The Maid's Strategy in the Red Chamber

Eating alone?

Qingwen sneered: "I've finished all the work I should do. She wished I wouldn't hang around in front of Second Master Bao. Even if she asked, I would have an excuse. I just said I came to ask you about sewing. What else could she do to me? "As he said, he took out a half-made sachet from his skirt: "Look, I even prepared the things, and she couldn't find a reason to keep them.".

Seeing her smug face, Zhu Mei couldn't help but tap her nose: "You are really getting smarter and smarter!"

Qingwen smiled and said, "Thank you sister Xueyan for teaching me." After speaking, she gave Xueyan a bright smile to please her. When she first entered the mansion, she was liked by Jia's mother because of her sharp speech and good needlework. It was rewarded to the second master again.At that time, she was quite complacent, but later she found out that these family members in the mansion were supporting her on the surface, but in fact they had some disdain for her in their hearts, allowing her to offend people everywhere with her willful publicity.Later, after suffering a few dark losses, sister Xueyan couldn't help but remind her a few words, and she suddenly realized that although everyone laughed at her face, she hadn't even had a close friend for a few years in the house. nothing.

Later, she began to come to Zhuquanyuan from time to time to ask Xueyan for advice. She knew that those around Baoyu could not be counted on, so she pinned all her hopes on Xueyan.Fortunately, Sister Xueyan didn't disappoint her, she didn't say much, but she got to the point in every sentence.Over the past two years, she has not had a good relationship with the big maids around Baoyu, but she has made friends with many women and young maids in the mansion, and even the second wife has a few good women and the little maid.Only then did she know how those good sisters she thought were slandering her behind their backs.

However, these are not important anymore.Sister Xueyan is right, no matter how much others slander her, as long as she stands upright and has skills that others cannot match, even the second wife will not easily touch her.Anyway, I was given by the old lady, didn't I?

Seeing her playful look, Xueyan couldn't help laughing: "Don't say that, I just clicked a few words, in the end it's you who have a high level of understanding." It's a pity that you have little knowledge, but if someone gives you some pointers, it won't be so miserable.Although it is unavoidable that there are some small shortcomings, Xueyan still likes her straightforwardness and cleverness, she is always so fresh, daring to love and hate, unlike herself, who dare not even express her heart, only dare to think silently in her heart …

While she was thinking wildly, the two had already discussed the face color of these fur clothes, and when Xue Yan came back to her senses, one had already been cut.She couldn't help laughing and said: "You guys are quick enough to move, such a small job, you can do it yourself when I'm done. It's easy for you to have a little spare time, so you can't take a break and play, why waste all your energy?"

Qingwen smiled and said: "We apprentices are finally able to help you with some needlework, so you can give us this opportunity. When it is finished, we will also wear it to make a name for us and show our craftsmanship."

"That's right, just rest now, don't worry, there will be plenty of work waiting for you when you get well. Just now when the eldest lady brought you the clothes, she said, 'Don't think I'm partial to Xueyan, it's true. I still have a big job here waiting for her to recover and help me. If you envy her, you should practice your needlework well. Even if you have [-]% to [-]% of her level, I don’t have to find her in the future. .'So, you can take advantage of this time and rest in peace for a few days. I guess you will be busy when the first month comes out." While Zhu Mei was talking, the movements of her hands were unambiguous , the heavy scissors seemed to be alive in her hands, and with a quick "click click", she cut another gown face in a few strokes.

As soon as Xueyan woke up from the shadow of "big job", she turned her head and saw that Zhu Mei was about to cut the third piece, so she hurriedly stepped forward and hugged her arm and said, "Good sister, keep this piece for me. "

Zhu Mei frowned: "Since there are two of us doing free work, why don't you let us finish it quickly and save it for next year?"

Xueyan nodded: "I just want to keep it for next year. You see, I already have three or four small woolen clothes this year, including the ones that the girl rewarded and the ones I made myself, which are enough to wear. Such good fur clothes, masters It's not rewarded every year. I might as well save this one and change it next year. My wife's clothes are a bit too big this year, so I need to cut a piece. You will change them for me. Next year I will wear them smaller Wouldn't it be a waste?"

The two girls felt that what she said was reasonable, so they left her an ermine jacket.

Both of them were very good at needlework, not to mention that they didn't need embroidery or anything to change their appearance. After working for more than an hour, the two of them finished changing both clothes.The silver fox cloak was replaced with a lychee red brocade face, and the other sheepskin gown was replaced with a lotus-colored plain brocade face.Although it is meant to be bright, how can the maidservant's clothes be brighter than the master's?

After changing it, Xueyan first put on the sheepskin gown and then the cloak, and then tried on the fat, thin, and short lengths, and said with a smile: "Very good, very suitable, I see that it is much better than what I made. "

"Well, we are already a teacher. We should put up a sign all over Shaanxi and spread the word. Let the masters assign some good work to us, so as to save my sister from being burdened." Zhu Mei said with a smile. .

