The Red Mansion is so charming

Chapter 288
The three people Song Chen found were all promising young talents in the Zhenfu Department, one surnamed Zheng, the grandson of the Marquis of Jinan.One was surnamed Wei, and his father was the commander of the hereditary third-rank guards. That Xu Shen general had the most ordinary family background among the three, but he was equally powerful.

Today's Zhenfusi is almost headed by Song Chen. Although he is not the most prestigious or the oldest among all the people, he is the most favored by the emperor.

Young men such as Zheng and Wei admire Song Chen very much and are willing to work hard under his hands.But Song Chen has always distinguished between public and private, and this is the first time he has invited his subordinates to his home for a drink.

General Zheng was a little apprehensive. His father, Marquis of Jining, was a low-ranking nobleman, but because Taizu's imperial concubine came from Zheng's family, he was conferred such a title. body.In the generation of the Zheng family, that is, this General Zheng still has some skills. After joining the Zhenfu Division, the old Marquis has already made up his mind that he will only pass on the title to this grandson in the future regardless of other people's objections.

General Zheng Shen didn't understand what kind of medicine was sold in Song Chen's gourd, but after thinking about it, he didn't think that anything had recently annoyed Mr. Shangfeng.He glanced at General Wei, who had a better relationship, but General Wei was also at a loss, so he had no choice but to smile helplessly at General Zheng.

Song Chen let everyone into the flower hall, and immediately a servant came up to serve tea.

The three generals looked at the decoration of the flower hall calmly, and everything they saw was elegant.The long table of Suzhou Shuimo has a grand master’s chair on each side, the screen behind is painted with wishful patterns, and two octagonal palace lanterns hang with bright red tassels, guarding the plaque "Feiyan Hall" with black characters on a white background in the middle.

Zheng Shenjiang and Wei Shenjiang have some accumulated family backgrounds, and they have a little dabble in calligraphy. When they saw the three characters like thousands of miles of clouds, high mountains and rocks, they paid great attention to them.Seeing that the place where the signature was signed was layman Xianyun, I was even more curious.

General Wei then clasped his hands and asked: "My lord, I don't know who this Layman Xianyun is. My subordinates are very particular about the words, but their knowledge is limited. Today is actually the first time I see you."

Song Chen was very proud, but his mouth was extremely humble: "You can't be called a master, but your sister-in-law wrote a few random strokes."

The three were surprised at first, and then complimented one after another.General Na Wei had a delicate mind, thinking of Song Chen's status, but grandiosely hung his wife's calligraphy in the main hall, allowing the guests to look at him objectively, and respected Xing Xiuyan who hadn't met yet.

After chatting for a while, the three generals saw a girl in a water-red satin jacket enter the flower hall.This girl has such a pretty face, duck-shaped face, straight nose, and porcelain-like skin, which made the three of them a little dizzy.

General Wei bowed his head hurriedly, and Zheng and Xu were also a little embarrassed, and hurriedly picked up the tea cup to avert their eyes.

"Third young master, the meals are ready, and the young mistress sent someone to set them up in the living room in the backyard." It was Mio who was talking back and forth.

Song Chen hurriedly got up and led the three of them out, but when he reached the door, he turned to Mio and asked, "What wine did you prepare?"

"The young mistress ordered the big kitchen to send two kinds of Huiquan and Dukang." Mio said unhurriedly: "There is also the sweet-scented osmanthus alcohol we brewed ourselves."

Wei Shen's eyes lit up: "It's a rare blessing for us. This sweet-scented osmanthus has been sold for a sky-high price a few years ago, and there is nowhere to buy it even if there is silver! My father managed to get a jar, and hid it like a treasure." , even our wife refused to ask for a taste.”

General Zheng Shen also hurriedly said: "I just remembered, this sweet-scented osmanthus wine is owned by the young lady's natal shop. I have heard that it has a price but no market. Today, I borrowed the light of the adults, and we will also taste the thousand taels of gold." A cup of sweet-scented osmanthus alcohol."

Song Chen laughed: "What's so difficult about this, I will have a drink with the three brothers today." After speaking, he took the three of them to the backyard.There are also rare dishes such as anchovy shark's fin and braised fish lip in cans, as well as home-cooked dishes such as stewed three delicacies and pickled cucumbers.Appreciate both refined and popular tastes, and everyone who eats is satisfied.

General Xu Shen thought he was Zheng and Wei's accompanying guest, so he didn't say much, he just ate his food in silence, and when the little maid came to pour wine, he would not refuse anyone.

Song Chen smiled and said: "A while ago I was busy in the yamen. Thanks to the help of a few brothers, I was able to preserve my dignity in front of the emperor. You are all meritorious persons. I dare not forget it in my heart. I will drink three cups today. , thank you all for your help.”

The three hurriedly got up to pay their respects. Seeing Song Chen being such a respectful and virtuous corporal, they gradually became more intimate when they spoke.After a while, Song Chen asked about the marriages of the people.

"The male college should be married and the female college should be married. You are all the generals of our Zhenfu Division, but you are still on the list, but it is very regrettable." Song Chen sighed: "I heard that General Xu Shen is from Suicheng. Wandering around the capital alone? It is time to find a virtuous lady to support the family."

General Xu Shen didn't want Song Chen to ignore others and only ask himself, so he quickly put down the bowl and chopsticks, and said nervously, "I haven't thought about such a long-term job before."

