As soon as a glimmer of light appeared in the sky, the maids in the mansion of Zhang Shilang of the Ministry of Officials were busy shuttling in the inner courtyard. A well-dressed big maid with a few young maids, holding a copper basin, a handkerchief, green salt, mouthwash, a spittoon, a whisk and other things was waiting quietly outside the door.

The big maid's name is Bi'er, and she is one of Mrs. Zhang's personal maids. When she heard the sound of Suo Suo coming from inside the house, she immediately gently pushed the door open and walked in.

An eerie chill came over her face, making her shiver slightly, and she felt that the hairs on her body seemed to stand on end. I saw that the copper basin in the house, which used to contain a large piece of ice, had now turned into a large puddle of sewage.

The air inside was a little muddy, and she neatly opened the screens on both sides of the room, letting in the fresh air mixed with dew and vegetal scent outside. A slightly muffled voice came from the bed with the silk veil tent: "Bi'er, what time is it?" ”

Bi'er replied respectfully: "Back to the old man's words, it's just the hour." ”

"Let's collapse!" The little maids who were waiting outside immediately rushed in with toiletries.

Bi'er stepped forward and lifted the thin and soft silk veil tent, revealing Zhang Shilang's pure face with three strands of green beard. Zhang Shilang's appearance is excellent, although he is old, he still reveals the unique elegance of a scholar. It's just that the deep Sichuan-shaped wrinkle in the center of his eyebrows shows that he is a person who likes to frown.

Sure enough, Zhang Shilang changed into a supplementary suit with the help of Bi'er, and after washing up, he habitually frowned and asked, "Has the son collapsed?" ”

Bi'er shuddered, raised her eyes and quietly looked at the stepping bed. On the bed, he wore a lotus-colored light gauze bedgown. Mrs. Zhang, who faintly revealed her greasy white skin and squinted her eyes and pretended to sleep, said lazily: "What are you looking for him again?" His leg injury is not healed. I must still be asleep at this hour. ”

Zhang Shilang's face sank, he dropped the handkerchief in his hand, and said unhappily: "Such a small wound, it's been more than a month, why hasn't it been a good one?" Does he still want to do the errand of Taifu Temple? ”

Mrs. Zhang opened her beautiful eyes, glanced at him with a sparkling look, and said coquettishly unhurriedly: "If you want to do it, you have to be neat." I saw him walk a little uncomfortably yesterday. What's more, Imperial Doctor Li also said that although his wound was small, it really hurt the meridians, and he needed to recuperate well. Otherwise, it is easy to fall into the root of the disease. ”

In the end, it was the only son, and Zhang Shilang's attitude immediately softened. He only muttered, "What a loving mother and many failures." Then he flicked his sleeves and strode out.

Mrs. Zhang hurriedly instructed Bi'er: "Go, let the little maid bring the beef tongue cake and red date cake that I ordered the kitchen to prepare yesterday." Brew another pot of finch tongue. But don't let the old man go hungry and thirsty. "Because the palace has to be ordered at the time of the day, and the morning court begins at the time of the hour, so the breakfast Zhang Shilang is usually settled in the carriage.

"Yes." After Bi'er obediently agreed, she went out to convey her instructions.

When I returned to the house, I saw Mrs. Zhang close her eyes again. Bi'er hurriedly asked quietly, "Madam, do you want to sleep for a while?" ”

Mrs. Zhang didn't open her eyes, but only asked, "Is the cheap girl here?" ”

Bi'er hurriedly replied, "Here we are." Here I am, and now I'm copying scriptures in the Buddhist hall! Aunt Shen also came. Waiting outside, waiting to listen to the lady's orders. ”

"Well, today I want to eat that tender water chestnut, and ask her to peel some with her own hands." With that, she rolled over, closed her eyes again, and said no more. After Bi'er received the order, she gently retreated with the little maids.

Bi'er walked out of the wing, and sure enough, she saw Aunt Shen wearing a light blue cloth skirt and a mutton fat white jade acacia hairpin from a distance, standing honestly under the eaves waiting for the dispatch, and there was a bamboo basket covered with cloth beside her.

Aunt Shen was the personal maid of the former wife, because the former lady only gave birth to a daughter-in-law, so she raised her as an aunt, wanting her to give birth to a brother to compete with the current wife, who was also an aunt at the time.

Her belly was angry, and she became pregnant soon after being carried by her aunt, and was taken to her by her former wife to take care of her personally, and ten months later, she gave birth to a white and chubby brother.

At that time, she was beautiful, but unfortunately the good times did not last long, when this brother grew up to two years old, his wife contracted a stubborn disease and gradually became bedridden, and neglected to take care of his brother. Once, when my brother was playing in the back garden with a nurse and a maid, he accidentally fell into a lotus pond and drowned.

