The oil bottle of the Red Chamber

The next day was clear and clear.The snow that had fallen for several days stopped as early as midnight.Snow flakes like cotton wool sprinkled in the yard and fell on the dead branches, and the sun shone brighter and whiter.

Mrs. Feng got up early in the morning, took care of the old lady and the little girls to sweep the snow, wipe the tables and chairs, and prepare tea and wine for the guests.Chen came out of the room with her eldest sister and second sister, only to feel the cold wind blowing against her face, and shivered uncontrollably.Winding along the Chaoshou corridor to the upper room, I saw Mrs. Feng wearing a sable Zhaojun suit on his head, a brocade robe winter coat with rose purple red satin trim, and a big red crinkle silver mouse leather skirt, standing on the corridor with the housekeeper's wife. say.

Chen Shiyin said with a smile: "It's such a cold day, why doesn't my sister-in-law go in and talk. Standing in this air vent, I'll freeze you for nothing."

Turning her head back, Feng saw Chen walking towards her, holding the hands of the eldest sister and the second sister from left to right.Because they are still in filial piety, the mother and daughter are all dressed in plain clothes.Lotus-colored jackets and white cotton satin skirts are all similar in style and color. From a distance, they don't look like mother and daughter, but like sisters.

Feng Shi might as well nod his head, but was startled instead.He hurriedly asked, "Why is Sister Hui dressed similarly to Eldest Sister and Second Sister? I almost didn't recognize her."

Chen frowned and said with a smile: "What do you think, sister-in-law? This is all second sister's idea. I was worrying last night and didn't know what clothes to wear. It was second sister who reminded me. She said that the sisters used to wear the same clothes, and people knew that they were sisters of the same family. Now the three of us are dressed in the same clothes, and outsiders can see that we are a family. I thought about it, and there is something to this. It makes sense. Last night, I rummaged through the box, and finally found such a set of clothes from the bottom of the box."

Feng Shi was speechless for a moment when he heard the words.Yin looked at it carefully again.In addition to some white jade hairpins on Chen's head in response to the occasion, there are only two flowers made of gauze piles of blue sky and water on the dark double-ring buns of the two girls.The three of them, the mother and the daughter, were standing there pretty and alive, all of them had beautiful faces, carved in pink and jade, and they were really pleasing to the eye at a glance.It's just that against the backdrop of the remaining snow in the yard, it looks even thinner.

Feng frowned and said: "This outfit is quite new and interesting, but it's colder to wear clothes of this color in this weather. If I had known this, I should have chosen Lianqing or Hu Blue is better."

Chen waved her hand, because she said: "My sister-in-law also knows me. I don't like lotus green, lake blue, pine and cypress green the most. Good girls, why bother to dress up so old-fashioned."

After saying that, he laughed again: "Now I have to guard against that dead ghost, and I can't wear colored clothes. I am very wronged. I wear it for everyday life. Sister-in-law will let me choose whatever I like."

When Feng heard the words, he didn't say any more.Turning around, he dismissed the housekeeper's daughter-in-law who came to ask for instructions from the kitchen, and said to Chen Shi with a smile: "It's cold outside, my aunt and daughter-in-law bring the two sisters into the house."

Mrs. Chen laughed and said, "Sister-in-law, just talk about me. You were still standing under the eaves for half a day just now."

Feng Shiyin said: "As soon as I came here, I was stopped by Chen Wu's family. It was just a matter of asking for a word. Otherwise, in the cold weather, who would stand in the wind and gossip with them patiently?" .”

After finishing speaking, he took the second sister's hand and entered the upper room with Mrs. Chen.Chen Gui sat crookedly on the grand teacher's chair on the lower right and listened to his son Chen Rong recite the article.Chen Wan put her arms around Chen Gui's neck and talked coquettishly.

When Feng saw this, he angrily said to his daughter Chen Wan: "The bigger you are, the more you lose your rules. You still haven't got off your father."

