The Maid's Strategy in the Red Chamber

Tang Bohu

Xueyan was a little surprised: "What happened? Why did the old lady think of me?" Subconsciously, she felt that it would not be a bad thing.

Zhu Mei said: "It's a good thing. The old lady praised the new clothes you made for the girl and said she wanted to ask you to help me embroider something."

Just look, you know it's not going to be a good thing!Embroidering these jobs is not easy.

But after all, there is no capital to resist. In the eyes of ordinary people, it is a great blessing to be recognized by the master. If she dares to have any dissatisfaction, even Daiyu will not turn to her, not to mention there are so many people who want to catch her. And the one with the pigtails!

When I arrived at Jiamu's place, Jiamu first praised her: "I heard that you can draw two strokes of a few characters that you also know. I didn't think it was a big deal. Now I see that this is a bit literate. It's different. I Look at the embroidered purse of yours, it has such a charm of wisdom patterns." She was talking about a purse that Xueyan embroidered for Daiyu a few days ago, with a few golden ginkgo leaves embroidered on the upper right, and a few golden ginkgo leaves on the lower I embroidered two small boats in black and brown, and finally embroidered the shapes of water waves with a few black silk threads.There is no heavy outline, and the colors are not very rich, but there is a faint charm of ink and wash.

When Daiyu first saw the purse, she couldn't help but think of the old house in Yangzhou thousands of miles away, and the lush ginkgo tree in her mother's yard. She seemed to bring the whole Jiangnan water town with her. I didn't expect to be spotted by Jia's mother today.Now I heard Mother Jia praise Xueyan, and she also praised: "Not to mention, Xueyan's embroidery is a masterpiece. The purse that the old lady praised last time, the jade rabbit worshiping the moon, was also embroidered by her. Embroidery never uses those ready-made patterns, they are all painted by themselves, so it is not tacky at all.”

Xueyan hurriedly said: "The old lady is really absurd. I dare not stand shoulder to shoulder with Huiwen, who is famous all over the world. Don't let my girl speak for me at this moment. If I really take a photo someday For her to use the things embroidered in a fancy way, she is guaranteed to throw the servant girl on the head and say "too vulgar" in disgust, such a high-sighted master in the servant stall must not strive for perfection!"

The words made everyone laugh.

Jia's mother also said cheerfully: "Although your girl is a bit difficult to serve, you have also practiced this skill. You must not blame the master in your heart."

Xueyan laughed and said: "Your servant is just joking. If I hadn't been a maidservant for a while, I wouldn't have had the opportunity to read and write. As for the ability to draw a few strokes later, I would be grateful to the girl for teaching me. Without the girl, there would be no slaveservant today. The slaveservant It’s too late to be grateful, how can I really feel resentful.”

Jia Mu nodded: "Just by looking at your hard work, you can tell that you are a kind person who repays your kindness. It's very good. But if I lend you some time with your girl, would you be willing?"

When the show comes, I don't know what Mother Jia wants to embroider by herself?Xueyan thought about it in her heart, and replied with a smile on her face: "My girl has always been filial to the old lady, don't say you use slaves for something, even if my girl does it herself, she won't hesitate. This slave girl There is no need to ask the girl what she means, she is willing to specify, and if the girl is willing, the servant will not have any objections. Old lady, if you have any errands, just ask, and the servant will definitely do her best."

Anyway, there is no escape from this task, so it is better to say a few words to save face for Daiyu and herself, Daiyu is happy to hear this.

Hey straight laugh.

Everyone likes to hear compliments, and Mother Jia is no exception.She was really happy to hear Xue Yan's words, and said with a smile: "Since that's the case, then I really gave you a job?"

"Just as the old lady tells you." Xueyan replied confidently.

Jia Mu smiled and said: "There is an important family who wants to move around next year. Her old lady likes Huiwen the most. This old lady was also talented and beautiful when she was young. She likes those landscape paintings with artistic conception the most. You may have embroidered them." ?”

Xueyan thought for a while and smiled: "I have never embroidered a large one, but I have embroidered a few small ones. I don't know how big the old lady wants to embroider? It's better to have a pattern to follow, after all, The clumsy pens of slaves would not dare to show shame for things given away."

Since she could be called here, Mother Jia had already prepared it early in the morning. She gave Yuanyang a wink, and Yuanyang immediately went to get a scroll and handed it to her.

Jia Mu didn't intend to let her open it in public, but only ordered: "You have to keep this painting safe, and you must bring it back to me in its original form when the embroidery is finished."

Xueyan solemnly agreed.

Jiamu said again: "I'm going to make a floor screen. The picture you embroidered will be the screen core. Yuanyang will tell you the size later." Then she asked her to start as soon as possible after returning. Look for mandarin ducks, if you don't have any, go out and buy them from the steward. Be sure to buy them on the [-]th day of the twelfth lunar month.

Embroidered things before.

Considering that it is only the beginning of winter and there are still nearly fifty days until the [-]th of the twelfth lunar month, there is still plenty of time.

