Aunt Yu introduced the three sisters as she walked: Xikuan Courtyard was originally the residence of Lian's biological daughter Nie Xiaoyue. Before Nie Lian left the pavilion, she lived in a courtyard with her two sisters-in-law. Because she came back this time and was injured. Lien allowed her to live in the main courtyard so that he could take care of her nearby.

Coming out of the main house of the Lian family, walk a few steps west along the verandah, and you will find the west cross courtyard. There are two plantain plants planted on the left and right sides of the courtyard. A variety of precious flowers. The most conspicuous is the wisteria trellis. There are stone tables and chairs under the shelves.

A girl in a butterfly daffodil dress is watering a peony. The white jade peony in the purple sand flower pot blooms very well. is like a beauty who captivates the country and the city. Aunt Yu called: "Four girls." The three girls from Dongfu arrived. The girl turned around, but saw that she had been born beautifully. He wears a pair of beaded hairpins on his head. He wears a pair of jade bracelets on his hands. Nie Xiaoyue is only nine years old this year, but she can see that she is a beauty. She smiled sweetly and stepped forward to salute: "Hello three sisters." "The sound is crisp and delightful. The three of them hurriedly said: "Hello sister." ”

Nie Xiaoyue beckoned the three sisters to sit at the stone table in the courtyard and ordered the little girl to serve tea. Said: "Big sister just took medicine before falling asleep." A few sisters and let's take a look at the flowers and grass here. It's also a good way to pass the time. ”

Nie Xiao'e smiled: "Just to enjoy the flowers and see the grass? You are the master, don't you have anything else to entertain us?" Nie Xiaoyue was a little embarrassed. Said: "I have prepared my favorite melon and fruit snacks for my sisters, and it will be good right away." As she spoke, she asked her eldest maid, "What about the refreshments I asked you to prepare in the morning?"

The maid looked embarrassed, thinking that there was some accident that prevented the refreshments from being served. The atmosphere was a little awkward. Nie Xiaofan said: "The flowers in my sister's yard are really beautiful. Especially these white jade peonies, they are really jade bone ice hearts. It's really worthy of growing up in my sister's yard. Aunt Yu on the side heard this and said with a smile: "What's more, these flowers are all cultivated by our four girls themselves!"

At this moment, even Nie Xiaolan, who was concerned about Nie Lian, was surprised: "My sister can cultivate so many beautiful flowers at such a young age? This is going to change me, but I can't." Nie Xiaoyue saw that everyone praised her, and blushed a little: "When it comes to planting flowers, I am not as good as Sister Fan." I heard that there are many beautiful flowers planted in the Changping courtyard where Sister Fan lives. Sister Fan's cultivation of Junzi Orchid is very good-looking. A few years ago, Sister Fan sent back a pot, and it is still in my room. I took my sisters to see it. ”

Nie Xiaoyue said and invited the three sisters to the room to enjoy the orchids. Nie Xiaofan was ashamed. The original owner is very fond of playing with flowers and grass. I still love the four gentlemen in the flowers. She praised the four gentlemen for "Tsinghua outside, in it, not in a flattering state." "The courtyard of Changping is full of flowers, and the scenery is unique. But if it is replaced by Nie Xiaofan, a layman, he will never have this elegance. Therefore, Nie Xiaofan was very ashamed.

Nie Xiaoyue's small span has three main rooms. Now she lives in two rooms by herself, and Nie Lian lives in the one on the west side.

The two rooms are open, and they look very wide. The middle is separated by a screen of rosewood cars. The inner room is considered a formal boudoir, and the sisters sit in the outer room.

There is a big pit on the east side of the outer room, and there are a few small ones on the kang. There is a foot pedal under the kang. In the middle is a pantry. In addition, there are several carved nanmu high in the outer room. It is used to place Nie Xiaoyue's favorite flowers. The gentleman's orchid was placed on the high table near the window. Although the flowering period has passed, the leaves are still green. Very spirited. The layout of the house is similar to Nie Xiaofan's. But Nie Xiaofan didn't have an interstitial screen and so many flowers.

In the courtyard, Aunt Yu pulled Nie Xiaoyue's eldest maid and said, "Aren't the refreshments prepared in the morning?

