Daiyu of the Red Chamber

Chapter 13 News
After a while of busy work until the Lantern Festival, Daiyu actually developed a high fever, which scared Jia Min to seek medical advice, and even took care of her in a daze, but nothing got better. I looked at raising some back before, but now I fell ill in a hurry.Lin Ruhai never managed the general affairs of the mansion, so the mansion became more and more hectic.Looking at Jia Min who was described as skinny, and Daiyu whose face was flushed red, even in a lethargic sleep, Lin Ruhai was heartbroken and thanked the guests behind closed doors.When Huang Jiyun returned to Gusu from nowhere, he heard that Daiyu was seriously ill and Lin Ruhai closed the door to thank the guests. He was very surprised and rushed to visit.Seeing Huang Jiyun's visit, Lin Ruhai breathed a sigh of relief. He greeted Huang Jiyun with good food, wine and tea, and waited for Huang Jiyun to show Daiyu. It is also uncomfortable to develop a cold due to frailty.After much deliberation, he prescribed a prescription for Daiyu.After taking a few doses of medicine, although it was not very good, it also improved a little, and it was only after the first month of the month that it got better.

After the first month of the lunar year, people will be busy with the teacher's ceremony. Most of the people far away have already sent congratulatory gifts, and the people Lin Ruhai sent to the capital have rushed back.

Since Daiyu's mother and daughter fell ill, Lin Ruhai was exhausted physically and mentally. He actually forgot about it. When Lin An came to report that his brother had returned, Lin Ruhai was also stunned for a long time before remembering that he had sent Lin Ping to Beijing to investigate quietly years ago. He hurriedly called Lin Ping to inquire carefully.

After this question, Lin Ruhai was terrified, and the clothes on the back were soaked in sweat in this February day.Xijue's long house lives in a side courtyard.The eldest son, the grandson, and the grandma took care of her with two enchanting little maids. They were not asked to study, nor allowed to go to school. They only played with the maids all day long.The second room lived in the main room, and the head wife, Mrs. Wang, went around taking lawsuits from people in the house. Even her son-in-law, who accompanied the room, could use the name of Rongguo Mansion to order her to close the door, saying that she was selling antiques, but The room was full of fakes.These are not the most powerful, the most frightening thing is that the servants in the mansion took advantage of their reputation to seize the good land, and the head wife exploited usury with usury.Compared with these, it is not surprising that the seven-year-old was still living in Jiamu's room, playing with the sisters, and stealing the rouge on the maid's lips.

Because Daiyu fell ill before the Lantern Festival, Jia Min also fell ill, and the original plan to investigate the slaves in the mansion was delayed.At this time, when I heard the news about the Rongguo Mansion that Lin Ping had inquired about, I immediately thought of my own mansion. Although I didn't believe that my mansion would be like this, but I couldn't help but feel uneasy, so I immediately asked Lin An, who was guarding the door, to go Call the butler Song Shi.Song Shi was not born in the family, and even Yuan was educated, and he had no entangled relationship with the mansion. He was grateful for Lin Ruhai's father's life-saving grace.

Lin Ruhai thought about Jia Min's recent physical condition, and he really didn't dare to tell her such shocking news at this time. Lin Ruhai didn't know that Jia Min also sent people to Beijing to inquire, but those who went there were women and children, and the schedule was slower now. Haven't returned yet.Then he said to Lin Ping: "I've worked hard all the way, haven't I met your father yet? From today onwards, you will be given a one-month vacation, and then you will receive three months' monthly payment at the account. The master will reward you! Go back and have a good rest. This matter must not be spoken out.”

When Lin Ping heard the news, he was very apprehensive at first, but now seeing that Lin Ruhai's face was normal, he knelt down with a smile and thanked him, promising that I would not say anything about it before leaving.

Seeing Lin An coming to call him, Song Shi knew that there was something important to do, so he hurriedly followed Lin An to the study outside, just in time to see Lin Ping retreating with a smile on his face, and was still surprised that Lin Ping didn't know how to go out before the Chinese New Year. What are you doing, I just came back today.I think it's a good job to come to the errand class, and I won the master's reward.

