[Red Mansions] The big maid struggles daily

Not long after entering February, news came out from the court: Today, the most filial and pure benevolent, decreed to celebrate the holy birthday of the Supreme Emperor.

March [-]th is the Longevity Festival, which is a positive day. This day will be pushed forward and backward for two days. There will be no curfew or closed city gates for five days, and all people will enjoy themselves.He also built a nine-day dojo in the Shangqing Palace to wish the longevity and longevity of the saint.

Although this year is not the Taishanghuang's full birthday, but today's filial piety is flourishing, so the Taishanghuang is overjoyed, deeply praises the present's intentions, and made a special decree: to keep the place simple.Therefore, only one place in the capital was busy preparing. Auspicious couplets were hung in the streets, and the vermilion lacquer paintings were compared with each other. Countless patterns and patterns in the shape of "Wan", "Shou" and "Fu" were decorated in every corner of the capital.

Because none of the gentlemen of the Ningrong Second Mansion was able to go to the court, so the news was not known until half a day late.At that time, even traffickers and pawns knew about it.

Jia pardoned Jia Zheng and Jia Zhen of the East Mansion, and they all discussed the congratulatory gifts together.In just half a day, the prices of objects in antique shops and gold and silver shops doubled.

Jia Mu, Mrs. Xing and other imperial wives also waited anxiously for news and asked if they would enter the palace to receive the banquet.Unexpectedly, the news from the Ministry of Rituals was disappointing. There was no need for married women to enter the palace to congratulate them. The empress dowager only invited married women for a banquet that day.The Supreme Emperor is sympathetic to all the people, and he will give a banquet to the elderly on the same day, accompanied by civil and military officials; at night, he will climb the tower to enjoy the fireworks with the people.

Mother Jia and Mrs. Xing were very disappointed. Even Mrs. Wang, who usually hated being inferior to others when she was dressed up according to her grade, was also upset.Yuan Chun has been in the palace for a few years and there is very little news. Although Mrs. Wang is not expecting to see her in Wanshou this time, she is still looking forward to knowing a thing or two from Concubine Zhen.

Mother Jia also had the same idea. The inner court banquet was always the cheapest time for news from the palace to leak out. The wives had to stay in the palace for a few hours, so they could talk about something while listening to the opera.On weekdays, if a concubine in the palace wants to send a letter, she has to go through the mouth of the eunuch and palace servants, and many things are inconvenient to say.Just like in Yuanchun, the messages from the Zhen family were only a few words "very good" and "Antai", and it was inconvenient to say the rest.

Jia Mu is uncomfortable, and the upper courtyard is much cleaner.Zhu Xiu thought that the Longevity Festival had nothing to do with her, but when she heard Wang Feng call her servants to display some red blessings and screens for the New Year, she suddenly thought of it—in modern times, the taste of the New Year No matter how light it is, those Chinese knots and red lanterns sell very well during the Chinese New Year, let alone at this time.Besides, the Supreme Emperor wanted to have fun with the people, so the officials and common people in the capital city had to dress up.

Immediately go to Meishouyuan to discuss with mother.As soon as I entered the courtyard, who would have heard Nanny Chen say in Mama's room, "There are seven hectares of Zhuangzi in Tongzhou. This is for your daughter? I said, what can the 2000 taels given by my wife be enough to buy? Don't you buy it?" Have you put your own old background into it?"

"... You say you, Xiu girl looks good now, and I like it too, but in the future, when she gets married, even if she is filial to you, it will be a different level, and you have to think about it for yourself... You earned out of the palace, don’t you understand the principle of fickleness in people’s hearts?”

"Don't mention this to me... She is not only my daughter, but also my apprentice! How do you know the benefits of my daughter!"

……

Zhu Xiu's nose was sore, and only then did she realize that Madam Lin said that Mrs. Lin gave 1 taels, but in fact she added enough to make it up.She was still wondering when she heard about it, no matter how much she planned for Lin Daiyu, no matter how much she valued her mother, she wouldn't give so much to a maid who had never masked her face.You must know that Jia Min spent 1 taels so generously to fill the eyes of wealth and wealth in the Rongguo Mansion; if she gave away [-] taels to a girl from her natal family, then she, the wife of the big family, would be insignificant.

