Jia Zhen, Uncle of the Red House

　　The old lady ignored Jia She's words and asked, "Brother Zhen, if you really have a shortage of money, please use some of it from me first, and you mustn't fall into the face of Ning Guofu."

　　Jia Zhen smiled and said, "Don't worry, old lady, she won't be exhausted. It's just a pre-arrangement, a measure to increase income and reduce expenditure."

　　Jia She stepped forward and reprimanded: "There are more people in our house than yours. How can I arrange for you to put so many people in at once?"

　　Jia Zhen said: "I also ask the eldest master to take more care, my house really can't keep it up."

　　One of them insisted not to accept it, and the other made up his mind to give it away. While they were at a stalemate, the old lady ordered Wang Xifeng to come in.

　　After a while, someone came in from outside the door. She was dressed in colorful embroidery and walked briskly, especially with a pair of red and phoenix triangular eyes and two curved willow leaves hanging on her eyebrows, which made her even more heroic.This is Jia Lian's wife Wang Xifeng.She saluted everyone, then turned her head and smiled and said, "Listen to the boys outside, Brother Zhen, you are arresting people in your house? You say that whether it's a girl or an old servant, all get together, five or six one. Beating one by one? Also said that a white buttock is dazzling? Is it true?"

　　Jia Zhen couldn't help laughing and crying: "What are you talking about? Today I checked the accounts in my house and found a huge deficit. Anyone who makes a big mistake will be fired immediately. Only those who make a small mistake will be fired. And there are differences between men and women. Your nephew In the outer room, your sister-in-law and nephew-in-law are watching, how can you mix and fight together?"

　　Wang Xifeng said: "I said, Brother Zhen will not be like this. It's all those little girls who chew their tongues. I have to warn them not to talk nonsense."

　　Jia Zhen smiled and said, "Thank you eldest sister!"

　　Wang Xifeng nodded, and then said to the old lady, "Old lady, just now I accompanied the eldest lady, the second lady, and the eldest sister-in-law to draw cards. I lost several rounds! I was detained by Sister Yuanyang. Do you want to compensate me, old lady?"

　　The old lady smiled and said: "You are really a shabby! Still asking me for money? I asked you to come here today because you want to retire from your eldest brother Zhen's house. Dozens of them were originally from our house. Come back now. , can it be placed?"

　　Wang Xifeng pondered for a moment, then smiled: "It's a coincidence, there is something going on these days, and I can't find people everywhere. I was thinking of saying that I know the two wives and add a few people in. If Brother Zhen sends a few people back, then It's the best. But it can't be too many. If there are only twenty or thirty people, it's okay to distribute a few everywhere, and it will cost a little money per month. If there are more than fifty people, there is no way to arrange it, and there is nothing to do." Said Then, she turned around and asked Jia Zhen, "Brother Zhen, how many people are there?"

　　Jia Zhen smiled and said, "Exactly fifty people!" Wang Xifeng smiled at the old lady and said, "Old Ancestor, look at it? I just said here that more than fifty people can't be arranged, so Brother Zhen just said five times. Ten, isn't it obvious to throw a burden on our house? How can this be done?"

　　The old lady smiled and said, "You can't support so many people in your house, so you have to do this!" Wang Xifeng joked, "In my opinion, Brother Zhen really wants to shut down his house and call him sister-in-law You. , Brother Rong, brother Rong's daughter-in-law, come to live in our house together."

　　The old lady laughed and said, "You're just a poisonous mouth!"

　　Jia Zhen also smiled and said: "Big sister, you are right. If the old lady agrees, I will seal the Ningguo Mansion and move it all to the west." Wang Xifeng said: "That beautiful you! Our mansion is better than you. There are twice as many people there. Now you are going to send a group of people, leaving only a few dozen people, can't they survive? Even I am ashamed!"

　　During the conversation, the old lady asked Jia Lian to escort Mother Lai, and her son and son-in-law went back together.Only the people from Jia's house were left in the room.

　　The old lady said to Jia Zhen, "Brother Zhen, is this really the case in your house?"

