Painting Tang Jiao

Chapter 1
(Welcome to read the new book "Life in the Backyard".)
The body was surrounded by the bottomless water, and the feet were bound by something under the water. The more Qing Huan struggled, the more tightly she was entangled.There seemed to be someone talking and laughing above her head, Qing Huan raised her head and opened her eyes wide to see clearly, but all she saw were two figures, and her appearance was completely unclear.Qing Huan was puzzled, she was on the way to Shangxiang with her sister, how could she appear at the bottom of the water now.Breathing became more and more difficult, my whole body was cold, and my legs were so stiff that I couldn't feel it.Qing Huan wanted to call for help, so she opened her mouth, feeling as if she had tasted blood.Why is there blood, and whose blood is it.Qing Huan felt a little confused, if only her sister was there.Sister, by the way, where is my sister?Qing Huan's head was dizzy, and she felt that she was not good...In the blur, he seemed to see his sister, who pushed himself again.Why can't I see my sister's appearance clearly? Qing Huan wanted to scream, but was tightly covered.

Sweat drenched her underwear, her lips were clenched tightly together, Qing Huan suddenly woke up with a start.The room was pitch black, only the candles outside the flower shade were glowing yellow.The room was so quiet that only two breathing sounds could be heard. Qing Huan wanted to turn her body, but her whole body was exhausted.

It took half as long as before, and Qing Huan struggled to get up from the edge of the bed.Her lips were thirsty, and the hot air directed towards her head. Qing Huan looked around by the faint candlelight.

A tall flower table stood beside the bed, and a set of teapots were placed on the table. It looked a little old, but it did not hinder the joy that Qing Huan saw in her heart.He stretched out his hand to probe, but he didn't catch it. He leaned over and knocked over the tea bowl with his fingertips.

A crisp sound resounded in the room, and there was a rustling sound of getting up outside the flower cover.

"Girl." By candlelight, Aunt Liu saw Qing Huan leaning against the bed.

Qing Huan pursed her lips, looking at Aunt Liu with confusion and excitement.

Aunt Liu didn't get any response, she thought the girl was thirsty, so she put the oil lamp in her hand on the flower table.Touching the teapot, it was a little cold, after thinking about it, Aunt Liu still poured a small cup.

"It's getting cold, Miss, moisten your lips. I'll bring a pot of hot water later." Aunt Liu held the tea bowl to Qing Huan's lips.

It's autumn, and Qing Huan didn't dare to drink too much tea after the night, but the urge to vent in her heart made herself unable to help but drink a big bowl.The cold tea entered the stomach, and the coolness barely suppressed the palpitations.Qing Huan's face was pale, and the hand holding the teacup was trembling.

Seeing this, Aunt Liu reached out and touched Qing Huan's forehead.Aunt Liu frowned, although she didn't burn, but why is her forehead so cold.Aunt Liu was worried, she reached out and touched the back of Qing Huan's neck, her hands were covered with sweat.Aunt Liu whispered: "What can I do, I can't go to the fire, I'm going to catch a cold." Aunt Liu turned around and wanted to go out.

Qing Huan stopped her: "Auntie, change into clean clothes for me."

Aunt Liu looked at Qing Huan, Qing Huan's expression remained unchanged.

Aunt Liu sighed and took a clean handkerchief and wiped her body with Qing Huan, then took a new inner coat from the cabinet and changed into it.

He looked at Qing Huan's dropped teacup on the ground.Aunt Liu bent down to pick it up, the teacup was very strong and did not break.

"Girl, it's better to drink some hot water." Qing Huan knew that if she objected again, Aunt Liu would be sad.

After Qing Huan put on her outer robe, Aunt Liu left the room with the teapot.

Qing Huan was tired of waiting, and was thinking whether to drink the small cup of tea bowl that was still there.Aunt Liu came in carrying the teapot, with a hint of anger on her face.

"I ran into an acquaintance and chatted with each other. Miss, please wait." Aunt Liu lowered her head and did not look at Qing Huan. She poured the tea again and let Qing Huan hold it.

The bursts of warmth from the teacup did not make Qing Huan any more comfortable, her eyes stopped on Aunt Liu's head.Aunt Liu turned her head uncomfortably.Qing Huan lowered her eyelids, sighing to herself, it really is like this, exactly the same as her sister at that time.

After Qing Huan finished drinking the tea, Aunt Liu waited for her to lie down, tucked the corners of the quilt, and felt that there would be no air leakage, so she straightened up in satisfaction.

"Girl, sleep a little longer. It's Yin time now."

