The oil bottle of the Red Chamber

A few days later, Mrs. Chen really ordered Mrs. Feng to prepare a gift and visit Mr. Wu's home.When I came home, I was full of praise for Mr. Wu, and only said that she "is indeed a well-educated lady, and she is also kind", "I really don't know what kind of madness her husband's family has. ".Because I ordered Mrs. Feng to post a post immediately to invite Mr. Wu to tutor the girls, and smiled to Mrs. Feng: "Thanks to your sister-in-law thinking about us, I got such a good gentleman. I will be free some other day. I invite you If my sister-in-law comes to eat, I have to thank her very well."

Mrs. Feng responded with a smile, and said: "Mr. Wu has nothing wrong with his character and knowledge. It's a pity that his life is too thin to fall into such a husband's family. If there is no one in her mother's family, she can't count on her. Fortunately, she met the old man. The wife is so open-minded, it doesn't matter that she was kicked out by her husband's family. Otherwise, she would have a hard time."

Mrs. Chen waved her hand when she heard the words, and sighed: "There are so many perfect things in the world, and nine out of ten things are always unsatisfactory. Since we have met, we can help, and we are also the benefits of."

He also ordered Mrs. Feng to prepare to leave the teaching place immediately. After thinking about it, she said: "Since Mr. Wu's natal family only has one old mother, why not send a post to invite her. Otherwise, tell their wives to live in two separate places. I can't bear to separate my flesh and blood."

Upon hearing this, Mrs. Feng responded with a smile: "This is the kindness of the old lady. I never thought of these things."

After all, he quickly ordered his servants to prepare houses, quilts and so on.Mrs. Chen laughed and said, "It's not considered thoughtful. It's just a way of judging others by oneself."

While talking, Mrs. Chen immediately took her eldest sister and second sister to the room to inquire about the news because she heard that her mother and sister-in-law were visiting.Hearing that Mr. Wu has a gentle disposition, knowledgeable and reasonable, and the family intends to hire her as a teacher, he clapped his hands and said with a smile: "This is the best. If you hire Mr. Wu earlier, the girls in the family will be able to study sooner. I It can also be easier.”

Upon hearing this, old lady Chen smiled and said to Mrs. Chen: "You just want to benefit from it. Your sister-in-law and I have worked hard all day, but I didn't see you bring us a bowl of tea. I love you for nothing."

When Mrs. Chen heard the words, she hurriedly raised her voice and laughed and ordered her servants to bring tea, and she held it with Mrs. Chen in person, and said with a smile: "Mother has tea, mother has worked hard, and ask my daughter to rub your shoulders and legs for you, so that your hair is loose. .”

After saying that, he got up and walked around behind Mrs. Chen, rubbing her shoulders for her.Old Mrs. Chen squinted her eyes pretending to be enjoying herself, and said, "Use a little more force, go up a little more..."

Mrs. Feng laughed for a while, then turned to the eldest and second sisters and said: "The family has invited a gentleman to teach you how to read. You must study hard, and don't let the old lady and your mother down."

The eldest sister and the second sister nodded obediently when they heard the words.The second sister thought for a while, and said with a smile: "Thank you aunt for your troubles, we must study well, and don't ask the family to repair it with white flowers."

Hearing the thoughtful words of the second sister, Mrs. Feng was very upset.Still smiling, she said to Mrs. Chen and Mrs. Chen: "I see that the second sister is more sensible and smart than before. Although she talks less, she behaves well, better than some older children."

The second sister twitched her lips shyly when she heard Feng's praise, and bowed her head in silence.

Mrs. Chen listened to Mrs. Feng's words, but said with a smile: "I don't know why, I used to talk and laugh like a clever child, but after that dead ghost died, I talked less and people were quiet. Sometimes when I look at her, I feel like Not quite like my second sister."

The second sister was surprised when she heard the words.

Mrs. Chen and Mrs. Feng didn't know about it, they just thought that the second sister had lost her father suddenly, and she was a little surprised after experiencing the uproar in the Zhao family's mourning hall.Feeling pity suddenly in his heart, because he sighed: "It's no wonder this child. The sudden change in the family, even the adults can't slow it down, let alone a child at such a young age."

When Mrs. Chen heard the words, she couldn't help thinking of the dirty things she had been in the Zhao family for many years, because she thought of the non-stop behavior of the old lady Zhao and the second wife of the Zhao family in the mourning hall, her brows stood on end, and she kept cursing.Hearing that old lady Chen frowned again and again, she hurriedly opened her mouth to stop her and said: "Come on, kid, don't say that there is nothing. Your overbearing temperament like burning coal should be changed. You always behave like this. You will suffer in the future eat."

Mrs. Chen snorted coldly when she heard the words, and said disapprovingly: "What do you want to do. I am at home now, and I have my parents and brothers doting on me. I can enjoy it for a day and a day. There will be such a day in the future. It is just a boat It will be straight at the end of the bridge, so what are you afraid of?"

After all, I didn't want to get entangled in this matter, but I still asked Mr. Wu what kind of person he is, when he will come to teach at home, the guest room and teaching place are all ready, and when Mr. Wu comes, he must prepare A good table is waiting for you.He also said, "Since I asked you to pay for your repairs and pen and ink expenses from the business, then I will invite you for this dinner, and please don't shirk your mother and sister-in-law. This is also my heart..."

