As soon as Yi Hui heard her mother's words, her eyes immediately lit up, and she asked repeatedly: "What is the method, mother should sue me quickly!" ”

There was a hint of regret in Mrs. Lu's smile, "Your uncle has already set a family affair for Wei Yatou. ”

"Ahh Family affairs? Could it be—" Yi Hui quickly covered her mouth with a handkerchief, and almost blurted out the name she had guessed in her heart.

But she didn't say it, and Mrs. Lu couldn't guess what her daughter was thinking at this time, so she shook her head, "It's not what you think, I heard that Mr. Geng say that the family is in Chang'an, and he is the son of a friend of your Uncle Zhou." When your Uncle Zhou returned to Sichuan from Fujian, he passed through Chang'an, lived in that friend's house for a few days, and saw that a pair of children were of the same age, so he decided on this family business, because the two children were still young, and they did not write a letter of appointment, but only exchanged tokens, and verbally agreed to marry. ”

"When your Uncle Zhou was seriously ill, he had already discussed with that family, and when Wei Yatou turned fifteen years old, that family would come to our house to marry Cai Wei according to the agreement, so your Uncle Zhou gave Wei Yatou's dowry list to that family, and the list listed Wei Yatou's dowry clearly.

Although Yihui was also happy for Cousin Zhou in her heart, she was a little sad when she thought of her third brother Zhao Yiming. The marriage between her and her cousin Lu Shiyu has long been tacitly approved by the two families, and for this reason, her third brother envied her more than once, and once sighed that it would be nice if she could be like them.

She naturally understood the meaning of her third brother's words, when Cousin Wei lived in the courtyard of the fifth aunt before, the third brother treated this cousin very well. When the cousin was picked up by his uncle, after all these years, the third brother not only did not forget her, but remembered her more and more. Since he knew that Cousin Wei was going to live in this mansion again, the third brother was sad and happy, both sad that she had lost her father, but also happy to be able to stay with her.

Yi Hui remembered that the three of them were in the back garden that day, and the third brother also rushed over, and from time to time she peeked to see Cousin Wei, with a smile on her eyebrows, her heart was a little sour. I couldn't help but ask boldly: "Mother, didn't the fifth aunt say that she was going to ...... Cousin Wei before?"

She remembered that the fifth aunt treated Cousin Wei very well at that time, and whenever everyone was laughing in one place, she often joked that she would match Cousin Wei to her brother Ming, so that she could be by her side for a long time.

"You guys! In the end, it's still a matter of less, haven't you noticed that since your Uncle Zhou resigned, your fifth aunt has never mentioned such a joke again? From that time, I knew that Cai Wei girl and Brother Ming would not succeed. Mrs. Lu didn't reprimand her daughter for asking things that shouldn't be asked, but planned to tell her daughter some more about the world.

"Why is the fifth aunt reluctant again, just because Uncle Zhou resigned, and he left so much dowry to Cousin Zhou, what does it matter if he resigns?"

"Naturally, if you don't have power, if you don't have power, you can't keep your wealth, but if you have power and power, how many family businesses can't earn? Therefore, compared to this power, your cousin Wei's dowry is nothing. This marriage is a good marriage with two surnames, in order to get each other's help from another in-law. ”

"If my mother says so, then I have also lost the earl's father, why doesn't my uncle's family dislike me, and the family that is engaged to Cousin Caiwei, why doesn't they dislike her for losing her heart?

"That's because not all people in this world are born with a pair of snobbish eyes, and they only look at each other by whether they are profitable, and there are also good people who value love and righteousness, such as your uncle is family, and the family that is engaged to Cai Wei wants to be friendship."

"Then why can't some people do it?" "Like the fifth aunt?" Yi Hui thought silently in her heart.

