Chapter 117 Chapter 117
"Bi lent money at interest, deceived his superiors and deceived his subordinates, and harmed his descendants. This is intolerable under the national law and the family law. The clan members have decided to let your uncle divorce her, but the family shame cannot be made public, so she was sent to the family temple to become a nun. No servants are allowed to serve her, and she is not allowed to take away any thread. Wang also violated the national law and was imprisoned in the nunnery for ten years to serve as a warning to others..."
Shen Linfeng read to Yao Niang that the letter was brought by Shen Mo, who accompanied her husband to the capital.
Yao Niang was about to give birth, and she felt relieved when she heard about the fate of Mrs. Shen Er: "I think for someone like her who has enjoyed a life of luxury, being bullied and humiliated is the life she least wants to live."
Shen Linfeng nodded: "Yes, I think so too. As the saying goes, those who do too much evil will eventually perish. Yao Niang, you are about to give birth, so don't worry so much and just take care of the present."
"Well, speaking of which, your sister is coming to the capital, and we haven't held a welcoming party yet. I plan to prepare two tables of banquets to invite Aunt Pang and Auntie to join us." Although Yao Niang didn't like Shen Mo very much, she had to be polite and courteous enough so that no one could find fault with her.
If nothing else, it was because Shen Linfeng had nothing to say about the Yan family and treated his own parents like his own parents. No matter what she thought about Shen Mo in her heart, she had to be considerate on the surface.
Shen Linfeng said: "Why bother coming here? I still need you to take care of it."
"It's just a matter of giving orders. You should also find out the character of Aunt Pang. We can see if we can get along with this person." Yao Niang said with a smile.
Shen Linfeng nodded: "Then I'll trouble you, madam."
Yao Niang shook her head: "I still have to add makeup for my sister, how can it be considered as trouble? You are so filial to my mother and father, this is what I should do."
It is also said that when the news of the second wife's experience reached the first wife, she did not think it was a big deal, as Yao Niang was not the kind of person who liked to take advantage, but the third wife had already started to act. Grandma Qing used the excuse that the second wife asked her to look after the second wife's former residence before she left, and at night, she and Shen Linqing and his wife transported out many valuables that the second wife had not yet taken away, and locked them up well.
They were very brave in this matter, but Yao Niang had bribed several servants in the second house, and Zhou Wang's wife often inquired about it, so they naturally knew all this.
Zhou Wang's wife said, "Grandma, you don't know that Grandma Qing packed all her treasures in the big gold-painted box. She also took 10 of the 18 beds that belonged to Second Madam Yan and Second Madam, and gave the other eight to Second Madam Jiang and Third Madam Yun."
This Qingda grandmother is quite a person. If she moved all by herself, it would cause a big commotion, and I'm afraid that the Shao family and Han Ruohua would have gossip. If the three families divide it equally, who will say anything? Everyone keeps a secret together, and no one will reveal it.
"Let them divide it. I don't care about it anyway. Even though the second wife committed a crime, she took advantage of the misfortune and got a fortune. I don't know if she will be able to enjoy it in her life." Yao Niang put down the honey water and said lightly.
Zhou Wang's wife felt very sorry. It was obvious that the second wife would never come back. What was the harm in giving her some of her wealth? Even the former servants of the second wife were running away with their valuables.
But since the master had said so, Zhou Wang's wife did not dare to disobey and just said, "You have nothing. You have too much dowry to get involved. In the past few years, our family has made a lot of money. Why should we compare ourselves with those poor families?"
"Even if you don't have money, there's no need to take advantage of it." Yao Niang shook her head.
Among the people in the third house, the first three sons were born to the same mother. Although Grandma Qing was wary of her two younger siblings, she would still share the benefits with them.
Shao said to Shen Linjiang, "That's good. I'm pregnant again. If it's a girl, then we don't even need to prepare a wedding bed. My eldest sister-in-law said that the servants were reselling the second wife's things like locusts, so we kept them first. If the second wife comes back, we can return them. If not, it won't be a bad deal for those servants."
"It's really unexpected that my second uncle collapsed overnight." Shen Linfeng sighed.
