Proud Maid Chunmei

Chapter 4 Ximen Qinglian's concubine Xiao Chunmei only cares about Jinlian

Yueniang ordered the two maids: Yuxiao has been with her for a long time, and she is in charge of the affairs of the house and the small kitchen behind the upper room, serving soup, water and snacks; The hall in the front and the large kitchen in the back pass and fetch things.The two maids followed orders, but they were also diligent and quick.

Ximenqing was very happy to marry Jinyueniang, she went to bed early and woke up late, and often ate and drank in the upper room, she really loved each other.Half a month passed, nothing else happened.After a few days, he felt strange, and returned home at midnight for three days. He was so drunk that he snored and couldn't wake up when he entered the room. He asked him where he had been during the day, and he just smiled and said that he had gone to Earl Ying and Xie Xi. Everyone eats wine.Yueniang is suspicious.On this day, she asked Chunmei to call Sun Xue'e.

Xue'e entered the room and saluted Yueniang.Yueniang taught Yuxiao to show her the seat, and took out two new sets of clothes: a red satin dress with gold embroidered sleeves and lotus leaf collar, a June green silk skirt with a small folded waist and blue borders; Gold-edged satin jacket and duck-egg blue-purple silk trousers.Said: "I heard from your father that you have been taking care of this family all these years, how hard it is."

Seeing the reward from Yueniang, Xue'e hurriedly got down from her seat and kowtowed: "Your slaves are doing their duty, how dare you accept the reward from your mother."

Yueniang said: "You should stop saying that, you are already my father's man, and choosing a good day for your father to put a bun on you and take it as a house is justified. I am also I don't care if there are one or two more people in the family, I just want peace and harmony."

When Xue'e heard this, she panicked, thinking that Yueniang had other intentions, knelt down again, and kowtowed again and again: "Mother spared this slave! It's a thing of the past for father to employ slaves, and slaves dare not. As long as mother is tolerant, let slaves It's a slave's luck to be at your side."

Yueniang helped her up, taught her to sit down, and said: "I am not joking, and I have no other intentions. First, I am not in good health. It is rare for me to have a good spirit on weekdays. You should continue to do your work. When your father comes home tonight, I will tell him about it. "

Xue'e bowed again: "Mother lifts up the servant like this, the servant knows well, as long as the mother orders, the servant will not retreat if he takes his life."

Chunmei was waiting on the side, and seeing Xue'e's gratitude to Dade, she felt a kind of inexplicable nausea, and could not help but softly "hum".Yu Xiao at the side heard it and tugged at the skirt of her shirt.

Yueniang asked: "In the past few days, your father always returns home in the middle of the night, saying that he went to a few friends' houses for a drink, is that true?"

Xue'e replied: "When I go back to my mother, my father has a few friends who are very close, including the second father and Xie father. They often come to our house to eat. However, the slave has a saying, mother agrees, and the slave is the only one who can eat." Dare to say."

Yue Niang said: "You say."

"Father often goes to the courtyard with them, the best friends are Li Jiao'er, a fan of the Li family, and Zhuo Di'er, who lives in the private nest on South Street." Xue'e said.

"I think so too." Yueniang nodded.

After talking again, Xue'e went to the back to cook.Yueniang taught her to take the clothes away.Xue'e kowtowed again.

Chunmei pulled Yuxiao outside the door and asked, "What did you pull me for?"

Yuxiao said: "You are really impatient. We didn't hear what the girls said, and the left ear came in and the right ear came out, so we just pretended it didn't matter, you know? Otherwise, we wouldn't have got into trouble. You just planned to I can't understand it, this Xue'e belongs to my father, if mother tells father tonight, she will be our mother, we are all girls, what does she do?"

Chunmei nodded: "Thank you sister for your advice, but I just can't understand it."

Yu Xiao said: "I'll just get used to it in the future."

In the evening, Ximen Qing came home at the first watch, and sat in the upper room to drink tea.Yueniang asked, "Why did you come home so early today?"

Ximen Qing smiled embarrassedly: "Second sister-in-law Ying is sick, and second brother Ying couldn't sit still, and passed away after two cups."

Yueniang didn't point out him, why should the newlyweds blush, the work for the wife must make the man happy, so that the family business can prosper.So he said: "Let's let Xue'e take care of the small account of the family money, I just want to have a leisurely time."

Ximen Qing thought that Yueniang was angry, so he hurriedly explained: "What can I do? I don't have any free time these days, and I want you to rest for a few more days, and I will teach her to hand over the account to you at the end of the month. All the big money you took out will be handed over to your house. The two accounts will be put into one, so it’s clear, isn’t it?”

