The Hairpin of the Red Chamber

Baochai, Baoyu, Yingchun, and Tanchun are all in charge. After returning to the club, the Mid-Autumn Festival will come.Baochai was worried these days, fearing that there would be bad news about Lin Ruhai from the south. Fortunately, in August, Xue Pan sent someone to send a letter, saying that Lin Ruhai was slightly ill at first, and that he had recovered by autumn, and said that everything was fine, mother. Don't read it, my sister, and said that there is enough food and clothing, so there is no need to go to all the troubles to send it from Beijing.

Baochai was shocked to see that the whole article was written in Xue Pan's handwriting. My aunt also took the letter in her hand, and asked Baochai to read it again, and then she said it silently for a long time, then she said to her daughter with a smile: "Your brother has really improved." It's all thanks to Master Lin, we need to practice more etiquette."

Baochai said: "That's what should be done." Because Xue Pan was not around, she and Aunt Xue took care of the family affairs, and Aunt Xue was an elderly person, so most of the housework was done by Baochai. Mother gave her an order, and then went out. She had been busy all afternoon. She was leaning against the beauty's couch and was about to rest for a while. : "What is my sister doing all day? She doesn't come to our place."

Baochai smiled and said, "You came just in time. We are going to send something to the south. There is a gift for Uncle Lin. If you have any letters, send them all together."

Daiyu said: "I have sent several letters this year, so there are so many things to say? Just take a message back for me, saying that I want to eat south, and ask my father to bring a box next time."

Hearing this, Baochai hurriedly said: "I happened to ask my brother to find a cook from Suzhou over there. He wants to house his wife and children. He will leave after the Mid-Autumn Festival, and he will arrive in September. Desserts are all freshly made. It's good to go on the way." If it is delayed, it will not be fresh, and it will not be eaten."

Daiyu thought that Baochai's home was in Jinling, and the taste was salty and spicy, but the cook who served Huaiyang cuisine was not invited, and a chef from Suzhou was invited. Could it be that she invited it specially for herself?As soon as this thought came up, he quickly suppressed it, fearing that he would be too sentimental, but Baochai felt more considerate and thoughtful, and his eyebrows seemed to be more gentle and charming, so he said with a smile: "Then I will wait."

Tanchun said, "If Sister Lin wants to eat Nandian, just ask the kitchen to make it. Why go far away?"

Baochai said with a smile: "After all, what is made in the big kitchen is different from what people in my hometown make. My brother was specially hired by the steward of the Tuolin Mansion. The things he makes must be authentic."

When Daiyu heard this, she couldn't help looking up at Baochai, Baochai's face was as usual, she didn't look this way, when Tanchun saw Baochai's words, she just smiled and said: "When the cook comes, don't forget me. "

Baochai said: "That's natural." She was sitting this time, and someone came outside again. Baochai got up to deal with it, and suddenly remembered something, and called out, "Sister Lin."

Qingque replied: "Miss Lin is gone."

Baochai raised her eyes and saw that the sky was dark and it seemed to be raining. She hurriedly said, "How long have you been walking? Did you bring an umbrella?"

Qingque said: "They have four or five wives with them, and they have umbrellas and lanterns."

Baochai nodded, and told his family: "Divide the baskets of crabs that my brother gave you, and give one to the old lady and the other wives. Let's eat one for ourselves, and leave another for me." big."

The family agreed, and it was only now that it was raining outside.Originally, in August, there was still the term "autumn tiger", but after it rained, it cooled down completely. Baochai watched the weather, got up early the next day and asked people to pack their shirts and jackets, and watched people sweep the fallen leaves, so he was busy again. One day, in the afternoon, Daiyu came with an umbrella and wooden clogs. When Baochai saw her from a distance, she complained, "It's raining, it's so cold, what are you doing out here again?"

Daiyu said: "You are not allowed to come out when it is cold in autumn, and you are not allowed to come out when it is hot in summer. There are four seasons of the year, but there are a few days when you see me and I will give you a smile."

Baochai laughed and said, "I'm not afraid that you'll fall and freeze."

Daiyu said displeasedly, "I'm not a porcelain carving person. I'll break if I touch it." She walked in and handed the umbrella to Xueyan, and took off her coir raincoat. Baochai took it and handed it to the little girl, and asked: "Why do you want to wear this dress again?"

Daiyu only smiled, and Zijuan said beside him: "Don't say it, Baoyu went to pay his respects when it rained that day. Many, if she wanted to wear this to enjoy the rain scene, the old lady would not agree to it as soon as she asked! Even the clothes and the bamboo hat were given together, which is more delicate than Baoyu's."