Lin An reported at the door, "Master, Steward Song has arrived." Immediately, Lin Ruhai's voice came out: "Come in!" The voice sounded cold.Lin An and Song Shigu were shocked. They thought Lin Ping was going out with a smile on his face, but they thought the job was good, but they didn't expect the master to get angry. Masters are very rare.Song Shi, who was full of doubts, didn't dare to delay, so he pushed the door open and entered.After looking at Lin Ruhai's disheveled expression, he closed the door carefully.Asked: "What is the master's order?"

Seeing Song Shi come in, Lin Ruhai seemed to be thinking about something, but he ignored it for a while, and just kept pacing in front of the desk.Song Shi didn't dare to disturb, so he stood with his head down and waited quietly.

Thinking again and again, Lin Ruhai said: "Our mansion has been passed down for more than a hundred years, and the personnel Shen Ke is uneven. Go and investigate secretly for me. It is someone from their family. You don’t need to disturb them, just manage the roster and come back to me. If there are criminals or bullying or bullying the weak, you need to sort it out and find the person involved. You don’t need to disturb them and bring them back to me. Be more careful about this matter, do it in secret, don't rush it for a while, but don't delay it for too long." Song Shi was shocked when he heard this, knowing that something big has happened?He didn't ask too much, just bowed in response and quit.

In the evening, Daiyu saw that Lin Ruhai's face was gloomy, and there was no use for dinner, so she was worried, so she brought a bowl of bird's nest porridge to the inner study.Seeing that the candles in the room were brightly lit, he opened the door and walked in without letting anyone know.

Lin Ruhai was very annoyed to find that someone broke in without notification, and was about to reprimand when she saw Daiyu walking in with a small black lacquer painted plum blossom tea tray in her hand, with a bright smile on her face: "Daddy uses it at night. There are few, Yu'er said that the kitchen brought daddy a bowl of mother's bird's nest porridge, it's delicious!" After speaking, her two dark eyes widened.Lin Ruhai's heart warmed up, and most of his depression was relieved.

Seeing Lin Ruhai waving to let her go, the gloom between her brows also eased, Daiyu walked slowly to the table and put the tea tray on the table, picked up the Ding kiln white porcelain in the tray and offered it to Lin Ruhai with her own hands, Lin Ruhai looked at it with loving eyes Looking at Daiyu, he took the bowl and sighed, then put it back on the tea tray.

Lin Ruhai knew that Daiyu had become more and more intelligent recently, so she couldn't help her children to see it, so she told Daiyu in detail about Lin Ping's report today.Daiyu's heart was calm, but her face was filled with surprise, especially when she heard that the second bedroom lived in the main room and Xijue's first room lived behind the stable.The expression is very exaggerated like incredible.Seeing this, Lin Ruhai also sighed endlessly.Daiyu frowned lightly for a while, then raised her face and asked, "I don't know if my uncle's family has cousins? How is it now?" Suddenly hearing Daiyu's question, Lin Ruhai was also taken aback, and thought for a while before answering: " Your eldest uncle has a son, but it is a pity that he has not been taught well. According to the information we have inquired about, " Lin Ruhai stopped at this point and said, "It's not a big mistake." In the national government, it is really dispensable.

Lin Ruhai originally thought that Daiyu would continue to ask, but suddenly the topic changed and Daiyu said: "Father, please take a good look at the servants in our house, especially the buyers and stewards. Having a child is often complicated. Because I have been in the house for several lifetimes, I feel more dignified, and it is arrogant to act outside. However, no matter what appearance I have outside, it still represents the face of our house and uses the face of the house. After hearing this, Lin Ruhai nodded in agreement, but felt more and more emotional in his heart.

Who knows that Daiyu didn't wait for Lin Ruhai's emotion to finish, and suddenly she smiled and said to Lin Ruhai with flickering eyes: "Why don't you go and write a letter, just saying that mother is grieving because of my younger brother's funeral, and why don't you let Jia Lian, the son of the eldest uncle, come to your house as a guest?" Surprised: "Why is this? What's up with Yu'er?" Daiyu smiled and replied: "Rongguo Mansion and us are relatives after all, and it's not good to have a bad reputation, especially in the capital. How much will it affect our family? Why don't you call the eldest son of Xijue to your father, and your father will teach you a lot when you have free time. , and the eldest cousin Zhu is also married, and the second cousin Baoyu heard that he was loved by his grandmother, so he thought that he would not be allowed to travel far. Besides, he heard from his mother that he had a lot of suspicions with his second aunt, and first the eldest aunt was on good terms with her mother. How about helping her?" Lin Ruhai felt reasonable after hearing this, and then said: "I need to discuss this matter with your mother, but I don't know how to speak up as a father. Your mother is not in good health. How can I let her know about these bad things? As a father, if you tell your mother that the Rongguo Mansion is not good, wouldn't your mother blame me for provoking her relationship with her natal family?" After hearing this, Daiyu nodded and said: "Yu'er didn't think carefully, it's better if father didn't tell mother directly , just as an embarrassment, let Yu'er tell her mother? Mother may accept it, and Yu'er knows that her mother has already sent people from Zhuangzi to the capital to inquire. Thinking about it, she also feels that there is something wrong. Mother will always know when comparing the two Dad's hard work and hard work."

