Chapter 106 Chapter 106 Two Chapters in One
Jinniang watched the show at Zhen's house and drank a cup of wine. She looked calm, but as soon as she got home, she told Jiang Xian about the incident: "I didn't expect that she would be so reckless and even blackmail me."
"My wife, let's settle all the new and old grudges together." Jiang Xian said hatefully.
Jinniang finally nodded: "Then I will send someone to keep an eye on her family. If she does anything illegal, she will be punished."
Even if you are setting up a scheme, you have to have reasons and evidence.
Jiang Xian smiled lightly, "My lady, I know you always hope to solve your own problems, but this person will never give up for money. There is a saying that people die for money and birds die for food. My lady, don't underestimate her. You are kind and righteous, and you have never seen such a person. But I often encounter such people when I handle cases every day. We must strike first."
I only heard Jinniang say, "I know that I am always on the defensive, afraid of making mistakes, so I ask you for help. But I also want to be a good person, so am I being bad if I let you get your hands dirty for my sake?"
It is difficult for a woman to admit that she has desires, even if she herself has this problem.
Unexpectedly, Jiang Xian held Jinniang's shoulders and said, "My silly wife, I am your husband. If I don't help you vent your anger when you are angry, then am I still worthy of being your husband? What's more, you should think that it is because of you that I am willing to clear everything for you."
"But she is a woman in the inner house, and your hands can't reach that far, right? Xianlang, if you want to catch her with something, it has to be a real handle." Jinniang was moved and happy.
Jiang Xian said, "Ever since I knew that this person had humiliated you, I knew that this day would come, so I had already sent people to keep an eye on her. I thought that this person was so cruel and ruthless at a young age, and with the upbringing she had, she wouldn't be much better even when she grew up, so I was prepared."
In fact, he felt that his wife was too polite. She was afraid to trouble him with such a small matter.
Why is this happening? Is it because I haven't shown it clearly enough?
Thinking of this, Jiang Xian felt aggrieved and accidentally said what was in his heart: "After all, my wife is afraid that relying on me will become a habit. If one day I have second thoughts, my wife will have nowhere to live. Is that right or not?"
Jinniang was stunned. He really hit the nail on the head about what was on her mind.
Seeing Jinniang remained silent, Jiang Xian said pitifully, "Madam, you are much more charming than me. I am always afraid that someone will take a fancy to you. I am afraid that my official position cannot protect you. How can you worry that I have two hearts?"
Jinniang's face lit up after hearing these words. She laughed again and said, "What nonsense are you talking about?"
The couple exchanged a few caring words, and Jiang Xian waited until the evening before instructing the silly-looking Liu Dou'er, "Go and tell Old Man Liu in Xishan, that's all."
Liu Douer nodded.
It is also said that this week, Madam Zhou was ridiculed by Jinniang, and her grief and anger turned into a ball of anger. On the way back, she said to Madam He: "Aunt, Jiang Xian's wife is the needlework girl you sent to our house in Tokyo that year."
She originally thought that Madam He would share the same hatred with her, but she never expected that after hearing this, Madam He pondered for a long time before saying, "No wonder she doesn't associate with my family?"
Madam Zhou Er took the opportunity to say, "Yes, she is afraid that we will expose her shame. She is a maid, so why don't you dare to admit it? This person is treacherous, eccentric, and stubborn, speaks falsely but argues, remembers ugly things but is knowledgeable, and is generous when she follows the wrong. She doesn't even dare to admit her own identity, and only dares to associate with the Wei family to raise her status. We—"
"Huihui, shut up." Mrs. He scolded.
Mrs. Zhou Er didn't understand: "Auntie..."
Madam He was also confused: "Even if she used to be a maid, she is no longer a maid now. Does she have any grudge against you?"
Mrs. Zhou Er said, "This person was always lazy when she was working in my house. She didn't know much and flattered the powerful and looked down on the weak. My mother was very angry. But my family has always been tolerant, so we never care about it. I don't know how such a person could marry Jiang Xian. After all, the Jiang family is my aunt and my mother's family, so I was angry for a while."
Mrs. He was a little unconvinced, so she said, "You are talking nonsense again. When your elder sister got married, your mother wrote to me and said that the person I recommended was good."
"Except for her, everyone else works hard." Mrs. Zhou Er said hurriedly.
