in spring

Chapter 278

The old lady of the Hou Mansion seemed to like Miss Hai's family very much, not only kept a meal, but also invited her to come to the house often as a guest.Hai Shu was in a dilemma. It took her a lot of time to accompany her aunt and grandmother every day. Fortunately, her father's friend who worked in the official department sent back news that everything was going well, and everything that should be done had been taken care of. Go to Dongfu with peace of mind.But it's one thing to accompany my aunt and grandmother, but it's another thing to be a guest at the Qing Guohou's Mansion. Firstly, the relatives are a bit far away, and secondly, her father has always tabooed such a prominent and powerful family.

It turns out that Mr. Hai has a stubborn personality, and has been in the circle of scholars all year round. He has been influenced a lot, and people around him think that he is a little bit of a leftist.In his eyes, the rich and powerful are either dandies or moths. Anyway, they are all vegetarians. They are either drunk and dreamy all day long, or they bully others and do evil, which is the most unwelcome thing to see!
The noble title that the ancestors of the Marquis of the Qing Dynasty obtained due to military exploits and passed on for several generations is already prominent enough, and there is a Nanyang fleet in his family to make a living. Isn't this a competition for the interests of the people?Nanyang trade is very profitable. If it can benefit the people, everyone will be rich naturally. Why worry about the world not being in harmony?However, such a good business is monopolized by a few dignitaries, not only can't enrich the treasury, but the common people can't benefit, only those big businessmen who are blinded by profit can benefit. It's really rich, the wine and meat stink, and the road is frozen to death!

This branch of the East Mansion was originally regarded as a top-notch dude in the eyes of Master Hai, but after hearing what his father said, he knew that his uncle Li Deng had a good-natured personality, loved to read, and never did any evil deeds. Only then did he change his mind about this relative.Later, he learned about his cousin Li Yan's deeds from the rumors in the capital, and he was also a little bit complacent, thinking that his cousin was able to become a talent because he was taught by his aunt who was raised by the Hai family.Li Yan took the path of a serious imperial examination. After becoming an official, he started from a low level. He worked hard for more than ten years, his political achievements were quite good, and his official reputation was good. Master Hai finally had a high opinion of this cousin.

With this in mind, Mr. Hai thought that if his aunt or cousin helped him with his vacancies, it would not be considered fair and honest, but since they were close relatives, it should only be regarded as relatives supporting each other. He will never agree to the Marquis Mansion!If he accepts the help of a powerful family that he has always looked down upon, even if he gets an official position, it will damage his integrity.Therefore, when he went to Beijing four years ago, even though he knew that his official position would not be guaranteed, he never thought of asking for help from the Qing Guohou's Mansion.This time, although I know that my aunt's family has returned to Beijing, but I also heard that my cousin is in office. I think my aunt and sister-in-law are both women in the deep house, so how can they know about important court affairs?Naturally, he couldn't help, so he calmly brought his daughter to visit.

However, living in his aunt's house was not what he wanted.My aunt doesn't know what's going on outside, but if she wants to ask the Qing Guohou's Mansion for help because she loves her nephew, what should she do?He couldn't refuse the kindness of his elders, but he couldn't allow himself to accept the help from the rich and powerful, so he had to make many excuses, saying that his friends had made arrangements, so that his aunt could rest assured that she didn't have to intervene, and he also signaled his daughter to appease the elders. On the other hand, he stayed far away, and went every three to five days, planning to wait for the appointment letter to come down, and then go to apologize to his aunt.

It is because of this that Haishu works tirelessly back and forth every day.She didn't understand why her father was so persistent, how rare it was for their family to have a strong helping hand in the capital!Can't the encounters of these years change his mind?Ever since the great-grandfather retired and returned to his hometown, the Hai family has never had a real shortage of officials. For the sake of the family business, my father must win an official position this time, even if it is a remote place, he doesn't care about it.Father always felt that the woman in the deep house could not help with such serious matters, but she had learned a lot from what she had heard and seen in Dongfu these days, so my father was probably wrong.

