But said that since Zhou Yinlan made a delicate and gorgeous embroidered small sachet, several young ladies who learned to pick stones that day have followed suit, and the embroidered small sachet has become popular for a while, and there are beads and tassels on the head, even Shuning can't help but instigate Chun Xing, and made a pair of ribbons embroidered with small flowers. But lately, she has been a little unprofessional in needlework, Tong has already spoken about her, and she also admits that she has been a lot more distracted recently, and promises to put her focus back on "normal" needlework.

The weather is getting colder, according to the habit of previous years, gloves and socks are a must, this year Shuning also came up with a pair of indoor slippers with cotton cores of cotton cloth, and made a pair for the family, which is very convenient to wear and play in their own room, and at the same time, as an employee welfare, at the request of his father, he made a pair for Mr. Su Wanda's master and servant, so that they felt very fresh.

In the afternoon of this day, the sky was overcast, and Shuning sat in front of the window making her own slippers. Chunxing finished cleaning up the kitchen, walked into the room, sat next to it, watched, and took out her own needlework basket.

Shuning asked her, "Sister Qiu Ju doesn't know what's going on?" She used the medicine she sent last time, right? Chun Xing nodded: "Yes, I watched her use it, in fact, she was not seriously injured, grandma's sticks were not bad, when I didn't come here before, the beatings were much heavier." She is now nestled in bed and can't get down, most likely depressed. When I brought her medicine that day, she thanked the girl for coming with me, and I saw that she was not in good spirits, and her voice was still loud. ”

Shuning nodded. In fact, she is not very guilty about breaking the mirror, the responsibility is basically on Qiu Ju, but she is not used to beating and scolding servants at will. And she really thinks that Qiu Ju is too uncompetitive now, she didn't recognize the situation at the beginning, and after being sent, she looked down on people, which shows that she was even more arrogant in the Earl's Mansion when she was first favored, and after Qingning's cousin got married, she was listless, I don't know if she really fell in love with the young master, or felt that it would be difficult for her to be a concubine after the main room was introduced. I'm afraid that there is a little bit of true love, but it's a pity that the man didn't really fall in love with her in person from the beginning.

Forget it, anyway, she still has to stay at home for a short time, and because Tong saw that she didn't obey the call, he beat her hard to get rid of her arrogance. However, as long as the possibility of her becoming Qingning's concubine is not ruled out for a day, it will not be good to toss her too miserably. Shuning stood up and was a good person, sent medicine to comfort, and let her admit her feelings, even if she didn't end well in the future, she wouldn't suffer, but if she was really put in the position, she wouldn't hate the Tong family too much for her own face.

Shuning made a while, but felt that the sky was getting colder and colder, and the sky was darker, so she put down her work and said to Chunxing: "It's dark, and I'm afraid that doing needlework at this time will hurt my eyes, so let's stop here." Why don't we go and prepare dinner for the evening? ”

Chun Xing also put down the things in her hand when she heard this: "That's right, what does the girl want to eat at night?" Why don't you make noodles? It's still early, and it's still too late to start making a meeting right away. How about making a big pot of soup and putting a lot of ginger and chopped green onions? And the kind of sun poached egg that the girl said last time, make one per person, right? ”

Shuning thought for a while and shook her head: "It's not easy to buy eggs now, right?" There is too much for one person, so it is better to mix two noodles in it, and the noodles will be more delicious. If you want a side dish, go to the corner and cut two catties of braised beef, right? Didn't Ama say that the braised beef was delicious last time? Chunxing also likes to eat that meat, and nodded happily: "Yes, I'll buy it." But was stopped by Shuning: "Let's go to meet, Brother Huzi and Ah Song are very idle, ask them to buy." Chun Xing smiled and went out to call someone.

Shuning was packing up the sewing basket, but she heard an exclamation from Chunxing outside the door: "Girl, come and see, it's snowing!" She hurriedly walked out, and sure enough, she saw that the north wind was carrying pieces of snowflakes, sweeping the whole yard, and a snowflake fell in front of her.

Chunxing looked at the snowflakes and said: "The wind is very cold this year, and I thought that it should snow in the next two days, and sure enough, it fell, but the newly made cotton clothes were not delivered to the tailor." Shuning pulled her and walked directly to the upper room: "E-Niang must be busy there, let's go see what we can do to help." ”

When he came to the upper room, Tong was gathering everyone to command. Changfu wants to take out all the big quilts and place them, the fire kang has begun to burn the day before yesterday, and the charcoal basins will be distributed to each room, and this year Mr. Su has added two master and servants, so their charcoal basins over there must also be prepared. The second sister-in-law had to take out all the big wool clothes and padded jackets for later use, and urged Aunt Yang to send the new clothes quickly. Tong also asked Ma San'er to send Zhang Bao's fur cloak and hand stove to the yamen first, and at the same time bring one to Mr. Su, and on the way back, he went to buy firewood and charcoal.

