The maid of the red house

The plaque in the garden was inscribed, and all the opera singers and Taoist nuns in the Rongguo Mansion were bought. Aunt Xue moved out of the Lixiangyuan and moved to a quiet courtyard in the northeast. Not only did he invite teachers to buy the outfits, but also the women who sang operas in Ning Rongguo Mansion, now they are all gray-haired old women, came to teach the little opera singers.

There is also a stunning female nun named Miaoyu who is well-versed in writing and ink, and she is served by a nanny and a maid. The mansion has issued a post to invite you to come and sit in Changcui nunnery. Daiyu heard about it from Mrs. Wang and said to her Xueyan knew it, and sighed: "I heard that it is from Gusu, and we are from the same hometown. When I meet tomorrow, I don't know if I can talk about the landscape of Gusu."

Coincidentally, Nanny Rong overheard her, and said: "Since you are a monk, why do you still bring the old nanny and the little girl from the secular family to serve? It seems like a monk is not a monk, and a vulgar is not a vulgar. It is just an excuse to avoid disaster, and the mind is still there. It's just red dust."

But Daiyu said: "She was forced to escape into Buddhism because of her illness. If there is elegance that comes from nature, why bother to force it?"

Immediately her eyes turned red, and she said again: "If my parents abandoned me when I was three years old, I'm afraid that I will be like her! It's just that my parents are different from others and don't believe in monks and Taoists, so they will leave me in the world of mortals."

Xueyan and the others were busy and unable to comfort them.

The mansion was busy until October, before all the preparations were ready, and Jia Zheng hurriedly wrote the book and began to play.

It is said that the day of concubine Xiande's visiting relatives has been set for the next year's Lantern Festival. Everyone is in a hurry and troubled by everything, and they can't even care about the age. Outsiders know that this is a happy event for the Rongguo Mansion, and they don't care about their slacking off for a while. Outsiders are like this, What's more, Daiyuzai?No one remembers that the third day of the twelfth lunar month is the day when Daiyu gave birth to a filial piety.

Seeing that there was no movement in the house, Xueyan secretly sighed, Daiyu's filial piety is considered a big event, but no one in charge of the house remembers it.Mother Jia is old and forgetful, so she has to be reminded by the maids around her when it is her birthday or when she handles errands. Xueyan often heard it from Hu Po, but now she doesn’t say anything. In Jiamu's room, I heard from her that she had left two excellent cloaks for Daiyu, because they were bright red, and they were given to her when she left for the filial piety.

Being filial piety is a huge matter, there must be an elder present to host a banquet, entertain relatives and friends, and take off the filial piety, which means that Daiyu's filial piety period has passed and she can go out to socialize. Family friends and relatives have contacts, so this banquet is very important to Daiyu.

Xueyan thought about it for two days, looked at the post that had already been written, and suddenly had an idea, thought about it, and discussed with Zijuan, and first worked together to make Daiyu a set of bright clothes and shoes, ready to wear on the day of filial piety. Then each of the six maidservants took out two taels of silver, and made up 12 taels of silver, and then set up a few tables of banquets.

It costs about two taels to wait for a table, and 12 taels of silver can buy six tables.

After learning the reason, Nanny Rong and Nanny Zhang secretly despised the indifference of the mistress of the Rongguo Mansion. They did not criticize Mother Jia, after all, they have to be reminded of these things when they are old, and they said privately: "Miss Lin has something. Good luck, just these girls are all good." So they made up their own shares and handed them to Xue Yan.

Holding the ten taels of silver that the second elder had brought out, Xueyan hastily declined: "How can I bother the two nuns to pay?"

Then he explained to the two of them: "Our girl has pocket money in her hand, so we don't need a few girls to contribute money if we buy a banquet, but we think that there is no reason for a girl to buy a banquet for herself to pay filial piety, so we pooled the money. .”

