Chapter 979
Three Happy Events in the West Mansion
Chapter 979 Three Happy Events in Xifu
Beijing,
The sky gradually darkened.
After a busy day, the common people dragged their tired bodies back home, just for the warmth. The Rongguo Mansion was still brightly lit, and in the open space between the east and west mansions, there were still hundreds of people carving fine wood.
Looking around, the residence for the imperial concubines has taken shape in more than half a month. The front half of the courtyard remains untouched, but the walls of the several small courtyards at the back have been built.
"Come here, fellows. Those who went to the East Mansion to renovate the backyard today, come here to receive the reward money after dinner. Grandma said that the backyard was repaired neatly, so she asked me to give some reward money. Although it's not much, it's a kind gesture from the master."
Lai Sheng from Ningguo Mansion, along with a few servants, carried a basket of copper coins and sat upright in the courtyard. He shouted something and then asked the servant in charge to order a table of food. He also asked the people who came with him to sit down and eat together.
As for the backyard, it was built in a simple and elegant style. Perhaps it was just as my grandmother said. The south wall and the two houses seemed to block the Feng Shui. Now that they have been demolished, a pond has been dug here, and water has been brought in from the lake behind Rongguo Mansion.
I also cut down the weeds and some obstructing trees in the yard, and replanted flower beds and bamboo forests. It was as if the sun energy suddenly entered the yard, and I felt noticeably warm.
It was not until the waiter brought the food that Lai Sheng rolled up his sleeves, picked up the bowl and ate a mouthful of noodle soup.
"Butler Lai, the wall of the backyard of Ningguo Mansion has been expanded so much, the rooms in the middle have been demolished, and a large pond has been built. It used to feel a bit cold, but now it feels warm in the backyard. Could it be that there is such a thing as good fortune?"
I don't know if they were familiar with each other, but after a few trusted servants came to the table, they lowered their heads and whispered quietly, and the two people next to them also nodded.
"That should be the case. The two big houses were there a long time ago, making the whole backyard look much darker. The owner doesn't live there, so it can't be good. If I had known, I should have demolished it a long time ago."
The more he talked, the more he got angry. He was so outspoken that Lai Sheng slammed the table and cursed.
"Damn it, I can't even stop you from talking when I'm eating. How can you discuss the master's affairs?"
Lai Sheng glared and shouted. Although Ningguo Mansion was not as big as before, it was still a Duke's Mansion after all, and he was still the official steward of the Duke's Mansion. Although the past was a little difficult to talk about, after all, Marquis Luo Yun said that he had given him a chance.
"Yes, yes, Butler Lai, it's just the little ones who are talking nonsense."
"Yes, Butler Lai, please don't be angry,"
Several servants lowered their heads, talked at once to comfort him, and then began to eat with big mouthfuls. Before they had taken two bites, Lai Sheng suddenly spoke,
"Tomorrow you guys, bring some people to clean up the dead branches and leaves in the backyard, and look inside the house for any scraps of wood left. Gather them and burn them in the yard. Then have the maids clean up the entire backyard, and open the doors and windows to dry them in the sun."
As soon as the voice fell, several servants were stunned. Wasn't he scolding them just now? How could he change his mind in a moment?
"Eat quickly, we will give you rewards later."
Lai Sheng muttered unhappily. What the others said just now might not be without reason. After the backyard was renovated, it was unknown whether it really had any effect. The servants in Ningguo Mansion said that the atmosphere in the mansion was much smoother. Perhaps there really was some invisible bad luck.
"Yes, Steward Lai, don't worry. It's not just the backyard. Madam You has ordered that the remaining courtyards of Ningguo Mansion, including where our servants live, be cleaned up. All the old and unused items will be piled up and burned. There are many people eating at Rongguo Mansion these days, and a lot of firewood is needed, so we will send all the wood here and cook the meal."
One of the servants pointed to the earthen stove not far away. Lai Sheng turned around and saw that it was indeed the stove. No wonder it looked so familiar. It was just the unused bed boards moved out of Ningguo Mansion.
"Well, that's fine. Be more careful when serving in the mansion from now on. Be more observant."
"Yes, yes, the little ones understand."
Several people nodded in panic. Those who stayed in the mansion were all smart ones, and those who were not so smart were all suffering in the farm outside the city.
