In ancient times, there were fundamental contradictions and antagonisms between concubines and wives. After all, their husbands are the same person, one person is favored, and the other person or several people are inevitably treated coldly.
Of course, because of the difference in status and dignity, the right wife has absolute authority in front of the concubines. When the wife sits, the concubines can only stand; when the wife eats, the concubines can only watch; the concubines can only listen to what the wife says; even if the wife scolds the concubine, they can only endure.
The relationship between Madame Wang and Aunt Zhao in "Dream of the Red Chamber" is such a relationship. When Madame Wang and Jia Zheng sat on an equal footing in the room and said common things, Aunt Zhao could only stand outside the door and wait, even when Jia Baoyu came over, Aunt Zhao had to hurry to lift the curtain for this "junior".
For this concubine of her husband, Madame Wang actually had a great resentment in her heart. Therefore, when Jia Huan burned Jia Baoyu's face with a wax oil lamp, Madame Wang was originally cursing Jia Huan, and Wang Xifeng said, "The third elder is still so wild-footed chicken, I said that you can't go to the high platform, and Aunt Zhao should often teach and teach", Madame Wang immediately transferred her resentment to Aunt Zhao, ordered someone to call Aunt Zhao over, split her head and cover her face, and scolded her, saying that she "raised such unreasonable, black heart and vulgar seeds, and don't care", scolding Aunt Zhao for not daring to say a word, and she also had to hurry up to clean up for Jia Baoyu.
In front of Madame Wang, Aunt Zhao never wanted to get a good face. With Madame Wang there, Aunt Zhao would never want to look up.
However, what people could not imagine was that Aunt Zhao would publicly praise Madame Wang as a "good wife".
Just after the New Year of that year, Wang Xifeng was a little moon. The duties of the housekeeper in Jia Fuzhong fell to Tan Chun and Li Feng. As it happened, at this juncture, Aunt Zhao's younger brother Zhao Guoji died. According to the rules of Jia Province, Zhao Guoji's family should be given twenty-two funeral expenses. However, Aunt Zhao was very unhappy, because not long ago, the attacker's mother had passed away, and Lady Wang had rewarded her with forty taels of silver. Therefore, Aunt Zhao made a big fuss in the "council chamber" and was so angry that she cried. Aunt Zhao did not forgive——
"Who told you to pull someone else away?" You're not home, and I'm not going to ask you. Now you say one is one, two is two, and now that your uncle is dead, you have given twenty or thirty-two more pieces of silver, and your wife is not dependent on you? Mrs. Clear is a good wife, all of you are vitriolous! It's a pity that the wife has nowhere to go..."
Lady Wang, who was suppressed so much that Aunt Zhao could not lift her head, actually became a "good wife" of Ender in the mouth of Aunt Zhao, which was really unexpected.
So, is Madame Wang really an admirable "good wife" in the eyes of her "love enemy" Aunt Zhao? In fact, behind Aunt Zhao's praise of Lady Wang, there was a hidden ancient concubine forced to tolerate and please helplessly.
It is absolutely impossible for Aunt Zhao to like Madame Wang, just as Madame Wang cannot like Madame Zhao. These two women, to a certain extent, have a "competitive" relationship. Because of Jia Zheng's favor, Aunt Zhao will inevitably touch Lady Wang's interests; because of Lady Wang's status as a proper wife, she will inevitably suppress Aunt Zhao.
Therefore, Aunt Zhao had to please Lady Wang as much as possible, and only by letting Lady Wang relax her vigilance against her could she have a way to live. At any time, Aunt Zhao had to show her obedience and identification with Lady Wang, which was the survival of ancient concubines.
Although Madame Wang was not present at this time, there were many people in Jia Province, and if Aunt Zhao dared to complain about Madame Wang anywhere, the news would reach Madame Wang's ears in the shortest possible time. At that time, there was good fruit from Aunt Zhao to eat. Even if Jia Zheng loved Aunt Zhao, he couldn't protect Aunt Zhao all the time, and Aunt Zhao was the fish on Madame Wang's case board after all.
Like Jia Lian's concubines, they could only be slaughtered by Wang Xifeng.
It is precisely because Aunt Zhao has always been cautious and cautious to please Lady Wang, and has not forgotten to praise Lady Wang anytime and anywhere, that she can survive in jia mansion and give birth to a son and a daughter for Jia Zheng.
In other words, Aunt Zhao's praise of Madame Wang as a "good wife" is not a heartfelt word, but a survival strategy. From this point of view, Aunt Zhao is not as stupid as the readers think, and she also has her own unique wisdom to become the most successful concubine in Jia Province.