第 9 章(1 / 2)

不计其庶 潇湘碧影 1651 字 2023-03-06

大老爷最近心情甚好。按照小哥儿的年纪来说,他算老来得子。男人多少有些不大好说的想头,快要当祖父的年纪,冷不丁生出个小儿子来,不得不让他觉得自己雄风犹在,继而推广到朝堂,无端端生出一股还能干上四十年的美好憧憬。其实大老爷的年纪从生理上来说生儿子太平常了,过几天他生日,也不过三十四(虚)岁。放21世纪没准还没结婚,更不提生育了。古时家庭条件好的人家,身体未必比现代人差。不过医疗过于落后,死的早而已。解放前三十多岁的平均寿命,是被夭折的孩子拉下去的,健康的人在衣食无忧的情况下活个七八十也常见。只是医疗确实差,到了五六十岁难免没有个伤风感冒,一不留神就挂了。故三十四岁,称老朽是矫情,要说不年轻了,也说的上。想着小儿子,连着好多天走路都带飘儿。又是嫡出,与岳家能更亲密了。唔,前日已经修书一封,过几日再写,把四丫头顽皮盖的脚掌印一道寄过去联络联络感情。四丫头主意好,再多印几个,与大小舅子也送一份!想到此处,忙唤长随预备正经礼物,到时候一并送去。

叶府乃京城数的上的人家,长子生日,哪怕是小生日,都有不少人送礼。叶府不曾分家,旁人送了礼来,一总归老太太管着。只一些消耗品,例如不是很名贵的笔墨纸砚绸缎布料,依着时节按房分配。不料才过完年,库里堆的满满当当,大老爷生日收的礼索性分了些到各房,正好要做春装,省的到时候再折腾。几抬笔墨布料就送到大房,此乃家务,断没有姨娘插手的礼,陈氏不方便,就由庭瑶带手管着。大老爷今日无事回来的早,便在家里看东西,庭芳还在学里,上房一家四口好不和乐,把周姨娘醋的饭都吃不下。

周姨娘原是好人家的女儿,家里开了个金银铺子,因地痞流氓与刮地皮的芝麻绿豆官太多,一年忙到头倒替别人发财。恰逢陈氏生了长女后再无动静,叶家有心寻个好生养的妾,老周掌柜一拍大.腿,差点跑断腿,才把女儿的八字送到大老爷跟前。于叶家而言,不过是个妾,找人相看了,是个美人胚子,还不是那种妖妖.娆娆的柳条儿的,圆圆的脸蛋儿两个小酒窝,看着很是讨喜。相看的人回了老太太,问过陈氏,便纳进门来。头一年就生了个大胖小子,至此站稳了脚跟。连着周家也体面起来,地痞流氓是再不敢上门的,官痞们要不是怕不好看,恨不得税都不收他们家的。兼之大房长久以来只有庭树一个哥儿,周家每年上千两银子的孝敬给的心甘情愿。时间长了,周姨娘行动以副太太自居,她手里有钱,奉承的人自不会少。更会讨好老爷,一年里大半年老爷都歇在她屋里,外人看着比太太还体面些。赶上她生日都有往里头送礼的,虽然一总官进老太太院里,脸上的光彩却盖不住。叶府里的姨娘们,连上老姨娘们,她都是头一份儿。

谁料天有不测风云,陈氏老蚌生珠,嘎嘣得了个哥儿。从此家下人看她的脸色都变了。如今老爷一进家门,也不先看庭树的功课,只管抬脚往上房走,抱着小儿子一顿亲,把庭树丢在边上,怎怨得周姨娘不高兴?内宅里的弯弯绕绕,旁人不知道,她还不知道么?往日因着得了多少好,如今全要吐出来。万幸小哥儿早产,刚落地就不大好,瘦的跟小耗子似的未必养的活。而她的儿子,都快进学了,众人才不敢很怠慢了她。

次日正是休沐,上班的放假上学的休息。大老爷清早去同僚在城郊的园子里喝酒赏梅花。庭树总算得了空点一点前日兄弟姐妹们凑在一起的银子,趁着休沐抬出去舍了。周姨娘自是帮衬着,算盘打的噼里啪啦响。大头乃庭瑶庭树与庭芜的——各有财主亲娘补贴,不差钱。庭兰有心无力,孙姨娘丫头出身,就比拿簪环抵债的庭芳好些。隔房的不过是个人情儿,三五两凑个数罢了。算下来有三四百两,便是府里做好事儿都够了。周姨娘拿着庭芳的簪环撇嘴:“这怎么算?”

庭树道:“往……舅舅铺子里兑了,该值多少算多少。横竖舅舅亏不着。”一声舅舅叫的艰难,庶出的尴尬,陈家舅舅能叫的理直气壮,亲舅舅只好偷着叫上一两句。被人听见了还是一场官司。偏周家上下都觉得按着血缘叫天经地义,把他夹在中间左右为难。

周姨娘道:“他不亏,咱们脸上不好看。做好事做的当首饰,能听么?”

庭树莫名其妙:“有什么不能听的?子女的孝心,还有割股奉亲的呢。”

周姨娘哼唧两声:“你不明白。得了,簪环我还给她去,差她那几两银子。”

庭树点头道:“也罢,我替她补上吧。”

周姨娘跺脚:“偏你实心眼,你当她妹子,她未必当你兄弟。你有正经妹子呢!”

庭树不欲与周姨娘争论,只道:“我带小厮抬了出去,赶紧了结了,省的老记挂着。将出正月,药铺都开了门,再不能拖的。”

周姨娘冷笑:“你只管把她们放在心上,哪还有我这个亲娘。”

庭树头痛不已,他很不愿掺和进正偏之争,喊上小厮抬脚就走。把周姨娘气的乱颤:“好,好,我白生了你一场!”心中大不满,扭头瞧见庭芳的簪环,拿帕子裹了,直往上房去。

好容易休假,庭芳安安生生的歇着。学习是漫长的过程,一张一弛方是正道,休沐日就该好好玩,不去自虐。因大老爷生日在即,家里预备摆酒唱戏,事多繁杂,庭瑶被老太太拎去见习,只余庭芳站在摇篮边逗弟弟。小哥儿还没满月,知道什么?她自己倒笑的咯咯的。周姨娘进来不动声色的撇撇嘴,先给陈氏见礼,方才皮笑肉不笑的把簪环放在桌上:“不是我倚老卖老,只四姑娘要当心些,贴身的物件儿说丢开就丢开,叫外人得了去,可怎么好?”

陈氏早知道此事,已暗自备下东西贴补,谁料周姨娘倒打上门来,看着那神情,冷下脸来:“不过是几个簪子,又值什么,倒叫姨娘操心。四丫头,还不来谢过姨娘。”

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