Entering the room, turning the screen, I saw the female dependents and maids standing, there were twenty or thirty people, among them, Cui's and Chai's were holding Mrs. Zhang's left and right, listening to the report, they were stretching out their eyes and sticking out their heads, eagerly looking at the door. Hong hurriedly stepped forward and said with a smile in his mouth: "My nephew and daughter-in-law pay a visit to my aunt! I salute my aunt! I haven't seen her for a few years, but my aunt's spirit has become more and more vigorous! With this dress, I look younger and younger, not like I am sixty years old, but like I am just fifty!"

When Mrs. Zhang heard this, she immediately burst out laughing, and said, "Listen, listen, this mouth, why don't I look forward to her coming!" Breaking away from the two people next to her, she stepped forward to help Hong up, and said with a smile: "Say that this dress is good, and you only sent this material to me for my birthday this spring." You still just talk nonsense, and you are not afraid of flashing your tongue?"

Hong smiled: "Don't be afraid. I'm telling the truth. At most, people laughed at me, and when I saw something, I didn't turn my mind much and said it directly. ”

When everyone heard this, it was funny again. Mrs. Zhang looked behind the Hong family, and the Wang family was leading Lin Daiyu to meet her aunt and grandmother. As soon as she raised her head and looked at each other, Mrs. Zhang was stunned, and only shouted "Shuqing" in her mouth, and big tears rolled down her eyes unconsciously. Lin Daiyu knew that although her grandmother's name was a "dew", because she was raised as a boy when she was a child, she was ranked with her brother and took the word, and her family called her "Shuchun" or "Shuqing". At this moment, when I heard Mrs. Zhang's title, I couldn't help crying when I touched the kinship. Everyone hurriedly persuaded each other, and the Hong family helped Mrs. Zhang, and the Wang family also pulled Daiyu to wipe her tears, and then held hands and handed them to Mrs. Zhang, saying, "Old lady, this is Miss Lin." The second aunt's only granddaughter, the old lady has been reading for a few months, and she finally saw her today, she should be happy, why can't she stop crying?"

Mrs. Zhang stopped her tears a little, shook Daiyu's hand, and looked at the description carefully, the more she looked at it, the more she felt that it was her sister's appearance when she was a teenager, and she couldn't help but think of the situation in the boudoir back then. I thought that the two of them had married to the capital, and the husbands and sons were both young and handsome, and they were ministers in the same hall, and the two families were very close and kind, and they were all envious among their relatives, friends and colleagues, and it was directly pushed as a good story for a while. Unexpectedly, the court was uncertain, the relatives were separated, and the two families became farther and farther apart, and finally turned against each other, even affecting the two sisters who were close to each other's relatives, one was heartbroken, and the other was not eternal, and it has been 40 years of yin and yang. Now that she has seen her sister's blood and blood left in the world, her voice and smile are vague, but she can't suppress a sense of admiration and affection between her eyebrows and eyes, thinking of her sister's early death, Lin Daiyu has never even seen her grandmother's face, how can she not feel sad? So she shed tears again. It's just that he couldn't bear Daiyu, Hong's, Wang's and others to cry and whimper with him, so he stopped, rubbed his eyes, and said: "When people are old, they are always willful, and they can't control their joy and sorrow. Everyone hurriedly followed the conversation and laughed for a while, so that it could be stopped.

Mrs. Zhang immediately pointed out to Daiyu from everyone in the house: "Your eldest aunt has already met you, this is your second aunt, this is your third aunt." ——Because he glanced at the Hong family next to him, he said: "When your aunt of the Zhang family usually comes, the family does not pay special attention to rankings, if you talk about the order, it is older than them." Lin Yatou is just called casually. Then there is Ding, the wife of his cousin Huang Hao, and his cousins Huang Rong, Huang Li, Huang Qian, Huang Bei, Huang Wei, etc. Daiyu has seen them one by one. Mrs. Zhang asked her to sit next to her and talk. And they all took their seats.

At one point, the maids brought tea. Lin Daiyu looked at it carefully, and saw that there was one first, and the tea tray in his hand only contained three tea bowls with lids with red backgrounds and gold folded branches, and the volume diameter was larger than ordinary tea bowls. Seeing it next to Wang, he hurriedly got up and said, "This is to warm up and dispel dampness, I just came back from the rain, and my sister and Lin Yatou are going to drink a bowl quickly." While speaking, he personally served the Hong family and Daiyu.