Madam He frowned, and after a while she said, "I didn't expect that we would have such a grudge. If so, we should avoid it. Now her husband is the magistrate of this prefecture, and she herself is related to the Wei Dacao family. Why should we make enemies? If you know about this, don't make a fuss about it."
Mrs. Zhou had no choice but to agree.
But I always feel dissatisfied in my heart. Why does that lowly bastard live better than me? So many people are fawning on her today. Her Zhou family has been a family of distinguished people for generations, but she is honored to be at the bottom of the family. Isn't that really uncomfortable?
But she didn't expect Jinniang's revenge to come so quickly!
The Song Dynasty Criminal Code explicitly prohibits compound interest, stipulating that "for those who contribute money or property, the monthly interest shall not exceed four percent, and no matter how many days the interest is accumulated, it shall not exceed double the amount." However, because Zhou Erniang was short of money and had no other source of income, she once saw others making money by buying raw silk, so she bought raw silk too, but ended up losing all her money. Later, she dared not take out money at will.
Later, she secretly asked someone to take the money out and lend it out at high interest rates. Since everyone was doing it, even her mother-in-law was not immune, and many officials were doing it. However, she did not expect that the victims would report her lending business to the government, saying that usury had forced the old Sun family in Xishan to death.
You should know that according to the "Song Dynasty Criminal Code", she would be sentenced to 20 strokes of the cane and be put in shackles and displayed in public for one month.
Fortunately, although Mrs. He was very disappointed with her son and daughter-in-law, she let them escape overnight, and the government was unable to catch them. Jiang Xian then asked Judge Dong to issue a warrant for their arrest.
Madam Zhou Er was squeezed in the cramped cabin, sobbing and crying. Now she has become a wanted criminal. My daughter's marriage has also fallen through. She cannot stay in crowded places for long. She will never see the light of day again.
He Sanlang also asked: "Who leaked this? Why didn't Jiang Shiliu help us?"
"Yes." When mentioning Jiang Shiliu, Mrs. Zhou Er felt a little guilty.
As the two were talking, a wave came and He Sanlang sighed quietly, "From now on, we will never see the light of day again." Madam Zhou Er was also crying. How could she be so unlucky? She regretted that something happened to her so soon and that she did not reveal the identity of the servant.
…
After the New Year, classes at the girls' school resumed. Jinniang received several pieces of fine cloth as festival gifts, and asked a tailor to come and make clothes for her daughter, especially as her daughter was getting older, so more clothes needed to be made.
Tailors are different from embroiderers. Tailors specialize in making clothes. Jinniang asked him and Yunjie'er to make five pieces of clothes, Ningge'er to make four pieces, and she and Jiang Xian each made two sets, a total of thirteen pieces, and the wages were three taels and five cents.
After getting the money, the tailor went back and found several other tailors to help him sew the piece together. In just two or three days, the whole piece was finished.
She didn't expect that Jiang Xian had been keeping an eye on Madam Zhou Er since he knew about this matter, and she didn't expect that Madam Zhou Er was not satisfied with her dowry of tens of thousands of taels and went to lend money at high interest. But no matter what, letting her get her comeuppance is a good thing, and you can also get rid of a big worry in your heart. After all, no one likes to have someone spying on you and wanting to harm you anytime and anywhere around them.
Just as I was asking each room to take their clothes back, I saw Dou Yuan coming over.
Jinniang came over with a smile: "Why are you here at this time?"
Dou Yuan was young but had a lot of things to do, so even though they lived across the street from each other, they didn't see each other very often. Seeing that she was silent, Jinniang quickly asked, "Is there something wrong? No matter what it is, tell me and I will help if I can."
"It's not anything else. It's that my third brother's wife is pregnant. I, as her sister-in-law, came into the family earlier than her, but got nothing." When Dou Yuan said this, she touched her belly.
Jinniang could understand this feeling very well. Even though she already had a son and a daughter, Fang's mother felt that the family was too small and asked her to have another child as a insurance policy. Because children were very easy to die in ancient times, Wu was trying to remain calm when she heard the news, but in fact her health was not as good as before.
So, Jinniang comforted her: "Your menstruation is normal, and there is nothing wrong with your body. It is only a matter of time before you get pregnant."
"Cousin, my husband is going to study in Nanjiao soon. What should I do?" Dou Yuan was also helpless. No matter how healthy you are, you can't do anything if your man is not around.
