Listening to Jing Hui's words, Cao Shuo's face showed a look of pain, and he looked at his sister-in-law and the brother next to him in shame, and finally nodded.

Jing Hui looked at Cao Shuo and couldn't say anything.

Ordinary flag families, a few members of the family live on the two taels of silver per month, and they are already living very well.

Eight hundred taels, how much is the annual salary of a first-class member of the imperial court?

Cao Song has a knighthood on his body, and he holds the guards of the outer class, not to mention eight hundred taels, and less than half.

Eight hundred taels, enough for more than half a year of eating, drinking, and chewing in the house.

Jing Hui only felt that her palms were sweaty, and she clenched the handkerchief and asked, "Before...... How many taels of silver have you exchanged for those things in your house, and where are the tickets? ”

Hearing the mention of the past, Cao Shuo lowered his head and whispered: "I changed three hundred and twenty taels, and the ticket is sandwiched in the "Annotations to the Analects" in the study. ”

Although she has not been married for a long time, Jing Hui has always been honest when she looks at this brother-in-law, not like the kind of gentleman who can gamble at will.

It is true that the second room has no father, but before the separation, Cao Yin also disciplined his nephews more. Even after the separation, Cao Song also forbade his younger brothers to look at it.

Jing Hui stabilized her mind and said to Cao Shuo: "Third brother, get up first." In the end, you have to tell us, and the big guy can come up with a solution. ”

Cao Shuo got up with a red face and said in a low voice, "I was ...... Want to get some money...... But he told his classmate Zongli to know, he said that the world is difficult, and what expenses are enough for these silvers, and he has to think of another way to raise money. I knew it wasn't right, but I wanted to get some more money, so I followed. The first time, but it was a win...... said that after thinking about this, he lost, but he didn't work hard...... I was anxious, but I didn't expect that the more I owed, the more I ......"

Although Jinghui is an inner house woman, she can also feel that something is wrong when she hears this.

Cao Shuo is obviously fooled here.

These four things of "eating, drinking, and gambling" are just injuries in the front, and the problems in the back are infected, but they are going bankrupt and their wives are separated.

The big families in the capital have mediocre requirements for their children, but the word "gambling" is not allowed to be touched.

For the "Great Qing Law", the woman in the house knows wrong, but she knows more about the prohibition of gambling. Officials gambling will lose their crowns, and this person and talent will gamble, but they will lose their fame.

The reputation of the prisoner is the same as Xiucai, this entry and exit from the casino, he was caught, and he was also going to ruin his future, Cao Xiang listened on the side, also thought of this, pondered for a while, and asked: "Third brother, your classmate is also in prison, right?" Is this a private house, or is it an outside yard? ”

Although Cao Shuo didn't know why his brother asked about this, he still replied truthfully: "Well, it was the prison of Na the year before last, and he was already out of the field a year ago." I didn't go to the outside field, it was a private house on the other side of Shichahai. ”

Cao Xiang listened and said with a little resentment: "Third brother, you are really confused. That ceremony is set up, and it is specified that it is negotiated with that guy to coax you to money! ”

Cao Shuo's face flushed and said, "I also think these things, and I have also looked for Zongli, but he doesn't recognize it." ”

Cao Xiang said: "I'm not afraid that he won't recognize it, where is the place of the private house, the third brother should still remember it." Let's see if we can think of a way to scare them. After all, this is not a decent thing, if you don't bluff, then Zongli will return the third brother's IOU. If there is a trouble, the third brother will certainly be implicated, and his future will not be guaranteed. ”

Speaking of this, he remembered something and said, "Third brother, is this Zongli the one you mentioned before, who is also related to our family, and is the cousin of the third brother-in-law?" ”

Cao Shuo nodded and said, "It's him, the nephew of the in-laws' wife and the cousin of the third brother-in-law." ”

Jing Hui was in the audience and breathed a sigh of relief.

Cao Xiang's method is to compare who is a scoundrel with that sect.

If it is not handled properly and the matter is big, it will still lose the face of the Cao family, and it will not be good for Cao Shuo's future.

Although Cao Shuo did not mention Tian Xiang's name, looking at this meaning, this silver was prepared for Tian Xiang.

can have this heart, but Jinghui doesn't know whether to talk about him or praise him.