Yue Niang said: "The two accounts are combined into one, and the more you return, the more confused you become. If you don't want to move a sum of money, you have to ask whether it is a big account or a small account? Since the big account is with me, I can't mess with the small account. Besides, Xue'e It's also managed smoothly, the official does not make mistakes and is not demoted, so why change it. Another word, she is already yours, and I think you helped her up."

When Ximen Qing heard this, it was as if he had picked up a jewel from the sky, and he was afraid that his ears had misheard, so he asked, "Young lady, what do you mean..."

"Just accept her as a roommate. I'm not afraid of too much, I just want our family to be good."

"Really?" Ximen Qing couldn't help hugging Yueniang: "Young lady is indeed virtuous and understanding."

Yueniang broke away from his hands and said, "It's not good for the girl to see!"

Ximenqing said: "My lady is so dedicated to her husband, how can I do anything that is hidden. I have two good friends outside, one is Li Jiaoer in the Goulan courtyard, and the other is the second sister Zhuo, who is private in the South Street. Madam Enzhun, I, Ximen Qing, will be content with taking them in together, and I will not go out to drink and hang out at night."

Yue Niang was a little unhappy: "If you give me an inch, you will gain a foot. As a wife, you know the three obediences and four virtues, and officials should respect themselves." After finishing speaking, she went inside.Ximen Qing was so speechless that he couldn't say a word.

After a few days, Ximenqing put a bun on Sun Xue'e, and stayed in her room for two nights.After a few more days, Li Jiaoer and Zhuo Dier were admitted in successively.This Li Jiao'er is not tall, plump almost to the point of obesity, but Zhuo Diu'er is very thin and suffers from ailments.I really don't know why Ximenqing took a fancy to these two fans, probably because the sentence "I like it" can be explained.As a result, the servants of the family called these mothers respectively. Ximen Qing had already announced that Yueniang was the eldest lady of the main house; ; Sun Xue'e is the fourth room.Except for Yuxiao and Chunmei who were waiting in Yueniang's room, all the others were assigned a maid first.When the family population increased, I taught the family that Tang Laibao's daughter-in-law Huixiang, Laiwang's daughter-in-law, and Lai Zhao's daughter-in-law Yizhangqing took turns working in the back kitchen. Tea and rice.

Sun Xue'e was promoted from a girl to a concubine, no less than an official who was promoted to three ranks in a row. She was very happy. In front of her family's daughter-in-law and maid, she walked with her head held high. When she heard that Ximen Qing was going to take two concubines as concubines, I thought I must be a second roomer.Unexpectedly, after the two fans, she became the fourth room. The original arrogance turned into arrogance, but she couldn't vent it. She only ordered a few family members and daughters-in-law to do things in the kitchen.

These few days, Zhuo Di'er was not feeling well, and she hadn't eaten any rice or water for two days, so Yueniang came to her room to see her, and seeing that she was seriously ill and hadn't eaten, she told Chunmei who came with her. Said: "Go to the back and tell Si Niang that San Niang hasn't eaten for two days, so cook a bowl of chicken and rice porridge."

Chunmei agreed, walked to the back, saw Xue'e and said, "Sanniang is sick, she wants to eat a bowl of chicken rice porridge."

Xue'e came to have a fire, and secondly, Yi Zhangqing, who was on duty, went to the room to watch because her child, Tie Banger, was ill.She was the only one busy making lunch in the kitchen, and when she heard Chunmei say this, she said in a bad voice, "What kind of chick rice porridge do you want to eat again? Who has the patience to make it? It's time for lunch. Let's wait." , not a queen, you can eat whatever you want."

Chunmei said again: "I'm up to you. Whether you do it or not is up to you. If you don't see porridge coming out later, don't arrest me if you blame me."

Chunmei didn't mean to say this, she just didn't turn the corner when she said it straight.Xue'e is different. She has a heart, but she is still worried that she can't find a place to vent her anger.How old are you, Chunmei?Isn't it the yellow-haired girl who has only been here for two or three months?So he threw the basin in his hand on the chopping board, and with a bang, he scolded: "Who is whose slave? Who orders whom? Wang Laowu grinds tofu and opens a sauce shop. There is no black or white. Blind grandma Stepping over the threshold, I can't feel the edge. The pearls on the abacus are neither big nor small. The fish in the river ditch are neither front nor back. Little servant, I will not do it today, let's see who will blame it."

