[Red Mansions] The big maid struggles daily

It snowed a lot overnight.

The sky is dimly bright, and the snow-reflected windows are silvery white.In the red tent, Zhan Dong held his little wife in one hand, staring at her with dark eyes, with a smile on his lips, softening his cold face.

Zhu Xiu's small mouth was slightly opened, and she was fast asleep.She has always slept honestly, and she has been used to sleeping in the same bed with others since she was a child: when she was young, she snuggled up with Qingjin to keep warm; later she had a mother, and the mother and daughter had endless conversations, and they often got up and down together; After she matured, because Daiyu's body was cold, she often slept on the same couch with her sister Lin in her arms.Now that someone was lying on her side, Zhu Xiu didn't feel awkward, but she slept more soundly and soundly. Besides, she was mostly keeping others warm, but now she was wrapped in a big source of warmth, so she slept soundly.

Chunliu stood outside the door wearing a cloak, looking at the sky, feeling very anxious.However, there was no movement in the new house, Chunliu didn't dare to concentrate on herself, so she had to look at the two old nuns who were watching the night at the door, and said softly, "What's the name of the nuns? You think it's getting late?"

The two old mothers were like pillars, just smiling and nodding towards Chunliu. Chunliu was about to speak again when a low laugh came from behind him. Chunliu hurriedly turned around and saw that it was a housekeeper she met yesterday. Say hello to me.

The mother laughed softly: "Don't be too polite, you are grandma's girl, Chunliu, right? My husband's family name is Qiu, and he follows the master. You can just call me sister-in-law Qiu."

Chunliu hurriedly smiled and said: "Hi sister-in-law Qiu, it's already time, shouldn't I...?" It's time to wake up.

Mother Qiu said with a smile: "Our family has a simple population and there are not so many rules. After a while, the uncle and grandma will naturally wake up."

Chunliu said anxiously: "No, no...!" This is because you don't know that our girl is always at home, and now her newlyweds are at her in-laws' house on the first day, if it is still at that time, wouldn't it be a joke.

Chunliu was worried, but she didn't know that Qiu's mother was also wondering. In the past, if the uncle lived at home, but Yinmo, he should practice in the front yard, but now it's half an hour late.Mother Qiu thought about the newlyweds, it's common for young couples to rub their ears together, so she didn't care, she just stood on the porch with Chunliu, talking familiarly to each other.

Inside the curtain, Zhu Xiu seemed to have been disturbed from a good dream, she buried her face in Zhandong's arms with a mutter, and took another long breath, falling asleep.

Zhandong amusedly smoothed the long hair on her neck, and sure enough Zhu Xiu slept more comfortably, her small mouth was slightly opened again, and she almost snored.

Chunliu stood there dumbfounded for a while, but there was still no movement inside, her face flushed red with anxiety.Just as he was about to knock on the door regardless of other things, he saw Qiu Gui holding the girl's big raccoon cat coming over, his eyes lit up suddenly, and he quietly gave Qiu Gui a look of appreciation.

"This is sister-in-law Qiu, the housekeeper, and this is Qiugui."

Qiugui knew it, smiled and said hello, and said with a smile: "Grandma's raccoon slave is very precious. This cat hasn't seen grandma for two days, and it just woke up and couldn't be comforted, so I had to hug it here."

Mother Qiu laughed when she saw the big raccoon. The day before yesterday when Zhu's family gave the dowry, the big cat sat on the first red lacquer box with a dignified air, and carried it into the house along with the dowry without running or making trouble. , but a big treasure in the press box!

Mother Qiu was about to pet it, but the big cat jumped out of Qiugui's arms, moved on the ground twice, stretched itself, jumped onto the threshold, knocked on the door with its paw pads, and said "meow" softly. Woo" and "Mi Woo" calls.

"Oh, how did you teach me, this baby doesn't even scratch the door."

Mother Qiu asked with a smile, and Zhu Xiu's confused voice came from inside: "Chunliu, is the big raccoon hungry? You can feed it... What time is it?"

Chunliu hurriedly raised her voice and replied: "The rooster crows three times, it's dawn." "Maozheng, grandma!" He said Maozheng very clearly.