After speaking, he emphasized with Lin Ruhai: "Daddy, remember to check the purchases in our house." Hearing that Daiyu mentioned purchases twice, she was very puzzled and asked, "What did Yu'er hear?" Daiyu After thinking for a while, he said: "There is a little girl in my yard who bought it from outside. I heard her tell Han Xiao that in the past, I couldn't eat steamed buns worth two cents each. I felt strange because I was in my mother's room I learned to look at the accounts and found that there is no such cheap thing in our house, so I asked her out of curiosity, but she told me that it was meat buns, and the outside was only three yuan, and the eggs were more expensive and cost ten yuan a piece , but most of them raise their own chickens. Although they are praised and sold, they can be eaten occasionally. I asked Aunt Luo's Xiu'er, and Xiu'er also said that when they lived outside, the rice was worth eight cents. Jin, isn’t a stone and a hundred catties only [-] Wen? Therefore, Yu’er felt that the purchase would inevitably be suspected of corruption, so she asked her father to investigate.” After listening to Daiyu’s words, Lin Ruhai was only curious, after all, he did not take care of common affairs. I don't know much about this, but I nodded in response.

Seeing that the gloomy mood on Lin Ruhai's face was fading away, Daiyu picked up the small tea tray and said, "Father, wait a moment, Yu'er will go to the kitchen to see if there is any bird's nest porridge, and then I will send a bowl of hot bird's nest porridge with Daddy, don't waste any more. " After finishing speaking, he turned around and walked out until Daiyu's small figure disappeared into Lin Ruhai's study, and Lin Ruhai came back to his senses, smiled faintly, but his eyes could not hide the pampering.

Lin Ruhai thought about it alone in the study, and called Song Shi, the second steward who was in charge of the outer court, and ordered: "Go quickly and check the prices of all kinds of goods inside and outside the mansion, and send more young children out, don't use your family to have children, use more I bought it from outside. You don't need to tell others about it, I'll do it after inquiring clearly." Although Song Shi was puzzled, he quickly nodded and made arrangements not to mention it.

Lin Ruhai hesitated with the study for a long time, and finally walked to the main room.I saw Jia Min wearing light blue home clothes, with a loose bun, and a white jade plum flower hairpin inserted obliquely, sitting on the imperial concubine's couch and reading a book very attentively.Kapok and Qiluo were by their side, when they saw Lin Ruhai coming in, they got up and wanted to salute.Lin Ruhai waved their hands to let them back down, walked to the candlestick, and cut the candles with silver scissors. The room suddenly lit up, and Jia Min woke up in Fang Zhongshu. Seeing Lin Ruhai, he was stunned for a moment, but the corner of his mouth was dizzy involuntarily. Dyed a gentle smile.

Lin Ruhai felt soft in his heart, sat down next to Jia Min, held her hand in his palm, and then slowly told Lin Ping to go to Beijing to inquire about it. After hearing this, Jia Min lowered his eyebrows and thought for a moment before laughing: "It's because I didn't think carefully, This is a matter of my natal family's internal affairs. It should not have been inquired between the master and his colleagues. The master was able to send Lin Ping to Beijing for me. I just don't know how to inquire about it? The master just speaks bluntly. You and my husband and wife have not needed it for many years So scrupled."