"Maybe it's because people are different! In fact, your fifth aunt also has her own thoughts. Since your brother died at the age of two, I have never given birth to a son, and your fifth uncle's room has always had the hope that a step-son will come over and attack the lord in the future, so it is natural to find some help for Brother Ming, if there is a capable and promising court member in the wife's family, Brother Ming'er's future will naturally be of great benefit. ”

At this point, Mrs. Lu hesitated for a moment, but continued: "I heard that your fifth aunt is also planning for your third brother these days, and wants to marry the granddaughter of the left waiter of the Ministry of Rites. ”

"Ahh The third brother is also ......, does he know about this? ”

"How do you know what you don't know? Marriage is the order of his parents, even if he doesn't want to do it in his heart, he has to marry someone according to the will of his parents. What's more, this family business, even I think it's a good family, the old lady has been handing over the table to ask Brother Ming to inherit the title for several days, but there is no movement at all, if you can get the help of the Ministry of Rites at this time, maybe you can have a few more chances of winning. ”

Seeing that her daughter didn't speak, but just lowered her head and looked gloomy, Mrs. Lu patted her on the shoulder and said: "Since the two of them don't have this fate, it's a good thing that they each go to find another family business, at least on the Wei girl's side, your fifth aunt will no longer treat her as cold as before, I'm afraid that this is more or less because of those dozens of boxes." ”

Mrs. Lu was like a god, and sure enough, the next day, after the fifth wife Luo Shi finished greeting the old lady, she took a few maids to the west wing room to see Cai Wei with a smile on her face.

At that time, Yizhi was serving at Mrs. Tai's place, only Caiwei was there, and hurriedly came out to salute the blessing, and was already helped up by Luo, took her hand and sat together, and said with a smile: "My son, it is really that there have been so many major events in the house these days, and it is a mess, and I am a junior manager who is even more busy in the dark, and it is also your aunt who has been busy these days and neglected you, and only today I have some time to see you." ”

As soon as Mrs. Five's voice fell, Dongxue, the eldest girl beside her, took the opportunity to send a brocade bag and a few hanging money, Luo took it and put it in front of Cai Wei and said, "I didn't only come to see you today, but also sent you monthly money by the way." ”

Cai Wei hurriedly said: "The affairs in the house are complicated, how dare you work for your uncle and mother, Xiangcheng, don't hurry up and serve tea for your aunt!" ”

Luo pointed to the money bag and said: "Here is two months' monthly money, because the monthly money in our house has already been issued when you came, and the things in my hands are too complicated, so I forgot that the monthly money in April has not been given to you yet, and these housekeepers and daughters-in-law around me are stupid, and when they see that I am so busy that they forget it for a while, they can't remember to give me a reminder." It's still the day of the first month of the new year, I just remembered you, so my aunt specially sent it to you today, if you complain about me in your heart, my aunt doesn't blame you, I treated you slowly. ”

When Cai Wei heard the fifth wife say this, she hurriedly stood up and said: "The niece doesn't dare, what is the situation in the house these days, the niece is all in the eyes, the second uncle died, the grandmother and the second aunt are sick, the fifth aunt has to take care of such a big family, it is really hard work, it is not easy." What's more, it's just a trivial matter like monthly money, and it's nothing to send a few days late, and I don't think it's just being treated slowly, my aunt said this, which made my niece panic. ”

Xiangcheng brought the tea, but it was Mama Guo who took it and personally served the tea to the fifth wife, although she knew that it was very appropriate for her girl to respond like this, and she had to say it like this on her face in order not to offend anyone, but she couldn't help but feel sorry for her girl in her heart. They and their group arrived in this mansion on April 3, and it was the first day of the fifth month today, so they remembered the monthly money and silver last month, if it wasn't for the dozens of big boxes they saw yesterday, they couldn't have sent the money this month today? Fortunately, the girls brought some money with them when they came from home, otherwise they would have been born with a reward everywhere for the first time.