She sighed and said, "Third brother, even if you can't trust your sister-in-law, you should believe in Mama Tian." If she takes care of it with her, can she still treat Tian Xiang badly? ”

Cao Shuo saw that Jinghui had misunderstood, and hurriedly waved his hand, saying: "It's not that I can't trust my sister-in-law......" Speaking of this, he became more and more helpless, and said: "It's just that now, even if Ruhui doesn't come back, I'm afraid my mother won't be able to tolerate the fragrance." I'm not promising, although I want to protect it in my heart, but there are always times when I can't take care of it...... Still not at ease...... Instead of letting her be scared and trembling in this house, it is better to let her live a peaceful life outside in addition to her slave status. ”

Jinghui listened to Cao Shuo's words, and was really speechless.

In the end, it is a pampered young master, and he doesn't know much about the world.

This Tianxiang is a slave of the Cao family, although he has no parents, but his uncles and aunts, uncles, and aunts are all slaves in the second room of the Cao family.

Even if Tian Xiang is in addition to slavery, when in this world has a woman been allowed to make her own decisions?

At that time, even if Cao Shuo sent the silver to Tian Xiang, what would happen?

Her uncle and aunt can still sell and marry her with a word.

Now is not the time to break this, Jing Hui thought about it for a while, and said, "Otherwise, I still beg the third aunt and grandmother and ask her to help make the decision." The previous silver throwing fee was thrown away, and the eight hundred taels will be waived to see if they can be waived. ”

Cao Shuo's face turned even redder, his chin was already on his chest, and he said, "These eight hundred taels are owed to Qianmen Casino...... I saw that Zongli and they coaxed me, so I didn't follow him over there, but went to the front door......"

Jing Hui and Cao Xiang were dumbfounded when they heard this, and they couldn't help but be afraid when they thought about it.

Although I haven't been there, I've heard that casinos are mixed, and the most chaotic is not successful. It is often heard that some gamblers have had their hands and feet cut off, or they have been robbed of their wives and children to pay off their debts.

"It seems that I still learned that Mrs. Hui ......," Jinghui said with some concern.

When Cao Shuo heard this, he raised his head, and his face was already like ashes, without half a trace of blood.

With a "poof", he knelt down straight, his face was full of pain, and muttered: "Sister-in-law, please, don't tell your wife......"

Jing Hui held the handkerchief and frowned: "Third brother, eight hundred taels is not a small amount, although those few people today promised to delay it for two days, but when they come back later, if there is no silver, how can they be willing?" They are ruffians and are not afraid of making trouble, but the future of the third brother is a big thing and cannot be ignored. Although these ladies told me to be a housekeeper, the key to the treasury was in the hands of my wife, so what could I do...... If it had been changed earlier, I would have had a pen to marry money, and it would have been possible to embezzle it for emergency relief. In March, I bought land, and now I don't have much silver to use......"

Jinghui's dowry silver is all silver given by the elders of her father's and mother's clans before she got married, and there are thousands of taels when you count it.

After Zhao Jiashi asked Jing Hui's shop, Jing Hui was afraid that her mother-in-law would use her dowry and money, so it would be difficult to refuse when the time came, so she asked someone to buy a few acres of land near her own dowry Zhuangzi.

It's not that she's stingy and reluctant to give up these few coins. She really couldn't rest assured that she was on her grandmother's side, thinking that she would use the money to send her grandmother to the end of her life and take care of the aftermath.

She had given her grandmother the money once, but her grandmother reprimanded her, and she had to bring the money back.

Although everyone in the world says, "The daughter who marries out, spills the water", but for her grandmother's more than ten years of nurturing, Jinghui firmly remembers it in her heart.

She had already mentioned it to her husband, and Cao Song also agreed.

At present, the old lady's monthly expenses are sent by the public government, and there are also private subsidies from Jinghui and his wife, and they are living quite comfortably.

But it is a major event that has not been prepared, and the longevity materials prepared in the early years were also confiscated when the house was raided.

After all, the old man is in his eighties, and he has to prepare in advance if he is not feeling well.

This is a white wedding event, but the cost of doing a red wedding is greater.

The old man has been expensive for most of his life, and although he has suffered a little when he is old, Jinghui doesn't want her grandmother's future to be too shabby.

After the incident reached home, Cao Shuo really hoped that his sister-in-law could lend a helping hand and pull himself, but he didn't expect it to be like this.

