Chapter 180 Gathering (Part 2)
The grandmother looked embarrassed.
If it was normal, Eleventh Lady would not force her. But thinking of Sixth Lady's high profile, Eleventh Lady could not help but ask.
"Sister-in-law, you treat me like your own sister." She appealed to her feelings, "I am willing to discuss anything with you. Is there anything you cannot say?"
The grandmother was silent for a while, then whispered, "To be honest, I can't really say why Mom's condition has worsened."
Eleventh Lady looked at the grandmother in surprise.
The eldest grandmother smiled bitterly, "Dad arrived the night before yesterday. There were so many people in the house at once that there was no room for them. Mother was a little unhappy at the time, but seeing that Dad was in high spirits, he said that he knew that Mom was sick and was worried that there was no one to serve her. Fourth brother's wife was also a new daughter-in-law, so he brought them all to Yanjing to kowtow to Mom and take care of her. Mother didn't know what to say at the time, so she reluctantly drank the daughter-in-law tea offered by Fourth brother's wife. When it was time to divide the residence, according to Mother's wishes, Fourth Uncle and Fourth Grandma would continue to live in the original east room, and several concubines and Twelve Niang would live in the back room. Who knew that Fourth brother's wife said, How can a son and his wife live in the same courtyard with his father-in-law and mother-in-law, while letting the concubines and young ladies who have not yet married live in the back room? I asked to move to the back room and live with Twelve Niang. Mother thought that the fourth sister-in-law had just come in and was talking nonsense, so she scolded her. Although she admitted her fault, she still insisted on moving to the back room. But father thought that the fourth sister-in-law made sense, so he nodded and agreed. Mother was so angry that she was shaking..." Then he sighed, "It was also my fault for not paying attention. If I had paid attention at that time, maybe there would not be any later incidents, and mother would not have..."
Eleventh Lady was stunned.
Zhou doesn't seem to be a fool. Why does she confront the first wife and refuse to give in when faced with difficulties?
Is this what is called a pier?
She couldn't help but ask, "What happened next?"
The eldest grandmother said, "Seeing that mother was not feeling well, Xu Ma hurried to comfort her. But mother suddenly asked what plans fourth uncle had for the future. She also said that now that he had started a family, he could no longer just go to the account office with a pair of cards to withdraw money as he did before. In the future, he had to follow the old family rules, not separate the family, and his food and accommodation were provided by the public, with a standard allowance of twenty taels of silver per year. She also said that fourth uncle grew up in front of her, and he didn't have a proper job, so it was really difficult for him to live such a hard life all of a sudden. He was given a standard allowance of fifty taels of silver per year. The other thirty taels would be deducted from mother's standard allowance."
The first wife wants to sanction Luo Zhensheng financially.
This is a really cruel move!
It was equivalent to pinching Luo Zhensheng's throat directly.
"After hearing this, Fourth Uncle and Fourth Sister-in-law hurriedly bowed to the First Madam and thanked her. Fourth Uncle even said that Lord Zhou had a classmate named Xie who was serving as the county magistrate of Shangyuan County and was in need of an accountant. Lord Zhou recommended Fourth Uncle and asked him to bring his family along..."
There was a glimmer of strangeness in Eleventh Lady's eyes.
I really didn't realize that Zhou had this ability. No wonder she insisted on living in the back room.
"…Mother was very upset at the time. She questioned my fourth uncle, saying, "We have invited a famous scholar to teach you the way of sages at home since you were a child. Is it just for you to work as an accountant?"
"My fourth uncle was so frightened that his face turned pale, and his eyes were fixed on my fourth brother's wife.
"My fourth brother's wife smiled and stepped forward, saying that my fourth uncle has started a family now, and he can't just think about playing like before, he has to do some serious work. Economics and official career are inseparable. Although this accountant is humble, it will be of great benefit to my fourth uncle to follow Master Xie to see the world and learn how others cultivate themselves and manage their families. Anyway, my fourth uncle is still young, and it may be better for him to travel outside for a few years, gain some experience, and then come back to study hard, rather than staying at home every day to study like now."