Zhu Xiu stopped in the middle of the courtyard, facing the crabapple tree trying to hold back her tears, and said to Jiuqiu: "Don't follow me, just go and play with your sister Xueyan."

Jiuqiu just thought she was looking at the crabapple tree that had just been pruned, and then retreated as she said.

Three separate rooms were set up in the inverted room in this courtyard for women and maids who are not on duty. These people gather together to talk and do work, which is more lively than shutting up in their own room. Do not disturb the master.

After a while, Zhu Xiu saw Nanny Chen coming out of the East Wing and going to the main room, guessing that she was going to see Daiyu, so she turned sideways and hid behind the crabapple tree.After she went in, he went to Madam Zhu's room.

When Grandma Zhu heard the door knocking, she thought it was Nanny Chen who had come back, and said without raising her head: "Those who have a lot of eyes are like lotus roots in a pond, and those who are careless are like lotus roots. They are all eyes." Already! What are you missing again?"

Before he finished speaking, Fang raised his head, and saw her niece plunged into his arms like a swallow falling into the forest, he hurriedly hugged her and asked what was wrong.

But as soon as he hugged the child, he knew something was wrong, the child had been outside for a long time, his little hands and face were icy cold, no matter how far Rongqingtang and Meishouyuan were, they couldn't be far away.

I understood it in my heart, and hurriedly raised the child's face, and it was indeed crying. Mother Zhu wiped her tears and said, "Did you hear that? Mother didn't want you to think too much, so she didn't tell you. This was originally It's nothing, Mommy is the only one in her life, and she still expects you to pass down our family's "Zhumenxiu", those things are yours sooner or later... It's all due to Chen's old stuff, nagging endlessly! Alas, how long has my daughter been standing outside, her face is so chapped..."

Zhu Xiu is half grateful and half guilty. Mother treats her completely without reservation, even her own mother is nothing more than that.But she has so many secrets, some of which I really can't tell, but some are like the Cuihua pouch, there are so many good ingredients and medicinal materials that my mother can use, but in order not to arouse suspicion, she can only take out a little...

Zhu Xiu usually sends some food and water in bamboo tubes, and she always brings them for Daiyu and Nanny Chen. Nanny Chen is a shrewd person, she is afraid of being seen, so she can only move like ants, adding some here and there. She would not dare to use all or only what was in Cuihuan's bag.

Mother Zhu didn't know that her daughter's heart was in turmoil, so she told her her future plans: "Don't listen to your mother Chen's nonsense, even though you added money to it, it doesn't mean you don't keep some money, besides, the promising mother in the fields these few years I've made plans, I'll get together and buy a smaller one next to this village. When you get married, the girl will leave the cabinet here, and mother will move to live in the small village. When you and uncle come to the village, mother will How nice it is to be your companion..."

Zhu Xiu felt even more sad, sniffed, and said: "I'm recruiting, our mother and I will not be separated..."

"Bah, bah, bah! Don't talk nonsense! Which family's Hao Erlang is willing to be a husband, you are obedient, you are not allowed to have such thoughts, otherwise, mother will be angry!" Zhu Nanny coaxed for a while with her eyes wide open. , frightened Cheng Cheng: "You are still young, even if you are smarter, you haven't seen many people. You don't know, some lazy and full-fledged lame people are willing to come to do this. In their mouths, this is actually It has become a business... once it touches it, it is like brown sugar, no matter how hard it is to get rid of it, he takes the money to run amok, if he doesn't give him the money or wants to divorce him, he will get entangled with a group of hooligans to make trouble, It only makes the neighbors uneasy and the family house uneasy, so you have to pay for it..."

Zhu Xiu's heart was sore and weak, and she untied the buttons on her collar, and took out the Cuihua pouch from inside.

Before she took it off her neck, when the Cuihua pouch was exposed, Nanny Zhu's eyes seemed to be glued on, and she didn't persuade her daughter any more, she held her hands for a closer look, and murmured: "At first It looks ordinary, but the more you look at it, the better, this hand embroidery is actually something I have never seen in my life..."

After Zhu Xiu retracted her head from the neck rope, Mammy Zhu hurriedly took up the Cuihua bag and went to a brighter place by the window to have a closer look.

