Three days before the banquet in Dongfu. December 17.

Before and after this, when you look at it from the roots, there is not only one Dongfu, but when you count it together, it is three strange things.

When waking up, the old lady and others talked about the fact that the deep winter was coming, and the girls should add new clothes so that they could catch up with a few clothes for the New Year. Because it was said that Yu Qi was too winter, there were no clothes, and when he was in a hurry, he let a few more cloaks and cloaks. The Cao family received this matter and made efforts to arrange it.

Every year around the New Year, Zhuang has the habit of adding new clothes. From the old to the young, there are new ones. The old lady said: Welcome the new and say goodbye to the old, only with the figure can you be rich. I don't know what year the old lady said this, so I have listened to it until now, and when the year passes, the girls and young masters are all happy, not for anything else, just for this year, there are new clothes to wear, go out to meet guests, there is no one who does not show his face.

This year, there are many things and big expenses, so Cao Shi calculated, and saw more and less in, so he said to the old lady: "This year's new clothes or a few less, the sewn mother-in-law's eyes are not very good, and last year I arrived at the Chinese New Year's Eve and could not finish it." This year, the mother-in-law's body and bones are getting worse and worse, and she can't make it faster, and she is tossing good material in vain. ”

Cao's original intention is that there are many things this year, the expenses are huge, and the year-end harvest is much behind that of previous years. The old lady thought that it was because she was stingy, but she didn't make it clear, so the old lady scolded her: "What do the children expect all year round? I'm getting older for a year, and I can't finish the year or two when I run out of food and clothing. It won't cost you a few taels of silver. When I opened my eyes, I saw that everything was harmonious and beautiful, bright and beautiful. It's a shame that we are still a big mansion, and we have been with the queen mother's family, so if we are so small, wouldn't it be a joke to spread it. ”

The old lady asked Zhu'er to find a tailor again, and asked her to tell the eldest girl Zhuang Hu that the mother-in-law who made new clothes in previous years had poor eyesight, and asked her to help change to another family. specially quietly asked Zhuang Hu to do it privately, threatening that the new clothes would not be spent in the public school, and the old lady would pay for it out of her own pocket. Zhuang Hu responded to find someone while delivering a message to Cao's family.

Cao Shi was angry, so he went to Shouzhongju alone to explain to the old lady, saying that he was not stingy, and he didn't have to do it. The old lady didn't investigate it either, and moved the errand back from Zhuang Hu's hands to the Cao family.

When he came out of the old lady, the Cao family found Zhuang Hu, thanked her, and said: "Brother Tong and Liangxiu have also grown up, so I will be the master, and I will add a few more bodies to their brothers and sisters this year." ”

Zhuang Hu just laughed, didn't thank her, didn't talk, and listened to it.

When Cao went back, he asked people to find some old satin from the storehouse and distribute it to them, saying that all the old satin was made for the new ones. The materials of the girls and gentlemen let the cloth merchants contribute, and they all need to be used in a new way. In this way, the mother-in-law who was rushing to make clothes was called. Who knows, when I looked for the woman, I couldn't find anyone.

The woman surnamed Ma, known as the gold-fingered Ma Po, the tailor's craft can be counted in Kyoto, in the first few years she gave the palace a batch of new goods, which was committed, because her husband was on an errand in the Zhuang Mansion, so she asked the Zhuang Mansion to help. Where do the old men who walk among the officials in the Zhuang Mansion care about this? Zhuang Lu was busy with business, and he didn't want to ask about it, so he left it to Cao's family to deal with, Cao's family saw that his mother-in-law's family was pitiful, and he reached out a little to help, but he only asked someone to pass some words in the palace, and asked his mother-in-law's family to make up some silver, and then settled it. Therefore, Ma Pozi's family regards the Cao family as a benefactor, and the only one is the first to look forward. After that, some of Cao's business was run by errands, and the unsightly things were all run by Ma Pozi's family. Naturally, the garment-making work of Zhuangfu in recent years has fallen into the hands of Ma Pozi. Few people in the house know these stories, Zhuang Hu and Juste know about them, so the old lady let Zhuang Hu pick them up, how dare Zhuang Hu? Baba went to tell the Cao family, it's just a favor, that's the reason.

Ma Pozi originally lived in Jingxi Street, and after committing a crime, her family moved to Beixiang Hutong Street. Many of the shops on that street were the commercial businesses of the Zhuang Mansion, and many of the workers who worked there were scattered there. Therefore, the people gathered there are all three religions and nine streams, and snakes and dragons are mixed. For convenience, the Cao family asked Ma Pozi's family to move again, near the backyard of Beifu, which is also a quadrangle courtyard, not very large, and they live very stable.

Ma Pozi gave birth to a son and a daughter, the son was named Ma *, married a woman named Pan as his wife, and had a grandson in a year, and the son was killed because of her crime in the palace. Ma Pozi fell ill for this, and she cried and shouted and begged the Cao family to call the shots, and she must arrest the Pan family back. The Cao family should have responded, and did not send anyone to do it. After a year or two, the mother-in-law and her husband lived with her grandson, and there was nothing again. Her daughter is known as Ma Dajiao because of her big feet, and she is now an errand boy in Cao's mansion.

