Mrs. Cao Wu mentioned the jade carving narcissus, Cao was stunned for a moment, and then understood what her sister-in-law meant, and blurted out: "That, that is the ...... left by Sister Tao and her mother."

The jade carving narcissus they are talking about is one of the dowries of Taohua's mother, Li. A piece of jade the size of a palm, carved with two narcissus. This jade is generally blue and white, and there are a few points of variegation, the jade craftsman is dexterous, the blue carved leaves, the white carved flowers, a few yellow jade skins, just carved into the heart of the marigold.

The best thing is that there are some black-brown spots on this piece of jade, and they are so deep that they cannot be removed. Originally, there was such a variegated color, and no matter how warm the texture of the jade was, the quality would be lowered by a grade, so it really didn't cost much silver when this jade was bought. But the jade craftsman was ingenious and carved these black-brown spots into the skin on the bulbs of daffodils.

Without these black-brown skins, this narcissus would have looked like a jade carving, but with this spot, it suddenly appeared vivid and realistic, so it was a very beloved thing of the Li family. Taohua also likes it very much, and only at the end of the year does it take it out and put it on a swing, and put it together with the real narcissus, if you don't look carefully, it's really difficult to distinguish the authenticity.

Of course, this thing is only placed in Taohua's room, and Cao Luo came to live with her mother for a few days last year, and she also entered Taohua's room, so she saw this thing.

Mrs. Cao Wu knew that it was Taohua's thing, and when she heard this, she twisted her handkerchief with a look of embarrassment: "Speaking of which, there are many variegated colors of jade, if Sister Tao is willing to let it out, will I give a hundred taels of silver?" "

Jade carving and the like, but not only look at the color, but also look at the idea, look at the carving. This piece of jade is not worth more than 100 taels of silver by itself, and it is enough to take 60 or 70 taels when it reaches the sky. But when carved with such a skillful hand, with ingenuity and exquisite craftsmanship, it is not something that silver can measure. If you are not a good person, a few dozen taels of silver are enough, but if you are beloved, you may not be willing to let go of it if you multiply it three times or five times.

Cao also knew that this thing was skillfully carved, but he didn't think it was worth a lot of silver, at least he asked his sister-in-law to buy it for a hundred taels, so he felt that it was too expensive. What she was embarrassed about was that this thing was the dowry of the Li family, and after the death of the Li family, these were all Taohua's things.

"Sister Tao also likes this thing, not to mention that it was left by her mother, this is really ......" asked the girl to sell the relics of her mother, not to mention that the Cao family is just a stepmother, even Jiang Xi is not easy to open her mouth.

Mrs. Cao Wu turned to cry about the family affairs: "...... It's just something else, Sister Luo'er originally came to the door to propose, the words were all decided, and the Geng post was also changed, just because this adult left, your brother was squeezed out, and the family also retired the Geng post, only saying that the eight characters did not match. What's not compatible, it's not with red top white, high and low! The girl's face and reputation are important, although she didn't make up her mind, but she was dismissed, Sister Luo didn't go out for a few days, I'm afraid she won't be able to ......think about it."

Cao Shi was also saddened. She also has a daughter, and marriage in the future is the top priority, although Cao Luo is not considered to be withdrawn from the marriage, but it is also disliked when it is spread - if you say that the eight characters do not match, some people say that she must be bad - sympathy for the same disease, and Mrs. Cao Wu mentioned this matter, but it caused Cao's heart to be related.

It's just that no matter how sympathetic she is, she doesn't dare to take care of it. If it is Jiang Xi's things, maybe you can get it if you ask for it, but Taohua's - this stepdaughter has always been capable, and now she still often goes to see the family's shop, although the account books are handed over to the Cao family, but when it comes to what right to decide on these businesses, the Cao family is not as good as the stepdaughter.

Mrs. Cao Wu pressed the corner of her eyes with a handkerchief, and said with a surprised expression: "Why do you listen to my sister's meaning, and you can't be the master at home?" In the past, it was just that, after all, you just entered the door, and now even Bai Ge'er is so old - in the future, my brother-in-law will not refer to Bai Ge'er to inherit the lineage, how can you let a girl who is going out be the master of the house? "

This was said to Cao's heart. When she first got married, the daughter left by her original partner was already old, and she also inquired about Jiang Xi who had not married a wife for four years, so why did she suddenly have to continue at this time? Among them, there must be for the sake of the daughter. In addition, Cao's own oil bottle was also brought, so after entering the door, he wanted to serve his husband, and he didn't dare to have the idea of fighting for power as a housekeeper.

