Chapter 265: Questioning

Mrs. Hou's An sent someone to invite the second wife, Zhuo, to have tea. I've been invited several times. Zhuo's family was busy with affairs just after returning to Beijing, and he didn't want to get involved in the troubles of the Hou Mansion, so he pushed it again and again, but her mother-in-law spoke, and she thought that she was a concubine with An after all, and she couldn't be too faceless, not to mention that An was the mother of the Hou Mansion, and there were a few things that should be notified, so she took care of the affairs at hand, took a few girls and mothers-in-law, and loaded the car to the Hou Mansion.

Before entering the main courtyard of the Hou Mansion, Zhuo saw Liang coming towards him. She recognized that the other party was the second daughter-in-law of the Hou Mansion, and nodded with a slight smile, but who knew that the other party glanced at the flowers outside the corridor with an arrogant face, and called out without saltiness: "Hello auntie." "The feet didn't stop. Zhuo Shi was stunned, and a little angry, and only after a while did he raise his feet and continue to walk forward.

As soon as An heard that Zhuo was coming, he immediately called someone to invite him into the house, and hastily dressed up again, and greeted him with a pale and haggard face. Zhuo Shi responded lightly, but said some gossip. After a few words of greeting, An Shi couldn't wait to talk about his misfortune: "Master Hou is angry again, and there is no reason to step on my face in the mud." Now I don't even have a place to stand in this house! When those goblins saw that I was sick, they didn't even set the rules, saying that they didn't dare to disturb me to recuperate, but in fact, they didn't take me seriously at all! They flattered the Hou Ye all day long, and when they saw me, one or two deliberately pretended to be virtuous, and they didn't know how to curse me behind their backs! The old 2nd daughter-in-law came over every day, saying that she was asking for peace, but in fact, she deliberately stabbed me with words, and I couldn't stop it! The eldest daughter-in-law is also ignorant, and she even holds them, and it is good to supply them for daily use. In the end, I didn't raise it, so I was so unfilial and deliberately angry with me! ”

Zhuo's brows became tighter and tighter when he listened all the way, glanced at the door, and saw that An's two big girls were guarding, and there was no one else outside the door, so he glanced at his personal big girl Feng Ming. Feng Ming took the two little girls out knowingly.

An Shi cried and cried, and when he saw Zhuo Shi send the girl away, he was shocked that he was too careless, but he felt sad. It's obviously your own yard, your own house, and you're surrounded by your own people. And be so cautious, if it weren't for the loss of power now, how would it have come to this point? She was so aggrieved.

Zhuo Shi slowly persuaded: "Sister-in-law, don't be sad, reason, it's too much to be a **." Even if you want to arrange your own people to important positions, can't you take your time? In addition, you should also be more attentive in selecting people, and you can't listen to a few good words from others, so you think that he is capable and hand over the big things to him. My sister-in-law wasn't so confused before, why is she acting more and more out of tune now?! ”

She is a second-room match, but she has not been married for a long time, so she has no friendship with Hou Yeyuan and Fan, but has more contact with An's family. Although I often don't like what An's does, because I am separated from each other, there is no conflict of interest, and I occasionally mention An's a few words in the past, until in recent years, when I noticed that the other party was suspected of encroachment, I became estranged. Now that the other party is acting more and more mediocre, she really doesn't want to pay attention to it. But when I think of the loss I have suffered, I can't help but want to stab.

An Shi sneered, knowing that he was wrong, wiped away his tears uncomfortably, and said dryly: "I didn't expect those Diao slaves to be so hateful...... he paused, and flattened his mouth: "Even if I really don't know anyone, Hou Ye just taught me two lessons, why take away my stewardship?" Now I am in the main room, but I let those little ones step on their heads, and even the girls in the old 2 room dare to talk behind my back. My younger sibling's situation is the same as mine, and I am not less angry with my concubine at home, why don't you understand my thoughts? ”

Zhuo's face sank slightly, endured it, and said: "Even if my sister-in-law doesn't care about the family, she is still in the main room, and the concubines and slaves in the family are not honest, and those who should be taught will be taught, as long as they are reasonable, Hou Ye will not say anything." My sister-in-law has no temper and is soft, who can blame her?! If you are really afraid that the Hou Ye will blame, your sister-in-law will tell Brother Jing's daughter-in-law about the bad deeds of those concubines and slaves, and let her deal with it! ”

Speaking of this, An Shi was even more uncomfortable: "What does the eldest daughter-in-law know? How many big things have she been through? The affairs of her own family are still unclear, such a big Hou Mansion, where can she manage it?! I called her to give me a few important words, but she only knew how to persuade me to recuperate, but she took my words as wind in her ears! Where do I dare to call her to dispose of it?! ”

Zhuo picked up the tea bowl, slowly lifted the lid of the bowl, and took a sip. And did not answer. An Shi wiped her eyes, saw that she didn't answer, swallowed her saliva, and spoke again: "Brother and sister......"

