Peasant Girl Bookseller

Chapter 65 Cao's Uncle and Aunt?

Besides, when Mai Xiang entered Cao's house, Liu Huilan held the child in one hand and took something in the other, as if she was about to go out.

"I was about to bring you snacks, why did you bring them to me instead?" Liu Huilan asked with a smile when she saw the things in Mai Xiang's hand.

"Auntie, keep it for yourself. You are at home alone, and you can't go out easily. It's not convenient to buy something."

Since Cao Ji was full moon, the mother-in-law in the family retreated. According to Liu Huilan, the mother-in-law belonged to Minglin's family, and she only came to help temporarily.

"Auntie, come and see, I really have something good for you today." Mai Xiang took out a sachet, the pile of flowers made of yarn was not suitable for Liu Huilan.

Liu Huilan held it in her hand, looked at it, and said, "The workmanship is so exquisite and delicate, I'm afraid it's not made by ordinary people, where did you get it?"

Mai Xiang talked about the matter, thought for a while, and asked: "Auntie, your needlework is not worse than this, and you are not from an ordinary family, are you? I went to the mountain with my fifth uncle to cut firewood that day, and happened to meet Why did the master and his younger brother, the uncle of the master, become monks?"

Mai Xiang also saw that Cao Xueqin was not there, so some useful information could still be captured by chatting among women.

"You curious ghost, you have held back your question for such a long time, have you held back?" Liu Huilan poked Mai Xiang with her finger.

"Auntie, your accent is not like that of people from the north, but more like that of people from the south."

Mai Xiang was originally from Nanjing, so of course she could hear Liu Huilan's words with a southern accent.

"I didn't grow up in Jinling. It's normal to have a southern accent."

"Auntie grew up in Jinling? When did you come to Beijing?"

"I was 14 years old when I came to Beijing, and I am 38 this year. Do you think when I came to Beijing. At that time, something happened to my husband's family, and my uncle lost his official position, so he had to go back to Beijing. Hey, this is really the same as the emperor. Courtiers, think about how glorious our Cao family was when Lord Kangxi was here, who knows..." Liu Huilan realized that Mai Xiang was a child when she said this, and she closed her mouth, these words were going to be spread, Just disrespectful.

Mai Xiang guessed that she was going to talk about Yongzheng later, so she didn't ask. Mai Xiang knew how the Cao family fell. It is a creation, but there are still many Hongxue fans who have been relying on legends.

"Auntie, besides a younger brother, do you have any other sisters?" Mai Xiang asked curiously.

"My uncle's family has two daughters, who were very close to my husband since they were young, but it's a pity that both of them died early." Liu Huilan sighed.

When Mai Xiang heard it, it was similar to the book, and the women in the book did not have a good life.

"Auntie, I heard from my grandma that the banner people have to be drafted, and once they are selected into the palace by the royal family, the whole family will follow suit. No one from Mr.'s family will enter the palace?" Mai Xiang asked directly.

"No one from Cao's family entered the palace. It's just that there is a sister in Mr.'s family who once entered Prince Heshuoli's mansion. Our family's life has been better for a few years because of her. Unfortunately, because of her, we have fallen to where we are now. "

"Prince Heshuoli's Mansion? Who is that? Is it the Daishan branch?" Mai Xiang hated her lack of historical knowledge.

"It's not Prince Li, it's reasoning. Forget it, what should I tell you, Mai Xiang, you must never say these things outside, you know?" Liu Huilan realized that something was wrong.

"I know, don't worry, auntie, I know the depth. But who is Prince Li?"

It's a pity that Liu Huilan didn't talk about this matter anymore, just at this time, Cao Xueqin also entered the door, and Mai Xiang couldn't grind anymore.

"Mai Xiang, you came just in time. I wanted to find you." Cao Xueqin went in and took out two pieces of paper from his pocket.

"What is this?" Mai Xiang opened it and saw that it was a Lucky Pig and Pleasant Goat drawn by herself.

"That's what I told you last time. I wanted to sell the patterns you painted. No, I asked someone to find a way. He said that a pattern was ten taels of silver. Moreover, the latest pattern you painted was still No one outside has used it, and it won’t be used in the future.”

"Can you ask where you sold the painting to, sir, under such harsh conditions?" Mai Xiang was curious.

"I asked someone to find a steward of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, who is doing errands for the palace. Do you think it's suitable?"

Mai Xiang thought for a while, a painting is only worth ten taels of silver, but to Mai Xiang, a painting can be used not only on kites, but also on embroidery, and on toys. What can be earned back is just a matter of time.

"Sir, I don't think it's appropriate, I don't want to sell it, but I still want to thank you sir for taking care of me."

Mai Xiang's gratitude to Cao Xueqin is sincere. He himself was so poor that he didn't find any way out, but he did not hesitate to ask someone to find a relationship for Mai Xiang. He really felt sorry for Mai Xiang and cared for him. How could Mai Xiang Not moved?
"I also don't think ten taels of silver is appropriate. Mai Xiang has let me embroider purses for more than a month, using these patterns, and I have earned a lot of money. In addition to the wall shoes, I have been embroidered for the past two months. I earned three taels of silver." Liu Huilan said from the side.