He was stunned, speechless, and at a loss in his heart.

Jinghui has never seen it, but Cao Xiang has seen her brother get sick.

Seeing that his situation was not right, Cao Xiang was afraid that he would not be able to think about it and get sick again, so he hurriedly stepped forward and drove his brother's arm, dragged him up, and said, "Third brother, don't worry, Xu can come up with a fold without telling his wife." My sister-in-law has some here, and my aunt has also saved some private houses over the years, and I also have some in my hands, which are the pocket flowers given by the eldest brother, second brother, and third sister in the past two years. I thought that Xiao Wu was the most favored by his uncle and aunt, not to mention anything else, he left the New Year's ingots every year to play with by himself. This seven-seven-eighty-eight scrape should be about the same. ”

Cao Shuo seemed to grasp a straw rope, his eyes showed a little hope, and he pulled Cao Xiang's arm and said, "Really, can you really make it?" ”

Cao Xiang didn't care about the pain in his arm, patted his chest, and said, "What my brother said, can't you believe it?" We are siblings, if we don't come out to help at this time, when will we come out? ”

Speaking of this, he turned solemnly: "It's just that the third brother, this 'gambling' is absolutely untouchable, and if it is passed out, the uncle is afraid that he will pass you to the ancestral hall to practice the family law." Listen to my brother's advice, don't do it again. Sister Tianxiang's side is still half a year away from production, no matter how it is placed, there is always some planning. ”

Cao Shuo was already choked up and nodded vigorously.

Jing Hui wanted to speak, but was stopped by Cao Xiang with his eyes, so he swallowed the words on his lips.

Cao Xiang then spoke: "Sister-in-law, it's not early, I'll go back with the third brother first." The subordinates on the other side of the concierge bothered the sister-in-law to make people speak, and the province had many mouths to spread the matter to the inner house. ”

Jinghui nodded: "Well, it has already been ordered, fourth brother rest assured." Your third brother came back late, I'm afraid that he hasn't used the next meal yet, and I'll send some food to the kitchen in a while, and you can accompany you to use some. ”

Cao Xiang responded, and left with Cao Shuo.

Jinghui sent the two uncles to the door, but she was worried about Cao Xiang's words.

These eight hundred taels of silver are not decimals, even if the idle silver in her hand is made up with Cao Shuo, Xiao Wu, and Aunt Baodie, how much can it have?

She sat in the hall and looked at the furnishings in the room in a daze, could it be that she also had to learn from the third uncle, when a few things to make up money? There is no need to change the furnishings in the house, and the head and face jewelry can't be pressed into a set, and it can still be used as a few hundred taels of silver.

She is helpless, as far as her mother-in-law's body and bones are now, and she has such a surname, she knows such a thing, and she doesn't know what will happen.

Even if you don't get angry, I'm afraid you'll be furious, and I don't know what it's like.

The surname of the third uncle is for the love of Tibet.

Although she is the eldest sister-in-law of the second room, it has been less than a year since she entered the door, and some heavy words are not something she can say.

There is really no way, only she wants to end the matter here, and the rest will wait for her husband to come back to discuss...... * The gloom of the second room is pervasive, and Cao Yan doesn't know at all.

As discussed with his father and brother-in-law, he half-truthfully concealed Li and Chu Yu, and only said that he was on a business trip to naturalize and deal with Ma Zheng.

Although Li and Chu Yu are women's families, they have also heard rumors about the movement in the northwest, and Cao Yan's main job is the car driver, and the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law do not doubt him.

It's just that in their eyes, naturalization thousands of miles away is not near.

The Li family chattered a lot, and inevitably explained a lot; Chu Yu didn't speak, but she was also thinking about what luggage to prepare for her husband.

Cao Yan looked at the screen window and said to Li: "Mother, it's getting hotter and hotter this day, if your body can't stand it, you can wait for the garden to be cleaned up properly, and then go over there to escape the heat." ”

Li's forehead was oozing with sweat slightly, she wiped it with a handkerchief, and said with a smile: "What Yan'er said, your daughter-in-law also thought of it, and our mother and mother have talked about it in the past two days." Although the summer in Beijing is cooler in the morning and evening, it is really difficult to endure in the white day, and it is not as rainy as in the south, and the heat can be reduced. ”

Cao Yan glanced at Li's stomach and said, "The past is the past, but my mother also has to calculate, after all, it is not as convenient as hiring a doctor outside the city." By the end of July and the beginning of August, it was still necessary to live in the city. ”

Li said with a smile: "I know, I know, your daughter-in-law also said this first." It can be seen that you are two people, and this mind is used in one place, so that I, a mother, will be jealous! ”

Cao Yin sat on the side, watching his wife chatting with his son, with a faint smile on his face, but he didn't know how many turns he had turned.