The maid was only two or three years older than Nie Xiaoyue, and she was a little scared as soon as she was trained at this time: "The girl ordered us to prepare it early in the morning, but Aunt Liu came to see it just now." It's not that big girls love to eat. My wife told her to take good care of the eldest girl, so we told her to pick up some of them. Who knew that she took most of it, and turned the rest into shape. The slaves and maids saw that they could not serve the table, so they asked the small kitchen to make something else. The maid paused when she said this, and then whispered: "Auntie, in fact, the eldest girl is weak and can't eat so much." Mrs. Kai allowed her to come to us every day to accompany the eldest girl. But the slave maid saw that every time Aunt Liu came to us, she always picked out some good things, saying that it was for the eldest girl, and our girl gave it kindly. But every time she leaves, she has an extra burden in her hand. On the contrary, the big girl's room didn't have anything more."

When Aunt Yu heard this, she was angry. He asked, "Have you asked the big girl?" Why didn't you report it?"

The big maid said again: "The slave thinks that the big girl doesn't seem to know anything. As for the report, there is no evidence for the slave and maid. The girl also said that she would wait until the eldest girl's illness was cured. ”

Aunt Yu was so angry that she said angrily: "The girl has a good temperament, do you just allow her to be bullied?

Seeing Aunt Yu like this, the maid trembled in fright and said: "It was she who said that the eldest girl wants to write to relieve her mood" Aunt Yu was so angry that she wanted to tear Aunt Liu with her hands, and the ink was found by her savings for a long time. She gritted her teeth and said, "Girl's things, you can also take that cheap skin casually? Zuo is just a lady who is soft-hearted and merciful to the big girl for a few days, what is the matter with that cheap skin? If there is such a thing again, be careful of your skin! Why don't you go and serve the girl quickly!"

Aunt Yu went to the door of the small cross courtyard and waited for Aunt Liu. The four aunts of Xifu are the biological mothers of the eldest girl. Except that Aunt Yu has no children. Aunt Liu gave birth to a big girl and a son who is ten years old this year. The other two aunts gave birth to twin daughters, who are 12 years old this year. The other had a son. I'm eight years old.

The four sisters in the main room were talking and laughing, and Nie Xiao'e said: "It's still Sister Yue and Sister Fan who are clever enough to take care of the flowers, but I can't be a rough person, and the pots of flowers that Sister Fan gave me were raised half to death by me." It lived up to Sister Fan's good intentions. "Nie Xiaofan said in his heart, I am also a rough person, thicker than you. She smiled and said, "Second sister, who is a rough person? You can embroider flowers, I can't keep up with it if I practice for another ten years." I was in the other courtyard at the time, and I didn't know what the sisters liked, so they all gave flowers. It's me who has overlooked, overlooked!"

When Nie Xiaoyue heard them say this, she took Nie Xiaofan's hand and said, "Sister Fan, we have the same hobbies, if you have beautiful flowers in the future, you can give me a few more pots." Nie Xiaofan said: "This is nature, give you all their pots." While chatting, a little girl ran to say that the big girl was awake. Nie Xiaolan said: "Now that we're awake, let's go see Sister Lian first." ”

The sisters all nodded. Nie Xiaolan took the lead and followed the little girl to the west. As soon as I got to the door, I heard a shrill voice: "Sleep, sleep, sleep! You know how to sleep all day." Now the three girls from Dongfu have come to see you, and you are still asleep. You see your sick and crooked appearance, why don't you hurry up and take advantage of your wife's pity for you, and beg her to find you a good family. It is your blessing to be a concubine in any adult's mansion! In the future, you can also help your brother!"

"Shut up!" Nie Xiaolan shouted, leading a few people to break inside, and a few daughters' families were angry. But I saw that the owner of the voice just now was pointing his finger at the head of a sick beauty on the bed. The girl was pink and dressed in a plain undershirt. She just kept her head down and didn't speak, letting her point. Hearing the voice, she raised her head, and when she saw Nie Xiaolan, there was a hint of a smile on her death-like face, but it was fleeting.

The noisy woman thought it was Aunt Liu, and when she saw the four girls, she immediately stood by the bed. He smiled flatteringly: "How many girls are coming? I woke her up when I saw her asleep." How can you delay a few girls?"

Everyone was still wondering why Nie Lian woke up so quickly after taking the medicine, it turned out that this was the reason. Nie Xiaolan couldn't hold back her anger anymore, pointed at Aunt Liu and scolded: "The thing with a wolf's heart and dog's lungs really looks like a human, she has encountered such a thing when she is born with a wolf's heart, and everyone knows how to help her." She's the meat that falls off your body, and I don't expect you to treat her well. Then she is also a flesh-and-blood person, not a livestock for your short-lived son to take meat at any time" Nie Xiaolan became more and more angry the more she scolded, and the louder she scolded. Thinking that Nie Lian has not been valued since she was below, the only aunt will squeeze what is on her. Nie Lian and Nie Xiaolan both cried.