Zhen Lian of the Red Chamber

The life on the boat was also very boring. Zhen Lian and Zhen's mother watched the scenery for a while and found something to do to pass the time.Zhen Lian took out a book to read, but Zhen's mother took out her needle and thread to start making.Zhen Lian also knew that she had nothing to pass the time now, and it would be boring not to ask her to be her, so she had to make an appointment with her, and when the time came, she would stop and rest for half an hour or a stick of incense. Next, talk and chat with her, or go inside to tidy up and salute.

At noon and evening, there were girls who brought food and tea. Although it was inconvenient on the boat, it was a relatively rich four dishes and one soup. It was not the way in the south. Zhen Lian ate something new. Had half a bowl of rice.On the contrary, Mother Zhen only ate a small bowl and was not used to these tastes. Zhen Lian had no choice but to ask Liu Xianglian to buy some southern food that would last for a few days to whet her appetite when the boat stopped next time.

But Zhen's mother said: "Don't bother, it will be fine in a few days, it's just that you can't get used to it for a while, how can you be so delicate." She hurriedly stopped Zhen Lian's plan.

Zhen Lian didn't refute it, she just wanted to see how her next meal was, if she was still not used to it, it would be better to prepare early.It's just that it's not convenient to cook by themselves on this boat, otherwise they can also fire by themselves.When the time comes to Beijing, the people in Liu Xianglian's family will naturally cook northern dishes, and only the mother and daughter cook by themselves.Speaking of Liu Xianglian, who has been in the south for so long, it seems that he has adapted well, and there is nothing he is not used to, maybe he has ignored some of them!

After a while, the man came to collect things again, brought tea, turned around and went out for a while, and brought a Zhengwang charcoal stove, came in and said with a smile: "This one is for boiling water or making tea for madam and girl. It is much better than the ones sent every time, and I will send some good charcoal and water later."

Zhen Lian walked over to take it over and looked around, placed it well, thanked you: "You are really thoughtful, thank you very much." Seeing that she was a few years older than herself, she said: "This sister will be in the future. You send us something?"

"My name is Qing'er. I will be responsible for your affairs in the future. If there is anything missing, tell me, and I will go find it. The second master has given careful instructions before, saying that you are customers, call me Good service." Qing'er said with a gentle smile on her oval face.

Zhen Lian then called her "Sister Qing'er", and after the two of them talked, they realized that she was also the son of Rongguo Mansion, and she was only a third-class maid, who was sent to serve Jia Lian and Lin Daiyu this time.

Sure enough, she would bring her mother and daughter's meals in the future. When she came, Zhen Lian would often talk to her, asking about news and customs in Beijing and China, and gradually became familiar with her.

This day is the second day of the trip. She stayed in the house all day yesterday, and Zhen Lian was already moldy. This morning, Zhen Lian washed up and went outside to have a look at the scenery.Looking outside the house for a while, there is nothing to see, the canal is not wide, and people in the village can often be seen on the bank, or people are washing and playing by the river, or farmers are busy in the farmland on the river bank. Smoke rises from the villages and villages, and children's joyful laughter can be faintly heard from time to time, peaceful and calm, quiet and far-reaching.

When the boat slowly moved away from the village, Zhen Lian looked away, turned to look at another boat, and saw Liu Xianglian standing there on the deck not far away, looking in this direction.

Zhenlian was overjoyed and waved to him happily, and Liu Xianglian on the other side also smiled and waved in response.Zhen Lian took a look and found that the deck of her own ship was the closest there, so she ran to the deck, only to find that the two ships were very close, and she could hear her talking there.

Zhen Lian smiled all over her face and said, "How about it, are you okay there!"

"Very good, how about you? Are you not used to it?" Liu Xianglian leaned slightly while leaning on the railing, looking at Zhenlian without blinking.

Zhen Lian brushed away the thin hair that was blown by the breeze on her face, and smiled slightly, "It's okay, but mother is not used to the food here, she ate very little yesterday, I told you to buy some food when the boat is docked Come on, my mother is afraid of trouble and says no."

After hearing this, Liu Xianglian said, "What's the trouble? I'll look for it when the boat stops. If there's anything else I want, I'll buy it together."

Zhen Lian thought for a while, "You can buy a few more books, I'll read them to pass the time when I'm free and bored, um, I'll buy some books like travel notes, if there are any books, I'll read them to my mother. "

Liu Xianglian agreed, and then said: "It's windy here, I think you've been out for a long time, and you don't wear much, so you should go back to rest and come out to relax later. But you can't stay too long, you My health is not very good, I will come here every day, if you have anything to do, come to me, I saw that the two boats are not far away, and I can hear their words."

Zhen Lian nodded, seeing Liu Xianglian urging her to go back again, she waved to him, turned and went back.After walking a few steps and looking back, seeing Liu Xianglian was still there, he waved his hand to signal him to go back too, and seeing him turn around, he turned his head and walked slowly.

Walking near Lin Daiyu's room, Zhen Lian stopped. She hadn't seen her come out in the past two days, only the maids in her room went in and out, and she never met them.I am a borrowed guest, and I should also visit the host according to the etiquette. Besides, I really want to see Lin Daiyu's true face.

