Early the next morning, Cai Wei and Yizhi got up and washed up, and went to the upper room to serve Mrs. Tai for dinner, and when they arrived at the door, they saw Mama Wang come out and say that Mrs. Tai had not gotten up because she slept late last night, so she invited the two girls to have breakfast for themselves.

After the two went back to have breakfast, Yizhi said, "I'm going to see the second aunt, are you going?" ”

Cai Wei nodded and said, "The second aunt is not in good health, so she should have gone to say hello." ”

The two of them each brought two maids to follow, Yizhi walked and walked, remembering something, "I was too busy yesterday, I forgot to tell you, now the second aunt also lives in our house, and takes a cousin and two cousins to live in the small courtyard in the west, just in the year when the third uncle took you back, the second uncle passed away, the second aunt has no in-laws, and the little uncle went to Yunnan to take office, so she took her children back to the house to live, because these days are the third anniversary of the second uncle, she took her cousin and cousin back to her hometown to pay respects, and she will come back in a few days." ”

Zhou Caiwei and this aunt have only met a few times, asked a few words, and then asked, "I don't know how the eldest aunt is doing?" ”

"A few days ago, my aunt took her cousins to see my grandmother, and I want to come and be healthy."

While gossiping, the two cousins slowly walked to the main courtyard where Mrs. Lu lived, and when they reached the main room, they ordered the maid to report first, and after a while, they saw Yi Hui personally greet them and invite them in.

The two of them saw that although Mrs. Lu still had a sick face, there was no longer the same sadness in her eyes, but a faint look was revealed.

Mrs. Lu sat on the bed, beckoned Cai Wei to sit on the edge of the bed, took her hand and said: "Good boy, I wronged you yesterday, I have been sick for so many days, and I can't take care of you, your father has specially written a letter to entrust you to Mrs. Yu and me, it is my aunt who can't stand you, not only let you be wronged yesterday, but I don't know if I can protect you in the future." ”

Although Zhou Caiwei lived with Mrs. Fifth at the beginning and didn't get along much with Mrs. Lu, who was busy managing the family, she also knew that her second aunt was an excellent person, with an upright character, extremely fair in handling things, and she took care of an uncle's mansion in an orderly manner. smiled slightly: "Uncle is serious, yesterday was just a trivial matter, but although my aunt is sad these days, she must take care of her body, that is, for Sister Yihui, my aunt should also take care." ”

Mrs. Lu clapped her hands and was about to say something, when she suddenly heard someone outside shouting, "Mrs. Tai has come to see Madame!" ”

Mrs. Lu hurriedly wanted to get down to the ground, Cai Wei and Yilan were busy coming forward to help, several people were busy here, Mrs. Luo had already walked in with a cane, and did not let her get up, but still ordered her to lie half-lying on the bed.

"I'm here to see you, if you catch a cold after such a toss, then I'm not here to make you sick, lie down quickly and cover the quilt."

The three sisters hurriedly greeted Mrs. Tai, and the old lady asked a few words about Mrs. Lu's illness, and glanced at the three granddaughters, "The weather is good today, you sisters should go to the back garden for a walk." ”

The third daughter knew that Mrs. Tai had something to say to Mrs. Lu, and most of it was related to the outer room. Although Yihui wanted to stay here and listen to what her grandmother had to say, she didn't dare to disobey her grandmother's words, so she followed Yizhi and them out step by step.

I don't want Mrs. Luo to say something else, "There is a matter that has been stored in my heart for a long time, and I wanted to mention it to you a few days ago, but I am sick and you are also sick, so this matter has been delayed, but now I can't help but mention it." ”

"You are my eldest daughter-in-law, married to our Zhao family for nearly 20 years, whether it is filial piety to my aunt or the director of the family, everything is very proper, and I gave birth to a son, a daughter and two grandchildren, but it is a pity that my little grandson is blessed, raised to the age of two, if it is not for these years Shuo'er has been guarding the coastal defense in Fujian for many years, you will definitely be able to add a few more grandchildren to me."

As soon as Lu heard her mother-in-law mention her son who died young, tears flowed from her already dry eyes, and if her Qin'er could live well, she would not care about seven or eight more adulterous children.