Zhu Xiu was so tired yesterday, she just wanted to sleep in a daze, now she closed her eyes and wondered when she heard Chunliu's words, it's only six o'clock, what's the hurry, there's grandma, who's grandma... grandma !

He opened his eyes and wanted to get up, but his body was sore when he moved. "Hiss—" Zhu Xiucai woke up in fright, and found herself nestled in Zhandong's arms. Not only did her body ache, but her scalp also ached from the tumbling.The hair of the two of them scattered on the bed, Zhu Xiu's long locks were pressed under Zhan Dong's body.

The two looked at each other, and Zhu Xiu's face flushed red to the neck.Last night, I tied my hair, drank some wine together, and then tossed and tossed until midnight, until I was so tired that I passed out, and I was not as embarrassed as I am now.

Zhandong saw that she was as shy as an epiphyllum, and her Adam's apple moved slightly, but she was not willing to embarrass her, so she smiled lightly: "Wake up, get up."

Zhu Xiu blushed and nodded, Zhandong got up first, helped Zhu Xiu sit up, and then hung up the red curtain by himself, took the two people's clothes today from the hanging flower post beside the smoked cage, and gently put them on the warm quilt: " Okay?" Can you wear it by yourself?

What's okay?Zhu Xiu raised her head in doubt, seeing that Zhandong's eyes clearly showed the meaning of "It hurts so much, can I dress myself?", the toes under the brocade quilt curled up in shame, afraid that he would really come to dress herself, and hurriedly said: "Okay, okay."

Zhan Dong lowered her black eyes, nodded and smiled lightly: "Fortunately..."

What he said was so meaningful that it made Zhu Xiu overly ashamed, but he became clearer. After all, he is someone who has seen a large area of ​​the Japanese country. Although it is the first time in two lives to practice, he can't lose when he loses.

Seeing his little wife straighten her face, Zhandong put on her clothes a little slowly, and also consciously went outside the bed tent.The days to come are long, and in the future there will be plenty of opportunities to dress the little wife up.

Neither Zhu Xiu nor Zhan Dong had the habit of asking maids to help them get dressed. Zhu Xiu wanted to see the sky outside the tent, but at the same time dressed neatly.

She took out a pocket watch from the small cabinet under the pendant column and took a look. It was indeed getting late. The next day the bride would wash her hands and make soup for her parents-in-law, so she couldn't tell her parents-in-law to sit in the hall early in the morning and wait.

Hearing her step down, Zhandong stretched out his hand to hang up the three layers of curtains inside and outside, and said in a warm voice: "Don't worry, let's go to the ancestral hall after washing. The ancestral hall is just knocking open."

Zhu Xiufang heaved a sigh of relief, left the Nuan Pavilion, adjusted his clothes in the mirror, and adjusted Zhan Dong's clothes with his own hands.

From yesterday to this morning, Zhan Dong smiled more times than in the previous 20 years combined, "After paying homage to the ancestors, please finish adding the family tree, then let's kowtow to my father and meet the clansmen. How about paying homage tomorrow?"

This visit to the door is to return to the door, and it can be done on the second day, the third day, or the seventh day of the wedding.Long before the personal welcome, the Zhu and Zhan families had a tacit understanding, and the young couple would rush off without teaching, and the time was set on the third day after they got married.

Zhu Xiu's heart turned sharply, not thinking about this, but how to address Zhan Dong, should he be called "Master", or "Xianggong", "Beloved", or "Husband"?Can't they be called "Zhandong" and "Dongzi"?

After thinking about it for a while, she is really not used to this husband and wife. According to the current fashion, she should be called "Uncle", but in the past, people always call others with their names, such as "Uncle Zhu". Can.This is a direct call, so Zhu Xiu couldn't help but think of the exaggerated name that the famous Goulan called the benefactor in the TV series in his previous life.

Clearing his throat, Zhu Xiufang said in a low voice, "I listen to you."

Zhan Dong also coughed, with reddish ears, and said in a low voice, "Dong Biao has endless characters, can embroidery have small characters?"

Zhu Xiu shook her head, although she had done the Jiji ceremony solemnly, but at that time she had a tacit agreement with the Zhan family's marriage, and her mother and uncle did not give the letter.

