The clever maid of the red mansion

Liu'er's face was calm and gentle, as if she didn't see anything, she took over Fu Qiufang's needlework, looked at it with one hand, and said in a rambling voice, "It is said in "Kao Gong Ji", the text of green and red Red and white are called chapters, white and black are called fu, black and blue are called fu, five colors are called embroidery, and the positions of four seasons and five colors are called clever. All women can do embroidery, how clever is it? ..."

While Liu'er was talking, she put her other hand into the needle and thread basket, and picked up a needle from the needle. For some reason, with a movement of her finger, a white thread was sewed on, and the embroidery thread on that thread seemed to be very obedient. .The needle was caught between the two fingers, and another needle was picked up, the finger was moved, and a black thread was stretched... Repeatedly, the blue, yellow, red, white, black and five-color silk threads were all stitched, and the five needles were neatly arranged between the index finger and the middle finger. Sister Qin and Caiwei stared at it, their eyes were full of light.

Liu'er continued calmly, "It's all about color matching. There are more than twenty colors in each color, and every color that is very light can be connected with white, although there are more than a hundred colors. Elementary grades are often used at home, only for vividness, about seven colors are enough. For intermediate grades and above, the colors will gradually increase, depending on the shape of the embroidered object, change the needle from time to time to match the color."

As he spoke, he held the tape firmly in one hand, and with the five fingers of the other hand piercing through flowers and willows, he joined the pink needle thread on the original tape, and the six needle threads interlaced up and down, and began to embroider. The needle seemed to be very tame, followed by fingers on the tape, Swipe up and down without any lag.

"Like the lotus among these flowers, the flower should be pink, the leaves should be bean green, and the stamen should be light yellow. Ordinary products, each color has three or four colors, the edges of the flowers and leaves are light and medium deep, the stems are straight and light, and the curve is deep. Use needles according to their needs. Medium-sized products can have more than ten colors of flowers, and five or six colors of stems and leaves, and the flower colors are uncertain. Now we only talk about the petals, the front side is light and the back side is deep. Gentle, straight needles are neat and even. However, the petals are different, within one petal, up, down, left, right, and middle, there are still two or three colors, and double trocars are required to match them..."

Liu'er spoke in a low voice, kept holding her hands, and in a short time a lotus petal was covered with leaps and bounds.Finishing and knotting the colored threads one by one with one hand, hiding the thread ends, inserting the six needles into the needle sockets one by one, and handing the stretched hands to Fu Qiufang.

At this time, Fu Qiufang, who still remembered the original intention of taking out the needlework, took the stretcher in a daze, and subconsciously lowered her head to see that Sister Qin and Caiwei had already approached her aunt, head to head and looked intently with excitement .

People are more dead than people, and goods are thrown away.

Originally, Bingdilian finished embroidering one petal, the other had three petals, and the fourth petal next to it was embroidered by Liu Er.Comparing with this petal, the rest looks like cut from pink paper, flat and dull, like a dead thing.

And the fourth petal, through the fabric, can also feel a kind of moistness and freshness, like a new lotus after rain, and you can feel the beauty and tenderness of the flower at your fingertips.

After all, Liu'er used five or six kinds of color threads, which were regarded as elementary grades, while Fu Qiufang only used one kind of pink thread, which was not even considered elementary grades, and the difference in skills...

Liu'er didn't say a word, picked up the teacup on the table in front of her, and took a sip slowly.Fu Qiufang was speechless for a while. Caiwei was a very active person who couldn't hide her words, and she didn't feel that there was anything wrong with the atmosphere. She just clapped her hands and praised, "Auntie Liu'er embroidered really well, just like the real thing. In summer, I I picked one from the pond on Zhuangzi, and the petals look like this." He stretched out his hand and touched it, as if to verify whether it was real or not.

Sister Qin was more thoughtful, looked at her aunt, and then at Liu'er, she didn't say much, she just nodded, "Yeah." She agreed with her sister.

