Dowry maid's daily life [Red Mansion]

Since we want to make a fortune during the New Year's Eve, the method of cold soaking is not suitable: cold soaking takes too long, and it is not as fast as hot soaking.Yun An thought to herself, if she had the opportunity in the future, she would also like to try the brewing method and the percolation method, so that the effect would be better.

In the past, when Eucommia combined wine, he followed the prescription Du Yun'an gave him exactly, and the quality of the medicinal wine produced fluctuated with the quality of the medicinal materials and the characteristics of the wine.This time, the right time and place, Du Yun'an wanted to make it more carefully, and put together a batch of high-quality medicinal wine.

Du Zhong and others saw that she scooped out half a cup of each wine and tasted it herself. They also carefully examined each flavor of the medicinal materials. Some of the two flavors that were not processed well were ordered to be re-purchased.

"You are seriously drunk." Du Zhong said next to him.

Du Yun'an drank two glasses of wine, his face was flushed, his eyes were still bright: "Brother, you also have a cup of warm, warmed up for us to work." Then he ordered Heyue and Xiangling to take a bite. Both of them know how to drink, so they drank together in a small pottery cup.

"Good wine." Everyone said that the wine bought this time was excellent.

Du Yun'an weighed out the medicinal materials with a scorpion, and prepared them one by one according to the prescription. Du Yun'an had to personally make up as many wines and medicines as possible.One is that the formula is the most important here and cannot be leaked out, and the other is that whether the medicinal wine is combined is good or bad, it is more work to be done in this step, even if it is all rice wine, Shaoxing wine and Jinhua wine, there are some subtle differences in the amount of medicinal materials.Du Yun'an had thought about it carefully, and he had an account in his heart.

Heyue and Xiangling cut spun yarn and sewed them into small cloth bags one by one in the main room, some big and some small, some single-layer, some two-layer.This yarn was boiled by Po Lu in boiling water this morning and dried on the fire wall.

Du Zhong and Song Chen are two strong laborers who are responsible for grinding all the medicinal materials in the medicine bag prepared by Du Yunan into coarse powder. Steps of the formula - the medicinal material should neither be too large nor too finely ground, if the ground is too fine, the resulting medicinal wine will be mixed, it is difficult to clarify and it will affect the properties of the medicine.Du Yun'an usually watched it twice as a supervisor. Her brother didn't mention his experience, and this senior brother Song was also very capable, so he just tried it and got started.Du Yun'an took a look at Senior Brother Song's serious and careful movements, and unkindly gave Senior Brother Song the title of "handy ingenuity" in his heart.

Ruburt and Lu Po lit the fire in the stove, and both stoves boiled hot water for use.Lu Po is good at making a fire in the stove. She mainly uses a big firewood. If it is big, it will be big, and if it is small, it will be small. The stable firepower makes Du Yunan speechless.The old couple were smiling and full of energy, and they only found out today that the masters still have such abilities.According to the knowledge of the two old people, Wan Guan's family wealth is not as good as having a skill in hand. With this long-term and stable income of the master's family, the couple's hearts can be regarded as relieved, and they no longer worry that the master's family will not be able to support the servants in the future.Although the masters are not very old, they are kind and capable. Lu Bolu and his wife have 1 hearts, and they have to show their skills and work hard so that they can grow old here.

"You go ahead and watch." Lu Po said to Lu Bo, "Our girl won't ask the two women she brought over to help, obviously they can't be trusted too much. You weaving baskets are not weaving at all. Just squat down in the front yard and watch them for the young lady, don't tell them to poke their heads around to see something."

Ruburt was still a little bit reluctant to leave, and he was curious about the excitement of rushing to a better life with all his strength.

Lu Po just pushed him away: "You are not needed on the stove, and those rattan sticks of yours take up space, don't get in the way!"

Du Yun'an, brother and sister, also felt that Mrs. Lu was careful and thoughtful when they heard what the kitchen said.Especially Du Yun'an, she really doesn't believe those two wives. Although the deeds of the two are in her hands, Du Yun'an has seen all the people's hearts in the back house of the big family this year, and knows that the servants are the most tricky and difficult to control. It's just such old people who are old, most of the old women have a temperament of being bully and afraid of being tough, picky and picky, and they are best at changing faces and taking things one step at a time. People are arrogant and arrogant.Du Yun'an understood in her heart that it wasn't all because of their own will that these wives became like that. In the final analysis, it was the feudal dross that killed people. But when it was her turn, she first thought of protecting her own family, and she had already preconceived and guarded against the two wives. son.