"How about calling it Jinchu?" Zhandong said in a low voice: "Winter is exhausted at four o'clock. Therefore, my teacher bestowed endless words for Dong. Embroiderers are brocade hearts. At the beginning, from the beginning, from the clothes to the knife , is the beginning of tailoring clothes. Brocade beginners are spring songs."

Zhu Xiu was slightly taken aback, and suddenly remembered a poem from the previous dynasty that she liked very much: "'Chuhua is beautiful and beautiful, and a thousand forests look like one'." Thinking like this, she also said so.

Zhan Dong hugged Zhu Xiu lightly with his ape arms, his chest trembled slightly: "Yes. How are you?"

"it is good."

After a while, the two called the girl outside to come in.Chunliu and Qiugui waited for Zhu Xiu to wash and wash, while Zhandong went to wash in the ear room without anyone else.

But Mother Qiu went straight to the bed, made a gesture of folding the quilt, then hurriedly lifted off the embroidered quilt, and searched for a pure white plain handkerchief.

Mother Qiu saw the bright red on her head, and her face was already smiling.Zhu Xiu glanced at it from the corner of the mirror, and couldn't help feeling a little burned, and said in his heart, it turned out to be a Yuan handkerchief, but if it was left in someone else's house, this Yuan handkerchief would be sent to the mother-in-law, but now it is difficult Have to keep it by yourself?

Just as he was thinking, he saw Zhan Dong coming out of the ear room, and he had already tidied himself up.Taking a look inside the room, Zhan Dong said: "Bring it."

Mother Qiu was taken aback, and hurriedly presented the folded Yuan handkerchief. Seeing that the uncle took the Yuan handkerchief, he opened the red box carved with dragon and phoenix on the case, and gently put the Yuan handkerchief into it.Mother Qiu clearly saw that there was a strand of hair that was entwined with red silk threads inside, and she couldn't help laughing more happily: She originally wanted to put it away first and then give it to grandma secretly, but the uncle's marriage seemed to be enlightened Yes, it was a hundred times better than she had thought.

Zhu Xiuqiang restrained his shame, he did everything yesterday, he was not ashamed then, let alone show timidity now.

Fortunately, the ancestral hall was about to be opened, and the young couple got up in a short time.Chen, the elder of the main branch of the Zhan family, was opening the gate of the ancestral hall. The couple solemnly worshiped their ancestors according to the rules, and the elder of the clan solemnly added Zhu Xiu's name on the genealogy.At this time, Zhu Xiu was really Zhan Dong's first wife, and after a hundred years, the god card will be placed on the same high rank as Zhan Dong, and he will be worshiped by descendants in this Zhan's ancestral hall.

After that, it was time to pay homage to the parents-in-law. Zhan's family was small, so he could just kneel down to Zhan's mother. Zhan Dong's biological mother had already received incense in the ancestral hall, so there was no need to ask for a spiritual seat.As for the two aunts in Zhan's house, it was the first time Zhu Xiu saw them. They were about 25 or [-] years old, one was gentle and the other was more beautiful.Zhu Xiu didn't need to bow down when seeing the ceremony, the two aunts had to greet her first, Zhu Xiu turned slightly to her side, only accepted half of the salute, and then nodded slightly in return.

Zhan laughed very heartily, seeing the two aunts paying their respects, he hurriedly said: "You all go back." Then he smiled at Zhandong: "Your uncles, brothers and sisters-in-law will come up after a while, let's finish eating quickly , don't engage in those hypocrisy."

After all, Zhu Xiu served two bowls of soup with his own hands. Zhan Da first put one bowl on the seat on the right side beside him, and said with a smile: "Okay, your mother and I know your filial piety. Let's all take our seats." .”

Zhu Xiu had only used his hands to make soup from washing his hands, even if he had passed the ceremony.

After dinner, Zhu Xiu went back to her room and changed into a red jacket and skirt with rolled fox fur before going to the hall again.Just now, the big dress with red trim and black border is too solemn, it is suitable for worshiping the ancestral hall, but it is not suitable for seeing foreigners.Originally, after the ancestral hall, worshiping the parents-in-law should also change clothes, but there are no outsiders around, Zhan Da is not particular, and Zhan Dong is not willing to toss about the little wife who has only experienced rain and dew.

