Biography of Concubine Shujia

Chapter 6

Sacrifice to the kitchen stove has always been a major event in the family, every year after the stove sacrifice, all the people in the Du family will get together for a reunion dinner.Today's dinner was served in the small flower hall of the old lady Yunranju. At this time, the maids and women shuttled back and forth, serving dishes and soup carefully.

The old lady sat at the top, first accepted the greetings from everyone in the family, and after calling out one by one, she brought the whole family to the Xiaohua hall for dinner with the help of the maid.Men and women sat in separate seats, the grandpa made two tables with his brothers and nephews, and the old lady made one table with the granddaughters under the service of his wife.

It's been almost a month since Shi Niang went home, and finally saw Wu Niang, Liu Niang and Qi Niang.Five Niangs, Six Niangs and Seven Niangs sat on the left hand side of the old lady. Girls were delicate at home, unlike boys who valued their origins at home.Like Wu Niang, the concubine of the second room, except that she cannot participate in the draft, the rest enjoy the family's various resources like the concubine.

Wu Niang herself is a quiet person, and because she talked about others, she seldom goes out and walks around. She usually just embroiders wedding dresses and small gifts for her in-laws in her own room.

The person Wu Niang mentioned was a Juren who was appointed by the second master Tao Yang. It is said that the family owned land and was the son of a wealthy local gentry. Now that Yang has taken office, her future husband-in-law will definitely not treat Wu Niang badly for his future career.As long as Wu Niang can stand up for herself, good days are yet to come.

Ten Niang thought about it carefully, and had to say that the second lady found a good family for Wu Niang.Can't help but look at the second wife, Feng Shi, she is also a wonderful person, not to mention her eldest grandson, she has both sons and daughters, and the concubine and concubine also respect and love her.

The concubine was raised by his former maid as the offspring of his aunt. After giving birth to the fourth young master, Aunt Feng still followed the second lady to serve as before.The fourth young master and the eldest young master have a good relationship with each other.

Liu Niang is 14 years old this year. As the daughter of the second wife, she participated in the draft in March. She performed just like her father, not outstanding, but not easily overlooked.Liu Niang has a calm personality, and she was successfully reserved, waiting for re-election three years later.

The second lady did not feel any joy about Liu Niang's sign, as if she had a feeling of transcendence.Even Liu Niang, who is under 15 years old, looks normal.

Next to Liuniang is Qiniang, speaking of which she is the most honorable of the sisters, her father, the third master, is a member of the fourth rank; she is also the one who lives the most free, following her father in Yunyang, and her father And let her mess around,
Qiniang's temperament has also imitated her father's, she is dexterous and doesn't follow rigid rules step by step.The third master and his wife simply don't expect her to make much sacrifice and contribution to their family. Qiniang, who was supposed to participate in the draft with Liu Niang this year, fell ill and did not participate in the election.

The third master came to Beijing to report on his work this time, and the third wife also had plans for Qiniang to see him in Yujing.Speaking of which, the Sixth Young Master is about to enter the Imperial College to study.The third lady will not follow the third master in the short term.It's just that Jiuniang's mother and daughter are afraid that life will not be so comfortable.

Ba Niang and Jiu Niang have become acquainted with Shi Niang because they have been doing some needlework together during this period.

The three sat on the right side of the old lady.For a while, the old lady was surrounded by six granddaughters. Looking at the six beautiful girls, the old lady did not turn her eyes. It seems that after discussing with the boss and the third, the plan should start as soon as possible, and it will not catch up with the changes if it is too late. .

The staple food for dinner is dumplings. Due to the folk customs of the Stove Festival, this day pays attention to eating dumplings, and it is a good intention to "send off dumplings facing the wind".Naturally, Du Fu is no exception. Dumplings are a must-have for dinner at the stove every year.Of course, there are also fried corn, cakes and buckwheat noodles, and snacks are naturally Tanggua, maltose, sesame candy and other snacks.

Because of the important event of the kitchen sacrifice, the whole family was exhausted after being busy for a long time. After the quiet use up, the old lady drove the daughter-in-law, children and grandchildren to rest, leaving only the eldest and third masters to talk.The eldest lady took everyone in the family to leave, and they went back to their own yards without mentioning it.

The whole family left in a short while, and only the mother and child were left in the huge flower hall.

The two masters helped their mother back to sit down on the couch in the inner room, and there was a servant girl who had just put refreshments on the small table next to the soft couch in the inner room.After waving her hands, the maids retreated, the old lady sitting on the couch stared at her eldest son and third son sitting on the bench beside her, without saying a word for a long time.

Facing the scrutiny of their mother, the two looked at each other, and the elder asked, "I don't know why my mother left me and my third brother?" The elder asked his mother respectfully.

"San'er, why didn't Qiniang's exemption from the election be discussed with her family, or did she just keep it from me, an old lady?" The old lady asked after a moment of pondering.

"Mother, calm down, the third brother told me, but I didn't tell mother. Mother, if you want to blame, blame me." The elder still protects his third brother with brotherly love.But in the end, the old lady didn't like him, and the third master didn't seem to appreciate it much.

"Boss, you don't need to cover up for Xiaosan. I don't know him yet. He didn't tell you. It's clear that he cut it first and then played it. He didn't tell you until the election was completed. I can even think of this bastard. The way you beat me up. Don't talk about communicating with the family on such a big matter, just make up your own mind, stupid!"

The old lady scolded the third master, "Thanks to your elder brother's big air, change to a small one, I think you'll just wait to be the leader. Sooner or later, I'll be mad at you." The more the old lady said, the more angry she became It's not bad for the third son to be an official, but he always hinders the eldest son in family affairs.