Yide's other girls either left quickly to clean up, or begged Sun Siniang for forgiveness.This Chunmei's words were straight and stubborn, and she was stubborn, she thought to herself: You are also from a girl background, it's just that your father accepted you and only helped you for a few days, just like this.Besides, this chick porridge is not for me to eat, I am also here to pass on my mother's words.I'm a slave?The slave deserves your sap?So he said: "Why did Si Niang say this? Who is a slave and who is not? I am just passing on my mother's words. How can there be no black or white, no big or small, no front or back? Si Niang has something to say , Tell mother to go, don't care about my business." Said, turned to leave.

Seeing this little girl, Sun Xue'e dared to contradict her like this. Didn't this Si Niang act for nothing?He shouted: "Slave, don't go!"

If you don't leave, you won't leave, what will you do to me.Chunmei really didn't want to leave, she asked, "What do you want Si Niang to do? This slave will not back down even if he puts his life on the line." Chunmei learned what she heard Xue'e say to Yueniang that day.

Xue'e was so angry that her hands and feet were cold, and she cursed: "You little whore! You are so bold, I don't know what to take me for. Watch me chop you with the back of my knife."

Instead, Chunmei took a step forward and said, "Si Niang, don't be lenient, how can you use the blade with the back of a knife, if you have to die by Si Niang's hands, Chunmei is lucky!"

Yueniang sat in Zhuo Di'er's room for a while, saw that Chunmei was not coming back, and seemed to hear the sound of arguing in the kitchen, so she got up and went to the kitchen, only to see Xue'e with an ashen face waving Da Caidao and Chunmei were arguing, so they stepped forward and shouted to Chunmei: "Why are you arguing with Si Niang? I want you to do something, why don't you answer me for a long time? Why don't you go out."

When Chunmei heard what Yueniang said, her eyes and nose were sore with anger, she suppressed the tears, she shook her head and walked forward.

Yueniang asked Xue'e: "Did she ever talk about cooking porridge?"

Xue'e put down the kitchen knife and replied: "I said it. I'm busy. I came to Zhao's daughter-in-law to see the sick child. Lai Wang's wife hasn't come yet, and I'm preparing lunch. I can't be too busy. Wait a while." , I put the rice on it, and it was boiled and delivered."

Yueniang didn't say another word, and went forward.

Chunmei walked into the servant's room behind the upper room, and shed tears silently.When Yuxiao saw her, she hurriedly asked what was going on.Chunmei just said: "I was promoted from a slave to a master, and she scolded the slave thousands of times. Could it be that life is fixed like this, and the slave will always be a slave? The master will always be the master? She has been promoted to the master today, so she is determined? I If you don't believe me, her master will never be reduced to a slave again!"

After hearing this, Yuxiao knew she was talking about Xue'e, so she said, "Were you and Si Niang arguing in the kitchen at the back just now?"

Chunmei nodded, and said what happened just now, and then added: "My aunt is too, and she doesn't ask me why."

Yuxiao said: "You, you are really not made to be a slave, and I don't know which mother you will serve."

Ximenqing came home in the evening and went to the upper room first. Yueniang told him that Second Sister Zhuo's illness was still not getting better, and she just drank two mouthfuls of porridge in the afternoon.That night, Ximen Qing slept in the room of Second Sister Zhuo again, expressing all kinds of tenderness and consolation.The next day, please come to see the imperial physician for diagnosis and treatment.

In the blink of an eye, the new year was over, Ximen Qing was able to catch his breath from the hectic New Year celebrations, and Wu Qianhu died of illness.Wu Yueniang was so distraught that she cried and fainted several times.Ximenqing sent Yueniang over there, and was busy all the way through Qiqi, and it was already a beautiful spring in March.

From then on, Ximen Qing hooked up with Pan Jinlian, the wife of Wu Dalang who sells cooking cakes next door to Wang Po Tea House.During the day, Ximen Qing often hung out there.Coincidentally, Zhuo Di'er's illness did not heal at all, and it was a pity that he died at this time, and Ximen Qing was busy with the funeral for a while.Wu Yueniang also couldn't figure out whether Ximen Qing was busy with funeral or pleasure.Near the Duanyang Festival, there were already discussions among the servants and maids, saying that his father was going to marry another mother, who was beautiful and smart in every way.Wu Yueniang began to pay attention.

This morning, with nothing to do, Xue'e and Li Jiaoer came to the Ming room to sit and talk with Yueniang.After talking for a while, Yueniang felt hot, so she went into the inner room to change clothes.Yuxiao and Chunmei were talking at the door of the small kitchen.