Jinniang said, "Then you have to find a way to have sex more often before he leaves."
How can a couple have a child if they don’t sleep in the same room?
Dou Yuan almost burst into tears when she heard this: "Cousin, my husband actually has someone he likes. I only found out about this after I got married."
White moonlight?
Jinniang was somewhat stunned: "How could this happen? How is this girl now? Is she married?"
"Not yet. She is at home in mourning for her mother who passed away. My husband has always been respectful to me, and I should not have any other thoughts. I should have been more virtuous. But in front of her, I realized that my husband actually knows everything. He is not completely ignorant." Dou Yuan covered her face.
Her parents had never had a good relationship to begin with, and now it was still the same for her.
Jinniang held her shoulders and said, "You are so silly. Think about it, since he married you and treated you as his wife, doesn't that prove that woman is not that good in his heart? As the saying goes, you have to live your life by yourself, you have to have confidence in yourself. I think that woman is pitiful, and your husband is so infatuated with her, but he gave you all his status and money."
In fact, this was the reason why Jinniang liked Jiang Xian so much at that time. He was also a child of aristocratic family. After his family began to decline, he accepted her naturally and never played both sides.
Dou Yuan was a little upset at first, but after hearing this, she sighed, "What my cousin said is right. I feel sorry for Miss Yang. She and her husband are so close, and she is well-educated and well-mannered. But because of some strange mistake, she lost this engagement."
Marriage in ancient times was not free at all, and people in love could not be together, which is why it is so touching and sad.
But Jinniang said softly: "These have nothing to do with you. Don't be so foolish as to sympathize with others and let your guard down."
If such a white moonlight is really invited back home, where will there be room for Dou Yuan? Do the Zhen family really not know about the existence of this Miss Yang? It’s just that the Yang family’s official position is average and cannot compare to the Dou family.
Dou Yuan smiled when she heard Jinniang say this: "Don't worry, cousin, I definitely won't do that."
"Okay, good boy, you should be more determined. If there is anything bad, just come and ask us to go. If you think so, with your status, he will have to serve you uncomfortably." Jinniang knew that even in ancient times, it was not easy to take a concubine. Many families followed the rule of taking a concubine after the age of 40 if they had no children.
The marriage had only been going on for less than three years, so it was expected that the Zhen family would not dare to take in a concubine at will.
Dou Yuan nodded, and she smiled again: "My cousin's wife is really good to me. Whenever I feel depressed, I just talk to you for a while."
"Originally, I had a lot of suggestions to tell you, but I thought that since you have been in the Zhen family for so long, you should understand the personalities and tempers of the Zhen family members better than I do, and know how to act. So your sister-in-law will be your backup. Whatever you need, as long as I have it, I will give it to you." Jinniang also wanted to make a battle robe for her, but she was afraid that Dou Yuan would be slandered because of this. After all, she could do this because she was the head of the family and had a good relationship with Jiang Xian and his wife.
It is also said that Dou Yuan chatted with Jinniang about family matters for a while before leaving and returning to her own home. Just then, she met Madam Zhen who was looking for her, so she went over.
Madam Zhen was smiling and said, "Your sister-in-law's younger brother is going to study in the government school and will be staying at our house. Please help clean up the guest room."
The widowed sister-in-law stayed at home to observe chastity, and her family members respected her very much. Not only did they receive more than ordinary daughters-in-law, but they also took good care of her family. Dou Yuan smiled and said, "Don't worry, I'll go and clean it up right away."
The wife had no free time of her own. When she finished this matter, it was already evening when she returned to her room.
Dou Yuan sat down to eat. Fortunately, she was the housekeeper and everyone knew how to cook her favorite food. While eating, she was also thinking about her husband. What her cousin said was right. She was the tacitly appointed next mistress of the Zhen family. She had a large dowry and was in charge of her husband's family's money. Even if her husband didn't like her, she still had to come back according to the rules. She was not the one who was wronged.
Putting aside her self-pity, Dou Yuan said to the maid beside her, "Send a bowl of this soup to the study as well."
No matter whether he likes it or not, he still has to consider the relationship between husband and wife.
