in spring

Chapter 228 Disappointment and Hope

In the main room where the Wang family lived, Uncle Wang was sitting upright, with Shi'er beside him.Mrs. Zhao San was talking about the gossip in Zhuangzi, such as that the widow of the Dong family quarreled with the wife of the Xi family over two lost piglets, and took the two sons to the ancestral hall to cry. The patriarch had nothing to do with her, so he had to call Xi The family paid her a whole pig; or the old lady of the Nan family had believed in Buddha all her life, and last winter she dreamed that the Buddha gave her a grandson, but this spring her daughter-in-law was really pregnant. Girl, the woman insisted that it was the midwife who replaced her grandson, and went to other people's houses to cry every day; there was also a girl from the Bei family who wore golden flowers on her head when she got married, which made the girls in the neighbor's house envious, so she pestered the family and also quarreled. To make a set, her father had no choice but to make a set of copper, and the girl cried so much that the neighbors could hear it, and so on. These were all anecdotes from the village, and the old man was very happy to hear them.Where has Ten'er heard of such a thing?His eyes were wide open, his face full of astonishment.

When Chunying entered, Zhao Sansao was talking about how Guanshi Cao's wife restrained her husband and prevented him from drinking and gambling with butchers in a nearby town. When she saw someone coming in, she hurriedly got up and smiled, "I didn't have time to go into details yesterday. Is this girl's surname Lu? I heard that you and Shi Yatou work together?"

Chunying smiled and said "Wan Fu" to her, then said: "But at first, we served in the third young master's courtyard together, and later we were transferred to Miss Biao together. Shi'er and I have known each other since we were young, and we have always been good friends. "

Shi'er came over and pulled her to sit down: "Sister-in-law Zhao told many interesting stories. It turns out that this rural area is very different from our city."

Chunying said: "Of course it's different. Among other things, the farmer's family doesn't have as many taboos as we do when dealing with things. Farmers usually talk about one thing and one thing."

"That's exactly what you said!" Mrs. Zhao San slapped her thigh, "I have been here for several years since I was married, and when I occasionally go back to my mother's house, what I am most afraid of is talking to people in circles! Things that can be said in one sentence, I have to Talk about working hard for a long time! Later, my old lady went to work with the master, and the relatives in the city were all from the next room, so I simply didn’t go back..." Suddenly remembering that the couple in front of me are the in-laws from the next room. Once again, he hurriedly made a haha, and turned to ask Chunying: "A few of the people who came just now are relatives of the girl from the Lu family? I see that the horse pulling the cart is not an ordinary one."

Chunying replied: "It's my sister, brother-in-law and a friend. My sister married to someone outside." Hesitating, she didn't know how to ask the other party about Zhuangzi's belonging. She rolled her eyes and asked Shi'er with a smile. "Just now I heard Mrs. Zhao San talking about Guanshi Cao's family. I didn't know that his wife is so powerful. When I saw her yesterday, she seemed very gentle. It's strange to say that when I was in the mansion, several The steward outside, what interesting things are going on at home, we have occasionally discussed in private, but we have never heard the news about this steward Cao, I don't know why?"

Shi'er pursed his lips and said, "This Zhuangzi is poor and remote, even if there is news, it can't spread to the house, otherwise why did the wife throw us here?!"

These words were far from Chunying's expected reaction. Seeing that Mrs. Zhao San did not move, she could only ask tentatively: "There is no reason for that? Doesn't this village produce high-quality mulberry and round-grained rice? Remember the old lady every summer When sending fresh fruits to Miss Biao, there were mulberries among them. I have eaten them, and they are fresh and delicious. I think Guanshi Cao is pretty good. Withdrew? Even if you want to withdraw, it should be the wife or Mr. Chen who made the call, right?"

Doubt appeared in Shi'er's eyes, and he hurriedly turned to Mrs. Zhao San: "Sister-in-law, what's the reason? Could it be that Mrs. Cao's affairs are not in charge of Mrs. Cao? It shouldn't be!" Do you call him Uncle Cousin?!"

Mrs. Zhao San smiled and replied: "Their two families were originally relatives. The lady of the Cao family was originally the dowry girl of Mrs. Hou's mansion, and the two aunts and sisters who accompanied the house Anshun's family. Speaking of which, Brother An should really call her A cousin."

