Since Aunt Lai has the most noble status among the servants of the two houses and is the most trusted by the masters of the Jia family, her two sons, Lai Dake and Lai Sheng, serve as the general managers of the two houses respectively, and have more power than the serious masters below.

Much bigger.

Although the Lai family has their own village and a large amount of fertile land outside the mansion, Lai Da and Lai Sheng still cling to the management rights of the two mansions, because they both know in their hearts that they will be rootless duckweeds after leaving Jia's mansion.

, no matter how much your family property is, it will be taken away at any time.

Aunt Lai left Rongguotang and was not in a hurry to leave the mansion. Instead, she came to the small courtyard where Lai Da lived in the mansion.

As soon as she walked into the courtyard, everyone came to greet her quickly, taking over from the little maid to help her walk towards the house.

When I walked into the house, I saw two men in their fifties with similar looks sitting at a small round table. They were Grandma Lai's two sons, Lai Da and Lai Sheng.

When the two brothers who were drinking tea saw Grandma Lai coming in, they immediately bowed to greet her and helped their old mother sit down at the table.

Aunt Lai waved her hand to her daughter-in-law, and everyone led the little maid out of the door.

As soon as the two left, Lai Sheng, who was a little fat, asked eagerly: "Mom, what did my aunt say?"

Aunt Lai glared at Lai Sheng fiercely and reprimanded: "It's all because of that evil you raised, and I almost lost my face today."

Lai Sheng said in surprise: "That's not the case. Is it possible that my aunt can't give you dignity?"

Grandma Lai paused the crutch in her hand and said angrily: "Face is earned by oneself, not given by others. Even if it is given to you, I can give it to you once, twice, but I can give it to you three times, not four times?"

When Lai Sheng saw that his old mother was angry, he did not dare to say anything more.

Lai Da, who had a thin face, asked: "Mother, what did you say over there?"

Aunt Lai sighed and said, "Oh! I really lost my dignity in public today."

Lai Da: "Why is this so?"

"It's all Lai Xi's good deeds. If you want to say that he just went out to drink and messed up things, the old lady can also say that he was worried about the Lord, so he went out to drink to relieve his boredom. Although this explanation is a bit reluctant, the old lady did it for my sake.

, most likely they won’t pursue it.”

Lai Sheng asked anxiously: "Could it be that my evil son also stabbed someone else in the trap?"

Aunt Lai: "After he got drunk, he chased and scolded the housekeeper of the Lin Mansion in public. How do you think the old lady can help him get through this?"

"Well."

Lai Sheng was speechless now. After all, this is the Lin Mansion over there. As a steward of the Jia family, even if you gain the trust of your master, you cannot scold the chief steward of the Lin Mansion. This is the most taboo thing.

Lai Da was silent for a moment and then asked: "What did my aunt say?"

"My aunt still misses some of the old friendship, but that nephew of Uncle Lin is very clever, and the old lady almost fell into his hands today."

Lai Sheng said in surprise: "That boy is just Uncle Lin's distant nephew from his hometown. How could he appear in front of the old lady? And he can argue with you all the time."

Aunt Lai: "We all thought wrong. We thought he just saved my aunt's life. But just now in the flower hall, I suddenly understood that my aunt brought him to see the old lady this time because she originally planned to adopt the child.

."

"Um!"

Lai Da and Lai Sheng were both surprised. This news was shocking enough.

Aunt Lai said with a tired look on her face: "Don't mess with that child. If you anger my aunt, she won't be as easy to talk to as the old lady."

Lai Sheng asked hurriedly: "Then let this matter go?"

"The old lady promised her love. When the storm is over, Lai Xi will be sent back."

After a pause, Aunt Lai said again: "Boss, please ask your wife to send that girl Xique to my aunt's house later, as a way to apologize to my aunt for your second brother."

Lai Da said anxiously: "Mother, isn't the magpie a birthday gift that you prepared for the old lady?"

Aunt Lai glanced at Lai Daxian and asked coldly: "Do you think it's more important, the old lady, or the aunt?"

"I'm old~"

Lai D just wanted to say something to the old lady, but when he saw his mother's serious expression, he swallowed back the words that came to his lips.

Aunt Lai pointed out to her two sons: "My aunt is the old lady's most proud daughter, and Uncle Lin is a close minister of the emperor. If the house is compared to a ship, my aunt and Uncle Lin are the ballast stones. In the future, this

The whole family may rely on Mr. Lin."

Lai Dashi said hurriedly: "What mother taught me is that my son understands."

"Just understand. Don't forget that there is Brother Rong in your family. If he wants to take the imperial examination and become an official in the future, he will probably have to rely on Uncle Lin's connections."

Lai Da's eyes lit up when he heard this. His youngest son was quite talented in reading and had already passed the boy examination. He really wanted to take the imperial examination and become an official in the future. He really couldn't afford to offend Lin Ruhai, a close official of the emperor.