It is also ridiculous to say that not long ago, he was a little dissatisfied with his son's lack of "loyalty and patriotism", but now he is only worried about his son's safety.

The northwest is between the confrontations, and the soldiers are fierce, but Cao Yan went as an envoy of the imperial court.

If he can't survive on the side of Alabutan, he will naturally step down and save some face for the court, hello, hello, hello, everyone; If he made up his mind to take advantage of this opportunity to advance into Tibetan Province, then how could he think of the imperial court envoys in his eyes?

In the final analysis, Cao Yin is just an ordinary father.

Even if he didn't say something, he didn't miss his son in his heart, otherwise he wouldn't even care about Nersu, and hurriedly arranged some things, except for his son's troubles...... Others said that Mr. Zhuang was there, but Cao Yan was going to say hello.

In a hurry just now, Cao Yan didn't go to the Banyan Courtyard. There are also people who Ming'er wants to follow, and they have to call Wei Hei and Zheng Hu to decide who to go and who not to go.

After Cao Yan said a few more words with his parents, he went to the Banyan Courtyard.

Chu Yu came out with her husband and went back to Wutong Garden to pack Cao Yan's luggage.

In the Rong Courtyard, although Mr. Zhuang didn't know the letter yet, he also heard the little guy mention that the king of Pingjun came to the house.

When Cao Yan came, Mr. Zhuang took a banana fan and sat on the kang and shook it.

Looking at Mr. Zhuang's faintly old state, Cao Yan smiled and sat on the kang opposite him, and said, "Mr. can't stand the heat either?" The garden in Haidian didn't live much last year, and Wu Mao is picking it up these days, and it won't be long before it should. Mr. took the two aunts and the little girl to live over there, but the courtyard with the bamboo forest in the west was specially repaired for Mr. Last year, there were a lot of things at home, and I went to Rehe again, and my husband didn't have to work hard to get there......"

Mr. Zhuang was wondering if there was something wrong with the military department, but when he saw Cao Yan coming in, he didn't talk about business, nodded at him with a banana fan, and said, "Don't be verbose, King Pingjun is looking for you?" ”

Cao Yan nodded, just wanted to joke that he was also fortunate to "serve in front of the army", but when he saw that Mr. Zhuang could not hide his worries, he smiled and said: "Yes, but it is good news, Ming'er I will go to naturalization to deal with the Eight Banners Ma Zheng." It seems that Mongolia and the Right Guard Eight Banners are short of horses, and the Eight Banners Ranch has to transfer a lot of horses to that side......"

Mr. Zhuang didn't believe it, seeing that Cao Yan didn't tell the truth, his face was annoyed, and he glanced at him.

Cao Yan smiled a little weakly, but he was unconvinced.

As far as Cao Yan is concerned, he can pretend to be in front of the fourteenth elder brother, but it may not be easy to do it in front of Mr. Zhuang.

Since he didn't hide it, Cao Yan said vaguely: "When I arrived at naturalization, Xu Shi went north again, and went to the Great Lama of Zebzundan Bahu Tuketu to preach the holy order. ”

When Mr. Zhuang heard this, he frowned slightly, and said, "Tell the great lama Zebzundan Bahu Tuketu, the emperor wants to persuade him to surrender?" ”

After each court meeting, Cao Yan mostly mentioned political affairs with Mr. Zhuang. Today, it was delayed because of his mother's affairs, and he didn't have time to say anything.

"Well, Xu is the emperor's delaying tactic. The court has no silver, and it is difficult for soldiers and horses to travel. Even if it is a two-way army or a three-way army, the number of troops that can be mobilized is limited. If you don't think of a way, I'm afraid that when the imperial court soldiers and horses rush to the northwest from naturalization, I'm afraid that Alabutan will have already led people to Tibetan Province! Cao replied.