Song Chen laughed with everyone: "To get married and start a career, both are indispensable. Speaking of which, General Wei and General Zheng are from the capital, so you might as well ask the elders in your family to help you find them. If there is someone suitable for General Xu, you will have a good relationship It’s also a good thing to do good deeds.”

General Wei doesn't care whether others understand it or not, anyway, he's out of the way, Mr. Xiao Song probably wants to propose marriage to General Xu.

It's just that he was a little confused. When he found three people, General Xu Shen was not as good as either of them in terms of family background and ability. Why did Master Xiao Song just take a fancy to him?
General Wei was also held by everyone when he was at home, but now he became a foil for General Xu, and he felt a little uncomfortable.Just at this time, the big maid who had sent the message just now entered the room again, attracting his attention.

Mio took the tray from Jinghong, and there were four small sterling silver goblets inside, one was only the size of a flower sac, because it was covered with a lid, it was impossible to see what it was for a while.

Mio stood beside Song Chen and said with a smile, "This is green lemon stew. It's the best way to hangover, and it's very warm to the stomach."

Jinghong helped put the four goblets in front of everyone, everyone watched in amazement that Mio took something like a candle holder and put it under the cups.I say it looks like a candle because Wei Shenjiang and others have never seen such a small and cute candle. It is smaller than a thumb, and it is plump and exudes fragrance.

The torch was lit on the candle head, and the small fire gurgled and simmered the stew on it, so that everyone could understand the exquisiteness inside.

Xu Shenjiang had a short beard on purpose because he looked a little immature, but his face was still much fairer than that of Wei Shenjiang.At this moment, I don't know if it was the candles, or there was a pretty maid standing beside him, but General Xu's face was slightly flushed, and he didn't dare to look at other places.

After eating the stewed glutinous rice balls for understanding wine, the three generals were all in high spirits, and none of them was drunk.Repeatedly declined Song Chen's offer of seeing off, and left the gate of Shangshu Mansion together.Coincidentally, the three of them were on the same road. Along the way, General Zheng smiled and asked General Wei beside him, "Brother Wei, can you see what kind of way?"

General Wei Can hastily smiled and said, "Little brother is stupid, I don't know what the doorway that brother is talking about is."

Zheng Shenjiang smiled and did not answer, and when he reached the fork, he handed over his hands and parted ways with the two.General Wei saw that General Xu was a little distracted, his heart moved, and he said: "Brother Xu, what Master Xiao Song said just now has some truth. You really should find a safe sister-in-law to help you take care of the inner house. Next Not to mention, in today's situation, we should express our gratitude when we eat the feast at Master Xiao Song's house. But if we are the hosts, Master Xiao Song may not appreciate it, so it's better to walk around among the female relatives. Today Hearing Master Xiao Song's meaning, I'm afraid he has the heart to protect Brother Xu's matchmaker!"

Xu Shenjiang quickly waved his hands: "There is no such thing, you are overthinking."

"Why do I have too much heart, little brother? I see that girl is very nice today, how much is Brother Xu tempted?"

Xu Shenjiang almost didn't fall off his horse. Fortunately, there was a fork in the road ahead, so he hurriedly left, and fled in a panic.

General Wei Shen is a man who is good at calculating. After he went home, he told his father what happened.Father Wei nodded: "We are worried that we have no way to get involved with Master Xiao Song. If Master Xiao Song can protect the matchmaker in person according to what you said, we will be able to walk around as relatives with the Song family in the future."

General Wei also understands this truth, but, "Son, I'm afraid Master Xiao Song is interested in General Xu."

Wei's father spat: "Growing others' aspirations destroys one's own prestige. In terms of family background and yourself, how can you be inferior to that kid?"

General Wei hurriedly laughed and said, "My son just thinks it's a bit strange, why did Mr. Song choose someone with a weak family over me? Unless" General Wei was a little stunned, why father Wei was so busy.

"Unless there is something wrong with that girl." Thinking about the maid who appeared twice today, Wei Shenjiang almost thought that the girl was Mrs. Xiao Song's liaison girl, but seeing that the other party was always combing the girl's hair. Putting your hair up in a bun will extinguish this thought.Now that I think about it, is it just a girl that Mr. Xiao Song wants to match?
Father Wei clapped his hands after hearing his son's words: "You must have guessed well." The father and son thought together that it would be better to leave this matter at home than to benefit others.Early the next morning, Father Wei sent his wife to Song's house with generous gifts.

At that time, Xiuyan had breakfast at Mrs. Song's, and Nanny Song from the three-bedroom courtyard came to report, saying that Mrs. Wei, the mother of General Wei, the governor of the township department, had come to visit.

"Does this Mrs. Wei have any contact with our family on weekdays?" It was cold and slippery, and Mrs. Song prepared a green bamboo sedan chair for the three daughters-in-law.Nanny Song followed her on the ground, and Xiuyan, wearing a cloak, interrogated her.

"When the young mistress didn't come in, the elder grandma was the one who received the female relatives, and all the gifts from each family went to the public. The Wei family also came, but the eldest mistress mostly asked the lady in charge to send them away. Because this time Wei The wife made a special trip to see the young mistress, so the old slave boldly ran to deliver a letter to the young mistress."

Xiuyan looked at Nanny Song and said with a smile: "I still hand over the things Mrs. Wei sent to the public later, and I ask the eldest grandma to look over them in person, there can be no mistakes."

Nanny Song shrank her neck, smiled dryly, and thought to herself: Fortunately, she still hesitated to say or not. It turns out that the third young lady knows clearly in her heart, so she doesn't need to show off herself!
(End of this chapter)