　　Jia Zhen smiled and said, "Please don't worry, old lady. I'm exaggerating a bit. Although the times are not as good as in previous years, they are still acceptable."

　　The old lady said: "That's good, but you can't lose your ancestor's family business! Let me tell you, you have to take care of yourself, and you can't let your temperament fool around. It's up to you to stand up for the rumors outside. Not right."

　　Jia Zhen hurriedly bowed and said, "What the old lady taught me. The grandson knows that he is wrong, and he will never do it again."

　　The old lady said again, "Your daughter-in-law is a very good one. Although she belongs to a small family, nothing is wrong. You are lucky to have her in your house, otherwise your father and son would have been defeated." Wang Xifeng He smiled and said, "Ancestor, you don't know, I got news. Brother Zhen is planning to take a concubine!"

　　Jia Zhen didn't know how this word got here, not only Yuanyang knew it, but Wang Xifeng also knew it.I thought to myself, my house is really a leaky sieve, and there is no way to keep secrets.When I go back today, I must investigate carefully, and clean up all the scum that eats inside and outside, and connects to the outside world.

　　Just as she was thinking about it, the old lady said, "You are a poor man in Dongfu, and it is reasonable to take a concubine. As long as the child looks upright and has a docile temperament, don't want those flirtatious embryos, and the family will not be peaceful." He glanced at Jia Zheng.Jia Zheng was very embarrassed, turned to Jia Zhen and said, "Brother Zhen, do you have an idea?"

　　Wang Xifeng said on the side, "Brother Zhen has already appointed Yindie, the big girl in Sister-in-law You's room, who is only thirteen years old."

　　The old lady was displeased and said, "I am too young, and my stature has not grown, which is not good for children. Brother Zhen, you should find a suitable age." Jia Zhen hurriedly explained: "Go back to the old lady's words. , Grandson has this plan. But Yindie hasn't agreed. Grandson dare not force her. If she doesn't want to, it's fine."

　　The old lady scolded: "Confused, what you said has been spread out. If it doesn't work out in the end, but it ruins her reputation, how can you let that girl marry in the future?" Jia Zhen was stunned, he was only on a whim at the beginning. , didn't think about it at all.

　　Jia She said: "Since you have said it, you must welcome it in. Otherwise, there will be rumors outside, which will ruin the reputation of Jia's house."

　　Jia Zhen said: "My nephew knows. I will fix it tomorrow." The old lady advised: "You will have a wife and a concubine in the future, and your son and daughter-in-law will be filial. To make Ning Guofu flourish, at least it has to be passed on to the children and grandchildren, so we can't just let it go."

　　Jia Zhen bowed again and said, "Grandson understands."

　　After chatting for a while, Jia Zhen came out of the old lady's room.Yuanyang said to Jia Zhen: "Uncle Zhen, you have to treat Yindie well in the future. You can't bully her. Otherwise... otherwise I'll tell the old lady to make you look good!"

　　Jia Zhen bowed: "Don't worry, Yuanyang, I will definitely treat her well. Your grandma also loves her on weekdays. If I bully Yindie, she will be the first to let me go."

　　Yuanyang sighed and said, "For those of us who are maids, our lives are always hard. We can't say whether it's good or bad. In short, let her have a good home."

　　Jia Zhen said: "Good mandarin duck, Yinping is fortunate to have you as her sister. With you here, it's too late for me to spoil her!" Yuanyang said, "You are a master, who am I? It's just that my status is low. It's just a girl. Hurry up, the old lady will call me again later." After speaking, she turned around and went back.

　　Jia Zhen smiled self-consciously, thinking, when she came, she was full of confidence, she must take down Lai Er, and move all his property together. As a result, not only was the person released, but only part of the money was taken, seriously. fail.He couldn't help thinking that Jia She was so anxious about Lai Er, if there was no connection between them, ghosts wouldn't believe it!Maybe a part of Lai Er's money from Ning Fu's greed for ink ended up in Jia She's pocket.The more Jia Zhen thought about it, the more likely it was. He looked back at the red-gold, nine-dragon and green-ground plaque in Rongxitang, and sighed in his heart: "I don't know if I can save her, but now I'm also a mud bodhisattva, so let's protect myself first!"

