Zhen Lian of the Red Chamber

The next day Liu Xianglian prepared to go south, and took Uncle Liu and his son around outside for three days before everything was settled.Come back and tell Zhen Lian, "We have already made preparations for going south, and we will leave tomorrow. We are going to Jinling and Gusu, do you want me to bring a letter back?"

Zhen Lian pursed her lips, "Tomorrow? Well, I'll get it ready for you later." She went back to her room and wrote a few envelopes, and packed the shoes, socks and clothes she made for Liu Xianglian.He took out Liu Xianglian's silver and his wife's money and put them in the box, carried them out and handed them to Liu Xianglian, "I made these clothes on the boat, so you can wear them. This time I will need more than one." Yue, you must pay attention to safety outside. You put this bag of silver here for me, and the rest belonged to me and my mother, so you took it."

As I said that, the reluctance in my heart grew more and more, and I regretted asking him to go!

Liu Xianglian smiled and took the clothes and hugged them well, then took the box and put it on the table beside her.Stretched out a hand to hold Zhen Lian, "I will come back quickly, don't worry. We are leaving, there are only a few of you women at home, if you are free and bored, just hang out in the village, wait until I come back Take you outside. If you want to buy anything, ask Aunt Liu to buy it, and I will write to you regularly to report that you are safe."

In the evening after dinner, Zhen Lian sent Liu Xianglian out again, and the two held hands outside and talked for a long time before parting reluctantly.

The next morning, Liu Xianglian rode away with Uncle Liu and his son, and Zhen Lian and the others sent them out of the villa.Seeing Liu Xianglian's figure becoming more and more visible, Zhen Lian's eyes were slightly sore, she blinked to force back the tears, took a deep breath, and only looked away when she could no longer see the shadows of the few people.

Looking back, she saw Aunt Liu and daughter-in-law Liu Shan also had red eyes, looking into the distance with a full face of reluctance, Zhen Lian squeezed out a smile and said, "Go back!"

After looking back for a long time, they returned to the room.

For a while, Zhen Lian felt empty in her heart, unable to arouse interest in doing anything.I took the book and turned a few pages, my mind was muddled, and I didn't read anything.

When Mother Zhen saw her, she went back to her room and took out a few bolts of satin and put them in front of Zhen Lian, and said with a smile, "Let's see what color you like. You're going to get married soon, so it's time to prepare."

Zhen Lian came back to her senses, took them over and looked at them one by one, and chose a few brightly colored ones, "These look good, let's make some first, anyway, there is still so much time, and there is still time."

"Make those small pieces first, and wait until next year to make the rest of the wedding dress, and the size will be more accurate. Finally, make some clothes, that's enough. You don't need to make the rest yourself, just buy it. "Looking at the selected fabrics, I thought about the dowry to be prepared by my family.Now that the money is more than the budget, we need to prepare more things.

Mother Zhen went back to her room and brought back the list she had made, "I've been writing for the past two years, and I need to prepare. See if you have anything else to add." These are all based on the dowry list I made when I got married. Written, it is relatively complete.

After taking it and opening it, I saw dozens of rows of large and small items such as fields, silver, furniture, ornaments, jewelry, clothes, cloth and fur, medicinal materials, cages and bedding.Zhen Lian felt dizzy, there was so much to prepare, so much that she really had to start preparing.

Among them, only the embroidered pieces such as bedding and clothes have to be done by themselves, especially the wedding dress must be embroidered by themselves stitch by stitch, which will take half a year and a year.The other is that the field has not been bought yet, and the rest must be prepared.

Liu Xianglian said that the wood from the back mountain is used for making furniture, so there is no need to worry about this furniture, as long as you find a craftsman.The rest can also be taken slowly.Think Bi Zhenlian breathed a sigh of relief, there is still time.

The maid I just bought was named Liu, and she followed Zhen Lian. She didn't have a real name, and the family only called her Ernier, so Zhen Lian called her Liu Er.Liu'er knows some needlework, but she hasn't learned much, so she can't help much.The other is Jing'er, who is an orphan herself. She doesn't know her last name for a long time, and she knows how to cook.

Both of them are quick-witted people. Zhen Lian and her daughter do many things by themselves, and rarely order them around. They are usually asked to learn from Aunt Liu.Aunt Liu knows a lot, and it is enough for her to learn by herself for a few months.

After thinking about it for a long time, Zhen Lian discussed with Zhen's mother about the color, pattern and size of various embroidery items.Afterwards, the two of them concentrated on preparations until they let go of their longing and worries.

A month passed slowly, and Zhen Lian counted the days every day, calculating when he would come back.

In January, Liu Xianglian only sent three letters, telling about his itinerary, etc., and it happened that I received a letter from him yesterday, saying that he would arrive today.Zhen Lian was overjoyed, she had only seen her for a month, but it seemed like she had been separated for a few years, every night when she was quiet, there was his figure and smile in her mind, which couldn't be lingered.

