The Red Mansion is so charming

Chapter 22
Today's Xiuyan family is like a gathering of butterflies, and how many established plots have been swept away.Even if she really can't escape the fate of visiting Jia's mansion in the future, Xiuyan believes that it will be difficult to reproduce the abject experience in the original book.

Even so, Xiuyan is still grateful for what Pinger has done.

This girl's heart is not bad, at least compared with her master, she is a very kind person.

While Zhengde was hungry, he ate the bird's nest soup that Miying had just brought up, the kitchen staff hurriedly served the dishes, Xiuyan saw that Ping'er was still standing where she was, and hurriedly took her to the table.

"It's absolutely unacceptable, Miss Xing, I'm a maid's life, I should serve the girls, and I can do it anywhere."

Xiuyan stared at her almond-shaped eyes, and pretended to be rigid and said: "I don't like to hear about maids. You are in the room of Lian's second cousin, and you are also a sister-in-law to me. Why can't you go to the table? By the way, It must be that we dislike the small table and table in our house, and the lack of rich dishes, nothing can fall into the eyes of Sister Ping'er."

Ping'er was neither crying nor laughing. This Miss Xing is really both loved and hated, just like a second Miss Lin.

Daiyu pursed her lips and smiled: "Why don't you sit down quickly, are you really waiting for sister Xing to get angry? You look at our Zhengde, the hungry chest is pressed against the back, and the poor boy is waiting for dinner." Everyone hurriedly looked at it. Sure enough, Zhengde puffed his cheeks, and his big eyes darted to the pheasant soup bowl on the table.Seeing everyone staring at him, the little guy said confidently, "I can eat a cow now!"

Seeing Miss Xing being so sincere, Ping'er had to sit next to Daiyu.

Because Daiyu was still in the filial piety period, every meal in the big kitchen was a combination of meat and vegetables. Because Xiuyan's family still had the habits of northerners, not all the small dishes on the table were from Suzhou and Hangzhou, but Ping'er's taste was also taken into account. taste.

The pheasant soup on the table was the most delicious, and even Ping'er drank two more bowls. "Miss Xing's cook's cooking skills are really good, and the taste is fresh and strong, comparable to the old chefs in the big restaurants in the capital."

Xiuyan smiled and said: "Craftsmanship is certainly important, but good ingredients are also required. The pheasant in our family was sent by my cousin in the countryside yesterday. It is something from the mountains, not a stupid chicken raised at home."

Although Daiyu couldn't eat it, she had already smelled the aroma, and when she heard what Sister Xing said, she couldn't help asking curiously: "They are all chickens, so is there any difference?"

Xiuyan leaned over and smiled: "It can be seen that you are a young lady who doesn't touch the spring water, how do you know the reason for this? The women of the country people value the chickens and ducks very much. It's not because these poultry can lay eggs every day. Afraid of being tricked by weasels and caught by thieves, they are confined in the yard every day. In such a small place, even people cannot run away, let alone a chicken? Although the meat is fat, but After all, it is not meticulous. Besides, wild pheasant, running all over the mountains, has a more chewy texture and a more tender taste when biting. Naturally, there is no comparison between the two.”

Daiyu recalled that when she was at Jia's house, she ate with the old lady. Every meal consisted of more than a dozen dishes, and there was no shortage of chicken, duck and fish. , but less than half of it is used.Daiyu also knew that no one would spoil such a good dish, and the leftovers, the mandarin ducks in the old lady's room, would be eaten as soon as the big girls were done, but after all, it was too extravagant.

Daiyu couldn't help asking Ping'er: "How much does the old lady spend on meals a day?"

Seeing Miss Lin's serious question, Ping'er said, "It's only a tael of silver." Actually, how could it be enough?Occasionally, a special dish was sent to a room, and the money was a little bit more, but the old lady's account was not taken.

Daiyu calculated it carefully, and it was one tael a day, and after one month, the old lady's own food would cost more than thirty taels, and it might not be able to stop when there are guests at home.

Seeing that Daiyu was thinking, Ping'er hurriedly said: "In fact, our family has a lot of Zhuangzi, and we send these wild game every year without spending a penny. If the girl likes to eat, I will send someone to Zhuangzi when I go home. Call the girl!"

Xiuyan tore off the chicken legs from the pheasant soup with chopsticks, put it in Zhengde's bowl, and said casually: "What's the point of this? When this year is over, we will all go to the countryside for the festival. I will take my sister to see for myself. What it looks like in the mountains is interesting."

Daiyu's eyes lit up when she heard this, and then dimmed again: "I'm still in my filial piety, so I won't go with you."

"Nonsense, all of us are leaving, are you the only one left in the mansion?" Xiuyan smiled and said, "I came to my aunt's house yesterday for this purpose. My cousin will go to the southeast next spring. Joining the army, I didn’t know that I just came back in the year of the monkey, and my aunt just wanted everyone to get together and have fun.”

When Daiyu heard about this matter, she was even more reluctant: "Sister Xing's cousin is naturally my cousin. He is a big deal. I'm afraid, I'm afraid to go. It's bad luck."

Daiyu has always been arrogant in the eyes of the Jia family, but Xiuyan knows that sister Lin's arrogance is actually covering up her fragility in her heart, and she has to use harsh words to attack anyone who tries to hurt her.Not many people know this, and Mother Jia is one, so this old lady always takes pity on everything about her granddaughter.The other one is Baoyu, an infatuated embryo who regards Daiyu as the one she wants to protect.The last one is Xue Baochai. In front of Xue Baochai, Lin Daiyu has no secrets, and the other party sees them clearly.