Mother Rong smiled and said: "Hurry up and put it away, you are willing to give it to the girl, don't you want us? Usually the girl treats us both very courteously, and the food and clothing are top-notch, and we have nowhere to spend money Well, you might as well take the money and order the kitchen to make a few more banquets, and let us have two more glasses of wine."

Xueyan listened, thank you very much.

Seeing that she accepted it, Zhang Momo showed a three-point smile on her face, and whispered: "Do you have any ideas?"

Now we all know that Xueyan is in charge of Daiyu's side, Xueyan didn't hide anything, and replied softly: "The old lady has a bad memory, no matter what the day is, she is reminded by people around her in the past. When winter comes, she originally said that she would do something for our girl." , but now I seem to have forgotten it. As the saying goes, what is good at the top will follow the example at the bottom. After all, the old lady is not the mistress of the housekeeper. I thought about gathering up the money and sending it to the old lady, saying that we gave it to the old lady. A little thought from the girl is not included in the mansion."

Nanny Rong and Nanny Zhang are both Daiyu's people, and they often teach Daiyu about the inner house, and Xueyan never hides her thoughts and tricks from them.

Nanny Zhang smiled when she heard the words, and said approvingly: "Excellent, it not only reminds the old lady of the good life, but also shows the loyalty of you children, and will not be rude to the family." Of course, Nanny Zhang understands that Xueyan mainly The purpose is to remind Jia Mu.

Rongguo Mansion is very busy, but since you have spent their Lin family's money, you can't neglect their Lin family's girl.

Xueyan tried her best to win Daiyu all the benefits that belonged to her, and she would never allow anyone to get away with it. If Daiyu's filial piety banquet was not held, don't expect them to treat Daiyu kindly in other places in the future, such as birthday banquets What.

Xueyan has figured out the rules of the Rongguo Mansion, the more silent you are, the more they will ignore it, if you raise it in person, for the sake of face, the Rongguo Mansion will not refuse.

So when she went to Jiamu's room with a bag of silver, Xueyan smiled, and didn't mention that the house ignored Daiyu's filial piety, saying: "The third day of the twelfth lunar month is the day when our girls give filial piety. Our girl is a big deal. We thought that we would live and eat here without any big expenses, so Aunt Rong, Aunt Zhang and our sisters pooled together more than 20 taels of silver, which can be regarded as a little bit of our affection for the girl. I just don’t know which wife or grandma cooks a banquet for our girl so that we can send the money there.”

Because everything in the mansion is ready, Mrs. Xing Wang, Li Wanfeng, Sanchun Baoyu, Aunt Xue, mother and daughter are all flattering in the room.

Hearing Xueyan's words, everyone's expressions changed.

Xueyan sneered secretly in her heart, so what if her face changed color?I didn't feel ashamed at all, I must have been a little annoyed by what I said.There are so many people crowded in the room, except Jia Mu, who really cares about Daiyu?It's a pity that Jia Mu is old and Mrs. Wang is very powerful, otherwise, why no one reminded Jia Mu of the month and day of Daiyu's filial piety.

What a big deal this is, especially since Daiyu came to Beijing for the second time, she has been in constant contact with various families, if they are not invited this time to watch the ceremony and take off their filial piety, I am afraid they will think that Daiyu does not really value them, and in the future No matter how hard it is to fix it.

Mother Jia forgot, Xueyan really doesn't blame her, because the things are too complicated and hard to remember, so she needs a deacon girl, even Daiyu herself doesn't remember much, who celebrates birthdays, who does weddings and funerals, who should Xueyan reminded Daiyu about giving gifts and so on.

When Baoyu heard this, he jumped up suddenly, and said with a stamp of his feet: "Exactly, exactly, the third day of the twelfth lunar month is a good day for my sister. How can I forget all about it? I really should open my brain and see what's inside." What are you pretending to do! My sister lives here alone, she is very lonely, but no one remembers such a day, so it can be seen that no one cares about my sister."

