in spring

Chapter 109 The quarrel again

Chunying was taken aback: "Going south? Where? Why didn't I hear the second uncle mention it before?"

Second Uncle Lu smiled wryly: "I didn't expect it either. I thought I would stay in Beijing for a year or two. I didn't expect Hou Ye to receive an urgent letter from Manager Chen who called Nanjing and sent it back today, saying that it was Mr. Huo's aunt. I'm seriously ill, I don't look very well, my aunt is crying and sick, I asked the mansion to send another master over there."

Aunt?Chunying remembered that it was the lady her mother had served when she was young, and she hurriedly asked: "So, Master Hou sent the young master?"

"Master Hou can't leave. There are only a few young masters in the mansion. The second young master is still in the manor and has nothing to do. The third young master is still young. Except for the eldest young master, there is no one else who can do errands. .At any rate, it’s the husband’s family of a direct sister, so we can’t just let a few stewards fill the show.” Second Uncle Lu paused, worried about Hu Fei’s presence, so he cautiously didn’t continue, “Anyway, this matter came in a hurry. You have to leave the day after tomorrow. Your mother will come over tomorrow night, but you can’t go home for the time being. Fortunately, there is Wei Gong and Wei Po here, and Brother Hu can help take care of it. You should be more honest at home, don’t give me Something happened! I mentioned it to your mother and told her to come over and take care of it every few days."

Chunying hurriedly responded, and said: "I'm not a child anymore, I can do housework, I won't worry you, Second Uncle can go out at ease." Suddenly remembered the matter of going to conduct market research today, hesitated for a while , then said: "But...Second Uncle, can I help Brother Xiao Fei when he goes out to do business? I can pretend to be his sister, and no one will recognize me! If you are not at home, When others come to search, I have nowhere to hide, so I might as well just run away!"

Second Uncle Lu frowned and looked at Hu Fei, who hurriedly said, "Little sister is like my own sister. I will protect her and not let others bully her. Uncle Lu, please rest assured."

Second Uncle Lu thought for a while and said, "Let's forget it. What does the girl's house look like running around? It's still hot now. When it cools down, it will be autumn again. Why bother to eat the northwest wind? If you are afraid of letting people know, you should stop going out, at most go to Wei Gong and Wei Po’s to do needlework during the day, and then go home after dark.” He is not worried about letting people know that Chunying is here, after all, The so-called secret she knew is nothing now, the matter has already spread, and the second young master has long been driven to the Zhuangzi. Even if he comes back in the future, he will not be as good as before in front of the old lady and Lord Hou. He is an insider, so he can't do anything to his younger brother's girl.He wanted to conceal Chunying's whereabouts before, but it was just to lie for his relatives, and he was also afraid that she would be entangled in gossip.

Chunying was extremely disappointed in her heart, but she still argued a few words unwillingly: "It's still far away from winter, Second Uncle, I don't have anything to do anyway, so it's good to see the world. I'm only so young, what kind of etiquette should I pay attention to? When I get older, it won't be convenient for me to go out casually. Besides, didn't Aunt Cui come here to inquire about the news before? If she comes again and sees me here, I don't know what she will go back and say!"

Uncle Lu hesitated.The niece's words also made some sense, he seemed to be thinking too optimistically.After all, the young master got this errand, and he became more and more embarrassing in front of the marquis. Even the old lady would treat him closer because she missed her daughter. The wife would feel even more uncomfortable if she was really asked to find out the real estate in this alley They were all bought by the young master behind the back of the mansion, and they slandered in front of Lord Hou, but it was very bad.What's more, my eldest brother has already made a name under the cronies of his wife, and it would not be of any benefit to his eldest brother if his wife found out that Chunying was here.Let her go out during the day to avoid it, and when it gets dark, Widow Cui will not be able to quietly go outside to inquire.Hu Fei has also known each other for a while, and he is trustworthy.

He thought about it carefully, and then sighed: "I thought I would stay in Beijing for a long time, so I picked you up. If I knew I was going to leave, I would have let you stay at Shopkeeper Shi. Forget it, you can Go, just be more careful outside, don't meddle in your own business, and think more about what you say and do. Remember that you must go home before dark, and your mother will come to you!"

Chunying was overjoyed, nodded hurriedly, and said: "I just discussed with Brother Xiaofei, I will go back to Funing Street to see shopkeeper Shi tomorrow, but there is no need to go back, second uncle don't worry, I can take care of myself!"