Zhan Dazu has seven biological brothers, and these seven brothers have spread out. There are more than 20 cousins ​​in the same generation, and there are six cousins.These seven uncles are not all in Beijing, except for Zhan Da, there are Zhan Er and Zhan Liu in Beijing, and most of the rest are in Zhili, Tongzhou or Jizhou. Because of Zhandong's marriage, all who can come come. Now only Stay in the Zhan family's ancestral house outside the city, and leave after seeing the new daughter-in-law today.

Zhan Dong is the sixth cousin, and there were several cousins ​​and younger sisters who accompanied the newlyweds in the new house last night. This sister-in-law is the eldest daughter-in-law of Zhan's second uncle. Greetings.Fortunately, Zhu Xiu has a strong memory, and he remembers people almost the same.

For a while, two boxes were collected for the meeting ceremony, the elders were talking in the main hall, and the men of the same generation were scared off by Zhan Dong's black face last night and failed to make a fuss in the bridal chamber. Sister-in-law held Zhu Xiu's hand and only spoke to the flower hall behind her.

A very gentle woman smiled and said: "Dongzi among the brothers got married later, so he got a beautiful daughter-in-law. We have a lot of people here, so don't be afraid if you can't recognize them for a while. There are sisters-in-law and younger brothers and sisters here. , but he is a few years older than you, that's how everyone comes here. Apart from worshiping the ancestors during the New Year's Day, you will be able to recognize it after a few marriages with your younger brothers and sisters."

Zhu Xiu invited all the sisters-in-law and younger sisters to sit down, and said with a smile, "Thank you Fifth Sister-in-law."

Fifth Sister-in-Law Zhan wondered: "You can remember whether you can remember it or not, or my sister-in-law is kind and we should be close?"

The little cousin hurriedly waved her hand and said, "Sister-in-law Wu was delayed on the way, and she couldn't catch up with sister-in-law yesterday. If it's reasonable to remember us, why did she remember sister-in-law fifth? Then sister-in-law Liu knows which uncle sister-in-law is. The daughter-in-law at home?"

Zhu Xiu pursed her lips and smiled: "Fourth uncle's house."

The little cousin pointed around, Zhu Xiu said everything one by one.It amazed a whole room of women of the same generation.

The sister-in-law in the lobby said with a smile: "Sure enough, she can read and write. This kind of brain is worth ten of me!"

The several branches of the Zhan family have their own livelihoods, although they are united, they don't flatter and rely on any one. The sisters-in-law and sisters are also kind, and they don't usually stay together, which makes Zhu Xiu's half-sustained heart relax a little.

A family banquet was held at the banquet, and after noon, the relatives of the Zhan family all set off separately.Zhan Da had no choice but to send them out one by one.

In the second half of the day, Mother Qiu brought the housekeeper grandma of the Zhan family and the girls and servants to visit the new grandma. The account books and keys that were originally held by the four housekeeper mothers were also handed over to Zhu Xiu.

The Zhan family has not had a wife and grandma who are in charge for a long time. If it weren't for the simple population, there would have been troubles long ago.Now that the key is handed over, the housekeepers also breathe a sigh of relief.Two of the nuns are old and have to retire and go home long ago. Because the Zhan family doesn't need their aunt to take care of the house, they have to endure until now.I just hope that the grandma has checked the internal treasury and handed over the account books, so that they can hurry home and be cared for by their children and grandchildren.

Zhu Xiu's waist has been sore since early morning.But she couldn't shirk receiving the gift from the palm, so she sat upright and accepted the worship of everyone, and then rewarded the red seal, and said with a smile: "You don't need to be in a hurry, you should settle down first."

Then he said to the four housekeeper mothers: "Please ask the mothers to help me. When I understand it, I will discuss with the mothers before dispatching and relocating."

Mother Qiu waited to take a closer look, and hurriedly responded with a smile.

Nanny Zhu and Uncle Cheng were just dowry people, and they gave Liufang here, together with sixteen girls, nanny, and Xiaoyaoer. .Zhu Xiu had planned long ago, it was enough to have two teams inside and outside, the inside team revolved around her, and the outside team was for social contacts and liaison work with the outer courtyard.The dowry and the Zhan family's original team came together to support the structure, and the inside can be filled.Regardless of her dowry or the Zhan family, there are a lot of people in the Zhuangzi on both sides who want to squeeze into the house. If there is something bad, they can be replaced at any time.

