When Zhang Bao learned from his wife that he was about to add someone to his house, he was very surprised: "Is E-Niang confused? Now she's still in filial piety, what is she doing? No, go back, although I said that I don't want to mix with officialdom anymore, but I don't intend for people to participate in my crime of unfilial piety. ”

Tong comforted him and said with a faint smile: "The husband has too much heart, how could E-Niang do such a foolish thing?" She just said that we don't have enough people in the house, and we don't have a suitable person to serve you, so I sent my beloved girl to take care of your daily life. When did her old man say that she was sending you a concubine? Don't get me wrong. ”

Zhang Bao was stunned and smiled: "What Madam said is, how can I misunderstand Eniang like this?" She just wants to send a maid ring, and there is no reason for a mother to give her son a concubine during her father's mourning, so I want to be crooked. ”

The couple looked at each other and laughed again, I was the dividing line that changed perspectives

Shuning really can't understand the old lady's thoughts, she can only lie on the bed now and can't move, and she still can't forget to insert people in their three rooms, what kind of psychology is it? Could it be that you are used to being in power, and even your ideas have become perverted?

In the past, the old lady wanted to install concubines, because she wanted to put eyeliner in each room, and by the way, to contain the daughters-in-law, but also to better grasp the power in the house. But does it really work now? Shuning is really not optimistic about this method, which can be seen from the people installed by the old lady in the past.

Not to mention the death of Cui Qiao of the big house, the successor Cui Ping has almost become a native of the Nala clan, and he has the son An Ning left by his predecessor to rely on, as long as he keeps to himself. You can always live a good life. Now that the Nala clan is in charge, Cui Ping certainly won't be stupid enough to go against her.

Cui Zhen in the second room is quite loyal to the old lady, and she can know it from the gossip that Frangipani collected. She still often greets the old lady, and she is regarded as a thorn in her side. She can't live without the old lady's backer. But if the backer falls and she has no heirs, I don't know what the outcome will be. As for the other concubine Cuiying, she has already offended the old lady, and I heard that since she had a miscarriage that year. She has been sick, her beauty is no longer good, she has fallen out of favor again, and now she can only live silently.

There have been no formal concubines in the fourth room, only a few girls in the room. Although I heard that most of them are old ladies who give land, it is a fact that they have no name. The fourth uncle Rong Bao and the fourth aunt Shen have been estranged in recent years, but even so, Rong Bao has a relationship with those few people. has always been a bowl of water, and has no intention of lifting any one, turning a blind eye to the situation of fighting between them.

Thus. The placement of concubines in each room may have had a role. But for a long time. It is very difficult to control people's hearts. The old lady repeatedly wanted to install people in the third room, is it just an obsession? In the case that she can no longer be in charge of the house. How much more can those eyeliners do?

And the most crucial problem is that the old lady herself will most likely not live long.

Shuning turned her head to look at the shriveled and thin old lady on the bed, very sure of this fact.

Although the imperial doctor said in person that it was okay to recuperate, no one knew what he said to Zhang Bao's brothers in private. This can be guessed just by looking at the old lady's increasingly weak body, the preparations made secretly by the elders, and the whispers of the people in the house. But obviously, the old lady herself did not have this awareness, she probably thought that she had just had a stroke and could continue to live for a long time, right?

In the evening, Shuning handed over the care to Wan Ning and Shen, and dragged back to Huaiyuan with heavy steps. This kind of waiting for people is really not a human life, since she crossed, although she is not rich and noble, but she is also pampered, and she has never worked so hard. It seems that there are too many good days, and it is easy to make people fall, and when she is free in some days, she has to think of a way to exercise her body.

About the first watch, a change happened. The old lady was once again blocked in her throat with phlegm, and although she finally coughed it out, she was already breathing more and less breathing. Everyone was in a hurry again, and Wan Ning was kicked out of the room in a burst of crying and crying, hugging the Hitara clan and crying vigorously. After the imperial doctor came to take a look, he just shook his head, suggesting that Jin Bao prepared the aftermath for the old man.

The courtyard was once again full of people, all with mournful faces. Shuning looked at Wanning crying to death, and then looked at Yuan Ning with an expressionless face and Fang Ning who was chanting Buddha with her eyes closed, and she was a little dazed. When someone in the house walked out of the door and officially announced that the old lady had died, the people in the courtyard began to cry bitterly.

