The clever maid of the red mansion

Liu'er and Taohong were almost numb from the cold, their ears were calloused by Mrs. Li's nagging, and they finally arrived at Second Grandma Lai's mansion.

Speaking of a mansion, it is compared with Grandma Chun's two small courtyards, and naturally there is no comparison with Rongfu and other people.But even Grandma Chun's second entrance courtyard, the capital where the emperor is at the foot of the emperor, if it wasn't for the ancestral property, ordinary people would not be able to afford it.

Grandma Lai’s house is a large courtyard with three entrances. There are three main rooms, one bright and two dark, and the east and west wing rooms are connected to the verandas of the side rooms. There is a small garden and three small cross courtyards. Although the garden is small, there are water, mountains and pavilions. Small and exquisite.

On the west side of the mansion is less than half of the Daxiu Village, which is connected with the mansion by a corner gate.

In the past few years in Liu'er's house, she was just an errand and handyman, an inconspicuous little girl. She did decent jobs, including twisting, splitting, and quilting quilts or cotton-padded jacket linings. She didn't need any skills, as long as she was clean and dexterous. Just a little.

The reason why these jobs are decent is that sometimes the master requires them to be done in the main room in the inner courtyard, otherwise she would not even be able to enter the main room of Second Grandma Lai, let alone the girl's room.

Second Grandma Lai was surrounded by maids and servants. There were only seven or eight elder maids serving in the main house, all of whom were well-groomed and outstanding.As for the two girls, needless to say, she is not waiting for the little girl to spy.

As for the small garden, I went there a few times when I was running errands. I only glanced at it in a hurry, and I probably still have some impressions of the scenery. In the eyes of a child from the countryside, the garden was no different from Grandma Liu entering the Grand View Garden—— It looks exactly like the painting.

Now, thanks to Grandma Chun's blessing, Mrs. Li and Mrs. Liu were led by Mrs. Yang, the steward, directly into the main room of the inner courtyard, and the food box was picked up early by Mrs. Yang and the little girl, who carried it in first, and took it into the inner courtyard It's hard to say whether it should be dealt with directly by the servants.

Nanny Yang led the way and said: "It's a coincidence that you came here. Our grandma just came back, and she was having tea and chatting with the two girls after dinner. In a while, I think it's going to be a rest. You A moment sooner or later, you will not see the real Buddha."

Mrs. Li is naturally hard to say, in fact, they were killed on the way during the first wave of porridge delivery, and their old faces smiled like a chrysanthemum, "It's a good time for the old lady to come out, otherwise, where is this Qiaozong, grandma and two girls, hello, It's strange to think that the old sister won't sit with us for a while."

When we arrived at the main room, a little girl had announced through the curtain, and when I stepped in, I was greeted by hot air, obviously the kang was burned.Behind Liu'er and Mrs. Li, she lowered her eyebrows and looked pleasing to the eye, but she didn't realize what was going on. After please An, she stood obediently behind Mrs. Li, watching her nose, nose and heart, never taking a second look, pretending to be wooden.

In fact, taking advantage of Mrs. Li's time to greet Second Grandma Lai, she glanced at her with her eyes, just like the bright and beautiful women in thirty Xu Xu in memory, and Second Grandma Tong Lian who prefers to dress up gorgeously.

Second Grandma Lai is fair-skinned and has a plump figure. She wears a pink ermine jacket with a pair of breasts and flowers, with wind hair on the neckline, sleeves and skirts, a pleated skirt with a lake blue year-round flower color, and black hair in a simple, lazy bun. , with a small phoenix hairpin holding a drop of pearls in its mouth, its appearance is not much different from that of Lian's second grandma, she leans on the pillow leisurely, and speaks to Mrs. Li in a light and indifferent voice, neither affectionate nor indifferent alienated.

On the east side of the underground, there is a couch with a floor-to-ceiling gauze cover. On the sapphire blue flowered mattress, sit two well-dressed girls. One of them is holding an embroidered frame and the other is whispering softly. Watching a few girls occasionally interject a sentence, as if there is another world in the room.

When Mrs. Li greeted her, the two girls never glanced at her. The Second Grandma Lai glanced at her helplessly, with a pleasant smile, but said in her mouth, "I've spoiled you all. I forgot to express myself when I saw the proud embroidery work." Now, Nanny Li, don't take offense."

Mrs. Li hurriedly apologized with a smile and flattered: "What did grandma say? The old woman often comes and goes, and she is used to it. Knowing everyone, you don't know the two girls. Not only are they beautiful, they are smart and dexterous, and they are also very kind. Our grandma used to teach Sister Qin, I also praised the two girls, they are really great, it's rare."

Everyone loves to hear good things. Second Grandma Lai is very smart when she talks about it. Although Second Grandma Lian is a first-class person, even though she has no son, she doesn't worry about it. It's never wrong to praise those two.