"I see, you're going to go far away, and you can't complain about it" Speaking ......of this, Mr. Zhuang patted Cao Yan's head with a banana fan, and said with a little disgust: "I can't complain that you have also learned to lie and started to make up nonsense." ”

Cao Yan knew that he was genuinely caring, and he was not annoyed, so he said with a shy face: "It's not a lie, it's to go to naturalization first, and then go north with the Khalkha people when they get there." ”

Mr. Zhuang shook his fan and said, "Okay, don't worry, I know that you are worried about your wife and your daughter-in-law, and I know it in my heart." ”

Cao Yan then remembered that there were still important things to say, and said about the "five princesses", and said with a little worry: "Sir, whether my grandmother is the fifth princess or not, it is all in the past, and I don't bother to investigate it deeply." It's just that today's changes in the Queen Mother's Palace are afraid that some people will look sideways. If someone traces back to the roots, the mother's side ...... Thinking of this, I really can't rest assured, but I caught up with this errand, if there is a turmoil, please ask Mr. to bother more. ”

Mr. Zhuang listened, and his expression had changed to solemnity.

He thought about it for a while and said, "Since the palace wants to hide it, even if someone wants to investigate, it won't be able to get rid of anything in the end." Don't worry, if anyone really wants to play on this topic and make some kind of moth, I'm afraid they will eat the consequences. ”

Cao Yan thinks about it, it is also related to the royal secret, Kangxi, a gentleman with a good face, naturally will not let people make this secret public, he is "concerned is chaotic", "the authorities are confused".

He felt a lot more relaxed, picked up the scriptures on the kang table, and said, "Mr. has been taught by a little monk and started to study Buddhism?" If the little monk is in the house, I will kidnap him and go to Mongolia together, let him go to the great lama to get some Buddha spirit, and save him from the province, and he will blindly introspect endlessly......"

Speaking of this, Cao Yan put down the scriptures, hesitated, and said: "It seems that there is a fake public and private component, but there is nothing wrong with saying it." There is no explicit prohibition in this imperial court, and officials cannot have monks as chief of staff around them......"

Having said that, he has no bottom in his heart.

This military department is still different from other departments, and although there are no "secrecy regulations" at this time, I always feel that something is inappropriate.

Mr. Zhuang has been to Xishan a few times recently, and there is something wrong with Zhiran's situation.

It's just that heart disease needs to be solved by heart medicine, and the persuasion of others can only explain one or two, but it is a symptom but not a cure.

Listening to Cao Yan's proposal, he weighed it and said, "Forget it, it will end up in the mouth." Otherwise, you should go to the great lama this time and mention it, and wait for the great lama to speak or send someone to pick him up and talk about the Buddha, then it will be justified. ”

It can only be so, Cao Yan nodded in response.

Because he still had to go to Wei Hei's side, Cao Yan told Mr. Zhuang that he got up and went back first.

Mr. Zhuang stood under the porch, looked at Cao Yan's back far away, and then called in a low voice: "Old eight! ”

The voice fell, and a man in black had already turned out from behind the pillar, bowing down and waiting. I can't see my appearance clearly, and I look very strong on my body.

"The kid who just told you to make people stare at, think of a way to get rid of it, or you don't have to keep your tongue in trouble......" Mr. Zhuang's voice was a little cold, and he commanded in a low voice.

The man in black was not verbose, and when he answered, he turned sideways and disappeared again...... Mr. Zhuang put his hands behind his back and looked at the night sky, but the floating clouds blew at some point, covering the stars.

"It's soft-hearted, and I can't do it in Beijing; I still know that I will be like this, waiting for ready-made ......" Mr. Zhuang thought about Cao Yin's previous coming, and he had some doubts in his heart.

Immediately, he smiled heartily, touched his brain, and said naturally: "This Buddhism is becoming more and more popular...... No matter how the two old guys show up, it's just for that kid......"

* Orchid Courtyard, upper room.

Listening to the Li family still calculating his son's itinerary and the approximate date of his return, Cao Yin thought about it in his heart.

Even if his son went to the Banyan Courtyard, Mr. Zhuang should also know the danger of this long trip. This old man, who is getting older, looks at the smiling face, but his hands are getting hotter and hotter...... Thinking that he seemed to be a little immoral, Cao Yin couldn't help but blush, feeling a little guilty, wondering if he could exchange two jars of good wine and have a good drink......

(To be continued)