Chunying's heart skipped a beat, and she immediately recalled the situation when she met Mrs. Cao yesterday. Did she ever speak ill of his wife?
Ten'er obviously thought about it too, stomping his foot and said: "No! With her here, we won't be able to get ahead! I'm afraid we still have to suffer!"

Zhao Sansao waved her hand indifferently: "There is no need to be afraid! Although Madam Cao belongs to the eldest wife, she is fairly fair. If you don't provoke her, she will naturally not make things difficult for you. You also met her yesterday. Come to think of it, does she seem mean?"

Chunying thought about it, yesterday's Mrs. Cao was low-key and kind. Even if she heard An Sikui say that they offended their wife, she didn't have any special reaction. She should be a good person, right?She tentatively said: "Sure enough, it's just that I think she looks and has a temperament. She must have been a beauty when she was young, and when it comes to being a female celebrity, she is well-informed and manages housework very neatly. Compared carefully, she is better than my wife. The elder sisters are not bad. The third sister-in-law said just now that she was originally a girl married by the wife, and why did she marry here? And... it seems that she has never seen her go to the mansion to pay her respects?"

Zhao Sansao suddenly became excited, and patted her thigh again: "Sister is really careful! Can you see something is wrong?"

Shi'er hurriedly said: "Could it be true that there is a reason? Sister-in-law, please tell me, she and the wife are not of the same mind, right? We offended the wife, she won't fight us?!" Chunying also stared at Zhao Sansao nervously.

Zhao Sansao raised her eyebrows triumphantly, and said in a low voice, "I looked at it coldly, and guessed it from other people's words. The lady of the Cao family is the proud person in front of the eldest wife. Temperament and female popularity are all excellent. It is said that the eldest wife has not had any good news for several years, and the old lady asked her to find someone to share the burden..."

Ten'er interjected and asked, "Sharing? What is the burden?" Chunying thought to herself, could it be that she wants to take a concubine?
Zhao Sansao gave them a deep look: "Girls, don't ask this. In short, the eldest wife is not happy, so she turned around and married her to Cao Guanshi. At that time, Cao Guanshi was in the mansion, so it was not a big deal." It took more than ten years for her to get her current position, and she was far away from the city! Mrs. Cao suffered for half her life. I heard that the other girl who came with her as a dowry at that time, less than half a year after she got married, I opened my face. Although she is not very favored by the Marquis, she has raised a young lady, and she can be regarded as a half-master in the Marquis. Lady Cao is a hearty person. She has been here for a few years. I have seen her man go back to pay his respects, but she has never entered the city!"

After hearing this, Chunying and Shi'er had their own thoughts.After a while, Shi'er said: "The girl who opened her face later must be Aunt Rong, she gave birth to Miss San... I think Mrs. Cao looks better than her."

"Not only does it look better, but it also gives birth!" Uncle Wang interrupted suddenly, "I was at Cao's house yesterday, and I saw Guanshi Cao has four sons! I heard that there is also a daughter?"

Mrs. Zhao San hurriedly said: "There is a little daughter who was only born eight years ago. She looks so neat and looks like a jade snow group. Outsiders are not allowed to see it. I heard that she is raised at home and taught by Mrs. Cao herself. He The cook at home said, just by looking at her appearance, speaking and acting, even a rich lady from an official family may not be so good!"

A family with children, but to raise their daughter into the character of a young lady, what is the idea of ​​this Mrs. Cao?If you plan to hire your daughter outside, it is rare. I just hope that the mother will not be confused and want her daughter to complete her "unfinished" career.

Chunying sighed a few times in her heart, and from the corner of her eyes, she saw Hu Fei looking at her helplessly outside the door, and suddenly realized that she was distracted by a few gossips, and the key question hadn't been asked yet!He hurriedly said to Mrs. Zhao: "My sister-in-law didn't answer my question before. Why can Mr. Xu ask about Guanshi Cao's appointment? Could it be that this Zhuangzi is not from the Hou family?" After a pause, "Just now, my sister-in-law said He called his wife, but he was called eldest wife, this..." Shi'er exclaimed, "That's right! I forgot, isn't the fourth cousin from the East Mansion?!"