Although it's okay to just look at it, but Du Yun'an is even more afraid that the two wives will attract attention outside with their own imaginary nonsense. They were given by Mrs. Li, so it's not easy to punish them if they only make some verbal mistakes.Yun An thought for a while, and conveniently handed out a pot of shochu.

"Grandma Lu reminded me." Yun An said with a smile: "The two nuns outside were tired yesterday, so I invited them to eat this pot of wine, and gave them another two hundred dollars, and told them to go out and buy some by themselves. Let's have some wine and side dishes."

"I've saved our good wine, and I'll buy some good food to eat with me when I'm done."

He Yue put down her needlework and went to Yun'an's room, and immediately wrapped two hundred coins in a piece of silk and gave it to Lu Bo.

Lu Bur accepted with a smile, went out with the jug of wine, and loudly called Liu San to move all his basket weaving guys to the front yard. Move those vines to the front porch sheltered from the wind in two strokes: "Uncle, what is this made up?"

"The net to protect the vat and urn." Ruburt followed behind and said, "Let's make it together later."

"Hey." Liu San agreed.

The two women may have no other evil intentions, but they can't sit still in the inverted room. The whole family is busy with something in the main courtyard. It sounds like even the girl is helping. The two of them panicked, and they didn't know where to put their sleeves and hands.Seeing the housekeeper come out now, the girl rewarded wine and money, the two became happy again, first sipped at the spout of the pot, sticking out their tongues so hot, they were reluctant to spit them out, they both liked to say : "Yo, good shochu!"

Immediately, the two discussed to get a plate of peanuts to help them, and Ruburt pointed them to places nearby that sold food.Sure enough, after a while the two wives came back, one with half a roast chicken wrapped in oil paper, the other with a package of fried peanuts and half a shredded pig's ear.

They also had a few polite words with Lu Bo and Liu San, and then they ate in the inverted room contentedly.

Outside, Lu Bo and Liu San kept their hands on, and soon weaved many rattan nets of different sizes. After the wine was ready, wrap the nets outside, so as not to be bumped, and not afraid of freezing outside. Cracked the crock pot.

There is already a scent of wine coming out of it, and there is also a strange smell of medicine.

Put the ground coarse powder into a gauze bag, tie the mouth tightly, soak the corresponding gauze bag into the wine jar, seal the mouth of the jar and put it on the cage drawer to steam for a quarter of an hour to half an hour—thanks to Lu The mother-in-law has mastered the heat very well, and this step, which is the easiest to go too far or not enough, is done very smoothly.

Now it's cold outside, and the hot jars were moved out for fear of being cracked in a sudden freeze, so after steaming, the wine jars and jars had to be lifted down on the spot, and they could only be moved out of the stove when it gradually cooled.

As they prepared and steamed, everyone cooperated more and more tacitly, but the fire in the kitchen didn't stop until the second watch, and the whole family was exhausted, and even Ruburt bought food from outside to deal with it twice.This is not over yet, we have to continue tomorrow.

Du Yun'an refused to let He Yue go back to the front room, and let her and Xiang Ling spend the night with her on the same kang. The three girls couldn't open their eyes as soon as they got on the bedding, and they didn't even turn on the lights. blow.Du Zhong stuffed a piece of firewood into the stove, felt the temperature of the fire wall, and checked the doors and windows of the two rooms to the west of Yunan's place, and then rubbed the big head of Huzi who was squatting to watch the door for Yunan. Yawning, he went back to his own room opposite.

Just now he took off his outer clothes, a purse fell out, there were still embers in the brazier at his feet, but Eucommia didn't throw it in, instead he picked it up in a daze for a while, stuffed it under the pillow in a strange way, thinking: I'm tired today Yes, let's burn it again tomorrow.Nodding while thinking, the kang is burning, the brazier should be extinguished, why bother to make it flourish...