Daiyu was just about to get up, but Mrs. Zhang Tai shook her hand and stopped, and said, "Brother Xing's daughter-in-law wait a minute." I hope that my daughter-in-law is not busy drinking. And all the people looked at her. Mrs. Zhang just smiled and said, "Why did you forget it again? This is said to be tea, how many herbs are there, you don't ask your brother-in-law and niece first, and you will give it to people to drink." It's your own family, so it's okay. If a foreigner is a stranger, if there is something taboo, isn't it embarrassing?"

When Wang heard this, he hurriedly stretched out his hand to hit his face, and said, "I should fight, I should fight!" But it's not that I'm confused again? I'm a rough and thick man with no taboos, so I forgot the rules I should have!" Hurriedly apologized to Hong and Daiyu, and said with a smile: "I see that my sister has a good complexion, and Lin Yatou is just more delicate, so I can't think of anything else." Fortunately, the old lady was thoughtful, but she didn't cause trouble, right?"

Hong Shi smiled when he heard this: "Aunt is careful, it's just that I was originally a rough person. It's Lin Yatou, who recently got Mr. Guan's prescription and is using medicine. Although there are no taboos in this tea, it is not suitable to eat water on weekdays, as well as green onions. ”

Mrs. Zhang nodded and instructed outside: "Tell the kitchen, no green onion white is allowed in the kitchen today." In the future, Miss Lin's meals, snacks and so on will also be taboo. Everyone agreed.

Hong and Daiyu drank tea at this time. Mrs. Zhang asked Daiyu in detail what kind of medicine she used and what kind of conditioning she used. Then talked about Lin Ruhai's illness before, how to ask for medical medicine, and how to maintain it now. Mrs. Zhang sighed: "Fortunately, Meng Ke personally diagnosed and treated, otherwise, if there are really three long and two short, wouldn't it make us people break our liver and intestines?" and stroked Daiyu's back and said: "You are so young, you have traveled thousands of miles for your father, and how many days you have been flattering - God has seen it in your eyes, so you are worthy of your filial piety and filial piety." This is the deep bond of your father and daughter, and your grandmother should rejoice in you as she watched from heaven. ”

After saying a few more words, people outside reported that Zhang Wang came in to greet him. Since the Wang family and the rest of the family, they have all avoided the back room. Mrs. Tai ordered her to come in. Zhang Wang went in to meet him, and the aunt and nephew laughed and replied a few words, and Mrs. Zhang smiled and said, "I know that you brothers haven't seen each other for a long time, and they are about to stick." You just have to go to their meetings with them. I'm only holding your daughter-in-law here—along with your Lin family's niece, and you'll follow me for the next few days!"

Zhang Wang hurriedly said: "Since we are at my aunt's house, we naturally have to serve in front of my aunt, which can be regarded as our filial piety as juniors." And with my aunt, food, clothing, and housing must be first-class, so I don't have to worry about it. ”

Mrs. Zhang laughed and said: "The first sentence should be dealt with, and the latter sentence should be sincere, you will become more and more sincere! ”

Zhang Wang also laughed, and after saying a few words, he withdrew. Wang led the people back to their seats. After drinking a cup of tea, there were Zhang Hui and Huang Xiang to salute. Mrs. Zhang said with a smile: "They are all relatives of the family, and they are juniors, so there is no need to be too stubborn." What's more, when Lin Yatou first arrived, the cousins and sisters should have recognized each other, which was the real courtesy. "Let the two of them come into the house as quickly as possible.

However, when Lin Daiyu heard the rumor, she knew that the Huang Xiang who came was the only son of her uncle Huang Xingzhi, and her father Lin Ruhai and cousin Zhang Hui both mentioned that they were smart and knowledgeable, especially in mathematics. On the way here, I listened to the conversation between the Hong family and the Wang family, and knew that this cousin's temper was quite strange and strange, and he was stingy with words, which was different from ordinary people. is the same age as Huang Xiang and Jia Baoyu, but I don't know what kind of characters he is. So I looked carefully, only to see a sound of footsteps, and a young man came in with Zhang Hui, the two of them wore clothes that seemed to be the same, both of them were ivory-colored embroidered dark flower round-necked robes and bean green hollow-patterned belts, and the bottom was half-exposed lotus lotus trouser legs and crow blue inlaid shoes. It's just that Zhang Hui's clothes have always been mainly made of fine cotton, and few ornaments are used; the yellow elephant is covered in silk and satin, and the waist is full of jade pendants, purses, name charms and other things, although the eyebrows are lofty and the steps are light and swift, it shows a graceful and wealthy atmosphere, which corresponds to Zhang Hui's Wenhua and elegance. After the round of salutes, Mrs. Zhang put her arms around Daiyu and said to Huang Xiang: "This is your cousin of Aunt Lin's grandmother's family, why don't you see the ceremony soon?"