Seeing this, Hu Fei was also very happy. Seeing that Uncle Lu looked tired and it was past dinner time, he said goodbye and went back to the hospital for dinner.Chunying sent him out, hurriedly turned around to make dinner, waited for Second Uncle Lu to take a shower, and brought out the food.

Second Uncle Lu ate the food, boasted a few words, and said: "Seeing that you have grown up, you can take care of food and clothing by yourself. With Wei Gong and Wei Po around, I don't worry, but this time I don't care about it." I don't know how long it will take, and I can't come back until the matter is over. It is not impossible to delay for a year or so. If the time is too long, you should discuss it with your mother and find a time to move back home. Hurt You have been out for half a year, and you have been out for a hundred days, so you can still deceive people by moving back."

Chunying paused in her hands: "Will it take so long?" She lowered her voice: "Is it...that aunt is dying? Do you have to do the funeral?" She suddenly thought of the aunt Jia in "Dream of Red Mansions". It has been a long time since Lin Ruhai became seriously ill and died.

Second Uncle Lu sighed: "It's inconvenient for Second Uncle to say this in front of Brother Hu just now. In the letter from Manager Chen, it was mentioned that Mrs. Huo Gu is going to die. There is only one young lady under his knees. I heard that people in the clan are discussing to give him an adoptive heir so as to inherit the title of Uncle Jinshan. The Marquis is worried that once the aunt dies, someone will take over the Huo family's property , neglected my aunt and cousin, so I specially asked the eldest young master to help with the cooking, so as to support the aunt."

Chun Ying's eyes widened, and she felt that this scene seemed familiar: "Are they so bold? Is the aunt the real sister of Lord Hou? And... since Xiao Chen is in charge, father is also there, right?"

"Of course it is. Your father also sent back a letter of safety. In the letter, he mentioned that the aunt was seriously ill. The housekeeper was going to ask for a doctor. Some people deliberately stopped him and did not allow steward Chen to enter the inner house. He was by the aunt's side. Your mother found your father, and Manager Xiao Chen invited the doctor here. Tell me, what is this called? If your mother hadn't served the aunt before, who would know the aunt's grievances?"

There are indeed a lot of dirty things in these rich and powerful families!Chunying recalled that her old mother accidentally mentioned her past master, she only said that she was a very smart, elegant, gentle and beautiful lady, she was very kind-hearted, never spoke loudly, never quarreled with others, she was very good at playing piano, chess, calligraphy and painting, He is also good at housekeeping, and he is also very good to the maids, just like a fairy girl.Although the authenticity of Lu's mother's words is questionable, not all big girls have such a high opinion of the master, which shows that the aunt is still a good person.She was born in the Marquis Mansion, and her husband's family was an earl. She had been precious all her life, but suddenly she was hit by her husband's serious illness and was plotted against by others, which was considered unlucky.Thinking about it, such a noble lady who looks like a fairy girl may not have enough means to fight against her husband's people.

Chunying is still sighing here, the second uncle on the other end has finished his meal and had a drink, then he took out a bunch of keys and said to his niece: "Chun'er, these are the keys to several yards in the alley. Except for Wei Gong who has a copy of the gates of each courtyard, this is the most complete copy, including the keys to all important rooms. If the young master and the young mistress in the mansion want to come over, they all ask me to get it. Since I want If you go out for a long time and don't know when you will come back, I will leave this thing with you, and you should put it away carefully."

Seeing that the matter was of great importance, Chunying took the key carefully, and saw that there were small copper plaques hanging on it with red threads, engraved with the words "Wei", "Li", "Zhao", "Min", etc., thinking of those in the alley. On the doors of the empty yard, signs such as "Wei's house" and "Li's house" were hung, so I knew it was the corresponding key, and hurriedly dug out a small box to put it in, took it back to the room, stuffed it in the corner of the Kang, Cover it with quilts, sewing boxes, etc.

Uncle Lu looked at his niece's actions, nodded with a smile, and said, "Don't worry too much, most likely no one will come, but if the eldest young mistress really asks someone to come to you, don't give the key to anyone. I just lead the people there personally. There are no valuables in those houses now, and the important thing is to keep it from outsiders.” He took out another blueprint for Chun Ying to identify, with a pattern of a jade pendant drawn on it, if someone takes it Only by wearing this jade pendant is it credible, otherwise it is absolutely impossible to admit that the young master owns these yards.

Chunying wrote down one by one, but she felt a little disapproving.Since the young master is so careful, why did he buy so many yards for nothing?Isn't it okay to store money in the bank?If you are afraid that your wife will find out, instead of lying and pretending that there are people living in each courtyard, you might as well rent out the houses, which can create the illusion that these courtyards have their own owners, and make some money by the way.Anyway, the young master has worked hard for several years but failed to separate the family. It will not be too late to take back the house for renovation after the matter of the separation is decided.