Aunt Lai stood up and said: "Old lady, go back first. You all should be careful. Being a slave should act like a slave. Don't forget, without the support of this house, you two brothers are nothing. Unless

The most important thing is that our Lai family can also become an official."

After the old grandma finished speaking, she walked out the door on crutches. Lai Da quickly stepped forward to support her and walked out of the door with her old mother.

Aunt Lai walked a few steps and then warned Lai Da again: "Don't leave the old lady behind, just send Huamei over."

Lai Dayi was a little reluctant to part with it, and he planned to leave Huamei to his youngest son.

Aunt Lai naturally understood what Lai Da was thinking, and she explained patiently: "We slaves should be self-aware. If the girl you use is better than the master, isn't that inviting the master's jealousy? This must not be done.

for."

Lai Da suddenly realized: "What the mother said is that the son will make arrangements later."

Here, after Lai Sheng saw his mother and elder brother going out, he sat down on the stool, picked up the tea cup in front of him and took a sip, and then slammed the cup on the table, his face became gloomy and uncertain.

.

…

When Jia Zheng met with Jia Yucun, he heard him mention Lin Yun's identity. Mr. Zheng had always liked scholars, and when he learned that Lin Yun had become a scholar at a young age, he wanted to meet him.

When he saw Lin Yun appearing in front of him dressed up, Father Zheng immediately lost interest in talking. He briefly exchanged a few words with Lin Yun and then sent him away.

For Lin Ruhai's sake, Lin Yun finally didn't let Lin Yun go home empty-handed and gave him a set of high-quality Four Treasures of the Study.

Lin Yun had no interest in Jia Zheng, so he would not bother to please him. However, the words hanging in Jia Zheng's study made him envious.

That is the former Chibi Fu written by Su Shi. It must be an authentic work. If I can get it home, it can be regarded as a family heirloom.

…

At noon, Jia Mu set up several banquet tables in the flower hall to welcome her daughter.

Lin Yun sat down to dine with Baoyu, Daiyu and Sanchun. There was only one adult woman at the table, Jialan's mother Li Wan.

Lin Yun didn't find it strange that Jia Lian didn't come. After all, he was an adult and was not suitable to dine with his sisters at home. But Jia Lan was about the same age as Bao Yu and was Jia Zheng's direct grandson, so he didn't see him.

Lin Yun was puzzled by the figure.

The atmosphere at this table was a little awkward due to the jade-smashing incident. Fortunately, Tanchun was more lively, and he and Daiyu got along well with each other. When they learned that both of them liked Yiqi, they met for a chance to compete.

Although Baoyu wanted to have a good relationship with Sister Lin, she took the initiative to ask questions, but Daiyu was also very arrogant. She was very dissatisfied with Baoyu's previous behavior and was indifferent to his overtures, which made Baoyu

Extremely depressed.

Lin Yun was originally somewhat interested in the three little golden hairpins, but the three little girls in front of him were all too young. Yingchun, Tanchun and Daiyu were about the same age, only seven or eight years old, and Xichun was even younger.

My mother-in-law has to help me with all the dishes.

Previously, the young woman Li Wan was like an invisible person in front of everyone. When she accompanied him to dinner, she was very polite to Lin Yun. Not only did she introduce the dishes on the table to him, but she also chatted with Lin Yun more on the pretext of asking about Jia Min's treatment.

A few sentences.

After all, this person's status was a bit special, so Lin Yun did not dare to talk to her more, so he could only chat a few more words with Xichun, the little girl sitting next to him.

Sister Feng is indeed a good person to chat with, but she is busy serving Jia Mu and Jia Min, and cannot take care of these children.

After lunch, Jia Min took Lin Yun and Daiyu to say goodbye to Jia Mu.

Baoyu originally expected Daiyu to stay and play with him, but although Jia's mother offered to stay, Jia Min politely refused, which made Baoyu very hurt.

…

After sending Jia Min away, Wang Xifeng finally got free and took Ping'er back to her small courtyard.

After entering the door, he saw Jia Lian sitting alone at the table, drinking from a cup.

Seeing Wang Xifeng and Heping'er coming in, Jia Lian asked with a smile: "Auntie is gone?"

Wang Xifeng walked to sit opposite Jia Lian, and while sending the little maid to serve the rice, she whispered: "I saw a good show today."

Jia Lian smiled and said, "But Aunt Lai is picking on Brother Yun's faults in front of the old lady?"

"You guessed it right. Aunt Lai did mention this matter in front of the old lady, but Brother Yun is not an easy man either. He settled it in a few moments."

"Oh, what happened?"

Wang Xifeng introduced the scene that happened in the flower hall to Jia Lian.

After hearing this, Jia Lian laughed and said: "I knew that Brother Yun was not simple, and I guessed it right."

Wang Xifeng lowered her voice and said, "Brother Bao broke the jade again today."

"What's wrong with Baoyu?"

"You don't like scholars. Earlier in the flower hall, everyone was praising Brother Yun for being a scholar at a young age. When Baoyu became popular, he threw the jade away."
To be continued...