The oil bottle of the Red Chamber

The next morning, the eldest sister and the second sister woke up early, after washing and grooming, they first sent the little girl Douer to the upper room and the main room to inquire about news.I learned that Mr. You Lao'an just got up and was asking for water to wash up, but there was no movement in the house of the main house master and wife.They looked at each other unconsciously and smiled.

The second sister ordered Shaoyao again: "Go to Eldest Sister and take a look, is Eldest Sister awake?"

Shao Yao agreed and went out.When I came back in half a day, I smiled and said: "The eldest girl is also awake, and she is washing in the room. Seeing the servants coming to say hello, first asked the girls how they slept last night, and whether there was any problem with choosing seats. The girls agreed one by one. The eldest girl said, if the girls like it, you might as well sit in the eldest girl's room, and the sisters can chat for a while, have something to eat, and then go to greet the old lady together."

The second sister laughed and said, "I also mean the same thing. It's just that I'm afraid that it's not good to bother the eldest sister. Now that I've said that, let's go there."

As he spoke, he stood up with his elder sister, and while they were talking, Zhen'er came in from the outside, and replied with a smile: "The two girls from You's family who served elder sister came over yesterday, and they only said that they would give it to the two girls. Please."

Hearing the words, the eldest sister subconsciously turned her head to look at the second sister. The second sister first smiled and said, "I think I slept well last night, but now I think about it. It's just that we are nothing. Dear guests, how dare you disturb the two elder sisters. You go out and tell me, just say that I said so, let the two elder sisters have a good rest. Although there are few maids here, they can serve them well. "

Zhen'er smiled and agreed, and leaned out to go out.For a while there was commotion outside and the sound of someone arguing. After a while, Zhen'er lifted the curtain and went back to the room, and said with a smile: "The two girls refused to leave. It is their duty to persuade the maidservant." What's more, Aunt Lan has already ordered you to take good care of the girls and don't be lazy. If you offend the girls, you will expose them."

The second sister laughed for a while after hearing this, because she said: "This has nothing to do with us. We are not serious masters of the You family. We are just relying on our mother's affection and sending them under the fence. If they I'm afraid that Aunt Lan will beat someone, so I just ask Aunt Lan to do me a favor. No matter how bad it is, there are still old ladies and masters. Our sister and son are not right, so we don't dare to talk too much .”

After hearing this, Zhen'er leaned out again.He told the second sister's words exactly in front of all the wives and maids of the You family.The two girls might as well be the second sister who is younger, but has a more tricky temperament than the eldest sister, so they looked at each other unconsciously, faintly feeling that something was wrong.Busily knelt down on the ground, met each other loudly, and cried in his mouth: "Please forgive me, girls. The servants were thinking that it was late at night yesterday, and they had to get up early today to worship their ancestors, so they didn't dare to disturb the two girls' rest. The girls are kind. If the girls don’t like it, the slaves will never dare again. I also ask the girls to spare the slaves this time.”

While talking, the eldest sister and the second sister had already left the embroidery room, and saw the two maids kneeling in the yard, kowtowing and weeping for forgiveness, and the maids and wives who were sweeping the yard were standing far away.Seeing the two sisters coming out, they all bowed to say hello.

The second sister looked at the two maidservants kneeling there.They are all about fifteen or sixteen years old, wearing red satin jackets and green satin waistcoats with pinched teeth. They are also dressed in the same way.One has delicate eyebrows, willow eyebrows and almond eyes, and a pointed chin. When she didn't speak, her eye circles turned red, as if someone bullied her.The other has an ordinary appearance, but his eyes are rolling around, and he looks shrewd at a glance.

Hearing the two maids begging for mercy while they seemed to be explaining, the second sister sneered slightly in her heart, more and more affirming the good intentions of that Aunt Lan.He was not in a hurry to find the eldest girl of the You family, he just stood there and asked the two girls: "Yesterday, the two sisters rested early, so I forgot to ask for a while, what are the names of the two sisters?"

The two maids didn't care about what the second sister said, and hurriedly agreed.It turns out that the one with willow eyebrows and almond eyes is called Shuxiang, and the one with shrewdness is called Moxiang.

The second sister laughed and praised, "What an elegant name."

Mo Xiang heard the words, and said first: "Aunt Lan gave it to me."

The second sister smiled again when she heard the words.He didn't cry out, and told Shaoyao: "Didn't you say that the eldest girl is still waiting for us. Don't make the eldest girl wait for a long time, let's go."

Shao Yao was startled, but before she could react, Mo Xiang and Shu Xiang became anxious, and hurriedly said: "The girls are going to find the eldest girl, and the servants will guide the girl."

Before finishing a sentence, she was about to get up, the second sister smiled and said: "It is very unnecessary to bother the two sisters. Just ask Shao Yao to lead us there."