Chen Wan pouted and let go, Chen Gui said disapprovingly, "She's only old, she's only ten years old, and she's still a little girl."

After finishing speaking, he said to Chen Wei: "You will be twelve after the new year, and you are also a big boy. You should pay more attention to your homework. Just memorizing such a short passage and making two mistakes, it is not as good as your old man Me. If you do this, how can I expect you to be admitted to Jinshi and Hanlin in the future."

Chen Rong stood on the ground with his arms tied, he could only do what he wanted.

Chen Gui turned his face and glanced at the three of Chen's mother and daughter. He saw that the three mothers and daughters were dressed very similarly, standing side by side, like three spring onions.Unconsciously, he smiled and said: "This look is good. You can tell that you are a family at a glance. When you have time someday, let's make a few sets of the same ones. When you go out to meet relatives and friends, wear them. It's also novel."

Mrs. Chen said with a smile: "My brother also thinks it's good? In the past, I only saw the sisters of the whole family wearing such clothes. I didn't expect that it was the second sister who said it unintentionally. It's really interesting to think about it." , so I ordered the needleworkers to change my winter clothes into this pattern."

Chen Gui looked at the second sister with interest, because she said: "Second sister doesn't talk much now, but she has more rules for her actions. How did you come up with such a good idea?"

The second sister just lowered her head and smiled, because she said: "I just said it casually, and Mom will take it seriously."

Chen Gui said: "Why not take it seriously, such an interesting thing, even I have to take it seriously."

Seeing that Chen Gui became more and more interested in chatting, Mrs. Feng was afraid that he would order the needleworker to cut clothes on a whim, so she hurriedly interrupted, "Why don't you see the old man and the old lady?"

Chen Gui smiled rather narrowly.Pointing to the back, he said, "I haven't gotten up yet."

Feng Shi was puzzled.Seeing that Chen Gui was vague, the big maid waiting on the side hurriedly stepped forward to explain.

It turned out that Mrs. Chen ate a few extra mouthfuls of elbows at dinner last night, so she couldn't digest it at night, and made a fuss for most of the night, and even the old lady couldn't sleep well.So I got up late in the morning.Everyone came to say hello to this moment, and they haven't woken up yet.

Seeing this, Mrs. Feng smiled and said to the maids in the room: "Since this is the case, there is no need to wake up the old man and the old lady. There is nothing wrong with this meeting, let them go to bed early."

While talking, I only heard "No need, I'm already awake" from inside.When everyone heard the words, they got up immediately, only to see Mrs. Chen and Mrs. Chen being supported from behind.Old Mrs. Chen said with a smile: "I'm getting old, I can't accept my old age. But after eating a little bit of meat, I started to toss about it."

Hearing what Old Master Chen said, Chen Gui smiled and said, "Father has passed through wine and meat. Fortunately, Father doesn't believe in gods and Buddhas on weekdays. Otherwise, wouldn't he have achieved a positive result yesterday?"

Old Master Chen laughed and cursed angrily when he heard the words, pointing at Chen Gui, he said, "It's a shame that I'm still tough now, otherwise I'd really be pissed to death by your unworthy son. How can a son make fun of your father like that."

Chen Gui smiled again, and replied inwardly: "That's me, my son. I tried every means to make my father and mother smile all day long. If it was someone else, it would be like a cat biting its tongue in front of your elders. It's so boring."

Mrs. Chen glared at Chen Gui angrily, and pulled the big baby grandson over to ask questions.

At that moment, Mrs. Chen asked Feng's family how the wine and drama were going, and the melons, fruits and vegetables were all ready.Mrs. Feng went back one by one, and Mrs. Chen asked Zhang's family when they would arrive.Chen Gui looked at the sky outside, and said with a smile: "It's still early, what is the old lady in a hurry for? Even if you want to come, at least it will be noon. It's not good to have breakfast, so I brought the whole family here of."

