Red Mansions Are Floating Clouds

The inscription on the lower right of the house should be the work of the famous scholar Yuquanshanren in his later years. On one side of the main hall is a multi-treasure pot that blocks the view. The decorations on it are dazzling. The imitation traces of white jade are almost transparent. The vase with vases and vultures with branches and flowers is resplendent and magnificent, the mountain is one foot wide for sapphire immortals to travel, the bronze tapir statue inlaid with gold and inlaid with turquoise is simple and lovely, and the colorful clay figurines of the Eight Immortals are vivid and vivid, the most conspicuous one is the silk umbrella standing in the corner The Dongying female puppet is more than half a meter high and is extremely delicate. I couldn't help but stand up and walk closer to take a closer look. I saw that the puppet's bun is made of real hair, and the Japanese-style clothes are also made of high-quality materials. Yes, even the oil-paper umbrella in your hand can be opened and closed, which is really interesting

When Daiyu came out of the inner room, she saw a young girl about fourteen or five years old standing in front of Duobaoge and looking closely at the doll. She was wearing a light green satin jacket with gold embroidered butterflies, a moon-white butterfly brocade dress, and combed hair. He is wearing a full set of pearl hair and camphorwood high-soled shoes. He is tall, slim, fair-skinned and beautiful, bright and pleasant. He looks quite attractive. Behind him are two maids who are combing their hair. Holding her hair in her bun, one of them noticed that Daiyu had come out, and hurriedly called softly: "Girl!"

Li Jinyao came back to her senses and saw a little girl standing outside the curtain of the inner room. Although she was young, she was described as delicate and beautiful, with a graceful figure and an extraordinary bearing. She was surrounded by a few maids, so she knew that she was the only daughter of the Lin family, Miss Lin. , hurried forward to say hello

After Daiyu returned the gift, the two sat down separately, and served tea again.

After exchanging pleasantries, Daiyu asked, "I don't know why Miss Li came to the door recently?"

Li Jinyao said: "I heard that Ms. Lin has returned to Yangzhou, she should have come to visit long ago, but because Mrs. Lin is recovering from a serious illness, the family must be busy with affairs, so I came at this moment."

Daiyu said: "Thank you for thinking about it. I haven't been in Yangzhou for a long time, so I don't have any contacts with my peers."

Li Jinyao smiled and said, "Because it's my birthday in a few days, I came here to send a message to Ms. Lin. I didn't send a greeting card in advance. I really took the liberty." Here is the invitation, Zicuckoo took it and kept it

Daiyu said: "Miss Li must be older than me, why don't I call your sister?"

Li Jinyao said with a smile: "I feel close to my sister when I see her, so I will be disrespectful."

Daiyu laughed and said, "Since that's the case, I will definitely go to congratulate Sister Li Fangchen on that day."

After saying a few other words, Li Jinyao left in a hurry. Daiyu took the invitation and took a look. It turned out to be 15-year-old Jiji Li, no wonder the matter was so solemn. The day was five days later, the first day of February, and Daiyu suddenly remembered that her My birthday seems to be in February, so maybe I can postpone my return to Beijing until after my birthday

After reporting to Lin Ruhai, under the intervention of her father, on the day of the trip, Daiyu went down with black lines all over her head under the protection of a huge escort. The sedan chair and carriage, the voices of people are so lively

Seventh banquet

Jingxiang Garden was originally called Hepu Xunfeng, but it was changed to Jingxiang Garden after being visited by some emperor. This garden is the villa of a wealthy businessman surnamed Huang. It must have been borrowed by the Li family to hold a banquet.

One of Ms. Li's personal maids and two well-dressed nuns who were waiting at the gate of the garden led Daiyu and others into the garden gate, which was surrounded by bamboo trees. Went to drink tea in other places, Daiyu only brought Zijuan and Jingjing with her, needless to say Zijuan, Jingjing is usually silent, but in fact she is as careful as a hair, it is better to be careful when going out

Not long after walking, I saw the Miss Li family who I met before hurried out to meet Daiyu. When she saw Daiyu, she stepped forward and took Daiyu's hand and said with a smile: "Sister Lin's dress looks more extraordinary and refined." It is said that the silver thread embroidered peony jacket worn by Daiyu is a whole big peony. The color of the embroidery is light and elegant, with the charm of ink painting, and the silver thread trimming is luxurious and dazzling.

Daiyu also laughed and said: "Sister Li is a birthday star, you should sit in the hall and wait for your sister to pay your birthday wishes. Why come out to greet you in person, I really dare not be that."

Li Jinyao said angrily: "Let's not be so polite, let's go, there are already many guests here, I will take you to meet them"

All the way through Fumeiyu in Qinglangguan to Yixingtang, I saw many Yingying and Yanyan playing in Yixingtang Li Jinyao looked at Daiyu and said: "Those people are not fun, I will take you to Xuntang"

After crossing the bridge and walking for a while, I finally arrived at Laixun Hall. The maid at the door raised the curtain, and Li Jinyao took Daiyu's hand and walked in. There were only a few people in the room, two of them were sitting on the Arhat bed and playing chess, and the others A waiter stood in the corner of the room and saw Li Jinyao coming back at this time, one of them dropped the melon seeds while playing chess and shouted: "It's unreasonable! The master left the guests and ran away without a trace, and I will punish you with three glasses of wine later."

