During the Lantern Festival, the Rongguo Mansion put up and down the lanterns and sang the opera, and the children and grandchildren of the family were surrounded by the old lady of Jiafu, which can be described as a brocade screen, and the excitement and luxury can not be exhausted.

Although Wang Xifeng is the daughter-in-law of the big house, she lives in the second room, holding Mrs. Wang, who is both an aunt and an aunt, to take care of the housekeeping in the house, and she is a well-known housekeeper grandmother. At the same time, she has always been able to talk and laugh, and she is indispensable on lively occasions, and Jia's mother also loves her clever and Peugeot, calling her "Feng Lazi". Wang Xifeng and Li Kun are both grandsons and daughters-in-law, and they don't sit down, they only serve during the banquet, and they greet them once, and they want to flatter Jia's mother a few words to make the old man happy, but who knows that Jia's mother, who has always loved to be lively, leaned on the pillow without much energy, and didn't even hear Baoyu call twice.

Wang Xifeng looked at the mandarin duck inquiringly, but the mandarin duck shook his head, obviously not knowing why.

"Old lady, but today's play is not good? If it's really not good, the next play will only be sung by me and the second master. Wang Xifeng walked up to Jia's mother and sighed faintly.

Jia Mu was really drawn back to her senses, and asked in wonder, "What do you say?" ”

Wang Xifeng said: "Today's banquet was organized by my cāo, and the troupe was invited by the second master. Since the matter has not been done, the second master and I can only sing a song in front of the old lady 'Bear the guilt', and we don't ask for anything else, just ask the old lady to see the two of us for the sake of our hard work, so that it is useless to eat wine in such a cold day. ”

"You monkey!" Jia Mu was amused all of a sudden, pointed at her and smiled: "Since you say so, then I want to take a look, Lian'er is up, but you are singing to relieve boredom." ”

"Oh, it's my blessing that the old lady is willing to appreciate her face, even if she doesn't sing well, it's also a colorful dress to entertain her relatives." Wang Xifeng's articulate voice is crisp, and it is comfortable to listen to when he says a word. She personally took a pot of hot wine from the stove, poured a cup and served it to Jia's mother: "The old lady has a sip of hot wine and orders two more good plays." Baoyu and the girls have made their own lantern riddles before, and the old men in front of them have also sent some in, why don't we take advantage of this to have fun? Feng'er didn't guess them, she just asked the old lady to come up with one, if Feng'er guessed, the old lady would just give a piece of what it meant. ”

Jia Mu couldn't hold back and laughed again: "You phoenix!" What do I mean by talking about a piece of text, but I am calculating my things. If you guess it, I'll reward the eldest sister, is it possible that you and the eldest sister will snatch it? ”

"The old lady said so, how dare I, I'm a sloppy and broken place where to compare with the old lady's great-granddaughter, don't beg for it." Wang Xifeng waved his hand again and again, pretending to be frightened.

Jia Mu laughed again.

The young girls lined up, each with a delicate lantern and a lantern riddle pasted on it. Jia Mu is brilliant, no matter who it is, if you guess it, you will be rewarded. In order to flatter the old lady and be happy, from the two Xing Wang, the You family's mother-in-law and daughter-in-law in the East Mansion, down to Li Kun leading the Sanchun sisters and eldest sisters, and Baoyu, Jia Huan, Jia Lan, Jia Cong, and even the big girls with heads and faces around the masters participated in the fun, so it was not lively.

Jia Mu sighed.

Wang Xifeng has always been shrewd, and he also tasted something at this time, so he deliberately smiled: "The old lady sighs well, isn't she reluctant to win the head?" If it were me, I wouldn't be reluctant, these sisters and brothers are all smart, I'm afraid that there are no riddles that I can't guess, and the old lady will bleed profusely. As soon as the voice changed, he was glad again: "Fortunately, I went to Sister Lin's house, not here, otherwise according to Sister Lin's wisdom and cleverness, I am afraid that the old lady's treasury will be emptied." ”

Jia Mu said angrily: "You phoenix girl can only calculate things, where do you know my heart, if your sister Lin is here, what if you reward her with everything." This ruthless Lin girl, who has been gone for a year, has forgotten my old wife and has loved her for a few years. ”

"Old lady, is this thinking about Sister Lin? This is not easy to do, the old lady gave the order, and we will send a boat to pick it up. Wang Xifeng said, and his mind was active. Although the old lady does love Daiyu, but after Daiyu returned to Yangzhou, Uncle Lin was reluctant to leave home, and the old lady didn't pick it up, and she didn't mention it again, why did she remember Sister Lin when she was celebrating the festival?

casually caught a glimpse of Mrs. Wang, and his heart moved.

