In the summer time, as soon as the rainy season passes, the weather gradually heats up.

Today, I made a few cold dishes in the kitchen, a cold jellyfish head, with the jellyfish pickled in the next year, wash off the sediment, soak it in clean water for five or six hours, take out the water, and cut it into slices along the sting petals for later use.

Boil boiling water, cool for a while, pour the jellyfish into hot water and blanch, not too long, drain the water and put it on a plate, put on the finely chopped green onion and coriander, and then drizzle with sauce vinegar and a few drops of sesame oil, and it can be served. Another cold dish is particularly simple, patted with cucumbers, also drizzled with sauce, which is very refreshing to eat.

After the meal, there is a bowl of mung bean soup, put a few lilies in the mung bean soup, and then sprinkle some dried osmanthus flowers, which is very clear, and it is an excellent drink to cool down.

In the summer, in addition to the simplest mung bean soup, sometimes you can also eat chilled fruits, ice cubes are transported back from the ice cellar, put fresh fruits, and you can enjoy them after a meal.

However, at today's dinner table, the eldest lady's face was not good, she seemed to have not slept well, her eyes were very haggard, and there were dark circles under her eyes.

The wife in the old fifth room, the first recovery from a serious illness, but the spirit is much better, when she is sick, thanks to the care of the eldest wife, she can recover so quickly, so she asked with concern: "Sister-in-law, see that your face is not very good, this period of time alternates between hot and cold, the most prone to cold, but pay attention to the body!" ”

The eldest lady blinked her eyes effortlessly and said, "There is no cold, but I always feel flustered recently, especially at night, I can't sleep, I turn over and over, and I squint for a while when the sky is almost bright, even if I barely fall asleep, it is a nightmare." ”

The eldest lady has this problem, and the medicinal materials at home have also been used a lot, and she has to use incense made of special herbs to fall asleep, but recently, for some reason, the incense has gradually become useless.

Mother Wu gave her a bowl of mung bean soup and said, "Madam, you may have worked hard again, now that the family is so good, and the eldest lady and aunt are also harmonious, you should relax." ”

She took a sip of the soup, felt that she still had no appetite, sighed, then stood up and said to the wives in the other rooms: "Finally, I am sleepy, I will go back and lie down first, there are still iced grapes in the kitchen, don't eat more, it's easy to have diarrhea!" ”

She said this to the juniors, although the two girls in the four rooms and five rooms are not close to her, but she is the person in charge of the back house, and she has to take care of them one by one.

When she was far away, Mrs. Fourth suddenly pulled Mrs. Five's clothes and said in a low voice, "Don't you think that sister-in-law's face is particularly bad!" ”

Anyone with a discerning eye can see that she is not talking nonsense, but she rolled her eyes and said: "Yintang is black, and it looks like she hasn't slept well." ”

The fifth lady was frightened by her yin and yang strange voice, and her back was cold, and asked, "Then what do you think?" ”

"It's like falling into evil!"

Mrs. Fifth cried out in fright, she was timid, and said, "How is it possible? ”

"How can't it be, you forgot the past..."

Before she could finish her sentence, Mrs. Fifth pinched her hand, glanced to the side, and motioned for her to shut up, and then she remembered that it was forbidden to talk about it at home, except for a few wives and aunts who came early and an old maid who had been there for a while, and the others hardly knew it.

Linglong listened to it with great pleasure, but suddenly her mother stopped talking, so she asked, "Mom, why don't you say it, what evil did you fall into?" ”

The fourth wife scolded harshly: "When adults speak, what do children interject, are they full?" Go back when you're full. ”

Linglong was deflated and complained: "If you don't say it, you won't say it, what is the murder." ”

Linglong's temper can be said to be the same as that of the fourth wife, she pulled Lingli and left the dinner table in a huff, but her temper came and went quickly, today her father came home and said that he wanted to discuss with her next month's birthday banquet, which was actually her engagement banquet with Shao Hua.

She rejoiced and went to Lingli to pick out clothes.

Li Yao stood up and said to the two wives, "I'm also full, so I'll go back first." ”

The fourth lady didn't raise her head, and waved her hand: "Go, go, go!" It was the fifth wife, who raised her head kindly and said softly, "Go ahead." ”

Seeing that the juniors were gone, the two began to continue the topic just now.

The fifth lady said: "If it is really as you said, the eldest lady has fallen into evil and has to ask the goddess!" ”

"I'm afraid it's useless to invite you!"

"How?"

"At this time of year, my sister-in-law will have a headache and brain fever and sleep unsteadily, I remember more than ten years ago, it was also at this time that the third master took the woman away, and then the woman died, I am afraid that the ghost will not go away and come back!"

The fifth empress dowager felt a chill down her spine and said timidly: "That woman has a shallow life, why did she come back to pester her sister-in-law?" ”

"You don't know when you enter the door late, that woman is the sister-in-law's companion girl, the relationship between the two is good, although one is the master and the other is a servant, but the status is not comparable to the ordinary slave maid, since it is a deep feeling, it is inevitable to be concerned when she dies."

