Soon after Aunt Zhang left, Fang Jinglan and the old lady and the Li family all came, Fang Jinglan saw Aunt Zhu's body like this, couldn't help but look gloomy, and instructed a few more words, let the subordinates serve well and then go to the yamen.

Li Shi came, said a lot of comforting words, and comforted Ruqing a few words, and the old lady came.

The old lady comforted Zhu and Ruqing again, and asked people to invite the famous doctor Liu in Qizhou City, and Dr. Xu came to see Aunt Zhu together, and the two old doctors discussed together for a long time, and finally opened a medicine order, and the old lady hurriedly asked people to grab the medicine.

In front of the Li family, the old lady said to Wangfu: "Aunt Zhu is sick like this, and she picks up and drops off the doctor every day, but it can't be done without a carriage, so you can buy a horse outside now, and prepare the carriage and the coachman together." There is only a carriage in this house, but it is not very convenient. ”

Li couldn't help but say: "Old lady, our family has only such a population, and it is really a waste to get more horses?" ”

The Li family has been in charge for many years, and he is also very good at calculating accounts, and he can calculate all kinds of extra expenses for raising horses and horsemen in one breath, which costs an extra ten taels of silver every month for no reason, which is really unjust. What's more, it's just for a concubine, and she doesn't want to be a hundred.

Li originally wanted to use Fang Jinglan's dedication to being a clean official to put an end to the old lady's proposal, but the old lady glanced at her and said lightly: "Mrs. herself usually has to use a carriage to prepare at any time, in case there are other important things in the house, it is impossible to borrow it from the neighbors every time, right?" ”

Li froze, turned his mind in his heart, and then said: "The old lady is serious, yesterday the daughter-in-law did leave the house in a carriage because of an emergency, and because the steward of the village in the countryside made trouble, so she hurried over, because she was in a hurry, she didn't think so much, and delayed Aunt Zhu's time to ask for a doctor, but it was not the daughter-in-law." In the future, the daughter-in-law will try to use the carriage as little as possible--- as for buying another horse, the old lady, you also know, although the lord has been promoted, but every month is so Fenglu, but there are many entertainments in the officialdom, plus the girls are all older, here and outside have to make silver, our family is just these bottoms, can you not slap a swollen face and become fat, right? According to the daughter-in-law, forget about buying a horse. ”

The old lady said, "What you say is reasonable. But ---, alas, forget it, our family is not mean, and the concubine is seriously ill but can't let it fend for itself, which is unjustifiable in conscience. But Aunt Zhu is sick like this---- alas, let's do our best. ”

When Li heard that he would not buy another carriage, he quickly nodded happily and said repeatedly, "The old lady is so sensible, no wonder the old lady respects you so much." ”

Seeing the old lady's expression, Mother Liu, who was behind Li, wanted to remind Li that things were not so simple, but seeing that Li was so happy, she put up with it for the time being.

And Ruqing also stood obediently to the side from beginning to end, listening to Li's such a colorful happiness, she couldn't help lowering her head and covering the corners of her lips.

The old lady got up, Li hurriedly gave way, Ruqing also stepped forward to see him off, all the way to the hall, the old lady said to Ruqing: "You have also seen that your aunt is sick like this, it's not that we refuse to treat it, but the doctors say that the condition is fierce, and you must not be too sad." Where to spend money, Mrs. will not be stingy, but everything depends on Aunt Zhu's creation. Do you understand? ”

Ruqing held tears in her eyes, nodded, her voice choked, "Granddaughter understands, thank you for your wife's willingness to treat my aunt." ”

Although Li Shi was estranged in his heart, he smiled lovingly on his face, touched Ruqing's head, and said softly: "Don't worry, Aunt Zhu is a blessed person, I believe it will get better." Don't cry, take care of your aunt. ”

Ruqing wiped her tears, nodded vigorously, and said many words of gratitude, Li was said to look more and more loving, and immediately instructed Liu's mother to take her key to the treasury to get some ginseng.

Mother Liu glanced at her master, sighed in her heart, and took the order.

Ruqing sent the old lady and Li to the gate of the courtyard, and then turned back to the house.

On the way back to Songhe Courtyard, the old lady walked half the way, looked at the golden sunshine overhead, and said: "Aunt Zhu is probably dying, Mrs. still prepare for the aftermath early, on the other hand, you have to find some young girls, open their faces, and send them to the old man's house." ”

Li's face changed greatly, and just as he was about to speak, the old lady said again: "Forget it, although the girls in the house seem to be tame, they are actually quite ambitious, so let's learn from Mrs. Zhuang's previous to go to the village's house to choose some girls with good looks and good manners, and learn from Aunt Zhu. ”

Li Shi was shocked, and he lost his respect at the moment, stared, and asked in a cold voice: "Old lady, why is this?" Is it because your daughter-in-law is not pleasing to the eye? "The daughter-in-law is stupid and has not been able to get the joy of the old lady, but over the years, the daughter-in-law has still served the old lady respectfully and respectfully, and has never dared to be distracted by three meals a day, not to mention the morning and dusk of the day, but there has never been any fault, why does the old lady add this block to the daughter-in-law?" ”

The old lady stopped, glared at Li at the intersection of the word "Ya" paved with gravel, and said in a straight voice: "The master is already a fourth-grade official, but there is only one wife and two concubines in the family. This is already cold in Qizhou City, has the wife ever thought that if Aunt Zhu really goes, the master will definitely take a concubine into the door again. ”

Li was like a thunderbolt, dumbfounded and unable to speak.

The old lady looked at her stunned and stiff face, softened her tone, and said: "I know you don't want to, but a woman marries from her father and her husband at home, and it is natural for a man to take a concubine, you can stop it for a while, but you can't stop it for a lifetime." Instead of relying on the master's own preferences to admit some aunts with ghosts in their hearts to enter the door, it is better to take the initiative and find some gentle and obedient aunts, so that you can not only show your wisdom, but also control the concubine room, they can't pounce if they want to. ”

Li Shi struggled to control his temper and the coldness that hurt his heart, and said astringently: "The old lady's words have been written down by the daughter-in-law. ”

The old lady sighed again and said, "I am also from here, Lou Ran knows the bitterness in your heart." But who told us to believe that we are women? can't stop men from taking concubines, so they have to hold these concubines firmly in their hands, and don't make some moths. Aunt Zhang is accepted by the master himself, and Aunt Zhu is hired by you yourself, over the years, you also understand the behavior of these two aunts, right? I know that Aunt Zhu has become more and more favored over the years, you are not happy, if you want to deal with her, as long as you do it cleanly, I will not ask. But you have to understand Aunt Zhang's personality and the purpose of Aunt Zhu's entry into the mansion in the first place. Come again, if Aunt Zhu goes, the master will inevitably have to take another concubine. Even if he doesn't accept it himself, others will give it away, and the stakes of this, Mrs. will explore it by herself. Then he didn't look at Li and left alone. Leaving Li Shi with a shocked and petrified face, he was stunned on the spot, his face turned his mind countless times, and finally gritted his teeth and deflated his breath.