Madam Hou

Chapter 11

The wind blows the plum blossoms, and the rain drizzles with the fragrance of apricot blossoms.

Linping County regards apricot trees as auspicious trees, and every household likes to plant apricot trees in front of their houses. When the spring breeze blows in April, the apricot blossoms bloom one by one. Looking from a distance, Linping County has a different kind of beauty.

In the flower hall of the Chen family, Mrs. Chen was discussing with Mrs. Hong about her dowry.

"I think the shops on South Street will be sold out, the land on Niujia Mountain will be sold, and the 8000 mu of fertile land in Linjiang County will be disposed of. Also, there are two more Zhuangzi should also sell it, these properties should be worth [-] taels, and when the time comes, they can be directly exchanged for bank notes, and it will be convenient to bring them to Beijing."

On the day of Ching Ming Festival, the Marquis of Yongning sent a gift, and along with the gift came a letter from Mrs. Lin Hou, saying that she was lonely at home and wanted to take Yin Niang to the capital to accompany her.This is a nice word, and its underlying meaning is that your daughter is in a mountain village, and the rules are probably not up to standard, so I want to take over and teach her personally.

It turned out that when Yanniang said she wanted to be engaged to the Hou family, Mrs. Lin was afraid that Yanniang would not behave well, so she took her to the Hou mansion to teach. The one who took Yinniang to the Hou's mansion, but what he didn't expect was that Mrs. Lin Hou also invited Mrs. Chen to go to Beijing this time.

Mrs. Chen thought about it all night after receiving the letter, and thought it would be good if she went to Beijing together.Yinniang is 13 years old this year, although she is still young, she didn't mention the wedding date when she got engaged, but Yongning Hou Shizi is already 18 this year, I'm afraid the Hou Mansion won't set the wedding date too late.The girl’s family’s dowry was accumulated since she was a child. It turned out that Mrs. Chen had also accumulated a dowry for Yinniang, but now the status of her husband’s family is obviously higher than expected, and the dowry that was originally prepared seems a bit out of reach. .The dowry might have to be re-purchased, and if you want to buy good things, I'm afraid only the capital can have it all. When she goes to the capital together, she can start preparing Yinniang's dowry.

Mrs. Hong watched Mrs. Chen write off the property one by one in the account book that recorded Mrs. Chen’s dowry property. She couldn’t help but exclaimed in her heart, and hurriedly reminded: "Madam, you are about to empty out the dowry property. Now, if all these properties are disposed of, what will you do in the future?" You don't have a son by your side, and the master has a cold and ungrateful temperament, so when you get old, you may still have to live on these properties.

Mrs. Lin Hou waved her hand and said: "I don't give my property to my daughter. I don't know who will take advantage of it. My daughter is married, so I will still have nothing to eat."

Mrs. Hong thought about it and thought it was the same, so she stopped talking.

Mrs. Chen looked at the account book and thought for a while, then continued: "I think we should also sell the [-] mu of fertile land in the back mountain. This way, the total amount of money will be over [-] yuan. It's not too bad. Originally, I wanted to leave that piece of land to Pingniang, but Yinniang is a high-ranking married woman. If the dowry is not enough, I'm afraid she will be looked down upon by her husband's family when she arrives. Forget it. Let’s talk about it first, fortunately, Pingniang is only ten years old now, and she still has time to think of a way, and when Yanniang and Yinniang gain a firm foothold, they will always take care of Pingniang.”

Mrs. Chen lowered her head and continued to settle the accounts, but as soon as she took the abacus, the maid Qing Teng came in from outside lightly, and said in front of Mrs. Chen: "Aunt Qiu is standing outside, saying she wants to come in to serve Madam."

Mrs. Chen curled her lips, and said disdainfully: "Tell her that I'm not free, just let her take care of the master."

Aunt Qiu is the aunt of Mr. Chen Xinna, who was given to Mr. Chen by Li Yuanwai from the next village after Yanniang became a nobleman and Yinniang was engaged to the eldest son. She is the maid of the Li family.Mrs. Chen hadn't cared about Elder Chen taking concubines these years. When she saw Elder Chen went out for a drink, she brought a woman back without asking. He opened his face and threw her into the yard where Aunt Dou lived.