Mrs. Fifth felt that what she said was a bit far-fetched, but a good person suddenly became uneasy, and if she didn't get it right, it was a sign of evil, so she said, "It's better to persuade my sister-in-law to find a goddess to take a look." ”

"I don't dare, how can I persuade my sister-in-law to be the most sensitive about the incident more than ten years ago, but fortunately she didn't cause trouble to herself, she can't hide it, don't talk nonsense, anyway, it will be too peaceful after this month!"

The fifth wife was silent, if the fourth wife didn't dare to say it, she definitely wouldn't dare either, as the fourth wife said, fortunately, this matter didn't fall on them.

In the evening, Li Yao went to the eldest lady's yard, she was a little worried and wanted to see her.

Mother Wu came out with a basin of water, and when she saw Li Yao coming, she knew that she must not be relieved, and sighed that she was a good girl, but the eldest lady had just laid down, and it was not good to let her in directly, so she whispered: "Mrs. is asleep." ”

"It's not dark yet, so you went to bed so early?"

Wu's mother replied: "My wife can't sleep well, so I just lie down early, and it's good to nourish my spirits." ”

Li Yao sighed, there was a little movement in the house, Li Yao was afraid that she would be noisy, and she was about to leave, when she suddenly heard the eldest lady shouting in the inner room: "Is Yao'er here?" Come on in! ”

Li Yao pushed the door in, and the eldest lady had already sat up, her face was still very haggard, and she was a little distressed. "Auntie, are you alright?"

The eldest lady smiled: "It's out of the way." ”

Li Yao sat down beside her, took her hand, pressed her index finger and thumb to the tiger's mouth of her palm, and gently massaged it.

The eldest lady only felt a sore pain in the tiger's mouth, Li Yao said: "I heard the doctor at the entrance of the village say that there is an acupuncture point at the tiger's mouth, called Hegu acupoint, massaging this acupoint can relieve the liver and regulate qi, discharge toxins, make people feel relaxed, soothe the mind, I will give you a press." ”

It's also magical.,Just press it for a while.,It's really a lot easier.。

The eldest lady praised: "She is a good girl who knows how to hurt people." ”

"As it should be!"

After that, he stood behind her again, raised his hand and began to gently rub her Yintang acupoint, and said while pressing: "This acupuncture point can make you sleep more soundly." ”

"You have just the right amount of strength, where did you learn it?" The eldest lady couldn't help but ask.

"My dad also has insomnia, that's how I pressed him, and gradually became proficient."

The eldest lady was silent for a moment, sighed, and said distressedly: "It's not easy to pass these years, right?" ”

Although she was a little poorer in those years, it was her happiest time, and she shook her head: "I don't feel bitter." ”

"Hardship is a blessing!"

Although she was born in a large family, she also lived a hard life, especially when she accompanied her husband to start a business from scratch, and she never shared her heart with outsiders.

She couldn't help but recall those days, thinking about it, and thinking about it again, Qiu Yue, who was Li Yao's biological mother.

The Qiuyue incident made the third master of the Li family a joke of the whole family, when the old lady Li was alive, he was not allowed to mention this person in the Li Mansion, and it was also after the death of the old man that the orphans of the third master could be taken back, but this taboo had been deeply rooted in the hearts of the people, so she couldn't help but mention it.

Li Yao looked at her appearance of wanting to speak and stopped, and couldn't help but speak: "In a few days, it will be my mother's sacrifice day, and I want to burn some paper money in my yard to pay tribute." ”

Since her mother's death, she didn't even have a decent ranking, and when she came to the Li family, only the eldest lady sincerely accepted it, and the Li family was even more secretive about her mother and her father's affairs, and now she can only plead with the eldest lady to be kind.

The eldest lady was embarrassed, this matter was categorically impossible, if the head of the family knew about it, he would definitely blame her, and her head, which she had just felt light, became heavy again.

"Only those who have entered the genealogy of the Li family can pay respects at home, so I can't respond to your matter."

Seeing her resolute attitude and knowing that it was impossible, Li Yao was a little disappointed, and replied in a low voice: "I know, I'll rub your shoulders again!" ”

"No, I feel a little sleepy, you can go back to sleep."

Li Yao went back to her residence unhappyly, and Yun Cui walked over to comfort her, but she didn't know how to speak.

Although she is a slave, she seems to know more things than Li Yao, Li Yao does not leave the courtyard most of the time on weekdays, and she is the only one who waits for her in the courtyard, so Li Yao doesn't know what the people outside say about her.

People always like to be divided into three, six, nine and so on, even if it is a maid, it is divided into first, second and third, the third-class maid does some rough work, tiring and dirty work, and only the first-class maid can serve the master closely.

The master in their eyes must be able to speak before and after, a wife or concubine or child who is favored by the masters, and Li Yao, who has no parents to rely on, is only a little stronger than a first-class maid.