The yellow elephant stepped forward as he said, made a casual gesture and stepped aside. When Mrs. Zhang saw him lowering her eyebrows and lowering her eyes, she suddenly felt strange, and hurriedly asked, "Why do you look so unenergetic?" Your sister Lin should be happy when she comes to her house for the first time, why don't you think you're happy?"

Huang Xiang said: "Sister Lin is here for the first time, not to mention that she is still from a distant place like the capital, and there is another relative and sister in the family, my grandmother is happy, and my grandson is naturally happy." And when I went to pick up my uncle's family today, my grandson was happy all the way - my grandmother didn't believe it, so I just asked my cousin. ”

Mrs. Zhang looked at Zhang Hui. Zhang Hui nodded and smiled at the word "yes". Mrs. Zhang couldn't help but be puzzled, and asked him, "Then why is it like this now?

Huang Xiang said with a bitter face: "This is not true. It was only when I entered the house that my grandson remembered that this time it was a sister Lin, not a brother Lin, so I added to the trouble - I originally thought that there are many stone bridges and water gates in the capital since the Tang Dynasty, and the bridge and water gates in our south are completely different in style, material, and method. I just thought that my cousin is a girl, and she won't go out of the house when she is free, so she goes out in a car and sedan car, and she can't wander around like us, and look carefully at the appearance of those buildings......"

Before they could say a word, everyone in the room couldn't help but snort, and the sisters turned their heads to hide their laughter. Even Daiyu, when she first saw the yellow elephant's demeanor, she was actually quite apprehensive in her heart, and her doubts were gone at the moment, and she couldn't help but smile. I didn't want her to laugh like this, but I taught Huang Xiang to be wrong--I was excited, and I caught up with each other step by step, and asked straight one after another: "What? Cousin Lin actually checked it? This couldn't be better! Cousin must tell me carefully! Or, it would be best if I could draw them all!"

Dai Yuwan didn't expect Huang Xiang to be so excited, and he was suddenly frightened, and he was already stunned. Mrs. Zhang next to her hurriedly hugged her and stroked her back, while turning her head and shouting to Huang Xiang: "Death boy, I scared your sister, don't hurry back!" Wang also scolded: "The first time we met, I talked nonsense! Quickly make amends to your sister!" Huang Xiang retreated stupidly. Mrs. Zhang comforted Daiyu again and said: "Your cousin is an idiot, it is rare to see a distant guest, and if you don't watch out, you will go crazy again." Aunt and grandmother will compensate you on his behalf, Lin Yatou must not be like him. Wang and Hong whispered and coaxed, and they all apologized for Huang Xiang.

Lin Daiyu came to her senses at this time, and hurriedly said that she couldn't afford to be an elder, and said that her cousin was also naïve and persistent and studious. On the other hand, the yellow elephant also nodded again and again. Mrs. Zhang smiled at Daiyu and said, "You don't speak for him." He glared at the yellow elephant again and said, "It's rare for your sister to know the etiquette, so she doesn't blame her." How old are you, and you're still reckless all day long, and you're shocked by everything, and you don't have a certain idea at all—your mother just said that the dock was so excited that she almost fell into the river!"

Huang Xiang said vaguely, and said goodbye. Mrs. Zhang knew that his mind was not here for a long time, so she could only sigh and say, "That's it, I just met such an enemy as you." He replied to Zhang: "Hui'er took him with him - you cousin who can't be relied on, I'll hand it over to you." Zhang Hui smiled in response, and took the yellow elephant to salute again, and then went out of the house.

Seeing the two of them go out, everyone in the room couldn't help but joke about the situation again, saying that Huang Xiang was very proficient in miscellaneous studies, but he was too stupid, and he couldn't help but be stupid sometimes. While he was talking, Huang Xing and others passed the word in front, only saying that the weather was bad today, Miss Lin was far away, and she was tired from the journey, so she didn't stick to the etiquette, ran around the front and back yards, and waited for the weather to be better tomorrow to meet the uncle here. Mrs. Zhang praised repeatedly, so that the elders knew what it meant to be sympathetic to the juniors, and asked Daiyu to do what he said. Daiyu hurriedly got up, thanked Mrs. Tai first, and then saluted the Wang, Cui, and Chai families, and asked the three aunts and aunts to apologize for the disrespect.