"Sister Yuxiao, I've only just heard about what you're talking about. I really don't know the details. If you want to ask, just ask the boy in front." This was Chunmei speaking.

"You thief girl, you don't say anything when you hear it, but you keep your mouth shut. I heard that this girl is not only beautiful, but also smart. She can play the pipa well and write lyrics. Could it be that she is a fan in the yard? Otherwise, how could a girl from a good family have such abilities." Yu Xiao said.

"You can't say that. There is a rich man in my hometown who only gave birth to a daughter. Not only is she good-looking, she is omnipotent in music, chess, calligraphy and painting, and she can recite books read by scholars. There is no one in a radius of dozens of miles who doesn't know It's a pity that after the flood a few years ago, he contracted the plague and died."

After hearing these words, Yueniang felt irritable in her heart, so she changed her clothes and came out, sitting as usual.It was still Xue'e who had nothing to say, and said: "Ma'am, I heard that, his father has a new friend recently, and he lives on Zishi Street."

Yue Niang said: "I don't know anything about it, but you people are talking about it, it seems that we are going to pass the door tonight."

"Ma'am, don't you believe me? Go and ask Dai'an's boy to come in, and you'll know when you ask. This boy is my father's shadow, there is nothing he doesn't know about my father's actions, I'm afraid he won't tell if he knows." Xue'e said.

Yueniang immediately called Chunmei to come out, and said: "Go to the front hall and call me Dai'an."

Coincidentally, Dai'an had just brought the horse home from Pan Jinlian, and Ximen Qing asked him to send the horse to pick it up in the evening.Handing the horse to the boy at the door, he walked into the hall, covered in sweat, and heard Chunmei calling, saying that the aunt told him to go in and have something to say.Dai'an didn't even care to wipe off his sweat, and hurriedly walked back.When I saw all the mothers, I saluted them one by one.

Seeing that his head was covered with sweat, Yueniang asked, "Where did you go this early in the morning?"

Tai'an was not prepared to ask Yueniang such a question, and didn't know how to answer, so she paused for a while, and replied: "Just now I sent my father to Yinger's second father's house."

Yueniang scolded: "Little thief, come to lie again. Who is your second father, why do you run to his house every day?"

Dai'an said: "Father, Ying Er Dae and Xie Dae have sworn brothers and they take turns meeting once a month. Today it is Ying Er Dae's turn."

Yue Niang scolded: "Little thief prisoner! You really know how to talk nonsense. I already knew about this. A few days ago, your father told me that he had a day of drinking at Ying Huazi's house, why is it his turn again today?" .His family is Wang Wanwan? Didn’t you borrow money from your father several times? Tell me honestly, where did your father go? "

Hearing this, Dai'an was afraid, and thought to himself: If I don't tell the truth, when Dad comes back at night, the aunt will interrogate me and tell the truth, and I will be wronged.You must lie to thousands of people, don't lie to my aunt, she is a housewife, and everyone says she is kind-hearted, maybe it will be okay to ask, otherwise, when my father brought in the second mother and the third mother, the aunt didn't say anything The word "no".So he kowtowed and said: "The slave deserves to die for lying to mother. However, the little one dare not tell. If he did, the father will hit the little one again when he comes back."

"Say it straight, I'm in charge." Yueniang said.

Dai'an then told about Ximen Qing hooking up with Pan Jinlian outside.

Xue'e asked: "Who is the lead matchmaker here?"

Dai'an replied: "Prince of the Tea House on Zishi Street."

Xue'e said: "This old and immortal godmother, she is afraid that our family will be small, and if we don't fill our house, she will not give up, so that she can earn money from her matchmaker."

Xue'e's words immediately offended Yueniang and Li Jiaoer present, Wang Po is Yueniang's matchmaker, you Xue'e is here first, could it be that my Yueniang is also included?The bustards in Goulan Courtyard are known as godmothers, and Li Jiaoer was born as a fan in Goulan Courtyard. Could it be that I, Li Jiaoer, are also here?For a while, the faces of the two of them were not good-looking, and Xue'e realized that she had missed something, so she stopped talking.

Yueniang asked Dai'an again: "Did your father come in when he said he wanted to marry her? When did you get married?"

Dai'an said: "Don't say that, it's nothing."

Yueniang said: "If not? If you didn't hear your little servant girl calling her mother."

Chunmei and Yuxiao stood by and waited. Hearing Yueniang's words, they knew they were talking about themselves, and their hearts jumped.

