serious man in the red chamber

Chapter 50 Letter from Suzhou
April 26th is the birthday of Jia Baoyu, Jia's mother's sweetheart. Although there are still five or six days left, Wang Xifeng is a good person. There was such a disturbance at home yesterday, from Jia's mother to Zhao's aunt. Happy, especially Mrs. Wang.

In order to ease the atmosphere, they set up a birthday banquet in the morning. First, they sent people to put money in the temples, and then went to Mrs. Wang's room to discuss how to arrange banquets and invite a few plays.

While making arrangements, Aunt Xue, mother and daughter came in.

Wang Xifeng hurriedly went up to meet her, and said with a smile, "I just said I would go to Pear Fragrance Garden to say hello, and I didn't want my aunt to come."

After joking and joking for a while, Aunt Xue said to Mrs. Wang, "I just went to sit in Aunt Zhao's room."

Mrs. Wang: "It's time to sit down. How is her brother?"

Aunt Xue: "The imperial doctor said to stay in bed for three to two months"

Paused, "Give me 500 taels of medicine."

Madam Wang nodded.

Wang Xifeng said with a smile: "I said it's not a big deal, even if it's children playing around, Auntie doesn't have to take it to heart."

When Aunt Xue heard Fang Yu's words, Zhou Rui's family came in and said, "There is a message from the old lady, Second Grandma will come over."

Wang Xifeng: "Did someone say what it was?"

Zhou Rui's family replied, "I heard that Grandma Huang from Dong Hutong brought her widow and nephew here."

Mrs. Wang's expression darkened: "Let's go to Rongqing Hall!"

Rongqing hall, inside Jiamu's house.

Grandma Huang's widowed sister-in-law, Mrs. Hu, and her son, Jin Rong, knelt on the ground.

Jin said with a smile: "I shouldn't bother the old lady about such a trivial matter, but the uncle can't make the decision, and the patriarch can't talk to us. Other things are fine, except that this child can't delay his schooling." .I also ask the old lady to show mercy and forgive him this time. If he commits another crime, it will not be too late to drive him out of the school."

After listening to the conversation for a long time, Jia's mother knew that Jia Hu ordered some relatives' children to be kicked out of the school. As for the reason, no one knew, let alone dared to ask.

Li Wan said: "Sister-in-law's words are correct, but the old lady has long stopped asking about outside affairs."

While talking, Wang Xifeng came in from the outside, glanced at Mrs. Jin, and said to Mother Jia: "I was just discussing about Brother Bao's birthday banquet in my wife's room, and I was thinking of coming here to report to my ancestors."

When Jia Mu heard this, she was very happy and said: "Children's birthday, don't be too extravagant, let's just have fun."

Wang Xifeng smiled and said, "Exactly. My wife said so too." Then to Mrs. Jin, "Isn't this Grandma Huang?"

The Jin family greeted Wang Xifeng.

Li Wan recounted what happened just now, and Mrs. Hu hurriedly said: "It's so easy for the child to enter the school. Although he made a mistake, he can be beaten or scolded. He will correct himself in the future. Besides, I am a widow and there is no one at home. I have nothing to do. Give him money to study, grandma will do good deeds, so let him be spared." Said while pushing Jin Rong to kowtow.

Jia's mother said: "In theory, we women should not interfere with outside affairs. But since you have entered the door, you can talk to Lian'er."

Wang Xifeng took Jia Mu's words into consideration, and slowly replied: "Second Master Lian has left the city and will not be back until very late. Grandma Huang, please go back first, there will be news in two or three days."

Seeing what she said, Mrs. Jin had to kneel down to thank Jiamu, and led the widow and nephew down.

Jiamu's eyes flashed: "Speak!"

Wang Xifeng was slightly taken aback, and hurriedly repeated Jia Lian's words yesterday, Jia Mu's expression changed, she never thought that the family school had become a place where filth was hidden, and these bastards would do such dirty deeds as brothers and sisters.

Thinking of Baoyu again, he quickly said, "Baoyu will not go to school in the future."

Wang Xifeng laughed and said, "My wife also means the same."

At this time, Mrs. Wang, Aunt Xue, sisters Yingchun, Daiyu, Xiangyun and Baochai came in from the backyard.

Jia Mu: "That's the end of the matter, and no one is allowed to mention it in the future."

Aunt Xue had a heart disease and blushed unconsciously.

Baochai secretly glanced at Tanchun.

As soon as everyone was seated, they saw You Shi came in with Qin Keqing. Lai Sheng's family called for a few rough envoys to come in with five boxes and cages, put them in the room, and then retreated.

Mother Jia was startled: "What is this for?"

Youshi: "Old lady, someone from Suzhou just came to bring some things, and my second uncle asked me to deliver them." As he said, he lifted the lid of the box and took out the box, "This is the western white that Zhifu Li got from other places. Shen, he said that his life is so poor that he is not worthy of eating such good food, so he specially sent it to honor the old lady."

Passed the box to Amber, and opened other boxes to introduce: "This is a new method of the Suzhou Weaving Bureau, double-sided tapestry "Yaochi Xianshou Picture", I wish the old lady a long life, good luck and good health. There are also red makeup satin, Python satin and various colored government yarns are used for topping."