Mrs. Tai patted her hand, "This child is fate, now you have only one sister Hui by your side, in the end it is a girl's family, in the future, you will go out to marry someone else's family, you can't inherit the patriarch of this room, Shuo'er is the eldest son I value the most, I can't just let him die, it's better to give him a step-son and become an heir, even if you are old, you have a dependence." ”

The Lu family is also from a big family, although she is sick these days, she probably knows what the situation is like in this mansion now, and her mother-in-law came to tell her such a thing again, if she wants to have a son, I am afraid that some people will be happy and some will be sad.

She wiped her eyes with a handkerchief, "I don't know which nephew and daughter-in-law my mother thinks has this mother-son relationship?" ”

Mrs. Tai sighed and said, "Speaking of which, I have a total of five sons, only Shuo'er, the fourth and fifth sons are my own sons. The eldest is the eldest son, and because of the matter of the lord back then, there has always been a discord with our concubines. The third child is also a concubine, and he lived to be fourteen years old, and he didn't even become a relative. The fourth child is an unsuccessful person, so far in addition to a concubine, he doesn't even have a concubine, although Shuo'er is the second, but he is the eldest son in this uncle's mansion, how can his heir be a concubine? ”

"What's more, the eldest and fourth have only one son, whether it is a son-in-law or a concubine, even if they are willing to succeed, we must not want it. In this way, only the old five families have two sons, and they are all grandchildren. Those two children are very good, sensible, and very knowledgeable about reading. I have already asked your five brothers and sisters, and they are all willing. ”

Lu Shi sneered in his heart, can this be unwilling? I'm afraid that the idea of succession was mentioned by Mrs. Fifth to Mrs. Tai.

Seeing that Lu Shi didn't speak, Mrs. Tai said: "You have always had an idea, but what is the situation in the house now, you also understand it in your heart, so you said that now the situation in your second room, you will have to give Shuo'er a serious heir." ”

Lu's expression changed, and he vaguely guessed what Mrs. Tai was going to say next, his lips trembled slightly, but he couldn't say a word.

Mrs. Luo looked at her eldest daughter-in-law, who was haggard and looked angry, and sighed: "Yesterday's incident, I know you are not happy, and I didn't expect Shuo'er to do such a ridiculous and foolish thing, raising women outside, and getting two children out!" ”

"Now people come to the door, if there is only such a girl, just give her a few taels of dowry silver and send it away, even if she doesn't recognize it, but she also has a brother, although he is just an adulterous son who has no name and no share, but if people sue the yamen to divide the family property, according to the newly changed law, even if his name is not on the household register, the adulterous son also has the right to divide the property. If you have an heir, you will only give him half of the heir's property, and if you have no heir, then the rest of your second estate will be his, except for a dowry from Sister Hui'er. ”

Mrs. Lu only felt bitter in her heart, she didn't know which bastard changed the law, she honored her aunt at home, presided over the feed, and managed the clothing, food, housing and transportation of more than 100 people in the family, as well as the contacts with various provinces, hard work, and resentment. What's more, if it weren't for the help of her mother's family, her husband Zhao Mingshuo would not have been so smooth in his career, and he was promoted all the way to the position of general.

But what did the slut surnamed Hu do for this house, a □□ who was born in a prostitute family, just climbed into her husband's bed and gave birth to a son by luck, and he actually wanted to take away their second house property in a big way? So who has she worked hard for and who has been busy all these years, and in the end she is all about making wedding clothes for these people?

How Mrs. Tai didn't understand what she was thinking, even she also felt that the newly reformed law was really bullshit, and it was to add to the hearts of them. But what can you do if you grit your teeth at this law, the way of the world is not the final say of the great men who make the law, what can these women in the family do except scold a few words in their hearts?