Dai'an said: "Mother, don't listen to these people's gossip. Father just loves her, and never said anything about marrying her. Besides, that Pan Jinlian's man has only died a few days ago, and he is still wearing mourning."

When Yueniang heard this, she frowned and said: "Is there such a thing? Could it be that the surnamed Pan had an affair with a man and stole a man first? Her man was sick before?"

Dai'an said: "I don't know. Her husband is Wu Dalang who often comes to the door to sell cooking cakes. It is said that he died of a sudden illness."

Just as I was talking, the boy at the door came to report that Mrs. Xue, a flower seller, had come.Yueniang waved her hand to teach Dai'an to go out.After a while, Mrs. Xue came in and said all blessings to Yueniang: "Her aunt, second mother, and fourth mother, the festival is coming, I'm here to send flowers to the girls." Seeing Chunmei standing aside , Said: "Little Fourth Sister is so juicy, it's all because of the good care of the aunt. Little Fourth Sister, look at me, I have to call you Little Big Sister, I'm not wrong, you are from the previous life. Blessed to be in this good family."

Yueniang taught her to sit and Chunmei to serve tea.

Mrs. Xue ate Bi tea and asked, "Is the high official not at home?"

Yueniang asked back, "What's the matter?"

Mrs. Xue said: "It's nothing, you three ladies can choose some flowers."

Yueniang said: "He's busy these days." After finishing speaking, he, Jiao'er and Xue'e each picked out a few flowers and gave her two coins.Mrs. Xue said goodbye, and Yueniang taught Chunmei to send her to the gate.Seeing Mrs. Xue going out of the Yimen, Xue'e said: "I don't know what she is doing to find Dad. Anyway, she is not serious. Either she takes the lead as a matchmaker, or buys and sells girls to make money."

Li Jiaoer asked: "Could it be because of that surnamed Pan?"

Yue Niang said: "I'm afraid not. Doesn't the Pan family have a Wang Po? Let her grab this bowl of rice?"

After talking for a while, Xue'e went to the kitchen at the back, Jiao'er went back to her room, and the three of them dispersed.

Chunmei sends Mrs. Xue out of the gate.Mrs. Xue whispered to her: "When your father comes back, tell him, and tell him that I have a good marriage with him. I will take care of your family's third mother who just died."

Chunmei asked softly, "Where is it from?" Then she asked again, "Is the surname Pan?"

"No, her maiden name is Meng. The man's surname is Yang. He opened a dyeing cloth workshop. He has died for more than a year. Don't tell others about this, and tell your father that I have something to say to him, do you understand?" Mrs. Xue Repeatedly exhorted.

Chunmei nodded and replied, "Understood."

In the evening, when Ximen Qing came home, Chunmei quietly said to Ximen Qing: "Father, Mrs. Xue came to see you today and has something to tell you."

"Did she say anything?" Ximen Qing asked.

"No."

"If you see her again, teach her to look for me after the holidays."

Ximen Qing is having a heated fight with Pan Jinlian these days.After the Duanyang Festival, Mrs. Xue found Ximen Qing in the shop and told her about the wedding. Ximen Qing was so happy that she almost forgot her last name.At the beginning of June, Meng Yulou was married into the door.Chunmei and all the maids paid homage to the new Sanniang, but they saw:
Slender figure, powder makeup jade.The appearance is neither fat nor thin, and the figure is neither short nor long.The face is slightly numb, and it is naturally pretty; a pair of golden lotus feet are reflected under the skirt, which is really pitiful.Two-bead gold rings hang low by the ears; double-headed luan hairpins are inserted behind the temples.But when you move, you will hear the exquisite jade on your chest; when you sit down, there will be a burst of musk orchid fragrance.It's like Chang'e leaving the Moon Palace, like a goddess going down the Yao steps.

This Meng Sanniang also brought two maids, one named Lanxiang and the other named Xiaoluan, who were about the same age as Chunmei; she also brought a 15-year-old servant Qintong.This Sanniang is also easy-going, she doesn't talk much, she is very kind to the servants and maids, and generous in rewards.Sun Xue'e was in charge of the small tent, and it was fine at first, but gradually seeing the number of family members increase, and because of being the fourth room, there was always trouble, so Ximen Qing let Li Jiaoer take care of it for a while.After all, Jiaoer was born as a fan, and she likes to take advantage of small things in doing things, which makes the family, daughter-in-law and servants unhappy. Yueniang knew about it, so she told Ximen Qing, and Ximen Qing asked Meng Yulou to take over.Yulou was originally the mother-in-law of the dyeing workshop. She was not clear about the accounts.