After they finished their meal and cleared the table, they carried the basket of copper coins onto the table and began to distribute them according to the number of people, giving each person thirty coins. It might not seem like much, but a bowl of noodle soup in the capital was only three coins.
Therefore, all the helpers lined up with joy to receive their tips.
This scene,
It seemed that Jia Baoyu, who had just returned from Ningguo Mansion, had seen it. He sent Mingyan to inquire about it and came back with the news.
"Master Bao, Master Bao, over in the front yard, they say it's the reward money that Grandma gave to those guys."
Baoyu had already returned to the small courtyard of the green gauze cabinet. Just as he entered the room and had not yet sat down, Mingyan came back from outside in a hurry to report the news. When she heard that it was the reward money from her eldest sister-in-law, she couldn't help but feel curious.
"What money?"
"Oh, Master Bao, you have been busy these days and you don't know what happened in the East Mansion. A lot of courtyards have been demolished in the East Mansion these days. Even the backyard around the main house has changed. Do you still remember the two large houses in the middle of the front yard?"
Mingyan had a mysterious look on her face. She followed Master Bao in the classroom and inevitably developed the habit of showing off. However, she didn't know that Jia Baoyu was the one who liked it the most.
He took the tea bowl, took a sip, and asked;
"Of course I remember those two rooms. When I was young, Rong Ge'er and I played in them. Strangely enough, these two rooms are indeed larger than the main house."
"Oh, Master Bao, you have a good memory, that's it..."
Mingyan was full of excitement, and was about to say something when a group of pretty maids came out from the inner room, led by Xiren and Sheyue. Behind them were Qiu Wen, Bihen, Qianxue and other girls. I don't know if they were divided into groups, but they followed the two of them and came out of the room with cakes. Seeing Mingyan showing off in front of Master Bao, Sheyue was the first to feel annoyed. She put the plate on the table, sat directly next to Master Bao, and said with a smile;
"Oh, what are you talking about? It's so pleasant to hear. I just heard Second Master Bao talking about the two rooms in the East Palace. I have heard about these two rooms before. It is said that the two rooms blocked the Yang energy and Feng Shui, so the eldest lady ordered people to demolish the two rooms and build a big pond. At the same time, the entire backyard, no, the entire East Palace was cleaned up."
Xiren also put the dishes on the table and sat down on the other side of Master Bao. The cheerful atmosphere just now almost came to an abrupt end. Mingyan was a smart person. Seeing that the maids in the room were all there, she dared not say anything and yawned quickly.
"Master Bao, I remember I have something else to do. I wonder if your carriage is ready for tomorrow. I need to go check it out. As long as Master Bao remembers the time tomorrow and doesn't delay the registration for the Imperial College, that will be all."
Mingyan gave another instruction, but her eyes were fixed on Xiren and Sheyue. Seeing that they winked at her, she prepared to leave.
"Got it, got it. Just wait outside the mansion tomorrow."
Jia Baoyu was happy just now, but when he heard about going to the Imperial College, he suddenly felt uncomfortable. He always felt that it was better to go to school at home.
"Yes, Master Bao, don't worry."
Mingyan nodded in response, then left the room and closed the door.
As soon as people leave,
The atmosphere in the room became lively. Xiren and Sheyue each held Baoyu's arms in their arms. The touch made her face blush slightly. Xiren first praised him;
"Second Master Bao, everyone in the capital says that the place in the Imperial College is very valuable. Now that you have been admitted, your reputation will be much better. If you tell others about it, who wouldn't be envious?"
"Yes, Master Bao, I heard that the Imperial College in the capital only has about a hundred students, and now including the supplementary students, there are only about two hundred. Which young master wouldn't be jealous? I also heard that when Master Bao enters the school, Second Madam will ask the matchmaker from the Red Mansion to go to the Meng family to propose marriage."
Musk Moon was muttering to herself reluctantly, if Master Bao had a wife, she didn't know if she could become a concubine. Xiren beside her also had flickering eyes, wondering about the future status, and whether Master Bao still remembered his promise.
