Chapter 33: The Restlessness of the Rites
"Fei'er~" Liu Liyun enthusiastically took Shen Yafei's hand, her eyes were slightly red, and her voice was hoarse, "Aunt Liu hasn't seen you for many years, but I didn't expect Fei'er to be as good-looking as when she was a child." I saw you at a banquet at the palace that day, and I wanted to look for you, but I didn't have time. Aunt Liu is so happy to see you now, it's really good. β
Shen Yafei said with a rare and pleasant face: "Then I'm going to trouble Aunt Liu later." β
Liu Liyun looked at her lovingly and said, "What are we talking about between us, I treat you as half a daughter." I've been out of town these days since you came back, and I didn't come to see you for the first time, don't you blame Aunt Liu? β
"Where is Aunt Liu, I am very happy that Aunt Liu can come to my ceremony now." Shen Yafei let Liu Liyun hold her hand and said with a smile.
Mrs. Shen's attitude towards Shen Yafei is a little difficult to adapt, these days she is submissive to them, well-behaved, although she is very obedient, but there is no emotion, being with them is like coping, how can she be energetic now. Mrs. Shen thought to herself that Shen Yafei was better at an outsider than at her, so she thought she was to blame them, right?
Mrs. Shen felt a little guilty again, but she was also a little dissatisfied with Shen Yafei's differential treatment. It was she who made a mistake back then, so they sent her out of the capital, and it was because she repeatedly refused to change her and hurt Xin'er's life many times, so they sent her to Huancheng so ruthlessly. Moreover, there is Aunt Sheng in Huancheng, no one will treat her badly, there are still a lot of industries of the Shen family there, and her food and clothing will not be bad.
Even if she complained about them, she couldn't show it so obviously. Mrs. Shen thought about it and remembered that Shen Yafei had never called her mother these days, she always called her mother, and she didn't call her unless necessary. Thinking of the affectionate call Liu Liyun "Aunt Liu" just now, she called her so smooth and affectionate. Mrs. Shen felt a little uncomfortable in her heart, and she asked herself that Shen Yafei had never treated her badly after returning to Beijing. Even when she came back, she did something wrong, she didn't blame her, and personally accompanied her to apologize to others, she met her with whatever she wanted, and she was close to her for food and clothing, what else did she have to complain about, she really didn't know how to be grateful and didn't know how to be polite.
"Are you still comfortable after all these days?" Liu Liyun has already pulled Shen Yafei with concern, "You haven't been back to the capital for many years, and the capital has changed a lot." Another day, you ask your mother to take you and your sister to Aunt Liu's house to sit, and Aunt Liu asks your sister Yuanyuan to take you out to play. β
"By the way, how are you living in Huancheng? Is the environment good there? Are people good? Has anyone bullied you? Is the food and clothing the same as ours in the capital? Liu Liyun asked in a barrel-like manner.
"Everything is very good, although there are more mountains, it is not very convenient to enter and exit, and the people are not as rich as the capital, but everything else is very good. And there is a manor in our family, and there are a lot of fields, even the temple where I live, and the mountain where the temple is located are our family, I am a big landlord there, the king of the mountain, who dares to bully me. Shen Yafei smiled and answered her questions one by one very patiently.
"That's good, that's good." Hearing Shen Yafei say this, Liu Liyun thought about it, how could the Shen family let her suffer, and the gloom on her face disappeared.
"It's almost time, and the ceremony is about to begin." Mama Bamboo reminded on the side.
"Let's go." Mrs. Shen said to them and walked in front, with mixed feelings in her heart.
Liu Liyun and Shen Yafei followed intimately with their hands, and from time to time they let out laughter like silver bells.
By the time we arrived at the main hall, the guests were already seated. When a dignified old woman announced the start of the ceremony, firecrackers rang out outside the door, and Mrs. Shen's mother, Mrs. Li, read out the female virtue and female ring. When Liu Liyun appeared, Steward Ma walked in quickly, his face was slightly panicked, and he leaned over and whispered a few words in General Shen's ear.
General Shen was suddenly furious and shot the case, "Ridiculous! β
The surrounding guests turned their heads and looked at him in unison, and Liu Liyun was also jumped and stopped in place.