However, in Yuncui's heart, Li Yao is the best master in the world, empathetic, not fighting or grabbing, and doing her best with peace of mind.

People's emotions are contagious, Yun Cui propped up her head and fell into deep thought.

"Why aren't you upset anymore?" Li Yao couldn't help but ask.

Yun Cui sighed, pouted, and muttered: "I also have a good relationship in Li Mansion in addition to Miss You's friend, she is a second-class maid in the eldest lady's yard, called Xiao Yun, two years older than me, and I am a fellow countryman, but I don't know what's wrong recently, she has a lot of worries every day, she made a mistake the day before yesterday, and she was beaten by the board." ”

"The eldest aunt never physically punishes people, how can she be punished?"

"Naturally, it wasn't the eldest lady who ordered someone to beat him, miss, you don't know it, last month Steward Liu returned to his hometown, he was really shrewd, and recommended his own nephew Liu Tian to the eldest master, and the eldest lord remembered the old love, so he agreed, this Liu Tian I think is at most in his thirties, but he is resolute in doing things, and he is very appreciated by the master."

Li Yao never cared about the trivial matters in the inner house, so she had never heard of this new housekeeper Liu Tian.

"Then what did Xiao Yun do wrong?"

"I also heard from others later, she recently had an accident in her family, her mother was seriously ill, she was restless all day, and accidentally knocked over the tea when serving tea."

"It's just that if you spill the tea, you have to be hit by the board, which is too harsh."

Yun Cui nodded: "Who said it wasn't." She suddenly thought of something again, but she looked a little embarrassed, and after repeated hesitation, she opened her mouth: "Miss, I have a reluctant request." ”

"You want me to help her?"

Yun Cui looked at Li Yao embarrassedly and nodded, and immediately said: "Miss don't worry, you can deduct it from my monthly salary, although it's not much, anyway, Yun Cui plans to serve Miss for the rest of her life." Li Yao couldn't help but sneer, Yun Cui is a kind and good girl, she opened her mouth to beg herself, she must be helping, but she is also shy in her pocket, at most she can take out a few silver dollars.

She went to the side courtyard where the people lived with Yun Cui, Xiao Yun had been resting in bed for the past two days, knocked on the door, no one answered for a long time, Yun Cui was a little flustered, Xiao Yun was weak and would not ......

Thinking of this, she kicked the door open, and Xiao Yun was hurriedly hiding things with her back to her, because she was too nervous, and the things in her hands were scattered all over the ground.

Her face flushed, and she stooped down with difficulty to pick it up.

Yun Cui didn't know what it was, but Li Yao recognized that it was the medicinal herb used by the eldest lady to make fragrances.

"Xiao Yun, what are you doing with the eldest lady's medicinal herbs?"

Xiao Yun was a thief and stammered back: "Madam ordered me to take it out for processing, I ...... I'm cleaning up. ”

Li Yao said: "You lie, you stole these, right?" ”

Xiao Yun was so frightened that she fell directly to the ground, her body trembled so much that her forehead began to sweat.

"Third Miss, please don't tell anyone, if Steward Liu knows, he will definitely kill me!"

Yun Cui also helped her intercede: "Miss, she must have been forced to do such a foolish thing!" ”

Xiao Yun glanced at Yun Cui gratefully, her eyes were red, and she couldn't help rolling down a few tears, Li Yao naturally wouldn't tell others, but she couldn't let her do it, she asked Yun Cui to pick up the medicinal materials on the ground, and she helped Xiao Yun up again, and asked, "Why did you steal these medicinal materials?" Xiao Yun sobbed and replied: "My mother is seriously ill, I don't have the money to treat her, so I can only steal these medicinal materials out to exchange money, thinking about so many flavored medicines, I can't see it without a taste, I'm really confused for a while!" ”

Li Yao saw that she was sincerely remorseful, and comforted: "Since you know that you are wrong, you will return the medicinal materials in a while, I have some oceans here, you take it, it is important to treat your mother first." ”

After that, she took out a small bag of silver dollars from her pocket and handed it to her, not much, but it was better than her stealing medicinal herbs for money.

Xiao Yun looked at Li Yao with wide eyes, she hadn't even met with this third lady much, but she would not hesitate to help herself.

Li Yao said: "You and Yuncui are fellow countrymen, good sisters, and naturally my friends, don't worry." ”

Xiao Yun was grateful, and wanted to kneel down and kowtow, but was stopped by Li Yao, she only told her to rest and left.

While walking and thinking, Xiao Yun should not have been stealing medicinal herbs for a day or two, the eldest lady uses that kind of incense to calm her nerves all the year round, and there is a lack of medicinal herbs in it, so she can't sleep, and then she is restless and suspicious. Now that the source of the problem has been found, Xiao Yun put back the stolen medicinal materials, and the problem has been solved, and she suddenly has an idea in her heart.