"My sister-in-law has a point." Zhuo Shi suddenly interrupted her words, and seeing that the other party was overjoyed, she just said lightly what she wanted to say, "Brother Jing and his wife have already separated from each other, and they already have housework to take care of, and now they come to take care of the house every day, which is too hard." In the past, because our family was an official in other places, the family's grange shop was handed over to my brother and sister-in-law to help take care of it. I've come back, look at the current situation, our family is going to live in Beijing for a long time, it's better to take advantage of the situation and hand it back, don't call Brother Jing's daughter-in-law too tired. What does my sister-in-law think? ”

An Shi was stunned, and before he could react: "Huh? ”

Zhuo Shi smiled faintly at her and continued: "However, those who manage the industry, I'm afraid that they can't be returned to my brother and sister-in-law, please forgive my sister-in-law." After all, it's been years since we left those things behind, and it will take some time to sort things out, and suddenly we will be in a hurry to change the stewardship. But sister-in-law rest assured. All these people's monthly money and silver are from our family, if my sister-in-law is in a hurry to use someone, send someone to say, I will let him come back. What does my sister-in-law think? ”

"This ......" An Shi slowly reacted, why did she forget it? The property of the second room was originally in her hands! She has also benefited a lot from it over the years, I wonder if Zhuo's will notice? She also wants this younger brother and sister to help say a few kind words so that she can take back the power of housekeeping. She heard some rumors from her husband and knew that the Hou Mansion did not have much real power in the court now, and the second uncle had become a frontier official, which was a great help, and if her younger siblings interceded for her. My husband should be able to listen, right? It's just a matter of this industry, I'm afraid it's a bit troublesome...... Then again, this second brother and sister has always been a little clever, shouldn't she have noticed her movements a long time ago, and when she saw that she was asking for herself, she took the opportunity to return to the industry, right?

An Shi glanced at Zhuo Shi seriously, and saw that the other party's face was calm, as if he had just said a trivial matter, and the thoughts in his heart were shaken again. If the other party wants to take the property back, why keep their own people? I think she was too careful. That's it, now the most important thing for her is to get back the housekeeper's power, although the property of the second room is good, the owner has returned, and she can't keep it anyway, not to mention, now that the things have fallen into the hands of the eldest husband and wife, I don't know how much they have deducted, so she won't be cheap for them!

So she replied very happily: "This is also right, you just tell the eldest daughter-in-law, if she doesn't agree, I will teach her a lesson for you!" And to the point: "Just ......"

Zhuo Shi smiled and interrupted her again: "By the way, there is one more thing. My sister-in-law knows that there are many fewer people in our house than on your side, and now that our lord has been promoted, everything that should be there must be added. Many of the people around us were bought from outside, even if they had children, they had been absent from Beijing for many years, and their relatives couldn't recognize them all, and they weren't familiar with the road, so I had to be cheeky and ask my sister-in-law for a few family members. I told Brother Jing's daughter-in-law a few days ago, but she was careful, and went to the old lady to ask, and then asked her sister-in-law. Later, although she agreed, she seemed a little embarrassed. Could it be that my sister-in-law is not happy? I'm all an idle person, or should I make up the price according to the price? ”

When An Shi heard this, she couldn't help but think of the day before yesterday, when Jing came to ask that day, she was angry for Hou Ye spending the night in Aunt Hua's house the night before, and she didn't listen carefully, and thought that it was when she asked for Zhuo's family, what the other party wanted, she was willing to give, seeing that there were twenty or thirty names on the roster, men, women and children, Jing was still reading one by one, where was the patience? scolded and kicked people out. Is this what Zhuo is talking about now?

She hurriedly smiled at Zhuo's family: "What is the value?" It's just a few family members, and there are many idlers in our family, and I don't work all day to eat rice, and I still want to pass it. My brother and sister can take it all if they want! The eldest daughter-in-law is really not like words, what is there to be embarrassed about this little thing? After all, it can't be on the stage! I want to get back to the topic: "What I said just now ......"

This time, Zhuo didn't interrupt her again, just quietly listened to her complaints and temptations, and when the tea in the tea bowl was two-thirds gone, she said slowly: "Reasoning, this is your family's housework, I shouldn't take care of it, but listening to my sister-in-law's words, how do I think Brother Chang's daughter-in-law is not quite right?" If she just made trouble with her sister-in-law, what is going on with her brother's daughter-in-law now that she is looking for the mistakes of her brother and daughter-in-law every day? "Don't say that this furniture can't fall into the hands of the two of him, Li Jing and his wife are already separated from each other, and there is no conflict of interest between these concubines, what is there to make trouble? Could it be that the Liang family deliberately squeezed the Jing family in order to oust people from power in an attempt to take over the power of the housekeeper? The Li Liang family is already an opponent, if she really succeeds, the entire Li family will suffer.