After hearing Mrs. Li's words, Second Grandma Lai smiled deeper, said a few words of modesty, and asked the girl to pour tea for Mrs. Li, and asked someone to grab fruit for Liu'er Taohong.

Liu'er is still good, but Tao Hong is the first time to see this kind of "big family" style. Since entering the main room, her eyes are not enough. She only feels that the dazzling colors and embroidery are brilliant, and there are pearls and jades everywhere. The sound of swallows and warblers in the house is strange everywhere.

Mrs. Li, Tao Hong didn't dare to look blatantly, she lowered her head slightly and lowered her hands, looking around with furtive eyeballs, wishing to have more eyes and more fragrance.

Even though she is usually stable, she is also a little dazzled, just right, rich and charming eyes, not knowing that disaster is coming.

"Hee hee, sister, look at her."

The older girl stretched out her hand and patted the girl next to her, her voice was like water: "Naughty!" She glanced at a few fruit plates and couldn't pull out Tao Hong, and motioned to the waiter girl, "Bring a plate here, sorry to see you." .”

Mrs. Li couldn't bear the embarrassment, so she couldn't help pinching Tao Hong secretly, and secretly gritted her teeth and cursed: "It's a disgrace." She raised her face and smiled a bit flatteringly, "I'm not afraid of second grandma's jokes, let alone her little hoof, even the old woman didn't I have seen these fruits, not to mention the gold inlaid jade and the translucent plate, but the watermelon, this winter, tsk tsk, not to mention those old women who have never seen the fruit before, colorful, it is just the time of solar terms, where did you see it? If you want to say that the old lady is ashamed, you can't blame us for not seeing the world, but you can only blame the second grandma for having too many rare things. Just two beautiful girls like flowers and jade, it dazzles the old eyes of us villagers."

Said that everyone in the room laughed, Second Grandma Lai couldn't stop laughing, and pointed at Mrs. Li: "There is no one who can talk better than you, and it is not worth anything. Although watermelon is not a rare thing, It’s just rare to eat it at this time of year. This year’s south imports something, and our master only got one basket. The whole family, or you can’t bring it back to your grandma to taste something new. The other yellow and green are just good-looking. , but the taste is not good, we are not used to the food from the south.”

"Hey, grandma, what are you talking about, these rare things are just as good as two beauties, if you don't come here today to say hello to grandma, the old lady will not be able to gain such knowledge, and it is the blessing of the old lady to take a look at it Now, I have to go out to show off and see the world..."

Grandma Li's words provoked Second Mistress Lai to laugh again, pointing her finger at her dumbfounded, but it was quite useful in her heart.

While talking and laughing, suddenly there was a sound of palm nuts, everyone was startled, and they looked intently, only to see a girl in a peach red silk jacket and a stone blue brocade cotton vest standing at the door with a pale expression. Porcelain dishes.

Seeing that everyone was staring at her, she reacted in horror, knelt down and pleaded guilty, Second Grandma Lai's face flashed a stern look, she waved her hand gently, and two girls wearing the same blue satin vest hurried past, He picked up the girl on the floor and went out, and then two little girls came in, quickly cleaned up the floor and retreated. The whole process took only a few breaths, and the room resumed talking and laughing, as if nothing had happened just now.

But then the girl came back with a plate, picked some fruits for each of Mrs. Li, and presented them with delicate sticks and other things.

Mrs. Li said a few words politely, how can she not know how to compliment her, Tao Hong dared to eat when she saw Mrs Li moved, although Liu Er didn't put much thought into it, she had to follow, otherwise people would feel that she didn't know

It's not good to be flattered, she can't guarantee that she will never fall into the hands of Second Grandma Lai again in the future.

It's not that she is not greedy, but that although these things are considered rare in the eyes of ordinary people, in her eyes, they are not as rare as the vulgar things such as big fish and meat, pheasants and ducks.

Not to mention watermelon, it is very common in summer, just those few yellow and green fruits, although they are sliced ​​into thin slices and the original shape cannot be seen, but she knows what it is by smelling the smell, there is no shortage of those in the second master Bao's room There are rare fruits in the north and south, but they are not eaten in this way. Some are dipped in sugar, some are salted, and some are candied. If you cut them and eat them directly, you really can’t taste the fragrance, but they are sour and astringent.

Sure enough, Taohong ate the watermelon, and she didn't move much after eating the remaining piece. Needless to say, Mrs. Li, she didn't eat it because she was afraid that Second Grandma Lai would think too much. It's all these greedy little hooves making trouble!

Seeing her embarrassment, Second Grandma Lai couldn't help clapping her hands and laughing: "Okay, I won't embarrass you. I told you I'm afraid you won't believe me. I must let you try these fruits. Besides watermelon, you can also eat them." , the other thing is that it looks good and smells delicious, but it tastes worse, we just cut up the smoked house and smell it, you don’t have to worry about it.”

