concubine leisurely

Chapter 9

The welcoming family banquet was extremely successful: the old lady was kind and amiable, not only cared for her grandchildren, but also thoughtfully spared the two daughters-in-law from serving the dishes; The third wife had a happy face, and she took care of everyone in the banquet; all the sisters behaved gracefully and harmoniously.

Menglai, father and son were in high spirits. They ordered Lihuabai and drank it slowly, talking and talking. The female relatives talked and laughed and drank a lot of rice wine and fruit wine.

After eating until four drums have been handed over, the crowd slowly dispersed.

In the next few days, Meng Lai was very busy. Relatives, friends, former colleagues, and supervisors all had to visit one by one.

Leisurely put away her luggage, tidy up the account book and gift list, but she is not idle every day. Fortunately, in the past few days, the two tycoons of the inner house, Mrs. Meng and Mrs. Zhong, have never made things difficult for her, and the sisters and sisters have never had any trouble.It's just that after lunch one day, Mrs. Meng suddenly became interested, and she didn't take a nap. She called Zhong Shi, Hu Shi and all the sisters over to test the homework of the sisters.

Knowing that she doesn't know how to work as a female worker, her face suddenly became very ugly.

With an ugly face, without looking at her, she lowered her head leisurely and pretended to be honest, ignoring the angry old lady Meng.

"Good! Good! Good!" The old lady Meng couldn't hold back her anger, she gritted her teeth and said three good words, "There are daughters of the Meng family who can't even know how to work as a female worker. I have seen it today! You really Give Meng's parents face!"

Mrs. Meng slapped the table heavily, Zhong, Hu and all the sisters stood up hurriedly, bowing their heads and not daring to say a word.

"From the second family, you have taught me a good girl!" Old lady Meng was aggressive.

Zhong admitted her mistake in a low voice, "My daughter-in-law is ashamed." You Ran was not born to her, but the responsibility for her upbringing is hers.

Leisurely frowned, the old lady always took a nap at lunch, and she didn't take a nap today, so she called all the female relatives over, Yueran, Yiran, Yanran, and Anran were just going through the motions, it was her turn to directly test her As for the female worker, it seems that she knows that she can't be a female worker.

What did you do to offend her?Thinking leisurely.

Women in this era pay attention to being female workers, but Youran really doesn't like to do it, and she keeps finding excuses to avoid it.When I first came here, I was sick, so of course I couldn’t do anything. After recovering from the illness, I didn’t want to learn anything. Huang Xin is a 24-year-old mother, and everything is left to her. If you don’t read, you have to study as a housekeeper and director. Of course it’s good for female workers to love to do it, and it’s okay not to do it.

Meng Lai's attitude is very pragmatic. Whose housewife has the skills to do needlework?It's not someone who can't afford needle and thread.

It's really a family that can't even afford a needleworker, and he is reluctant to marry his daughter.

Yue Ran smiled to old lady Meng, "My fifth sister has been ill for a while, and she hasn't been raised by her mother these few years, so it's not uncommon for the female workers to be unfamiliar. Fortunately, now that she's home, she can start teaching slowly."

The old lady Meng kept a straight face and said nothing, Yue Ran turned around and took Youran's hand, and said softly, "Fifth sister, my sister will teach you in the future, you can learn how to do it slowly, okay?" Youran pouted no As he spoke, his big eyes were full of grievances, and Yue Ran embraced her distressedly.

Yanran and Xinran bowed their heads and remained silent, the two female workers were also poor.

Yiran felt sour. Whose girls don't learn how to do needlework, except for An Ran, none of the girls from Erbo's family are proficient in reading and writing. Does the girl's family have to take the number one examination?Youran is just a little concubine, and she needs to be coaxed like this to learn how to sew!

Yi Ran pursed her lips and said with a smile, "Sister Youran is already eleven, and she doesn't know anything about sewing." She looked regretful.It's ridiculous, he can't work at such a big age!