Everyone got busy after listening to the instructions, and Tong turned his head to see Chun Xing, and said, "You came just in time, you are going to cook a big pot of ginger soup today, and prepare it for those who come back in the snow to drink." Everyone in the family should drink a little and burn more. Go back and say hello to the mutton shop and ask them to send half a sheep. ”

Chun Xing agreed, and said: "I just discussed with the girl that the dinner at night is better to make noodles, it is comfortable to eat hot, and then cook a pot of meatball soup, and put more green onions and ginger." Tong nodded: "Let's send noodles to meatball soup, and make some mutton, but the ginger soup should be burned more." When I went back to buy meat, I would beat a few catties of good wine and put it away, but I was afraid that the men would also drink some of it. Chun Xing answered.

Tong said to Shuning: "Didn't you make a lot of socks, gloves, cotton shoes and the like?" Did you send it to Mr. Su? Shuning nodded: "It's all sent, E-Niang don't worry, the second sister-in-law and Xiaomei won't be negligent." Tong smiled: "You still call Xiaomei's name?" Now it's time to call Ma San'er's family, or Ma San's sister-in-law. Shuning also smiled: "I've been calling it for so many years, and I can't change it, so you can let your daughter call it like this." The mother and daughter gossiped a few words, and Shuning ran to the kitchen to help with noodles.

In the evening, Zhang Bao and Mr. Su returned. As soon as Zhang Bao entered the door, he took off his cloak and stretched out his hand to get close to the charcoal basin to keep warm: "It's such a big snow, I thought it was just a small meaning at first, but I didn't expect the snow to get bigger and bigger the later it was getting dark, but I was afraid that it would be half a foot thick when I got up tomorrow morning." I came back first, and a few of them still stayed in the yamen to arrange the resettlement of the people in the city. ”

Tong asked him, "Are you hungry?" If you have a hot broth, let's drink a bowl to warm up and start the meal right away. He asked someone to scoop the soup, and then waited for Zhang Bao to take off his boots. Zhang Bao smiled: "Fortunately, I saw that it was cold, so I went in leather boots, Mr. Su only wore his usual shoes, but it was cold enough, and when he returned home, his whole shoes were wet, so he asked someone to boil hot water for him to burn his feet." ”

Tong said: "I asked someone to send it early, and dinner was also delivered while it was hot, I will do these things well, you don't have to worry." Shuning had already sent cotton slippers, Zhang Bao put on the shoes, and said to Shuning with a smile: "These shoes are good, they are warm when they are at home, but unfortunately they can't be worn outside, why don't you think of a way to make a pair of cotton shoes for Ama that can be worn out?" Shuning nodded: "Okay, if I add leather to the outside of my shoes, I won't be afraid of snow, but can I?" Zhang Bao laughed.

The snow had fallen overnight, and when I got up the next day, it had stopped, and sure enough, it had accumulated half a foot. Zhang Bao went back to the yamen early in the morning to help arrange all the things in the city, and the Tong family asked someone to push the snow in the courtyard and in front of the door to the side, sweeping out the way where people could leave. Every house on the street does this, and many people climb onto the roofs to get the snow off their heads.

Chunxing has been busy since yesterday afternoon, busy cooking ginger soup, mutton soup, and buying food for the winter. Shuning specially went to the kitchen to help, and by the way, she comforted her with hard work and asked her if she had anything she wanted.

As a result, she smiled: "Thank you girl, remember, I am very good, and I am not too tired, but if the girl wants to reward me with something, why don't you make a kaleidoscope for me that day, can you?" It turned out that she had been thinking about this kaleidoscope for a long time, and Shuning smiled: "Of course, there are still broken lenses, but if it is cold today, the paint and glue can't be dissolved, and when the spring flowers bloom, I'll make it for you, right?" Although it was a little late, Chunxing was already very satisfied: "Okay, I'll thank the girl first." ”

Xiaomei walked in from outside the door and said to Shuning: "Girl, did you ask the shoe shop to send a pair of cowhide boots?" Their people had just been sent home. "Huh? Has it already been delivered? I'm going to take a look. Shuning washed her hands and followed her out.

The boots sent were a little big, half a point bigger than Zhang Bao's feet, Xiaomei was a little surprised: "Who are such big boots for?" Could it be the third master? ”

Shuning nodded: "It's made for Amma." ”

"But it's bigger than the third master's feet?" "I'm going to make cotton boots, that's why I'm looking for bigger ones." Shuning explained, "I don't know how to make boots, so I have to buy a bigger pair, and then I make a thick padded sock or something, stuff it into the boots and sew it, isn't it just a pair of cotton boots?" And the cowhide is not afraid of water. ”

Xiaomei suddenly realized and said: "I see, it's convenient, I'll make a pair for us when I go back, and it's just right to run outside on a snowy day." ”

What a huge step forward! Xiaomei, who used to blush when she said a word, can now say "our one" generously.

Zhang Bao liked the "cotton boots" made by his daughter very much, and asked Tong to make a few more pairs according to this method, send a pair to Zhou Fucheng, and then send a pair to Mr. Su. The only flaw of this kind of boots is probably that once the thick cotton socks absorb sweat or are wet by rain and snow, they will be difficult to dry, and they will be roasted on the edge of the brazier, and they must be careful that they will burn.