Zhu Xiu closed the door tightly, and listened attentively, and saw that Mama was still looking at her, and somehow her uneasy mood suddenly improved a little.

After a long while, Mammy Zhu praised again and again: "This is actually the handicraft of a god! I have seen many tribute embroidery left over from the past dynasties in the palace, and none of them can match this level. Where did the embroidery come from?" This? Is there really someone who can get to this point by chance? Could it be the work of gods and spirits?"

Zhu Xiu had never seen her asking questions like this like a cannonball, and these words made her heart tremble. Every time Muma said something, she was terribly accurate.

Zhu Xiu didn't know what to say for a while, Zhu Nanny had already caught up with her, pulled her and said: "You really met?" Seeing Zhu Xiu was stunned, Zhu Nanny became more and more sure, and immediately said: "No, no, we have to do it quickly A dojo. Please ask an old immortal with Taoism to help you take a look."

Grandma Zhu was obsessed with embroidery art, so she couldn't care less about it at this moment, she was very anxious: "When did it happen! Huh? Why do you dare to hang it around your neck! It's fine if it's a righteous god, but if it's something else..." While looking at the embroidery art, he comforted himself: "Even those crooked ways can't make such a clear and elegant thing, it should be good..."

Zhu Xiu was still nervous at first, but now that Muma had finished talking, she made up her mind and pulled her Muma to sit down.

She took the emerald green pouch, and unzipped the top tie, and Mammy Zhu made her eyes flash, and a familiar bamboo tube appeared in the daughter's hand.

Mammy Zhu blinked her eyes, unbelievingly she took out Cuihua's pouch, and found it was empty. "Mustard seed Nasumi!" Mother Zhu yelled out, and quickly covered her mouth.

Zhu Xiu looked at her mother without blinking, afraid that her mother would think that she was an evil spirit.

Grandma Zhu was stunned for a moment, then looked at Zhu Xiu, and seeing Zhu Xiu looking at her, her panicked look softened her heart, "Well, there is no need to invite immortals as a dojo, this thing must be good... "

It was only then that Zhu Xiu dared to speak: "Mama won't you ask me?"

Grandma Zhu shook her head, and suddenly smiled: "My daughter is lucky, she must have a history, and she was reborn in this life, so I picked it up." She felt a little complacent.

As he spoke, he put the Cuihua pouch in Zhu Xiu's hands, wiped the sweat from her forehead, and said, "All the year round, there are rumors about gods blessings, fox fairies getting married, and other strange things. Most of them are rumors, but two of them may not be true. Besides, monks and Taoism are prevalent now, and some of them have some magical powers. It’s very famous in the backyard…”

What Madam Zhu didn't say was that even the royal family had a few strange things.Moreover, intimidated by the emperor's prestige, ordinary methods and techniques will not work, but once they are effective, they will inevitably harm many people. This is also the reason why royal families in all dynasties have tabooed the technique of victory.The eldest son of the overlord of this dynasty, the old prince Yizhong who had done something wrong, was rumored in the palace that someone was suppressing the prince, and countless palace maids and eunuchs died because of this rumor.

Seeing that Madam Zhu didn't ask about the origin of Cuihua's pouch, Zhu Xiu was also secretly relieved. She didn't want to deceive Mama, and the origin couldn't be explained, so it was better to cover it up.Immediately, he told about the strangeness of Cuihua's pouch, and Mammy Zhu's eyes sparkled with splendor.

Grandma Zhu heard that more than half of the room was empty, she repeatedly said it was a pity.He hurriedly brought over the box with Zhuangzi's land deed, and said: "It's still rare, it's not counted! With this, how many things can be done... Irrigate with the water raised here, and then transport vegetables and food from Zhuangzi. , why can’t we eat it openly? There are ponds and earth hills in Zhuangzi, fish, shrimp, crabs, chickens, ducks, cattle and sheep can be raised... Can’t you grow all the medicinal materials and ingredients you want? Who cares about the future of your own Zhuangzi? It’s up to you to sell it or put it away... This village doesn’t need to recruit tenants, it’s cheaper to simply buy people.”

According to Grandma Zhu, this is a golden mountain.Zhu Xiu usually only uses it to make some medicinal meals, which is really buried.