Mrs. Hu gloatly watched Mrs. Zhong being blamed and being laughed at leisurely, and said cheerfully, "Your sister Yueran wants to embroider the dowry, so I don't have time to teach you. It's your sister Yi who has the best embroidery skills, so I will let you do it." Your sister Yi will teach you."

Yiran's rigid temper, really let her teach it, enough for this little girl to eat a pot.

Mrs. Hu looked at Mrs. Zhong demonstratively, with a face like you can't teach your daughter well, and I will teach you for you.

Zhong's teeth itched with hatred.

An Ran thought about the situation, and said cautiously, "Fifth sister is in poor health. My father told me to let fifth sister rest well. There is no rush to learn needlework. When fifth sister is in good health, I will teach sister Yi together. ?”

An Ran is a cautious girl with a meticulous mind. Girls don’t know how to work as maids, so it’s not a good thing to say so, so they had to use the excuse that Lei Ran’s body was too poor for her father to order her to rest.

"Hey, the fifth girl is still in poor health. Look at this little face, tsk tsk, it's rosy, like a red apple." Mrs. Hu is stubborn, who are you fooling? !With such a small appearance, who would believe that he is not in good health?

An Ran took it easy, "What the third aunt said was true. It's just that my father told our sisters more than once, saying that the fifth sister has lost her body since she fell into the pond. "

When Mrs. Hu heard the words "fall into the pond", her body trembled, then she calmed down and said, "So that's it, the fifth niece should rest in peace, get well soon, and don't let the elders worry about it."

The old lady Meng ordered with a cold face, "The fifth girl is a good child, and when you are done, you must learn how to sew."

Everyone breathed a sigh of relief that the incident was finally over.

Unexpectedly, she shook her head leisurely, "I don't want to learn."

Old lady Meng looked at her incredulously, "What did you say?"

Everyone acted so passionately for a long time, and she watched it lively for a long time, and the last three words gently, I don't want to learn?
Leisurely explained, "When I picked up the needle, I got a headache. My father said that my body is important. Since I have no chance with needlework, I don't need to learn."

The old lady Meng looked at the innocent Meng Youran, and said coldly, "Your old man will come home and ask him to come see me immediately!"

"Yes!" He leisurely and loudly agreed.

Looking reassuring, Mrs. Meng became angry and ordered everyone to disperse, leaving only Hu and Yanran to serve.

A group of people left Xuanrui Hall, Yi Ran's eyes flashed, she pretended to be affectionate and took Youran's hand, and said earnestly, "Sister Youran, what your grandmother taught you is good, you should, even the second uncle should be filial and listen Grandmother, younger sister is better to learn how to work as a female worker."

Zhong cast a glance at Yiran, this niece is also a no-winner, she lives in the second room, and always has trouble with the people in the second room.

"Why do you want to learn how to work as a female worker?" You Ran raised her head and asked innocently.

"Because women must obey the three virtues and the four virtues are virtue, appearance, speech, and workmanship. Women workers must learn." Yiran taught happily.

"Oh, what are those three obediences?" You Ran blinked.

"Follow the father at home, obey the husband when married, and obey the son after the husband dies." Yi Ran answered very fluently.

"Follow my father at home? I listen to my father. My father told me not to learn needlework. But my grandmother wants me to learn. Should I listen to my father or my grandmother? Well, I listen to my father. I follow my father at home. , not following grandma at home." Leisurely tilted her head, and said everything she had planned in her heart.

Everyone couldn't laugh or cry when they heard her words of "following father at home, not grandmother at home". What kind of nonsense is this?
Yi Ran blushed anxiously, "What nonsense are you talking about? Of course we listen to grandma, and the second uncle also listens to grandma, and he must be filial."

"But elder sister, you just said that women should obey the three virtues and four virtues. In the three obediences, they said that the husband should obey the son to death, so does grandmother want to obey the son to death?" You Ran asked humbly for advice.