Just after this happy event, another happy event came: the in-laws' Chen's house sent a matchmaker, Mrs. Wen, to communicate. On June [-]th, Ximen's eldest sister was married, and Ximenqing's family was in a hurry for another month.

At the beginning of August, Ximenqing suddenly ordered Dai'an to lead his family and daughter-in-law to tidy up the three downstairs rooms in the front garden.Yue Niang asked: "What are you doing in such a hurry to clean up the house?"

Ximen Qing smiled and said, "I'll bring someone to be your sister companion, isn't it good?"

Yueniang was already unhappy.Although it is said that a man marries a child, the wife cannot blame it, especially a virtuous woman, it should be considered a happy event and a good thing.But a woman's heart is full of jealousy; a woman's eyes are full of anger.No matter how talkative a woman is, she feels a bit sad when she encounters this.What's more, ever since I entered Ximen's mansion, the man took concubines again and again without any discussion, so why don't you feel uncomfortable?So he said: "I have never seen a man like you. Taking concubines is like buying clothes, and they look different every day. Who cares about these many sisters and sisters, and I live alone, so what?"

Ximen Qing still smiled and said: "Don't say such harsh words, you are still a mother, who dares to bully you? I have to ask you to ask a girl to go to the front. She came to our house naked. Girl, I don’t have any servants. I bought two for a while, both are new, and I don’t understand anything. You give her one, and I’ll buy two more, one for you and one for her, okay?”

Yueniang barely shed tears, and said angrily: "If you want, you can take girl Chunmei, Yuxiao has been by my side for many years. You are really wicked, adding an enemy and cutting off my arm. "

So Chunmei moved to live in the garden room in front.Ximenqing bought two little girls, one named Xiaoyu spent five liang of silver to serve the moon mother; the one named Qiuju spent six liang of silver to cook a stove in the front garden room and live with Chunmei.On the evening of August [-]th, there was only a sedan chair and four lanterns. The queen mother saw her off, and Dai'an followed the sedan chair, and carried a famous beautiful woman to her home. This was Wu Dalang's wife and Wu Song's wife. Sister-in-law Pan Jinlian.

When Pan Jinlian entered the room, she saw that the wedding candles were brightly lit and the bed curtains were bright. This was a black lacquer Huanmen gilded bed that Ximen bought for 16 taels the day before the celebration. It was matched with a golden curtain with big red rings, and it shone golden in the candlelight. Mile.Look around again, Baoxianghua makeup box, table and chair brocade tree, box cage and cabinet are all neatly arranged.The two maids who had already stood still in the room were bending over, knelt down and kowtowed, proclaiming their mothers together.Jin Lian was so unhappy, she quickly picked up the two of them, asked their names, and felt that Chunmei was not only beautiful, but also as if she knew each other.

Chunmei also stared intently at this girl, who was only 25 or six years old, and she was as beautiful as everyone said:

Eyebrows are like willow leaves in early spring, often filled with sorrow and hatred for rain; face is like peach blossoms in March, with a hint of romance and moonlight.Slender waist and graceful, restrained swallows are lazy; good at speaking lightly, seduce bees and butterflies.The jade appearance is enchanting, and the flowers explain the language, and the fragrance is graceful and graceful; when you see the feet from the head, the wind flows down; from the feet to the head.The wind flows upwards.Talking about romance is like a pearl walking in a crystal plate; speaking and attitude is like a red apricot branch covering the dawn.

Chunmei had never seen such a beautiful woman before, so she couldn't help but take a few more glances.In my heart, I compared a few mothers again; compared to her, the eldest mother seemed mediocre; compared with her, the second mother was too vulgar;

At this time, Ximenqing came in, Chunmei and Qiuju went out of the room, after a while, tea was brought, and then they went out and closed the door.

The next morning, Chunmei got up first, and seeing Qiuju was still snoring, she hurriedly woke her up and taught her to make a fire and boil water.Then he went in and saw that the door was open, so he stood beside Jin Lian and dressed her up.

Jin Lian asked, "How old are you this year?"

Chunmei replied, "Sixteen years old."

"Isn't my hometown Shandong?"

"On the bank of the Yellow River in Cangzhou, east of the river."

"Dad and mother are at home?"

"My parents are long gone."

"Another poor child." Jin Lian sighed and asked again, "When did you come here?"

"If you go back to your mother, it will be in July last year."

