin. She was wearing a Bagua suit and a Tai Chi hat. She really had a Taoist artistic conception. When she met Jia Rong, she no longer beat and scolded her as before, which was a sign of dignity.
"Why did Ronger come so early today?"

Jia Rong asked someone to open the food box and put the food and wine on the table. He said as he put it,

"Father, I saw you and the Immortal Master spending their divine energy in refining elixirs today. I was afraid that you would be hungry, so I came here earlier. I also brought Father and the Immortal Master the best sake from Zuixian Tower to relieve their fatigue."

As he spoke, he gently took out two bottles of sake and placed them on the table. It looked like they had been warmed. Jia Zhen was also quite moved.

"You have grown up, and my love for you is not in vain, but don't forget one thing. The money for Xuanzhen Temple is indispensable, and it needs to be sent there. You go there in person."

"This, yes, father, Rong'er knows, but father, the amount is so large, and the family has been in trouble in recent years, can it be less?"

These words are really what Jia Rong said. Ningguo Mansion has gone through so many things and has paid off all the money in the household. Now there is only 30 taels of silver in the treasury. The annual income is just 10 taels of silver. Jia Zhen has also messed with it. Expenses, what is left is limited, Xuanzhen Temple needs at least 5 taels of silver to worship every year, and even one tael less is not enough, and I don’t know how to spend it. If something happens, I am afraid that I will not be able to get the money.

Jia Zhen frowned. These troubles were all obstacles to her cultivation, but she couldn't help but ask. Money is needed everywhere, but where to get the money, the amount of money spent on her father's temple must be indispensable. , glanced at the immortal master and asked for advice,
"Master Immortal, how do you think the house should be doing now?"

　I'm sorry for all the book friends, my child is still in hospital, so I can only write one chapter. Thank you for your support!

　　
　
(End of this chapter)