She held Lu's hand and continued: "What's more, regardless of the division of property, we are afraid that we will have to recognize those two children." ”

"Mother!" Although Lu Shi did not think of this possibility in his heart, but when he heard his mother-in-law say this directly, Lu Shi still said sadly: "Does my mother really want to recognize those two sons?" It's not that I'm jealous, if their mother, that Hu is the daughter of a good family, I will never disagree. Over the years, I have also accepted a few concubine rooms for my uncle, which is not an innocent girl's family, but this Hu family, what kind of background is she, a fan from the Goolan Courtyard, and a lowly woman who has been a lowly woman. If she is from a good background, why didn't the uncle dare to tell me that he accepted her as an aunt, because the uncle knew that her background could not be put on the table. We are not from a small family, and we are not ashamed to accept prostitutes, if a noble family like ours really lets such a woman enter the house, it will be a hindrance for the sisters to turn around and say that they are married! ”

Mrs. Tai sighed, "I don't know what you said, but if you don't let her enter the door, is it because the sisters say that there is no hindrance?" The Hu family had already planned better, yesterday she cried at the gate of our house wearing linen and filial piety, dragging her children and daughters, and everyone knew about it, but I am afraid that it has been spread all over Beijing today An Yuanbo has a son in the outer room. If we don't recognize this child, I don't know how many tongues will chew and say that you are unkind, and even the only son of the uncle can't tolerate it. ”

"What's more, Shuo'er is my most beloved son, I have been married to the old uncle for more than ten years, and I gave birth to three daughters in a row to have such a son, he was his black-hearted brother when he was a child, and he didn't know how many eye drops he took in front of the old uncle behind his back, and how much he suffered in secret, and almost even the title was robbed by the embryo, but fortunately, he was a motivated and capable person, and he supported such a family business. Those two children, especially Brother Cheng, are exactly the same as when he was a child, and I, a mother, can't bear to see him die young without a biological son to continue the bloodline. One night husband and wife, you and Shuo'er have been husband and wife for so many years, that child is always your husband's blood! If they are allowed to wander outside and left unsupervised, or if they make mistakes in the future and go astray, it will be a disgrace to their father and the face of our uncle! ”

Lu sneered in his heart, no matter how much his bloodline was born, he was born to another woman, what does it have to do with me, the lady of the main house? But no matter how reluctant she was, she also understood that these two children were afraid that they would have to stay in the house. "If the mother likes those two children, it's okay to stay, but the Hu family—"

"I know you want to keep your son and go to your mother, I thought about it in the middle of the night yesterday, I'm afraid this method won't work. This Hu family is not a good person, if we only need her two children and drive her out, she will refuse to follow, and when the time comes, the capital will be full of trouble, will we look good on the face? What's more, these two children are also older, one is fourteen, the other is twelve, and they have been raised by her side since childhood. It's better to detain her in the house, and we don't miss her a bite in the house, just to look good. ”

"But where she came from?" The Lu family was born in a high-ranking family, and because of this incident, the most shameful people have always been those lowly women with bad conduct, and this Hu's background is a thorn in her heart.

"Then Hu Shi dares to sue us, first, it is useless for her to tell a lie, we can find out by ourselves, it is better for her to confess honestly; The second is that she is making such a fuss in front of the house, no matter what her background is, I am afraid that we will all have to recognize it. Fortunately, Shuo'er gave her off her cheap status more than ten years ago, and she came from Fujian, and the people who want to come to Beijing don't know her details except for us, and when the time comes, they will say that he is Shuo'er's aunt in Fujian, even if she is not from a decent background, but as long as others don't know, it won't damage her reputation, that is. ”

The Lu family was angry in his heart, in this way, the wild child could recognize his ancestors and return to his ancestors, and suddenly changed from an adulterous son to a young master of the Bofu, and the Hu family also got the name of an aunt, her good husband not only kept her reputation but also had a son, even the master also had a grandson, it was really good for them one by one, but what about her wife?

Mrs. Tai didn't speak when she saw her, she just shed tears in a daze, and couldn't help but take a handkerchief to wipe her tears for her, "Good boy, I know you are sad, we can't help it, since Shuo'er gave her more than ten years ago, but she has not officially accepted her, I want to come to Shuo'er's heart I just want to take her as an outsider, and when the children are older, give them some money to marry men and women, and go out to live, I don't want them to have anything to do with our house." Before he could think of it, he suddenly had to die of a sudden illness, which made the woman come to the door. ”

"Even if we admit those two children, it will only be a concubine, and the girl will be allowed to have a family at will, and the public will send some dowry according to the routine, and you don't want to bother. This title is for your heir, and you will never give him a concubine, and at most half of the property in the second room will be shared with him. When the time comes, you will have your own heirs to rely on, and they will not be able to make any waves. ”

"What does my mother mean by wanting to pass on Brother Rui to my uncle?"