It's Taohua, after her stepmother got started, she called her "mother", and she was not called "wife", but she was deliberately close to her. After about a month or two, he gradually transferred the family account books to the Cao family, especially after Bai Ge'er was born, and even the Cao family could know about the outside business.

This person's heart is always changeable, the so-called Long Wangshu, Cao's mood is also very different from three years ago, and at this moment, when I heard Mrs. Cao Wu mention her son, I feel quite reasonable.

Mrs. Cao Wu has no other skills, her mouth is very lively, seeing Cao's expression moving slightly, she knew that she was saying the right direction, and made persistent efforts: "Although the dowry of the previous lady is reserved for her children, she has no son, and she will point to Bai Ge'er to sacrifice with her in the future. "

These words are for his son's profit, and the Cao family feels even more deaf, but he is always a little timid, and he doesn't dare to ask his stepdaughter for things. Seeing this, Mrs. Cao Wu got to the point, and asked her henchman to take a box over: "Sister, take a look at this." "

Cao Shi opened it and took a look, and was stunned: "This-" There is also a pot of jade carved narcissus in it, which looks exactly the same as Taohua's pot at first glance, "Isn't this there?" "Now that you have it, what else do you want Taohua to do?

As soon as Cao said this, Mrs. Cao Wu smiled: "Sister will have a good life." "Sure enough, this fake is doing well, and fortunately, my daughter has a good memory, so she drew a picture so that someone could imitate it.

Cao Shi was a little suspicious, took out the jade carving from the box and looked at it, and immediately understood: "Is it fake-imitation?" "It's not as warm as jade, and when you look at it, you feel that the color is not quite right, but it's carved and dyed by the bad jade that is sandwiched with stones, and it's not even worth ten taels of silver. Cao Shi guessed a few points in his heart, and muttered: "This, is-"

Mrs. Cao Wu said, "Sister, can you still change it?" "

"This-" Cao Shi was really in a dilemma, "how can this be made?" Sister Tao can tell the truth at a glance. "

"Is that thing still in her room?"

"It's not true, it's already in storage." Narcissus is a flower that is placed in winter, and the jade carving narcissus is naturally the same, after the first month, they are all replaced, and they are all put into the warehouse, "But the library, I can't enter." "

The Jiang family's house, although the Cao family lives in the main courtyard, but if it is exquisitely cleaned up, it should be the Guiyuan where Taohua lives now. Guy was originally the residence of the Li family, and the Li family loved the two old cinnamon trees in the yard that had grown side by side for many years, and thought it was a good omen, so he did not live in the largest courtyard, but chose there.

It is said that the housemother lived, and this is the main courtyard, but when the Cao family entered the door, Jiang Xi cleaned up the larger courtyard, but gave the Guiyuan to Taohua to live in, and the Li family's dowry should also be in the small library of the Guiyuan, except for Taohua, even Jiang Xi has no key.

Mrs. Cao Wu raised her eyebrows: "This can't be done!" You are the housewife of the house, how can there be a place where you can't enter? You can't even enter the library, and you can't know what is in it, sister, where can you fight for Bai Ge'er in the future? "

Cao hesitated. She knew that the Li family had a rich dowry, and she really wanted to get a piece of the pie - Bai Ge'er was an only son, and the Jiang family's family business would be his, so she didn't worry, but it was Yan Hua, who was originally a stepdaughter, and when she got married, she didn't know how much dowry Jiang Xiken would make, and she didn't have any private wealth in hand, so it would be good if she could get something from the Li family for Yan Hua.

Mrs. Cao Wu looked at her like a quail, and secretly scolded this sister-in-law in her heart for being useless, she couldn't even cure a girl, but her face didn't show anything, and she only said: "According to me, it's not as good as this, you just said that you want to borrow something to furnish it, and quietly exchange this jade out, but no one found out at that time, and Sister Tao will know about it in the future, can you still do anything?" After all, you're her mother, too. Naturally, there will be a lot of trouble at that time, but at that time, she had already left the Jiang family, and it was none of her business.