"But the second uncle also needs to be filial." Yi Ran was furious.

Mimi nodded with a leisurely smile, "Sister said yes." This dynasty rules the world with filial piety, who would dare not be filial?
Yue Ran pulled You Ran back, "Look, your complexion is so bad, it's only been a few days since you came home after a long journey, why don't you go back and take care of yourself?"

A leisurely and well-behaved "hmm".

An Ran and Xin Ran also echoed, "Go back and have a baby."

Yiran looked at the sisters talking nonsense with their eyes open, and their eyes turned red with anger.

Going back to the pear courtyard alone, thinking of the pain of losing his father since childhood, he cried hard.Biyu waited to persuade him for a long time.

Meng Lai came back after dinner after visiting his old colleagues. Mr. Zhong had already greeted him outside the second door, took him to the main room, and told what happened today.

Meng Lai frowned, "Is my daughter not scared?" Zhong said hurriedly, "No, Mimi was smiling from beginning to end."

Meng Lai pondered for a moment, Wen Yan asked Zhong to rest first, then turned around and went to Xuan Ruitang.

Facing old lady Meng's accusation and anger, Meng Lai was expressionless, and slowly said, "I never told the old lady about Ayou's falling into the water. Today, I have to talk about it."

Old lady Meng froze for a moment.

On the day when Lei Ran fell into the water, Mrs. Zhong took Yue Ran back to her mother's house happily, and she was the only one who was in charge of the house in the Meng Mansion.Will the son blame her for this?

After leisurely woke up, she was busy asking the doctor to make porridge and medicine. Meng Lai watched over her daughter every step of the way. After Zhong Shi returned home, she was in a hurry again. Two little girls died in the water, and the water became even muddier.

Until Meng Lai was about to be released, he didn't find any clues. Meng Lai was worried about Youran, so he went to the post with Youran regardless, and he went there for three years.

"That day, I went to the Yamen after breakfast, Ayou was still asleep, her little face was flushed, and I went out after kissing her little face." Meng Lai's voice was very calm, but it made the old lady Meng's heart palpitate inexplicably. "I knew that Mrs. Zhong was going to take Yue'er Xin'er back to her natal family that day. After leaving the yamen and returning home early, the house was in a mess, the house was in a mess, and the maids and servants were arguing, saying that the fifth girl had fallen into the pond. "

A trace of hostility flashed across Meng Lai's face, "The pond is frozen for nine days, and my daughter can fall in it! When I rushed to the pond, I only saw a wet little girl on the ground, my daughter's little girl." My body is already cold, and I'm out of breath!"

"Ayou's mother is sitting next to her, she's so dazed, she's already stupid."

"I hugged Ayou tightly, I don't believe it, the little girl I kissed when I woke up early, just went away!" At that time, he not only hugged Ayou, but also hugged Huang Xin, one big and one small, with two bodies They were all icy cold, one was dead and the other was half dead.

If Lei Ran goes there, Huang Xin, who loves her daughter like her life, will not be able to survive.

I don't know how long I hugged her, but slowly Huang Xin got the heat, and her eyes didn't look so stupid, she started to cry in his arms, calling Ayou non-stop, and the good daughter cried out obediently; The small body was not so cold, but it warmed up a little bit, and moved.

God knows, when Ayou opened his eyes in his arms, he and Huang Xin were overwhelmed with surprise!
"Ayou survives a catastrophe, and there will be future blessings. My daughter is pampered under my knees. If I can spoil her for a few days, I will spoil her for a few days. If the female worker doesn't want to learn, then don't learn it. The child will have a headache when he picks up the needle. Am I willing to be a father?" Forcing her? If there is good fortune in the future, then of course she won’t need it. If there is no good fortune, no matter how skilled the female worker is, what can she do? Don’t worry, the old lady, Ah You is a lucky one. After this calamity, the future will be smooth.”

