The Twelve Flower Dynasty Festival in February is also Daiyu's birthday.

The little girls didn't do anything on their birthdays, relatives and friends gave birthday gifts and noodles, and they just had a table at home. Because of the discussion on the sixth day of the first month, Daiyu has always kept it in mind, and two days in the morning he personally wrote a post and sent people to send it one by one. Lin Qingyun took over the matter of arranging the banquet, and it was not the first time to entertain these girls, just add some things if there were more girls.

Halfway through the hour, several girls from the Zhuang family arrived first, and Daiyu and Qingyun entered the pavilion in the garden for a few days to sit down. There are maids standing inside and outside the pavilion, there are several low tables arranged in the pavilion, there are all kinds of fruits on them, and there are girls fanning the wind stove to make tea, and there are tea sets and other things.

Today's weather is excellent, the spring is bright, the garden is green, and the winter is dull and cold.

Not long after, several girls from the Jia family also arrived, which was surprising, in addition to Sanchun and Baochai of the Jia family, there was also a girl who was born in the face. Lin Qingyun looked carefully, but saw that Yu Daiyu was of the same age, and her appearance was slightly inferior to that of Sanchun, but she was sparse and often smiled in her mouth, and she looked like she was an informal, cheerful and playful person, and she was pretty and dazzling in a big red dress, and she was wearing a small and brilliant golden unicorn on her chest, at first glance, she thought she was today's birthday star.

Lin Qingyun had already guessed in his heart that this person must be Shi Xiangyun.

Sure enough, Daiyu greeted her and introduced her: "Sister Qingyun, you haven't seen this sister, she is my grandmother's maiden niece, Shi Xiangyun, the eldest girl of the Baoling Mansion, is only a few months younger than me." As he spoke, he introduced Lin Qingyun to Xiangyun, and then asked Shi Xiangyun with a smile: "When did you pass?" I didn't know. Originally, they discussed the beginning of the society to compose poems, I thought of you, you must like these lively, but you are inconvenient to go out, afraid that you will not be able to come out of the post and make trouble in a hurry, so I didn't send it, where do you know how clever you are. ”

Xiangyun also went to live in Jia's house before, the two were familiar with each other, Daiyu knew a little about Xiangyun's situation, and knew very well that she couldn't help herself with her uncle and aunt, even if she went to Jia's mansion because of Jia's mother's pity or Baoyu's mention, she went to pick it up, but in other things it was better than the three girls of the Jia family. Although Xiangyun's parents died, her uncle Shi Nai took the title to raise her, and her upbringing was never short, and the days of Houmen's daughter were beyond the reach of Jia Sanchun, not to mention that although she was not free to go out, she has gradually grown older, and Mrs. Baoling Hou often takes her out to socialize.

Xiangyun has always been straightforward and fast-hearted, and he has complained about one or two words of the Hou Mansion in front of Sanchun in the past, but Sanchun is not a stupid person, how can he not hear the meaning of showing off, and he is not very close to Xiangyun because of the wood-like spring. At that time, Daiyu liked Xiangyun very much, thinking that she was just a little girl, nothing, and Xiangyun came to Jiafu to live with Daiyu, and the little sisters were naturally closer than others.

"Sister Lin obviously forgot me, but complained about my coincidence, which shows that she is disgusted with me. It's true that I forgot my sister when I had an older sister. Shi Xiangyun's dissatisfaction was half a joke and half serious, but after complaining, he didn't say it anymore, but looked at Lin Qingyun seriously, stepped forward with a smile and grabbed Lin Qingyun's hand, and asked Daiyu sideways: "Sister Lin is really blessed, she has such a good sister!" I heard the third sister say it a long time ago, and the fourth sister was full of praise, but I couldn't be greedy, and I finally saw it today, and it was really good. It's just that I'm in trouble, you are all surnamed Lin, if I call Sister Lin, do you know who it is? ”

"I haven't seen others make trouble, you love it more seriously, depending on how you shout, our sisters know." Daiyu couldn't help but laugh when she saw her chattering.

Lin Qingyun couldn't help but wonder, this Shi Xiangyun is really such a character, and the whole garden was lively when she came.

