Chapter 5 Chapter 03

Nikolai Sergeich Ikhmenev came from a distinguished family, but long since fallen.However, after the death of his parents, he got a good estate with a total of 150 serfs.When he was about 20 years old, he resolutely threw his pen into the army and became a Hussars.All was going well until, in his sixth year in the army, one ill-fated night he lost his entire fortune.He couldn't sleep at night and didn't sleep all night.The next night, he returned to the card table, leaving him The last thing on the table, the horse, is on the table, desperate.He won this one, then a second, a third, and half an hour later he had won back one of the villages that had belonged to him, called Ihmenevka, which, according to recent reports,

According to a male census, there were fifty serfs in the village.He quit gambling and applied for discharge the next day.A hundred serfs were buried in his hands, never to return, and he was allowed to discharge from the army, from the rank of lieutenant, and set off to return to his small village .Since then, he has never talked about his loss in his life, although he is famous for his honesty and kindness. If anyone dared to mention it, he would definitely quarrel with him.He runs a miserable life in the countryside and concentrates on farming. He is thirty-five years old and has a relationship with a poor man.

The poor noble lady Anna Andreyevna Shumilova was married.This young lady was married empty-handed, without a dowry at all, but she had been educated at a provincial aristocratic boarding school, and was educated under a certain foreigner Montreveche. Anna Andreevna was always proud of this, although no one ever knew exactly what kind of education she had received there.Nikolai Sergeyitch became a very good and well-run head of the family, and the landowners of the four villages Come and learn from him.A few years later, a landowner, Prince Pyotr Alexandrovich Valkovsky, suddenly came from Petersburg to the village of Vasilyevskoe, a nine- Hundred farmers

slave.His presence caused a sensation in the four townships.This duke is still very young, although he is not too young, he has a considerable official title, and there are people in the court, he has a lot of contacts, he is also handsome, and has a lot of money. Lastly, he is widowed. This has aroused great interest among the ladies and ladies of the whole county.It was rumored that even the governor of the province was related to him, and once held a very splendid reception for him in the provincial capital; Bewitched", etc., etc. In a word, this is one of the outstanding representatives of Petersburg high society. The appearance of such a person in the provinces, if it is ignored, produces an extraordinary sensation. But the prince did not. not a hospitable

Master, especially for those who he doesn't need and who he thinks are slightly lower than him.He thought it unnecessary for him to get acquainted with the landowners around the estate, and this immediately made him many enemies.Therefore, when he suddenly had a whim and wanted to Everyone was astonished when they went to visit Nikolai Ikhmenev.True, Nikolai Sergeyitch was one of his nearest neighbors.At the Ikhmenevs' house the prince made a deep impression on everyone.He immediately gave them both Fascinated; especially Anna Andreyevna was full of praise for him.After a few days, he became acquainted and informal. He visited them every day and invited them to his house to play.

Playing and singing on a crappy piano.The Ikhmenevs were simply puzzled: how could such an amiable, wonderful person be described as an arrogant, arrogant, dry egoist?and This is the comment made by all the neighbors in the four townships on him.It must be supposed that the prince really liked Nikolai Sergeitch, for he was a honest, straightforward, unselfish, and noble man.However, it didn't take long for everything to become clear.duke Came to Vasilievskoe himself in order to dismiss his steward.Here is a wanton German, a pretentious agronomist, with respectable white hair, spectacles, and a high nose, but, for all his virtues

, but Kuo shamelessly and recklessly stole the property of his master, and in addition tortured several peasants to death.The man's name was Ivan Karlovich, and he was finally caught with the stolen goods. He felt very wronged, and said a lot of Germans have always been Fair words; but, in spite of all the good things he said, he was dismissed, even disgraced, and disgraced.The prince needed another butler, and Nikolai Sergeyitch was the one he chose.he is a He is one of the best in the family, and he is very honest and reliable. Of course, there is no doubt about all these.It was evident, however, that the prince very much wished that Nikolai Sergeyitch would volunteer to be his steward, but his idea failed to materialize.

He wished, so one morning the Duke himself came to his door and made this proposal to him, in a very friendly manner, and he resigned very earnestly.Ikhmenev politely declined at first; but Anna Andreyevna was tempted by the generous salary, and said However, the invitation was very sincere, and finally dispelled all their doubts.The duke got his wish.It should be admitted that he has a good understanding of people.After he got acquainted with Ikhmenev, he found out about Ikhmenev in a very short period of time. As a man, he knew very well that in order to impress Ikhmenev, he must be friendly and emotional, and win his heart first, otherwise, money alone will not do much.All he needs is a steward who can blindly forever

Trust him, and he will never have to come to Vasilievskoye again, which is also his wishful thinking.He had a great fascination for Ikhmenev, and Ikhmenev believed in his friendship with all his heart.Nikolai Sergey Qi is a very kind, naive and a little romantic person, despite what people say about them, but this kind of people is still famous in our Russia, when they fall in love with someone (sometimes only God knows why ) , they will dedicate themselves to others and die. Their wishful thinking and ignorance sometimes reach the point of being ridiculous. ①Russia's first magazine for children and teenagers published in 1785-1789, the full name is "Children's Books for the Mind", most of the novels published in it were written by the Russian writer Karam Tianjin translation.

②This is a persuasive sentimental novel, translated by Russian writer Karamzin and published in the eleventh issue of "Children's Books" (1787). ①It alludes to the novel "Mont-Reveche" (1853) by the French female writer George Sand. The light flew by, and many years passed in a flash, and the Duke's manor was prosperous.The relationship between the master of Vasilievskoye and its steward has always been good and bad, and neither side has had any unpleasant things. The relationship between each other is limited to for purely transactional correspondence.The prince did not interfere in the slightest with Nikolai Sergeyitch's business arrangements, but sometimes advised him.These ideas are practical and realistic, which made Ihmenev very impressed.I can tell

, not only does he dislike squandering and waste, he is even good at making money.About five years after his visit to Vasilyevskoye, a commission came from Nikolai Sergeich to buy him another fine estate in the province for four dollars. Hundreds of serfs.Nikolai Sergeyitch was overjoyed; the prince's achievements, all the rumors about his success and his advancement, interested him as much as if the prince were his own brother.Until one time, the Duke was really After expressing extraordinary trust in him in this matter, his joy reached its peak.That's what happened... But I think it's necessary to mention here some particularly interesting things in the life of Prince Valkovsky. Interesting details, because he is more or less one of the main protagonists of my story.