Everyone gathered around, and Youshi opened the last cage, "Hey, why am I so confused in the field! This is an earthen ceremony sent by the Lin family on a fast horse from Suzhou Prefecture, and it's just for the eldest girl." Everyone laughed.

Mother Jia walked over slowly holding Yuanyang's hand, and said to Daiyu, "Look what it is, tied like this?"

Daiyu asked Zicuckoo to open it, but there were some pens, ink, paper, inkstone, paper of various colors, incense beads, fans, fan pendants, etc. In the last box covered with light gauze, there were more than a dozen exquisite Suzhou fans. This is for Daiyu to give away.

When Daiyu saw it, she gave these Suzhou fans one by one to Mother Jia and others, and distributed the rest to Sister Yingchun. Even Jia Cong and Jia Huan ordered their mother-in-law to send some.

Tanchun laughed and said: "As the saying goes, 'things are expensive when they leave their homes'. In Suzhou, these are just some rustic things, but they are really new things in the capital."

Xiangyun also laughed and said: "This is also a happy event in life. Sister Lin should treat guests." Everyone who said that laughed.

After hearing these words, Daiyu also knew that Tanchun and Xiangyun were happy for themselves, and it was not easy to push or agree, after all, the sweethearts of Mother Jia and Mrs. Wang were still lying on the bed.

How shrewd was Jia's mother, she quickly took over the conversation: "I'll be the host first today, and it's not too late to invite Lin girl tomorrow."

Daiyu nodded with a smile, and said to Youshi, "I'm going to trouble my sister-in-law for tomorrow's banquet."

You Shi hurriedly responded with a smile.

Jia Mu: "Where is Brother Hu from?"

You Shi: "Second Uncle has gone to the palace, and he said that he may not come back when."

"Oh?"

Jia Mu was startled at first, then laughed and said, "We're more at ease when he's not here." Then she said to Wang Xifeng, "Let's have dinner in the side hall, and we don't need a troupe. Let's have a quiet meal together."

Qianqing Palace, go to the study.

Emperor Jianwu looked at the memorial with his head down.

Dai Quan hurried in, and whispered next to Emperor Jianwu: "Your Majesty, Jia Hu has entered the palace, and now Wenyuan Pavilion and Shoufu are talking alone."

Emperor Jianwu didn't raise his head: "It's enough for people to pay attention to it. The Military Weapons Bureau has transformed a few self-generating firecrackers. Let Jia Hu go and have a look."

"Yes." Dai Quan bowed and retreated.

Wenyuan Pavilion is the place where the cabinet ministers of the Ming Dynasty worked directly, and it also has the function of collecting books.

Regrettably, Wenyuan Pavilion in Ming Dynasty and its collection of books were destroyed by war at the end of Ming Dynasty.

In his later years, Emperor Honghua restored the cabinet. In order to facilitate the summoning of cabinet ministers to discuss matters at any time, Wenyuan Pavilion was set up in the Longzong Gate, which is very close to the Qianqing Palace and the Hall of Mental Cultivation.

In the cabinet duty room, the chief assistant Song Chengliang read the letter from Li Mao, the prefect of Suzhou, and closed it gently, concentrating on it.

Jia Hu smiled and sat under the window looking at Song Chengliang. Since Song Chengliang gave him a congratulatory gift, the two have moved around.

An hour ago, Li Mao sent a letter from Suzhou Kuaima, a letter accusing Jiangsu governor Wang Hetang. Going to the land, I want to collect taxes to solve the lack of money in the court.

This stab directly hit the throat of the Suzhou gentry, and a fierce conflict broke out between the two sides. Wang Hetang didn't talk about martial ethics, and used Emperor Jianwu's handbook and Wang Mingqi to send a battalion of elite soldiers from the Jiangnan camp to force the Suzhou gentry Go to the governor's office to register.

The unwilling gentry dragged down several temples in Suzhou Prefecture, and the number of fields in these temples was no less than that of the gentry.

Under the instigation of the gentry, the common people with land also made a fuss.

The most important thing is that the emperor did not inform anyone about this matter, and directly bypassed the cabinet and the Ministry of Household Affairs.

Song Chengliang: "The method is a good one. However, His Majesty was too impatient and just made a promise, and then he changed hands and smashed his pot. What can we do in the future!"

Jia Hu picked up the tea bowl and took a sip, and said, "Imposing taxes to temples will bring criticism to the imperial court, and not collecting taxes will cause even more trouble. This matter is no small matter."

Song Chengliang stood up, paced slowly, and said: "The cabinet and the Ministry of War have already agreed on the battle plan for conquering the Chahar Ministry. We only need to wait for the soldiers and horses from Hubei to enter Beijing. If there is chaos at this time, no one will Without the support of the gentry's money and food, most of the army will return without success."

Jia Hu: "Then train your troops first. After everything is ready, you will use your troops on the grassland after autumn."

Song Chengliang pondered for a long time before he said, "Didn't you come to intercede for the gentlemen in Suzhou?"

Jia Hu smiled: "Jia's family is honorable, honorable in the Great Zhou Dynasty. I don't know if Xiangye is satisfied with this answer?!"

Song Chengliang smiled lightly, and said: "Although you are young, you are not young when you say this. I understand better than those people that this old man will personally recommend Li Mao."

Jia Hu: "Thank you, Mr. Xiang."

Song Chengliang folded the letter and handed it to Jia Hu, "Go, go to the study."

(End of this chapter)