Brother Rong of Red Mansion

Chapter 23 Gifts
  Go from the main courtyard to the second gate in the northeast corner.

The boys guarding the gate pricked up their ears and listened to what was going on in the front yard. They all scratched their heads and hurriedly saluted when they saw Jia Rong.

"Uncle is back."

Especially, when they saw the group of boys behind Jia Rong, carrying trays covered with red silk cloth and carrying heavy boxes and cages, they couldn't help but be happy and their eyes were shining.

As for Jia Qiang next to Jia Rong, no one cares.

The boys and servants said hello to him and ignored him. With only a flattering smile on his face, he circled around Jia Rong excitedly, inviting favors and showing his attentiveness.

Brother Sun Heng and other young men, carrying red silk trays and brocade boxes and cages, stopped in front of the second door and handed their things to the doorkeepers and women. Let them carry their things and head to Jia Rong's yard in the east with smiles on their faces.

Occasionally, someone accidentally lifted up the red silk cloth on the tray and took a look. Suddenly, a corner of gold and silver ingots and jewelry strings were revealed, making all the servants secretly breathe in, their eyes were shining, and they were almost drooling.

"The girls in the uncle's courtyard are wearing clothes again."

All the servants were secretly envious.

******
  In front of the second gate, Jia Rong and Jia Qiang crossed their hands and said goodbye, then turned and walked towards their own yard.

Don't say it!
  After traveling for just one day, I felt a little homesick.

Entering the first courtyard, Jia Rong couldn't help but smile when she saw the familiar third-class girls. She walked slowly and nodded with a smile to say hello.

When everyone saw it, they were all happy.

Entering the second courtyard, Huamei and other six second-class girls were busy turning over the pages of books.

The yard is filled with books, all filled with large books, and there is almost no room to put your feet down.

Seeing Jia Rong and the third-class servants carrying trays and cages walking into the yard, Huamei and the other six girls were stunned for a moment, and then quickly came forward with joy on their faces.

"Are you posting books?"

Jia Rong was walking in the courtyard and couldn't help but brows in surprise when she saw the yellowed pages of the book.

"Yes, today is June 6th, a Buddhist festival. Legend has it that Monk Tang came back from collecting scriptures from the West. He accidentally threw all the scriptures into the sea, picked them up and dried them in the sun before they were preserved. Therefore, the scriptures stored in the temple are also in the sky. On the day of Kuang Festival (turning over, checking, and exposing), according to the rules, books must be exposed. Master, what are these?"

As Jia Rong's second-class girl, she is much more courageous than ordinary house slaves, boys, and maids. In front of Jia Rong, Huamei and others stepped forward, pulled off the red silk, opened the box and took a look. When the time came, several second-class girls were stunned and took a breath of cold air.

"Ah, so many gold ingots."

"Why are there so many silver ingots, all of which are fine snowflake silver?"

"There is also a musk red string. This is the big red makeup. My lord, why is there even a python? Where did you get it? But the lucky draw from today's garden party?"

The girls were full of joy and chattering around the trays and boxes.

Huamei, who was the first to react, took the lead in wishing Jia Rong a long blessing and congratulating him on winning the first prize in shooting swans.

In the next second, several girls reacted.

It's true.

Jia Rong went to the garden party at Dongping County Prince's Mansion today.

Now I have come back with a lot of gold and silver brocade.

If it's not the prize of winning the first prize in shooting swans, what is it?
  Jia Rong once told them about the winnings at the previous garden parties, which were all on this scale. They had also imagined the scene of the leader of Jia Rong High School returning home with a huge prize. But today I really saw it, why can’t I remember it?

Huamei is the most attentive girl, and she reacts in the blink of an eye.

Strangely enough, among the sisters, she is the most favored by her father. Mei Xiang and Chuntao inside also looked at her favorably. While holding her, he guarded her. This girl is also very high-spirited and confident that she will earn a aunt back.

There is a reason for everything.

******
  Mei Xiang and Chuntao haven't met yet, so it's not good for Jia Rong to stay in the middle courtyard for too long. Staying too long will be bad for Huamei and others.

The hierarchy in Ningguo Mansion was very strict, which made the two eldest girls Mei Xiang and Chuntao angry, and they had to use Huamei as a raft, so why bother?
  So Jia Rong smiled, briefly said a few words about the garden party, then left a few circles of Huamei, stepped across the threshold of the third door, and entered the third courtyard.

"Father..."

Mei Xiang and Chuntao had heard the commotion a long time ago and were waiting in the yard politely.

Seeing Jia Rong walking slowly, she immediately walked up to him with brisk steps. With a smile, she gave Jia Rong a blessing gift and congratulated him on winning the first prize in the garden party.

Jia Rong smiled and nodded, asking Mei Xiang and Chuntao what they had done today.

"Today is the Scripture Festival, I asked Huamei and the girls to dry my books. I and Chuntao also took a liter of koji rice, along with five liters of good glutinous rice and a bucket of fine wine, and brewed several jars of Tianmen for me. Winter wine. When it is ripe in the ten days of autumn and winter, I can drink it."

Mei Xiang replied with a smile.

After hearing this, Jia Rong secretly admired Mei Xiang's carefulness. She was really a qualified girl.

This Tianmendong wine can be regarded as one of the seasonal wines in Jia Mansion.

One dou of fine wine, one liter of koji rice on June 6, and five liters of good glutinous rice are needed for drinking.

Fry asparagus (also known as three hundred sticks, Wu bamboo, silk winter, tiger tail root, asparagus grass, tomorrow winter) for five liters, wash the rice and dry it in the sun, soak it in asparagus juice, first soak it in wine as usual, wait When it is cooked, cook the rice. Use the decoction juice to mix with the rice when it is cold and warm, and let it sink in. For seven days in spring and summer, watch carefully to avoid getting too hot.