　　He thought about it as he walked, and after a while, he had already left the ceremonial gate and walked towards the west corner gate next to him.

　　Just as he was about to go out, Laishun, who was behind him, said to Jia Zhen, "Master, our lady seems to be following behind."

　　"My lady?" Jia Zhen looked behind and found a small head sticking out from the door of ceremony.So Jia Zhen called out, "Is it Xichun? My brother is here!" The little head hid again.

　　Seeing that she should not be called, Jia Zhen turned back and saw Xiao Xichun in the Yimen.Jia Zhen crouched down and asked softly, "My brother called you just now, why didn't you agree?" Xichun was only four or five years old, wearing a pink jacket and skirt, looked at Jia Zhen timidly and said, "Brother hasn't come to visit Xichun for a long time. , Xichun is homesick. Today, I heard from the painting that my brother is here, and I also heard that something happened to our family, so I wanted to come and see, Xichun is very obedient."

　　Jia Zhen saw that Xichun was so pitiful and she was about to cry, and her heart hurt like being pricked by a needle.He stepped forward and hugged Xiao Xichun and said, "Our family Xichun has always been obedient. Will my brother take you home? Your nephew married a daughter-in-law, and I haven't seen it before!" Xichun's eyes lit up and said: "I really Can you go back?" Jia Zhen squeezed Xiao Xichun's nose and said, "That's your home, don't you want to go back?"

　　Xiao Xichun happily said to the girl beside her: "In the painting, we can go home!" So Jia Zhen hugged Xiao Xichun and smiled: "Xichun, let's go home!"

　　Xiao Xichun was very nervous at first, and her brother never hugged her.Gradually he let go and laughed loudly, urging Jia Zhen to hurry up for a while, and then running too slowly.

　　The poor little girl entered the painting. She is only five or six years old now. She trotted with Jia Zhen and the others all the way, but she couldn't catch up.Jia Zhen asked Lai Shun to pick him up and entered the painting, went out of the West Corner Gate and headed east, returning to the East Mansion.

　　Along the way, Xiao Xichun sang a ditty that Jia Zhen was familiar with but could not name.After listening to it only once, the two brothers and sisters can sing together. When I asked if it was taught by the nurse, they said that my mother often sang it before.Jia Zhen thought to herself, no wonder he can sing too.

　　Talk aside.Jia Zhen took Xichun back to Dongfu, and it was reported to the old lady long ago.As soon as the old lady heard it, she hurriedly made the inquiries clear.Later, I heard that the two were talking and laughing, and sang a little song, and sighed: "Xichun, this girl also has a hard life. She lost her mother since she was a child, and her father cultivated Taoism and ignored her. There is only one compatriot, and I have never seen her on weekdays. She is like an orphan. This child is very well-behaved. Although she doesn't say it, she knows it well. I'm very happy that Brother Zhen can be like this today. "

　　When they returned to the Taoist mansion, Huang An and others gathered around first.Jia Zhen stopped them and said: "I already know the matter, you don't need to talk about it. I will only tell you one thing, anyone who is uneasy about doing things, cheating, cheating, eating inside and outside, you should take this opportunity to drive them out of the house. Inside. Grandma, I'll tell myself, you don't have to worry about it." Huang An nodded and said, "Don't worry, sir, only those who do things honestly will be kept, and none of the others will be kept. There is only one thing, the one thousand taels of silver will be returned by Wannian County. back."

　　Jia Zhen pondered for a while and said, "I think it's easy. What do you say?"

　　Huang Andao: "Then Wannian County took over the brand of Xifu, thinking that it was worried about the conflict within our Jiafu. It's not against Ningfu. You can seal him another two hundred taels, one to reassure his heart, and another It will be more convenient in the future." Jia Zhen nodded and said, "That's very good! If you take another [-] taels of silver, the officers in the county government will also share a little bit, and there will be a place to ask them for help in the future."