"Auntie, where's Jun'er?"

Aunt Liu did not speak, but looked at Qing Huan with pity.

"Auntie, go to sleep." Qing Huan closed her eyes without waiting for Aunt Liu's answer.She needed to think about it, but she needed a good night's sleep before doing so.too tired….

Aunt Liu sat quietly for a while, and waited until she was sure that the girl had fallen asleep before returning to the flower cover.

Qing Huan woke up again amidst the chirping of birds.

Aunt Liu was not in the room, only two maidservants were sitting on the small bed talking in a low voice.

"Mancao, when I got up in the morning and passed by the outhouse, I saw the silver hairpin on the head of the boiling water nurse. I felt as if I had seen it somewhere before. It looked familiar." The person with a bright voice said.

"Hush... Keep your voice down. I didn't see that Aunt Liu only used wooden hairpins to tie her hair in the morning." The man named Mancao said in a low voice.

"Ah... These people are really going too far. If the master and madam..."

Mancao covered Linglu's mouth with her hand, and looked sideways at the bed covered by light gauze.

"Don't talk nonsense. This will be the girl's home from now on." Mancao looked at Linglu worriedly, she is also a good person, otherwise the girl and Aunt Liu would not have sold other servants when they returned to Beijing Only the two of them remained after that.It's just that his temperament is not calm enough, and he is a little out of touch.

"Hmm..." Linglu signaled Mancao to let go.

"I know, I'm just angry." Once her mouth was free again, Ling Lu couldn't help muttering: "In the past few days when the girl returned to the house, each of those people came to have a look. The doctor only invited him once. For a few days, Aunt Liu stayed up all night with her. Not to mention those people, the other servants in the yard can't be controlled, the girl is also their master."

Mancao sighed, lowered her head and opened the net in her hands again. Her female celebrity is not very good, but she can do these simple things.The girl returned to the mansion these days and there is no monthly silver, and it costs money to buy medicine and see a doctor, so she can only save some embroidery work and sell it.

Linglu's hand is a bit dexterous, and she loves to ponder, all the color schemes of Luozi are chosen by her.Needless to say, it is also due to talent, after such a color matching, the patterned net looks much better.

Hearing this, Qing Huan supported her body with one hand and wanted to get up, and lifted the quilt. Last night, she slept again and sweated all over, and her whole body was sticky, but her body was warmer.

Mancao heard the movement, put down the half-stretched net, walked quickly to the bed, opened the gauze curtain, just met Shang Qinghuan's eyes, and said softly: "When I went to get medicine yesterday, I saw a woman on the side of the road. The hen is very fat. Aunt Liu bought it back and is now making chicken porridge for the girl in the big kitchen, girl, do you want to sleep a little longer?"

With the window half open, Qing Huan looked up at the sun and asked, "What time is it?"

"It's past half hour."

"Get up." Qing Huan was about to get up as she said, it was too late last night, but now she really wants to wash up.Mancao hurriedly picked up the clothes she had prepared earlier, and Aunt Liu had washed them and dried them thoroughly, and there was still a smell of sunshine nearby.Linglu came in with the servant girl carrying hot water, and before leaving, she stuffed a few copper coins for the helper servant girl.

After taking a bath and changing clothes, Qing Huan sat in front of the bronze mirror. The girl in the mirror was about ten years old, with beautiful features, but because of her young age, her appearance had not fully developed.Xu Shi was just recovering from a serious illness, but Gu Er looked lacklustre and pale.

Ling Lu was holding the tooth powder box, and the washbasin walked in, although she walked very steadily, the hot water in the basin did not spill out at all.

Qing Huan opened the tooth powder box, scooped up a spoonful with a small spoon, and poured it into her mouth.He took the tea from Mancao, took a sip of tea, and spit it into the gargle.

Linglu wrung out the handkerchief and helped to wipe her face.Mancao opened the small drawer under the copper mirror, took out a white porcelain jar, and carefully lifted the lid.

Qing Huan stretched out her hand to scoop out a little yellowish paste, melted it in the palm of her hand, rubbed it on her face, and the scent of sweet-scented osmanthus entered her nostrils.After looking at the little osmanthus balm left, Qing Huan put it down.

Aunt Liu came in with a food box, saw Qing Huan's movements, and said with a smile: "It's just that Auntie forgot to prepare it for the girl again. She will fill it up in the next few days, and the girl should use more. The weather is not like ours. At that time in Yuhang, the wind easily made the skin dry and cracked."

Qing Huan smiled and let the vines be put away.

