Mama Wang received a summons asking her to go to Aunt Qian's house. She saw that the banquet here was similar, so she said goodbye to the master's house, but did not immediately go to the courtyard over there, but walked back to her house first, took a big bag wrapped in brocade from the box, and asked a little girl to hug and follow, before going to Aunt Qian's side.

This Aunt Qian and Aunt Chen live in Tuying Courtyard, which is a small courtyard behind the main house Tonghua Courtyard. As soon as Mama Wang arrived at the door, she saw a big girl in a lake-colored crepe skirt standing on the threshold talking to a little girl who had just kept her head, and when she raised her eyes and saw her coming, she greeted her with a smile and said, "Grandma Wang is here." Hurry inside please. My aunt is waiting. ”

Mama Wang saw that she was familiar, but she couldn't remember it for a while. The maid was clever, observed her words, guessed her thoughts at the moment, and said: "My aunt changed her name to 'Qingju' a few years ago, and Grandma Wang just called me 'Ah Qiu'." ”

Mama Wang smiled: "It turned out to be you little girl." I still remember rubbing under the kitchen door to ask for candy to eat, and if I didn't give it, I cried until my face was full of tears and snot. I didn't expect that I was so outstanding today, and I didn't dare to recognize it even if I was dressed like this. I followed Aunt Qian to the east room where Aunt Qian lived, and saw Aunt Qian sitting on a wisteria couch under the window doing needlework. Seeing the little girl holding something behind Mama Wang, the smile on her face deepened, and she only said: "Come and come, why do you still bring these?" Take it back. ”

Mama Wang gave a salute first, and then said with a smile: "Auntie, don't be busy pushing it out, you have to let someone tell you the origin of the things." You must know that there are several people's minds here, and I was entrusted with this teleportation hand by the way. As he spoke, he let the girl open the burden on the desk.

Aunt Qian listened to her words and hurriedly stepped forward to take a closer look: so the first thing was a pair of red gold hairpins sent by Jia Zhengzhi's aunt Zhou, a pair of bat earrings made of colorful glass beads, and a string of miswoven coral agate ivory hand beads, wrapped in a handkerchief embroidered with four persimmons and double happiness on the bottom of the cocoon. Aunt Qian sighed: "It's really my sister Zhou, she still remembers me all these years." Asked, "Sister Zhou is okay in that house, but what do you have to say?"

Mama Wang said: "Aunt Zhou reciting scriptures and worshiping the Buddha every day, is to go to the flower room to serve some flowers and plants, and then to do some needlework in the old lady's room, but also leisurely and healthy." ”

Aunt Qian smiled and said, "She used to be the quietest. Then he took another piece of pine flower embroidered butterfly and hundred flowers, which was wrapped with two pairs of red gold twisted silk bracelets and two pearl-inlaid gold silk butterfly chun, and said: "This must be the sister of the Zhao family." Regardless of the side, she is the only one who prefers these fresh and bright colors. Mama Wang smiled and said "yes". Aunt Qian continued: "It's a pity that she is also the most blessed. is young, looks good, has bright handicrafts, and has a mother and brother at home, which is ten points better than others. But it is rare that the children are deeply related, and the sons and daughters born have all stopped, and this one alone has all the decency, and I don't know how many people in the world envy it. ”

Mama Wang hurriedly said: "Auntie envy everything else." Isn't my aunt's family full of mothers and sons, and my brothers are powerful? How many things have been brought this time, why don't you take a look at it?"

When Aunt Qian heard this, she quickly put away her sadness and looked at the things in the baggage. But it was a set of spring and autumn clothes made by her mother, sister-in-law, and niece, two pairs of embroidered shoes, six handkerchiefs, six purses, twelve five-color strings, and twelve black threads wrapped with gold and silver threads; and her father and brother gave her a silver mirror with inlaid treasure chisels, a silver comb, four pairs of pearl-inlaid bracelets, and two pearl hairpins; and finally a big red pressed gold thread rice grain bead gourd purse, which contained "plum orchid bamboo chrysanthemum", "dark eight immortals", "zodiac" of various colors of delicate bills, some gold and some silver, each of which was about eight points, there were always twenty or thirty. Aunt Qian burst into tears when she saw it, and said, "My family still thinks of me like this, and it won't be in vain for me to die here immediately." ”

Mama Wang hurriedly shouted: "Auntie, silence! This is not something easy to say!"