"Hey, you kid, that's so polite, come on, sit down!" The fifth lady pulled her to her side and sat down, and said: "You have also lived in the Bofu before, and you know the monthly rules in this house, the young ladies are two taels of silver per month, the big girl who serves closely is eight hundred yuan per month, the little girl is four hundred yuan per month, the orange and sweet orange here are the examples of the big girl, the loquat and the plantain are counted according to the little girl, and the nurse and the teaching mother are one or two silver per month. On the first day of every month, I will order someone to bring you four taels of silver and three thousand two hundred denarii. ”

Cai Wei calculated a little in her heart, and there were just two more little girls in the first month, so she listened to the fifth lady and said: "The division of our family is that each young lady has two nurturing grandmothers, two big girls who are in charge of the hairpin ring's personal service, and four little girls who run errands and sprinkle sweeps, a total of eight people." You now have two grandmothers and four girls here, and you need to add two more little girls. It's also that my aunt is too busy these days, so it's easy to get a little bit of a gap these days, so I specially picked two little girls for you, and you can see if it's useful first? ”

After Mrs. Fifth finished speaking, she summoned the two little girls to come in and see Miss Biao. I saw two little girls about nine or ten years old, both in green clothes and white skirts, who walked in together to greet the two.

Cai Wei saw that these two girls were both born smart, and they were somewhat similar, so she smiled and said: "Since it was chosen by my aunt, it must be good, and my niece is here to thank my aunt for bothering." As he spoke, he got up and bowed.

"Don't be in a hurry to praise first, these two girls are sisters, one is called Newer, the other is called Kou'er, she was just sent to the house by her father and mother to work as an errand, and she hasn't changed her name yet, if you don't like these two names, you will rename them."

Cai Wei thought for a moment, "These two names are very smooth, and there is no need to change them." ”

The two little girls thanked her again, and stood up to the side.

Cai Wei remembered something, so she said to the fifth wife: "Thank you aunt for cherishing your niece, now my niece still has one thing, please ask my aunt to agree?" ”

The fifth lady hesitated for a moment, "I don't know what the girl invited?" ”

"Uncle Zou, who sent me to Beijing yesterday, sent me a message saying that he and Uncle Geng plan to leave here early tomorrow morning and leave the capital. My niece was greatly favored by my two uncles and sent me to Beijing thousands of miles away, so my niece wanted to take the two grandmothers and follow the fourth uncle to send the two uncles out of the city gate tomorrow, which can be regarded as a little fulfillment of my heart. ”

"This-, I wonder if the old lady is still okay?" In fact, Roche asked this too much, she clearly knew that the old lady was accurate, and said, "It's time to send it." words

Sure enough, I heard Cai Wei reply: "My grandmother has approved my niece's request, let me come and talk to my aunt, and ask my aunt to send me a carriage tomorrow." ”

"Since the old lady is all right, I will definitely arrange it for you tomorrow!" The fifth lady talked a few more gossips with Cai Weiliu, and then deduced that there was still some matter, and then led the maids and daughters-in-law to go.

Cai Wei first took a bunch of money and gave it to the sisters Niu'er and Kou'er, "This is your sister's monthly money this month, because you are new, you will send an extra hundred yuan per person this month, and when you come to me, as long as you abide by the rules of the house in everything, get along with your sisters, don't be naughty, I naturally remember your goodness." ”

After speaking, he asked Xiangcheng to lead them to arrange a place to live, and when the two sisters were sent out, Cai Wei distributed monthly money to everyone, and sighed with a smile: "People often say, 'It is easy to go from thrift to luxury, and it is difficult to go from luxury to thrift', now we have to taste the difficult taste of going from luxury to thrift!" Come to think of it, this time, no one will subsidize us in a different way like back then. ”

Gan Tang and a few other girls all said: "Look at what the girl said, when we were not taken in by the lord in the Zhou Mansion, we didn't suffer anything, we just starved to death on the side of the road and were eaten by wild dogs, and now it's just a few hundred dollars less, who cares about this?" As long as you can follow the girl, everyone is always in the same place. ”

Mama Guo also sighed: "Let's just pay it back, we spend very little on weekdays, but when you are at home, girl, but the monthly money of ten taels of silver every month is not enough for you to spend!" When you get to this house, there are only two taels at once, where is this enough for you? ”

"Why is it not enough for me, before I was with my father I could often pretend to be a little boy to go out for a walk, and I walked around the street a lot, naturally I wanted to buy this and that too, but now that I am here, it is natural that the door is not out, the second door is not stepping, where is there a place for me to spend money, fat powder, clothes and the like are all in the house, and I don't need to spend money, these two taels of silver are only used to reward people as much as possible, and Mama doesn't have to worry about me?"

