In April of the third year of Xingzhao, Fuling County

The wind was strong, the branches of the trees swayed back and forth in the wind, and the pedestrians on the road were also blown a little unsteady on their feet; There were dark clouds in the sky, and it was about to rain. Several carriages came galloping from outside the county, entered the city and walked for a while, and finally stopped in front of a large mansion covered with white flags.

A group of people wearing filial piety clothes got out of the car, supported each other and hurriedly entered the door. At this moment, a flash of lightning flashed in the air, and there was a bang! Heavy rain poured down.

These are all members of the Zhong family. Zhong Deping, the eldest man of the Zhong family, was seriously ill some time ago, and he was buried today, and his wife, children and younger brother went to the suburbs to send the funeral back.

"Fortunately, if you are one step late, you will be drenched in heavy rain!" Chen, the second old lady in her thirties with a well-maintained face, stood on the corridor, looking back at the pouring rain behind her, her face full of joy.

Zhong Deping's eldest daughter, Zhong Lingyu, glanced at her, then at Zhong Deqing, the second master of the Zhong family standing beside her, and tightened the handkerchief in her hand.

"It's hard work for everyone." The eldest lady Zhuang who walked at the back cried red eyes, and said in a dumb voice, and blessed everyone again, but she didn't want to shake her body and almost fell to the ground. Fortunately, the maid behind her was quick and helped her up.

"Sister-in-law, take care of your body, the children still rely on you." The third lady, Kong Shi, sighed lightly, and said to Zhong Lingyu, "Hurry up and help your mother back to the house to rest." ”

Zhong Lingyu stepped forward as early as when the eldest wife was about to fall, and at this time, he bowed his head gratefully to the third wife, and helped his mother to go back.

"Sister-in-law, wait." The second old man, Zhong Deqing, who had been standing silently on the side, suddenly spoke up.

Everyone looked at him.

Zhong Deqing coughed lightly: "I know that my sister-in-law is not in good health and needs to rest." But it's time to pick spring tea, and if I don't say this, it's too late. ”

As soon as these words fell, the corridor fell silent. Everyone looked at Zhong Deqing with different eyes, all full of deep meaning.

Zhong Deping and his two younger brothers Zhong Deqing and Zhong Deting were not born to the same mother. The former was born to Mrs. Zhong's original match Sun; The latter two are the sons of the step-family Liu. When Mrs. Zhong passed away a year ago, she was afraid that the eldest son's family would be pressed by the Liu family with filial piety, and the family would suffer a loss in the future, so she invited the patriarch to come and divide the family for the three sons before she breathed. In addition to their respective mothers' dowries, the Zhong family's property is divided into three equal classes, and each person gets a share.

Since then, the three brothers have lived their own lives, taking care of their own tea gardens and tea estates.

Now even though Zhong Deping is gone, he still has a son, and the property is inherited, and the matter of spring tea will be arranged by the eldest lady to take care of it. Taking a step back, even if you don't take care of it, it's your own business, so why should Zhong Deqing ask?

"If the second brother has anything to say, just say it." Zhuang's voice was hoarse, with indescribable tiredness in his voice. Her face was haggard, her face was emaciated, her eyes were red and swollen from crying for a long time, and her eyes were bloodshot, and she had no energy to think about what Zhong Deqing meant by saying this.

"The eldest brother is no longer here, sister-in-law, you are not in good health, and Brother Ming and Brother Zhi are both young. Although we are separated, as the second uncle of the child, I can't get over it if I don't reach out to help you. It's better to help you take care of your tea garden and tea house. ”

Zhuang raised his godless eyes and looked at his eldest daughter, Zhong Lingyu, as if to ask her opinion.

Seeing this, Zhong Deqing hurriedly said: "Xiao Yu'er will be sixteen years old, she is a big girl, and she has made a marriage and guarded filial piety, so it is naturally impossible to show her face." It's okay to manage the back house at home, but things like tea gardens and tea estates are not something she can manage. He patted his chest, "Sister-in-law, don't worry, leave it to me, the income of the tea garden will definitely not be worse than that of the eldest brother." ”

Seeing her mother's hesitation, Zhong Lingyu seemed to be quite moved, sighed, raised her eyes and said softly: "We understand the kindness of the second uncle." However, my father had a last word when he was dying, saying that Ah Ming would soon be twelve years old, and it was time to take up the burden of the family. Before his death, his father specially told him that the tea garden should not be handed over to outsiders, so that he could exercise well. He also told me to take care of it more so that no one would steal the family property. ”

Zhong Deping's second son, Zhong Lingming, heard his name, squeezed out of the crowd, straightened his chest, and stood beside Zhong Lingyu.

