[Red Mansion] Hairpins fly when they are

In Jia Yucun’s family, the housekeeper was the master of all purchases and expenditures. Later, when the slaves were dismissed, the housekeeper was young and capable and refused to follow the master’s family back to the countryside for the elderly, so he found a new owner himself, and Jia Yucun did not. Retain, let him go.

Jia Yucun took over the daily shopping. Although he is generous and doesn't charge for food, after the meals are ready, Fan Jiaoxing arranges the number of dishes distributed to each person.

For Mrs. Song and the master, Fan Jiaoxing naturally did not dare to be harsh, and always sent the best meals.As for herself, although she doesn't want to endure hardship, the situation is uncontrollable, thinking that now that her family is poor, she will reduce her meals to three meat, two vegetables and one soup.

Xiangling's lunch can be divided into half a bowl of meat dishes, Xue Shi, Baochai and Ying'er are not so lucky. At noon, there is only a little minced meat, and the rest is only a small bowl of clear soup with little water. Vegetables served with rice.

Such dishes, in the past, even the servants of Xue's mansion would not bother to eat, Xue shi secretly acquiesced after weeping, who told him to be in trouble now?

She can endure hardships, Xiangling and Yinger naturally dare not complain, but the patient Baochai can't follow them to eat like this, so Xue has to entrust the money to Aunt Li in the kitchen to make some extra things every day, and give it to Baochai Make up your body.

Fortunately, the soup and medicine my daughter wanted to drink was enough—Jia Yucun had paid the doctor in advance—otherwise, this day would be so worrying that my hair would turn gray.

After a few days in this way, Xue Baochai gradually recovered, her head did not feel dizzy, and her face became rosy day by day.

Xue saw it in her eyes and was happy in her heart.

One day, Mrs. Xue was sewing clothes with Xiangling. Xue Baochai was lying on the bed bored, so she got up to watch them sewing.

Women these days are very capable, all of them are all-round needleworkers, able to draw, cut, and embroider. The extremely fine silk thread is fluttering in the hands, and the patterns are gradually forming.

Xiangling looked up at Baochai between work, and said with a smile, "Miss, is she greedy and wants to get two stitches too? It can't be helped, the illness is not fully recovered yet!"

My daughter always lives in the backyard, she spends her free time sewing or reading for entertainment, that's why Xiangling said this.

When Xue Baochai heard this, she was startled. How could she do such a thing? She took a step back in fright.

Mrs. Xue saw it funny, and felt sorry for her being bored in the house for too long, so she said: "The one I have is just for you, and it will be finished in the evening. If you feel bored, why don't you go for a walk in the yard?" Scatter?"

Baochai thought for a while, paused for a moment and slowly walked out of the room.

From her point of view, the yard is really not too small, and it is much more spacious than the buildings in later generations that can only buy about a hundred square meters.

Houses were built on all sides of the courtyard, lined up in a row. The blue bricks and green tiles looked quite ancient. A persimmon tree in the courtyard attracted Baochai's attention, and she couldn't help walking over to watch it.

After taking a second look, the door of a room on the west side opened, and a woman in a pink satin dress leaned against the door, looking at her with a half-smile.

She looks about 30 years old, of medium height, with a slightly fat body, and her face is covered with powder, probably because she is no longer young, her skin is a little loose and rough, and the white powder floats on her face. Like a mask.

Xue Baochai was slightly taken aback, seeing her smiling strangely, thought there was something wrong with her body, hurriedly lowered her head to check, her dress and skirt were in good condition, then raised her head, and was about to smile at that person, to show her Well, who would have thought that the man suddenly stopped laughing, turned back to the house with a straight face.

The door to the west was closed again, and Xue Baochai lost the interest in wandering around, and went back bored.

She sat next to Mrs. Xue. Seeing that she came back so quickly, Mrs. Xue asked, "Why don't you play longer? Mr. Jia went out early in the morning, so I feel relieved to ask you to go out to get some air. Although this yard It's small, there's not even a small garden, but there are trees planted in the yard, and a few pots of flowers are placed, you can look around more, it's good for your eyes."

"I stood under the tree, and a woman came out of the Westinghouse, looking at me with a smile on my face. I was about to say hello to her, but she turned around and left. It was boring, and I came back."

Xue Shi's concern and love for her are obvious. After getting along these few days, Baochai unconsciously wants to get close to her, and there is no pressure to complain in front of her.

"Who is that person?" Baochai blinked and asked.

Xiangling frowned slightly, and asked which room the woman lived in, Baochai answered, and described her appearance.

"Alas." Xue sighed, and stopped her needlework, "The west chamber is where Mr. Jia's two concubines and their girl live. The one you saw should be the former wife's dowry girl. She was brought up as a concubine, known as Aunt Liu. There is also a younger Aunt Qiu, who used to be the girl next to Mrs. Fan. When you see them in the future, if they call you, you should answer. If they don’t Take care, you just pretend you didn’t see it.”

Xiangling lowered her head and embroidered two stitches hard to vent her dissatisfaction.

Usually, a concubine like this couldn't find a way to kowtow to her own girl, but now she dared to show face to her.