After thinking about it, she walked to the door of Lin Daiyu's room, but she didn't want to meet a maid inside who opened the door and came out, Zhen Lian was startled unexpectedly.The servant girl didn't know there was someone outside the door, so she was so startled that she yelled "Ah!"

The two looked at each other, only then did Zhen Lian realize that this was the one sitting on the sedan chair yesterday, and it was unknown whether it was Zijuan or Xueyan.She frightened others, Zhen Lian hurriedly apologized: "It's my fault, I never wanted to scare my sister!" Seeing that she regained her composure in a blink of an eye, she couldn't help admiring her quality. She deserves to be a first-class maid. is not bad.

The maid smiled and shook her head, "I came out suddenly to scare the girl, is the girl okay?" After speaking, she looked at Zhen Lian with concern.

Zhen Lian shook her head, "It's nothing, it's because I'm standing here;"

The servant girl smiled again: "Girl, you must be the girl of the Zhen family! I heard from our second master. It turns out that our girl wanted to invite the girl and the wife to sit down yesterday, but our girl was ill again, which delayed it! It’s better to hit the sun than to choose a day, so the girl came to our room to sit and sit, and today our girl got up early and it’s better.”

Zhen Lian laughed and said, "I thought of a place with me. I just stood here to visit your girl! It's just that she's sick now, but it's okay, don't ask me to disturb her."

"Why bother, there are only a few people coming and going in our room, and the girl doesn't like to go out, and no one is talking. You are only happy when you are here. Please come in with me quickly." She said, holding Zhen Lian's hand and turning around. into the room.

Zhen Lian followed her in, and there was a smell of medicine when entering the room. As soon as she entered the room, she heard the servant girl laughing and saying: "Girl, do you think I brought you here?" As she spoke, she pulled Zhen Lian into the inner room.

Zhen Lian looked up and saw that there were only two people in the room, one was sitting on one side holding a scroll, and the other was sitting on the other side doing needlework.No need to look carefully, Zhen Lian knew at a glance that the person reading the book was Lin Daiyu, and it really was written as Cao Gong said, and it was not a beauty that ordinary pen and ink could describe.Zhen Lian's first impression was that it was light, so light that she dared not touch it, so light that a gust of wind would blow her away.

Lin Daiyu turned her head with a faint smile, her voice was mellow and charming, "But who is it, I heard you talking outside just now." Her beautiful eyes turned around, she glanced at Zhen Lian and said with a smile: "I know who it is now!" Get up and come forward.

The girl shook her head and said with a smile: "I wanted the girl to guess, but I don't want the girl to use me!"

Seeing this, Zhen Lian stepped forward and said with a smile, "Excuse me, I heard this sister said that you are sick, are you okay now?"

Lin Daiyu glanced at the maid, "Sister Zijuan must have said it." Then she smiled and said: "Thank you for remembering, I feel better today, please sit down and have a cup of tea." Then she asked Zhen Lian to sit with the maid before. Lin Daiyu sat down in the same place.

At this time, the maid Xueyan who was sitting here brought tea, Lin Daiyu said softly: "Please drink tea, sister." She also took a sip, put down the teacup and wiped the corners of her mouth with a handkerchief.He said again: "I should have invited my sister and wife over for tea, but yesterday I fell ill again, and my sister was so tired that I came to see me."

Seeing her fragile appearance, Zhen Lian couldn't help talking to her in a low voice, and said with a light smile, "We borrowed a boat to go to Beijing. We should have visited the master's house first, but we were rude."

Lin Daiyu only smiled lightly, and said: "I heard from my cousin that my sister once offered incense for my father in Hanshan Temple. I thank my sister very much, and I never thanked her that day." Tears flickered in her eyes as she spoke.

When Zhen Lian saw her, she hurriedly said: "This is also a due gift." Seeing her sad face, she changed the subject and said: "My family is originally from Gusu, but I am from the same town as you. What's going on here."

Seeing her at the side, Zijuan interjected and said with a smile: "It's a predestined relationship, but that girl is very familiar with Gusu?"

"I'm not familiar with it. I was only here for a few years when I was a child, and then I went to Jinling. I spent the past two years at my ancestor's house in Daru Prefecture. After leaving Gusu, I only stayed here for a few days two years ago and a few days ago. I'm afraid You don’t know much more than you do!”

Seeing that Lin Daiyu was getting better, Zijuan smiled again: "Our girl just came back this time, and she used to live in Yangzhou and the capital. We need to know a lot about the capital, so I can tell you about it."

Lin Daiyu also said: "Sister, if you want to know something, you can ask sister Zijuan, her family is there, and she knows a lot."

Zijuan then talked about the customs and customs in Beijing. What she said was clear, and all kinds of things were said slowly. Several people were fascinated by it. After another cup of tea, Zijuan stopped and said with a smile: If you know the specifics, you have to go and see for yourself, some of what I said is what I heard, but I never had the opportunity to go out and meet in person.”

In fact, Zhenlian already knew a lot from Liu Xianglian, but what Zijuan said was that she didn't know about many aspects.

After saying a few more words, Zhen Lian took her leave and left when she saw Lin Daiyu's tired face.

Lin Daiyu said: "My sister often comes to sit and sit when she is free." Then she asked Zijuan to send Zhenlian out, Zijuan responded with a smile and sent Zhenlian out, and then closed the door and came back when she saw her go far away.