Zhan Da is also very bachelor. In the evening, he asked someone to send a booklet and the key to the external warehouse. It was rumored that his yard would also be under the management of the public in the future.It's just the housekeepers who think they have a bit of face for a long time. If there are any ones who don't respect their masters, they can just ask their daughter-in-law to send them away. It's just for the sake of his father-in-law's face. He doesn't need any money. It's okay to go out.As soon as these words came out, no matter who it was, they knew that this grandma would be the head of the Zhan family in the future. According to what the master said, the grandma might also be half the master if it was an outside matter.

Even though the two aunts in Zhan Da's room had some thoughts in their minds, Zhan Da blocked the road before they took a step, so they had to calm down and behave peacefully.

That night, Zhu Xiu held on until Zhan Dong rested, his upper and lower eyelids seemed to be glued together, and he couldn't open them.Zhan Dong put his arms around his fragrant and soft little wife, and secretly sighed, thinking that he would have to return home tomorrow, he was not willing to torment her any longer.

When we returned home the next day, Nanny Zhu and Uncle Cheng entertained him with a feast. Needless to say, they were so harmonious.

However, less than a month after Daofang got married, Zhan Dong received an order from the Ministry of War. The imperial court had prepared half a year's supply of food, horses, and soldiers' swords and armor, and finally sent troops to Annan.And Zhan Dong was indeed a member of the expedition.He was a fifth-rank military officer, and was awarded the rank of Wude Cavalier by the imperial court, and he was bestowed on his parents and wife. Zhu Xiu was a fifth-rank pleasant person.

Zhu Xiu was wearing a beige with a cloud and mandarin duck pattern, but her heart was heavy, and she wanted to tell her, but she didn't know what to tell her.I had to pack up the gold sore medicines, hemostatic medicines, detoxification medicines, and life-hanging medicines that I made, bought, and saved since last year. There are also boiled and disinfected gauze, and insect repellent and pest repellent medicines. There are all kinds of smoke packs, and after packing up a box, I feel that it is not enough and incomplete.

Zhandong smiled and said, "Don't worry, I..."

Zhu Xiu hurriedly covered his mouth, and stopped yelling. It's better not to say such swear words before the expedition, who knows who the crow will fall into today.

"In each of these two pouches, there are only three bottles of medicine. The white bottle has miraculous effects in stopping bleeding and healing wounds, and the blue bottle is used for detoxification. Throwing a pill into the fire can also drive away insects in places where there are many poisonous insects. There are fifty pills each. In the end, there are only five pills in the red bottle, which are used to hang your life. You can see the doctor with one breath, and you can take one pill every hour, and you can take three pills at most. After that, it will be useless..." Zhu Xiu took a deep breath, He said again: "The two pouches are exactly the same, one you hang around your neck and the other around your waist. The rest of the medicines have sticks on the bottles, so it's not as effective as these three bottles..." These medicines put all the medicines in Zhu Xiucuihua's pouch The medicinal herbs were almost gone, and the Lin family's unique prescriptions enshrined by the genius doctor were used. If the quality of the medicinal materials hadn't moved people, even if the Lin family asked, they would not make these pills.

Zhan Dong embraced her, and said in a low voice: "I know, I only use this pouch for myself."

Zhu Xiu said with tears in her eyes, "I only hope that you will return all these things to me when you come back."

Zhandong sighed inwardly, and said with a smile: "Follow my personal guards, there are those from the clan, and I have selected them over the years, and a total of 36 people have been obtained. Of the 36 people, I will leave six for you. I will take all of them, and the remaining six people can all be trustworthy, and there are two other female bodyguards, and Minger will also be brought to the mansion from Zhuangzi. After signing the body contract, you stay by my side, just to teach me to feel more at ease. Huh?"

Zhu Xiu nodded, wiped away her tears and said, "Okay!"

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Note: Chuhua is beautiful and comfortable, and thousands of forests look like one. ——"Spring Song" Wang Tingchen.