Zhao Sansao smiled and said: "We are also from Dongfu. This Zhuangzi was originally the property of Dongfu. It's just that when the old Hou Ye handed it over to our old man, the old man pushed it several times and had to accept it. The family has never been changed. Later, the old Marquis went, and the Marquis took over the title, and our master went out to be an official again, and the whole family was in office. This Zhuangzi, and another Zhuangzi, including several shops, were all Hand it over to the Hou Mansion. A few years ago, when the master came back, he just checked the account hastily and then left. He believed that his brothers would not cheat him. Who knows that the eldest wife has been in charge of it for a long time and treats this place as his own. Is it over? The original person in charge has also changed, and Cao’s management came later, and sometimes he doesn’t know how to act. If the production on the farm is sent to the Hou’s mansion, it’s fine. Anyway, the master of our East mansion is not here, but But he sold more than half of his things, and sent the money he got to the eldest wife. Why don't we people in the East Mansion murmur?!"

Chun Ying was speechless: "Even... Even if the second master's family is not here... Could it be that Mr. Xu won't write to him? Does the second master not care?"

Zhao Sansao sighed: "It's all a family. Our master is a kind person and doesn't want to quarrel with his elder brother! Our subordinates are not used to it, so we discussed with each other and asked Mr. Xu, but Mr. Xu said that there is only one Zhuangzi and One shop is like this, but the proceeds from other places are paid on time, so the master ordered to keep quiet."

Shi'er couldn't help complaining, but Chunying lowered her head and thought for a while, before carefully asking: "Sister Zhao San...if this is the case, the things on this village...will still be from Dongfu? That person What about people? How about people?"

Mrs. Zhao San didn't understand: "What counts? The tenants here are just renting land to grow. They don't belong to anyone. There are a few managers and supervisors, and there are some people who have made mistakes in the two mansions. These people are naturally Originally, it belonged to whose family it belonged to. Why are you asking this?"

Chunying couldn't hold back the disappointment in her heart, she glanced at Hu Fei outside, who was also frowning in thought.She had no choice but to say: "It's nothing, as you know, both Shi'er and I offended my wife, so we were kicked out here. I'm afraid that my wife won't let us go, and we will be punished again. I'm not afraid of suffering, What I'm afraid of is that the family will be separated. I've heard that the masters of the Eastern Mansion are extremely kind, and if we can become members of the Eastern Mansion in this village, my wife will have nothing to do with us."

Mrs. Zhao San laughed and said, "This is confusing, how can it be so easy to change the owner?!" Paused, thoughtfully, "But...it's not impossible..."

Chunying was still disappointed at first, but her eyes lit up when she heard the words: "What is the solution?! Good sister-in-law, you must tell me!" Hu Fei outside the door also straightened up and listened carefully.

Zhao Sansao said with a smile: "What else can I do? The families in the two mansions can't tell the difference! If there is no errand, some people from the East mansion go to the West mansion, and those from the West mansion go to the East mansion. For example, ten My son and sister, her elder sister, Jiu'er, is waiting beside our Fifth Miss. It's just that the master and wife are not at home, so even if you want to change masters, there's nothing you can do."

Chunying's mood fell again.She knew that the Erfanghe family was in office. She heard that she hadn't been back to the capital for more than ten years. She did go back a few years ago, and left again within a few months.The entire East Mansion is almost empty except for the servants who look after the house.If it weren't for this, the wife wouldn't have boldly swallowed up the proceeds from Dongfu's property, right?
Shi'er has been listening carefully by the side, looking at Chunying from time to time, and after listening to the conversation between the two, he guessed a little bit of his friend's thoughts. Although he was very surprised, he still persuaded: "Don't worry, there are still three As for the young master, the third young master will not make us suffer! Maybe in two days, he will send someone to send a message telling us to go back to the city."

That's not what she's concerned about.Chunying glanced at Shi'er, forced a smile, and talked with her for a while, then found an excuse to leave, and walked to the house where her family lived sullenly, but stopped halfway, and ran out of the yard.

She ran straight along the path, passed a few farmhouses, and came to a large field. At the other end of the field was a mulberry forest, and after that, she was outside the village.She just felt bored in her heart and wanted to sweat a little to vent out all the boredom, so she ran all the way to the side of the mulberry tree, then stopped on her feet, and sat down on the big stone by the roadside, Panting with his head buried, he felt aggrieved again, and tears fell as he spoke.

"Don't cry, there is always a solution to the problem." Hu Fei's voice came from behind, Chunying turned her head, saw him panting slightly, obviously just ran out with her, she could not help but feel a sore nose, and grabbed him sleeve, and burst into tears.

(End of this chapter)