The Zhuang family is the most virtuous, and only her husband's remarks are followed. At this time, when he heard that it was her husband's last words, she immediately said to Zhong Deqing in a dumb voice: "Since the master has his last words, we should follow ......"

But before she finished speaking, she was interrupted by Zhong Deqing's angry shout: "Zhong Lingyu! What do you mean? How could I rob my eldest brother's property? It's just that the eldest brother is gone, and I want to help your family! Don't be ignorant! ”

Zhuang Shi was startled, raised her head, and saw Zhong Deqing's face full of anger, and her two eyes were angry at Zhong Lingyu as if they were on fire, she was suddenly at a loss, and stopped in front of Zhong Lingyu and hurriedly said: "Second brother, don't worry, I ...... answer."

"Mother~" Zhong Lingyu interrupted her in time. She turned Zhong Lingyu and said with a slight smile: "Second uncle, I didn't say that it was you~ Xiao Yu'er has your heart~, the family doesn't need your help, Xiao Yu'er and her younger brother thank you~ In the future, even if our business is not good, the family is poor, and we are begging for food, but we are to blame, and we will not blame the second uncle, and the second uncle can rest assured." ”

Zhong Deqing was speechless by her. However, if he dared to say it today, he was bullying the Zhuang family to be weak and timid, and asked her to agree to the matter in public.

Seeing that he was about to succeed, he didn't entangle with Zhong Lingyu, and said to Zhuang with strong anger: "Sister-in-law, Xiao Yu'er's rules, I have learned them well." How can there be a reason for the elders to speak, but the juniors to interject next to them? Just like her, you still let her show her face outside, so you are not afraid that she will have a bad reputation and make the Wang family regret and quit her family? ”

Zhong Lingyu understands her mother's temperament, and she will not give Zhong Deqing a chance.

As soon as his words fell, she smiled gently, looking at Zhong Deqing with eyes like autumn water, her voice was crisp and pleasant, not slow or slow: "Yu'er thinks that her rules are very good, and she really doesn't bother with the second uncle." But Yu'er thinks that my rules are still better than Sister Siting, when it comes to interjection, where can I compare to Sister Siting? ”

"You...... You are talking nonsense! Zhong Siting never expected Zhong Lingyu's watch. Zi suddenly pointed the finger at himself, and after being stunned, he quickly retorted.

The third lady raised her eyebrows, and when she saw Zhong Siting like this, the corners of her mouth couldn't help showing a touch of mockery. Everyone else had different looks.

The Zhong family is a merchant, and they made their fortune in Mrs. Zhong's generation, and there have never been many rules. Zhong Siting relied on the fact that Liu is her own grandmother, her parents love her very much, and her mother Chen is the best family among concubines, and it is common for the elders to interject when they speak, and once or twice they even squeezed the eldest aunt Zhuang and the third aunt to not come to the stage.

So Zhong Lingyu's words are really interesting.

Seeing her husband being topped and her daughter being bullied, the second wife couldn't help it, and stepped forward and slapped Zhong Lingyu in the face, but she didn't want to hear a loud shout in her ears: "Enough." She was startled, and hurriedly withdrew her hand to look to the side.

Zhong Deting's eyes widened, pointing at Zhong Deqing, and then at the second lady, gritting his teeth, but his voice was very low, afraid that people would hear it: "The eldest brother's bones are not cold, maybe the soul is still watching in the sky at this time, you bully their orphans and widows like this, don't you want retribution?" Put away your faces and go back. As he spoke, he glared at Zhong Deqing vigorously, flicked his sleeves, and turned to leave.

The third lady hurriedly led her children and the people in the third room to follow.

Zhong Deqing and the second lady's faces changed suddenly, they looked at the sky in horror, glanced at each other, and hurriedly pulled their children away.

At the mention of her husband, the eldest lady was already crying silently.

Zhong Lingyu looked at her helplessly, sighed, and instructed the maid: "Help Mrs. Fu go back to the room and make a bowl of soothing soup for her to drink." I changed my clothes and went to see the tea plantation. He turned around and looked at the two poor brothers and sighed, before he advised: "Go back to the room and rest, don't run around, and don't go to Ming'er and Fang'er to play." You also saw it just now, but my father is gone...... Something happened, but no one can protect you anymore......"