Xue raised her hand, touched the white cloth wrapped around Baochai's forehead, and said softly: "Yesterday I saw that your wound was scabbing, and I will change the medicine later, so I don't need to wrap this cloth again." right?"

What a beautiful daughter she is, but this bump has ruined her appearance. When Xue Shi thinks about it, her heart aches terribly.

Baochai touched her forehead and giggled: "No wonder she turned around and left when she saw me. She was probably frightened."

Just now she was only focused on checking her dress, but forgot about the top. Wrapped in a white cloth like this, it looked like she was attending a funeral. No wonder others would dislike her, Baochai thought to herself.

"What scares you? You just have an injury on your head. Compared with this, giving birth is more terrifying. Could it be that she..." Xue Shi was unhappy, and her tone was a little cold. When she said this, she suddenly remembered that The two aunts have no children so far, and it is not easy to expose their scars, so they shut up.

"Baochai, after changing the medicine, you put a few more strands of hair down, and you'll be fine if you block it." Xue looked at her daughter lovingly, "When you have money in the future, mother will buy you a jade face." The ointment will definitely disappear completely, don't worry."

"Thank you, mother, I'm not worried." Xue Baochai smiled sweetly at her, suddenly remembered that she hadn't looked in the mirror before, and didn't know what her body looked like, so she excitedly got up to look for the mirror.

There is a very ordinary small round bronze mirror on the dressing table, which was sent by Fan. Baochai held it in his hand and stood in front of the window to look left and right.

The bronze mirror wasn't very clear, and the mirror hadn't been polished for a long time, and I don't know where Fan found it. Xue Baochai looked at the mirror carefully for a long time before coming to a conclusion.

She was also a little beauty in the past, but she was still a little inferior to the famous Bao girl.The face that appeared in the bronze mirror had bigger eyes, a straighter nose, and a small and delicate oval face, which made people like it more and more.

It's a pity that she couldn't see her complexion clearly in the mirror, so Baochai had to lower her head and rolled up her sleeves, only to see her arms were as white as snow.

She turned her head, raised half of her bare arm and asked Xue: "Mother, look, are my arms whiter or my face whiter?"

"Put it down quickly." Xue almost laughed angrily, "Your face is even whiter. I know what you are worried about. Don't worry, your face is even whiter than your hands!"

Satisfied now, Xue Baochai put down her sleeves and turned around again, holding the mirror and laughing happily.

Xue's face was full of helplessness, and she whispered to Xiangling in a low voice: "Look at her, she is so happy when she looks in the mirror, she is neither painted nor powdered, what is there to be happy about?"

Xiangling pursed her lips and smiled: "It's good that the girl is happy, I'm worried that she will be unhappy." As she said that, she went to get the comb and walked behind Baochai, "It's rare that the girl is interested, why don't you take advantage of it when you have time?" , untie the wrappings, and trim the front hair properly?"

"Okay." Xue Baochai readily agreed.

Although wrapping a circle around her forehead doesn't affect her appearance, but she won't refuse if it looks better.

Seeing this, Xue was not in the mood to do needlework anymore. She took the ointment left by the doctor and said with a smile: "You can't cut your hair randomly, you must be careful. Don't move, let me do it."

Xiangling moved a stool, supported Baochai to sit down, then lightly untied the cloth, and slowly combed her hair with a comb.

Holding scissors in hand, Mrs. Xue made gestures for a long time before she was able to make a decision. She personally thickened the bangs hanging on Baochai's forehead a little, just covering the scar that was as long as a baby's thumb next to the hairline. .

Xue's eyes suddenly turned red, and she said in a hoarse voice: "I have pity on my daughter, she has suffered such misfortune, she has lost her appearance, what should I do in the future..."

"Mother, don't worry." Baochai called her mother more and more fluently now, she took Xue Shi's hand, and pointed to her forehead with one finger, "Mother's craftsmanship is really good, I can't tell at all."

"En." Knowing that her daughter was comforting herself, Xue quickly put away the sadness on her face.

Xue took Baochai and sat back at the table, while Xiangling was busy cleaning up the mess, wrapped the girl's cut hair with a handkerchief, and then burned it in the kitchen.

Xue picked up the semi-finished product on the table, sewed two stitches, looked at her daughter, sewed two more stitches, and looked again.

Baochai felt terrified when she saw her, and couldn't help saying, "Mother, if you have something to say, just say it."

"Then I'll just say it." Xue put down the work in hand, stretched out her hand to straighten Baochai's bangs on her forehead, "you can go to the ground now, and when Master Jia comes back in the evening, I will bring you You go over and say hello to them. After all, he helped us, and the etiquette must be complete. As for Mrs. Song, you can kowtow to her."

After hearing this, Xue Baochai's eyes widened immediately.

Please be safe, she can still understand, but what is the kowtow for?

She grew up so big that she never bent her knees except once when she entered the temple to worship Buddha.Who said that only men have gold under their knees?Women have it too!

Xue Baochai's face was full of conflict, and it was difficult to accept that he had to kowtow to a living person.

The author has something to say: Xue Baochai: Can you change to a gentler way of saying hello?For example, Fu Fushen or something like that?

kowtow?

No, no.