Xueyan replied: "Just do it, I don't care." She took off her clothes as she said, "It's snowing outside, and I didn't feel how cold it was in the room. I wore it for a while and it was hot. Sweat all over."

"It's because your house is warm. You put two braziers in such a hut, but the girl is afraid that you will be frozen, so she will only give you fifty catties of silver charcoal. If it is not warm, it will be unreasonable." Zhu Mei laughed.

Xueyan smiled and said to her: "You still have a kang in your room, why don't you tell me? Why don't we change it, you come to sleep on the bed, and I go to sleep on the kang?"

After all, she is a northerner at heart, and she can adapt to the winter climate here better.Zhu Mei and Cui Liu would not be enough. The natives of Jiangnan, for the sake of keeping warm in winter, they would rather huddle together on the big kang in one room.

Seeing that Zhu Mei kept her mouth shut, Xue Yan stopped making fun of her.Just when Cui Liu came back to fetch things for Daiyu, she ran into the room and stuck her head in: "I see that no one in the girl's room knows that everyone is here, you are so lively." The teapot came to pour water. Fortunately, Xueyan had just made tea for Qingwen and the two of them, and the tea was still hot.

Cui Liu took the largest teacup and poured three or four cups before staying: "The dishes in the big kitchen at noon are a bit salty, and I haven't had time to drink water all afternoon. I'm thirsty to death."

Xueyan looked at the sky outside and asked: "It's almost time for dinner, why are you free?"

Cui Liu pointed to the handkerchief on the table: "I came back to take the chopsticks for the girl. The eldest lady said that it is snowing today, and the other dishes are cold quickly. I want to invite the old lady and the girls to eat mutton pot .”

Hearing the mutton pot, Xueyan suddenly wanted to eat it too, so she said with a smile: "During the days when I was ill, I thank you for taking care of each of you. It just so happened that today, with the help of the eldest wife, I also invite you to eat the pot Bar?"

Qingwen was a little hesitant: "The old ladies want to eat the pot, will the kitchen be patient and make it for us?"

Zhu Mei smiled and said: "If the masters don't eat, we may not like to serve us in the kitchen if we order a la carte, but since the masters eat this, the kitchen must have a lot of preparations, as long as the money is in place, why are those people unwilling? ?”

While talking, Xue Yan had already taken out a piece of silver weighing about two taels, and handed it to Zhu Mei: "I will leave this matter to you, go and say a few more good words, it depends on your ability to ask for more. I'll call Biqin and the others over, and we'll have fun together."

Zhu Mei rolled her eyes: "Even if you eat a pot, you don't need so much money. One tael of silver is the best."

Xueyan smiled and said, "Aren't we a lot of people? Besides, we people in Zhuquanyuan don't go to the big kitchen to ask for things easily. If we are too stingy, people will think that we are the ones who don't get anything out."

"Forget it, anyway, you have a heavy purse, let those women get your glory." Zhu Mei joked, got up, put on her big clothes and went to the big kitchen.

Cui Liu grabbed Xue Yan's arm and said, "Good sister, I'll wait for the girl to come over for dinner, you must save some for me later."

Xueyan smiled and said, "Don't worry, you are indispensable."

Although Mrs. Xing changed the rules of the family, the big kitchen did not dare to fill their pockets as before, and the Xing family has strictly formulated the food standards for the masters, maids and women, and no one can destroy it at will. You need to get money at the point, and you have to enter the public account.Zhu Mei came here with two taels of silver all at once. Although she wanted a lot of meat and vegetables, it would be enough to pay at most a few hundred dollars to the public office. Le's eyes are narrowed, "Don't worry, girl, I will definitely pick the best ones for you, and I won't let you down."

Zhu Mei said with a smile: "Ma'am, I'm just an errand runner. Sister Xueyan from our yard is the host tonight, and she also pays the money. It's not my turn to speak, but Sister Xueyan invites everyone." It's the big maids of each house, Madam, don't let my sister lose face."

The person in charge was also afraid of these vice ladies, so he patted his chest and said: "You and Miss Xueyan can rest assured, I will definitely make this dinner beautiful."

In Jiamu's courtyard, after the masters and children had finished their meal and served tea, it was the servant girls' turn to eat.

Cui Liu originally told Zijuan, Biqin and the others about this matter quietly, so that they don't have to compete with others for food.Who knew that those maids just watched the masters eat the mutton pot lively, and smelled the smell, how could anyone not be greedy? Word ears have long been pricked up.

It's just that the others were embarrassed, so Yuanyang smiled and said: "Okay, maybe you guys still want to eat alone?"