Grandma Zhu also said: "You can keep these bamboo tubes and play with them. I'll ask someone to order some wine barrels made of good wood. Buy them and put them in the courtyard, collect some rainwater and store them in a cellar. In the future, someone will say Head." This is a dislike of the bamboo tube's pettiness.

After all, Mother Zhu was quite determined to do a lot, but she was used to being cautious, so she asked Zhu Xiu to write down all the sums, and after much deliberation, she decided to put the paper on the charcoal. The pot burned, and he patted his head again to ask Zhu Xiu to put it into Cuihua's bag.

Zhu Xiu took out all the silver he had saved in the past, which was more than 300 taels.Mother Zhu didn't lie to her daughter, she took the whole three hundred, and she still asked her to spend the rest of the coins.

At the end, Mother Zhu instructed again: "The embroidered girl will say in a few days that the rainwater and dew stored in previous years have been used up, and you are not allowed to take things out from here... It will be the same in the future, you can only change how much water is stored outside. You can’t take it out of nothing; the rest, whether it’s medicinal materials or vegetables, can only be transported from the Zhuangzi for you to secretly exchange, and you can’t touch anything bought in this mansion. You were still cautious in the past, but it wasn’t enough, isn’t it? In our own place, there are many people with mixed eyes, and if we don’t keep everything together, there will be those caring people, and if there are any traces, they will die.”

Zhu Xiuben also thought so, since Mama and Miss Lin have been here for more than half a month, she has taken out a lot of water, and it should be useless.Besides, the rain will come soon. After this solar term, the rain can be stored again.

When Zhu Xiu went back, she realized that she had completely forgotten what she was supposed to discuss with her mother, and she didn't want to make her worry about it, so she simply took care of it herself.

On the other side, Nanny Zhu was more cautious than Zhu Xiu thought. She changed into the clothes she was going out, and was about to go to Gulou West Street to find her brother-in-law and ask him to buy a small house first. The house near Wensheng Street is the only way to live.Before Mammy Zhu came to Yangzhou, she sent a letter to ask Xiu'er and her uncle to inquire about it. This time, Uncle Cheng found two good places together. Mammy Zhu fell in love with Zhuangzi in Tongzhou, and couldn't afford to buy another one on Wensheng Street. The house has to be put on hold for the time being, and I want to wait until I save money.

But the treasure on Xiu'er made her feel relieved, although it is a treasure, who knows when it will suddenly disappear.People say that the cunning rabbit has three caves, but Madam Zhu thinks it's better not to point to this guarantor.Buy a house, dig a cellar, and store some good medicinal materials, wine, and water in it, so that you won't be afraid even if the fortune really comes to an end in the future.

Uncle Cheng asked my sister to come suddenly, and hurriedly invited her to the back hall.When I heard about my intention, I smiled and said, "I just said that my sister will regret it. This house is really good. Although it is three-entry, it has such a big garden, and it is clean and safe. Although it is more expensive, I miss it." It will be hard to find it if you go there, so I pressed the middleman and told you to wait two more days... I wanted to persuade you tomorrow, but here you are."

Uncle Cheng ordered someone to invite the middleman, took the tea with his own hands and said: "Sister, if you don't have a lot of money, I will put it on first. You don't know that the embroidered girl can do it, so I sent someone to send me a letter saying that I will do it." These Fangsheng gourds, swastika purses, all kinds of auspicious zippers... Jinshou characters screen, the old sage's longevity, I am also thinking about this, she brought it up first, and the patterns written in the letter to me are more novel Exquisite and never seen before."

Grandma Zhu smiled more happily, opened the bag she brought, there were more than 700 taels in it, after thinking about it, she took out 500 taels, and said: "There is [-] taels of silver saved by the embroidered girl. Give it all to me. The rest you help put on the bed first, and we girls will give it to you later."

Uncle Cheng calculated Zhu Xiu's dividends in his heart, and the 300 taels was really a waste of his family.I can't help but feel relieved for my god-sister, she was lucky enough to have a filial daughter, and my sister will be dependable for the rest of her life.