　　Jia Zhen asked Jiao Dao again: "Mr. Jiao, how much money did the Lai's family bring back?" Jiao Dao: "I just counted it, and it was only [-] taels. When we went again, we were pardoned by the mansion. Take someone to hold it. If it wasn't for his own sake, Mr. Jiao would have done it with them long ago."

　　With Xiao Xichun in her arms, Jia Zhen was inconvenient to say more, and ordered: "Master Jiao, you will be the head of the nursing home in the house from now on, and Timur will be yours. Pick a few more people and make up twenty. If there are few people, go outside and recruit people. I believe that with your vision, Mr. Jiao, the people you choose will not be bad. You should take a look at my house." Jiao Da stretched his chest and smiled: "Brother Zhen should have used it earlier. Me. If I use it early, I won't be blamed for things like Er."

　　Jia Zhen smiled and said, "It's not too late." While speaking, she carried Xiao Xichun into the ceremony door.When they arrived at the inner hall, all the girls and wives saluted Jia Zhen along the way, and the atmosphere was very different from before.

　　Xiao Xichun couldn't help but ask Jia Zhen, "Why are there so many fewer people in the house than in the west?"

　　Jia Zhen said: "People are quiet and quiet! If the eldest lady in our family thinks that it is not lively, my brother will let seven or eight little girls play with you. We guarantee that there will be new tricks every day!"

　　Xiao Xichun pouted and said, "I don't care!" She asked in a blink of an eye, "What's the fun?"

　　Jia Zhen smiled and said, "My brother will set up a playground in Huifang Garden tomorrow, set up a swing, and have a slide, all kinds of fun. How about it?"

　　Xiao Xichun said happily: "Really?" She jumped out of Jia Zhen's arms and walked in.

Chapter [-] To Make Money You Need To Take A Concubine First

　　When You Shi, Jia Rong, and Keqing learned that Jia Zhen was returning to the mansion and came to greet him, they saw Jia Zhen lying on the ground and Xiao Xichun sitting on him and riding a horse.This shocked them.On the other hand, when Xiao Xichun saw someone was coming, she quickly climbed down and saluted You, "Hello, sister-in-law!" She took a closer look at Ke Qing and asked Jia Rong, "Brother Rong, is this your new daughter-in-law?" Jia Rong Rong felt very embarrassed, slandered and embarrassed, so she had to cup her hands: "If I go back to my aunt, it's my nephew's daughter-in-law, Qin's, and the small words are very delicate."

　　Ke Qing had heard that there was an eldest lady in the mansion, but she didn't expect her to be so young.

　　At this time, Jia Zhen stood up, patted the dust on her body, and instructed You, "You teach someone to clean up Xichun's room, and she will go home and live in the future." You replied with a smile.He said to Xichun again, "You haven't been home for a long time. I will ask your nephew and daughter-in-law to take you to the backyard to have a look. By the way, pick a house by yourself." Xichun said happily: "Okay!" hand away.

　　Jia Zhen waited for Xichun to go away, her face darkened, she sat in the hall, and said to You, "He's deceiving people too much!"

　　You only said that the matter had come to an end, and that there was no need to make any further ramifications, so he persuaded: "It is a family after all, and the old lady's face must be taken into account over there. Now people are also driven away, and the [-] taels of silver will be recovered in the end. already."

　　Jia Zhen also lost her temper, knowing that there is no way to think about it for the time being.So he didn't say anything, just sighed and asked, "How many people are there in the mansion now?"

　　You said: "Half of them have been sent, and there are about a hundred people left." Jia Zhen said: "Suppress the number to eighty people, and send the rest to the west." You said with a smile: "Master, you are here. Do you want to send us all to the West Mansion?" Jia Zhen said, "Madam, I have a big plan to make money. Unreliable people, especially those from the West, will be cleared out. The main thing is to keep it secret. At that time, Our silver is shipped to the house, making them stare."

　　Jia Rong leaned over and asked, "Father, what's the plan? Can you find out first?"

　　Jia Zhen said: "Don't worry, I haven't made it yet, it's still a good thing. I don't know how the three mansions of Qi Guogong, Zhiguogong, and Shanguogong are going."