Listening to the crying in her ears, Shuning felt that her nose was a little sore, but it was still very early to cry. She sniffed and wiped her nose with a handkerchief, and a special smell came from Pane, and she was immediately irritated to her red eyes, and tears kept flowing. At this time, she noticed that someone had pulled her robe, and when she looked down, it was Xianning. He opened his eyes wide and asked, "Sister, why are you crying?" ”

Shuning squatted down and said to him, "Because the old lady died, everyone is hurt

"Old lady? Is that the old woman who touched my face that day? "yes." Shuning nodded, and suddenly thought of something, so she pretended to fix her brother's hair and gently wiped his face with a handkerchief. Xianning couldn't help but shed tears, sniffed and said, "Sister, I feel sad. Shu Ning suddenly felt a little guilty, but was startled by a sharp cry next to her, and looked up, only to see Shen holding her daughter Yanning, who was crying non-stop, coaxing, but her left hand had clearly just pinched the child. Uh, it turns out that there are more evil people than me. Shuning thought. She suddenly felt that someone was touching her head, and when she looked up, it was Duan Ning. He tugged at the corners of his mouth, picked up Hyun-nyeong, patted him gently, and made him lean on his shoulder and cry.

At this time, Jin Bao came out and said, "You all go in and see the old lady for the last time." ”

said that he would see the last side, but in fact he only saw the corpse. The old lady's hair and clothes had been arranged, half of her body was covered with a quilt, and her face was covered with a suppa. As soon as Wan Ning saw it, she immediately pounced. But she was tightly hugged by Nala's maid, and she kept struggling and crying painfully. Everyone in the room was crying very dignifiedly. Even the old lady's favorite grandmother was just lying on the ground and howling. Therefore, Wanning's excitement and gaffe are particularly conspicuous. Nala looked at her frequently, and finally saw her break free from the ring, pounce on the old lady, hug the body tightly and weep bitterly, so he immediately frowned and asked her to pull her away. He personally tidied up the quilt that was pulled open by his daughter, and continued to wipe his tears with a handkerchief, while instructing his subordinates to prepare coffins, fires, candles and other things. I'm the dividing line for the transition scene

Probably because the old lady died earlier than expected, and many things were not ready, so she had to rush to ask someone to buy them. Just in the process of preparing for the funeral, there was another problem with the latest chapter of the days of living with female stars - there was no money.

There are still about 2,000 taels of cash and silver bills in the account in the house, but it is still early before the autumn harvest, and the land rent has not been collected, and the second room is in charge of several businesses. It is said that there is a problem with the cash flow, and the money has not been handed over for three months. A decent funeral is not good without two or three thousand taels. But if all the money in the house is used, then the next few months. How do the whole government maintain their daily needs?

Therefore. After Jin Bao and Nala calculated it, they found that they could only use a thousand taels of land at most. Because it's not enough. Jin Bao asked Xingbao to transfer money from the store, but was refused.

Xingbao said: "I lost a lot of money because of Eniang's killing of Chu'er, and you don't know it." And this year, several restaurants and teahouses have been opened in Beijing, and my business has lost a lot of money, and I have been losing money in the past few months. Now if you want me to come up with a few thousand taels more, there is really nothing I can do. The last time Amma's big event was already my money, why do you want me to pay it now? ”

Jin Bao was very displeased when he heard this: "Second brother, you have to make it clear, those businesses were originally the capital of the family, and now the family needs to use silver, what does it matter if you transfer some?" When did it become yours? ”

Xingbao sneered: "Big brother is confused, although the family gave some capital at the beginning, but most of it relied on my private house, of course, it was my business." And the money that the family has obtained over the years has been more than ten times the original capital, and I have always been kind enough to support the family, but my eldest brother can't use this to steal my private property. ”

Jin Bao was angry, and he didn't quarrel with him, and said directly: "I'll mention these later, it's important to do Eniang's big things first." Are you going to pay or not? Xingbao turned his head: "I just said, I have already paid for the last time in the Amandi incident, you find someone else." ”

Jin Bao said hatefully: "Last time, because of the involvement of several princes, Amma's affairs were not done in a big way, and it cost less than three thousand taels in total, among which the coffin was still prepared to go to the ground a long time ago, and the incense, candles, and paper products were all public money, how much did you spend?" Now it's Eniang's turn, but you shirk it. Don't forget, E-Niang will get sick, or it's a good thing for the two of you to do it! ”

Xingbao jumped up and shouted "You are talking nonsense", and was about to rush over, but was stopped by Rong Bao and persuaded: "Second brother, if you have something to say, this time you are excessive." E-Niang treats you well. ”