Later, Yun'an accidentally found this well-preserved old handkerchief. The situation at that time was very different from now, and there were some hidden feelings between young men and women. At that time, Yun'an even laughed at her brother: It also hides flower bones, it's the first time to be hit by an embroidered handkerchief, it's different after all!It's a good thing that you are destined, otherwise just keep this Qing and wait to make people angry!O man!

At this time, Du Zhong was not so playful, but like all young people, thinking of being recognized as a beggar that day, the corners of his mouth curled up, thinking it was fresh and interesting.

This 'first time' is always different for young people.For example, Eucommia, for example, Song Chen next door.

Song Chen opened his eyes and looked at the top of the tent. It was obvious that this side was only a wall away from the next door, but when he came back, he felt that it was cold everywhere. My heart is empty.He tossed and turned, thinking about his stepfather's house, his master's school, his senior brother again, and then he naturally thought of his senior brother's sister... A lot of random thoughts flashed through his mind the most, but the picture he shouldn't have thought about the most. Some of them pretended to be calm, some looked cold, some entrusted all their belongings with tears in their eyes, some raised their heads firmly... and some lowered their faces so that he would not see the big tear falling to the ground Some even called "Senior Brother Song" with smiles like flowers.

Song Chen has never been so close to any woman before. His relatives and sisters are all afraid of the birthmark on his face. It is his mother. I am afraid that the Taoist said, "This birthmark is the mark left by an evil spirit—— This son was either reincarnated by an evil ghost, or he had a grudge with an evil ghost in his previous life and was marked." This bloody ominous mark made most people shy away from him, except the brothers and sisters who didn't look sideways. he.Especially the younger sister of the Du family, she was completely unafraid from the first meeting, and she didn't even look at her.

Song Chen remembered that when he was in the Escort, those senior brothers were very close to him because of his stepfather's family background, but after seeing his rapid progress in martial arts, which was several times better than ordinary people, they all quietly avoided. There is also a rumor behind the Taoist priest's orders, and even the master feels that he has such a talent. Perhaps he complied with the Taoist's words, but senior brother Du still looks at him calmly.In fact, although Song Chen and Du Zhong were very close in the past, they are far from what they are now. In the past, Du Zhong would never bring his senior brothers home. Even when the senior brothers asked his sister for a joke, Du Zhong would be angry. , must have a fight to give up... Song Chen thought about it and suddenly felt guilty, pulled the quilt over his head indiscriminately, sighed, and didn't pinch his fingers himself.

He warned himself fiercely in his heart not to be wishful thinking, but at the same time he began to think about entering the camp after the next year—coincidentally, these two senior brothers all raised their fighting spirit to be outstanding.

----

"Brother, after taking out the medicine bag, just don't forget to squeeze the medicine bag, and mix the squeezed wine into the original vat." Du Yun'an did not forget to ask when he got into the car.

Du Zhong laughed at her: "I have said this several times, and I am more and more like a parrot who is learning the tongue."

Du Yun'an put down the curtain angrily. Wasn't it because his brother found it troublesome to take out the medicine bag and then threw it away!

"Good An'an, don't be angry, I'll pick you up to watch the lights on fifteenth day." Du Zhong hurriedly smiled and coaxed her.

Du Yun'an rubbed the dog's head that came in with the car to see her off, and then grinned the little mouth that was pouted for her brother: "That's a deal!"

Du Zhong smiled and said, "Don't worry."

Unable to get away, but being recognized by the wife of the Wang family as a goddaughter, the only thing that makes the two brothers and sisters happy is that they are much more independent than before: Although Yunan's status is embarrassing, this embarrassment also has the benefits of being embarrassing, and the Jia family doesn't care about her going in and out. The Du family is not a slave and they are so close. It is only natural for a guest lady to go back to her home—for example, when Shi Xiangyun is angry, he asks the girl to pack her bags. Same as coming home.

Eucommia will officially enter the Tongzhou camp next year. If he is not at home, Yun'an will naturally not come in and out too out of line with the Jia family's decorum, but he still has much more freedom than Sanchun and others. There are many festivals throughout the year. , If you want to go out, you are not afraid that you will not find a reason.Yun An and Hu Zi leaned their heads together to the window, smiled and said good things to her brother, and coaxed Du Zhong to pick her up to watch the lamp earlier that day.