But she couldn't say these words to her father. According to her father's temperament, she might think that her official position was obtained through the conspiracies of female relatives, which was worse than relying on the relatives of the powerful!Therefore, she could only keep silent and accompany her aunt and grandmother quietly every day, thinking that the matter would be settled in a short time, but the words and deeds of the old lady of the Hou Mansion completely disrupted her plan!
Standing behind the second old lady, Chunying noticed that Miss Hai's complexion was a bit dull, although she still looked a little dignified, but for some reason, it only made people feel like a dark cloud?
She carefully asked: "Miss Biao, but you feel tired?" The second old lady heard the reputation and came over, and hurriedly said: "Are you tired today? Why don't you just stay here for the night, now it's getting late, go back at this time, the city The door may have been closed long ago."

Hai Shu forced a smile: "Shu'er thanked my aunt for her kindness, but my father is still waiting at home, why can't Shu'er not go back?"

The second old lady waved her hand: "Just ask someone to deliver the message. Qiuyan, go ahead and tell Xu Da, let him send someone to report to Master Hai, saying that I will keep his daughter to stay for one night today!"

Haishu wanted to say something more, but Qiuyan had already taken the order, she got up a little helplessly, and suddenly saw the fourth young master Li Dun and the fourth young lady Yajun walking in from the door with a smile, she hurriedly shut her mouth, bowed her head and stood At the side, when the Li Dun brothers and sisters greeted her, she returned the salute and just sat down, and then she hardly said anything, staring at the floor in front of her feet all the time.The second old lady asked her to drink tea, and she drank it, and when Yajun talked to her, she responded a few times. Chunying came to lead her to the east wing, and she obediently followed.

Chunying thought it was very strange. Although this Miss Hai was quite stable in front of the second old lady, she sometimes talked and laughed, her temper was not dull, and sometimes she said something insightful, which won the second old lady's appreciation. .But since just now, she has almost become mute, isn't it too strange?Fourth Miss and her are common, is it because of Fourth Young Master's presence?
In the evening, Chunying was almost done with the work on hand, and the second old lady was about to take a bath. This work was originally in charge of Cui Ling, but now it was handed over to Jin Yu, who was newly promoted from the second class. Chunying watched She prepared all the necessities, and personally tested the temperature of the hot water in the tub, and then helped the second old lady into the inner room, then exited and closed the door, and went outside to enjoy the cool in the yard.

From time to time, silver bell-like laughter could be heard from the West Wing, mixed with Fourth Miss Yajun's laughter and cursing, Chunying smiled knowingly when she heard it, and looked back at the East Wing, but it was quiet inside, she couldn't help shaking her head.

Miss Hai seemed to have suddenly become shy. She stayed overnight in Dongfu today, except for eating and chatting with the second old lady. When the needlework and cloth came, the master and the servant devoted themselves to being a female celebrity, and even the second old lady said she was "too honest".

Why did she change her temper?

Chunying was puzzled, she took a step sideways, and sat down next to the pillar in front of the east wing.The place is well ventilated, and when the sun is exposed to the sun during the day, there is just a tree stand in this position. In the summer evening, it can be regarded as a good place to enjoy the cool air.

When she was taking a break, she suddenly heard an exclamation from the room, Chunying hurriedly turned her head to look, only to hear a commotion in the room, she hurried over and asked, "What happened?"

There was silence in the room, and then Miss Hai's voice sounded: "It's all right, it was just cut by the scissors, and it has been bandaged."

Chunying hurriedly went back to the main room and brought the first aid kit she made—actually, it was nothing more than white cloth strips, Jinchuang medicine, Dieda medicinal wine and ginseng slices—and when she returned to the door of the east wing, she happened to hear Haishu's girl asked: "Miss, why are you absent-minded all day long? Could it be that the old lady in Qingguohou's Mansion wants to match you, so you are worried?" interest.

Haishu didn't know there was someone outside the door, so she lowered her voice and sighed, "I'm just worried about my family... Father doesn't know what to do either."

Another girl persuaded: "Miss, don't worry, the master is such a big man, and he has someone to serve him, besides, he will go back tomorrow, why should the miss be so worried? It's the matchmaker of the old matriarch, who always has to find ways to evade it. "

The girl's tone before was full of surprise: "Why did you push? Isn't that the best family? Miss is not young anymore!"

"What do you know? A daughter-in-law of such a big family is wronged! Since Qingguo Hou's mansion is the noble of the ancestors, the rules in the house must be very strict, why bother to suffer that crime?!"