"What did Fourth Brother say?" Eleventh Lady asked hurriedly.
The key to a fight between a daughter-in-law and her mother-in-law is the husband. If the husband can stand firmly on the side of the daughter-in-law, the mother-in-law usually has no way to stop him. But Luo Zhensheng is a man whose legs go weak when he sees the first wife...
"I don't know what has blinded Fourth Uncle's heart." The eldest grandmother said helplessly, "After hearing what Fourth Brother's wife said, she nodded repeatedly. She said that she didn't know how hard Mother worked before, but now that he has a family, although he can't say that he can bring honor to the Luo family, he can't lose face for the Luo family. Then Lord Xie also said that he should be an accountant first, and if he does well, it is not impossible for him to be a banker in the future. He also laughed and said that anyway, when the eldest brother becomes an official in the future, he will always need a banker to be around, and it will be the same when he comes back to help your eldest brother."
"Mother's face was not happy, but father clapped his hands and said 'good', saying that he had never expected that Fourth Uncle would get married and become sensible. He also praised Fourth Brother's wife."
"My mother asked, if that's the case, why did you tell me now? She has been worried for nothing all these days!"
"Dad looked at Fourth Uncle, and Fourth Uncle looked at Fourth Sister-in-law. Fourth Sister-in-law laughed and said that because she hadn't discussed it with Mom, Master Xie didn't make the final decision. She also said that when she was at her mother's house, she had heard of Mom's reputation. She said that when Dad was an official, she took care of the elderly, raised the children, and managed family affairs. She was a remarkable woman in Yuhang who was as capable as any man. When she got married, her mother had told her that she should discuss everything with her mother-in-law. That's why she didn't say anything beforehand. She planned to find time to talk to Mom after seeing her, but who knew that when Mom asked what Fourth Uncle was going to do in the future, Fourth Uncle blurted it out... She also pulled Fourth Uncle to kneel before Dad, asking Dad not to blame her."
Eleventh Lady could imagine the scene at that time.
Even if the eldest master disliked Luo Zhensheng, he was still his son. Now that his son knew how to make progress, he would be happier than if he himself had recovered.
"When Dad heard this, he immediately took Fourth Uncle with him happily. He said Fourth Uncle's intention was enough, and the foundation of a man's life was still studying. He resigned from Mr. Xie's position for the time being and told him to study hard at home. As for the money, he told him not to worry. In addition to the 20 taels of silver from the public treasury and the 30 taels of silver from mother, Dad will take out 200 taels of silver from his own salary every year."
Eleventh Lady took a breath of cool air.
She thought she was a good planner, but she didn't expect that there was someone even better at planning lurking ahead...
"Dad also asked your eldest brother. "You don't have any opinions, do you?"
"You also know your eldest brother, he always hopes that all the brothers and sisters in the family are well. Not only did he say "no opinion", he also said that he would give 20 taels of silver to Fourth Uncle every year. He wanted Fourth Uncle to study hard and strive to pass the imperial examination to become a judge or a Jinshi, so that he and his brothers could serve in the same court as Dad and uncles and bring honor to the family."
"Who would have known that as soon as your eldest brother finished speaking, mother... became ill."
Eleventh Lady didn't know what to say.
The eldest wife was usually very kind to the concubines and concubines in the family, but she had always disliked them in her heart. Now she was sick in bed and was in a bad mood. Then there was the arrival of Yu Hangzhong, then the eldest master's insistence on Zhou, and Luo Zhenxing's final statement, and the strings in the eldest wife's heart finally broke...
…
In winter, it gets dark early, so the Luo family arranged dinner at 3 p.m. At the beginning of the evening, everyone said goodbye and went home.