At this time, General Shen's forehead was bruised, and his angular face was full of frightening anger, like a raging fire, and the guests felt that they were about to be consumed by the fire.
At this time, I heard a middle-aged man's laughter from far and near, and his voice became clearer and clearer. It's all this hour, who else hasn't come?
When Steward Ma heard the voice, his body shook violently, and the nursing home didn't stop them!
"General Shen, Mrs. Shen, congratulations!" A man in his forties and fifties with a big belly walked in while patting his stomach, followed by a bunch of small servants, carrying dozens of boxes of gifts tied with big red satin. The man's face was squeezed into three piles of flesh from laughter, and the trough was full of almost unrecognizable noses, eyes, and mouths.
The thick neck was divided into three points as if it had three carriage wheels hung, and when he walked, the three circles of meat shook and shook, as if he was about to fall off the pork belly, if Zhu Da saw it on the street before, he would definitely not be able to help the plate to catch it. There are also eight gold chains of different shapes and sizes hanging around the neck, I don't know if it's because of the long time or because the vegetable juice is dripping when I usually eat, and the oil is shiny, and I feel that I have brushed a layer of lard. Some of the beads on the gold chain are the size of thumbs, a bit like the Buddhist beads carried by monks. The chain lies horizontally on the shoulder, on the chest, on the stomach, nondescript!
This fat man with gold ornaments all over his body, even his hair is covered with gold ornaments, is Jin Dafa, a well-known local rich man in Beijing, who has opened many brothels and gambling houses in the capital, and has made a lot of gold and silver treasures, and has also opened a lot of such businesses in other places. This man is extremely fond of money, and he loves cash money, whether he is away or at home, and he never has less than twenty gold ornaments on his body, even when he sleeps.
Of course, if you were just rich in the capital, you would never dare to break into General Shen's Mansion so swaggeringly to interrupt Miss Shen Er and her ceremony. It just so happens that this short and fat man still has some power, and he still has some incredible power. Of course, this short and fat man did not become an official in the court. Most of his power was gained by the women of his family.
Jin Dafa's old mother, old grandmother, too grandmother, and too much grandmother are all the nurses of the emperors of the Celestial Empire. It's a pity that it was interrupted in his lifetime, and there was no milk to the prince. However, he also has a younger sister who is married to the current emperor, that is, in addition to the former queen and the empress, Concubine Jin, the only one who gave birth to a prince, that is, the biological mother of the second prince, King Lang.
The four generations of the ancestors are the emperor's nurses, such a relationship is really rare, he and the emperor are also milk brothers, and the emperor and the queen mother value their family. is usually arrogant and domineering, as long as the lives of people are not taken care of, the emperor and the queen mother will also turn a blind eye, of course, this time the number cannot be too much. Many dignitaries and nobles want to use him to get through the relationship between the queen mother and the emperor, and everyone in the capital treats them as half of the Chinese family, and they are also a sideways figure in the capital.
Fortunately, in addition to loving money, Jin Dafa loves beauty, and when he rarely makes trouble, he robs the people's daughters at most, he is a rogue in the courtesy, after he robs the people's daughters, he will use the money to arrange her family properly. Therefore, most of the beauties are still willing after following him.
However, he had little interest in the daughters of the relatively high-ranking families in the capital, who seemed to him to have higher eyes than his head, and in his family he only allowed himself to look down on others, and did not allow others to look down on him.
Therefore, when he appeared at General Shen's house with a bride price this time, not only General Shen was surprised, but also the guests present were all curious.
"What are you going to do?" General Shen tried his best to keep his voice calm, and his round eyes glared at Jin Dafa angrily.
Although Jin Dafa's status is still good, no one's daughter or Luli will be willing to invite such a person. There are three flat wives, and the concubine room is divided into three mansions to live, and their Jin family's mansion has been expanded many times, and several houses around him have been bought by him, and he directly put the beauties he collected from all over the country to live, and the extremely erosive life is staggering. People are worried that his appearance in his child's ceremony will bring bad luck to the child, Jin Dafa also knows that these people are careful, but he doesn't care much about people's rejection of him, and he doesn't appear in other people's etiquette, or he is fat!