What Liu'er did just now was only elementary embroidery work, and the so-called high-quality goods were not brought out.Suddenly, I remembered the first time I saw Master Dong embroidering lotus flowers. There were more than a dozen or twenty colors, and with Master Dong's craftsmanship, the embroidered things were even more beautiful than the real thing, and I didn't know what grade it was. Dazed in thought...

"Sister, this female celebrity is really extraordinary." Fu Qiufang had mixed feelings in her heart, and now thinking of Liu'er doing needlework for the noble concubine in the Rong Mansion, it was really extraordinary, but she had shallow eyes and watched the sky from a well?

It's just that she has been doing needlework for so many years, is it all a waste of effort?How embarrassing is this!

"...Ah? What..." Before Liu'er recovered her senses, she felt that Fu Qiufang seemed to be talking to her. She quickly recovered and understood in an instant. It’s just a matter of living, who is willing to work hard if you can live a leisurely life, and a sister is a blessed person with family support.”

Thinking of Master Dong, Liu'er already felt dull, as expected, her life was going smoothly, and she became impetuous, what could happen to the conflict between emotions?It's not a great opponent, maybe it can improve by one or two.

Then he got up and said goodbye, "I just came back today, and I still have a lot of things to put away, my sister has to go back first. My sister has some free time, so I just go over and sit around."

Caiwei was a little bit reluctant, and said, "Aunt Yang, can my sister and I go to your place to play? My sister and I also like to embroider purses and handkerchiefs."

"Of course, you are welcome at any time." Liu'er smiled, nodded to Fu Qiufang, and went home with Huangqi and Dongmei. The three of them disappeared after turning the corner, and Fang turned back to his room with a sullen face.

Fu Qiufang has been going smoothly for more than 20 years. It may be an exaggeration to say that he is good at all kinds of piano, chess, calligraphy and painting, but he does have some skills.However, in such a short period of time, the original pride was blown away, not much left.

This kind of loss and depression is indeed not a taste.

Sister Qin pulled Caiwei, who was still looking at the embroidery, and quietly retreated out. Seeing that her aunt was unhappy, they didn't dare to stand here and get in the way.

Liu'er went home and rested for a day, and the next day, she instructed the girl to send a few boxes of calligraphy and paintings to the warehouse for storage, took out two paintings with similar themes, and hung them on the wall of the study in the east room. Pick up a pen and start copying.The hand-eye state of mind that she has practiced since she was a child, and the painting skills that she was forced to lay down, she is naturally aware of every detail, and now she is concentrating on sewing for the noble concubine for so many days, unconsciously, it is different from before.You don't have to stare at it, you already have a plan in your heart.It doesn't have to be exactly the same, the charm is more fitting.

During the day, when the sun was shining, he took out the needlework given to his adoptive father, sister, and godmother, and took the girl to make it under the window.Now there are more clothes cut for her sister, because they are big clothes, she only cuts and sews them.The embroidery in the details is all done by the well-knit red flowers Polygonatum and Panax notoginseng. She chose the pattern of flowers, but they are just some decorative ruyi cloud patterns or twig patterns, and they don't pay much attention to them. , The color matching is simple, just one or two colors.

Sister Qin took Caiwei and came to play the next day. Liu'er chatted with them while doing work, because there were many girls who had seen the world and chattered very much. It's interesting, and I come more frequently.

On the [-]th day of the eighth lunar month, the old lady of the Rong Mansion, the Fu family, and Feng Ziying all sent gifts, which were seasonal snacks and home-cooked things.

Her elder sister in the Fu family was in charge of the house, so she had to use them all, so she picked up the things from Zhuangzi and put them in a share and sent them to the girl and mother-in-law next to her.

In the Rong Mansion, because Liu'er's embroidery was sent to the palace, there was a lot of extra rewards from the empress.There are so many colorful flowers, Liu'er only looked at it and didn't take it seriously.She didn't try to make a name for herself, in fact, if she sold it outside, she would get a lot more money than this reward, so she didn't have to be so trembling.

Feng Ziying doesn't give gold and silver jewellery, etc. now, and there are more exquisite gadgets or daily-use things from all over the world. If you look at the goods, they are not cheaper than jewelry.