"By the way!" Du Yun'an suddenly remembered that his brother bought the annual gift for Jia's family a few days ago, and couldn't help but feel sorry for the 100 taels: "They don't care about those gifts from my brother, don't waste this money, we are just ordinary small families Yes, I don't want this kind of face, brother, don't do this for me."

She muttered in a low voice: "We have saved up the money and let's set up a small village. In the future, medicinal wine will be cheaper."

"Don't worry about it, it's our family's etiquette whether they want it or not." Du Zhong laughed and rubbed her head.

Afraid that he would mess up his hair and tidy it up, Yunan hurriedly stuffed Huzi's dog's head under Du Zhong's hands, but Du Zhong didn't guard against his younger sister's strength, just in time to touch Hu Zi's big wet nose, and one person and one dog looked at each other in disgust With a glance, one withdrew his hand and the other withdrew his head.

"It's not that I don't give it away. I live in his house. I should share some gifts for three festivals and two birthdays. I mean, it's better to buy gifts at the end and give them to Master Zhang. Otherwise, our family will be empty. People don't like it..." Just treat it as my own boarding fee when my brother is not at home.

The two brothers and sister chattered all the way, until they reached Ningrong Street, Du Zhong got off the chariot and rode on his own horse, escorting his sister in a dignified manner.

On the 26th day of the twelfth lunar month, Yun'an was watching Yingchun and Daiyu play Go, Heyue ran in excitedly and said with a smile: "Miss, the uncle brought something in again."

Yun An smiled and said, "What?"

"One urn of Duke Zhou's centenary wine and one urn of Changchun wine were given to the elder and the second master, and a small jar of Changchun wine was given to the old ladies and wives. These are all made of rice wine. Two big jars of shochu were sent to the mansion. There are two kinds of medicinal wine together... There is also a package just for the girl."

There is no outsider here, Yun An smiled: "Let me see."

Xiang Ling hurriedly carried the bundle over and opened it, Yun An saw two bulging purses and a letter.

Yun An picked up the letter and read it.Daiyu Yingchun next to him couldn't hold back, and both laughed: "Brother Du's family is really honest, seeing how straightforward the gift is."

After reading the letter, even Du Yun'an couldn't help laughing, and said to He Yue and Xiang Ling, "We didn't waste a few days of effort."

Zhou Gong Centenary Wine and Changchun Wine sold very well, and several big wine shops in the city competed to buy it, and they really made a small fortune.Especially Changchun wine, the wine tasting masters in the wine shop tasted no less than a dozen herbs, and they all said that the recipe was complicated, but the taste of the wine was not bad, so the wine shop quickly called it "imitation made inside" He also invited the doctor from Huichuntang to endorse the efficacy of this wine. More than 400 catties of wine were packed in small bottles and small jars into one catty, two catties and five catties, and they were sold out in less than three days—the price The child is getting higher and higher day by day.

Taking out two one-two-weight silver coins from the silver bag sent by Du Zhong, Yun An smiled and said, "This is your hard-earned money."

Heyue and Xiangling's faces turned red.

Daiyu and Yingchun couldn't help laughing when they saw the shape of the little curly: Sister Yun'an's brother is so funny, that little curly is shaped like a bulging ingot, which is extremely simple and straightforward.

Daiyu felt it more deeply, she was acquainted with elder brother Du's family, and at that time she really didn't realize that the serious elder brother Du had such a side.Daiyu lowered her eyes, she couldn't help envying that others have brothers and sisters, envious of her being alone.

"I have a large jar of Changchun wine, and it's placed on the porch of the back room. If you can drink, you can take it yourself." Yun An smiled and said to the maids and daughters-in-law serving in this building.

Everyone is heartwarming, thank you quickly.

After the unrelated people left, Yunan told Daiyu: "Yesterday, my brother received a letter from Mr. Chen saying that Uncle Lin's letter will arrive within two days. When the letter arrives, I will send it to you as soon as possible." .”

Daiyu was both surprised and delighted: "Didn't father's letter come with the New Year's ceremony? I..." I just said a word before covering it up. For a very intelligent girl like her, a little thought would make her feel like a child. Knowing that this time the letter was written by her father only to her alone, not to the grandma, uncle and other family members as in the New Year's Ceremony.