Ningguo Mansion, Jia Family Ancestral Hall.

This ancestral hall is another courtyard to the west of Ning Mansion.

There are five gates in the black oil fence. Standing in front of the gate, you can see a plaque hanging on it with the four words "Jia's Ancestral Hall" written on it and "Yansheng Gong Kong Jizong Shu" written next to it.

There is a long couplet on both sides, which reads:

The liver and brain are ruined, and the surname is due to the kindness of Baoyu.

The fame spreads all over the world, and it has been steamed and tasted for hundreds of generations.

The person who guards the ancestral hall is called Jiao Da.

The old man was once the horse-drawer and attendant of Duke Ning Guo. He went on expeditions with Duke Ning and had a transcendent status in the East Mansion.

When he saw Jia Qiang come in and explain his intention, he only glanced at her for a moment, then went to prepare in silence.

It seems that the old man is completely different before and after being drunk...

Jia Qiang entered the courtyard alone. At her feet was a white stone corridor with pines and cypresses on both sides.

There are green bronze tripods and other utensils on the platform. In front of the building, there is a nine-dragon gold plaque hanging on it, which reads: "Xinghui Fubi", written by Emperor Gaozu.

There is a couplet on both sides, which reads:

His meritorious deeds shine brightly in the sun and moon, and his fame reaches his children and grandchildren forever.

In front of the five-room main hall, there is a green plaque filled with dragons hanging, which reads: Be cautious and chase after the distance.

There is a couplet next to it, which says:

His children and grandchildren have inherited his good fortune, and his concubine Li still misses Rong Ning.

All are imperial pens.

In the hall, Jiao Da lit incense candles one by one, and used silver hooks to hook up the brocade silk and embroidered curtains.

On the high platform are listed the gods and masters, and in the middle hangs the portraits of the second ancestor Ningrong, both of them wearing python waist jade.

Jia Qiang held incense and bowed down, burned silk and laid a libation, presented the documents for the examination and the imperial edict, kowtowed three times, and concluded the ceremony.

After getting up, he stared at the portrait of the second ancestor Ning Rong for a moment, then thanked Jiao Da Dao before leaving the ancestral hall.

…

Now walking in Ningguo Mansion is a different feeling.

This high-end mansion with a huge area and layers of courtyards is actually his...

"Sir, Grandma Zhen sent word that a table of delicious food has been prepared and she invites you to have lunch. She also asked you to show your respect."

After Lai Sheng's family came out of the second door, they found Jia Qiang and said with an apologetic smile.

Jia Qiang was curious: "Didn't she go to worship Buddha?"

Lai Sheng's face was full of embarrassment, he shook his head and said: "I don't know about this..."

Four or five housekeepers, including Lai Sheng, Zhang Cai, and Li Bao, were standing by. Lai Sheng said with a smile, "Today is a happy day for the master, so I have to have a meal at home."

Jia Qiang's eyes turned to Lai Sheng's face, and she thought to herself: We can't scare the snake away just yet, we have to wait a little longer.

So he nodded slightly, suppressed the boredom in his heart, and said, "Thank you for your hard work!"

Then he went to Ermenhang with Lai Sheng's family.

Seeing that Jia Qiang actually agreed, and watching her retreating back, Lai Sheng, Zhang Cai and others looked at each other and relaxed a little.

As long as you can listen to advice and be manipulated, things will be easier in the future...

…

"Oh! The master is back!"

In Ning'an Hall, before going up to the house to embrace the building, Ms. You brought fried beans and silver butterflies. Next to her stood the second sister You and the third sister You. They were waiting there together. When she saw Jia Qiang arriving, she immediately came forward with a smile on her face.

.

Seeing this style of work, Jia Qiang couldn't help but frown.

To be honest, Youshi is still his aunt, so doing this is really...

Wealth is indeed difficult to give up.

After Jia Qiang bowed her hands in greeting, she said bluntly: "You are still an elder after all. Even if Jia Zhen and I are not on the same page, I have no grudge against you. It doesn't have to be like this. If you want to worship the Buddha, go and worship the Buddha. If you don't want to go, you will have to live with your wealth."

That's how it goes. I won't be able to live in this Ningguo Mansion for the time being."

When Youshi heard this, a huge stone fell to her heart. She had not slept well these days. She was afraid that when the new owner of the Duke's Mansion came in, she would be sent to a corner to worship Buddha, or be forced to do something. Three bad things.

She is somewhat confident in her appearance.

What is the purpose of keeping Second Sister You and Third Sister You as companions in the house?

He was just prepared that if the new owner came into the house and was hungry and thirsty like an animal, and her status couldn't be compromised, she would exchange her two sisters for wealth.

They themselves also thought that living in the Duke's Mansion was far better than living outside...

Unexpectedly, Jia Qiang, who had such a big hatred against Jia Zhen, would be so easy to talk to...

Youshi cried and said: "Thank you for your magnanimity, master, for not blaming me and other women. But you are the master of the Duke's mansion, why don't you live at home? When word spread, it was only said that I, the widow, was acting like a monster, causing the master to have trouble." I can’t return home.”