Mrs. Chen and Mrs. Feng saw that Mrs. Chen was sincere, and knew that Mrs. Chen's dowry was not very rich, but it was not difficult. After thinking for a while, they agreed with a smile.

Three days later, Mr. Wu was invited to come with his mother.Sure enough, Mrs. Chen prepared a sumptuous table and took care of it, while Mrs. Feng arranged for her family's servants to help Mrs. Wu and her daughter settle down. Two mothers-in-law and two maids were assigned to take care of them in the house.

Mrs. Wu's family knew that her daughter was hired by the Chen family to teach the girls to read. Although they met a few days ago, they were still worried that the family would not get along well.Now, seeing that the whole Chen family was very thoughtful in their preparations, a stone fell from my heart, and I thanked Mrs. Chen with tears in my eyes.

When Mrs. Chen saw this, she couldn't help holding Mrs. Wu's hand and said with a smile: "The preparations at home are in a hurry. If there is anything wrong, just tell me, or the eldest wife is the same."

He also said: "Since we have come to our house, we are a family. Don't be restrained."

After exhorting several times in this way, and seeing the tiredness on the faces of Wu Mu and Mr. Wu, he said with a smile: "I must be tired after all the hard work today. Let's rest for a day, what do you have to say?" , Let’s talk about it tomorrow.”

When Wu's mother and daughter heard the words, they couldn't help smiling and thanking them.He got up and sent Mrs. Chen and others out of the room before turning around.

Mrs. Wu's family looked at all the furnishings in the house—even though they were not very luxurious, they were also quiet and elegant, and they had been carefully tidied up as soon as they saw it.Yin smiled and said to Mr. Wu: "Your boss is a caring person. I really didn't expect them to be so considerate. You should be good at teaching the young ladies in this house to study. Don't let them down."

Mr. Wu responded with a smile.Just as he was about to speak, a little girl came over with a big copper basin filled with hot water, and another person was holding washing things, helping the mother and daughter of Wu to clean up and settle down.

Mrs. Wu's family took advantage of the foot bath time to ask the little girl of Chen's house about the rules and old customs of the house.Now, after hearing Mrs. Wu's inquiry, and having been instructed by Mrs. Chen, she said with a smile: "So that the old lady can know that our Chen's mansion is not as strict as those of the prince's mansion. The wife, the old man and the old lady are both very kind people. The young man is now 11 years old and wants to go to school. He only lives in the outer courtyard. He only comes to the back house every morning and evening. So only the old lady , wife, aunt, and three girls are at home. My aunt is also a widow, she has a very brisk disposition, and she loves to talk and laugh. Now I only pray to Buddha with the old lady..."

Mrs. Wu's family and Mr. Wu unconsciously looked at each other and smiled after hearing such a remark.

For a while, the little girls waited for them to wash and wash, and then served the two of them to rest.Nothing to say all night.

In the early morning of the next day, after five drums, Wu's mother and daughter got up early to freshen up.Sitting in the room and chatting for a while, after breakfast, a little girl led Mr. Wu to the teaching place.

At that time, Chen Wan, her eldest sister and second sister were sitting upright in the small study. When they saw Mr. Wu walking slowly, they immediately got up to greet him.Mr. Wu gave up his seat with a smile and looked at the three girls calmly.

I saw two older ones who were only eight or nine years old, one with a handsome appearance and a gentle temperament, the other with willow eyebrows and phoenix eyes, gentle and beautiful, and the younger one was only four or five years old, carved with jade and cute.Because the mansion only made winter clothes, the clothes the three of them wore were all the same material and the same style, but the patterns and colors embroidered on the hem of the skirts were different.

Mr. Wu just smiled, and chatted with the three female students for a while, and learned that although the three had never entered school, Chen Wan followed her elder brother on weekdays and could read a few words.On the contrary, the eldest sister and the second sister really don't know a word because they are still young and they were not valued by their family when they were in the Zhao family.

Mr. Wu had a plan in mind.Still smiling, he ordered the three female students to open the "Three Character Classic" on the desk, led the three to recite it several times, and then explained it in a simple way.

Mr. Wu was brought up by Wu's father as a son since he was a child. He has never served as a teacher before, and he doesn't know how ordinary female teachers teach girls to read.Just imitating his father's teaching and explaining, and teaching the three female students how to hold a pen, how to sit at the desk, and how to write. Seeing that the three of them are learning similarly, he ordered the three female students to copy the big characters from the copybook. .

Because the three of them had no foundation before, just the first four sentences consumed Mr. Wu's entire class time.

Mr. Wu also knew it. Because Chen Wan was older, he had been influenced by it before, so he remembered it quickly.Although the second sister is young, she is probably naturally bright. Although she has small hands, she can't hold the pen. Even though the strokes of a few big characters are weak, the subtle hooks and folds show a bit of strength, but she looks decent.Only the eldest sister, I don't know if it's because she is still young or a little stupid, but her progress is not as good as that of her sisters.

Mr. Wu knew it in his heart, but he didn't show it on the surface.After passing the big characters for a while, a little girl came to the upper room to set up lunch.

When Mr. Wu heard the words, he smiled and said, "Let's go here today. After you return to your room, each copy ten big characters, and memorize the one I taught in class today. I will take the school exam tomorrow morning."

Chen Wan, the eldest sister, and the second sister immediately stood up and said goodbye to Mr. Wu.Another little girl who was serving outside came in to pack up pens and inks and other things, and everyone went to the upper room without mentioning it.