The eldest lady looked sideways at the pendulum clock on the closet, called Qiucheng Holly to say something, and then beckoned: "The garden is all tidyed up, while the sun is good, let's go together." Because someone asked why the two aunts had not arrived, a mother-in-law replied that Aunt Luo, the biological mother of the fifth young master, actually went to the temple to incense early this morning, saying that she would not come back until noon. The old lady commanded, and when she returned, she told her to go straight into the garden.

So all the way to the garden, the banquet is set in the lake shore around the Champs, here facing the lake on one side, planted with a plum forest on the other, on this winter day just to watch the flowers and enjoy the scenery.

Most of the doors and windows in the three rooms are closed, and there are charcoal stoves in the four corners, leaving only the two small windows at the head and tail open for ventilation. On the floating platform outside the door, someone set up half a muntjac to roast on the fire, half of it was stewed on the spot, and another one was used to stir-fry and steam to make various dishes. There are more than a dozen maids carrying food boxes from under the kitchen to serve the food, which is lively and happy for a while. Therefore, it is the closest to Jinfang's Linglong Garden, so it is provided with tea by Jinfang, and it should be properly arranged, and more than 20 people, including the nurses and big girls in each room, sat at four tables in different generations, eating and drinking and joking.

The sisters in each room sat down at a table, and under Jinhua's blind persuasion, Liuli was also pulled to the table, and she couldn't help but drink two more glasses of wine for a while, and her cheeks became rosy. Liucui raised her teeth below and pointed at her and smiled: "You see that the red on her face is like the plum blossom outside, indescribably delicate!" I didn't see it on weekdays, this girl was so pleasing yesterday, and I don't know which little girl to go to when I catch Ming'er! ”

Liuli made a gesture to twist her face, and everyone laughed for a while. The eldest girl is not good at making fun of her age, she listened to the eating and laughing for a while, and took care of Jinhua next to her to eat vegetables. The third girl even covered her mouth and showed a smile, but the second girl lowered her head and drank her own wine, as if she was full of sorrow.

The population of Yefu is quite small, and Jin Mei is the first time to participate in such a lively party, and after two glasses of wine, he is already a little overwhelmed. Biluo secretly winked at her, leading her to get up and leave the table. When she got to the bottom of the plum tree outside, Bi Luo took a comb and pulled her hair together. On the other hand, he said: "In the morning, someone in the house came to see Mrs. Hou, and Aunt Yun also brought a letter to ask Miss Hou, how is her body these days?" I asked people to sue them, saying that the girl was all right and that she didn't have to worry about it. It's my aunt, and I have to pay attention. ”

Jin Mei eased his hand and said, "Yes, I said a few days ago that I wanted you to go back and take a look, but I forgot about it." ”

Bi Luo said: "If the girl really misses her aunt, she can go back to Mrs. now." There is a green green here, so I will go home. ”

Jin Mei thought about it, then nodded and said, "It's okay." By the way, you will go to the Qingyi Bridge in the garden for me to see if the old plum tree grows well. ”

Bi Luo was stunned, "Old plum tree? ”

Jin Mei nodded again, and smiled again and tightened the button on the jacket.

At this time, the two were whispering, but Lin Ziwai heard someone calling, "Sister Liucui, where did this fight come from?" Bi Luo looked over, and saw Liucui hurrying from the lake with an uncertain face, and the little girl of Ronghuatang was greeting her. Bi Luo also walked out with Jin Mei and went to the banquet with Liucui.

When I returned to the house, it was almost over. The second girl and the third girl were no longer at the table, but Jinfang was still helplessly watching Jinhua pour the wine into the girls.

Aunt Su and Aunt Ning didn't know where they went, and after sitting down, they whispered in their ears and giggled from time to time. The four girls grimaced at the two of them across the table: "These two people are angry with the oil and salt jar!" Hongying, who was drinking, heard this, and said in a low voice: "The four girls are really wise, do you know that there is a saying called 'smelly and like-minded'?" was warned by Jinfang's eyes, and the two of them hurriedly stuck out their tongues and shut up.

Aunt Chun's face was tired, and she was helped up by Yahuan and came to the table. The old lady at the upper table was full of red light, and Liuli and the third lady got up and went back to the house.

The eldest lady sat in the same place, while instructing the mother-in-law to clean up the cups and plates, and on the other hand, listening to Li Changyu, who came into the garden, to report something.

Jin Mei waited until Li Chang left, and then went to the eldest lady's side: "Auntie is working hard, can I go back to the room now?" ”

The eldest lady nodded with her handkerchief, breathed a sigh of relief, and suddenly looked at her and said, "I have something to say to you." Would you like one? ”

Jin Mei couldn't ask for it, so he said goodbye to Jinfang Jinhua and accompanied her out of the garden.

When I got to the main room, Qiucheng Holly put the tea and fruits, and the eldest lady sat down on the left side of the kang, and when the maids retreated, Jin Mei also sat down next to the edge of the kang on the right, stretched out her hand and took a jasper cup for the wife, and put aside a spoonful of pomelo pulp that was pickled through honey, and mixed it with seventy percent of warm boiling water, and handed it to the wife. The eldest lady took it and motioned for her to take the cup and drink it herself.

"Early this morning, your mother sent someone to the house, can you see it?" After taking a sip, the eldest lady said.

Jin Mei said: "I haven't seen it, but Biluo has seen it." It's nothing more than a greeting. The spoon in his hand suddenly paused, and he smiled again: "Mother is still thinking about you, aunt." ”

"Seeing that the New Year is over, I originally wanted you to accompany your mother to come to the house after the New Year, but your mother insisted that it didn't have to be like this, for fear that you would not be able to take care of your body at home due to lack of care, so I had no choice but to be this wicked person, and let you separate from each other on the big festival." Speaking of the word "wicked", the eldest lady couldn't help laughing, and the silk printed the corners of her lips. said: "But don't worry, I have explained that Li Chang has brought some New Year's goods in the past, compared to your family in previous years, he is lonely, and he has never owed anything in terms of food and clothing." There are also a few loyal mothers-in-law such as Mama Li and Mama Liu in the house, as well as several maids and male servants born in the family, but they are not afraid that no one will speak. ”

"With my aunt's care, not only my mother can rest assured, but Mei'er is also free of worries here."

Jin Mei picked up his tea and smiled. When the eldest lady saw her like this, she nodded and said, "If you can really do this, it will be the best." The He family has a large population, and the three brothers live in the same house, although the men live in the outer courtyard and never enter the inner house, but this square inch is complicated, I think you can get a glimpse of it in the past few days. Unlike our Ye family, because there are few people, the relationship between the house is much easier. Therefore, if there is anything that is not thoughtful on weekdays, you have to remind me. ”

"What did my aunt say?" Jin Mei sat up straight, "Mei'er's food and clothing here should be from my aunt's place, what else can I not be thoughtful about?" Don't say no, it's somewhere else, and Mei'er has to help her aunt do Zhou Xiangcai. In this way, I lived up to my aunt's loving heart. But my eyebrows are young, and I need my aunt to teach me everywhere, so my aunt doesn't hate me. ”

The eldest lady patted the back of her hand, and her face turned pale. "That being the case, I have to speak of you about something. Do you know that when you were in the old lady's house today, you made a big mistake? ”