The life at home is much better. Liu Huilan is really grateful to Mai Xiang. She used to be a person who lived without much money, otherwise the family would not be so poor. During this time, Mai Xiang helped her plan, not only to solve With enough food and clothing, and for the first time, I had spare money.

"Okay, listen to you, if you don't sell it, don't sell it. I also thought it would be inappropriate. Come back and ask Mai Xiang what she means. By the way, tomorrow is Duanyang, prepare something, and I will send it to my uncle." Cao Xueqin looked at it Looking at the things on the kang, he said.

"Do you still have the manuscript?" Liu Huilan asked casually.

When Mai Xiang heard this, she paid attention, and brought the manuscript to Cao Fu. Could it be that Cao Fu is really Zhiyanzhai?
"Well, take it with you, that's all he's thinking about. By the way, Dun Min still has some manuscripts that haven't been returned. Someday they will come and remind me."

"The manuscript has been returned. They sent this snack. They went out to buy wine and said they would come back to you later."

Mai Xiang saw that the two of them were talking about family matters, so she decided to stay again. When she came out of their yard, she saw that the pumpkin flowers in the yard were blooming just right, so she said to Liu Huilan at the door: "Auntie, the pumpkin flowers are made with chili peppers. It’s delicious fried, why don’t I pick it and fry it for you?”

The Cao family’s yard was originally empty. It was because the mother-in-law reclaimed a few vegetable plots for Liu Huilan before she left, and planted some cabbage, leeks, peppers, and pumpkins. She came here to help her water and pull weeds with her blessings, because Mai Xiang didn't know how to grow vegetables herself.

But pumpkin flowers can eat this Mai Xiang understands, Mai Xiang’s grandmother in the past loves to eat this, not only likes to fry it with chili, but also likes to use pumpkin flowers to make pancakes.

"Stir-fried pumpkin flowers with chili? I wonder how it tastes like with just wine?" Ming Lin came in with a small wine jar, and then followed the dunmin and duncheng brothers.

"Mai Xiang, why don't you make it and try it?" Dun Min spoke before Cao Xueqin could speak.

These two people often come to visit, and they don't treat Mai Xiang as an outsider.

Mai Xiang saw so many people, how could there be enough pumpkin flowers?So I went to pick a large bunch of pumpkin flowers in the vegetable field of my home, and when I came back, I sat at the door of the main room and tore off the outer skin and picked the stamens inside.

"Sir, why don't you send that old woman here, so what's the point if you don't have anyone to help? Mistress has to take care of the child, how can she take care of you?" Ming Lin said when she saw Mai Xiang helping Liu Huilan with work.

"Forget it, just let it go, how can I support a servant now with my conditions?" Cao Xueqin declined.

"That's what I admire sir. From the rich clothes and jade food in the past to the rope bed and tile stove today, the husband is also at ease." Dun Cheng said with a smile.

"It is precisely because of this that there is Mr. Tale of the Stone. Mr. is a genius. One book, two stories, two prongs. The beauty of it, the more you read it, the more you can't bear to stop." Dun Min laughed.

"No, I also feel that every time I read it, I will have a new experience. Sometimes, I wish I could write a few book reviews on it, just because I am afraid that it will desecrate the master's masterpiece." Ming Lin said with a smile.

"Minglin's suggestion reminded me that I plan to copy a copy of "The Story of the Stone" by myself, including some comments of King Pingjun. It's a pity that he left early and hasn't finished reading Mr.'s book." Dun Min sighed. road.

"That's not the case. Without him, my book wouldn't be able to write to the level it is today." Cao Xueqin also sighed.

Mai Xiang was taken aback when she heard this. She never thought that Fu Peng would be one of the critics. What experience did he have?
"By the way, sir, I saw Aunt Ling at my home a few days ago, and she even pulled me to ask how my husband is doing." Ming Lin said.

Minglin's family is Fucha's family, which is also the family of the former empress. Who is Cao Xueqin's cousin?How could he be at Fucha's house?Is the prototype of Yuanchun in the book really Qianlong's empress Yuanfei?

Because Mai Xiang remembered that someone mentioned this statement, and also said that the prototype of Yuanchun was actually Empress Fucha, who died on a boat in Dezhou, far away from her hometown on a high mountain.

"Okay, it's finally easy for everyone to get together today and not talk about these disappointing things." Seeing that Cao Xueqin was silent, Dun Min hurriedly interrupted the topic.

"Sir, don't be sad. Aunt Ling didn't suffer in my family. She brought up my uncle with her own hands. My uncle is now a first-class loyal and brave man, a bachelor of the Baohe Palace, and a celebrity around the emperor. He I asked the emperor for mercy, and now Aunt Ling is free, and there are two wives around her to serve her, not only that, but she also brought Biao Uncle Ling, and we are reunited together."

As soon as Ming Lin finished speaking, Dun Min glared at him and said, "Why didn't you say such a good thing earlier?"

"I thought Mr. knew." Minglin rubbed her head shyly.

"That's great. I'll go to the city to see them in two days. I haven't seen my cousin for a while." Cao Xueqin finally smiled.

(End of this chapter)