Brother Rui is the second son of the fifth master, and the eldest son is not the successor, if you want to choose from the fifth room, it is Zhao Yirui.

Mrs. Luo shook her head, "It's not Brother Rui, I want you to pass Brother Jiming." ”

Lu Shi was shocked in his heart, although these two nephews are already old, it is better to be more familiar with the younger children, but this is too eye-catching! For such a third-class super-grade earl, Wufang is really willing to give his eldest son to others as a son?

Mrs. Tai said the reason, "Brother Cheng of the Hu family is fourteen years old this year, and Brother Rui is only ten years old. ”

It's easier to ask for an attack on the lord, Lu said. After thinking about it, he still asked, "Does my mother want Brother Ming'er to be a knight?" ”

Mrs. Luo nodded, "Ming'er passed on to your second room, he is your son, even if he is a knight, he is still the title of your second room, not to mention that if Sister Hui has such an earl brother to take care of, there will only be benefits and no disadvantages." ”

The Lu family naturally hoped that this title could still stay in their second room, but it was ......, "Although Ming'er is older, he is not yet fifteen years old to inherit the title, and he is a successor, if it is the fourth uncle's side, ......"

"Don't worry, I will personally go to the table to ask for the title of knight for Ming'er. This title was earned by the ancestors and Shuo'er working hard and earning their lives, and it must not be handed over to the fourth child, who is not a weapon, and let him be ruined. ”

As soon as Mrs. Tai mentioned the fourth master, Zhao Mingzhen was angry, "Since he was a child, he has been an unprofessional person, and he can't do martial arts, he only knows how to run horses and listen to plays, and he knows that the evil obstacle that came out of the concubine almost robbed him of the title of his second brother, and he actually mixed with that side all day long, and he ate other people's calculations, and was dazzled by the two aunts and cousins of the eldest wife, and got back an unmarried and pregnant Aunt Liu, who was angry with the good daughter-in-law I found for him. ”

"Since you agreed, I will go and tell the patriarch that the day after tomorrow will be a good day, so I will open the ancestral hall and pass Brother Ming to Shuo'er and your name. After this succession is over, let Hu Shi give you tea. ”

Lu knows why her mother-in-law dislikes the fourth master very much, just because the fourth master is a favorite concubine and depreciates his wife, she has honored Mrs. Luo for nearly 20 years, and knows that her mother-in-law does not like the concubine room the most, and has never taken the initiative to stuff people into her son's room like other mothers-in-law, and the second master has been absent from the house for many years, so the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law get along well, but she didn't think that now it is her mother-in-law who dislikes the concubine room the most to force her to recognize Hu as an aunt.

"Mother, I know that this bowl of tea has to be drunk sooner or later, but I just have a heart in my heart——, my heart is clogged! Mother! ”

Mrs. Luo remembered her situation in the early years, and couldn't help but her eyes turned red, "My mother knows that you are bitter in your heart, and my mother also knows that this thing is disgusting, but which wife of the main house has not experienced these disgusting things about concubines and outer rooms?" Now none of these old men of rich and noble families are full of concubines, and they don't even abide by the rules passed down from their ancestors, and let the concubines climb out before their son-in-law comes to the world! ”

"I think back then, I had the support of my mother's family, and my mother-in-law didn't shoehorn her niece daughter into the old uncle, so that the eldest son was born in front, and sure enough, when I attacked the knight, I made a lot of trouble, and almost even robbed him of the title, but in the end? I just don't want to see that concubine again, and I don't have to let him continue to live in this uncle's mansion, and endure the nausea every day to see him come to me to say goodbye. My mother told you, we are women, and there is only one word forbearance for these things, who let us be daughters? Men are inferior to women, this woman was born to endure humiliation and suffering! ”