Sure enough, Zhen Erlang came over soon. Dou Yuan was taking off her hairpins and rings, and she said with a smile, "You will go to the South Prison in a few days. The ice on the river has not melted yet, so you can only go there by land. It just so happens that I went to ask my cousin and his wife across the street. My cousin's wife said that someone from the Wei family is going to Luoyang to transport peonies. Do you want to go with them?"
When Zhen Erlang heard that he was going with the Wei family, he said, "It would be nice to go together."
The road is not peaceful now. Even if you are an official, if you are being watched, it is possible that you may be robbed and killed on the way. However, he looked at Dou Yuan and said, "I'm not at home. Sorry to bother you at home."
Knowing that she was working hard, Dou Yuan was no longer aggrieved. She looked at him and said, "If you want to talk about trouble, it is indeed me who is responsible for all the big and small things at home. I am just the housekeeper, and these are what I should do. My third brother's wife is pregnant now, but I have never given birth. I am afraid that I will do something wrong and I don't know the taboos, so I have to ask my cousin's wife for advice."
Zhen Erlang was such a smart man, how could he not understand the implication of her words? After all, for a woman, the most important thing is to have children.
Not to mention that the couple were making love in the mandarin duck tent at night, over there Jinniang was drinking a glass of wine with Jiang Xian. She seldom drank alcohol before, but later she would drink a little before going to bed at night, which would improve her sleep quality, so she would also warm up some wine.
"Madam, Madam Zhou and her husband have long since disappeared, so you can rest assured." Jiang Xian said with a smile.
Jinniang nodded: "Yes, it's her own fault. But the same is true for us. We act uprightly and behave properly, so it's hard for others to find fault with us."
Jiang Xian agreed, and then he said, "I'm afraid Madam He will write a letter to ask the Zhou family to come forward and speak for me in this matter."
This is possible. Madam Zhou has been worrying about her children all her life. It is said that she even helped to arrange her granddaughter's marriage early on. It's a pity that Mrs. Zhou ruined a good hand.
Jinniang was afraid that Jiang Xian would be soft-hearted, so she told her something: "When you and I were getting engaged, I went to Jiang's house once. I don't know if it was intentional or not, but someone told me that you liked Long Yang when I passed by the rockery. Fortunately, I know that when you first met me, your eyes were a little straight, and you really wanted to make contact with me, but you couldn't help but control it, so I think you are not that kind of person."
"What? I thought the Zhou family only said bad things about you to me." Jiang Xian also told them what he heard, that Jinniang became thinner because of her miscarriage.
The two of them were calm and prepared to go to sleep, but when they learned the truth, they cursed each other for half the night.
It was a month later when Mrs. Zhou Jiang received Mrs. He's letter. Mr. Zhou was now old, almost sixty years old. Jiang almost fainted when she received the letter. "Isn't this Xian brother in Daming Prefecture? How could he allow such a thing to happen?"
She now actually regrets marrying her daughter to the He family. At the time, she thought it was a perfect match between relatives. He Sanlang was also a handsome man, and her sister was a good-natured person. I didn't expect the He family to be useless. He Sanlang is a piece of shit that can't be served at a table. He refused to take the obvious path. Now the He family can't even hide her daughter's affairs. They are really useless.
After that, he called Mrs. Zhou San over and told her about this. Originally, she used to dislike having too many people in her family, but now, the only people around her are this concubine's daughter and concubine's son. The concubine's son is young and can't be relied upon for anything, but Zhou Sanniang is the only one who has given her a good marriage.
After hearing this, Zhou Sanniang immediately discussed it with her husband Jiang Fang, and the two of them wrote a letter to Jiang Xian, asking him to help them resolve the situation. Jiang Xian snorted coldly and put the letter aside.
Mrs. He was at her wits' end. Even Dou Yuan didn't invite her to Mrs. Zhen's birthday party in March. This was not a good sign.
However, the He family's affairs were finally over. Jinniang helped her daughter change into new clothes, and they went to the Zhen family to celebrate the birthday and had a feast before returning. After she came back, she began to embroider the peach blossom gauze screen, not wanting her hands to become rusty.
My daughter, Yun Jie'er, is eight years old this year. She is also learning tailoring at the long table next to us. This is a skill that must be learned as a child. Jinniang would not stop her from doing it out of pity for her daughter. Instead, she said, "You must follow the measurements. Don't cut it randomly. Do you hear me?"