Although she later got another young lady, it is a pity that the previous wife has died, and other aunts have been admitted to the house one after another, so she gradually fell silent. It was the original Aunt Wang, because she gave birth to her eldest son, and she was used to currying favor in front of the master. After controlling the Shilang Mansion for many years, she was finally corrected a few months ago and officially became Mrs. Zhang. And Aunt Shen, who was delicate and touching back then, turned white and looked like an old woman.

Bi'er drank away the little maids and walked to Aunt Shen by herself. Aunt Shen hurriedly accompanied the smiling face and said, "Miss Bi'er, what do you have to tell Madame?" ”

Bi'er took out a piece of juanpa, pressed the slightly sweaty forehead, and said, "Madame wants to eat that water chestnut today, and ask my aunt to peel some of it with her own hands." ”

Aunt Shen was stunned, although the current water chestnut is tender, if you peel it with your bare hands, it will hurt your nails. Aunt Shen wrung her fingers vigorously, she peeked at the side room where the door was tightly closed, and then groped for a plain silver hairpin from her sleeve pocket and quietly stuffed it into Bi'er's hand, and said flatteringly: "I'll peel the water chestnut later, but there is something I want to trouble Miss Bi'er." ”

Bi'er retracted her hand and refused to take her plain silver hairpin, only glanced at her obliquely, and asked lightly: "I'm a maid, what can I help my aunt?" Don't embarrass me. ”

Aunt Shen's originally reluctant smile dimmed instantly.

Bi'er secretly smiled coldly, and said slowly: "But it's convenient for others, and it's convenient for yourself." Auntie and tell me what it is, Bi'er listened to it, and only then did she know if she could do her best. ”

Aunt Shen's eyes lit up, she hurriedly stepped forward, and said in a low voice: "Don't dare to embarrass Miss Bi'er." It's just that recently, my mother's brother got two packs of Poria cocos cream and sent it to me, and I heard that this thing is the most nourishing thing to drink with milk. I thought that the girl had worked hard to serve her day and night. I'll give a pack to the girl to taste. There is a bag left, and I ask the girl to bring it to the third lady for me. ”

Bi'er smiled: "What kind of good thing is my Dao, it turned out to be Poria cream." A few days ago, my wife rewarded me with a big bag, and I'm tired of eating these days. ”

Aunt Shen heard this. My heart couldn't help but be cold. Bi'er smiled again: "Although the third lady crawled out of her aunt's belly, she is now raised in front of her wife." Learning the rules every day and copying scriptures, although it is a little harder, but it is also so that she can find a good in-law in the future. The aunt wouldn't think that the lady treated the third lady lightly, right? ”

Aunt Shen said weakly: "I don't dare to have this idea"

Bi'er rolled her eyes and continued, "That's it, that's it." Look at you, too, a mother's heart. Even if you fight to scold your wife, I'll help you send Poria Frost in! ”

Aunt Shen originally thought that there was no hope, but she couldn't help but be overjoyed when she heard this. After thanking her hurriedly, she put the heavy bamboo basket in front of Bi'er. After thinking about it, she took out the plain silver hairpin again. Bi'er glanced at it and said sarcastically, "Auntie, don't be like this." Mrs. Qian'er rewarded me with a red gold hairpin, but I haven't worn it yet! Who has the kung fu to wear this. ”

Aunt Shen was stuck. She secretly gritted her teeth, pulled out the only valuable mutton fat white jade acacia hairpin on her head, and reluctantly groped for a while before handing it to Bi'er.

She forced a smile and said, "This hairpin was still rewarded by my lord when I was pregnant with my brother." Now I'm old, and it's a waste to wear it again. But Miss Bi'er is young and delicate, and she is just right to wear. I'll give it to the girl. ”

This time, Bi'er's face had a sincere smile, and she pretended to excuse herself. She took the hairpin and happily stuck it in her crow's bun.

"Is it pretty?" She also asked with interest.

Aunt Shen praised her with a smile. Bi'er smiled and lifted the basket containing Poria cocos cream, and said, "Auntie, don't worry, I'll send this Poria cocos cream to the third lady." After speaking, she twisted her slender waist, walked around the wing room gracefully, and walked to the small Buddha hall at the back.

At the moment of turning the corner, she turned around and smiled and waved her hand to Aunt Shen, who was still standing there and watching. Aunt Shen saw her enter the small Buddha hall at the back, so she went to the kitchen to peel water chestnuts with satisfaction.

Bi'er walked lightly to the outside of the small Buddha hall, and she looked inside through the gap in the window. I saw the third lady, who was wearing a delicate light green soft smoke skirt embroidered with lotus flowers, combing a neat lily bun, and wearing a complete set of pearl heads, kneeling in front of the Buddha Hall, holding a wolf pen with a white jade rod, carefully copying the scriptures that could never be copied.