An Shi disagreed: "If the eldest daughter-in-law is a smart person, how can there be so many mistakes and omissions? I said it earlier, she can't control it, but she still has to do it, shame on me! ”

Zhuo Shi saw that she was just blindly greedy for power, and he didn't bother to remind her, so he said: "Now besides Brother Jing's daughter-in-law, who else can take care of the house?" The old lady is old and weak...... "Seeing that An Shi was about to speak, he preemptively said, "Hou Ye also ordered his sister-in-law to recuperate, so he can't go against Hou Ye's will, right?" Brother Yu hasn't married a wife yet......"

An Shi was a little annoyed: "Master Hou is confused, why are my younger brothers and sisters confused?!" I'm so old, and I've been a housekeeper for 20 years, so I was wrong once! Isn't it enough to have raised all these days?! Brother Jing's daughter-in-law is young and ignorant, and she calls her a housekeeper, what has become of chaos now?! One or two are lawless, no matter how big my fault is, can it be compared to this?! ”

Seeing that she was angry, Zhuo Shi slowed down his tone: "I also know my sister-in-law's thoughts, but Hou Ye is only afraid that he is still angry, and now that he is annoyed, my sister-in-law is even more sad!" I have a way, sister-in-law might as well listen to it. Now Brother Jing's daughter-in-law is the housekeeper, everything else is fine, that is, the young juniors, they can't hold down the scene, not to mention those aunts, even Brother Chang's daughter-in-law, dare to argue with her, this is all because she can't convince the public. Sister-in-law might as well go to the old lady and ask for it, and invite one of the girls next to her aunt to help Brother Jing's daughter-in-law cook......"

"How can this work?!" An Shi didn't wait for Zhuo Shi to finish speaking, and shouted first, "The eldest daughter-in-law can't serve the public, what's the use of a girl?!" Why don't I go by myself! ”

Zhuo Shi endured it a little longer, and still said good-naturedly: "Where is the girl called to be the housekeeper?" It's just borrowing the name of my aunt. If Brother Chang's daughter-in-law comes to make trouble again, there will be people watching her aunt, and she won't be able to make trouble! What's more, Brother Jing's daughter-in-law is young, and if there is something she doesn't understand, let the girl ask her aunt, and you will know. I advise my sister-in-law not to always think about housework, so that you can take care of your life, it is not easy for you these years, and when your body is well, you will carefully search for a virtuous wife's room, and let your daughter-in-law take care of the house. In the future, my sister-in-law will hold my grandson, how many blessings are waiting for you to enjoy? Why bother being idle here. ”

An Shi was a little embarrassed when he heard it: "It's still my brother and sister who think thoughtfully." It's just that I've been in my heart for so many years, where can I put it for a while? ”

Zhuo didn't say any more, just accompanied by some gossip, and then deduced that there was still something at home, and got up to leave, An Shi hurriedly sent her to the door. Zhuo Shi went out and caught a glimpse of Feng Ming pulling Peony to speak, and suddenly remembered something, so he asked: "I remember that the Peony in my sister-in-law's house is four years older than Feng Ming, why haven't you married today?!" An replied, "I really can't leave this girl, so I have to keep her for a few more years." ”

Zhuo disagreed. To treat a capable girl, you should arrange a good family affair and let her marry someone and then come in to wait. Wouldn't it delay the other party for a lifetime? The girl can only work as an errand in the inner courtyard, but the daughter-in-law can go out to run errands, and sometimes she is more useful than the girl. Looking at the four big girls around An's side, the same four faces she saw when she returned to Beijing, she couldn't help but sigh secretly, and said in her heart that this sister-in-law should not keep her cronies as enemies.

I don't know if the advice of the second wife Zhuo Shi worked, An really didn't make trouble for her husband to get back the housekeeper's power, but just asked for grace in front of the old lady and asked Onyx to help Jing with housework. But at the same time, she also sent Peony to her, claiming that it was to help her eldest daughter-in-law get familiar with housework, and then conveyed her instructions through Peony every day, ordering Jing to take care of housework according to her own wishes.

Jing's original housekeeper, and at the same time had to take care of his own small family, which was already very difficult. Now that she has two assistants, she should have been easier, but she didn't expect her mother-in-law's order to make it very difficult for her. If she listened to her mother-in-law's meaning, her father-in-law's concubine and the people in the second uncle's courtyard would definitely make trouble, and then the mother-in-law and father-in-law would only blame her for mishandling things. However, if she did not obey her mother-in-law's instructions, she would be called to count for half a day. Although the mother-in-law has no power to be in charge, she is still the mother-in-law in the end, and she cannot ask her husband to bear the charge of unfilial piety.

was tormented like this, but after half a month, Jing was tired. Li Jing felt sorry for his wife, deliberately exaggerated her condition tenfold, and resigned from his position as a housekeeper. Now the Hou Mansion is lively again. Li Chang seized the opportunity to recommend his wife to his grandmother, and repeatedly assured her that she would be absolutely loyal to her husband's family.

The old lady didn't intervene, and the Hou Ye didn't pay attention to Aunt Hua's explicit hints, but just ordered someone to invite her younger sister Zhuo to come over and negotiate for a whole hour...