"Mother, don't be angry, the third brother doesn't know our plan, so it's understandable that something went wrong unintentionally." The elder persuaded, and handed the old mother a cup of tea to suppress the fire.The old lady looked at her eldest son and sighed. This son is still caring.Before the old lady got angry much, she was so annoyed by the third son's words that her liver hurt again.

"Mother, big brother also has a daughter himself, why don't you see him buying his own daughter, and he's only planning on my daughter. I only have these two daughters. I can't see you for a mother, and you are the only one by my side. She's good, I have to get her to that shameful place before I give up."

The third master looked at the old lady who insisted on explaining why, and yelled in disbelief.Seeing that his mother was so angry with him, she stopped angrily.

As soon as the third master opened his mouth, the elder master wanted to slap him. Hearing this, I feel that the daughter of the third and his daughter is a daughter, and the daughter of him and the second and fourth is not a daughter.But he acted like he loved his daughter, whether his daughter was a fairy or something.Besides, he speaks bluntly and doesn't know how to adapt. I really don't know where the title of "Silver Fox" in the officialdom came from. Is this idiot really his younger brother?
Thinking about it, the Eldest Master felt that the future was bleak. One younger brother was as good as a nerd who didn't know how to support common affairs, and the other younger brother was so courageous and disobedient that he had to worry all day long whether this person would stab someone again. Only the second younger brother knew how to be considerate. people.Second brother, where are you, brother needs you, and the old man silently shed tears of sadness in his heart.

The old man who wanted to slap someone in his heart still interrupted his younger brother's words before his mother got angry, "Little San, be careful with your words. What should you say and what should you not say? You don't know what to say for such an old man." ?”

Hearing the big brother's scolding, the third master also seemed to realize that there are some things that should not be said nonsense, but he has been stubborn since he was a child, and he never admits his mistakes. Everything else is fine.”

As he touched his nose, and met the angry but helpless eyes of his mother and brother, he knew that he had passed this test.Anyway, the qualifications for exemption from the election have been settled, and the mother and the others can only curse and vent their anger.For the sake of his daughter, he is not afraid.

Regardless of his daughter being involved, the third master has everything to say, he thought about it, and wanted the old lady to ask his doubts, "Mother, our family's title has come to an end. Today, the emperor and the late emperor both value literature over martial arts, and the children of the family also They all studied and made progress, and now our family is taking the imperial examination path, we don’t want to have the glory of our ancestors to enshrine our wives, but we can still do it, why do you insist on letting the girl in the family go that underworld?"

"Boss, tell him why you have to take this most difficult road. When my old woman is hard-hearted, I am all beautiful granddaughters, whoever has a way will send them to that place. Xiaosan, you are still too old. You are young." The old lady looked at her third son who was smart but never saw the big picture, and didn't even bother to explain to him.

"Mother, this wasn't the responsibility of the mistress, I was useless." Hearing the tired voice of the old lady, the old man blamed himself for a moment.

Looking back at the third master, he sighed, "Our family has been in our generation for six generations. From the very beginning when we were granted the title of viscount with the great ancestor, to the time when I inherited the captaincy of Yunqi, how many years has it been? People never dare to make mistakes, lest they bring disasters to the family. It’s hard to come to us, and today we are playing games with the regent king and the family, and we just happen to be able to grow in the cracks. From military generals to civil servants, this is such an opportunity.”

"If it wasn't for you and Xiao Er Xiao Si being able to talk to the people in the court when they were released from office, I would rather be downgraded to the rank of nobility. It will take at least 30 years for our family to form a climate. And during these 30 years, Just relying on the descendants of the next generation of the family will not be successful, just because there is no one above us. Look at the noble families of today, which one does not have someone to spread the word?"

"So, our family can only take this risky move. The family has raised them. Since they have enjoyed the family's wealth and honor for so many years, they have to make preparations for family sacrifices when necessary. Fight a bloody way for the family and repay the family. After so many years of cultivation, the family will not forget their sacrifices, and will remember them. Because there is no one in our palace, so if a few girls who are not much different can enter the palace together, they can take care of each other, and it will be a success Bigger too."

The Elder Master said the last thing, but couldn't bear to say any more.Among the girls is his direct daughter who just turned 12 this year.Xiao San'er blamed himself for not buying his daughter, but that's not the case, it was obviously a big gamble to lose all the daughters in the direct line of the family.And it was he, the Patriarch, who made this decision.

"You guys, are you crazy? This is a big gamble, is it worth it?" The third master's voice trembled. He always felt that he was acting cunningly, but only now did he realize that his mother and elder brother were the real masters. .Looking around, he only saw firmness in the eyes of his mother and elder brother.

I have to admit that this seems to be very risky, but if it succeeds, the three generations of the Du family will have no worries about food and clothing.Silently thinking about the daughters of the direct line except Qiniang, he couldn't help asking, "Liu Niang, Ba Niang, and Shi Niang, who do you choose as the main one?"

"It's too early to say this, let's take a closer look." This is the calm voice of the old lady.

"I am optimistic about Liu Niang, her temper is very similar to that of the second brother." This is the faint voice of the old man.

"I hope your gamble is successful, no, I hope that spring will come soon, 'Yings sing and swallows signify the New Year', when will our family have Yingyans to herald the spring every year?!" The third master said in This silent night made that wish.

What he didn't expect at that time was that the wish he made with worry and anxiety now would really come true after 25.

It was really turned into reality by someone, and that was the 22 years that person fought for half his life.

(End of this chapter)