"It's not good to let outsiders know that Meng's daughter has never even touched a needle and thread." Mrs. Meng still objected.

"If you do a good job in needlework, you will tell others about it; if you don't do it well, what can you say? If you don't tell your own people, how will outsiders know?" Meng Lai smiled.He is an official, and he understands what it means to say one thing and do another.

"How can a girl know how to sew?" Old Mrs. Meng hesitated, "You can't even talk about your husband's family."

"Don't worry, old lady," Meng Lai said confidently, "The eminent monk of Xilai Nunnery has approved Ayou's order, and Ayou will marry well in the future."

The old lady frowned and said, "Must-in-law and children's close-fitting clothes must be made by myself."

Meng Lai smiled and said, "It's like I've never worn clothes made by my wife, isn't it good?" Not only did I not wear clothes made by my wife, but I also didn't wear clothes made by my mother. Old lady Meng never made clothes for her second son. clothes.

The old lady Meng was wronged in the end, so she could only sigh, "Your girl, you can figure it out yourself, don't be too spoiled, habit is like killing a child."

"Don't worry, the old lady, and the son will save it." Meng Lai felt relieved when the trouble was solved.

At the same time, the east wing of the Liyuan.

The sullen Meng Zhengyu looked at the ivory pen holder Shanlianhu brush and the expensive Duan inkstone in the red sandalwood box that Lei Ran sent, he was still depressed.

What's the use of such a precious pen, such a precious inkstone, and he doesn't like reading!He just likes to be sick, lying in bed, and ignoring anyone.

Meng Youran felt extremely sympathetic to Meng Zhengyu. This is a hard-working child. Even at the age of 11, Mrs. Hu wouldn't let him move out of the inner courtyard, and kept him under strict control. Well, if she were him, she might get sick too.

"Brother Yu, sister will tell you a story." Meng Youran said with a smile.

"Yes." Meng Zhengyu had nothing to do.

"Dahui Zonggao has a disciple who works very hard but is very stupid. He still can't realize the Tao. Well, let's call him a stupid disciple. Dahui Zonggao's first disciple is very kind-hearted. The stupid disciple was very happy to hear what the senior brother said, so the two brothers set off. On the way, the senior disciple said to the stupid disciple, "I will do my best to help you, but there are five things I can't do for you. I can't do it for you. I can eat for you, I can’t sleep for you, I can’t breathe for you, I can’t excrete for you, and your body, I can’t carry it on the road for you.” After hearing this, the stupid disciple realized something. After traveling back to the mountain, Dahui Zonggao said happily when he saw the stupid disciple, "This person has been reborn!" Brother Yu, no one can carry your body for you, anyone can rely on himself in the end."

"No one can carry your body for you," Meng Zhengyu recalled these words, but said, "I don't think about who to rely on, a child without a father, who else can I rely on if I don't rely on myself?"

It's still this thing that bothers me.

Meng Youran sighed, and said, "Brother Yu, you are a man after all, as long as you finish your studies and take the imperial examination, you will have a brighter future."

"Is the imperial examination easy? Stereotypes are annoying." Meng Zhengyu muttered.

"If stereotyped essays are done well, you can do whatever you want. If you want poems, you can write poems. If you want to write poems, you can write poems. There will be marks from the whip, slaps, and blood. You should memorize Wang Shouxi's manuscripts thoroughly before you talk about it." Meng Meng Smiling leisurely, "Dahui Zonggao has a famous saying that even Zhu Zi appreciates, 'Having a cart of weapons is not a means of killing; if I have an inch of iron, I can kill.' Brother Yu, you must learn to kill with an inch of iron."

The originally thin boy suddenly became energetic, "Did he tell you to tell me?"

Meng Youran was startled, and said sincerely, "He misses you very much, and he hired a good husband for you. He will be here in a few days. I only hope that you will succeed in your studies."

With bright eyes, Meng Zhengyu smiled and nodded.

(End of this chapter)