However, this time is different, he is not willing to destroy other people's daughter's coming-of-age ceremony, but his son is crying and asking him to propose to Miss Shen Er, and he has to go today, if he doesn't go, his son will hang himself.
Although there are many women in his backyard, there is only one son, and he only asked for it in his twenties after praying to God and Buddha many times, but after giving birth to this son, his women never gave him a son again, and they were all daughters. Therefore, his special affection for this only son must be responsive.
He thought that when this hour came, they should be finished, so he broke in directly, but he didn't expect that he was still in the process of saluting as Steward Ma said.
"General Shen doesn't need to be so nervous, I'm here to talk to General Shen about things, I thought General Shen would be here, so I came over directly. I'm sorry to disturb you, so I won't go in, you continue, and when you're done, I'll talk to General Shen. Jin Dafa saw General Shen's angry eyes, waved his hand to apologize, and said with a sneer. As he spoke, he really just stood outside the door and didn't go in.
General Shen knew that now was not the time to discuss with him, but to take advantage of the auspicious time to finish Shen Yafei and the ceremony as soon as possible, so he nodded to the old lady in front of him and motioned for them to continue.
What a hell of a coincidence, a sharp middle-aged woman's voice interrupted the etiquette again, "Congratulations, congratulations, Miss Shen Er!" A woman dressed as a bells and whistles matchmaker appeared in everyone's eyes waving a big round fan.
As she walked into the inner hall with the hem of her skirt, her red lips squirming as she closed and closed. There was also a middle-aged woman with a sharp-beaked monkey cheek and a soft-looking man about twenty years old, and there was also a small servant carrying a gift box with a red ribbon behind him, but the gift box was obviously smaller than Jin Dafa's, and the number was only two boxes, so it wouldn't be just trying to make up an even number, right?
Judging by the clothes of these two people, the family should have some money, but they are not very wealthy. General Shen hated to be sure that he didn't know these people, and with his and Mrs. Shen's rich background, it was not something that these people could touch.
Steward Ma said in his heart: Oh no! Most of the people in the mansion have been sent to maintain the order of the ceremony, and the guards who are guarding the gate have followed Jin Dafa in, so there are few people left to guard the gate of the mansion. was actually drilled by these messy people.
The guests all looked at them curiously, and the Huo family and Mrs. He both showed gloating expressions.
General Shen glared at Steward Ma, who hurriedly asked the little servant to stop the three people who entered the door.
"What are you stopping me for? I'm here to match your second miss. "The matchmaker is very dissatisfied with the rudeness of the Shen family, she is a well-known matchmaker in the capital, the family saw that she was not coaxing with good voices, and dared to stop her, don't you want a good marriage?
"How dare you do anything to me? I'm your second miss's future mother-in-law, don't touch me with your dirty hands! I'm going to let your second lady sell you directly. The middle-aged woman screamed loudly.
Jin Da looked at this woman who was ashamed to speak and robbed Miss Shen Er with him.
Steward Ma saw her unscrupulous nonsense, and wanted to be the mother-in-law of the second lady, what a fool's dream! Steward Ma pointed to the nursing home next to him and said, "What are you doing standing aside?" Don't beat them out yet! β
"Let go of me!" The middle-aged woman struggled desperately, waving her hands and feet and smashing the little girl's body, this woman had thick hands and feet, she must have done a lot of rough work, and the little girl was smashed and hurt, and screamed.
The middle-aged woman thought that she must not let people be kicked out today, but the man told her that as long as she insisted on staying today, explained everything clearly, and told the truth, her son would be able to marry General Shen's second daughter. With so much money from the Shen family, the dowry must be indispensable. Look at the clothes worn by these little guys are better than hers, and this mansion is so magnificent and magnificent, she must let her son marry Miss Shen Er. In this way, she will not have to guard the two shops at home day and night in the future, and it will be much easier for her son to study and take the exam. Moreover, she can also be like a rich wife, and there are three or four people waiting for her when she goes in and out. Now she was holding all the money, and she was not willing to spend it, so she gave her husband and son a small servant, and she had no one to serve her, so she only invited an old woman to cook and wash for the family.