When Mrs. Chen heard the words, Fang remained silent.He also ordered the girls to set up breakfast, and held Chen's hand at the dinner table to ask questions constantly.The left is just some "how old is the master of the Zhang family", "how is he?"

Mrs. Chen also agreed one by one.After finally finishing breakfast, Mrs. Chen wanted to take her two sisters back to her room to be quiet.Unexpectedly, Mrs. Chen did not let him go, she still grabbed Mrs. Chen's hand long and short and asked endlessly.Chen Gui was clever, and wanted to hide in the outer study room for peace and quiet, but before he could open his mouth, Old Master Chen saw through his plan to force him to stay in the room.

Since Chen Gui couldn't leave, he didn't let his wife and children be quiet.So everyone in the Chen residence sat in the upper room and chatted with the old lady—it was just a chatterbox.

It was about noon, and sure enough, a young man from the porter came to report that someone from the Zhang family had arrived.Chen Gui breathed a sigh of relief, and hurriedly dragged his son out of the gate.Mrs. Chen walked slowly to the outer study and waited, while Mrs. Feng and Mrs. Chen took their sisters and children at the second door to welcome the female guests.

Zhang Yun's daughter-in-law, Qiu Shi, and her daughter, Sister Yan, were led in by Chen's mother-in-law.Seeing Mrs. Chen and her elder sister and second sister, Mrs. Qiu's eye circles were reddish, and it was not easy to be upset during the New Year's Eve, so she just said vaguely "I'm sorry for you", and greeted Mrs. Feng with a smile .

Mrs. Feng hurriedly led Mrs. Qiu and sister Yan to visit Mrs. Chen.Mrs. Qiu said with a smile: "In theory, I should have come to visit the old man and the old lady long ago. It's just that the village is busy with things, and it's easy to get lost. In June, another eunuch in charge was changed, and I didn't dare to take time off anymore. I had to rush to the end of the new year, the grain in the field was ready, the wild animals, fruits, frost, charcoal, etc. were all in order, and I had to pay the errand, so I had time to come here. Please don’t blame the old man and the old lady.”

Mrs. Chen laughed and said: "Since you can think about us and don't forget us during the holidays, you have intentions. How can we blame you? What's more, there is no room for sloppy things about the Tian family. Naturally, you have to work hard and be a good job. Just like the boss of our family, it is the same when he goes to the government office on weekdays. There is nothing wrong with it. Otherwise, wouldn’t it be a disappointment to the kindness of the Tian family and the trust of Shangfeng? .”

After hearing this, Mrs. Qiu felt that the Chen family was reasonable, and exchanged pleasantries.He also said: "The poor family has nothing to offer. It's just that our master is in charge of the Huangzhuang now, but he can still be a master. Knowing that he is going to come to the house today, he packed two bags of Yutian japonica rice and boiled it. Porridge is rare; there are also some fruits and wild animals produced by the village, which are better than those from outside, so if you can use them, it is also a good thing. I hope you don’t dislike them.”

Although the Chen family is a family of officials, Chen Gui is only an official of the seventh grade mustard beans. He can only be said to be rich in food and clothing on weekdays, but due to his limited position, he can't even receive the best for officials. Yes, how can I get in touch with these advanced good things.So everyone is satisfied.Mrs. Feng also thanked you again and again, and said with a smile: "You are too modest. Such a good thing, and it is advanced, we have never seen it before. Today is also thanks to your family's blessing, Only then can you feel the royal air. It’s too late to be happy, how can there be any reason to dislike it?”

While talking, there was a servant from the outer study back and forth: "Master asked when will the dinner be served?"

When Mrs. Chen asked, she first looked at the time, and said to everyone with a smile: "I was just chatting and talking, but I couldn't see it. It's the time. It's time to set dinner."

After saying that, he ordered someone to tell the boy waiting outside: "Tell your master, take good care of the Zhang family master and Zhang family brother. Look at your old master, don't tell him to drink more."

The boy agreed one by one outside.Seeing that there was no more order in it, I went all over.