"Stop talking!" Haishu scolded, "What kind of talk is this? You can also say it?"

The two girls suddenly became quiet, and after a while, one of them carefully said: "Miss, we are also worried about you. There is nothing suitable in my hometown, so why not persuade the master to look for it in Beijing? The world is so big, and you can always find a match." Someone who deserves to be a young lady. You are really not young..."

Haishu said in a low voice: "Don't say any more...these are not important, I just want to take good care of my mother, and I will be satisfied seeing my younger brother grow up. If my father gets an official position, the family will need me to take care of him. How can I think about anything else? What's more, I don't dare to climb up whether it's here or the Hou's mansion to the west. If you hear people making jokes about me and the young masters surnamed Li, you must defend me, otherwise My reputation is gone!"

The two maids responded unhappily, and Haishu suddenly said: "We are talking here, and I don't know if anyone heard it. Go and see if anyone is passing by outside."

Chunying hurriedly took two steps back when she heard the words, and rushed over with heavier footsteps, "panting" authentically: "Miss Biao, is your injury serious? I brought medicine and bandages!"

A gleam of doubt flashed in Haishu's eyes, but she quickly covered it up, ordered someone to take the medicine box, and reapplied medicine to the wound that had been simply bandaged.

After returning to the main room, Chunying saw that the second old lady had finished taking a bath, so she took the comb from Jin Yu's hand, combed her long hair carefully, and slowly said what she had just heard.

The second old lady sighed: "It's hard for this child, she is really filial! It's just because of the relatives in the family that she missed her wedding date, but it is very inappropriate, and the family members are also uncomfortable. It's better for me to be more troublesome, and it is appropriate to look after a few households for her. family."

Chunying reminded in a low voice: "Miss Biao doesn't seem to want to climb up the Marquis Mansion..." Maybe there is the East Mansion.

The second old lady sighed again: "I know, Qi Dafei is no younger than me now, even if her father got an official, he was only a seventh-rank county magistrate. She is the daughter-in-law of a wealthy family, so it is difficult to get a good deal It would be better to look for it among those young and promising students or officials' children, it must be more in line with her father's wishes."

The second old lady thought so, and got up early the next morning, and ordered someone to find Mr. Hai. The aunt and nephew discussed behind their backs for a long time, and finally reached a simple consensus on Haishu's future husband's choice. It is a decent and motivated young student from a famous scholarly family, followed by a talented student from a scholarly family, or the son of a friend of the same age and same ranking as Master Hai, and the others are not discussed.

The second old lady originally took out all the rosters of her granddaughter's selection, but she didn't know that her nephew didn't like any of them, so she couldn't help but feel a little depressed. Chunying had to pull Qiuyan and Bailing to chat and laugh, which made her mood change. clear.

Just when the second old lady was excitedly worrying about the younger generation's marriage, the second wife Zhuo brought back a surprising news: the rumors about the third young master and Miss Fan started again!This time it even spread outside.An official's wife who was on good terms with the Zhuo family asked her vaguely about the scandal when she was invited to drink tea today.

This is so strange!Fan's family has all moved out, and several wives were unlucky before, which is enough to scare off troublemakers, and Aunt Hua has also warned, for no reason, how could someone spread the matter to the outside world? !And there are many fictitious things in the rumors, which are almost rumors!Zhuo said angrily: "Let me know who is chewing his tongue, and I will not spare him!"

The second old lady said in a deep voice: "This matter is weird! As you said just now, it is for no reason, how did these rumors come out?! You are making a lot of fanfare now, but the rumors are confirmed. It is not good. Hurry up! Let someone quietly inquire about it!"

Zhuo said with embarrassment: "The daughter-in-law only handed over the power two days ago, but there are still some affairs that need to be handed over, so it still goes by every day. I'm afraid it's inconvenient to ask someone to inquire about it."

"Nonsense! If you don't clean up what happened in your office, wouldn't you make people laugh at you?!" The second old lady turned around and called Chunying, "You came from that mansion, so you must know a lot of people. Way to find out, someone will know the clue!"

Chunying was startled, feeling helpless in her heart, but she didn't dare to show it, so she could only obediently respond: "Yes, old lady."

(End of this chapter)