The anxiety on Mo Xiang's face was even worse. Before he could say anything, Shu Xiang cried pitifully, "The girls have annoyed the servants. The servants did it for the benefit of the girls yesterday, and didn't intend to—"

Before she finished speaking, the second sister waved her hand impatiently, and said with a smile: "It's not for other reasons. I just feel that it's really unlucky for the two sisters to wake up early in the morning and cry. Outsiders don't look like it, and think that the two sisters don't like the master marrying his wife, and they don't want my mother to come in. In order to avoid embarrassing the master and the old lady, they are also afraid that the two sisters will go to the room with tears on their faces to say hello On the contrary, it was bad luck, so I didn't ask the two sisters to follow. Why don't the two sisters understand my kindness?"

After finishing a sentence, without waiting for Mo Xiang and Shu Xiang to reply, he walked away with the elder sister's hand.

Behind the two of them, Shuxiang Moxiang was already stunned.I really didn't expect the second sister to speak and act so harshly at such a young age.It's not like an ordinary seven or eight-year-old girl, and even the maids and women sweeping the yard couldn't help but secretly gasp.It is only said that the new wife looks difficult to get along with, and sure enough, the two sisters brought here are also so difficult.It can be seen that the dragon begets the dragon, and the phoenix begets the phoenix.This time Aunt Lan met a good opponent.

While speaking, the eldest sister and the second sister had already arrived at the eldest girl's boudoir.I saw that the eldest girl was wearing a brand-new red dress today, with large peonies embroidered with colorful embroidery on the front of the jacket and the hem of the Liuxian skirt, her black silk was tied into a high bun, and her head was squarely embroidered. It was the set given by Mrs. Chen at the family dinner yesterday.The eldest girl of the You family was originally only pretty, but because of three years of filial piety, she is also used to dressing indifferently.Today's heavy make-up and gold ornaments do not make people feel bright, but rather gaudy.

Presumably the eldest girl of the You family has noticed it herself, and she doesn't like it when she looks at herself in the mirror.Seeing the two sisters coming over, the two sisters were also wearing red jackets and red skirts, with double ring buns on their heads, and white jade heads given by You Ziyu yesterday.One is gentle and delicate, and the other is carved with jade, which makes her more and more out of place.

The eldest girl of the You family subconsciously rubbed her cheeks with her hand, stood up and welcomed the two sisters into the room, and then ordered Yin Dier, the close maid, to show respect to the three bowls of oil tea, then she smiled and said to the eldest sister and the second sister: " The kitchen made good tea noodles, let's eat a bowl first, and then go to greet the old lady before it's too late."

The eldest sister and the second sister thanked each other with a smile.The second sister took a closer look at the eldest girl's attire from the You family, she wanted to show her favor and also wanted to save face for her mother Chen, so she said with a smile: "The elder sister has an elegant complexion and a dignified temperament, but she is not suitable for wearing a high bun and falling off a horse." A bun or a lily bun are both suitable for big sister. Besides, the makeup is not very good, it is a bit thick, but it conceals the elegance and solemnity of big sister. If big sister doesn't dislike it, how about I come to make up big sister?"

The eldest girl of the You family was startled when she heard this.The eldest sister looked at the expression of the eldest girl of the You family, and said with a smile: "Don't think my sister is small, but she is very good at dressing up. Most of the rouge and gouache in our shop are my sisters when they are free. It came out of Taocheng. On weekdays, my mother, aunt, and even my grandmother dressed and combed their hair. I also asked my sister. My sister is clever and handy, and she likes to bother about these things. If you don’t believe it, you will know when you try it.”

There is no sister in this world who doesn't like to be pretty, and the eldest girl of the You family is naturally the same.Hearing the elder sister's words, I was quite moved.Just looking at the weather and time outside, Yin said again: "I have to go to the room to pay my respects to my grandmother and the old lady, and I have to rush to open the ancestral hall to worship the ancestors. It's too late. Let's talk about it later."

The second sister looked at the expression of the eldest girl of the You family, and she was a little insincere, so she smiled and asked when it was time to go to the upper room to pay her respects and open the ancestral hall to worship the ancestors.After waiting for the response from the eldest girl of the You family, knowing that there were at least two meals left, she smiled and said, "Don't worry, sister, I'll do hair and make-up for you, and I'll be quick. Besides, I have Zhen'er and Wei'er to help me. It won't waste time of."

While talking, without waiting to save face from oil tea, he got up and took the hand of the eldest girl from the You family to the dressing table.Although the eldest girl of the You family is in the inner house, because of her father You Ziyu's relationship, she also knows the reputation of Chen's dowry shop.Also half pushed and half followed.

Because the clothes on her body were specially made for today's wear and could not be changed, the second sister took off the high bun of the eldest girl of the You family, told her to wash her face, and told Zhen'er to go back to the room to get a few boxes of two My sister brought homemade rouge cream and face powder, and put on a light make-up for the eldest girl of the You family.

The eldest girl of the You family looked curiously at the hosta flower sticks in the sweet white porcelain box and the rouge paste that was as red as blood and smelled like blood, looking at one at a time and that at another, as if she was in love with something.The second sister looked at the actions of the eldest girl of the You family, and said with a smile: "I brought these and specially prepared them for my sister. Since my sister likes it, it's worth my heart."