Tanchun said with a smile: "As soon as Sister Yun came, she said something about a walnut car, beware of scaring other people's sisters, and where did we find the crazy girl." ”

"I call this true temperament, so I don't twist and hide like you, and it's too boring." Xiangyun retorted dissatisfiedly, and then turned his words back: "Sister Lin has been calling for so many years, and it's not easy to change her words, so I'll follow Sister Lin and call Sister Qingyun." ”

Lin Qingyun smiled lightly: "It's just a title, Miss Shi is the daughter of the Houmen, you don't dislike calling me sister, what do I have to be picky." Miss Shi must be thirsty when she says this, come with me and let the girls pour a bowl of tea to moisten the throat of the big girl, if you have anything to say, let's sit down and say it slowly. ”

Shi Xiangyun clapped his hands and laughed: "Sister Qingyun's voice is a bit like Sister Feng, I like this." ”

Xue Baochai took Xiangyun's hand and smiled as he walked: "It's too late for us to come, and we just have to wait for a few girls who have seen the dealer to talk about it, even if we have more words." It is really inappropriate to let a few girls from the dealer wait. ”

Xiangyun listened and glanced at the pavilion in the distance, nodded and said: "What Sister Bao said is reasonable, then let's go over quickly, there are many people today, and writing poems must be lively." ”

Daiyu led the way, and Lin Qingyun followed Xichun, who was asking her about oil painting. Lin Qingyun withdrew her attention from Shi Xiangyun and Xue Baochai, and saw that Xichun's eyes were bright and thirsty for knowledge, where was the cold and lonely crutch in the original book, she was clearly a cute little girl.

"If Sister Xichun really wants to learn, a set of oil paint is indispensable, and she can't say it skillfully but has never put pen to paper."

Xichun's face darkened: "I really want to learn to paint with Sister Qingyun, and my sister also knows our family, so I won't see my sister." I don't just play with my daily paintings, and the paint at hand is only a few simple things, where can I buy them seriously? Now I want to buy some oil paints, but I have limited money in my hand, and second, it is not easy to buy things. But my sister has bought it, so it's better to tell me where I can buy it, how much money I get, that is, the money in my hand is not enough for the time being, and then I can save it. ”

Lin Qingyun said with a smile: "You call me sister, I will hurt you once, and I will give you a set." ”

"How?" Xichun was shocked for a moment and immediately shook his head: "The so-called merit is not rewarded, where can I get my sister's things for nothing, I can't do it." ”

Not to mention that Xichun is not used to taking people's things for nothing, even if you really take it, you shouldn't take Lin Qingyun. Lin Qingyun is just the righteous daughter of the Lin family in the end, that is, she has monthly money, she seems to have a good life, and she may not have enough money, and Lin Qingyun loves to paint so much, and she naturally consumes a lot of pigments.

Lin Qingyun likes Xichun very much, and Xichun is still a warm and considerate girl now, so she smiled and said to her: "If you are worried that I am not good enough, then you don't have to." My father-in-law's family has a simple population, and there are only two girls, my sister and me, and I have enough to use, and I am not short of things. Come on again......" Lin Qingyun pretended to bow her head mysteriously, and whispered in her ear: "This is only for you, I opened a library building outside, and I have income every month, and I am not short of money." I also know a Western merchant, every time he wants something, he asks his merchant ship to bring it from there, which is convenient and cheap, and I bought several sets of paint utensils for Western paintings, and I have one for you. ”

Xichun was surprised to hear it, if it weren't for the fact that there were others around, he would have asked for details at this time.

Seeing that he had arrived at the pavilion, Lin Qingyun didn't say anything more.

Although the sisters all like to compose poems and have fun, they have not forgotten that today is Daiyu's birthday, and the gifts given by the young sisters are not expensive, or a handkerchief, a painting, a two-color needlework, a book, and so on. Lin Ruhai knew that they had invited a female guest today, and it was their daughter's birthday, so he prepared a small drama early, which was a famous troupe in Beijing. During the banquet, the sisters asked Daiyu to order a play, Daiyu ordered a play, and the sisters humbly gave in and ordered a few more, all of which were exquisite plays.

After changing dishes during the banquet, Xiangyun was the first to shout to compose a poem, Zhuang Shixiang agreed, and everyone drew lots to make rhymes and poems at the banquet. Everyone showed their poetry talents, and after a judgment, it was recognized that Daiyu won the championship, Xue Baochai followed, Zhuang Shiyu ranked third, and the bottom was Xichun. It's just a pity for spring, after all, it's young, and the spring is only above cherishing spring, and the bottom that Lin Qingyun was worried about didn't happen, and he was lucky to be in the middle.

Everyone was happy for a while, and Zhuang Shiyu said that the club would return to the table from mid-March.

Yingchun and the others returned to Jia's mansion and went to Jia's mother's room first.