The doors and windows of the small Buddha hall are tightly closed, and there are two arm-thick candles and a large handful of incense sticks burning inside, so the temperature is very high. Bi'er could clearly see large beads of sweat rolling down the third lady's forehead. Even the underskirt on her body was soaked with sweat, and it looked like it had just been fished out of the water.

The third lady's body was already shaking, and her beautiful little face was also sallow, but she was still gritting her teeth and insisting.

Bi'er sighed slightly, she didn't enter the small Buddha hall with the basket, but turned around and walked straight out. When she returned to her room, she put down the basket, reached out and picked up the teapot and poured herself a cup of tea, and drank it all in one go, and then breathed a sigh of relief.

Zhu'er, the maid who shared the room with her, asked with a smile: "Early in the morning, what good things are you carrying around?" ”

Bi'er lifted the cloth covering the bamboo basket, revealing the two oiled paper bags below, and then said with a smile: "It's Poria cream, I heard that this thing is the most nourishing to drink with milk." I've already asked the little maid to fetch two bowls of milk, and we'll make some to drink later." ”

"Poria cream?" Zhu Er suddenly became interested, she also stepped forward, opened one of the oil paper bags, looked at the white and delicate powder inside, and couldn't help but say in admiration: "Good things are good things, I feel comfortable when I look at them." ”

Bi'er smiled proudly: "When you drink it into your stomach, you can call it really comfortable." ”

"Then I'll thank you first." Zhu Er smiled and sealed the oil paper as it was. As soon as she looked up, she suddenly saw the mutton fat white jade acacia hairpin on Bi'er's head. Zhu Er frowned slightly, and said, "Bi'er, why do I see that the hairpin on your head is a little familiar, it seems to be worn on the head of an aunt in the house?" ”

Bi'er said indifferently: "It's Aunt Shen's, she gave it to me earlier." ”

"Got it for you?" Zhu Er scanned the two packets of Poria cream in front of her suspiciously, and asked, "Could it be that these were also given by Aunt Shen?" ”

Bi'er said a little awkwardly: "Yes, these are also sent by her." ”

Zhu Er became more and more puzzled: "It's so decent, why did Aunt Shen give you hairpins and Poria cream?" ”

Bi'er stiffened her neck and forcibly defended: "She wants me to help her say a few kind words in front of her wife, so she gave me these, can't she?"

Zhu Er looked at her quietly for a while, until Bi'er's face turned red, and she sighed: "It's true that I want to give this hairpin to you, but this Poria cream is what my aunt wants to make up for the third lady." ”

Bi'er suddenly took the cloth and covered the two packets of Poria cream, and said angrily: "If someone has a good thing, they will share it with you, but you still come to teach me a lesson." Originally, Mrs. hated the third lady for harming her son-in-law and being beaten outside, so she was detained in front of her and punished. Do you want me to really go against my wife's wishes for this hairpin, and I can't accept it privately with my aunt? ”

Zhu Er sighed and said, "In the end, we are slaves, and no matter how bad Aunt Shen's third lady is, she is also half a master, so why should we step on it again." You should keep this Poria cream for yourself and eat it, I can't eat it. I'll go get the bath water for my wife. She slammed the curtain and walked out.

"If you don't eat and pull down, it's not enough for me to drink alone?" Bi'er was angry, pulled out the hairpin on her head, and threw it into the jewelry box.

After a while, a little girl walked in with a smile on her face with a mahogany tray. She took out two cups of white milk and put them on the table, and said flatteringly: "Sister Bi'er, I brought you milk." ”

"Well, put it down!" Bi'er was still a little sullen. The little maid quietly stuck out her tongue, and after putting the milk away, she picked up the tray and was about to leave, when Bi'er suddenly asked, "Wait, what is that bowl?" ”

The little maid looked at the bowl of thin porridge left in the tray that was so thin that she could see the human figure, and said suspiciously, "Is this the third lady's breakfast?"

Bi'er bit her lip and ordered: "Okay, put it down, I'll go to the small Buddha hall to get the scriptures copied by the third lady and incinerate them in front of the Buddha." I'll take this breakfast later! ”

"Thank you, Sister Bi'er." The small Buddha hall was like a furnace, and no one wanted to suffer from it. The little maid just couldn't ask for it, so she hurriedly put down the tray, lifted the bamboo curtain and ran out.

Bi'er reluctantly scolded secretly, "Little hoof." She hesitated for a long time, and finally picked up the bowl of gruel, poured half a bowl of rice soup as clear as water, and then mixed a cup of milk and two spoonfuls of Poria cream into it. After stirring well, she said secretly: "Aunt Shen, that's all I can do, and I can be regarded as worthy of your hairpin." (To be continued......)