If you can't let go of eating and drinking, or keep some or give it away, the mother and son are no longer hypocritical.As for the things that can be kept, unless there is something Liu Er likes very much, it will be stored together with the things that Uncle Feng gave him all the time.

To say that the most generous presenter was Lin Fu, who pulled a cart, a large rattan box, a few bamboo baskets, a few jars of wine, and four pots of chrysanthemums in full bloom.Liu'er returned the gift with two bundles of needlework and a box of snacks made by her godmother, which was brought back by the mother-in-law who delivered the things.

The bamboo baskets are two baskets of big crabs, two baskets of chickens, ducks and geese, one basket of fish and shrimp, and two baskets of fresh fruit.Seeing that there were enough crabs, Liu'er asked her mother-in-law to send a basket to Fu's family.After thinking about it, she asked the girl to send a pot of chrysanthemums to her elder sister, Fu Qiufang and the two little girls.I have already given boxing gifts before, so this is an addition.

As soon as she opened the rattan box, Liu'er knew at a glance that it was written by sister Lin.

A big bag of freshly punched gold and silver lockets of all kinds.A pack of exquisite purse sachet fans.Sister Lin has always said, "Xiao Liuer's needlework is valuable, so don't give it to outsiders easily, and usually give it to people who don't matter, just take ready-made ones."

In addition to these, the most important thing is that four bags of various clothing materials are in one bag.Open it and look at it, just look at the color and texture, you can tell that it belongs to Lin Fu's father and daughter and Liu Erniang, even if there is no lottery.

The godmother asked the girl to send it to her room directly, and Liu'er asked Dong'er to put it away.As for the adoptive father of the Lin family, Liu'er shook off a bolt of indigo blessing silk, which is suitable for making a long cotton robe for the adoptive father... Well, in a few days, I have something to do, and I need to tailor clothes There are more, but it will save a bunch of maids and women to be in a hurry.

Everywhere is busy with the festival, and the Shenwu General's Mansion is no exception.

That night, a family banquet was held in the garden, where an old family enjoyed the moon with snacks and wine, and there were little actors singing in the open space, which was quite lively.

After a few rounds of drinking and a little dinner, the juniors gathered in twos and threes to play by themselves.Mrs. Liu's housekeeper has many things to do and has to take care of his wife and a few sister-in-laws, so she doesn't have time to spend, but she dares not leave the old man Feng Tang's side easily.

The second girl, Feng Lian, brought her cousin Jiang Suyun to the parent's table, "Father, my cousin and I went back. We look the same every year, so it's boring." Jiang Suyun smiled calmly, without making a sound, and was meekly pulled by Feng Lian'er.

Feng Tang has always been helpless with this somewhat arrogant girl, so he waved her away.

Mrs. Li picked up a chopstick dish for the old man, put it on a plate, and said with a smile, "Lian'er and Yun'er get along well, but they are not young anymore, and Lian'er is fifteen years old, so the old man has a What charter is there?"

Feng Tang took a sip of sweet-scented osmanthus wine, smashed his mouth, and didn't take it seriously, "It's still early, let's take a look at it slowly, you have nothing to do on a daily basis, so please accept her temperament, and go out in a few years. She can't be so crazy. She is not in a hurry, but how old is Yun'er than Lian Yatou?"

Mrs. Li nodded and said with a smile, "Master has a good memory. She is four years older, and now she is eighteen years old. She will be born at the end of the year. That girl is also a lovely girl. When my uncle gave me a boxing gift, she even gave me a gift." Inquire about Miss Yun. Now that the master mentions it, you see...is the matter between her and San'er settled?"

Feng Tang was stunned for a moment, then turned to look at Xiao Li, "San'er is willing? So that's what you planned?"

A trace of unease flashed across Mrs. Li's face, she smiled, and poured another glass of wine for the old man, "Marriage is an important matter, the order of the parents and the words of the matchmaker. Don't you nod, sir. Besides, they are petty people, and there is no time to be ashamed. Where are you?" Feel free to say it."