This day Zhen Lian got up early in the morning and was in front of the village, looking at the end of the road in the distance, Zhen Lian waited anxiously.The sun was gradually setting from east to west, Zhen Lian stared straight at her eyes, and she was worried that they hadn't seen them back yet.The letter clearly stated that it would arrive in the afternoon, but it's already afternoon, why haven't we arrived yet!

Liu Shan's daughter-in-law was also walking back and forth anxiously, Aunt Liu smiled and comforted her, "It must be delayed on the way, let's wait a little longer, we may arrive soon!"

Zhen Lian nodded absent-mindedly. Mother Zhen was also a little anxious and worried, but she was afraid that her daughter would be even more anxious, so she put those worries in her heart and smiled calmly, "What Aunt Liu said is that there is no time to come back from going out. Let go of your heart, just be at ease."

Forced to smile, Zhen Lian also knew that what they said was right, and she was much more worried, but knowing it was one thing, but feelings were another.

Several people waited for about half an hour before seeing a few people riding horses galloping indistinctly in the distance.The figure moved quickly, and the figure of Liu Xianglian at the head gradually became clear. Zhen Lian yelled in surprise and ran over a few steps.

After a while, Liu Xianglian also came to Zhen Lian, saw Zhen Lian laughing and got off the horse, ran to Zhen Lian and hugged her.Hot breath sprayed on the neck, and the other party's low voice came from the ear, "I'm back!"

Just after finishing speaking, the Liu family father and son also rushed over, Liu Xianglian let go, and the two walked towards the village side by side.

When everyone met for a while, they all parted and reunited, so it goes without saying that they were happy.Talking to each other about the parting, they separated from the members of the Liu family, and the three of them returned to the small courtyard.Zhen Lian quickly asked Liu Er Jing Er to call hot water for Liu Xianglian to wash, and then had dinner.

Only then did the three talk in detail about his going south.Liu Xianglian said: "Our trip went smoothly this time, and we have already bought everything we can buy. We just need to wait for me to contact and sell them tomorrow."

After speaking, she took out a stack of letters from the luggage. Zhen Lian read them, handed the ones for Mother Zhen to her, and opened the ones for herself to read.

It's only been two months since they've been apart, and everything in the Feng family is the same except for the departure of the three of them.But there is a happy event. Not long after Zhen Lian and the others left, the second cousin was diagnosed to be two months pregnant. The whole family was overjoyed when they found out. They have all changed, smiling and talking softly all day long.

Zhen's mother also read the letter, and said "Ancestor Bless!" She clasped her hands together and said a few words, then smiled and said to Zhen Lian: "Your second cousin is pregnant, so you can count on the baby coming! Have a good time."

"Wan'er also said it in her letter, saying that the family is very happy, and she really wants to have a little brother and sister!" After reading several letters, they all said the same thing.

Liu Xianglian talked about their late return, and said with a smile: "So we arrived at the pier at noon, but shopkeeper Liu knew that I was coming back today, and sent someone to wait for us there! I had to hand over the goods to him. So I delayed coming back for a while."

"The goods you brought have already been handed over? Are they in such a hurry?" Zhen Lian was curious.

"Isn't it? They don't have much stock in the store, and they sold it themselves, it's not enough to sell!" Thinking of what shopkeeper Liu asked himself, he said again: "Treasurer Liu said he still needs more Goods, I’m thinking of going to the south again. This time I also counted. Excluding round-trip expenses and principal, we net doubled the silver. This time plus this time, it will be very impressive !"

"Only once?" Although Zhen Lian was still reluctant, she also knew that neither of them would let go of this opportunity to make money. If it was convenient, she wanted to go along with her.It's just that they were too distracted to take care of themselves when they went by themselves, so they interrupted this idea.

"I went to the south once this time, and I will go to the north again after the new year after I come back, and I won't go out again." Liu Xianglian smiled, "At that time, I will have to be busy at home."

Zhen Lian knew that he was talking about their marriage. Her birthday was in September, and she would be 15 years old at that time. After watching the date, she could decide the date.It's less than a year left.

Thinking of this, Zhen Lian asked again: "When will we go then?"

"It's better to be early rather than late. We'll go the day after tomorrow. This time, we can go directly to the original place to sell goods. It will take less time and we will be back in less than a month." Thinking of the marriage, he said: "Where Silk, satin, embroidery and other things are better than those in Beijing, and they are also much cheaper, so I will bring some more this time. Let me know if there is anything else you want.”

"Then you just choose some more cloth and come back. We will do the embroidery patterns on our own clothes, and nothing else is necessary." Thinking that he will have to embroider a wedding dress in the next year, he said again: "Choose a few big cloths carefully." When the red satin comes back, I will make clothes, remember to choose the best one!"

Liu Xianglian listened to the purpose of thinking about it immediately, she nodded quickly and said: "Okay! I will definitely go to all the shops in Jinling City and choose the best one!" Imagining the appearance of the two wearing red wedding dresses to pay homage, she couldn't help but The corners of his mouth were raised, and countless thoughts came out of his mind.

The next day, Liu Xianglian was not free either. After breakfast, she went out to settle the payment with shopkeeper Liu, and discussed the goods she needed. She only came back at night.

The two talked in private again, and the next morning they hurried out to the south again.