Jinlian took out a sweat towel and a penny of silver thread and handed it to Chunmei: "Just you know."

Chunmei kowtowed, "Thank you, mother."

"Go and prepare some tea, and follow me to visit some ladies."

After a while, Jinlian finished dressing up, put on a set of colorful clothes, Chunmei held tea, and came to the room of the eldest lady Wu Yueniang behind, met her size and handed her shoes and feet.

Not only Yueniang was not happy when Jinlian went through the door, but other people also didn't like it.This is not only an extra woman, more competition, and more tongue; moreover, Jinlian's reputation has already spread to Ximen's house.A woman's reputation is good, regardless of the smell, it is not a good thing. Those who smell are enviable; those who smell are annoying.The reputation of this golden lotus in Ximen's house is three points fragrant and seven points stinky, and it is rumored that she killed her husband and had an affair with a man.Therefore, the entrance of Jinlian is far less pleasant than that of Yulou two months ago.

Jin Lian also had a way, came into the room, saw all the girls were present, kowtowed to Yueniang, handed her shoes and tea.After all, Yueniang was kind-hearted, she looked carefully at Pan in front of her, she kept silent, and said in her heart: "When you come to the house, you only talk about what a beautiful wife Wu Da is. Seeing you here today, it is true. No wonder my strong man loves her." Her." Seeing her bowing down, she quickly accepted it.Then lead her to meet the others: "This is the second mother. This is the third mother. This is the fourth mother." Jin Lian bowed down one by one.Everyone also returned the gift.Yueniang taught Yuxiao to take a seat for her to sit on, and then called the maids from all the houses to pay a visit, and called all the daughters-in-law to kowtow.Jin Lian first took a closer look at each housewife one by one, and then recognized the family's daughter-in-law and girl.After three days, when I woke up every morning, I would teach Chunmei to follow her, and come to Yueniang's room to do needlework and make shoes.Don't take things by force, don't move by force.They also taught Chunmei and Qiuju to chase Yueniang and call them "Da Niang", gradually making Yueniang like them.Jinlian was ranked sixth in her natal family, so Yueniang called her "Sixth Sister", picked clothes and jewelry she loved, and ate with her at the same table, but Jiaoer and Xue'e were left behind. happy.

On this day, because Ximen Qing bought the officials, Wu Song finally failed to take revenge. Instead, he was sent to Mengzhou for beating Li Waichuan by mistake.So at home, I ordered my family members to come to Laiwang, Laibao, and Laixinger, clean up the Furong Pavilion in the garden, lay screens, hang brocade curtains, arrange banquets neatly, and called a group of musicians to play and dance. Jiaoer, the third Meng Yulou, the fourth Sun Xue'e, and the fifth Pan Jinlian all drank happily as a family.The family's daughter-in-law, maid and maid serve on both sides.Chunmei stood behind Jinlian, this was the first good banquet she had seen since entering Ximen Qing's house, and saw:

The tripod is burned with incense, and the golden vase is placed with flowers.The antiques of Xiangzhou are listed on the device, and the pearl of Hepu is opened by the curtain.In the crystal plate, there is a high pile of jujube pears; in the jasper cup, it is full of fine nectar and jade liquid.Cooking dragon liver, frying phoenix intestines, it really cost tens of thousands of dollars; black bear paws, purple camel hooves, after drinking, the incense is full.There is also the soft cooking red lotus fragrant rice, which is popular with scallops.It is true that bream and carp are as expensive as cattle and sheep; longan and lychee are believed to be a delicacy in the southeast.Crush the phoenix ball, divide the white waves in the white jade ou; pour in the Qiongye, and spray the fragrance in the purple gold pot.After all, he dared to bully Shi Chongfu if he overwhelmed Sai Mengchangjun.

At present, Ximenqing and Yueniang are sitting on top, and the other four ladies are sitting on both sides, passing cups and lamps, and gathering flowers.

The servant Da'an led a servant and a little girl in.The little girl's hair was just as tall as her eyebrows, and she was born obediently, holding two boxes.Dai'an reported: "The flower eunuch next door sent flowers to wear with the girls."

The boy and the little girl walked up to Ximen Qing and Yueniang, they kowtowed and said, "My mother asked us to give this box of snacks and this box of flowers to Taste and wear with Mrs. Ximen." Open the box to see, one box is the golden pretzel with fruit filling used in the court, and the other box is freshly picked fresh hosta flowers.Yueniang was full of joy, and said: "I asked your mother to worry about it again." While ordering to pick up vegetables, she sent two of them to eat snacks.I rewarded the little girl with a sweat towel, and the boy gave a hundred coins, and said, "Thank you for your mother." Because he asked the little girl, "What's your name?" His name is Xiuchun, and his name is Tianfuer."