Shao smiled and said, "The good news is that Dalang has been promoted to imperial lecturer. It seems that the emperor has shown some leniency towards our Shen family."
Shen Linjiang was a little worried: "My father is now a man who is looking forward to his fifth year. My eldest brother has not been in office for a long time, and so am I, not to mention Sanlang. When my father retires in the future, do we still have to look at the face of the first wife?"
"I think you don't have to rush. If you are able to take up a government post, it's not a bad idea. But I'm afraid that the benefits will be taken by my elder brother, and there will be nothing left for you. Let's see if we can follow my brother-in-law's path." Shao said.
Shen Linjiang thought that Shao's uncle was born in a poor family, and being the Minister of the Ministry of Rites was already the best he could do, and it would be impossible for him to go any further. Besides, he had his own son, so how could he help him?
Shao didn't want to think too much about these things that were too far-fetched. She just thought that Qing's eldest sister-in-law was smart. Yan from the first wife had a smart face but a stupid mind. The second wife had become like that, but she was completely unaware of it.
Compared to Shao who thought it was natural, Han Ruohua had someone hide it first, and then she saw that Grandma Qing had sent a pile of cloth, all of which were extremely high-quality cloth, two pieces each of Lu silk, Yun silk, and Peng silk, and three pieces each of Goryeo cloth, Japanese silk, and Zhuang silk. Han Ruohua accepted them all.
These were probably things that the Concubine Chang Guifei had once appreciated, but the Second Lady had no time to take them away. After all, there were too many pieces of furniture, so she could only take the expensive ones back. The remaining cloths were heavy and took up space, so they only picked some, and the rest were now all given to the Third Lady at a discount.
Han Ruohua hid it herself, and then said to her chambermaid Xu Mama: "Since we have benefited from this matter, I think we should also thank the eldest sister-in-law. It just so happens that I have a set of flowered dress that I haven't worn yet. Please give it to the eldest sister-in-law for me, and don't let the second sister-in-law know."
Mother Xu thought that Third Grandma was really calculating. She had never worn this floral dress because she thought it was too flowery. It was Madam Shen who had it made by a tailor when she got married. Now she was just giving it to her as a favor.
But this is better than Shaw Brothers. Small favors are still some favors after all. Shaw Brothers may not behave like human beings even if they spend money.
When Han Ruohua's flowered dress was handed over, Grandma Qing saw that it was woven with dense gold thread, but when she put it under her nose and sniffed it, she smelled a scent of camphor.
"I'm afraid this dress has been kept at the bottom of the box for a long time. My third brother's wife is used to being like this. When it comes to being generous, she's actually not as generous as Yan from the first house." Grandma Qing smiled and shook her head.
"Forget it, put your things away. Tomorrow our aunt and Aunt Pang will be back, and we still have to go."
In fact, Grandma Qing was indeed more flexible than Shao, Wang, and even Han Ruohua. She came the earliest on the second day, and had a lively look in her eyes. She also said, "Daughter-in-law Dalang, you are heavy, just let us do whatever you need."
Yao Niang smiled and said, "Sister-in-law Qing, just sit down and talk. Why are you busy?"
Qing Dai said quickly: "Don't worry, we are here."
Grandma Qing saw several plates of snacks and fresh fruits on her table, but she naturally refused to eat them, as it would be unsightly, so she just drank tea and chatted casually: "This time, Aunt Pang is here officially. The last time she came, we were not there."
"We will meet today. Last time, I just talked to my elder sister for a few words. I saw that she looked well." Yao Niang said with a smile.
The grandmother of Qingda University actually told the truth: "Everyone goes through this after they are newly married."
As they were talking, Han Ruohua came over. She asked, "Why don't you see Sister Fu? She usually sits next to you when I come."
"She can't get up today. I'm asking the wet nurse to wake her up." Yao Niang said.
Han Ruohua said: "Children sleep a lot, so it won't hurt if they sleep a little longer."
After Second Madam Shen left, the people in the Third House became much more obedient, and Shao brought her own son over. She now felt superior to all the sisters-in-law because she gave birth to the eldest grandson of the Shen family.
