in spring

Chapter 20 Spring is infinitely good

The second uncle of the Lu family was very efficient. It was decided on the other side that he had already weighed ten taels of silver and sent it to his cousin's house the next day, which surprised Lu Yougui: "What is this for? I told you not to Your money!"

Second Uncle Lu smiled and said: "This is not for my brother, just because I have to go out again in two days, and my brother helps me with errands, and always spends money on running things up and down. My brother's family is not rich, and I am not at home. How can you have money to do it?" Favor? There is no need to delay the serious business. So I will send the money first, and my brother will use it at his discretion."

After hearing this, Lu Yougui had no choice but to accept it: "Okay, when you come back, I'll return you what's left."

"How much can I have left? A little bit of silver is fine. It's just as if I treat my brother to a drink. Why do you have to be so clear between brothers." Uncle Lu paused, pretending to be casual, "Ten taels of silver is a lot. I'm afraid it's not enough. If you are really short of money, brother can ask Xiao Wu to pass a message to the young master. I remember that Xiao Wu's family lives nearby, which is very convenient and won't alarm others. Brother don't need to worry too much, Half of this batch of goods belonged to the young master."

Lu Yougui frowned: "Why didn't I hear you say it before?"

"What's the matter? I'm working under him now, isn't this a very common thing?"

Lu Yougui frowned for a long time, always felt something was wrong, but he had already agreed to his younger brother, so he didn't say anything more.

Chunying had been working beside them with her head bowed, and when she heard this, the corners of her mouth twitched.

She used the excuse to send her uncle out, dragged her second uncle to a corner of the courtyard to avoid people, and asked quietly: "Did the second uncle mention it to the young master? If Dad really looks for someone, will everyone know?"

"Of course I know, the young master is very happy." Second Uncle Lu looked around and said, "My good boy, remember to remind your mother often and persuade your father. There will be good days in the future, and our family will enjoy happiness together." .”

Chunying nodded, hesitated for a moment, and asked again: "Second Uncle, do you usually... besides reselling goods... do you have other ways to make money?" With her current status, she can't farm, can't open a shop, and doesn't know much about sewing. It's a good idea, but I don't have the talent to do costume design, so I have to ask the opinions of the aborigines.

Second Uncle Lu was surprised: "Why are you asking this?"

"I think...if only our family can earn some money." Chunying said slowly, "Only relying on the monthly money of my father and sister and reward money, even though the whole family has enough food and clothing, they can't save it." A few dollars, if something happens in the future..."

Second Uncle Lu thought for a while: "Although there is a way, your father probably won't agree to it. What can you and your mother do? You are busy enough to pick up needles and threads outside on weekdays. You really shouldn't look for it anymore. Live elsewhere."

Chunying hurriedly said: "I have heard people say that there is a person who is called a stockholder...that is, one person opens a store, and other people lend him their own money temporarily, just like joining together, and receive interest on a monthly or quarterly basis." .Now... has someone already done this?"

Second Uncle Lu smiled and said: "Of course there are, but that kind of money is worth 20 taels at least. How can you have so much money?"

Chunying was overjoyed: "Not now, maybe in the future. My mother asked me to work as a servant in the mansion. After I save enough money, I can invest in shares."

"Then you have to wait until the year of the monkey." Second Uncle Lu laughed loudly, "Come on, if you can really save five taels, then come to Second Uncle, and Second Uncle can find you a reliable shop. Uh... West Street Land There is a flower shop near the temple, and an old pastry shop in front of Fahua Temple. The owners are all honest people and have never owed interest, but..." He pondered for a moment, "You have little capital and little profit. After a year, it’s only a few dollars, so it’s better than leaving it at home. If you’re in a hurry to use the money, you’ll lose the interest. It’s better to put it in the embroidery room where the eldest grandma married as a dowry. .”

"Embroidery room?" Chunying rolled her eyes, "Is there someone who does needlework there? Do you accept outside work? My mother is such a good embroiderer. If I can sell the things I make there, I can earn some money." ?”

Second Uncle Lu smiled and shook his head: "Our youngest mistress was originally the daughter of the Jing family in Suzhou. The Jing family is also a powerful family. The embroidery skills of the female family members in the family are passed down from generation to generation. Everyone in the world knows it. Embroidery items from his family are indispensable. Although the embroidery house of the eldest and young grandmother is only a small property for dowry, it is marked with the word "Jing", and the checks are extremely strict. If the things embroidered by the family are not good, they would rather hang them than sell them. Go, unless the things outside are very good, they won’t be accepted.”

"My mother is good at embroidering. She used to be from the sewing room in the mansion. How about... second uncle, if it's convenient, can you help me? I'll ask mother to bring two copies of the things she embroidered before, and second uncle will send them to you." Go and show them?"

Second Uncle Lu thought for a while, then agreed, Chunying turned her head to find her mother and gnawed at her ear, Mother Lu immediately turned out the red hijab she embroidered by herself before she got married, and added a new embroidered handkerchief , all were delivered by Uncle Lu, and the day before Uncle’s departure, he sent them back, along with a pack of plain satin material and silk threads of more than twenty colors, among which were two embroidered patterns. She tried to make a 12 yuan handkerchief and send it over.

Lu's mother hugged all these things happily, and made them whenever she had free time, doing them with great care.Sometimes Chunying was afraid that she would damage her eyes, and advised her to rest for a while, and she would say: "Embroidering a few small flowers, how can it damage your eyes? You really underestimated your mother. If this thing happens, it will be a big shame." It’s better than me working outside all day long.” Chunying persuaded her a few times, and seeing that she didn’t embroider much, she let her go.