Now that the Cao family handed over the errand to Ma Pozi, they asked her daughter Ma Dajia to call and command. Let Ma Dajia rush back and call her mother. Ma Dajia is a dull person, and he works with another woman named Fei Jiu, another henchman of the Cao family, and runs away as an overseer. Let's not talk about their work here, just say that Ma Dajia got Cao's support and went back to inform Ma Pozi.

Who knew that Ma Dajia had just arrived home, and saw a bunch of people around the house, holding torches, shouting and threatening to burn the Ma family to take revenge. Seeing that the crowd was powerful, Ma Dajia didn't dare to enter, and quietly turned around to find her master Fei Jiu. Who knew that this woman was rude and hot-tempered. Hearing that his family members were being bullied, he rushed to Ma's house and shouted at a group of guys to come to Ma's house, and used all his hands and feet to blast out the group of people who were making trouble. The gang was not convinced, and sued the government overnight. The next day, the government came and arrested the Ma family and imprisoned them.

So, Ma Dajia panicked, and begged Fei Jiu to go with him to tell Cao's family.

Cao was surprised, so he asked, "Your family is fine, why was you arrested?" ”

It stands to reason that the Cao family has been able to walk in black and white over the years, and people from all walks of life do not look at the face of the second master Zhuang Lu, but also look at the face of her business status, and the people around her, those outside have to give a little face.

Ma Dajiao's words were not clear, and Fei Jiu helped explain: "Her nephew married a little daughter-in-law, and the little daughter-in-law has a big problem with her body and bones, and she has a disease. I decided to give money, brought the person back, and after a few days of raising, he fell ill, and someone asked a doctor to come and see, but it turned out to be tuberculosis. The Ma family was angry and sent it back, but they didn't accept it and didn't return the money. Her mother's temperamental wife knows, how can she suffer again? Their sister-in-law rolled up the cover, and she still can't swallow that breath after many years. Now I'm even more unconvinced. ”

The more Cao listened, the more strange it became: "In this buying and selling transaction, how can there be purchases and returns?" Ma Pozi doesn't talk about credit first, and she should inquire clearly, which will blame others. ”

Fei Jiudao: "That's what I said, but the family is poor and deceives and calculates people together." Knowing that the little daughter-in-law had that disease, he took a few pieces of silver. This is so cheap, who does it give it to and who doesn't? I saw that if the daughter-in-law was not sick, she would look a little bit like her. ”

Cao Shi smiled: "Who is the blame? Later, how could the people of the Ma family be arrested? Since you don't accept the lawsuit to the government, you will also arrest that family? Anti-defendant, is this a shame to pass out? ”

Fei Jiu said: "Mrs. doesn't know, Ma Pozi can't retire, she comes back to drive away the little daughter-in-law day and night, and the little daughter-in-law doesn't leave because of illness." The mother-in-law was angry and beat her day and night. I want her to die early and walk away. Unexpectedly, he hit the little daughter-in-law to death. ”

After hearing this, Cao Shi was stunned for a long time.

At this side, Ma Dajiao burst into tears and begged, asking Cao to save her parents from prison.

Cao Shi began to scold Mrs. Ma for being ruthless and vicious, and then thought that no one did the manual work that the old lady had explained, and then asked someone to do it, and she had to tailor the girls and boys one by one, which was quite painstaking. Therefore, he sighed: "Has the official sentence been judged?" ”

Fei Jiu said: "Pointing to these two days, it will be sentenced." The family joined relatives and friends to make a public court, asking the government to sentence one life to one life. ”

Cao Shi pondered: "If the little daughter-in-law is sick, she won't be able to endure it for a few days." Even if you let it be raised, can it be raised? ”

Ma Dajia said: "My mother said that her daughter-in-law coughed up blood, and it will be sooner or later." Who knew it was going so fast. ”

Cao Shi said coldly: "If you can die naturally, you won't do your business, who told you to rush to death?" Look, you can't get any better now. This is retribution. ”

Ma Dajiao knelt down and kowtowed and pleaded. Cao couldn't see it, so he asked her to go back first. Later, let Fei Jiu go to the warehouse to find someone to cut some satin and send it to Ma's house to wrap it for the little daughter-in-law. At the same time, he asked Guiyuan to ask someone to buy some silver to find outside, and roughly let people go to the government for private purposes. In the evening, Ma Pozi came out and led Ma Dajia to kneel and thank Cao.