Aunt Qian didn't care, she didn't wipe her tears, she just hugged her parents and family and bowed down to her. Panicked, Mama Wang quickly helped her up, persuaded her a lot, and then sat down on the couch again. Mama Wang gave her the things she had prepared, which were eight striped agate rings and two gold rings inlaid with red and green treasures: "It's nothing good, just a little heart, and my aunt accepts it." ”

Aunt Qian hurriedly said, "I can't help it." How can I accept Sister Wang's gift?"

Mama Wang said: "Auntie, don't be polite. This is actually to thank your mother and brother. It is said that 'a thousand days at home is good, but it is difficult to go out for a while', these years I have followed our girl in the capital, although it is my grandmother's house, after all, it is not more comfortable than when I lived. And my aunt also knows that there are many shallow people in the Rongguo Mansion, who can only fool in front of the master, regardless of whether the expenses are good or not. I still remember when I first went, because of the two people who were Xue Yan and I, although we couldn't say that we were cheating, there were many things that went wrong in our daily lives. Later, with the help of rich brothers, there were some passing turnovers inside and outside, and we were comfortable living in it, and the girl also read it. I just did my best to do my best with this idea, and my aunt accepted it on behalf of Uncle Qian, Mother Qian and Brother Qian, and I will have to work hard again in the future. ”

When Aunt Qian saw this, she didn't shirk it, and asked Qingju to pour good tea again, reorganize the fruit plate and snacks for Mama Wang to eat, and asked Qingju to take the little girl out to eat the fruit. After all the orders were completed, the two people in the house talked about the people in the capital in detail. Aunt Qian said: "Since I came here, except for two or three letters a year, I don't have much to say to my family. Sister Wang said that relying on my decency, in fact, where can I take care of it. On the contrary, because the girl is there, she has a lot of daily correspondence with the master, and she teaches us to bring more words and things with us. Although we are not allowed to meet, we can feel at ease with these exchanges. ”

Mama Wang said: "My aunt's family also said the same. Although we can't see each other every day, there are many exchanges between the two places. And the family is an old servant, and they are decent in the house over there. Now my aunt is good, and she is also careful about her errands, and she has nothing to say at home, but she is more passable than other people's families. ”

Aunt Qian nodded and sighed: "Why not? Although I was given up as a woman, I have to go out sooner or later, and I can't stay at home." I think that now my father, mother, brother and sister-in-law are all in one place, and the relatives are reunited, how is Yuanfang and Qingcui, who also followed the first wife back then? Yuanfang is okay, because she is the only one in her family, and the wife simply accompanies her mother and Laozi to come over with her, but within two years, her Laozi will be sick and gone, orphans and widows, and rely on his wife to take care of his work, but he still has a mutual dependence. Qingcui was pitiful, her mother was seriously ill that year, and Mrs. originally planned to let her go home, but before she could say that the eldest girl was sick, and then Mrs. herself was sick. One came and went, not to mention going home to see the last one, and even the last delivery was not delivered. Every time I think about it, my family is fine, and I feel better than others. ”

Mama Wang said: "Auntie can be so relieved, which is also a blessing for my aunt." The family over there also let the words, please aunt must take care of herself, be more considerate of herself in everything, if you can have someone at home who can help, feel free to call to bring a word. ”

Aunt Qian laughed when she heard this, and said, "This is what my brother can say." Call for a word at any time, and even my wife can't. And I'm an aunt, so what's the big deal to work on my family? As long as my lord is well, I'll be fine with everything. Don't be like this again, I'm not smart, and I can't take charge of things, when it comes to a slightly bigger battle, not to mention sharing the worries of the master, what a little big thing will be messed up first, and finally I have to ask the master to worry about it, and let the young master help with the cooking. But it's fine now. Our eldest girl is also here, and there is a backbone in the inner house, and it is finally justified to take over this stall. ”

Mama Wang was taken aback when she heard this, and hurriedly asked, "Auntie, what did you say? And why is my aunt not justifiable? My aunt has also given birth to children for the Lin family, and she is a person who has made meritorious contributions. I have been following the wife of the pioneer all the time, who did the wife rely on in charge of the housekeeper back then, and who in the family had no eyes and couldn't even see this?"