The weather wasn't that cold yet, so Aunt Liu didn't force it, she opened the food box and brought out a bowl of steaming chicken porridge, followed by another plate of boiled chicken.

"It's been stewed for a full hour, and it's soft and glutinous, just right for eating." Aunt Liu said with a smile.

The chicken porridge was sprinkled with shallots, smelling the fragrance and whet one's appetite. Qing Huan's stomach had already sang an empty city plan, and she quickly picked up a piece of chicken with her chopsticks.The white chopped chicken is made of three yellow chickens. Aunt Liu cut it into chunks and neatly stacked them in the bowl, not too big or too small to eat in one bite.

"The doctor said that the girl's spleen and stomach still need to be nourished, but he dare not show jealousy to the girl." Aunt Liu saw what she was thinking, and coaxed: "When the girl is well, Auntie will make you your favorite food."

I ate all the chicken porridge, and I also ate a small half of the plate of boiled chicken.

Aunt Liu was delighted to see it, when Mancao came over holding the porcelain bowl.

Although Qing Huan has not been sober these past few days, she can smell it. It is the traditional Chinese medicine that she has been drinking, and she does not know how many times Aunt Liu has taken it.

Qing Huan closed her eyes, grabbed the medicine bowl and drank it in one gulp.

Aunt Liu had sharp eyes and quick hands, pinched a candied fruit and threw it into Qing Huan's mouth.The sweet and sour taste of candied fruit finally suppresses the bitterness of traditional Chinese medicine.

Qing Huan put down the bowl, took the handkerchief and pressed the corner of her mouth.

"Do you want to sleep a little longer?" Seeing the faint tiredness on Qing Huan's face, Aunt Liu asked.

Qing Huan shook her head, her body was a little weak after sleeping for a long time.

"Since you don't want to sleep, let's lie down, it just so happens that the sun is shining today." Aunt Liu suggested.

Since she was going to bask in the sun, Qing Huan moved to the Arhat bed on the other side of the falling flower cover.The door was open, and the sunlight slanted onto the bed.

Vine Grass Linglu sat aside again and tied the knot, while Aunt Liu picked up the half-embroidered purse.

"The young master has visited the girl in the past few days, but the girl is sick. The mother Wang who is beside the old lady said that she was afraid of getting sick, so she only asked the young master to look at it in the outer room." Aunt Liu looked at Qing Huan and said.

"Jun'er's body is important, it's not good to be ill after that." Qing Huan said lightly, she knew what Aunt Liu meant.Jun'er was probably left with the old lady, but Qing Huan didn't believe that they could really protect him.As soon as I arrived in the capital, I suddenly developed a high fever, and the old lady sent someone to take Jun'er away.I'm afraid that even if I don't get sick, I will have such an experience, but Jun'er must not be placed with the old lady.

"When the girl is well, we will bring the young master back."

Qing Huan twitched the corners of her mouth and smiled.

"Auntie, I'm feeling better. Go and greet the old lady at night. After returning to Beijing for so many days, I haven't been there, and I always have trouble."

"But girl, you are still sick..." Ling Lu whispered.

Qing Huan didn't speak, and Aunt Liu nodded: "That's the reason. The girl is a junior, so she should go to pay her respects to her elders. It's just that if you're in a hurry at night, it's better to go tomorrow." Although Aunt Liu agreed, she still felt distressed. Have more fun.

"Auntie, I'm awake, won't the old lady know? This is not our home in Yuhang." Qing Huan reminded lightly.

Suddenly, Aunt Liu understood that Qing Huan was worried, so she nodded, and while speeding up the purse in her hand, she was thinking about what clothes the girl would wear and how to match her accessories when she greeted her.

Ling Lu was puzzled, what else to say, felt his sleeves being pulled, turned around and saw Mancao shaking his head at him, then lowered his head and frowned.

Qing Huan saw their actions, and felt somewhat satisfied.Mancao is calm and thinks farther, Linglu is a bit straightforward, but she is not reckless, and what is even more rare is that she never messes around when she doesn't know, and is obedient.Isn't the most important thing for a maid is to be obedient.These two maids were sent to Qing Huan after being trained by her mother, Cheng Shi, so there is no need to worry about being loyal.It's just that she's younger, about the same age as Qing Huan, so I'm afraid someone in the mansion will make some moves.

The bedding is newly changed, and Linglu is specially scented.Her body was soft and fragrant, Qing Huan was thinking about saying hello tonight, accompanied by the sweet smell of peach blossoms, she fell asleep drowsily.

The other three people in the room lowered their voices in unison.

(End of this chapter)