Jia Qiang frowned and said, "Why are there so many random thoughts? I have to work in the East City, and it's too far to live in the West City."

When Mrs. You was about to say something, Second Sister You warned her warmly: "Sister, please eat the food, otherwise it will get cold in a while."

Even so, because of what Jia Qiang said earlier, Second Sister You dared not even look at him today.

Third Sister You, on the other hand, was brave by nature and would glare at Jia Qiang from time to time.

Jia Qiang ignored me several times and still looked at me. She got impatient and sneered: "Why do you always look at me?"

As soon as Third Sister You opened her mouth, she was stopped by both Youshi and Second Sister You. Youshi smiled and said, "Third Sister, you have such a temper. You are not disrespectful to me."

This humble attitude made Jia Qiang disgusted.

He didn't want to be tough anymore. After thinking about it, he looked at Sister You and said, "What your temper is has nothing to do with me. I won't tolerate you just because you are beautiful. I just want to think about some unreasonable reasons." , I will give you a message: live in peace for a few years, and after the bad reputation caused by Jia Zhen and his like has been washed away, you will have a good future. I just met Liu Xianglian a few days ago, and he was not married. "

Mrs. You was still a little confused after hearing this. The second sister You was vaguely thoughtful, but the third sister You felt as if she had been struck by lightning. She stood there in shock, her almond-shaped eyes wide open, looking at Jia Qiang as if she had seen a ghost.

Jia Qiang, however, had no intention of saying another word to her and entered the inner hall first.

It's not that he is nosy, it's just that the world is too harsh on women. If he can save someone's life by saying a few words, why should he be stingy?

Entering the main hall, I saw that Mr. You had already covered the floor with red carpet, and placed a three-legged loach with an elephant trunk and a large gilt and enamel brazier on the place.

The main seat is a large chair with a backrest pillow embroidered with bright red clouds and dragons. There is also a black fox fur bag draped on it and a large white fox fur mattress.

On the other hand, Youshi and others sat on two carved lacquer chairs facing each other, both of which were gray rat chairs with small mattresses. Under each chair was a large copper foot stove.

Jia Qiang doesn't have to be obedient or filial, but they have to be more careful.

A large round table was filled with delicacies: a seven-inch plate contained three fresh shark's fins, bergamot sea cucumbers, steamed white fish, stir-fried crabs, duck stuffed with glutinous rice, braised lotus seeds in sugar, roasted lilies, and fried loofah.

Then, there were four more bowls, boiled soft-shelled turtle, wild duck with mushrooms, winter melon, chicken wings, and cabbage in broth.

Then, two more soups are served, duck blood soup and three fresh meatball soup.

These people are not in Jia Qiang's heart, so there is nothing to be cautious about.

With Sister Sanyou dumbfounded, Jia Qiang ate up most of the food on the table, then said goodbye neatly and left.

The three daughters of the You family didn't even react...

After a while, You finally remembered to send her off. When she quickly got up and rushed to the door, she found that Jia Qiang's figure had disappeared under the corridor.

After she sat back down, she didn't know what to say for a while.

Second Sister You whispered: "Sister, this Brother Qiang seems to be very different from before, let alone bumping into customers..."

At the beginning, Jia Qiang was also a popular figure, and she often behaved in front of the two sisters.

But now, it is almost impossible to see the original appearance at all, even though the person is still the same person...

Youshi glanced at Third Sister You, who was still absent-minded, and thought for a while and said: "I don't care if he bumped into a visitor or not, as long as we have a way out. But I see that he is a serious person now."

…

After returning from Xuanzhen Temple outside the city, the sun was already setting in the west.

Jia Qiang went straight to Taiping Street and Jinsha Gang.

Jia Jing did not see him inside the Xuanzhen Temple, and just as he wanted, he bowed to the Taoist Temple as a pure act of worship to God.

When I returned to Jinsha Gang, I didn't expect that Li Jing happened to be there.

Seeing Jia Qiang come in, her eyes were full of joy.

The two looked at each other for a moment. Just when Elder Hong and Elder Zhang, two white-haired old dogs...the white-haired old men, couldn't eat the dog food and were about to leave quietly, Jia Qiang smiled and said: "Let's get down to business first."

As the group sat down, Jia Qiang asked Li Jing, "How's it going?"

Li Jing smiled and said: "Those people are indeed capable people and strangers. They have ideas on the left and tricks on the right. They set up traps everywhere. They can't see anything on the surface, but secretly they have changed a Zhuangzi." It’s completely changed beyond recognition. If someone like me breaks in without knowing the basics, it’s bound to be a narrow escape. The place is safe and there is a general helmsman’s old camp, so they are ready to enter the city and explore inside step by step.”

Jia Qiang nodded and said: "Very good, there is no need to be stingy with money. There are a few old people at the helm to keep things stable. I am afraid that they will be conservative and refuse to put money in."
To be continued...