Aunt Qian sighed and said, "Sister Wang used words to lenien me again. Now what are you talking about having children and raising daughters, I just don't have that blessing, I didn't keep it in the end, otherwise the eldest girl will also have a brother to rely on. Besides, my original roots are like this, who can not know the girl who marries. This Lin family, since the old lady Zhang Taijun was there, had a rule, not to accept the second room, not to carry the side room. It's an extra grace for my wife to raise me to be a serious aunt, can I still not know who I am? Sister Wang said that the girl is young, but she should discuss marriage in a year or two, so she is not in a hurry, and she will stay at home for a few more years, and these things will be handled sooner or later. When my wife was not out of the cabinet, I followed the old lady and her two sisters-in-law since I was ten years old, and I saw how the family was going on every day. ”

When Mama Wang heard this, she hesitated. He only said: "But after all, it is not her own home, and the girl is young, how can these bits and pieces of troublesome things be on the premise of her?" At most, Grandma Feng is good friends with the girl, and from time to time she has something to ask, but it is just some small objects in the boudoir, or some exquisite calligraphy, painting and antiques, which can only be learned with the help of the girl's age and vision. Who would dare to come to Miss Fei's spirit for the trivial matters on the side? So I am afraid that this thing that my aunt said is still impossible. The things in this inner house, I still have to count on my aunt as usual. ”

Aunt Qian smiled: "I just said it, I'm stupid, I don't have any talent, where can you count on me." But I listened to Sister Wang's words, but she taught me to rest assured - how old is our girl, and the housekeeper and grandmother over there have to rely on her vision to learn? These things are all understandable, and there is no reason to understand this and that. In the end, it was raised by his wife, smart and clever, even if the girl is younger now, she can top a hundred or ten of us. ”

While the two were talking, they saw Qingju coming from outside, followed by a ten-year-old girl, but it was with Wu Yuan's family. came over to salute Aunt Qian, and said, "Aunt Wu called me to come, saying that the wine menu of our Xie Jia family has been drawn up, please go back and take a look." ”

Aunt Qian listened, and hurriedly got up and said to Mama Wang: "This is the right matter, Sister Wang, go quickly, I won't leave you in vain." ”

Mama Wang said goodbye and took the two little girls out. On the way, I went to the west room where Aunt Chen lived, and Aunt Chen was not in the house, so she only put down a gift for her first, and then went back without mentioning it.

Here, Qingju packed up the tea and food, and came over to see Aunt Qian only crooked on the couch, so she said, "If Aunt is tired, it is better to rest in a serious bed." It's so unpleasant to be so crooked. If you accidentally fall asleep for a while, you should shout about neck pain later. ”

Aunt Qian chirped: "Just talk to you." Which eye saw me and fell asleep? I was thinking about things, but you yelled at me and forgot about it. ”

Qingju smiled: "If you can really forget, it doesn't matter much." Anyway, my aunt said everything. In the past, I also listened to the discussion in the family, saying that Mama Wang is the most smart and must be able to know her aunt's heart. It's better for my aunt to go to bed first, and I'll clean up here. ”

Aunt Qian glared at her again, and sure enough, she got up and rested inside. I don't have much to say.

But she said that Mama Wang left the Tuying Courtyard and went home to discuss with her cousin-in-law Wu Yuan's family to thank the Jia family. I first looked at the dishes once, added or subtracted a few things according to the taste, and then set the list of seats, and then the time for the banquet -- fortunately, now the two masters of the Lin family are still recuperating from illness, and the other is young and frail, and they both rest early at night; Guan Mengke and Zhang Hui both have a fixed schedule and rest, and rarely call people casually, so the family functions are easy to assign, and the internal and external stewards with heads and faces can be arranged. As for the Jia family to be invited, just because Jia Lian is difficult to come out of Beijing, except for Xing'er, who is closely following, no one is allowed to stare around, and the bottom is also happy. So I agreed to set up the wine the night after tomorrow, and here Wu Yuan's family invited their mother-in-law Wu Mama to follow up and take a breath, and there was Mama Wang to Songfeng Garden to make a post. After all the work was done, Wu Yuan's family smiled and said: "Even if this period is over, there are results." Old girl is tired today, is she coming down from the Tuei Courtyard first?"

Mama Wang said: "Exactly." "Just tell her what I said to Aunt Qian. When the Wu Yuan family heard that Lin Daiyu was asked to take over the housekeeper's idea, they sneered on their faces: "Where did this faint talk come from? When my wife was here, she was just serving tea and pouring water on the side; after my wife went, she was blindly sick and crooked, and she didn't care about anything -- in the more than ten years she has been in this mansion, which day has she been the master of the inner courtyard? And is she blind, or where did she meet, yesterday the family from the steward to the subordinates, not one of them landed in Tonghua Courtyard to salute, should it be all unprecedented? Who is the girl, and who is the person who serves at home? All of them are taught and led by the old lady and the wife, who dares to take a wrong step to abide by the rules?"