A few days ago, I received a letter from the Xue family in Jinling, it was a matter of cousin Xue Pan beating someone to death, and the aunt of the Xue family begged Mrs. Wang here, how could Mrs. Wang ignore it? Immediately repair the book, let people send it to the Jinling Wang's house, and ask the master of the family to go to Yingtianfu. That Ying Tianfu prefect is Jia Yu Village, which is escorted by the Jia family, and if he gets it, he will not shirk it.

Wang Xifeng is Mrs. Wang's niece in the end, and she is the housekeeper for Mrs. Wang, so she knows a lot of inside information. The aunt of the Xue family has a pair of children, and her son Xue Pan is no longer a child, but it is gratifying that her daughter Baochai is born with smooth muscles and bones, elegant manners, and reading and literacy are ten times stronger than that of her brother. When his father was alive, he loved this daughter very much, and now Baochai is thirteen years old, and the aunt of the Xue family is about to take her to Beijing to be selected, and she gave birth to Xue Pan.

Previously, Lin Daiyu lived in Jia's house for two or three years, and Jia's mother loved her like Baoyu, and anyone with a discerning eye could see a few clues, I was afraid that the old lady had the heart to match the marriage of the two Yu'er. Mrs. Wang just married into the Jia family when she was young, and she inevitably had a dislike with her sister-in-law Jia Min, who was not out of the cabinet, and she never liked the delicate and soft Peugeot girls, how could she agree to Daiyu as her daughter-in-law now? However, the old lady had this meaning, and Jia Zheng was a filial person, so Mrs. Wang thought of her niece Baochai. Although the old lady no longer cares about her home, she is the spire of the pagoda in Jiafu, and there is nothing that her old man does not know. Knowing Mrs. Wang's idea, how could she not have a countermeasure?

Thinking of this, Wang Xifeng secretly regretted that his mouth was about to lose his words. Although she likes Daiyu, but Mrs. Wang is her aunt and aunt, and she talks together, doesn't the old lady take the opportunity to pick up people? In this way, wouldn't you offend Mrs. Wang?

Sure enough, Jia Mu's eyes lit up when she heard her words, and she immediately said in her mouth: "In the end, the phoenix girl wants to get it!" It's still cold at this time, and it's not easy to walk on the road, so when the New Year is out, you will pick it up with Lian'er. Your Uncle Lin is not in good health, and there is no elder in the family, so Yu'er is not lonely at a young age. Your aunt left me early, leaving only Yu'er, who I don't have much pain as a grandmother, and who do you expect to go. ”

Wang Xifeng was stunned, but she didn't expect Mother Jia to send her out, although she was reluctant, she didn't dare to refuse, so she had to smile and say: "The old lady just rest assured, Uncle Lin's health must be getting better now, if she learns that the old lady misses her sister so much, she will definitely send her sister over." What's more, the old lady is the Duchess of Yipinguo, and the old lady personally teaches her sister, Uncle Lin is only grateful, how can he not be happy. ”

Baoyu didn't know when she turned around, and when she heard that she was going to pick up Daiyu, she jumped up and down happily, and asked again and again when she would leave and come back. Mother Jia smiled and touched her head to answer one by one, and Baoyu happily drilled into Mother Jia's arms and called "Old Ancestor".

Mrs. Wang suddenly shouted: "Baoyu, don't mess around, how old a person is and tired of the old lady, don't come down quickly!" ”

Jia Mu hugged Baoyu and smiled: "How big can he be?" Outside, he cares about him like a cat and a dog, and it's rare to celebrate the festival today, and you come to see what he does. ”

Hearing this, Madame Wang stopped making a sound.

Wang Xifeng watched coldly, and regretted his impulsive words just now, now it's okay, he folded himself inside, and he couldn't hide.

After the banquet dispersed, Jin Chuan beside Mrs. Wang came to invite. Wang Xifeng had expected it, and went to Mrs. Wang's room, and Mrs. Wang really mentioned going to Yangzhou to pick up Lin Daiyu.

