Dream of the Red Chamber Continued Text 156: Jia Shu owed Sun Shaozu 5,000 taels of silver, Jia Yingchun's dowry was 10,000 taels, why did Sun Shaozu still say that he owed him money?
(The logic of this article:Jia Yingchun married Sun Shaozu and was eventually killed by Sun Shaozu.) Sun Shaozu killed him because Jia Yu owed 5,000 taels of silver. But in fact, Jia Yingchun would have at least 10,000 taels of silver when he got married, in this case, why did Sun Shaozu still think that Jia Yu owed him money? ）
01
Wilde said: "When I was young, I thought that money was the most important thing in the world, and now that I am old, I know that this is indeed the case." ”
Wilde was right, no matter what era, most people regard money as more important than life. In their world, money is not only above everything, but the only measure of everything.
Jia Yingchun's husband, Sun Shaozu, is such a person. After Jia Yingchun got married, he returned to the Rongguo Mansion and privately told Lady Wang the reason for his unfortunate life after marriage.
"(Sun Shaozu) said that the old man had received five thousand pieces of silver from him, and he should not have made him. Now that he had come two or three times, he pointed to my face and said, "Don't be a lady with me, your old man made me five thousand pieces of silver and bought you for me." Okay, beat up and go to sleep in the lower room. (Dream of the Red Chamber, 80th)
Jia Yingchun's statement makes people suspicious. Because the girls in Jia Province are married, each person has at least 10,000 taels of silver as a dowry.
Wang Xifeng had said this before, and he had prepared in advance. (Reference: In the 55th episode of "Dream of the Red Chamber", when Wang Xifeng and Ping'er privately discussed several major events in the Rongguo Mansion, Wang Xifeng said: "The second girl is from the side of the great old master, and it does not count; there are three or four left, and each person spends ten thousand silver; Brother Huan is limited in marriage, spending three thousand taels of silver, no matter where to save a sip, it is enough...")
The second girl that Wang Xifeng said naturally meant Jia Yingchun. Although she said no, the specifications must be implemented. As Wang Xifeng's daughter-in-law, as long as Jia Shu or Lady Xing handed over, Wang Xifeng had to find a way to be thorough.
Jia Yingchun got married and brought 10,000 taels of silver dowry, Sun Shaozu said that Jia Pardon received his five thousand taels of silver, obviously more than five thousand taels, why did Sun Shaozu still say that Jia Pardon owed him money?
02
What is money? Not only silver, but also gold and silver with circulation value and monetary value.
When Jia Yingchun got married, she naturally had to prepare a dowry.
The source of the dowry has two parts:
The first was the silver and clothes prepared by Jia Yu and Lady Xing. Jia Yu and Lady Xing were stingy and would not give Jia Yingchun too much silver. But clothes are prepared according to specifications.
Miss Jhafu's clothes are very expensive.
When Wang Xifeng and Jia Lian were settling accounts, they deliberately said to Wang'er's wife: "In another year of Ming'er, everyone will search for the top clothes, but it will be fine!" Wang'er's daughter-in-law smiled: "That lady's grandmother's head clothes have been folded and not enough for a lifetime, but they just won't." ”
In fact, The clothes of Miss Jia family are responsible for Li Feng, so the clothes in Jia Yingchun's dowry are very expensive. (Dream of the Red Chamber, 72nd)
The second is the congratulatory gift sent by the crowd.
When Jia Yingchun got married, the four kings and eight dukes and the officials who were close friends with Jia Fu must send congratulatory gifts; Jia Zheng, Jia Zhen and other clansmen would also send silver.
After Jia Lian secretly married Second Sister You, she urged Third Sister You to marry Liu Xianglian and informed Jia Zhen of this matter. After Jia Zhen heard this, she was afraid that Jia Lian would not add her strength alone, so she gave him thirty-two pieces of silver, and Jia Lian took it to hand over to Sister You to prepare makeup for Third Sister You. "Dream of the Red Chamber" 66th)
Therefore, Jia Yingchun's dowry, all converted down, will definitely be able to reach 10,000 taels.
For the rich and noble, the dowry also included a special thing - the dowry maid and the nurse and other people.
Qingwen died of illness, Jia Baoyu fell ill, and after recovering, he went to Madame Wang's room, and met Yingchun's nursing mother who came to the house to ask for peace. The nurse said of Sun Shaozu's misconduct, "The girl only has to wipe her tears from her eyes behind her back, as long as she receives the family for two days." (Dream of the Red Chamber, 80th)
03
The dowry, as a symbol of a woman's status, is still a symbol of personal property after marriage.
When Wang Xifeng argued with Jia Lian, he said in a clear manner: "I have thirty-fifty thousand, not to earn you... Sweeping the cracks in the floor of my royal house is enough for you to live your whole life." Don't be afraid to say what you say! The existing proof: Look at the dowry of my wife and me, compare it with yours, and it is not worthy of you. (Dream of the Red Chamber, 72nd)
Jia Yingchun has a cowardly personality, and the silver she brought to the Sun family will definitely be occupied by Sun Shaozu, but he cannot possess the clothes, the rings and the accompanying room.
A person's cognition determines a person's behavior. People who have no cultural background only have naked silver in their eyes; those who lack knowledge of life and life have only concrete and practical interests in their eyes.
Jia Yu promised this marriage before, "Jia Zheng deeply hated the Sun family, although it was a family friend, it was only the power of Pizu Xi Mu Rongning, and there were things that could not be settled before worshiping under the door, not a descendant of the Shili famous clan, so he advised twice, but Jia Yu did not listen, and had to stop." (Dream of the Red Chamber, 79th)
Therefore, Sun Shaozu is a person who only recognizes silver, even though Jia Yingchun got married with a dowry worth 10,000 silver, he still does not recognize it. Under these circumstances, Jia Yingchun endured humiliation and burdens, and could not escape Sun Shaozu's abuse, and eventually died early, becoming a poor person who cried and Wan Yan was sad.
Author: Xiao Han reading, a person with temperature, has a pen with warmth, familiar with different versions of "Dream of the Red Chamber", I do not dig hot spots, do not chase gossip, just want to write a new story of "Dream of the Red Chamber" every day, in the continuous exploration of the story, accompany you to feel the beauty of literature together.
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