Mama Du also said: "Girl, this time is different from the past, we are now living in someone else's house, although a few of us are reliable, but now there are two girls in this house, we can talk more carefully on weekdays, if the girl can often go out before, it is better to mention less." ”

Everyone thought about it for a while, and they all felt that what Mama Du said was reasonable, so they nodded and agreed, and went to work. Cai Wei saw that Mama Du was still standing there, and when she looked at her, she smiled and asked, "Mama still has something to say to me?" ”

Mama Du sighed, walked to her side, and whispered in her ear: "The phrase 'from thrift to luxury' is just that, it can be regarded as a common saying, and there are many people who know it." It's just that the girl can be very careful in the future, don't just blurt out the words in the subset of those scriptures and histories, as well as those poems and famous sentences, now in addition to the "Four Books of Women", "The Book of Female Filial Piety", "The Biography of the Martyr", "Boudoir Fan", "The Collection of Virtuous Yuan" and other books, those books next to it are only men can study, if you let people know that the master actually taught you to learn the classics that women should not learn, whether it is for you or the reputation of the master of Zhou, it is extremely unfavorable. ”

Cai Wei didn't know the stakes of this matter, and said solemnly: "Mama rest assured, my father has repeatedly told me about this matter before his death, and I will be cautious in my words and deeds, and never leak the slightest bit." ”

When her father taught her the subsets of scriptures, he had already explained to her the stakes of them, and then asked her if she wanted to learn these classics that only men could read, and she replied without thinking: "Yes!" "Even if one day someone really finds out and arrests her, goes to prison and beheads her, she has to learn. She just didn't understand why only men could learn these books, while they women could only read those books that were boring and only talked about "chastity and righteousness", "tolerance and jealousy", and "three obedience and four virtues".

She asked her father, although her father told her in detail why Emperor Xianzong issued such a decree to strictly prohibit women from reading classics and other classics, and only allowed to study the books prescribed by women's studies, and even did not even recite poems and songs, but she still did not understand why such a ban remained after Emperor Xianzong's death. However, the decrees of the previous emperors have long been taken seriously by their descendants.

When she asked her father again, he didn't tell her, only let her think for herself, and the only thing that comforted her was that her father said that despite this ban, there were still some women in the world who took the risk of stealing the books that men read, and she was not the only woman who could read them.

At least Mama Du next to her is also a woman who reads poetry and books, Mama Du was a palace maid in the palace before, she served in the library pavilion, she was literate, curious to read a page or two and couldn't help it, and then she had the courage to take advantage of the duty to peek at the collection of books in the pavilion every day, until she was later transferred to Shun'an Palace on duty and could not peek anymore.

Thinking that Mama Du had endured it for decades and never dared to show her words inappropriately, Cai Wei felt sad in her heart, did she have to read those books secretly like Mama Du, and knew those beautiful words and phrases, but she could only hide them in her heart and didn't dare to declare them, so she held it until she died?

Why can the women of the Zealand Kingdom go to a girls' school and learn the same things as the men, even astronomy and geography, while the women of their Yan and Qin Dynasty can only read the "Four Books of Women" and "The Biography of the Martyr"?

She suddenly hugged Mama Du and said, "Mama, although I don't know when this day will come, I believe that one day, we will no longer have to hide and dare not say what we have seen and learned, and even we will no longer have to secretly watch and learn like that, I believe there will always be such a day!" ”