"When the old lady is old, she loves to have fun with her grandchildren and daughters, and she loves your deceased Aunt Lin the most, and she naturally loves the daughter left by your Aunt Lin. It's hard for the old lady to love her, your sister Lin was born stronger than our sisters, but she was born weak and sick since she was a child, and she has no mother, which is really pitiful. Now that the old lady has ordered you and Lian'er to go to Yangzhou to pick up people, you will do it as soon as possible, and you don't have to worry about the housekeeper's affairs, and Zhu's daughter-in-law will take over the cooking for the time being. I will tell you only one thing. Mrs. Wang helped her sideburns, took a sip of tea, and said: "Your sister Lin is not in good health, not to mention that she is most likely to get sick in the cold spring, but I am afraid that she will be sick again when you go, how can you support the sick body for thousands of miles?" The old lady is unrelenting. If that is the case, send a letter back and see what the old lady has to say. ”

The implication is very clear.

"Yes, I remember my wife's words." Wang Xifeng thought in her heart that no one at the two ends could afford to offend, so when the time came, she just sent the letter back, and let them fight in the ring, she just had to follow the order.

Just after the end of the first lunar month, Jia Lianfeng and her two sisters handed over the affairs in their hands and took the male and female servants and women to the south by boat. Wang Xifeng has grown up in Beijing since he was a child, how can he ever go far away, not to mention that this time he is going to Yangzhou, if she doesn't follow, maybe Jia Lian has a few more good friends. Unwilling to go out and lose the news of Jiafu, and some confidential matters had to be taken care of, he left Ping'er and only took Feng'er with him.

The journey is smooth, and when you arrive in Yangzhou, it is the beginning of the peach blossoms, and the tourists are weaving.

A few days ago, Jia Lian had sent someone to Lin's house to deliver a letter, and Lin Ruhai was not surprised to learn that Jia's family came, but it was Wang Xifeng's arrival. I'm afraid that Jia's mother is worried that she will be rejected like last time, so Wang Xifeng will come with her, if Wang Xifeng and Daiyu talk about Jiafu's affairs, especially Jia's mother's longing, how can Daiyu's sensitive and thoughtful nature be untouched? If Lin Ruhai loves her daughter, she is naturally reluctant to let her daughter be sad, so Xu agreed to send her daughter to Beijing.

If it was according to his original intention, Lin Ruhai naturally didn't want Daiyu to go to Jiafu, but the current situation was changing too quickly, and he had decided to plan and lead the enemy in, so he had to send Daiyu Qingyun away. Even if the rules of Jiafu are a little negligent, in the end, it is the Guogong Mansion, and it is far away from Yangzhou, which is the safest. The Jia family repeatedly sent people to pick up Daiyu, but outsiders only said that Jia's mother cherished her granddaughter, and the prefect and others would not be suspicious.

Jia Lian and his wife entered the Lin Mansion, Jia Lian went to see Lin Ruhai, and Wang Xifeng was introduced to the inner house to see Daiyu.

From the first time he entered the Lin family, Wang Xifeng felt that the Lin family was different from the Jia family. There are obviously not many people in the Lin family, but they perform their duties and do their own things, no one walks around and speaks at will, and the rules are cleaned everywhere, as if they are poetic, and Wang Xifeng is used to the pomp and luxury of the Jia family, and he can't help but praise secretly.

The sedan chair stopped at the second gate, Wang Xifeng helped Feng'er's hand down, and at a glance, he saw two pretty girls standing at the second gate to greet him. It was Daiyu who was wearing a red dress, and the person in blue next to her should be Lin Qingyun, who had heard that she was recognized as a righteous daughter by Uncle Lin.

At this time, Lin Qingyun was also observing Wang Xifeng.

But I saw that he was wearing a golden five-phoenix sunrise hanging bead hairpin, a pair of sharp Danfeng triangular eyes, two bent willow leaves hanging eyebrows, and the powder face was not angry and self-assured. Wearing a long cardigan with bright red and golden peony flowers, a white stand-up collar middle shirt, and a red plain pleated skirt, as described in the original book, he was "slender and coquettish".

Sure enough, it's Wang Xifeng! This luxurious and gorgeous dress all shows the grandma of the first master of the Guogong Mansion!