As a result, after Xueyan returned, she opened the scroll and saw that Tang Bohu's name didn't frighten her, but the complexity of the landscape paintings inside made her very hurt.Originally, Mother Jia said that the man liked splashed-ink landscape paintings, but Xueyan thought that what she asked her to embroider must also be that kind of freehand brushwork.Although that kind of picture is more a test of skills, there are few places for stitching. Such a complicated landscape painting has mountains, rivers, trees, small bridges, houses and figures all complete, and there are very few blank places.If you have enough time, it's okay, but there are only more than 40 days, so it's tight no matter what.

Xueyan couldn't help but think of the picture of the twelve golden hairpins that she worked overtime to embroider before crossing. If she hadn't often stayed up late to embroider that, wouldn't she have become this hard-working little maid?

I don't know if I can go back and change it to something simpler...

Well, Xueyan also knew that this idea was not very realistic. Taking advantage of no one in the room, she slumped on the table for a while, looked at the landscape map in front of her, and thought: Forget it, this is Tang Bohu’s original work after all. It is impossible to see even if you want to see it.This time, not only watching closely, but also copying and embroidering it in person, isn't it also an opportunity?A few days ago, didn't I still want to read more calligraphy and paintings of famous masters so as to learn some brushwork and so on, so this opportunity came?

Tang Bohu can be listed as one of the "Four Talents" and has been praised by posterity for many years. Apart from those anecdotes, the most important thing is his excellent calligraphy and painting skills.

Take a closer look at this "Picture of Things to Do": in the distance, the mountains and mountains are flying straight down, and the nearby stream is gurgling and winding, and a few huts are hidden in the strange place.

Between ancient stones and pines, someone is boiling water and making tea indoors, and an old man walks slowly outdoors, followed by a little book boy holding a piano.The whole picture is sparse and well-organized, and the movement and stillness are appropriate, and a sense of tranquility and leisure rushes to the face.

Not long after she came back, Yuanyang brought some women over with a lot of things.Xueyan saw that she had brought a lot of plain satin and yarn, and said with a smile: "It's just an embroidered screen core. It takes more than three feet to reach the sky. Why did you bring so much material?"

Yuanyang smiled and said: "I don't know what kind of things you want to use. You can pick and use them at will. If you don't need anything, just keep it for practice. If you still need something, just come to me. The old lady said everything based on this." Work is the main thing, and you have to put aside other work for the time being."

Xueyan replied: "Sister, go back and tell the old lady that I will definitely do my best, and even my daughter will be put in the back for the time being." Just a word and go.

After returning home, Mother Jia saw her and asked, "Have you sent all the things?"

Yuanyang nodded: "It's all delivered, old lady, don't worry, Xueyan has always been a steady person, since she dares to promise it, she has a plan in her heart, so you don't have to worry about it."

Mother Jia sighed: "I have nothing to worry about. The embroidering is just icing on the cake. After all, you can't just give a screen to someone in the new year."

Hearing that Mother Jia had other plans, Yuanyang's eyes changed, but he didn't say much.

After Daiyu came back, she deliberately asked this painting to go over and have a look, and then she was a little worried for Xueyan: "This painting is a good painting, but it's not so good.

It's so easy to embroider, do you know what to do? "

Xueyan smiled and said: "Is there any? I've taken over all the jobs. The servants should do their best, and they won't embarrass the girl."

Daiyu curled her lips: "I have nothing to be afraid of. Face is something I have to rely on myself, and I didn't expect you to earn face for me. I was afraid that you would embarrass me. It's my fault too, knowing that there are many people over there with mixed eyes. I even brought such an exquisite purse to show off. After all, I have caused you to be troubled. You have never embroidered such a large piece before. If it is really embarrassing, I will intercede with your grandmother on your behalf. The big capital city is not only You can embroider."

This is Daiyu. Although she sometimes likes to tease others, she is always used to thinking of others in her heart.She comforted her and said: "The servant has already agreed, so how can you go back on your word? Don't worry, if the servant has no confidence in his heart, he will not be able to accept it. Although the time is short, the servant will hold his hand tightly. I'm just afraid that I won't have the time Made clothes and snacks for the girl."

Daiyu waved her hand nonchalantly: "There are them all, so don't worry about it. You are the best craftsman in this yard, but other people's crafts are not as good as yours. They can help you with things like thread splitting. Let me see Zhu Mei's craftsmanship is fairly dexterous, so let her help you." Actually, Daiyu also knew that Cui Liu and Xueyan were the closest in terms of intimacy, but Cui Liu's temperament was a bit lively, and she was not as good as needlework, so it was better Zhu Mei stayed steady.

Straightening and splitting the thread is indeed a waste of effort, if someone helps, it can really save worry, so Xueyan agreed.As for who the helper is, she has no opinion at all, "Mei Xiang worships all slaves", as long as someone uses it, it's fine if she wants to pick and choose?

Xueyan was not in a hurry to write. First, she watched carefully all night, and then spent two days copying it twice.It took half a day to finish the painting, and another half day to revise it. Thanks to her preparations when she copied it, she used the thickest rice paper, which can still withstand rubbing.But what the hell

It was an ink painting instead of an oil painting, and in the end the whole paper was altered beyond recognition by her.However, the waste of two sheets of paper gave her a little more understanding of the painting.

Feeling almost ready, Xue Yan finally decided to make a formal move.