The two beautiful girls also pursed their lips and smiled at the three of them. The younger one covered her mouth and couldn't stop laughing. She was stopped when she wanted to say something.

The older girls couldn't help but look at Liu'er again, thinking to herself that this one is not greedy and sensible, at such a young age, it is rare, and she looks more honest and polite than the other one who is dressed brightly.

Mrs. Li couldn't help laughing and flattering her, so she resigned from Second Mistress Lai and came out with Liu'er Taohong. A big girl grabbed fruit and stuffed it for Liu'er Taohong, and Mrs. Li got a reward.

When going out the second door, Mother Yang scolded in a low voice from across the courtyard next to her, she glanced at it, sure enough!Liu'er knew without thinking that this was scolding the girl who just broke the dish, and that girl was none other than Qiu Ju!

As for Mammy Yang's methods, Liu'er is very clear, she has never seen such a ruthless old woman, she never shows mercy when beating and scolding servants, pinching wherever it hurts.

Although it was only a glance, it was clear that in less than three months, Qiu Ju was no longer as domineering as before, and it seemed that things were not going well after being sold here. Liu Er looked at her, as if she had even entered the main room to serve her. She doesn't even have any qualifications, and she just dresses up as usual to be flamboyant. This way, she will suffer no matter who suffers.It's just strange why it wasn't sold to Jia's mansion?Is it not the time?

Second Grandma Lai has seven or eight big maids beside her, not to mention the second class, and there are many rude envoys, comparable to the old lady of Jia's mansion.Needless to say the two sisters.Just now the room was surrounded by pearls and greenery, there was a crowd of maids and women, there was absolutely no Qiu Ju and Qiu Lan, after Qiu Ju smashed the plate, Liu Er took a special look, but did not see the other three Qiu shadows.

Originally, she always thought that Qiuju Qiulan went directly to Jia's mansion, but she didn't expect that it was not the case, it seems that there are other reasons.

But these two people had little to do with her, so she didn't pay much attention, and followed Mrs. Li into the silly car and drove back. They hadn't had lunch yet, and it was cold, so she was hungry even if she wasn't hungry.

The car hadn't driven far, and Mrs. Li grabbed Tao Hong's arm abruptly, her face livid: "You little hoof, you haven't eaten in your life, have you? Why didn't you starve to death! How I usually teach you, it's embarrassing Do things right now! I thought you were a good one, more sensible than the other reds, but when you go out, you will be noticed, and you will not be able to stand on the stage, a shallow-sighted little whore!"

Tao Hong groaned in pain, tears almost fell down. Seeing Mrs. Li's face, she couldn't hold back any more screams, but kept begging for mercy: "Ma'am, Tao Hong doesn't dare anymore, never dare..."

Although Tao Hong is a little more sensible than others, after all, she is a child who has never seen anything in the world. She feels pain, fear and a little bit of grievance at the moment. Hearing Mrs. Li yelling and scolding, she wants to cry and dare not cry, she is very pitiful. I can't bear it, I can't say I can't plead for her.

Taking advantage of Mrs. Li swearing at others to rest her breath, she lightly beat her legs, and said in a low voice: "Ma'am, take a break, your old legs are not good. I just sat for a long time and my little ones can't stretch. Thinking about it, I don't think so." Feel comfortable, I will give you a massage."

Mrs. Li's expression eased a little, her joints are not good, and she usually struggles a little, but Liu'er's move scratched her itching spot.

Seeing that there was a door, she glanced at Hong Hong Tao Hong, this time she was a good boy, and hurriedly crawled over to beat the other leg for Mrs. Li, Mrs. Li snorted, closed her eyes and enjoyed it, but stopped scolding.

"Don't be angry, auntie. Sister Taohong has been learning the rules from you for a long time. You just need to teach them slowly. If you get angry, it's not us. We are young, we can see the world, and we have shallow eyelids. It's inevitable. You need to bother to mention something. Not to mention Sister Taohong, even Liu Er has opened her eyes today. If she hadn't followed the aunt, how could she have seen this kind of world." , will not turn over.

After some words, Mrs. Li felt much more comfortable, and glanced at Liu'er: "You, you have a clever mouth, I really don't notice it usually, it's a peace of mind, no wonder grandma kept you."

Thinking of something, he sighed, and said again, "Whether you really understand or are good-looking, the old woman will have to say a few words to you, there are so many good things in this world, you only know what you have eaten a few bowls of dry rice, as the saying goes You can't be short-sighted when you are poor, depending on who you are, you can't lose your mind and lose face when it comes to the end. Life and death have destiny, wealth and heaven, and it's useless to let your eyes grow hooks, whoever lives..."

There was a lot of traffic along the way, and Mrs. Li drove back amidst the earnest teachings. Liu'er got out of the car and sat down in the house, her ears still buzzing.