After sending the two away, Yue Niang said to Ximen Qing: "The Hua family who lives next door to us, this lady is really nice. She often asks the little servant girl to give me things, and I never return some gifts. she."

Ximen Qing said: "Second brother Hua has married this lady for less than two years now. He himself said that she has a good personality. Otherwise, how could there be these two good girls in the house."

Yueniang said: "The former, in June, when her husband died and went to the funeral, I met her on the top of the mountain. She was born small and slender, with a round face, two thin eyebrows, and fair and smooth skin. , such a tender nature, so lovable and lovable. She is still young, probably not over 24."

Ximen Qing said to all the wives and concubines: "You don't know that she was originally Liang Zhongshu's concubine in the famous mansion. On the night of Shangyuan in the first month of this year, Liang Zhongshu's home was burned and killed by bandits from Liangshan. Liang Zhongshu and his wife escaped separately. He and his adoptive mother, Mother Feng, went to Tokyo to visit relatives. At that time, the eunuch Hua was transferred from the imperial squad to the guard of Guangnan. Because his nephew Huazixu had no wife, he asked a matchmaker to marry him as his wife. When the eunuch was in Guangnan, he also I took her there and lived there for more than half a year. Unfortunately, eunuch Hua was ill and returned to his hometown in Qinghe. He died as soon as he arrived in Qinghe. Most of the money was in Zixu's hands. Ten friends in our meeting, he is also A man who is willing to make money, he often leads a few friends to eat, drink and play in the courtyard."

Yue Niang said: "You two are a couple."

Ximen Qing smiled and said, "I'm much better than him. He often doesn't come home for three or five nights."

Yueniang said: "You are better than him, you often don't come home on five or three nights."

Everyone laughed.

Yueniang asked again: "After talking for a long time, what is the name of this lady of the Hua family?"

Ximen Qingdao: "I heard from Second Brother Hua that her maiden name is Li, and she was born on the fifteenth day of the first lunar month. On that day, they sent a pair of fish bottles, and the small characters called her sister Ping."

Jin Lian laughed and said, "My aunt just asked her what she called her. Why did you even report her Nian Geng? Why don't you change the post?"

Everyone laughed again.

Ximen Qing scolded: "Little glib, you are the only one who is smart."

During this feast of wine, the whole family talked and laughed until the evening.Ximen Qing returned to the Jinlian room, already half drunk, and taking advantage of the wine, he wanted to have a chat with Jinlian.Jinlian hurriedly diffused incense and made the bed, undressed and went to bed with him.

Ximen Qing didn't flirt with her, but sat in the red tent, with the golden lotus horse crawling beside her, and wrapped the golden hairpin lightly with both hands.Ximenqing watched the game with his head down, and his lust doubled, so he called Chunmei to come in and deliver tea.

Jin Lian was afraid that the girl would see it, so she hurriedly put down the tent and said: "Look at your virtue, the girl is still a girl, so I'm so shy, I don't feel at ease."

Ximen Qing smiled and said, "What are you afraid of? There are two good girls in Brother Hua's room next door. The one who sent the flowers today is the little girl. There is another one who is about Chunmei's age, sixteen or seventeen years old, and looks good. Her appearance and figure are also used by Second Brother Hua. In matters in the house, she never avoids her, handing tea and wine. Who knows that Second Brother Hua is so young and employs so many people in the room."

Jin Lian listened and took a look at him: "Why is it so awkward for me to hear you talking today? First I knew her Nian Geng's birthday, and now I know exactly who is in her family. Could it be that you were there too?"

Ximen Qing said: "You will talk nonsense, it's all said by Brother Hua when he was drunk."

Jin Lian said: "Could it be possible that you also told them about your affairs in each room when you were drunk?"

"Where will I be?" Ximen Qing said, "Second brother Hua is blessed."

"It's strange, I don't want to scold you! If you want to accept this girl in your heart, you can accept her. No matter how hard you go, beating around the bush, pointing fingers at the mountain, comparing yourself with others. I am not that stingy and narrow-minded. It's not my girl. If that's the case, I'll sit in the back tomorrow to make room, and you can call her in your room, and take her in."

The two talked like each other, and they felt that there was nothing more beautiful in love, and they only went to bed with their heads in their arms when the clouds collected and rained down.

(End of this chapter)