Feng Tang pushed the wine glass aside, and suddenly smiled, "It's okay to say that others are okay, but San'er is not a reserved person, so let's talk about it after asking. They are all relatives, so it's not good to make trouble, so that we won't be able to meet each other in the future. I see, San'er is still not sure. An honest child like Yun'er may not be able to win his heart. Besides, although Yun'er is not bad, he is not a child from the Li family on his uncle's side. He is just being polite. Forget it, it’s not necessary to take it seriously.”

The last two sentences had a lot of meaning, Xiao Li was careful, and his heart skipped a beat, but he was a little uncertain, and didn't dare to say more for a while.She has lived with Feng Tang for so many years, so she somewhat knows this guy's temperament, which is thick and thin, and will not be easily influenced by others. Looking at the big boss, he is actually the most calculating person, relying on the power and wealth he has created with one knife and one gun , is it simple.

After a rest the next day, Mr. Feng called his third son into the study. The father and son sat down. What do you think? I see that girl is also a virtuous one. If you want to, you can get married earlier, start a family and start a business. You should also do things with peace of mind. It's not a problem to hang around all day like this. "

After hearing this, Mr. Feng stopped drinking the tea and put it on the table casually, "My son is not happy, just wait a little longer. I will definitely find a suitable one this year. Then, old man, you can just send someone to propose a marriage. It won't delay your holding your grandson." .Besides, you don’t need grandchildren, so what’s the rush.”

Feng Tang and this son felt chest tightness and shortness of breath without saying a few words, and all kinds of things were not pleasing to the ears or eyes, but this shrewd and transparent part most resembled him.

Putting down the tea bowl with a slap, "What do you mean by finding a suitable one? A few years ago, you shied away and said that there is no rush, and don't fool your father with the trick of fooling outsiders! You are a man anyway, and I can rely on you for a lifetime! No While your old man and I are still alive, I will make arrangements for you, and you should be as easy as flattering yourself?"

Mr. Feng really didn't dare to offend his old man now, so he hurriedly got up and apologized, "Don't worry, don't worry, this time it's true, I have a fancy for one, but I haven't found out clearly yet, just wait a moment, Dad. Son as soon as possible, hehehe."

Feng Tang became even more angry, frowned and said, "You hang out all day long, I'll be ugly first, don't let me get in those dubious women outside, I can't afford to lose this old face !"

"How can it be, father, is the son not calculating at all? The son knows what he knows, just appoint a good girl from a good family, who is beautiful, smart, and filial. Don't worry, don't worry." Feng Ziying knows best To fool his father, and no matter how the old man slapped the table and the stool, he was flattering on the surface, but he didn't tremble in his heart.

Mr. Feng settled down, took the tea handed over by his son, took a sip and put it down, and asked, "Do you know Xie Lin from Dingchenghou's family? Is he engaged now? What's going on at home?"

"I know, I don't have a deep friendship. As for whether there is an engagement or not, I don't know. It's just that they are not married. Why, dad, do you always want to be a matchmaker? Which one?" His old man also turned a little abruptly. stop.

"Didn't Mr. Lin Hailin, the servant of the Ministry of Officials, have a adopted daughter? He asked me a few days ago, and I saw that Mr. Lin seemed to like Mr. Xie's boy. Although I am in charge of this army Ma, I'm not very familiar with these juniors..."

"Wait, father, excuse me for interrupting, whose adopted daughter is here?" Feng Ziying's mind flickered, her intuition was not very good, how could she wait for her father to finish speaking slowly.

"Lin Ruhai, Minister of the Ministry of Officials, is the one who came back from the Lianghuai Salt Administration. Why, is there something wrong?"

"No...no, that...Father, Master Lin has always been upright, honest and pragmatic, and has extraordinary knowledge and insight, and his son has always admired him! His daughter is a righteous daughter, and she is not bad at all, Dad You didn't think about your own son? If your son can get more advice from Mr. Lin in the future, he will be able to make a difference, right? You've been blowing your beard and staring all day long, but he's a spring breeze and rain, and everything is silent. You two have a pen and a weapon. After being nurtured, it will be difficult for my son to think about it in the future..."

This time it's his father's turn not to recognize him, so it's their family who knows how to make progress