Cao was a little undecided, and only said that Mrs. Cao Wu should go to rest first, so Mrs. Cao Wu didn't say anything and got up and went out. It was Qingguo's old lady who guided her, and everyone called Mother Song. used to be the nurse of the Cao family, but now she is in charge of the main courtyard of the Cao family, which is also very decent. Seeing Mrs. Cao Wu coming, she came over to say hello and said with a smile: "Mrs. didn't bring the girl over?" "

Mrs. Cao Wu also smiled: "Sister Luo is not young, she should learn to be a housekeeper at home, it's not good to come out casually." After looking at Mother Song, he smiled again, "It's better to look at my mother's complexion." He wiped a gold ring from his hand and stuffed it into her, "Mom took it and wore it." Now she is also a housekeeper mother with a head and a face, so it's not too simple. "

Mother Song hurriedly thanked the reward, and praised Mrs. Cao Wu for her good looks. Mrs. Cao Wu sighed: "What is good." Now that my family is in chaos like that, where do I have a good look? "

Mother Song hurriedly asked what was wrong, and Mrs. Cao Wu told her what she had just said and Cao's words, and finally sighed: "It's nothing else, I'm just afraid that the old man will not be happy, and your wife can't afford to fight her waist in her husband's house, but she will be crushed by your eldest girl." I just asked, in this family, does your wife say that it doesn't count? The big girl's yard, your wife can't enter? "

This touched Song's mother's heart, so she pouted and said: "What Mrs. said is very true, our wife can only see the account books in the shop outside in the past two years, but if you say that you are in charge, you can't." It's the medicine hall, the eldest girl often goes, but the wife has never entered. If you want to talk about the big girl's yard, it is even more dead, and we don't dare to enter it when we are idle. "

Mrs. Cao Wu sighed: "How can this be done? My sister is too soft, so she can't afford to be a family, not to mention that she suffers, even Sister Yan and Bai Ge'er are afraid that they will be crushed to death by this sister in the future, what good can it be? In fact, if you want me to say, now that your wife has given birth to a brother, she is the hero of the Jiang family, if you don't take advantage of this time to pinch her, when will you stay? No matter how much she gives birth to her eldest daughter, she is just a girl, is she planning to control the family for a lifetime? Or will you move your mother's family to your in-laws' house in the future? "

The two of them chattered, enough to talk about tea time. Mother Song got a pair of silver bracelets from Mrs. Cao Wu, and went out of the guest house to talk to Cao's side.

The kitchen here cleaned up the food, and the Taohua sisters and brothers came over to accompany Mrs. Cao Wu to eat. Mrs. Cao Wu never mentioned any jade carving narcissus, but praised Taohua's ability. Taohua said a few perfunctory words, and then said to Cao's family: "There was a letter from Fangcai Yaotang, saying that the medicine and wine are not enough, I want to go to Zhuangzi tomorrow to have a look, and some medicine should also be collected." I'm afraid I won't be able to stay at home with my aunt. "

Go to Zhuangzi to see if the growth of medicinal materials is true, and the others are excuses, only Mrs. Cao Wu is here, and everyone gets along awkwardly, so it is better to avoid it, and ask Cao Shi to talk to Mrs. Cao Wu happily, so as not to always put on a look like looking at people in front of him.

Cao's was persuaded by Song's mother to add oil and vinegar, and he was quite moved, only worried that Taohua didn't dare to move at home, and when he heard that Taohua was going to Zhuangzi, he was in the middle of it, and said busily: "In this case, you can go, your aunt also comes often, and she is not at this time." However, the matter in the medicine hall is important, and if the patient is delayed, it is not good. As for when the medicinal materials on Zhuangzi will be harvested, she has no idea.

Taohua smiled and apologized to Mrs. Cao Wu: "I'll pack up my things and leave in the afternoon, and I can go to Zhuangzi before dark." If my aunt is free, stay at home for a few more days, and let me come back to see me off. "For two or three days, the Cao family should have said enough.