Xiuyan said softly: "I know your scruples, don't worry, Mom has already told my aunt's family, they know that she is Mom's new adoptive daughter, and you are very welcome to go. Mom has already agreed, if you don't go , but it’s not good. Or do you think the countryside is dirty? Don’t want to go?”

Daiyu said anxiously: "I wish I could be with my mother and sister every day, why would I dislike it? Besides, she is also my aunt!"

Xiuyan smiled and clapped her hands: "That's right, what do you dislike about your aunt, what are you jealous about? Ask Zijuan to pack your things for you as soon as possible, and we will leave when the government has a rest in the next year."

A little maid came in outside the door to report: "Miss, Mrs. Zheng from East Street is here."

Xiuyan hurriedly stood up: "Please come in yet."

Seeing that Xiuyan valued the visitor, Daiyu Heping also got up, Xiuyan pressed one with one hand, and said with a chuckle, "You eat yours, this lady Zheng is a good sister of mine, come and see me! You eat first on."

While talking, the door curtain was lifted, and the little maid stepped sideways to make way, and then she heard laughter: "Good girl, you didn't come out to greet me even if you knew I was coming!"

Daiyu couldn't help looking at Heping'er in blank dismay, and didn't dare to sit down anymore. This kind of tone must be very familiar with Sister Xing, how can the two of them make a big difference?The two hurriedly caught up with Xiuyan and looked at the comer.

But I saw this young woman wearing a light pink two-color long gown with flowers, and a moon-white velvet white skirt underneath, her hair was tied up in a chic bun, and a phoenix pearl hairpin was inserted in the light and slow temples, her skin was like cream On her hand is a red gold bracelet with a bell, on her waist is a red silk sash knotted with long tassels, on which is a purse embroidered with white cranes spreading wings in water and green, and on her feet are black and purple satin shoes with a phoenix pattern. .

Xiuyan had already held back the visitor, and said angrily, "When did you come back? Don't send anyone to tell me."

Zhengde, who was eating the chicken leg, had already shouted crisply: "Hello, sister Luzhu!"

This flirtatious and unique young woman is Zheng Luzhu, Xiuyan's best friend when she first came here.

When Luzhu heard Zhengde calling her, her eyes were already smiling: "Zhengde, come and have a look, what did Sister Luzhu bring you?"

The maidservant of Luzhu who entered the door hurriedly brought over the box she was holding, and Meilian helped to open it.Zhengde's eyes lit up, he rushed forward with a loud cry, and looked at the contents of the box in disbelief: "Sister Luzhu, is this really for me?"

Ping'er and Daiyu were also curious about what the other party was carrying, which could make Zhengde happy like this.

It turned out that there was a long sword in this box, three feet two inches, forged from fine steel, it looked simple and old.Xiuyan thought it was an antique, and hurriedly said: "How much does it cost, you can take it back soon."

Although Zhengde was reluctant, he didn't dare to contradict his sister, so he could only keep his eyes away from looking at the box.

Lvzhu snorted: "You know how to love Zhengde, and you got a pony to envy our brother every day, why are you jealous when I bring a small sword?" Lvzhu drank Zhengde's name: "Don't pay attention to your sister ,Received!"

Zhengde carefully watched his sister's expression, seeing that her sister didn't completely stop him, he boldly hugged the sword box from the little maid with a smile.

Zijuan and the others were also worried that Master Zhengde was too young to hold him, so he hurriedly reached out to help him, but he didn't know that the other party was holding him firmly, and he didn't intend to relax at all.

"This is when your brother-in-law went to Nanjing. He rescued a down-and-out knight-errant who had nothing but insisted on repaying his favor. That's why I gave this to your brother-in-law." Luzhu mentioned her husband with a proud face, "You How can my brother-in-law use it? But when he thought of our Zhengde, he took it back happily. Ask the old man in Suzhou City, it is still a pretty good item!"

Zhengde got this, how could he sit still, didn't even eat, and ran out: "I'll go to my master to have a look!"

"This kid!" Xiuyan helplessly dragged Luzhu inside, and introduced Daiyu and Ping'er to her by the way.

When the three met, Meilian served the tea in person.Only then did Xiuyan ask her: "Did you get some good things when you went to Nanjing this time?"

Seeing that Xiuyan asked this in front of Miss Lin and the two of them, Luzhu smiled and said, "I got a few good recipes, and now your brother-in-law is leading someone to try it at home, and I don't know if it will work."

Xiuyan nodded, and said to Daiyu: "Sister Luzhu's family opened the largest rouge and gouache shop in Suzhou City, and now we use all from her family."

The cosmetics that Daiyu brought from the capital have long since sunk along with her, and the ones she uses now are all sent by sister Xiuyan. Daiyu has long felt that it is different from the ones that Baoyu made for herself, but she didn't ask much.She saw that Luzhu was not a frivolous person, and she was friendly with sister Xiuyan, and she was happy to make friends with her.

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PS: In the new week, Xiaohe got off the Qingyun list, but got on the new book signing list, thank you for Coke's hard work for me, Xiaohe will continue to work hard, and also recommend the main website's good book "Sky Arrow"~~Really very nice
(End of this chapter)