Seeing that she was angry, Mama Wang hurriedly said, "Sister-in-law, don't be angry, this may be something wrong with what I said." Aunt Qian shouldn't mean that. must just care about the girl and think about her future. Although some have crossed the line, there is one thing to say, there is no legitimate elder master in the inner courtyard here, so he has to call the girl to preside over the fall, and this identity and reputation are more or less at a loss, so I can really take it, or it can be better. ”

When the Wu Yuan family heard this, they sighed and said, "You are also the girl's nurse, and the blood in your body has turned into milk, and you have raised the girl to grow up." Your worries, who can say that you are not really sincere? It's just that old girl, Aunt Qian is not easy to say about this matter, and you are also difficult to say. Even me, even our mother, is not good at talking. After all, there is a master at home. The master only has one big girl, who doesn't feel sorry for her? This is the case when the eldest girl was sent to the capital first, but now that you are at home, don't you know that there are any joints in it? You only look at it for the past two days, and when the girl rests, settles, and relaxes, and when the old man's body improves again, there must be a saying. I don't have to pay attention to my aunt's nonsense. ”

When Mama Wang heard this, she smiled and said, "I am also relieved to have my sister-in-law's words." He leaned in and whispered, "How many times have you heard the young master of the Zhang family, did the old master really ask the young master to help take care of the affairs of the inner house?"

Wu Yuan's family looked at her carefully, and said with a smile: "What is there, who can say now." I only think that this young master is the best. is also the old lady's maiden nephew, just this, closer than others. Don't worry, he's in our house now, and for the sake of the master, the girl has to thank him. If you take advantage of the opportunity to go to him two more times, you will know what kind of offspring he is. When he thought of something, he called a little girl over and said, "You go to the door and ask, but now the young master is here?" Today, the kitchen made two new porridge dishes, which Mr. Guan planned for the master of several places in the family to recuperate. I remember that the young master has to eat it while it is hot, you asked the hour, go and tell the kitchen Wang Shujia, don't delay. ”

Mama Wang listened to her instructions carefully, and smiled beside her. Wu Yuan's family also smiled and said: "Now that my mother is getting older, I am afraid that some things will be forgotten if I am not careful, so I am told to pay more attention, even if I say more, I can't miss the master's affairs." He also said, "I heard that the nephew and young master of the Zhang family invited his uncle's cousin." That Uncle Hong's family is in the medicinal herb business, and this time he helped get a lot of important medicinal materials. The Hong family of this family is also a prominent family on the ground in Yangzhou, and several masters of his family have good relations with our masters. Last time Uncle Hong came, he looked at the kindness and charity of the dough dough, and he was also generous. It's just that I came to invite my nephew and young master in a hurry last year, but I don't know what the matter is, and I hope it's okay not to be troublesome. ”

While she was talking, the little girl who went ran back and said, "The brothers on the door said that Xiao Zhang Xianggong sent someone to help the Hong family uncle look at the land and buy the house, and he may not be able to come home tonight." When the old man heard about it, he asked Steward Shen to take the name post, and asked Master Sun to rush over to accompany him in person, and they had already gone out. ”

When the two of them heard this, they were also a little curious about each other. Mama Wang said: "This is somewhat interesting. But the master also really values the young master. ”

Wu Yuan's family smiled: "You have only been here for two days, and after a long time, you know that such things are normal." "Look at the sky is not early, Mama Wang should also go back to Tonghua Courtyard, although you don't have to wait much, it is also a serious rule to go to Daiyu. So he didn't stay in vain, took her by the hand and sent her out.

So it's supper time. Lin Daiyu naturally went to the Lin Ruhai place in Boyue Hall, and Mama Wang and the others also followed. Guan Mengke is here, but Zhang Hui hasn't returned yet, and he has also sent someone to tell him. However, Jia Lian did not come, and only said that he went out to cook some affairs. The crowd didn't ask much, and after eating, drinking tea, they talked for a while and then dispersed.

It's just that when the twilight is heavy in the middle of the night, there is a sudden commotion in the Songfeng Garden. What is the fuss for, what will happen next, and see the next breakdown.