　　Jia Rong smiled and said, "Father's original prediction was correct. Although these houses are beautiful on the surface, they are empty inside. The Qi Mansion is not even as good as ours. Of course, there is no disagreement with the profitable business."

　　Jia Zhen nodded and said with a smile, "I'm sure that's the case." You Shi hesitated for a while, then said, "Master, since it's a profitable business, why do you want to bring them together?"

　　Jia Rong also said: "Yeah, father. If our family did it, wouldn't it make more money?" Jia Zhen scolded: "Confused! It is precisely because of making money that everyone is jealous. The four of us are together, and we have a lot of momentum. Bigger can save a lot of trouble.”

　　Jia Rong said again, "Then why don't you go with Duke Zhen Guo and the others?"

　　Jia Zhen scolded: "They have power and power. If they are added, how much do you think we can account for?"

　　You shi persuaded: "Since you have a plan, then we won't say anything. It's just that you should also prepare. In case Brother Rong has been contacted here, you don't have anything to show them. Make them laugh."

　　Jia Zhen said: "This requires some raw materials. I took time to go around a few days ago, and we have everything we need. I have already put them in a separate room."

　　You said, "The concubine has a few reliable people to help you."

　　Jia Zhen said: "Just let Yindie come." He smiled at Yindie on the side: "I didn't think carefully. The old lady over there also said that you will be a serious aunt tomorrow when you open your face. You don't object, do you?" Yin Die blushed when she heard this, and whispered: "Slave... slaves will obey orders."

　　Jia Zhen laughed and said, "Only you are reliable. Once you pass the door, I can give you the secret recipe with confidence." After hearing this, You Shi and Jia Rong looked at Yindie in surprise.The shy Yindie twisted her handkerchief and was at a loss.Jia Zhen said: "What are you jealous of? Madam, you are the grandmother of the housekeeper. You can't get around you in everything, and I will give you a copy. Brother Rong, you are not strict with your mouth, and you have to contact everywhere. I will leave it to you for foreign affairs, and you also have it. Time? Your daughter-in-law is a suitable one, but I handed over the accountant to her. You said, I don't hand it over to Yindie, who? After all, there are too few reliable people."

　　Jia Rong didn't mind either, and smiled, "Isn't my father still two aunts who haven't been there yet?"

　　Jia Zhen was a little embarrassed, glared at Jia Rong and said, "I also have something to explain to them, just wait for them to enter the door. At that time, each person will have a secret recipe, and everyone's is different, so that I will be fair and just."

　　Jia Rong was surprised: "Father, where did you get so many secret recipes? It can't be..." Although the words were not finished, the meaning was obvious.Jia Zhen couldn't find a stick to hit him, and Yindie next to him handed the stick when he saw the opportunity.So Jia Zhen took the stick with satisfaction and hit Jia Rong twice before saying: "You bastard, tell you, this is all your own idea. If you want me to have three things, I will burn high incense. "Jia Rong didn't dare to reply, she just smiled and said to Yindie: "My aunt doesn't feel bad for me either, knowing that my father is going to beat me, she deliberately handed the stick over." Yindie spat: "Uncle Rong, you are doing it yourself. Jia Rong smiled and said, "Auntie, you are wrong. You should call me Brother Rong in the future." Yin Die blushed and stopped talking.

　　On the other hand, You said to Jia Zhen, "Since you made up your mind, I have told my mother. My mother has no objection. Yesterday, I was asked to tell me that the second and third sisters agreed to enter the mansion. Only the second sister has an idea."

　　Jia Zhen pondered: "I need ingredients to make these days, and I can't find time. Please take your troubles to go, Madam! You bring one thousand taels of silver over. Five hundred taels are for the bridegroom, and five hundred taels are for the Zhang family. Then The Zhang family has been defeated for a long time, forgive them for not objecting." You said, "How can you use so much? At most a few dozen taels is enough." Jia Zhen said sternly: "This matter can't be so frivolous. , or the Zhang family later regrets it, it is also a troublesome thing."

　　You Shi asked, "How about it according to your wishes?"