As soon as she thought of being able to live in a house like Shen Mansion in the future, she couldn't help but be excited. Look at the women in the room, all dressed in gold and silver, dressed in fancy clothes. If she had changed into these clothes and put on makeup, she would have looked just as good as they did. In this way, her man will not peek at Widow Li in the shop next door every day, and he will not secretly go to the brothel to find those little prostitutes without her.
Therefore, the middle-aged woman directly broke the jar and shouted at the top of her voice: "You second ladies of the Shen family are all my son's women, maybe you have my family's seeds in your stomach." She came to our house to see me a few days ago, and said that she would marry into my house and be my daughter-in-law. If you don't believe me, ask your second lady. β
"Don't stop her yet!" General Shen said her so ugly, this is what he wants to ruin Shen Yafei's reputation.
"What my mother said is true, I still have the handkerchief she gave me." The feminine scholar also spoke at this time, and with the uncontrolled hand reached into his clothes, and pulled out a white handkerchief embroidered with a ginkgo blossom.
He had just glanced at the front of the inner hall, and just happened to see the woman who was about to perform the salute, and she looked really good! The watery apricot eyes are itchy to see, and the slightly pouting lips of moderate thickness are moist and moist, making people can't help but want to go up and take a bite. The soft figure, although it is not fully developed, but looking at the curved waist, you can know that she will be able to grow a charming and graceful figure after a long time.
Shen Yafei saw the obscenity in the eyes of the soft scholar and the familiar handkerchief in his hand, twisted her brows, and sneered in her heart.
Da Bao He's face immediately sank when he saw and heard their words, if Shen Yafei hadn't stopped him, he would have rushed directly to tear their mouths.
When General Shen saw that he had even taken out Shen Yafei's private belongings, he knew that he could no longer throw them out directly. If you just throw them out, maybe they'll be talking nonsense outside. Moreover, with so many people here watching today, it's hard to say what they will think, and how they will spread the word about today's events when they go back. Therefore, we must make things clear in front of all the people who are returning today, and they will stop talking nonsense.
General Shen asked the little servant to let them go, and let the courtyard stop at the door, but still didn't let them in. General Shen asked people to move a chair and sit directly at the door, looking at them coldly, "You said that a handkerchief belongs to my daughter, how can you prove it." Our Shen family is not something that anyone can slander. β
As he spoke, a cold and sharp gaze swept over them, and both the matchmaker and the mother and son shivered involuntarily.
However, as soon as the middle-aged woman thought of what the man had promised and the words that she had come up with for them, she was more confident, she had evidence, and she was afraid of what he would do, so she straightened up and said with a smile: "My in-laws Β·Β·Β·Β·Β·Β·"
"Don't mess with your relatives!" General Shen interrupted her directly.
"General Shen, do you want Miss Shen Er to recognize whether the handkerchief is hers." The middle-aged woman said with a smile, full of confidence.
"We have a lot of people in the Shen Mansion, and it is common to throw one or two unimportant things casually. Besides, with our family's financial resources, we also have the ability to directly replace things with new ones after using them once or twice. Don't say it's not, and even if it is, it won't prove anything. But you have to think about the consequences of provoking our Shen family. "General Shen laughed at her for being too naΓ―ve, did she think that she could take a random thing and slander their Shen family?
"You can directly explain who sent you, and I will spend my tongue on it." General Shen's sharp eyes shot directly into the middle-aged woman's face.
Seeing that he didn't believe it at all, and was not swayed by their words, the soft scholar couldn't help but feel a little anxious, "It was really sent to me by Miss Shen Er, we met on March 27, on Donghua Street, at that time, we fell in love at first sight, exchanged tokens with each other, and agreed to meet again in a few days." We met a few more times later. Once we met, both of us couldn't bear it, so we did something unethical. We all knew that this was unreasonable, so I wanted to go to the Shen Mansion to ask for relatives at that time. But because she hadn't been in time at that time, I didn't come to the door to propose. Now I'll come straight over as soon as she's ready. β
The soft scholar said the truth, and there was a look on his face. He said that love at first sight would definitely be believed, and he was very confident in his face.