A few people were talking in a nonsensical way when they heard outside that Shen Mo and his wife were coming together. This time, Yao Niang and others went out the second gate to welcome the couple in, and they actually saw the son-in-law of the Pang family.
Surprisingly, Pang Qian was not the Jiangnan talent that one had imagined. He had a round face, two dimples, and was of medium height. He looked like a very friendly person.
Eunuch Shen Mo is now the prefect of Shuntian Prefecture. Although she became a monk at an old age, she comes from an aristocratic family. Her brother is a lecturer in the Hanlin Academy, her dowry is generous, and she herself is eloquent, so she almost took charge of the family business as soon as she entered the house.
"Sister, you have mastered the art of feeding me so quickly. You are truly capable." Yao Niang praised.
Shen Mo still didn't like Yan very much, because these days she found that her brother completely obeyed Yan's words. As a sister-in-law, she couldn't get used to it. Her brother didn't even take a concubine, so it was really too much for her sister-in-law.
But now she is married, so it is impossible for her to say anything directly.
In order to gain face in her parents' home, she even had several carts of gifts brought over by horse-drawn carriages. Seeing this, Yao Niang said, "You got married in Wuxing, and we haven't given you any dowry yet. It's just right that you're here today. Your brother and I have prepared a few loads of dowry for you. You can take them back later."
Grandma Qing didn't expect that Yao Niang had prepared makeup, so she also agreed and privately ordered someone to pack two boxes with crabapple-painted gold patterns.
Now Grandma Qingda has a lot of money in her hands, and she will have to persuade her relatives to speak for her in the future. It is much better to give it to Shen Mo than to Han Ruhua and others.
Shen Mo had never been able to get married before, and her sister-in-law had been alone for many years, and had suffered a lot of rumors. Now that she has returned to her parents' home, she is not willing to go out at night in luxurious clothes. Seeing Sister Fu buy two top-quality jade rings, such rings are worn on the hands of a little fat boy who is just over one year old. Yao Niang can only laugh secretly that her daughter is about to become a female millionaire.