　　Jia Zhen said: "After all, we are not short of money. We will give him the five hundred and two, and let him write a letter of voluntary divorce and file it in the yamen. The rest is up to you." You said, "It's all up to you. Tomorrow, I'll finish things up, and people will bring them home, so you can feel at ease."

　　Jia Zhen hurriedly said, "Let the second and third sisters stay at home first, and wait until they are thirteen... or come back when they are fifteen." You Shi smiled and said, "You hurriedly settled the person, and you didn't marry and go home. Why?"

　　Jia Zhen said embarrassingly: "Isn't it enough age!" You said: "The empress is also married to the sage at the age of thirteen, and does not break the law. Besides, concubines are not married, since Yindie entered the door , If they decide not to marry their sisters, they will cause people to gossip."

　　Jia Rong said, "Tomorrow, my son accompanies his mother to his grandmother's house for employment, and then asks Zhang's family to break off the marriage. Once everything is done, father can rest assured." Jia Zhen pretended to be embarrassed and nodded, "That's fine!"

　　You Shi spat: "It's not good to be happy in your heart, but you still pretend to be reluctant, really!"

　　Jia Rong jokingly said, "My father is reserved!" Jia Zhen glared at Jia Rong, Jia Rong suddenly fainted and hid aside.

　　When he was free, Jia Zhen accompanied Xiao Xichun. He drew a picture of the playground of later generations and asked Huang An to find someone to build it in Huifang Garden.Simple tools and equipment are not difficult to do, and it is done quickly.So Jia Zhen asked Keqing to accompany her, and she took Yindie and locked her in a house, doing some shameful deeds.No one is allowed to enter.

　　The house is full of caustic soda, lime, grease, spices, pots and pans.Yindie covered her mouth and smiled and said, "Master, are you trying to fry paint?" Jia Zhen smiled and said, "This can't be eaten, but it's very useful. You can help me later, I will do it, and you will do it too. You have to memorize the order and dosage. I only tell you one person. Do you understand?"

　　Yindie shyly agreed, nodded and said, "Don't worry, Yindie knows."

　　I saw that Jia Zhen first boiled two pots of boiling water and placed them in a basin, then weighed different amounts of caustic soda and quicklime, poured them into the water to dissolve, and obtained a basin of lye and lime water respectively, and then he mixed them again. Stir constantly in a large bucket.When the liquid in the vat slowly comes to a standstill, the white impurities finally formed sink, leaving only a clear solution on it.Jia Zhen filtered the solution in the upper layer and poured it into a large pot, weighed an appropriate amount of fat and poured it into it and heated it, while stirring constantly.Soon Yindie found that the oil layer in the cauldron was slowly disappearing.When the oil layer completely disappeared, Jia Zhen sprinkled an appropriate amount of salt into the cauldron. As a result, some light yellow things gradually appeared in the clear solution, and the more it condensed, the more it became.Jia Zhen put a certain amount of rosin and other spices in, and let the silver butterfly continue to heat and stir until the water was separated.At this time, Jia Zhen and Yindie worked together to fish out the condensed things and put them aside. These are the most basic soaps.

　　Yindie put the soap into wooden boxes of different shapes and waited for it to cool naturally.

　　Next, Jia Zhen filtered the remaining waste water again, put it into a single basin, added the prepared brine into it, and stirred vigorously.After a while, the lard in the pot gradually solidified to form a substance.

　　wax!

Jia Zhen took cotton thread, made a simple candle, and lit it in a small saucer.A lamp is like a bean, and there is almost no black smoke when the oil lamp is lit!Yindie looked novel, "Is that what candles do?"

　　Jia Zhen smiled and said, "Only our family does this!"

　　Silver Butterfly nodded.

　　The matter is not over yet, Jia Zhen removes the alkaline sediment in the wastewater, leaving a light yellow and unpleasant smell.Yindie covered her nose and helped Jia Zhen slowly pour the stinky water into the filter altar that she had made a long time ago. After a while, water slowly poured out of the thin tube at the bottom of the altar. It was quite surprising that , the outflow is not yellow water, but a clear and transparent liquid.