At one o'clock, dinner time had arrived, and Mrs. Zhang beckoned to the feast. Because Xiang Wang's concubine said: "Today are all relatives of their own family, and there is no need to make rules." There are two seats in the hall, Lin Yatou and the girls will sit with me, and a few of you will accompany your daughter-in-law to take a seat. Hao's daughter-in-law has a body, so she doesn't have to wait, she eats at a separate table next to your mother and son. The maid's daughter-in-law was busy adjusting the seats and setting the seats according to her words. Everyone took their seats and ate their meals. After the meal, the maid chatted for a while, and then the maid brought the tea. After everyone ate for a round, Mrs. Zhang said, "It's not too early, so they all go home." Good girl, you and Lin Yatou both slept with me this time - the east wing in my yard has been cleaned up for you, although it is said that your mother and son live tightly, but next to each other, you should accommodate my wife and son, but don't be too crowded! The ancients said, 'A little don't win a newlywed', and it makes sense. ”

One sentence made Hong laugh: "Auntie said that we are too unbearable." In front of a full house of nieces and nephews, how can there be such a thing?

Mrs. Zhang smiled: "If you don't follow, you won't follow, but you have to arrange it according to my house." ”

Now the crowd dispersed. Mrs. Zhang personally led Hong and Daiyu to their house, took the same furnishings and arrangements, and asked if they were agreeable and what adjustments and changes they made, while instructing Wang to keep an eye on their memories and open the warehouse at any time to pick up the things and objects they wanted. Hong said with a smile: "My aunt really treats us as guests, but there is no such casual one at home!"

In a moment a sturdy servant woman came carrying the box. Wang saw that the box was two feet square and more than one foot thick, and it was not something that the Hong family wanted to exchange, and a maid followed behind him was the big girl Fanlu in his only son Huang Xiang's house, so he couldn't help but ask: "What is this?" Fanlu replied that it was Huang Xiang who ordered it to be sent to Lin Daiyu as an apology for the rude when they met today. When Mrs. Zhang heard this, she was also curious about what it was, so she hurriedly brought Hong and Daiyu over to take a look.

The two servants carried the box to the big round platform in the middle of the house and put it down, opened the lid of the box, and everyone saw that there was a huge purple sand tray among them, on which a farmland and a courtyard and a scene of mountains and rivers and ponds were sculpted: among them, there were paddy fields, dry fields, houses and courtyards, there were horses in the dry land, cattle in the paddy fields, pigs, sheep, chickens, and dogs in the yards, there were stubborn monkeys and squirrels hanging on the treetops, tigers and hares lurking in the grass, and there was a cloud and mist on the mountain beam next to it, and there was a scene of a snake turning into a dragon hidden in the clouds. These animals, as large as horses and cows, are about five or six inches, and small ones are less than two inches like chickens and rabbits. But if you look closely, you will know that those cows, horses, pigs, sheep, dogs, rabbits, etc. can all be taken out separately, and they all have full bellies, open mouths, and have a hole on their bodies - it is actually a set of inkstones of the zodiac. Mrs. Zhang was surprised and said, "How can you turn this out to give someone an apology?" Still, it's fun. "Just ask Fanlu what the yellow elephant said.

I didn't want to smile and said: "Old lady Rongyu, this, in fact, is not bad for the third young master." Today, after the third young master and the young master returned to the room, the young master taught the third young master a lesson and said that only apologizing without apology is not a sincere repentance. The third young master asked what to give as a gift. The young master said that Miss Lin's scholarly beauty is naturally something related to Hanmo, and it must be exquisite, precious, different, and unique, so that it can show the sincerity of the apology. The third young master said that he never paid attention to calligraphy and painting on weekdays, could it be that he could not rob the master's study for this reason? And it should be delicate and valuable, without losing elegance...... Then somehow, I suddenly remembered this, and ordered us to open the warehouse immediately, turn it out and send it here, and ask Miss Lin to accept it. ”

When everyone listened to this article, they imagined that the yellow elephant was taught a lesson by Zhanghui, and the house was all over the house in order to ponder and apologize, and then they had an idea, and immediately assigned someone to rummage through the boxes and cabinets, find this set of inkstones, and send them over excitedly, and they couldn't help laughing for a while. Mrs. Zhang rubbed her eyes with a smile and said, "The intention is good." It's just that he is a childish mess himself, and he also coaxes his cousin as a child, so he specially chose this, is it for the sake of Hanmo and books, or is it really fun?"

Wang was also angry and funny, and only said to Daiyu: "Your cousin is a weird, Miss Lin should indulge him, accept this apology indiscriminately, and send him away—I will send you another day later." ”

Lin Daiyu hurriedly said that she didn't dare to be, and Hong said next to her: "I think I will follow your aunt's words, just accept it with peace of mind." It's always your cousin's sincerity, and it makes us all laugh so happily, and we should be wiped out of the things ahead. ”

When Daiyu saw her say this, she ordered Qinghe and Zijuan to put things away. Everyone briefly recounted it again, and then they went to bed without mentioning it.