The eldest girl of the You family was surprised when she heard this, she immediately waved her hands and said: "How can this be? These are good rouge powders sold in the wife's dowry shop. Although I often live in the inner house, I know a little about the market outside. It's just like this If you set it up, the price will be ten taels of silver less, and you may not be able to buy it—"

Before finishing a sentence, the eldest sister smiled and said, "Whatever the price is or is not, it is all told to outsiders. What is the difference between my sister and us. There is a saying that swords are given to heroes, and makeup is given to beauties. If my sister doesn't accept our kindness, she won't treat us as a family."

After hearing this, the eldest girl of the You family didn't refuse any more, she could only thank her with a smile.Very rare put away.

The second sister ordered Zhen'er Wei'er to come forward and comb the eldest girl's hair according to her wishes.Because the clothes are embroidered in bright red color, the hair ornaments on the head and face are only distracted, picked up, pressed on the sideburns, and two lotus-colored velvet flowers.After such a dress up, although she lost a bit of affluence and aura than before, it also added a lot of calm and grace, which showed that the eldest girl of the You family is at ease at any time.

The eldest girl of the You family thought she was very satisfied with her attire, so she looked at herself in the mirror for a long time before she remembered that the second sister didn't even have time to eat the bowl of oil tea in order to dress up for her.Unknowingly holding the second sister's hand, he said apologetically, "It's all my fault, even the tired younger sister didn't eat anything—"

Before she could finish her sentence, she was interrupted by the second sister with a smile: "I still think it's something, and ask my sister to apologize for it as a serious matter. But it turned out that it was just for a bowl of tea. It's not right now. Eat, don't you have a chance to eat in the future? It's getting late, and it's more serious to go to the old lady's room to pay her respects."

After all, the three sisters smiled and went to the upper room to greet You Laoan.Before entering the door, the second sister clearly saw that Zhen'er had taken a break to find Chunlan, Chen's personal maid, and the two chatted for a while.Not much to say.

When they entered the upper room, You Ziyu and his wife first offered tea and kowtow to Mr. You Laoan. .You Lao'an looked at his son and granddaughter who looked brand new today, and he was very happy.Knowing that the granddaughter's makeup was done by the second sister, she couldn't help but praise the second sister for her ingenuity.He also asked his son to treat Chen's mother and daughter well, and add children to You's family as soon as possible.

Chen's face was blushing, and You Ziyu couldn't smile from ear to ear.

After offering tea for a while, the ancestral hall was opened to offer incense to the ancestors. The names of the veterans of the You family, the Chen family, the eldest sister and the second sister, were recorded in the You family tree.Just according to the order of the You family, the eldest sister became the second sister You, and the second sister became the third sister You.Until this moment, the second sister felt relieved but relieved.The other boot, which seemed to have been waiting, finally dropped.

After worshiping the ancestors, the elders of the clan were sent away, and everyone returned to the upper room again.Then six or seven aunts of You Ziyu came to serve tea and kowtow to the new wife.Among these six or seven aunts, four were rewarded by the old lady in the past, for the sake of good fertility, their complexion is only pretty, after all these years of wear and tear, they are already old and pale.Aunt Fang endured the pain of losing her daughter last year, and she became more and more withered and haggard, with gray temples, she looked like an old lady You.Not really a threat.

The other three aunts, one of whom is nearly thirty years old and still has a charming charm, whose surname is Yang, was sent by Mr. You when he went to the south on business.The other one, about twenty, named Cuiyan, used to be an opera singer. Later, You Ziyu bought her as a ransom because of her good voice.The last one is Aunt Lan. It is said that she was originally the daughter of an official family. Later, her father was convicted in a lawsuit.It is said that he is quite good at piano and chess, and also knows calligraphy and painting.

In front of You Lao'an, You Ziyu and the four girls of You's family, Mrs. Chen met each other and presented gifts.

When Aunt Lan stepped forward to kowtow, the maid Chunlan walked up to Mrs. Chen and whispered something in Mrs. Chen's face. The smile on Mrs. Chen's face was slightly suppressed, and she looked at Aunt Lan carefully. Compared with the other aunts, this Aunt Lan is really different no matter what she wears, or her appearance and temperament.Chen Shiyin said with a smile: "I heard that Aunt Lan used to be a lady of the official family. She was familiar with poetry and books, and knew how to play piano and chess. So even naming the girl is very elegant. What kind of scholarly and ink-scented person is not like me, an ordinary person. I only know Chunlan Qiuju."

Aunt Lan is in charge of the affairs of the You Mansion's inner house, so naturally she knows what happened last night like the back of her hand.What's more, it was Aunt Lan's intention that Shuxiang Moxiang talked to Second Sister You like that.Hearing what Mrs. Chen said, Aunt Lan smiled gracefully, first glanced at You Ziyu affectionately, and then slowly said: "It's just that when my parents were still there, they loved me, so I asked you to teach me, I can only read a few words. My wife praised me."

Chen's smile did not change, and she still said: "I am not absurd. It's just that I heard people say that scholars have high spirits, so I didn't take it seriously. Now that I have seen it, I feel strange."