Li Mansion is particularly lively today, the crackling of firecrackers, less than two months before the New Year, this firecracker is as lively as the Chinese New Year's Eve.

I heard that it was the third lady of the Li family who returned home, but I didn't know which daughter of the Li family thought was going to marry again. There were many people around the gate of the Li Mansion, most of them came to see this legendary Miss Li San.

As soon as the sedan chair arrived at the door of the house, the family man greeted him, and the mother-in-law carefully helped the third lady in the sedan chair down, and the people around the lively people were slightly disappointed, and thought that it was a person wearing a gorgeous costume and a beautiful fairy-like figure, but he didn't expect it to be a country girl wearing coarse cloth clothes and not even a jewelry on her body, and she didn't have the appearance of a rich lady.

A mother-in-law carrying a basket muttered: "It looks good, but it's a pity that it's not the life of the young lady." ”

A woman holding a doll next to her pushed her with her elbow and asked in a low voice, "Sister-in-law Liu, you are well-informed, but you can tell me what the origin of this third lady is." ”

Sister-in-law Liu raised her head proudly, covered her mouth with a smile and whispered in the woman's ear: "I heard that the third master of the Li family was born with a maid, and there was nothing about it, how do you know that this Li Sanye has moved his true feelings, so he has to give someone a name, and for this reason, he also pushed the family affairs of Director Hu's family, Master Hu, you know?" ”

As soon as she asked, the woman holding the child was stunned for a moment, she didn't know a few big characters as a country woman, how could she know where Master Hu was, but she didn't want to be seen through by Sister-in-law Liu and nodded: "I know, I know!" ”

Sister-in-law Liu continued: "That's the powerful lord, offended Master Hu and repaid it, I heard that Master Li fed the woman medicine in a fit of anger, how did I know that she had a big life and didn't die, I heard that later, Li Sanye eloped with that woman." ”

"And then?"

"I don't know what happened later, I only know that this Li Laosan died not long ago, and Mrs. Li also died violently one after another, and now it is the eldest son of the Li family who is in charge, and the Li family doesn't know what kindness they have sent to take this orphan back. I heard that...".

She lowered her voice again: "Li Sanye was killed by someone, and his head was chopped off." The woman holding the baby screamed in fright after hearing this. Sister-in-law Liu was taken aback by her startled appearance, immediately covered her mouth, and said sharply: "What are you calling blindly, be careful of being looked at!" After such a fuss, she lost interest and pulled the woman away quickly.

At this time, a dignified woman came out of the house, wearing a small leather jacket with gold thread trim and a pleated skirt embroidered with snow green lake crepe, her hair was permed and curly, and a jade necklace around her neck was particularly dazzling.

As soon as she saw Miss San, she immediately greeted her with a smile on her face, took her hand kindly, and asked for warmth.

The third lady took a step back, obviously a little recognized, but the person was very enthusiastic, her originally expressionless face squeezed out a smile, probably a long journey, and her face was still a little haggard.

She didn't know who the woman in front of her was, she looked like she was in her early thirties, and she looked like her aunt and wife in which room she was supposed to be dressed up.

She suddenly felt a little disdainful in her heart, she took the train here for three or four days, and asked an aunt to come out to pick her up, and the smile she squeezed out was also taken back.

This woman is the second aunt of the Li family, she is beautiful and moving, with a clever mouth, a pair of apricot eyes, and her eyes are wavy, plus she added a man to the Li family a few years ago, and she is very pampered.

The Li family is worthy of being a big family in the south of the Yangtze River, and when they walked in, the entrance was a tortuous verandah, and the second aunt smiled at the corner of her mouth, took her hand and said, "It's still early, I'll take you around first?" ”

The yard is connected with each other, dotted with mountains and rocks, undulating peaks and peaks, large plantains and all kinds of flowers and trees.

After a path paved with stones, you will see a gazebo with a pear marble stone table and a coffee table on it.

Beside the pavilion are large clusters of "golden hydrangeas", which are chrysanthemum petals that are layered on top of each other, wrapping the stamens and making the flowers plump and look like hydrangeas from a distance.

A small stream outside the pavilion is dotted with some withered lotus leaves, and in the center of the stream, a lotus stone carving, delicately carved and lifelike.

The lotus leaf meridians are distinct, and there is a huge three-legged golden toad lying on it, with a bubbling spring in its mouth and spitting out, if you look closely, there are still groups of koi fish in the bottom of the water silently still.

Presumably, the scenery here in the spring and summer solar terms must be picturesque, with an arched bridge across the stream, moving past, a small two or three houses opposite, and a backyard across the house.

The third lady is used to seeing the desert and the wilderness, where have I seen this kind of chic courtyard, corridor, stone fence, water pavilion, curved bridge, house, eyes are stunned, the second aunt couldn't help but snort when she saw her appearance, and took her back to the front house along a bamboo forest.

In the main room, several women were chatting and drinking tea, and when they saw that the second aunt had come in, the woman at the head stood up, deliberately showed a reproachful look, and said: "Caiping, what's the matter with you, the third lady didn't tell us when she came back, let us wait here stupidly, isn't this snubbing people?" ”

The second aunt smiled and replied: "It's still early to see the time, take her around." ”

The third lady looked a little reserved, walked slowly closer, looked up at the crowd and then at the richly decorated hall.

The spotless hall is topped with two large carved rosewood chairs, and on the table behind it are precious blue and white porcelain and other ornaments, flanked by delicate enamel vases.

There is a huge peony picture hanging on the wall opposite, the flowers and branches are multiplied, all kinds of peonies are blooming one after another, graceful and luxurious, lifelike as if there is a dark fragrance, a feathered brocade pheasant on the peony side stands together, the feet are full of flowers, very magnificent.