This sentence is really good!It is rare for Xueyan to look at him with admiration. Although she doesn't like Baoyu very much, but these days, besides Jia Mu, there is really only one Baoyu who cares about Daiyu.

There was silence in the room for a moment, Xueyan lowered her eyebrows and was pleasing to the eye, still holding the broken silver wrapped in red silk in her hand.

"You don't care about things, why do you blame you? You are a man, and you still take care of the affairs in the inner house? It's just that you have a good heart and are better than others." Jiamu's eyes flashed a very faint chill, and it disappeared in an instant. It's gone, but it's not aimed at Xueyan, and Xueyan also heard Jia's mother's implication, not to blame Baoyu, but of course to blame the person in charge.

Xueyan looked sideways slightly, and saw that many people in the room had forced smiles on their faces.

After all, it was Jia Mu, who beat the person who beat him with a single sentence, without showing any emotion, and she couldn't say who she beat, she didn't specify, even if Mrs. Wang is the mother of a virtuous concubine, but It has nothing to do with her, does it?

Mother Jia ignored Baoyu and regretted it on her own, and said to Xueyan: "You child, take the money back quickly. Don't tell me you have to pay for the money because of Yu'er's big trouble?" Yes. No matter how expensive the house is, there are still a few taels of silver for the banquet, but if not, there is still me, the old woman!"

Now that Xueyan has taken it, how can she take it back, and said with a smile: "The mansion is the mansion's money, and what the old lady gives is the old lady's love for the girl, but we are our hearts for the girl, although it is not enough for the banquet The money, but even if you add a dish to the old lady at the table, it is a blessing that we can't even ask for."

Jia Mu laughed and said, "Listen to your mouth, how much do you want me to love it?" Then she ordered Amber to accept it.

Xueyan continued to smile and said: "We are thin-skinned, sorry, only we are thick-skinned and not shy, please the old lady for our girl, the old lady promised two big woolen clothes for our girl, our girl I can look forward to it, the old lady tomorrow has eaten our filial pie, so don't be stingy and refuse to give it."

Laughing so much that the blanket on Jia Mu's lap fell to the ground, she pointed to Amber and said, "Don't take the money, they have a lot of money, they only honored me with one dish, and wanted to get me two tribute cloaks go!"

Hu Po was not obedient, took the silver bag from Xue Yan's hand, and said: "I'd better take this silver, not to mention that the old lady's cloak was given away, and she didn't even eat a single dish, wouldn't it be cheaper they?"

Seeing that Jiamu's mood was getting better, Sister Feng came up to make fun of her and said, "No! No matter how small a mosquito is, it's still meat. My ancestors just take it and add some money. Give me the banquet on the third day of the twelfth lunar month, and it will be done properly for my ancestors." That's right."

Mother Jia didn't listen, she had a lot to say as soon as she heard it, she immediately turned to her and said, "It's a good thing you're here to curry favor and act like a good girl? You should be beaten! You sister-in-law, how come you can't even remember your younger sister's happy life?" , and didn’t remind me? How do you manage the house? Almost made my old woman make a fool of herself in front of relatives and friends, and even came to ask me for money!”

"The old ancestor wronged me, how dare I forget it?" Sister Feng spoke glibly, "I've thought about it a long time ago, and I even prepared the clothes for Sister Lin. They are all useful. I originally wanted to send it over in two days, but this girl Pian Xueyan was one step ahead of me, and took the silver to please my ancestors first!"

There was a three-point smile on Jia Mu's face. Although she knew that Sister Feng was a human being, she was full of face, and she also beat what she should beat. You are a good boy, how can you forget it. Well, I will give you 200 taels of silver, and you don’t need to use the company’s money. You are so lucky to buy a banquet, and invite a small show, which will be performed lively for your sister in the big flower hall in my backyard. Well, besides, who do you need to invite, you can ask your sister, and quickly take the post and send it, it’s almost Chinese New Year now, if you don’t hurry up, it’s not good if they don’t have time to come.”