Mrs. Cao Wu also wished for this God-given opportunity, and she was busy and boasting. Taohua didn't bother to listen to her flattery, so she took her leave and instructed Mint: "Tell someone to take care of the yard." Then tell the front account office, if it is less than 50 taels of silver, let the mother withdraw it, if it is 50 taels, but ask the mother to leave a note to explain the purpose. "Mrs. Cao Wu's autumn wind can let her fight, but she can't be unscrupulous.

Mint took the order, ran back and forth, settled the yard again, and prepared the carriage in front of him. Taohua took mint, plus a coachman, a servant, and a mother-in-law, and went out to Zhuangzi outside the city.

As soon as Taohua left, Cao Shi only felt greatly relieved, and after eating in the evening, he took the two big girls in his room to rummage through the boxes and cabinets. Qingguo had already been advised by the old lady, and deliberately asked, "What is Mrs. looking for?" "

Cao sighed: "Sister Luo'er is in trouble now, and I, as an aunt, can't do much." Thinking that she likes tea, she simply asked someone to cook a good tea set for her. I remember that she came to live that year, and said that she liked which set of porcelain, and I thought about finding it out and ordering a set like that. "

Qingguo smiled and said: "When Mrs. said this, I also remembered, the cousin should have seen it in the big girl's room, a set of blue and white or something, but the slave maid couldn't be named." Come to think of it, it should be in the big girl library. "

Cao Shi hesitated: "Is it Taohua's thing?" It's not easy. "

Qingguo glanced at the white fruit next to him and said with a smile: "What's so bad about this." The wife went to the big girl's library to borrow the set of porcelain, and just sketched it. Sister Baiguo is ingenious, and she is the best at drawing patterns, so she is called Sister Baiguo to draw it. "

Baiguo was the maid that the Cao family gave to her after marrying into the Jiang family, and when she heard this, she hesitated a little and said: "I'm afraid that the pattern is different from the appearance of porcelain...... Yi Nuwen said, simply wait for the eldest girl to come back from the Zhuangzi, ask for a cup and send it to the porcelain kiln to burn, wouldn't it be safer? "If you want to borrow something, you have to open a warehouse, and now the girl is not here, but it is not very appropriate, what if the loan is directly returned to Mrs. Cao Wu?

Cao Shi frowned and said: "Taohua will not be able to come back in two or three days-blame me, why did she only remember it at this time, otherwise, if you pick her up and say a word before going out, it will be fine." "

Qingguo looked disapproving: "It's just a picture, the big girl is not such a stingy person, don't you even want to borrow it?" Pulling Bai Guo and said with a smile, "Sister, go get a pen and paper, I'll draw it tonight, and I'll ask someone to send it tomorrow morning." It will take several days for this to burn out, and my uncle and wife can't stay in our house without leaving. "

With Qingguo's words, Cao nodded and said, "That's right." Let's go. The group lit the lamp and went straight to the Guiyuan.

As soon as Taohua left with mint, the Guiyuan was managed by Poria Cocos, who was already preparing to close the courtyard door, and when she heard that the Cao family was coming, she hurriedly came out to greet her. Qingguo smiled and said about borrowing porcelain to draw patterns, and urged: "I painted it tonight, and I will send it to be burned tomorrow morning." I also knew that it was late, and I disturbed my sister's rest, but my uncle's wife couldn't stay for a long time, so I couldn't say it, and I had to work my sister to open the warehouse door. "

Poria couldn't help but hesitate. Taohua's courtyard has always been strictly controlled, although it is not explicitly stated, but her private treasury is not allowed to enter others, even the Cao family. Generally, if there is anything at home, Taohua always sorts out things by herself and puts them outside, and as soon as she finishes using them, she immediately takes them all back, and does not take them out of Cao's hands. What does it mean, how can Poria not know it? Now Mint follows Taohua out, and she is in charge of this yard, whether it is good or not, she has to take responsibility.

Cao Shi saw that Poria didn't answer, and he was a little annoyed in his heart, secretly thinking that Mother Song was really right, she was in this house, and she really couldn't even control a maid. If this goes on for a long time, even if Taohua gets married in the future, I am afraid that these subordinates in the family will still listen to her, even if she is in her mother-in-law's family, she can be the master of her mother's family, which is really unreasonable! Immediately, his face sank slightly: "It's just a loan, if you don't feel at ease, just ask the ginkgo to draw it out in the library, and don't take a cup out of the door, how about it?" "