Cao said: "Help, there are two times, and they will help back." That's not helping, it's my own business. You say that I have no relationship with you and no reason, why am I tossing this? ”

Ma Pozi flattered: "That's the wife's kindness and help us." It is said that a good person like his wife, how can he not be saved when he dies? Don't say that my wife is in a rich and noble township, and she is not sophisticated, we see, my wife is a living Buddha and immortal, even if she is not close, she is close to everyone. The heart Buddha is boundless, and the good thoughts are heavenly. People like us will offer incense day and night in the future to wish my wife a long life. ”

Cao's heart was lifted, his face was not very affected, and his heart was beautiful. So he said, "Okay, okay, you can tell the dog in our yard these words!" Tell me it's not going to work. I will suppose you have saved the money that was scattered. Don't take the clothes of the girls at the back. ”

Ma Pozi smiled: "Where is it, Mrs. will give us such a big favor." I have to give my wife a golden thread when I lick it, and I still have to face her to take the silver. ”

Cao said: "Heh, your mouth is full of stinky water, and you take out the silk to sew, I'm afraid that my brothers and sisters won't want to wear it." Then he beckoned Ma Pozi to come up and said, "There are many people this year, and the number of these clothes has increased." Do you do it alone or not? ”

Ma Pozi patted her chest and said: "Don't worry, Mrs., I can't win in previous years, didn't I ask the people inside to free up one or two helpers?" All of them are Mite. ”

Cao smiled: "That's good." You rushed Ming'er to measure the size of our grandmother in the house first, and then came to our north mansion to measure the new aunt. The new aunt has a belly, you know it in your heart, don't be small, don't use the material used by the dead. If you're not careful, I won't ask someone to get you out if you go in again. ”

Ma Pozi smiled and knelt in front of Cao's to help beat her legs. Waiting for the Cao family to get busy, Ma Pozi asked Gui Yuan to talk again, and gave Gui Yuan some silver in private, so that she could help Cao more in the future. Gui Yuan accepted the money and pointed out: "Mrs. just forgot to say, there are still a few girls on the old lady's side, don't forget to measure your body." ”

Therefore, Mrs. Ma thanked and thanked her, turned to her daughter and said, "Fortunately, I am talking to Miss Guiyuan, otherwise I don't know the person on the old lady's side." If my wife doesn't remind me, you don't say anything, so why didn't you forget to remind me? ”

Ma Dajia said: "Mrs. doesn't like Miss Qi in Jinghua Xieri. ”

Ma Pozi's "oh" sentence is meaningful, and I think about it carefully.

Next.

Ma Pozi took advantage of the Zhuang Mansion to wake up and came to the East Mansion to measure the figure of Huiyuan-the eldest grandmother. Zhuang Ju knew that Mrs. Ma was coming, so she brought Zhuang Ying, Zhuang Yu, Zhuang Jue, Zhuang Ying and Zhuang Yu to the rolling garden.

Because Zhuang Qitou heard about Ma Pozi's family affairs at night, he felt very strange and wanted to inquire about the little daughter-in-law, and in addition, he also wanted to discuss with her about the new clothing style and tailoring. Who knows, Zhuang Ju is high-profile, and he talked and laughed with the girls all the way and said that he went to the rolling garden to tailor clothes, and the girls looked good at these freshness, and there were a few people who followed.

A group of people Yingying Yanyan traveled all the way, Zhuang Ying saw it on the locust tree road, and on a whim, he intercepted Zhuang Qian and asked, Zhuang Qian replied: "Listen to the news." When I listen to it, I suggest to your wife and the old lady that I also ask you and your second brother for a child daughter-in-law. ”

Zhuang Jue didn't know the story, so he said, "What is the news?" ”

Zhuang Qi smiled: "How do I know at this moment? If you know it, you won't go! With that, he took Zhuang Yu away and rushed to the East Mansion.

At the moment, the sky is sparse and snowflakes are falling. I heard someone exclaim: "It's snowing, it's snowing!" ”

Zhuang Jue looked up, and the sky was falling, fluttering and flickering. He stretched out his hand to his chest to take it, only to see a small clump of white velvet falling on the palm of his hand. Originally, he wanted to go back, but because it was snowing, he turned around and went into Zhongfu Jinghua Xie.

Before entering the yard, he shouted: "Sister, it's snowing." Younger sister! Come out and see! Come out and see! ”

Yu Qi, Sanxi, and Zisu were packing up the quilt that the old lady had just rewarded, and when they heard Zhuang Yu's call, they hurriedly greeted them.

When I went outside the hospital, I saw a lot of velvet. Zhuang Jue pulled Yu Qi down the steps with great interest, and before Yu Qi could react, he said again: "It's rare to have snow, and my sister doesn't have to sit at home." Let's go, find them to brand plum blossoms. ”

Without waiting for Yu Qi to refute and speak, he had already pulled her out of Zhongfu and rushed to Zhongfu Rolling Garden.

Behind him, Zisu took a cloak and handed it to Sanxi, urging her to take it and put it on for Yu Qi. When he arrived at Dongfu, Yu Qi really couldn't run, so he rested, and then Sanxi chased after him, and while giving Yu Qi a cloak, he blamed Zhuang Jue: "Master, you're going to die, you're going to die!" The girl's body is good, and you don't care about her at all. Call the girl sick, and I will sue you old lady and make you beautiful. ”

Zhuang Jue smiled and apologized, and said: "Every day, I see that my sister and sister-in-law have a good relationship. Since my sister-in-law passed through the door, I think you seem to be unfamiliar, and my sister must want to talk to her too. Why not take advantage of this time to come and walk around? They've just arrived, and I've heard that the tailor is here too! And the news to listen to. I'm well-intentioned, sister, don't blame me. ”

After hearing this, Yu Qi was stunned for a moment.