Sister Feng agreed with all her mouth, and finally the people in the house dispersed. She took time to go back to her room and told Ping'er: "Take out the six bolts of fine silk brocade that my son just got a while ago. You don't need to put them away, and match them with my dowry." The five phoenix Chaoyang hanging bead hairpins of red gold and silk rubies, and send them to Sister Lin, and you go in person."

Ping'er is not feeling well today, so she didn't go to the room with Sister Feng, seeing her in a hurry, she asked in confusion, "What's going on?"

Sister Feng sneered, took a sip of tea, put the tea bowl on the table, and said, "What else can happen? Our family has forgotten the day when Sister Lin was born in filial piety! I have already praised Haikou in front of the old lady. Things are naturally indispensable. As I said earlier, I told you to be more careful. You are better off. I forgot to remind me of such a big matter. I don’t know how to explain it to the old lady. Fortunately, the mother-in-law is so busy in the house. , the old lady is not easy to get angry, so she got away with it."

Ping'er sighed, and said: "I can't complain that I have forgotten it. Although the old lady loves Miss Lin, who in the house regards Miss Lin as the serious master of our family? I didn't hear the third girl and Xiren talking about each other. People from our family!"

Sister Feng asked in surprise, "When did you say that? Why didn't I know?"

Ping'er ordered people to tidy up the clothes and jewellery, and replied: "How can grandma know what I said next? Isn't it just revealing my wife's intentions? Grandma just wait and see, but in a year or two, she dares to say it in front of Miss Lin." .”

Sister Feng knew that she was used to making good friends with Xiren mandarin ducks. Since she said this, it must not be groundless. She lowered her head and thought for a while, and said for a long time: "My mother's visit is right in front of my eyes. Who doesn't flatter my wife? They are all thinking of the old lady." I'm getting old and I can't survive my wife, so it's better to go to my wife first to please her. I'm not surprised no matter what others do, but what's the matter with the mandarin ducks in front of the old lady? The old lady loves her so hard, can she not Do you know what the old lady thinks? You even forgot to remind me about this?"

Ping'er said: "Why do you blame her? She is in charge of the old lady's room, how can she remember these little things? To be honest, even if the old lady is No. 1 in front of her, how many times has grandma ever seen mandarin ducks getting close to each other all these years?" In Ms. Lin's room? As long as you have a little bit of intimacy and say a few words in front of the old lady, Ms. Lin will not suffer so much grievance in this mansion."

When Sister Feng heard this, she looked at her with a half-smile, and said, "You have always been excellent, why do you say that?"

Ping'er gave her a sideways look, and said: "I think grandma wants to hear a lie? If I tell a lie, grandma will be the first one not to forgive me? If someone is loyal to you and tells the truth, you should be the first to suspect it." I!"

Sister Feng hurriedly took her hand and said with a smile: "You little hoof, you are very angry. If I ask such a question, you will be in a hurry."

Ping'er said: "I'll go to Miss Lin. When the second master comes, grandma will discuss with the second master what to do on the third day of the twelfth lunar month. Is it as usual or something else will be added. I reckon that if Miss Lin posts a post, it will be inevitable. There are people like Zhang Xueshi, they are different from ours, they can’t do it too badly, so that people don’t look like it, and they will go out and wipe the face of the family.”

Sister Feng waved her hand and told her to go and deliver something to Daiyu first.

After Ping'er left, Sister Feng immediately lowered her head.

It turned out that she finally remembered that most of the Lin family belonged to a scholarly and aristocratic family. In fact, all the power was above her own. Enough for a day of fine wine.

When discussing with Jia Lian at night, Jia Lian said: "Adding something to the old rules, we must be decent. If people see us neglecting sister Lin, we will be drowned by the spittle stars outside!"

Sister Feng turned over to look at him, and wondered, "Where did you start?"