"Mom, I know. Do you know? I am the best at needlework in the school. Even Madam Chen said that my basic skills are solid. Now we are learning how to make incense and mount things. Madam Chen really knows a lot." Sister Yun was not very adaptable when she first went to the Wei family, but now she really likes studying.
Unfortunately, she sighed again: "Mom, the eldest sister of the Wei family will not be able to come to the study to study with us soon, because she has been promised to be married."
Jinniang said, "Even if you are promised a marriage, you don't get married right away, so why can't you go to a girls' school?"
Aren’t they all within the second gate? There is no need to do this.
Sister Yun shook her head: "I don't know why either."
"That's right, you little kids don't understand these things. But you can't be like this, you should study hard. Mounting is also a job. There are special mounting shops on the street now. You see, sometimes I have to ask your father to frame my embroidery pieces." Jinniang hoped that her daughter would study more and not get married too early, otherwise she would be constantly gossiping about family matters.
There are very few people like her and Jiang Xian who can maintain their original lives.
After the mother and daughter finished their needlework, Jinniang read a book, and Yunjie also went back to her room to read. Their family seldom hires singers or musicians, nor does it often host banquets. There are not many people coming and going at home, and most of the time the house is very quiet, so one can concentrate on work.
Children usually go through a rebellious period in their teens, especially when they lack self-control and are prone to bad behavior. According to Jiang Xian himself, he loved to talk back when he was twelve or thirteen years old.
It was also said that Madam Qian's daughter-in-law married from far away, so the woman's side originally wanted to invite a married man, but now the man's side helped her to invite one. Jinniang went there as a blessed person, and Madam Qian was not polite to her, so her help was not in vain. He gave her a string of crystal beads from Dali, a pair of pearl and gemstone earrings, two pomegranate skirts, a piece of square magpie brocade, a piece of inverted fairy peony brocade, two pieces of white silk from Zizhou, and a load of tea cakes.
Of course, Jinniang was also dressed elegantly, wearing a golden crown and brocade clothes, a crystal necklace on her chest, and two jewel rings on her hands, which added a lot of luster to Madam Qian.
As for the process, Jinniang is so familiar with it that she is even more professional than Xiniang, which is really impressive.
Jinniang was sincerely grateful to her mother-in-law for setting an example for her, otherwise, she would not have embarked on the path of a blessed person.
She collected all the money and took her husband to have a look. She said, "Look, we have new treasures in our storehouse. In a few years, we will go back and buy a big house. If the money is not enough, we can use the things as collateral."
"My lady is so amazing." Jiang Xian felt that what else he could say was nothing more than applauding.
Jinniang smiled and said nothing. The next day, she sent a set of embroidered clothes of the second Qiao and Peony to Madam Wei. She said, "Although Peony has not arrived yet, I will embroider a set for you first."
Gold and jade objects can easily give people a chance to criticize them, and Mrs. Wei has all the good things. What she thinks is precious may not be appreciated by others. Besides, she didn't really need any help from the Wei family, so sending her embroidered clothes was the most appropriate.
Mrs. Wei never wore the clothes given as a gift, thinking they were too common. But the clothes Jinniang gave her today were so beautiful. The bodice was magnolia-colored with a six-harmony ruyi pattern, and she wore a folded skirt with a blue background and a peony pattern underneath, an orange shirt over it, and a full-collared long jacket embroidered with the two Qiao sisters and peonies on the outside.
"Mrs. Third Aunt has really skillful hands." Even the mother beside Mrs. Wei praised her.
Jinniang smiled and said, "As long as my sister-in-law likes it, that's good."
She really didn't want anything. They were related to her and they were her backers. This was also a way of currying favor and showing her her appreciation.
Mrs. Wei was originally waiting for Jinniang to make some requests. After all, most people who sent gifts to her were either asking for wealth or official positions. She didn't expect that they would leave after sending the gifts. She also sent someone to inquire: "See if Jiang Xian has encountered any difficulties?"
The person who got the information replied, "No, Magistrate Jiang is good at solving big cases, and he is considered a young talent."
Madam Wei thought to herself, does she really treat us as family?
The so-called relatives are only natural blood relations. If they are not maintained through nurture, that is all. Like Jinniang, she doesn't come often, but every time she comes, she is just right. She doesn't cause any burden to others, nor does she make others forget about her.
It is true that relationships are like flowers, which need to be watered frequently, but not over-irrigated.
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