“我願意想着在家多陪陪爹娘的，龐家人非要尋我，遣了媒人上門三次。爹娘見龐家實在是誠心，你姑爺又是個實在人，才嫁與她家。”沈陌說的跟真的似的。
實際上吳興雖然也有些世家，但是留在老家的也都是些庶系旁支或者是致仕官僚，龐謙是因為祖母之故回鄉拜壽。沈夫人和龐老夫人關系不錯，兩家才撮合成，如今這麽說只是沈陌自擡身價而已。
在場的人也并非不清楚怎麽回事，但都在旁聽的認真，仿佛就是那麽一回事。
沈臨風和三房幾位堂兄弟正招待龐謙，龐謙自然也非一般眼力，看的出來沈家下一代幾乎都以沈臨風這裏俯首帖耳。
而他也的确如傳聞所說，吳興沈郎有子建之才，宋玉之貌，嵇康之秉性。
“舅兄真的百聞不得一見。”龐謙道。
沈臨風笑道：“我們兩家何等親近，日後你若有事只管上門來。”
龐謙又說起見聞最近上京的見聞來：“我與娘子在南京時，特地去拜訪了三叔祖，他說讓我多向你請教。”
“請教不敢當，我看你的才學已然很好，假以時日必定東華唱名啊。”沈臨風又舉杯共飲。
席畢，龐謙就帶着沈陌先回家了，約定日後請他們過去玩兒，沈臨風送他們出門之後就立馬去了書房。
沈臨清和沈臨江還問：“你今日不是休沐嗎？”
“我近來正在學寫青詞，平日公務繁忙，休沐時倒是有些功夫。兩位兄長若無什麽事情，我就先去書房了。”沈臨風跟在顏應祁身邊時，是顏應祁告訴他皇上頗喜歡青詞寫的好的官員，他算是個中翹楚，所以深得皇上信任。
起初沈臨風聽了之後自然是有些扭捏，但是岳父說的也不無道理，你想日後皇上支持你的主張，首先就得在皇上面前能說的上話，你話都說不上，你就是才幹再高也沒用。
因此，沈臨風這幾日有空就鑽研青詞，他本身就聰明，又肯下功夫，連着幾日朋友們找都不出去了，若非是妹婿上門，他更加不會出來吃酒。
沈臨江從大房回到清漪園時，忍不住道：“也難怪大郎讀書成的，如今都為官了，依舊是刻苦的很，看的我等慚愧。”
沈臨清則道：“先不說這些了，我看跌說不準就要調回京了，将來你我二人可就要倒黴了。”
別看沈老爺平日為人如沐春風，對兒子們卻是教養十分嚴格，沈臨江看向沈臨清道：“我見顏閣老最愛幼子，咱們也有了嫡親的弟弟，不知道父親會不會這般呢？”
“皇帝愛長子，百姓愛幺兒，莫過如是。”沈臨清愕然。
其實他們心裏都明白，沈臨風為何常常什麽都能放手，因為他仕途得意，就已經比所有人都強了，恰巧是他們仕途無望，所以只抓眼前的東西。
其實三房最在意的還是盧扇兒生了個男丁，恐怕日後又多了個分家産的，即便沈三老爺位高權重，可兒子太多，将來家産又難分。
因為印子錢風聲鶴唳，清大奶奶早就收手，現下房山的地六頃八十五畝，每一年租銀二百五十兩，還有賃的房子一共四十間，每個月得銀四十兩，這還是當初賣了一座莊子之後買的宅子出租的。
家中下人每個月月例就不止四十兩了，還有四季衣裳，人情開支，錢是越來越不趁手了。
尤其是冬日用炭的情況，大房的銀絲炭是一千斤，只有一家三口用，而且這炭是從十月份要燒到次年的三月，一共得燒五個月。
三房如今每個人的份例是冬日每日銀絲炭五斤，家中十幾口正主子，每日用銀絲炭就五十多斤，這些頂多就只能用二十多天。
故而清大奶奶就只好把中等炭和銀絲炭混着給各房，韓若華倒好，不說什麽。邵氏卻要求他兒子的房裏必須給足了五斤才行，她兒子可是沈家嫡長孫。
楚姨娘也生了兒子，她當然不會和清大奶奶說，只和沈臨清撒嬌。沈臨清想來自己的兒子怎麽可能比沈臨江的兒子差，當然要一樣的份例了，如此一來，一千斤要用五個月根本不可能。
之前清大奶奶會用放的印子錢買，現在不能放，讓她用自己的銀錢貼補，那肯定不可能。
再者之前公爹會送錢回來，如今那盧扇兒卻沒讓公爹送錢回來，她們這些人又哪裏夠呢？清大奶奶當着沈臨清的面道：“我的那幅金頭面當了二百兩，我已經命人買了炭，好歹把年對付過去。如今家裏添了人口，進項又少了，今年的戲酒我看就不必請了。”
“這可不成，外頭的臉皮塌了，還成什麽樣？”沈臨清立馬否認。
清大奶奶白了他一眼：“你說的好聽，你拿錢來我就辦，巧婦難成無米之炊。”
沈臨清一噎：“我若是有錢還會被大郎催債嗎？大郎那裏還欠着二百多兩呢。你手裏不是有交子嗎？不如賣幾張出去，咱們也好過年。”
想的美，清大奶奶當然不會這麽傻，把自己的私房錢拿出來。她遲早也會有自己的孩子的，即便沒有她也不會給那對狗男女用。
但她不會直接拒絕，只道：“如今你們一大家子靠我陪嫁過年，現下還要我動用我的私房，若真的傳出去，你們羞也不羞？”
如今二房倒塌，她要縮着，不可能還為了一大家子铤而走險。
明面上抱怨的邵氏都抱怨到窈娘這裏來了，她抱着兒子到窈娘這裏串門，當然一是希望窈娘能給點玉容散給她，二來也是抱怨。
“你這裏倒是好，用的都是銀霜炭，我們那裏不過二斤的銀霜炭還要摻雜着中等炭火，我可是邊烤火邊咳嗽。”
窈娘笑道：“我們家人少，你們家人多，自然是不一樣。但要說夠用也不過堪堪夠用，加上我自己陪嫁莊子上的，頂多也就用三個月。”