The Sixth Aunt asked the Fifth Aunt to come and see the Eleventh Aunt off.
The eldest lady was only concerned with talking to Si Niang and tried to avoid her.
Fifth Aunt looked around at the faces that either ignored them or smiled kindly at them, and thought of the past days...she couldn't help but burst into tears.
So, I guess we've finally made it, right?
Eleventh Lady looked at Fifth Aunt, who was silent but full of excitement, with tears in her eyes, and whispered, "I'm fine. Don't worry. Even though I'm in Yanjing, just treat it as if you were in Yuhang!"
The Fifth Aunt thought her daughter was worried that she was not used to it, so she said hurriedly, "The eldest master, the eldest mistress, and the eldest grandmother are all very kind to me, you don't have to worry about it."
With such an answer, Shiyi Niang couldn't say anything even if she had a thousand words to say.
The two looked at each other in silence.
Character determines destiny. Fifth Aunt has always been weak. Although she is beautiful, no one can regard her as an enemy...either because they disdain it or because it is unnecessary. This is also a kind of blessing!
Eleventh Lady smiled in relief and bowed to Fifth Aunt: "Then I will go back first!"
"Thank the Madam for me." - The Madam specially brought bird's nests for the Fifth Aunt.
Eleventh Lady smiled and nodded: "I will."
The fifth aunt saw her off to the carriage.
When the car was about to start, he caught up again and said, "Wait a minute."
Eleventh Lady lifted the curtain: "Aunt, do you have any other instructions?"
Fifth Aunt bit her lip and looked at Eleventh Aunt with a blushing face.
Eleventh Lady sent away the maid who was following the carriage and the driver who was driving the carriage, and stuck her head out.
The Fifth Aunt then whispered, "Don't get pregnant so early... Get yourself well first."
Eleventh Lady couldn't help but burst into tears.
Only a daughter-in-law who has given birth to a son can gain a firm foothold in her husband's family. But at her age, childbirth is a hurdle. Although wealth and glory are good, as a mother, she is more concerned about her daughter's life.
She smiled and nodded, but tears fell like pearls.
As if relieved of a heavy burden, Fifth Aunt's expression relaxed. She smiled and waved to Eleventh Lady, "Go back quickly! Listen to the words of the Madam and the Marquis."
Eleventh Lady nodded and lowered the curtain.
The carriage quickly drove out of Gongxian Hutong with a "clattering" sound.
…
Sister Zhen showed the gift she received from the Luo family to the lady.
"…This was given to me by my new aunt, this was given to me by my fifth aunt, and this was given to me by my third grandmother!"
The lady looked at the jade pendant given by the Fifth Aunt carefully, and teased Zhen Jie'er with a smile: "There are some good things in our sister's mirror table."
Sister Zhen smiled with her lips pursed.
The lady unfolded the two silk handkerchiefs.
One is embroidered with a cat rolling an embroidered ball, and the other is embroidered with Magu paying her respects to her birthday.
Mother Du hurriedly handed the glasses over.
The lady looked at her for a long while, then raised her head and smiled at Shiyi Niang, "This new aunt has quite a skillful hand."
Thinking of her fight with the first wife, Eleventh Lady couldn't help but laugh and said, "She's quite capable!"
The lady let Zhenjie hold her handkerchief and said, "Capable people are usually very dexterous. When your mother Du was still a little girl, she was very good at cutting paper-cuts. I kept her in the house because I saw how dexterous she was..." and talked about the past.
Mother Du laughed at the side. "Our fourth wife is also very skillful. She knew how to make paper-cut paper-cuts just from the beginning. In fact, everyone around you is skillful."
"Are you praising my daughter-in-law or yourself?" The lady laughed, and everyone in the room laughed along, and the atmosphere in the room was very cheerful.
The lady asked Eleventh Lady: "What did you ask the Imperial Household Department to make? I see that the chessboard doesn't look like a chessboard, and the stool doesn't look like a stool..."