Painting on both sides of the title of a couplet: wealth does not hide grace, peace prefers the United family, horizontal criticism: flowers bloom and wealth.

Sure enough, generous and extravagant.

There are a total of five children of the deceased Mrs. Li, the eldest Li Bingcheng, the second is a girl who married early, and the third is Li Yao's father Li Bingxing, the fourth Li Bingrong, and the fifth Li Binghai.

The woman at the head is the wife of Li Bingcheng, the eldest of the Li family, Fu Shi, wearing a royal blue cheongsam and a tweed coat, although her face is not as young as the second aunt, but she still has charm.

She looked at the third lady carefully for a while, took her hand lovingly, and said, "Poor child, it's good to be back." ”

Hurriedly asked the maid to pour her a cup of hot tea, and rubbed her hands distressedly: "Why are your hands so cold, it's late winter now, and your clothes don't keep out the cold, how can this work, go back and add you a few winter clothes." ”

The third lady's eyes were slightly red, and she lowered her eyes, she had no mother since she was a child, and the eldest lady cared about herself so much, which made her feel a sense of warmth.

The eldest lady took her to meet the women one by one, namely Liu, the wife of the fourth child of the Li family, Zhu, the wife of the fifth child of the Li family, and several aunts and wives in each room.

"It's been more than ten years since you left the Li family with your father, and I don't know what your name is or how many years you have."

Fu Shi pulled her to his side and sat down, and asked.

The third lady replied respectfully: "Du Juan, this year is seventeen." ”

The fourth lady Liu suddenly hid her face and smiled: "I remember that there is a maid in the sister-in-law's room called Du Juan, and this name is more common." ”

Everyone in the Li Mansion knew that the third lady was born to the maid in the room of the third master and the eldest lady, Liu's words were clearly mocking the third lady's low background, but the eldest lady ignored it at all, still smiling, and said to the third lady: "Now that you have passed it on to me, you are my daughter, and you are so slender, you will be called Li Yao in the future." ”

Li Yao nodded.

Suddenly, there was a shrill car horn outside, and I saw two girls in dresses running in like two cheerful birds, it was the daughter of the fourth lady Linglong and the daughter of the fifth lady Lingli.

The two of them held hands like twins.

As soon as Linglong entered the door, she shouted happily: "I heard that the third sister is coming, where is it, where is it?" She had a pair of beautiful eyes, looking east and west.

The fourth lady scolded angrily and funny: "You girl is always so reckless and rude. ”

When she saw Li Yao, she showed a look of surprise on her face, she just came in and saw this unfamiliar face, and when she saw this ordinary dress, she thought it was a new maid, but she didn't expect it to be the legendary third sister, the corner of her mouth showed a mocking smile, but it quickly converged, Lingli was not as lively as Linglong, and it seemed much quieter in comparison, she called out to the third sister sweetly, and sat down.

Linglong took out a small bag of things from her handbag and stuffed it into Li Yao's hand, and said with a little reluctance: "This is what my cousin brought back from abroad, what is it called... Chocolate, also give you a piece to taste. ”

Li Yao caught it with both hands and hurriedly said thank you.

As soon as Linglong sat down, she gave Lingli a look again, and muttered in a low voice: "You are indispensable, I still have it here!" ”

Everyone couldn't help but laugh when they heard it, which made Lingli blush for a while.

The lord of the Li family and the two brothers are busy with business outside and rarely stay at home, the whole house is taken care of by the eldest lady, and the female dependents usually get along quite well, and the atmosphere in the hall that has just been lifeless has become active again since the return of Linglong Lingli.

Li Yao is still very restrained and neatly sitting next to the eldest lady, she has been sleeping with her father since she was a child, she has lived a poor life, and she is about to live a good life, and her father is gone, and now she has returned to the Li family, none of these relatives are known, and she only brought a little maid Yuncui with her, or her father's friend Adjutant Ma gave it to her before coming here, she was very uncomfortable, did not speak, and listened to them chatting quietly.

After a long time, the maid Wu's mother came in and saluted: "The third lady's room has been cleaned up, and the daily necessities have been prepared." ”

The eldest lady nodded, and explained to Wu's mother again: "Go back and send my freshly beaten brocade over, it's cold at night over there." ”

Li Yao stood up, looked at the eldest lady gratefully and said, "Thank you, auntie." ”

The eldest lady saw that although Li Yao grew up in the wilderness, she was very polite and looked good, and she also liked it a little in her heart, and smiled: "What is polite to the family, you go to the room to rest for a while, and I will send someone to call you when the meal is ordered." ”

Li Yao followed the maid to the guest room in the east courtyard, the room is transparent from north to south, the sun is abundant, and there is a long corridor in the south of the house.

There is a long sandalwood fragrance floating in the house, a coffee table and rattan chairs and other household items, some dry snacks on the table, and some potted plants in the corner, which makes the whole house come to life, she likes it very much.

The bedding on the bed was neatly folded, and the equally neat clothes she had caressed were all of the best material.

Mother Wu quickly sent the brocade quilt over, looking at the haggard third lady, Mother Wu was a little distressed, she had a granddaughter who was also so old, she prepared hot water for Li Yao and said: "The third lady must have been very hard to travel for so many days, take a hot bath to dispel the cold and bad luck, the eldest lady is kind, you will have more good days in the future!" ”

Li Yao nodded, saw Wu's mother, went back to the room to take a bath, heard some noise outside, a few mothers-in-law and maids were chasing a child about ten years old, she told Yuncui to close the door, the house was foggy, the stove was also burning, she took off her clothes and took a bath comfortably.