The other person said with a smile while sitting down: "It's not that you don't know that Yaoyao likes to drink the most, besides, the wine is like honey water, she would like to take this opportunity to drink a few more glasses."

Li Jinyao hurriedly apologized, and promised many benefits, so the two people spared her

Li Jinyao pulled Daiyu over and said, "Look, I brought a new sister."

The two of them stood up and looked at Daiyu, Li Jinyao said: "This is the lady from Mr. Shilin's family who patrols the salt", pointing to the one who spoke first, and said to Daiyu: "This glutton is my cousin, My surname is Shen, my name is Zirou, Tete came from Suzhou, and I’m lazy here under the pretense of tracking me down.”

Shen Zirou was dissatisfied and said: "Okay, I'll tell my aunt, I'll track you down with good intentions, but you're still here to trick me." Then she pulled Daiyu back and said, "Don't bother with her, I'll take you to play with me in the future"

Another person sneered: "What do you know how to play, you can only eat."

Li Jinyao said to Daiyu: "The most ruthless person is the second lady of Mr. Tao's family in Yandao, this province. Her name is Xixian."

Daiyu bowed to the two of them and said, "My baby name is Daiyu, and I am ten years old this year."

Everyone told their ages, Li Jinyao was the oldest, exactly 15 years old, Tao Xixian was thirteen, Shen Zirou was only 11 years old, and Shu Daiyu was the youngest

Shen Zirou saw that Daiyu was elegant and generous, unlike those official ladies who just fell in love with her first, pulled Daiyu to sit on the Arhat's couch, and presented the colorful box with golden flower and butterfly patterns on the side, saying: " This is Suzhou's most famous Maoji Fried Melon Seeds. There are more than a dozen flavors. I brought it here from Suzhou. Come and try it."

Daiyu also likes people with a straightforward personality. According to Yan, she sat on the sidelines and grabbed a handful of melon seeds and ate them. The two of them continued to play chess before the game was over, and Daiyu watched from the sidelines.

Li Jinyao took advantage of the situation and said: "I'll go to Yixing Hall first. If you want to go out to play, let the girl in his garden lead the way." The two chess players only waved their hands, and Li Jinyao went out first.

After a while, the chess game was over, Shen Zirou lost six eyes, but was very happy, saying that she lost sixteen eyes last time, and she made progress this time, with a silly look

Tao Xixian rolled his eyes secretly, ignored the fool and said to Daiyu: "It's sunny today, why don't we go play in the garden?"

Daiyu knew that the garden was very famous, so she was willing to do so. Everyone straightened their clothes and hair, Zijuan Tete put the short cloak in her hand on Daiyu, and everyone filed out.

Walking in from Zilaixuntang, and crossing another bridge, there are coral forests, peach blossom pavilions, and Shaoquan built along the mountain springs. There are also some ladies from other families on the road. Because she stared at Daiyu out of curiosity, Daiyu ignored her, because she was not a bold and friendly person in the first place, and she didn't bother to socialize with others.

Along the way, all the pavilions and pavilions in this garden were built according to the water. After passing Qinghua Hall, there are tens of thousands of bamboos swaying in the wind, and walking into the path in the bamboo forest. Langguan", it turns out that after walking for a long time, I went back to the gate of the garden. If it is hot summer, it must be very cool here, but it is a bit cold at this time. No one is barking, and they go directly to the Spring Rain Corridor. There are more than ten rooms in the Spring Rain Corridor. Long, there is water outside the corridor, and there are floating rocks in the water. It is called "Fumei Island". There is also a pavilion on the island. The boat can go directly outside, or go boating all the way to Tianning Temple

Shen Zirou excitedly said: "We come to go boating in the afternoon, and we can also go to Tianning Temple to worship, and then go to the pier to see the flower market. I heard people say that the flower market in Hongqiao is very lively..."

Tao Xixian joked: "Why don't you go shopping at Xiaodongmen after finishing the flower market. I heard there are many restaurants there."

Shen Zirou clapped her hands and said, "Okay, I've wanted to go a long time ago!" After thinking for a while, she sighed and said, "Auntie will definitely not agree."

Tao Xixian knew what was going on when he saw her, so he just pulled Daiyu aside and laughed

Footsteps came from behind, it was Li Jinyao's close maid, Zhishuang, who came. Zhishuang walked up to him, saluted and said with a smile: "Our girls invite everyone to Yixing Hall, the banquet is about to begin."

Shen Zirou became happy again after hearing this, pulled Daiyu and Tao Xixian away, and said, "I helped my cousin draw up today's menu, and I heard that I even borrowed a famous chef."

Daiyu and the two of them couldn't help laughing when they heard this. After talking about it, they can't forget the word "eat"

Yixing Hall is an open hall with five rooms, with a factory in the front and a shade in the back. The building is open to the right, and the fairy building is built on the mountain, and the left is imitating Western architecture.

Li Jinyao was in the living room, when she saw them coming, she came out and said, "There are fun things upstairs, let's eat upstairs." After that, she led the three of them in

There are many people in the Yixing Hall, most of them are young girls, dressed in colorful and resplendent clothes, Li Jinyao whispered to Daiyu, "You don't know who these people are, just don't pay attention to them." It turned out that most of these were salt merchants who heard that they were all transferred to the salt luck envoy's family's daughter-in-law for her birthday, so they all sent congratulatory gifts and sent their own daughters to come