But these things have nothing to do with her, so she doesn't care.

In the early morning of the next day, Uncle Lu went back to the mansion again. There are still many things to do in order to prepare for the departure tomorrow.Chunying packed a few bags for him, and prepared winter clothes and bedding for the boat just in case. Remembering that her mother would not come here until evening, she ran to Hu Fei to look for him.

Hu Fei had already packed up and was ready to go out. The two decided to go to Funing Street first, and then inquire about the market of cosmetics on the return trip.Chunying changed into the clothes she was going out in and got into the carriage. Hu Fei put on a straw hat and sat in front of the carriage, and the pony carriage quickly headed towards Funing Street.

Arriving at Funing Street, when Hu Fei lived here before, he had already become acquainted with the neighbors, and soon got to know each other. Chunying didn't bother them, and went straight to Yunxiang Pavilion.

As soon as she entered the store, she saw that the store was quiet, there were no customers, and the clerk at the counter was nowhere to be seen. Only shopkeeper Shi turned his back to her, looked behind worriedly, and stomped his feet from time to time.

Chunying walked over and called out: "Shopkeeper, what are you doing?" Shopkeeper Shi was taken aback, and seeing Chunying turned around, he hurriedly said, "Hey, why are you back? Didn't you ask someone to send you off first?" Xin'er..." Before he finished speaking, Mrs. Cheng's yelling came from the small building in the backyard: "Dream! I won't give you a dime! You give up!"

Shopkeeper Shi shouted upstairs anxiously and worriedly: "Sister, calm down and tell brother-in-law not to quarrel!" He was answered by a teacup that fell from upstairs, and Uncle Cheng's roar: " Shrew, look what you've become?! That's my money! My hard-earned money!"

Seeing that there was another quarrel upstairs, Chun Ying poked the shopkeeper Shi curiously: "What's the matter? It's been more than a month, could it be that they have been arguing?"

"Isn't it?" Shopkeeper Shi sighed, "I have already persuaded my sister to go home. Even if I get angry again, I have to think about the two children, right? My sister can live with me, but Su Luosuyi doesn't." Leaving the truth of my own father, but without my mother by my side, I don’t know how angry I will be! My sister was already subdued, but I hate that concubine, and I don’t know what kind of demon moth it is, isn’t it? Woke up!"

There was a sound of pedaling on the stairs, and Uncle Cheng ran down in a hurry. His face was still bruised, he was quite embarrassed, he was cursing non-stop, and he was furious.Shopkeeper Shi hurriedly went up to support her: "Brother-in-law, my sister got confused because she got angry for a while, don't be angry with her?"

Uncle Cheng said angrily: "Brother, what do you call this?! I have been traveling around for most of my life, and I saw a good opportunity to make a fortune. As long as your sister takes out the money I earned in the past, I will be happy." It's hard to make money, brother-in-law, but she's so ignorant that she's the boss! Brother-in-law, it's not easy for me to make money! It's fine if she can't help me, why is she holding me back?!"

Shopkeeper Shi sneered and said, "That's what you said, but...that's a full 1000 taels of silver! It's not a small amount. My sister is also afraid that you will be cheated..."

"Am I that foolish person?!" Uncle Cheng curled his lips in disdain, "It's because they saw that I was a smart businessman, so they recruited me to join the team! It's also because I'm a local! They I will contribute [-]% of the capital, and I will contribute [-]%. As long as I find a good shop, I can take half of the shares! I will manage the shop. Where can I find such a good thing?!"

Shopkeeper Shi just reassured him again and again. Mrs. Cheng heard it from upstairs, but she shouted loudly: "You let him go! I won't give you a dime, tell him to die!"

Shopkeeper Shi said awkwardly, but Uncle Cheng rolled his eyes angrily: "Listen! Listen!" After being sullen for a while, he suddenly had an idea, and hurriedly grabbed the hand of his wife and brother: "I said, brother, How about you to participate in a share? Let’s form a partnership. I have 400 taels, and you can offer a few hundred. No matter where you borrow a few more, you can make up one thousand, no, two thousand! Let’s take the lead! You know better Cloth merchants are also familiar with big families in the capital, so we have the final say in the future in the shop? In a few years, the shop will be ours!"

Shopkeeper Shi was stunned, but Chunying next to him frowned.

(End of this chapter)