Jia Baoyu was holding a cake in his hand, feeling irritable. He had just been talking about the Ningguo Mansion, but how come he was talking about the Imperial College and the sister of the Meng family in a moment? Thinking of the appearance he had seen in Rongqing Hall, it was no worse than the sisters in the mansion. Although it was not as good as Sister Bao and Sister Lin, there was a different look in it.
"We were all fine today, why are you saying all this? You came here without explaining anything, but my sister-in-law really demolished the houses in the backyard."
Jia Baoyu remembered that the backyard of Ningguo Mansion was not small, and the houses were high, dark and quiet. Why did he want to demolish the houses now?
Xiren and Sheyue looked at each other and understood what the other was thinking. They knew they couldn't bring up the matter anymore, so Sheyue smiled and moved closer. "Oh, Master Bao, look at what you said. The backyard is so big, how could we dare to demolish it all? We only leveled the two big houses in the front yard and the wall. I also heard that the wall was doubled and a big pond was built in the front yard. If we go there now, we can't see what it looked like originally."
"Oh, that's a good thing. Ever since Brother Zhen's accident, the East Palace has not been peaceful. There must be some reason. After it's repaired, I'll go take a look."
Baoyu was thinking that if the yard was repaired, he would tell his eldest sister-in-law and invite all the sisters to come over and have a banquet or something.
Inside the room, the girls were playing and frolicking with Master Bao, with laughter and chatter all the time, until a maid from Rongqing Hall came and told Master Bao to go to the main hall for dinner, and then they stopped.
After the White Lotus Sect was wiped out outside the capital, Ma Mengquan, the commander of the Southern Pacification Office, left secret guards at the entrances of the valleys on the north side of the Anyang Mountains to prevent the bandits from causing chaos. Although the bandits were wiped out, the various prefectures in the capital were still nervously building forts overnight. Those with money built larger ones, and those without money naturally built smaller ones. Perhaps they were in a hurry to be rushed.
At the Jia Family Farm in Rongguo Mansion, the wall needed for the fort had been mostly built. Even some of the servants and craftsmen in the mansion had brought their men out of the city to help with the construction, so that the construction of the provincial courtyard was delayed.
In Rongqing Hall,
In the west room,
The table was already set with food. Today, only the maids Sanchun, Wang Xifeng, and the two ladies were there. Shi Xiangyun sat down with Baoyu and waited for the old lady to pick up her chopsticks before everyone started eating.
Strange to say, after several days, the only person missing from eating in this room was the eldest sister-in-law. Now Daiyu and Baochai were not coming either. Wang Xifeng was busy with the affairs of the mansion all day and had not really noticed these things.
"Old lady, today, I have to report to you about the affairs of the mansion. Before I start, I want to congratulate you. I have three happy events here."
I don't know where the joy came from, but Wang Xifeng pursed her lips and laughed first, attracting curious eyes from the table. Jia's mother had just drunk some porridge, and when she heard what Feng girl wanted to say, she put down her bowl and chopsticks and scolded with a smile;
"You are a poor man who doesn't talk when eating or sleeping. How can you be so ridiculous?"
"Oh, old lady, look at what you said. Isn't this just an opportunity to ask for your help?"
Wang Xifeng pretended to be aggrieved and "made faces" there. As soon as she moved her chopsticks, a crystal shrimp went into her mouth, causing Sanchun maid to cover her mouth and laugh.
"Okay, you're the only one who has a lot to do, so tell me about the happy event first."
Grandmother Jia also smiled slightly. It's no secret that the capital has become much more peaceful these days. Those rumors about the White Lotus and the Taiping Cult seem to have disappeared, and the tense atmosphere has been swept away.
"Yes, old lady, I will tell you right away."
I don't know whose opera she learned, but Wang Xifeng actually sang a song. This time, Sanchun couldn't help laughing out loud, and Jia Baoyu was even more happy and opened his mouth,
"This part is sung well, the tone should be improved a little bit."
Before he could finish his words, he was glared back by the Second Mistress. No one responded, but waited for the Second Mistress to say something happy.
Wang Xifeng waved her hand behind her, and Ping'er handed her an account book. Wang Xifeng took it in her hand, put it on the table, and replied;
"Madam, there are many happy events. Let's talk about the first one first. The courtyard of the East Palace has been rebuilt. The wood and stones taken out, as well as the extra soil from the pond that my sister-in-law wanted to dig, are just enough to fill the river between the two palaces, saving a lot of money. Master Song said that we can start the main building now."