Thinking that I have been looking for these years, I was stunned to find someone who is suitable for my eyes, shook my head and smiled: "Sister Hegai is blessed. Sister, please take it back first, I am also receiving two layers of bonuses for the embroidered girl." Well, it’s enough to save some time, and I’ll put the rest in the box for Xiu girl when she comes out of the cabinet.”

Nanny Zhu just laughed: "I don't know how long it will take to plug your hole. Don't say no, I have to help you fill the remaining thousand taels." She touched her eyes as she spoke. , said: "I have only been back for half a month, and the embroidering girl often boils some clear soup for me to eat. My eyesight is much better than before, and I will be able to embroider things in a few days."

Uncle Cheng really didn't worry about his sister and niece being sad. No matter how skillful the niece was, she was still young and her skills were far behind her sister's.If my sister makes a move, a pair of desk screens can sell for dozens of taels.Thinking of the Qingmu soup mentioned by Madam Zhu, she hurriedly whispered: "Is Xiu'er's soup rare or not? Godfather's eyesight has been bad for the past two years, and the imperial doctor prescribes Taifangzi, so it's okay if it doesn't look bad. It can’t be good, it’s not very useful. If the things used in the soup recipe are ordinary, my sister will make a copy for me, and I will send it to my godfather. He can use it in the palace. Don’t give me money from this house , just treat it as Fang Ziqian, and let my niece rest assured that I will not spread this prescription."

Mother Zhu didn't understand at first, but after seeing Cuihua Nang today, she knew that Xiu'er's prescription might be half effective, and the other five percent was made of good medicinal materials and water, and this prescription was given to her godfather, maybe It is almost the same as that prescribed by the imperial doctor.

Grandma Zhu waved her hand and said, "I'll go back and ask Xiu'er. If it's useful, Xiu'er will give it to you. If you ask for money, I'm afraid she will be annoyed." Then she pointed at the teapot and snorted: "There's nothing in this pot. Didn’t your niece give you the herbal tea that you made, saying that some of them are not available!”

Uncle Cheng rubbed his nose and laughed dryly. It's not good for sisters and nieces to be talented these days, and it's very difficult to subsidize one or two.

"It's just that we use it for drinking. The medicinal materials are all concocted by Xiu girl herself. Her family's method is very different from other families. Just like your herbal tea, the recipe does not taste like hers, and it's not as good. Useful. If you want me to say, the effectiveness of the things she knows is mostly in the concocting method. This medicinal material cannot enter the palace gate."

Uncle Cheng was also in a dilemma, he gave this prescription, but the method of concocting it is a secret of each family, and he can't learn it in two years, so isn't it "too square" again?

After pondering for a while, Uncle Cheng suddenly smiled and said, "It's not difficult. I heard from his old man last month that he can often go home and live after the Dragon Boat Festival this year. Then he can just drink at home."

Hearing this, Grandma Zhu was overjoyed, and hurriedly asked: "So, godfather can get away?"

Uncle Cheng had tears in his eyes, nodded and smiled, "No, I've been looking forward to it for so many years." These years, it was difficult for them to see their godfather, and occasionally they had to sneak around. A sister, and later a niece, but she just dared not let people know about her godfather.Even with the backer behind this embroidery shop, he only thought that he got to Zhongshun Palace by relying on his sister's way.

Zhu Mama had guessed for a long time whether her godfather was a member of her current subordinates from the beginning, but she never dared to say a word, thinking about him made her worry about him, now she can breathe a sigh of relief.

The two sisters and brothers were crying and laughing, and the family members outside reported that the middle-aged man had come, so they hurriedly cleaned up the description.

When Mother Zhu came back from Gulou West Street, she brought back a load of bead thread, mouse thread, gold and silver thread and brocade for Zhu Xiu.

Zhu Xiu was holding the brocade and teaching her how to tie the net. She saw her hands flying like flying, knitting non-stop, and soon formed a big bat.

The author has something to say:

A good man with three gangs, I thought about it for a long time, and I still think that we should ask Nanny Zhu to know, otherwise it would be too difficult for Zhu Xiu, a girl who has not left the cabinet, to set up a family business, and the Cuihua bag would be useless at all.

Hmm, about the secrets of Zhuxiu, from the beginning to the end, only Madam Zhu will know two: five senses + emerald pouch.