Xingbao broke away from his younger brother and sneered: "You don't pretend to be a good person here, she treats me well?" The most painful thing for her is you!! E-Niang's body that has been saved for so many years, who is it in now? Don't tell me you don't know! Yesterday, when Eniang was still sober, who was the last person she saw? It's your wife! Who knows what's up here! ”

Rong Bao also blushed, and immediately quarreled with him, and Jin Bao was angry on the side. Zhang Bao heard more and more disagreeable, so he shouted: "Enough! After the brothers quieted down, he thought about it, and then said to Jin Bao: "I have been an official outside for a few years, and I am not afraid of the jokes of my eldest brother, and I also have some savings. The younger brother didn't dare to go over the eldest brother, and he was willing to pay a thousand taels, what did the eldest brother think? ”

Xingbao and Rong Bao both looked at him in surprise, and Jin Bao was a little moved: "Third brother, you don't usually live a rich life...... Xingbao interrupted him: "Come less, he has money, and he usually pretends to be poor." Jin Bao shouted: "Second child! Xingbao shut up stupidly.

Zhang Bao said lightly: "I have been out for more than ten years, and I have not done my filial piety in front of my parents, now I am just giving some money, besides, it is not easy for the eldest brother to preside over the family business, so if you can share more as a brother." ”

Jin Bao patted the third brother on the shoulder: "Good brother, your friendship, my brother will never forget it!" ”

Seeing this, Rong Bao hurriedly said: "The third brother is reasonable, usually Eniang loves me the most, her old man's big affairs, if I stand by and watch, what kind of person will I become?" But I don't have much money, I can only give five hundred taels, don't dislike the two big brothers. ”

How could Jin Bao dislike it? Busy hugging his younger brother, the three brothers looked too good to be in a relationship.

Xingbao was dumbfounded, so he had to say, "In that case, I will also ...... Five hundred taels is good. Jin Bao glanced at him and said lightly: "The second brother has a heart, presumably Eniang Quanxia knows, and he will be very pleased." "I am the dividing line that is on the wake

Shuning wore filial piety all over her body, and together with her sisters and sisters-in-law, she knelt in the inner hall to burn paper and chant sutras. Wan Ning stared blankly at the brazier, mechanically throwing some paper money into it, silently shedding tears. Shuning was a little ashamed, she had never shed a single tear for this old man sincerely, but thinking of the harm she had caused to her family, her heart hardened, and she still took out the handkerchief with the secret sachet hidden, and shed pretentious tears.

It was late at night, and gradually some people found excuses to leave the inner hall, and the only people who stayed were Wanning Shuning and a few old lady's cronies, and some of them even fell asleep on the spot.

Shu Ning inadvertently glanced out, but found his brother Duan Ning standing in the corner, quietly looking at the old lady's coffin, the candlelight flickering on his face, making his expression look a little unpredictable.

Shuning hesitated for a while, and saw that everyone was tired and no one noticed her, so she quietly got up and walked to Duanning, touched the corner of her brother's clothes, and asked softly, "Brother, what's wrong with you?" ”

Duan Ning looked at her sideways, shook his head, turned to continue looking at the coffin, and said faintly: "The world is impermanent. Before I went to Guangzhou, she was still the master of the house, and everyone had to bow their heads in front of her. Before last night, she could only lie in bed, relying on people to help her with everything. died, and even the money for the funeral was finally scraped together. Most of the people who kept the spirit were just pretending, and they all slipped away after a while. She has been tough all her life, and she has been majestic all her life, what is it for? ”

Shuning stood with him wordlessly, and after a while, he said: "Marfa treats me very well, knowing that he died so unjustly, I actually hate the old lady in my heart, and I can't tell how happy I am when I see her suffering." Shuning looked over in surprise, only to see him tugging at the corners of his mouth and saying, "But what if you hate it?" Look at it, how many people in this house are sincerely sad for her? Son and daughter-in-law? Grandchildren? Trusted slaves? Even if Wan Ning, who cried the saddest, was she or herself crying, who knows? And, if it weren't for the sake of outsiders, I doubt anyone would be willing to spend money on her funeral! ”

Shuning pulled his sleeve and said seriously, "Brother, calm down." Duan Ning was stunned and smiled slightly: "I'm calm, don't worry." He touched his sister's head and said, "I still resented her and hated her, but seeing her live to this point, I feel that no matter how much hatred there is, there is no need for more hatred." She has already received retribution for falling to such an end. ”