When they heard that it was about the visit to the imperial residence, Grandmother Jia, the first wife, and the second wife all became excited.
"So soon, don't you say that we need to let the foundation dry for a while?"
The second wife was a little surprised. Although the river between the two houses had been drained clean, the riverbank was still wet with silt and had to be dried out in the sun. It had only been a few days, and they were already starting work.
"Yes, Feng girl, you should go and see if the ground is dry."
Grandmother Jia was also somewhat suspicious. As the saying goes, whether a house is well built depends on whether the foundation is solid.
"Oh, of course I went to see it, old lady, you don't know, from the beginning of spring till now, it only rained after the New Year. Since then, let alone rain, there has not even been any fog. The lake in the backyard of Rongguo Mansion is much shorter than in previous years. It looks like it is... cough cough."
I wanted to talk about the disaster, but when the words came to my lips, I remembered that I couldn't say anything careless, and then I coughed to cover it up. But what I was thinking might not be wrong. After a long drought, there will be famine, and who knows how many more troubles will arise.
"You are so careless with your words. This can only be said today and forgotten today. The capital is close to An Lake, so there is no shortage of water even in drought. Tell me, what is the second thing?"
"I see, old lady. Didn't you just say you were anxious? The second thing is that the walls of the fortress outside the south city have been repaired. But I heard that there was a rumor that the Southern Pacification Office had news that the Taiping Cult bandits had been wiped out. I don't know if it's true or not."
When Wang Xifeng heard the news, she was a little unhappy. In this way, only half of the fort was built, which meant that all the money was wasted. The total cost of the construction would be at least 80,000 taels of silver.
Grandmother Jia and the two ladies were also stunned. They didn't wipe it out earlier or later, but at this moment, Mrs. Xing turned her eyes and comforted her;
"This is really good news. The rebels have been wiped out, and the master family has less worries. I heard that the master of Jinxiang Marquis Mansion spent a lot of money to appease the people in the clan. Later, each family built a fortress, and Jinxiang Marquis Mansion was the most active. If they had built a fortress earlier, why would they have spent so much money?"
When Mrs. Xing had nothing to do, she liked to listen to rumors and jokes from outside and inside the mansion. Everyone in the capital knew about the massacre of Marquis Jinxiang's manor. People from the clan also went to the mansion to make trouble several times, and many people came to watch the joke.
"You are quite eloquent. What the elder said is not wrong. Whether it is really wiped out or there are other reasons, we can sleep peacefully after the fort is built. By the way, of the three happy events you mentioned, two have already happened. What is the last one?"
Grandmother Jia said that she was at peace. She couldn't wait until something really happened to try to remedy the situation. If someone in Zhuangzi died, there would be a commotion in the clan and the news would reach the palace. Then it would be difficult to remedy the situation.
The rest of the people did not speak loudly, but only looked at the second sister-in-law. What was this last happy event?
I don't know if he noticed it in his heart, but Baoyu felt his heart tremble, and the food in his bowl no longer smelled good.
Sure enough, I heard my second sister-in-law speak.
"Look at what the old lady said. The last thing is, of course, Baoyu's admission to school. Today, my eldest sister-in-law sent me a card with the Imperial College's seal. Tomorrow, with this card, you can go to the West Building of the Imperial College to study. As for the other matter, I sent someone to find Yu, the shopkeeper, in the Red Mansion. She also agreed to go to the Meng family after Baoyu is admitted to the school."
Smiling, she told the two things about Baoyu. When everyone heard it, they looked at Baoyu again. The old lady was even more delighted.
"It is indeed a happy event. Li Wan is a quick mover. In this case, Baoyu, quickly put away the seal. Don't be late tomorrow. After entering school, you should pay attention to the Meng Mansion, Feng girl. Ask the Meng family's attitude. If the Meng family agrees, the marriage will be settled. What do you think, second brother?"
As soon as she changed the subject, she asked the silent Second Lady beside her, "Madam Wang was upset and still thinking about Baoyu's marriage. Should she discuss it with Yuanchun in the palace?" Seeing the old lady staring back at her, she had to answer.
"Everything is up to the old lady!"
(End of this chapter)