實際上窈娘白日都把若芙放身邊，母女二人統共也不過每日五斤，這當然夠用了。至于沈臨風那兒，她都是用的中等炭銀絲炭混用，反正他在家的功夫并不多。一大家子人吃穿嚼用，可都不是一筆小數目。
實際上這些都只是用公中的，窈娘她們平日不鋪張，錢都是花在刀刃處。別看沈臨風在外潇灑，但是人家賺錢的能力很強，兩家當鋪一家生藥鋪都打理的紅紅火火的，他還挺上道，潤筆費全部留着，別的全部都上交。
所以有時候他在外面潇灑的用的銀錢就是五兩月例加上他的潤筆費，窈娘則每年把他做衣裳的錢包圓就是了，總之其實她們倆根本不鋪張，還很務實。家中甚至許多衣裳都不用針線房的人，都是身邊的人自己做，窈娘的鞋襪和若芙的鞋襪都是她自己做的。
比如邵氏成日喝燕窩湯，人參炖雞還有什麽的，窈娘也并非喝不起，但總覺得人吃五谷雜糧就好，根本沒必要每一頓都滋補。
相反別人送的燕窩這些還可以拿出去送人，正好省了自己送禮的銀錢，解氏原本在家中也是這般做的。要不然也不會給自己攢了一百多擡嫁妝，她的嫁妝和顏寧馨的嫁妝分量是一樣的，要知道顏寧馨的可是齊王府出的，解氏不過是普通鄉紳之女。
如今窈娘也是慢慢的幫芙姐兒攢嫁妝，不能到時候再一口氣置辦一百多擡，萬一那時候家中出現變故可就晚了。
解氏過來一趟，見女兒理家甚至妥當，也忍不住點頭：“近來還有上門打秋風的，真沒想到那人偌大的家業都賭博沒了。你哥哥明年不知道要不要回來，他自己帶的幕僚、仵作好些，請的師爺還是名幕，一年就六百兩更別提別人了。”
“娘，如此說來當官還得有錢才行？”窈娘道。
解氏笑道：“那要看怎麽說了，窮有窮的過法，富有富的花法，我現在還有你弟弟，還得為你弟弟攢下些私房才行。”
“是了，娘，莘婉如何了？我也不好去探病，今日您既然來了，把我家裏的燕窩拿些回去送給她吧。”窈娘道。
解氏誇道：“親戚們都誇你為人最大方，果然不假，我看她如今好些了。只是年節下，莫說是她，就是我都忙的腳不沾地的。可是有什麽辦法呢，就像你嫂子和她都是長媳，總不能進了門就當美人燈吧。”
窈娘打了個哈欠：“女兒今年有孕不辦戲酒了，我可不講究這麽些。”
“那是因為你公婆不在跟前，別說是她了，就連我當初懷着你的時候也是差點忙的腿軟。都是這麽熬出來的，所以我總說嫁到沈家挺好的。男人有出息，又只有你一個，比什麽都強。”解氏很樂意看到女兒過的好。
母女二人正說着話，又聽下人來報說瑩娘提前誕下一子，窈娘笑道：“那敢情好，顧媽媽，你替我去徐家一趟吧。”
Xie sighed, "Speaking of which, Yingniang is clearly marrying down. Why did she have to give birth to two maids for her husband during her pregnancy? And she was afraid that she might get pregnant, so she kept giving her cold medicine. What's the point of that? Even if she doesn't marry him, what's wrong with that?"
"We don't need to worry about these. Just like she boasted in front of me before that she was pregnant, I didn't care at all. You see, our three wives have six or seven sons, but they are not as good as Shen Linfeng. A good child is more about quality than quantity. If she continues like this, the man will sooner or later become daring, and the wives and concubines will fight with each other, and the harem will be in chaos." Yao Niang is very experienced. In fact, if you don't care too much about what others think, you will live a good life.
Xie nodded and continued, "She even came to borrow charcoal. She gave the charcoal from our Yan family to her mother-in-law. I don't know what she was thinking. The old lady in the Xu family is afraid of the cold and needs ten catties of silver frost charcoal every day."
Yao Niang found it unbelievable, but after Xie left, Shen Mo actually came to borrow charcoal.