Baochai said: "That's rare for you girls to speak, and the old lady will naturally respond." He touched Daiyu's sleeve with his hand, and seeing that there was no drop of water, he first smiled, then pinched and frowned, and said, "Why? Not wearing a jacket?"

Daiyu said: "A jacket, it's freezing me to death!"

Baochai had no choice but to shake her head and let her into the room. Yinger served a bowl of ginger soup warmly. Miss Lin is not allowed to put these odds and ends in front of Miss Lin."

Daiyu put the bowl on the table, snorted, and refused to drink. Baochai was continuing to settle the accounts outside. When she heard the movement inside, she didn't need to ask. Come." Put down the account book, walk in, and said with a smile: "The kitchen is made randomly according to the recipe, I don't know if it's good or not, you have a taste, if it's good, ask him to do it again, if it's not good, you can make up for it, Change the recipe next time."

At this moment, the little girl has quickly brought a box from the kitchen, opened it, and found a plate of plum cake, a plate of sweet-scented osmanthus cake, a plate of wine glutinous rice cake, and a plate of candied lotus root.

Daiyu saw these four plates of dim sum, and her heart warmed up. She picked up a piece of plum cake and ate it slowly, saying, "It's the same as what I eat at home." : "Dinner is about to be served, you can sit down and go home. Otherwise, the old lady will worry about it again." He just hummed, and when he was about to get up, he turned around and said: "I forgot to tell you, next time The book club is set to open two days after the Mid-Autumn Festival, and it's my turn to be the host, so what book do you choose?"

Baochai laughed and said, "Wouldn't it be enough to finish reading "Guwenguanzhi" again?"

Daiyu said: "It's always this book, and everyone is tired of it. Besides, I have already memorized this book by heart."

Baochai said, "Then what do you want to see?"

Daiyu said: "Actually, I want to take out the Four Books and warm them up. I'm afraid Baoyu doesn't like them."

Baochai said with a smile: "If he doesn't like it, let him go to school as usual. You don't care what he does. I have something to tell you. You can listen to it."

Daiyu asked curiously, "What's the matter?"

Baochai said: "My elder brother brought some crabs from the south. Besides the ones to honor the old ladies, there is also a basket. My mother and I can't eat all of them. It's too bad to leave them for nothing. I don't think you want them." If I go to buy some big dishes, I just ask the kitchen to cook the crabs, and then I take the change to buy some fruit plates for everyone to play with. It's spacious here, or it can be placed here with me."

Daiyu refused to be the host for a long time, because she thought that she was in someone else's house and lived with Baoyu Jiamu, so she couldn't use it.Both Yingchun and Tanchun borrowed Li Wan's place, but Daiyu didn't know Li Wan well. She was embarrassed and was thinking of borrowing Lixiangyuan, but she had an idea since that day when Baoyu looked at Baochai's arm. After going back and forth in January and February, it became something on my mind, and because of this, even though I was in contact with Baochai, I still refused to open it. Now that Baochai was thinking about it for me, I couldn't help but hesitate again. After hesitating for a while, he said, "Sister Bao, why...why do you treat me so well?"

Baochai didn't know what she was thinking, and said with a smile: "Silly boy, it's not been a day or two since you and I have been friends. Why didn't you ask when we first met, but now you suddenly think of asking this question?"

Daiyu waited to say something, then stopped, and finally just said dully: "It's nothing."

Seeing that she was not happy, Baochai suspected that she was not feeling well, so she took a closer look at her face and found that there was nothing wrong with it, then patted her hand and said, "If you think it's fine, then let's make it so, and I'll ask someone to get things ready. , you should have come earlier."

Dai Yuyin said: "It's all in your hands, how can I be embarrassed?"

Baochai said angrily, "What are you and I still so estranged for?"

Daiyu said: "It's not about birth, it's just what I'm supposed to do. How can I leave it all to you?"

Baochai said: "You just take care of your body, I am responsible for everything." She and Daiyu knew each other well, and knew the cause of the past. One thing might be tiring for Daiyu, and she just wanted to do it for her by herself. Who knows that although Daiyu is weak and sick, she has a high spirit, and she has a preoccupation with her, and now she sees Baochai clearly treating her like a child. In a fit of anger, he flicked the handkerchief suddenly, and said with a sneer, "Sister Bao is overthinking. No matter how weak my body is, I won't be unable to handle one or two banquets, and I don't need to bother my sister. Tomorrow I will be called Zijuan." Put out the list and hand it over to the kitchen, and ask the old women to come over and just borrow a place from my sister." After speaking, she turned her head to leave, but was grabbed by Baochai. She didn't know where to start. Seeing that she was silent, Daiyu shook her hand away and wanted to leave. Baochai hurriedly took her hand back and said, "It's raining, walk slowly." In desperation, The voice became louder, and Daiyu stopped and stood at the door without moving.