"Second sister-in-law Lian, it's been hard all the way." Daiyu greeted him, took Wang Xifeng's hand and asked about the itinerary on the road, and introduced Lin Qingyun to him. At the end, he said: "The house has been ordered to be cleaned up, Sister Feng must be tired of dust and servants all the way, first freshen up and rest, if you have something to do, just call the girls, just like your own family, don't go outside." ”

"Yo, I haven't seen you for a year, Sister Lin is very different, listen to these words, it's the tone of the housekeeper's grandmother." Wang Xifeng only felt that Daiyu was more and more supernatural at first, and her complexion and spirit were stronger than when she was in Jiafu, and when she heard her words, she was shocked to react.

Daiyu smiled implicitly: "Daddy is busy with official business, and there are no elders in the house, although Sister Qingyun and I are young and don't understand, but with Aunt Xu and two grandmothers to help teach, we can barely take care of it." It's better than Sister Feng being in charge of the Guogong Mansion and managing a family of several hundred people, but our family has a small population, but it saves a lot of things. ”

"My sister is humble, I look very good, no wonder they all say that my sister is very smart, it's really good, poetry and books overwhelm everyone, even the housekeeper can be proper, but it's amazing." Wang Xifeng was really surprised, but he also sighed. Daiyu is ten years old this year, it is the time to study the housekeeper director, Aunt Lin is gone, Uncle Lin is a big man, and he still thinks about it, but the three sisters of the Jia family are just following Zhu's daughter-in-law to do needlework, or accompany the old lady to have fun, where do you worry about anything else.

"Sister Feng is used to making fun of people." Daiyu sent her to the guest room, and when she left, she instructed the maids to serve her well.

Wang Xifeng freshened up, lay on the couch and closed his eyes and pretended to sleep. Because of the soreness of sitting in the boat for several days, he ordered the maid to beat her legs and rub her shoulders, and only waited for Jia Lian to find out what Uncle Lin meant before planning the next step. Suddenly, I remembered that the Lin family recognized this righteous daughter, and looked at her good character, but she didn't know what her temperament was. Moreover, Yangzhou is far away from the capital Road, and it is difficult to communicate with each other, and a lot of news is not known, and it is not her Wang Xifeng's actions to do things in a daze.

Wang Xifeng glanced at the little girl of the Lin family who was beating her legs, and asked with a smile: "Yo, you are so beautiful, I have heard that the girls in Jiangnan are all smart, and they are really not bad when they see it today." How old are you? What is your name? How many years have you been in the Lin family? But there are still parents? ”

The little girl was startled, obviously she didn't expect Wang Xifeng to ask, although she was nervous, she still kept her head down in accordance with the rules, kept moving her hands, and replied in her mouth: "Hui Lian's second grandmother's words, the slave maid's original surname is Sun, called Xiaohe, her parents are the old men of the Lin family, she came in on an errand at the age of five, and she is ten years old this year." ”

Wang Xifeng asked again: "What does the other Lin girl in your house like on weekdays?" The things I brought were all better than those given by your girl, and I was afraid that it would not suit her heart. ”

"Second Grandma Lian is asking the eldest girl? The eldest girl has a very good temperament, and the girl has a similar temperament, and she reads and writes every day, and she is very concerned about the body of the old girl, and even the old man said that her body is better because of the eldest girl. When he came back from eating and drinking in the first month, the car overturned, and the old man was not lightly injured, which frightened the two girls. Now that it is the turn of the seasons, the old man has committed the old illness again, and the two girls are busy with the affairs of the house every day, and they have to watch the master's decoction and diet in person, and they are very busy. Xiaohe poured out all of his mouth because the other party was a relative, and his words seemed to be gentle and amiable, and what he said was not a secret.

Wang Xifeng keenly captured the title of "big girl, girl", and was surprised by the importance that the Lin family attached to this righteous girl, after all, "big girl" is not called casually. For example, Shi Xiangyun, Jia's mother is the old aunt and wife of the Shi family, and she is very close to Xiangyun, plus Jia's mother is the highest authority of the Jia family, Xiangyun's treatment is self-evident, but this is the case, the Jia family will not directly call her "big girl", but add her surname in front of it, and call it "Shi Da girl", which is not only to distinguish it from her own girls, but also to show that she is a relative.

As she was talking, Feng'er said, "Grandma, the second master is here." ”