As for Aunt Dou, since she was tied up and slapped twenty times by Mrs. Chen that night, her face was as swollen as a pig's head. Seeing Man Niang's heart-piercing cries, he also wanted to cry and complained about Mrs. Chen's viciousness with a face full of grievances.But in the end, Master Chen didn't make decisions for her as usual this time, and even scolded her loudly.Originally, Auntie Dou wanted to do another trick, cry, make trouble, and hang herself three times, but before she hanged herself three times, Mr. Chen said directly, "If you make trouble again, I will send you back to the Dou family." Auntie Dou calmed down Since then, Aunt Dou has restrained herself a lot.

The old and new concubines lived in the same yard, and Concubine Dou restrained herself in front of Mrs. Chen, so she had sex with Concubine Qiu, and Mrs. Chen became much cleaner.

It's just that Concubine Qiu's fighting power is obviously stronger than Concubine Dou's, and she is a new favorite. After she came, she dominated Mr. Chen and got tired of being together every day. Every time Concubine Dou fought Concubine Qiu, Concubine Qiu neither fought back nor fought At night, he would stand in front of Mr. Chen with his wounds, weeping and crumbling. At this time, Mr. Chen would go to Aunt Dou's house and fight the fight just as he used to for Aunt Dou and Mrs. Chen. Auntie scolded, and Aunt Dou was so angry that her heart ached.

This Concubine Qiu has more respect for Madam Chen, the mistress, than Concubine Dou, at least on the surface.Every morning and evening, I went to the main courtyard to say hello, served tea and water to wash my face and eat, even if Mrs. Chen told her not to come, she had to stand outside and kowtow before going back.

Although Mrs. Chen felt comfortable watching her fight so hard that Aunt Dou was being scolded by Master Chen every day, she also didn't like Aunt Qiu.

When the apricot blossoms withered, Mrs. Chen's property was almost finished.

One day Mrs. Chen was bored, so she called her two sons and daughters to the main courtyard to watch the second daughter practice calligraphy and the youngest daughter draw red.

When Mrs. Chen was young, she was taught by Master Lu that a woman's virtue is virtue without talent. She only learned a few words and stopped studying.But Mrs. Chen is very envious of those talented women, so she also attaches great importance to her daughter's education. On weekdays, she invites a talented lady next door who has studied to come and teach for two hours a day.

There are two carved small tables on the bed kang against the wall, one on each side of the two daughters, and spread out papers on the small tables for writing or tracing. The ink on the pen was drawn on the second daughter's hand, and the second daughter pretended to ignore her. When the younger daughter felt bored and put down her guard, she immediately took the pen and drew a big tabby cat on the face of the younger daughter. The little girl pouted and wanted to go back to drawing again.

When Mrs. Chen saw it, she just gave her two daughters a hard look, and warned them not to make any more trouble.The three of them seemed warm in the room like this. The only regret was that the eldest daughter was not there.

At this time, Mrs. Chen heard the maid suddenly say that her natal family's brother and sister-in-law, who had not been in touch for many years, came to the door.

Madam Chen received them in the flower hall, but her attitude was cold.Her brother-in-law was a little embarrassed, but the sister-in-law didn't seem to see Mrs. Chen's attitude. She came up affectionately and called sister-in-law, and then began to blame herself and sigh: "Sister-in-law, you have You had a great time, Dad let us protect you when he was dying, but these years, your brother and I have been busy doing business to revitalize the family business, we are away all the year round, and we don't have the chance to take care of you, it's really our fault."

The eldest brother of the Lu family is the youngest son of Master Lu's cousin. He was very good to Mrs. Chen when he was not adopted. He was really better than his own sister. Among them, the eldest brother of the Lu family was chosen.After the adoption came, when Master Lu was alive, they still treated Mrs. Chen well, but after Master Lu died, and the brothers and sisters-in-law of the Lu family inherited the family business, they treated Mrs. Chen in a different way.Every time she went back to her natal home, Mrs. Lu would be sneering and sarcastic, complaining that Mrs. Chen took away too many things as a dowry.