Ripe in ten days in autumn and winter.

Dongpo's poem goes: "The Tianmen is ripe in winter and the New Year is happy, and the spring fragrance of the corn is smelling everywhere."

"Waitai Mi Yao" (compiled by Wang Tao of the Tang Dynasty) says: "When Tianmendong makes wine, it is slightly sour when first ripe, but after a long period of time, it becomes fragrant and not as good as other wines."

Jia Rong nodded with a smile, said thank you to Mei Xiang and Chuntao, and then got down to business. Start counting the garden party prizes and dividing them for gifts. Living in a big family, want to keep the benefits for yourself? impossible.

"The gold and silver were put into the account first. Ten pythons were forged, one for each of the master, the wife, and Brother Qiang. Then from the mansion, one for the old lady, one for the eldest master, one for the second master, and one for the second uncle Lian. One for Uncle Bao, one for Uncle Huan, and one for Uncle Cong. How many are there?"

Mei Xiang smiled bitterly, "Master, ten horses are gone."

"Good guy!" Jia Rong took a breath. All the prize money I had worked hard for all day was gone before I even put it on my body. Jia Rong began to reflect on herself. Was it a bit too generous? How about keeping a few horses? Just forget about Jia Huan and Jia Cong?

"That's all, just give it away. It's just for exchange of favors. You can't lose a big thing for a small thing."

Jia Rong shook his head, quickly thought clearly, and decided to give them all away.

In Jia's house, everyone tries to outdo those who rise above the low. Although Jia Huan and Jia Cong are concubines, they are not welcome in the house. But this is just right. I can win people's hearts with my small and big talents.

It's just a python being forged, nothing important. As long as he becomes popular, he can wear dragon robes, let alone python robes. Now is the time to accumulate strength. You must not lose the big because of the small, and forget the fundamentals in the pursuit of enjoyment.

"I don't want to keep the twenty Dahongzhuangdui horses anymore. I'll give you two horses for each person based on the head count just now."

Just as Jia Rong finished speaking, Mei Xiang had not said anything, but Chuntao couldn't sit still and couldn't help but persuade:
  "Master, this is too much. There are only so many good things in total. You have given them all away. What do you want to wear?"

"Yes, why don't you give me one as a gift and leave some satin for me to make some new sets of clothes."

Chuntao spoke, and Mei Xiang also took the opportunity to persuade.

"Forget it." Jia Rong shook his head and said, "If you want to give it away, be more generous. It's ridiculous to dig at it. If I want to wear it, let the sewing room make a few more sets."

"How can something made in a sewing room be as good as something made by myself..." Chuntao still wanted to persuade, but saw Jia Rong frowning and immediately stopped.

As Jia Rong's personal maids, Mei Xiang and Chuntao sighed inwardly, knowing that they could not persuade them anymore.

But after thinking about it, Mei Xiang smiled happily and said with emotion:
  "I have been much calmer and more thoughtful in my work lately. I have a far-sighted vision and more thoughtful considerations than us. After all, this is a man's family. Once the prodigal son comes back, there will be earth-shaking changes, and he will truly establish a family."

After hearing this, Chuntao nodded repeatedly, "Yes, I have changed so much recently that I almost don't recognize him. It's like he suddenly changed."

Jia Rong smiled, did not dwell on this issue, and continued to give instructions:
  "One python and two bright red ones, this gift is not too light. The remaining high-quality yarns of various colors can be put away. Just pick a few colors you like and make a few sets of brand new skirts and coats Put on your vest and let the girls and servants in the courtyard wear it, so that outsiders can have a look at the dignity of our courtyard. It’s up to you, Mei Xiang, and I won’t care about it.”

"Okay." Mei Xiang nodded with a smile, a calm and confident look on her face.

Chuntao looked at it and was secretly envious.

At this moment, Mei Xiang's status as a first-class young girl was revealed.

With so many valuable items, Jia Rong safely left them all to Mei Xiang to take care of. And she, who usually seemed very important, could only listen and drink quietly now. There is no qualification to participate in the planning and scheduling.

Even if there was, it was Mei Xiang who ordered her to do it.

It can be regarded as the third level distribution of power of the housekeeper of Jia Rong's courtyard.

"Then, it's a reward for the servants in the mansion."

Jia Rong muttered:
  "I'll tell the master about this and ask him to write a note to the prime minister's office and release the money from his official career. In this way, we will save money."

Money is the guts of a man.

I have just earned so much gold and silver from the Dongping County Prince's Palace. I have to spend what I need to spend and save what I need to save. If you can get the official to provide money, why should you ask him to pay for it?

"Okay, that's it. You can put away or put away the remaining items."

Jia Rong nodded with a smile and walked slowly into the main room, ready to take a bath and change clothes.

"it is good."

Mei Xiang nodded and ordered Chuntao to go into the house to serve Jia Rong.

She stayed and personally counted the belongings in the pallet and cage again. Then what should be put into the account is put into the account, what should be put into the warehouse is put into the warehouse, and what should be placed in the study is placed in the study.

After doing all this, Mei Xiang breathed a sigh of relief, sent away the third-class servants, and turned back to the main room.

However, as soon as she entered the room, she heard Jia Rong's half lazy, half deep voice calling her:

"Meixiang, is it you? Come in quickly and give me a massage to relax your muscles and bones...

"Chuntao, this damn girl, if you don't give me a good massage, you're just acting like a monster here. I have to book a place in the Taiping Tower at night, so how can I have free time to play around with her!"

After hearing this, Mei Xiang quickly responded with a smile: "Hey, here we come!"

(End of this chapter)