The embroidery was finished in less than two days. Mother Lu put on clean clothes, dressed carefully, took the embroidery work herself, and went to Jing's embroidery room at the address given by Uncle Lu, and came back after a long time. I couldn't hide my joy: "It's done! The Ping Mama who was in charge said that I only need to help make handkerchiefs, embroidered socks, wipe foreheads and so on. I don't need any big ones, so I can relax , From now on, we can be regarded as working for the Jing family embroidery!" Then he told her daughter in a low voice, even if she no longer helps people mend clothes, this alone can increase her income by [-]%.When Chunying heard this, she made up her mind and became happy with her mother.

From then on, Lu Yougui went to work every day during the day, and went out to run errands to help his younger brother with errands in his spare time, while Lu's mother concentrated on doing the work in Jing's embroidery room at home.Although those handkerchiefs are fresh and elegant, they don't take much time, but they take a lot of energy. Mother Lu is afraid that she will lose her good job if she fails to do so, so she simply stops all other work and focuses on this, as if Back in the days of the sewing room.

In this way, both taking care of her younger brother and housework fell on Chunying.She thought that there were few things she could do, so she gritted her teeth and learned to cook and wash clothes every day, and did some mending work from time to time. She was so busy that she didn't even have time for the big calendar I went to see it.

Time passed day by day, the weather became warmer day by day, the apricot blossoms in the courtyard withered and peach blossoms bloomed again, and by the time the plum trees planted along the back streets also bloomed, it was late spring and early summer.

The Lu family became more and more affluent. Mother Lu no longer did laundry, sewing, and mending work. Recently, she added a new pair of silver earrings, and occasionally bought her husband a couple of taels of good wine. Chunying also made a set of spring shirts for herself from the cloth. From the beginning, the food she made was barely edible, and now she can cook a dozen or so delicious home-cooked dishes.

Lu Yougui was aware of the changes in his family, and at first he felt uncomfortable, but after drinking two months of good wine and seeing that he didn't cause any gossip, he acquiesced to his wife and daughter's actions.Mother Lu felt more at ease after seeing her, and decided to start teaching her daughter how to embroider meticulously. When Chunying learned it, she would try it in the embroidery room, and maybe she could earn a double share.

Chunying responded with a snickering smile, and walked to the kitchen.Aunt Zhou boiled a pot of soymilk to make bean gluten yesterday, and gave her a bowl. When she was shopping for vegetables, she saw that today's pork belly was good, so she bought a piece and planned to make a bean gluten stew. The good stew made by the concierge uncle, let him satisfy his hunger tonight.

The water in the pot boiled, she washed the cut meat and put it in, mixed it with cooking wine, and put a few prickly ash peppers, boiled it until it was half-cooked, and then served it in a clay pot with the meat and juice.Go back and wash the bean tendon, cut it into thin strips, and put it aside for later use. After checking that the meat is full of juice, sauté the ginger and garlic with oil, then add the meat and bean tendon strips, stir fry for a few times, and then put it on Bring the water to a boil, take out two sticks of firewood, keep the fire low, and cook the meat slowly.

The smell of meat gradually overflowed the kitchen, and the two boys of the Ma family smelled the aroma, swallowed their saliva and lay down on the kitchen window sill, blinking hard at Chunying.Chunying looked amused, and filled half a bowl for them to try. The two boys happily ran away holding the bowls.After a while, Aunt Ma came back with an empty bowl embarrassed, thanked her coyly, and said with a smile: "Young girl Chun is really amazing now, she forgot her needlework, and she has practiced her cooking well."

Chunying said "I dare not take it" and took the bowl with a smile.

Ever since the secret was leaked that time, the Lu family had separated from the neighbor's aunt. Aunt Ma knew she was wronged and wanted to make up for it. Seeing that Lu's mother had been calm, she couldn't do anything about it. Today, she suddenly got a chance, and she hesitated for a long time. , then stepped forward and whispered: "Chun girl... I heard your mother said that you plan to enter the second lady's yard, isn't it? I heard that in ten days or so, a new girl will be selected."

Chunying got the news early, so she smiled at her: "Thank you Aunt Ma, my mother has heard about it." She didn't care.

Aunt Ma hesitated for a while, then turned her head to look outside, and got closer: "Did you know that Sister Lian from the Feng family is going too? I have been arguing with Sister Lian for a few days!"

Chunying paused: "Really?" She didn't care about those two girls, and it was the first time she heard about those two girls today.

"You can't make a mistake. Be careful, there are only a few vacancies in total. If she wants to go up, she doesn't know how to deal with you. You have to be careful, or you will be like that girl Cui..." Aunt Ma suddenly closed her mouth. , picked up a bamboo basket and walked out.Chunying froze for a moment, but saw Widow Cui coming in from outside, and smiled timidly at herself: "Are you busy? Then I'll come back later..." She turned around, stopped again, and turned her head to say goodbye to Chunying. Ying said something, but after all, she left without opening her mouth.

Chun Ying was a little puzzled, but the matter of entering the mansion had been decided long ago, so she could only go now.Sister Feng Lian can trust someone, and her old mother has also found Mrs. Guan, so it is estimated that things can still be done, right?She is not an idiot, if someone plots against her, will she not be wary?

(Chunguang is infinitely good, but it’s a pity that there are villains~~~ to make a dish, and there are countless seasonings that can’t be used, it’s really painful... I’m asking for a pink ticket, please~~~)

(End of this chapter)