When Mrs. Chen got married, Mr. Lu gave Mrs. Chen almost all the property in the family except the ancestral property. I am afraid that he also thought that the adopted son's love is as thin as paper, and they may not be true after he leaves. Protecting his daughter, he let her accompany most of the property. If he has money, he will always live better.

At the beginning, Mrs. Chen’s apparent dowry was 5000 taels, which is definitely the first in Linping County. Madam Chen also has a way of taking care of the dowry. She is asking for Mr. Chen to study, and later she will provide money to help Mrs. Chen even doubled her dowry while Mr. Chen was in charge of appointing an official, which should be said to be very remarkable.

Mrs. Chen took a sip of tea and said lightly, "It's pretty good."

The sister-in-law of the Lu family continued: "That's good, that's good, otherwise we will have no face to see our father when we go underground." She wiped the corners of her eyes with a handkerchief, and continued: "I and Your eldest brother heard in Cangyun County that the eldest niece was favored by the emperor and is now entering the palace, and that the second niece is also engaged to the Hou Mansion in Beijing? I already knew that sister-in-law is the most blessed person, but, sister-in-law This is your fault again, you didn't tell your natal family about such a big matter, your eldest brother and I are your dear elder brother and sister-in-law, so could it harm you? When we heard the news in Cangyun County, we immediately I rushed back."

Mrs. Chen snorted and said, "Brother and sister-in-law have a big business and have been doing business all year round. I have no ability to find you. I just thought you didn't want to see me."

The eldest sister-in-law of the Lu family covered her mouth with a handkerchief and pretended to cry: "You can tell from my sister-in-law's tone that she must be blaming us for not taking good care of you, and I can't blame my sister-in-law. It's our fault as brothers and sisters-in-law."

Mrs. Chen felt a little tired of listening to Lu's sister-in-law, and she didn't intend to perfuse them anymore.Just when he was about to send a guest away, his head suddenly had a flash of inspiration, his eyes lit up, and then his attitude suddenly turned 180 degrees, and he said to the eldest brother and sister-in-law of the Lu family in a good voice: "Sister-in-law, what are you talking about, when will my sister come?" Blame brother and sister-in-law, brother, why don't you hurry up and persuade sister-in-law."

After finishing speaking, he said to Qingteng behind him: "Go, call out the second and third misses, and let them come to meet their uncle." Then he told Mrs. Hong: "Go and ask the kitchen to get a table of good wine and food. I want to entertain uncle and master, and then go find master to accompany the guests."

After speaking, he warmly took the hand of Lu's sister-in-law.

Yinniang and Pingniang came out and saluted in front of the eldest brother and sister-in-law of the Lu family, called "Uncle" obediently, and then took back two good-quality meeting gifts.What Yinniang got was a safety buckle made of tourmaline jade, which was green in color, well-proportioned in color and of good quality, while what Pingniang received was a wreath inlaid with Xiuyu jade, which was also very valuable.

Mrs. Chen looked at the meeting gift received by her two daughters, and she was in a happy mood, thinking that this might be a good thing that Brother Lu and sister-in-law had put in the bottom of the box.

The banquet was set up, accompanied by Mrs. Chen, and after drinking for three rounds, Mrs. Chen cried, openly or secretly, that the family is poor, and there is not enough money to buy a dowry for Yin Niang, and I don't know if there is too little dowry to accompany her. Will not be looked down upon by her husband's family.If you are looked down upon by your husband's family, I'm afraid you won't be able to gain a firm foothold in your husband's family, and you will be often bullied by your husband's family. If this is the case, it's better not to marry, and to find a well-matched family to live in peace and contentment. Those of us who are relatives Don't even think about getting wet.In addition, Mr. Chen chimed in when he was half awake and half drunk, as if he really didn't plan to marry because he didn't have money to buy a dowry.

The eldest brother and sister-in-law of the Lu family went back and savored Mrs. Chen's words carefully all night, and gritted their teeth the next day and sent over 5000 taels of silver notes.

(End of this chapter)