Lin Ruhai listened to Jia Min's three or four stories from the back, and saw that Jia Min's face became paler, so he stopped talking, but he didn't want Jia Min to say: "Master, just tell me! Since Lin Ping can find out, if Master doesn't tell, others I also know, why bother to hide it from me alone? Even if I don’t say it, it’s the same, I know it in my heart, the master said that I can only be grateful to the master.” Lin Ruhai saw that Jia Min was very persistent, and the husband and wife had a deep relationship for many years. They never hide from each other, and Fang tells the whole story.After hearing this, Jia Min was stunned for a while, then burst into tears and said: "Although the son never said anything about his father's faults, he never thought that his mother would be so confused! It's a pity that I'm just a married daughter, and I can't talk too much with the family, but I don't know What should I do?! If the censor impeaches him, the century-old glory will be ruined! In the future, he will meet his father again in a peaceful manner?" After speaking, he broke down in tears.

Lin Ruhai was also upset, seeing Jia Min so sad but could only comfort him with gentle words.After thinking about Daiyu's suggestion to call Jia Lian to Gusu by letter, Jia Min was taken aback when he heard it. Even if he is still young, his mother will not let him go far away. Lian'er is only thirteen years old and has no mother to take care of him. My eldest brother is not awake, and the second sister-in-law looks after Lian'er when she is in charge. It's not eye-catching. It's better to call the master and let the master teach him. It's unknown whether he will be able to take up the lintel in the future. First, the elder sister-in-law is well-educated, and Lian'er is also smart. The master will take care of you, and now we are husband and wife There is only Yu'er and one daughter left under her knees, and in the future Lian'er may be a part of Yu'er's support." Lin Ruhai also nodded after hearing this, and said: "Yu'er has become more and more intelligent in the past six months, and I am often worried that her wisdom will hurt her. Madam, please be more concerned." My daughter Jia Min will not delay, and Lin Ruhai sighed and said: "Today Yu'er talked about shopping, I don't know if you know? I heard that there is something in Yu'er's words. It should be true." When Jia Min asked about the details, his expression changed suddenly and he called for Kapok, "Go and get all my account books!" Seeing that Kapok didn't move, he became angry Said: "Go!" Kapok Fang came back to his senses, squatted down and saluted and exited.

Turning back in a moment, four or five little maids followed behind, each holding five or six account books in their arms.Jia Min went to the table and quickly unfolded it, found the kitchen to buy a book and read it.Seeing this, Lin Ruhai walked up behind her, held her shoulders and said, "Madam, don't get angry, we have already prepared, haven't we?" Said: "Let's take a look, master. Although I am somewhat prepared, I never thought of it to this extent!" After speaking, he handed the account book to Lin Ruhai.In the end, Lin Ruhai didn't look through the account books, but only said to Mu Mian and the others: "You guys step back, I don't want anyone to hear what happened today. Do you understand?" The tone was calm, but Lin Ruhai has been an official for many years and has been extremely coercive. Mu Mian and the others took a deep breath and nodded, then retreated, and when only the couple left in the room looked down at the account books, their expressions were also ugly, but after all, they were official gangsters, so they calmed down quickly and said: "Madam Don't make any noise yet." Before Lin Ruhai finished speaking, Jia Min was furious and said: "Could it be that the master wants to expose this?!" The voice was very sharp, and Lin Ruhai felt pain in his ears and heart, and frowned to comfort him: "Don't worry, Madam, these children How can a black-hearted servant who betrays his master be easily let go. It's just a two-day delay." Jia Min looked at Lin Ruhai in puzzlement when she heard this, after all, she is the head of the family now, and she felt embarrassed when something like this happened , so the more I think about it, the more angry I get.

Lin Ruhai breathed a sigh of relief and said, "Since the kitchen purchases are like this, what about the others? I'll send Song Shi to inquire about the market prices of various items on the market. When Song Shi comes back, we will compare them one by one. Let someone inquire carefully. As I said last time, whether it is corruption, or bullying others, or deceiving the superior and the inferior, all kinds of mistakes can be cleaned up, and then the mansion can be cleaned up! And we can’t keep these moths in hiding. In the future, things will go wrong, wouldn’t it be corrupt? My Lin family's century-old reputation? If you and I are gone, it will be our Yu'er who will be harmed! How can I keep him?" After hearing this, Jia Min knew that Lin Ruhai had plans, so he stopped talking, his face turned red and pale Seeing this, Lin Ruhai said: "Madam, don't think too much, who doesn't have three or five bad people? Let alone a family like ours that has been passed down for a hundred years." Jia Min knew that Lin Ruhai didn't blame her, and he was so comforted, Fang Anxin Little, and thinking of Lin Ruhai's words just now that these people would harm Daiyu in the future, he secretly made up his mind to investigate to the end!
(End of this chapter)