Jia's mother was crooked on the couch, Baoyu was talking about something with a grievance on her face, and Jia's mother made another promise, which made Baoyu happy. Seeing that Yingchun was back, Jia's mother asked, "Who is the Lin family today?" ”

Xiangyun saluted and sat affectionately under Jia's mother, and replied with a smile: "Sister Lin didn't invite many people, except for a few of us, there are only four girls from the Zhuang family. The girls of the dealer are all good, very good at writing poetry, but the eyes are very raw, I have never seen them, and I have never heard of any dealer. Do our ancestors know? ”

"The dealer has been away from the capital for more than ten years, and there was no you at that time." Mother Jia didn't say anything about this, but when she thought of the estrangement of the Lin family now, she was depressed and helpless.

Xiangyun didn't notice that Jia's mother was abnormal, and his mouth was still happily talking about today's events, how to compose poems, who won the leader, and the next time.

Baoyu regretted more and more that he couldn't go together: "I hate that I couldn't give birth to a daughter's house, otherwise I could go to Sister He Lin's Fangchen and see the demeanor of the girls in the banker." ”

"The second brother is talking nonsense again." Tanchun hurriedly spoke to stop it, afraid that Jia's mother would be unhappy when she heard it.

Mother Jia knew Baoyu's temperament very well, sighed in her heart, but asked Xiangyun in her mouth: "You have also met Yu'er's godsister?" ”

Xiangyun nodded: "Originally, I heard the third sister and the fourth sister praise her, but I was still unconvinced, but I was convinced when I really saw it, I couldn't tell that she was born in the countryside at all, but like a young lady raised by a family, her words and deeds were not at all out of line, and it was interesting to speak generously." ”

Jia Mu sat up slightly straight, her eyes flashing: "Oh? Is it really as good as you say? ”

"The old ancestor still doesn't believe me? When did I lie to my ancestors? Xiangyun said with a grin.

"I know you won't lie, but listening to you say this, I teach my wife to be curious. It's better to wait for a few days when the weather is good, I will make a table and invite these girls to come to our house. You have eaten Lin Yatou's seat, you have to pay it back, and I will also see what Yu'er's godsister looks like. "Mother Jia knows Xiangyun's temperament very well, although she is cheerful and cheerful, loves to laugh and make trouble, but she is not so easy to praise people, even if she was so close to Daiyu at the beginning, she has never praised it like this, so even if today's words have the little girl's careful thoughts in them, it is enough to show that Lin Qingyun is special.

Seeing that the matter of the two jades is no longer possible, but Jia's mother is unwilling to choose a good relationship with gold and jade, and besides, if the Lin family is really alienated from the Jia family, it is also unwilling, and only by being in-laws again can they be close again.

A few days later, Daiyu received a flower-viewing post sent by Tanchun, and another one was for Lin Qingyun, the content was the same, and the two separate ones were just to show solemnity. In addition, the person who came was Tanchun's personal maid servant, in addition to the two posts that he had given to Daiyu Qingyun before, the servant took out four more.

"This is our girl's post inviting the four girls from the dealer's house, because our house has always been in contact with the dealer's family, and it is a female dependent, so it is not good to come to the door rashly, so please Miss Lin bother to forward."

Daiyu glanced at the post and nodded: "I know everything, you go back to your girl, I and Sister Qingyun must go, but the dealer has to send the post first." ”

"This is natural, the dealer's girls have to be free to go, and our girls are waiting for the banker's girls' reply." The waiter finished the post and left.

Daiyu immediately sent someone to send the post to the banker's house, and the banker's girls said that the day could not be empty and could not pass, and sent a few things to the Jia family to talk to a few girls to apologize, and asked Daiyu to bring it over at that time. After reading it, Daiyu couldn't help but sigh: "What's the matter?" ”

Lin Qingyun glanced at her and deliberately asked her, "Why do you think the girls of the Zhuang family don't go to Jia's house?" ”

Daiyu was stunned at first, and then seemed to think of something, frowned and said: "Although the Jia family is not as good as when the old Guogong was there, after all, it is still the Guogong Mansion, not to mention that there are many protégés, the Zhuang family has just returned to Beijing, and has experienced the case of the abolition of the prince's rebellion, so they are always vigilant, and they dare not have more dealings with people like Rongguofu." ”

Lin Qingyun acquiesced to her words.

Of course, Lin Qingyun felt that there was another reason why the Zhuang family did not go to the Jia family, but I was afraid that because the Jia family's reputation outside the country was not very good, a scholar like the Zhuang family was naturally unaccustomed to it, and of course it was better to have less contact. Daiyu may not be unaware of this, just because Jiafu is her grandfather's family after all, and she subconsciously doesn't want to think so.

The date of the banquet in the spring exploration post is February 20, the weather is not beautiful, it is drizzling, and the temperature drops suddenly. Lin Qingyun was in good health, but she was only worried that Daiyu would catch a cold, and when she got up in the morning, she saw that her face was as usual and her food was the same, so she packed up and took the car to Jiafu with her.