[Red Mansions] The big maid struggles daily

Qingjin helped Zhu Xiu tighten the main axis with one hand, stared at the stars on the other hand, and kept saying: "Xiu'er, you are so amazing, my eyes are blurred just looking at it..."

Zhu Xiu put the big bat on his lap and described it, raised his face and said with a smile: "If you learn it, your eyes won't be blurred, and you will be great."

With a bitter face, Qingjin looked at Zhu Xiu longingly. Zhu Xiu had already practiced with her, and said without raising her head: "Follow me to pick the thread, and I can do it just like me, and I can do it by matching the colors myself."

Zhu Xiu also had no choice.This girl Qingjin can also do her embroidery work, but she's not outstanding, so she can't sell for a price at this time, so she missed the opportunity of the Longevity Festival in vain.Only then did she teach her how to tie knots. Qingjin has great strength, and once she learns it, she can handle that kind of particularly large long knot.

In modern times, Zhuxiu even bought Chinese knots that were about the size of a door, but they could be processed by machinery at that time, but in this era, it is all relying on manpower, so larger ones are extremely rare.Zhu Xiu's strength is almost comparable to that of ordinary men, and even the strength of a woman who is used to rough work can't match her, but it is already very strenuous to weave a long knot that is half an arm's length and width. Inconsistent, barely edited out there are always some flaws.

Now that Zhu Xiu has settled down, she always wants to help Qing Jin find a way out.I have thought about many ways in secret, and now I feel that tying knots and long knots are really suitable for Qingjin. Qingjin is strong, and it is not a strong point for embroidery, but it is absolutely unmatched by others.

Qing Jin knows good and bad, although she looks like a bitter melon, she learns it very carefully.What's more, as long as someone is willing to teach these things hand in hand, if you want to learn these things, you can't learn them.

Tie a common wishful thinking knot.The Ruyi Knot is shaped like Ganoderma lucidum, and Ganoderma lucidum also has the meaning of immortality. Therefore, no matter the common people or the nobles, they like to tie a Ruyi Knot on the wedding scales for getting married and choosing a hijab, and take the good intentions of "Satisfactory".

When Zhu Xiu took it over to look at it, although some places were too tight, Qingjin's wishful knot was more solid than hers, less likely to deform, and more durable.

Qing Jin is also getting excited, looking over and over again, she is very happy.

"Sister Zhu Xiu, Madam Zhu sent me to bring you something." Xue Yan, who was outside the door, pulled Jiu Qiu over with a smile, "I also brought the one you left behind."

It was only then that Zhu Xiu remembered that she forgot about Jiuqiu when she came back from Meishouyuan.

Jiuqiu pouted, and Zhu Xiu hurriedly smiled and said, "I just said that there was something missing in the empty place, but it didn't mean that I forgot you. Fortunately, Hu Po gave me fragrant fruits just now, and I subconsciously hid a plate... You said that without you in front of me, who would I hide for?"

Jiuqiu couldn't help laughing at what he said, and went to the black lacquered cabinet in the corner, and when he opened the cabinet door, there was a plate of candied green plums.Jiuqiu knew that Sister Zhu Xiu was not talking perfunctorily, she didn't like candied food, but preferred fresh food, which must be reserved for herself.

Seeing her eating happily while protecting the plate, Xueyan smiled angrily: "This is a dog-tempered person. I couldn't find you and pissed on the cat. Now it's not her."

Qingjin had already helped to take over the burden, Laxueyan sat down, took out the cloud cake from the box on the table for her to eat, said with a smile: "She is still young, we were not like this when we were young, follow us when we are older The back of my sister looks like a little chick."

Seeing that the little one was coaxed, Zhu Xiu also sat down and said with a smile: "I'm still a girl myself, I can use Xiao Jiu'er to follow me everywhere, and I forget her when I get busy, which makes her feel uncomfortable."

Unexpectedly, Jiuqiu said seriously: "I have seen and learned a lot with my sister. My sister never hides her secrets, and even taught me how to do needlework... Don't dislike me, sister."

The little girl's face was very serious, but when there was sugar scum around her mouth, Xueyan let out a chuckle, and continued: "I'm thinking of you if there are still delicious ones! Isn't it?"

Jiuqiu blushed, made a grimace and continued to gnaw her fruit.

Xueyan smiled and said: "Sister Zhuxiu, don't think so, you are not alone. The old lady and the sisters around the girl are also surrounded by smaller ones, and they also mean to learn how to do things. There are more people than you here , it’s just that you, the little devil named Jiuqiu, is haunting you, and this girl is haunting you, so you didn’t notice it?”

Xueyan thought about it, couldn't hold back her stomach and smiled and said: "Don't you think about when she didn't come, how many people were around you? She came, but if anyone dared to come up, this girl would stare at you secretly. People, do everything possible to prevent those little ones from coming up..."

It was only then that Zhu Xiu realized that since Jiuqiu came here, her ears have been quite clean. In the past, there were always some little girls who used pretexts to flatter her.Seeing Jiuqiu peeking at her expression, Zhu Xiu was also amused: "I said, I don't feel noisy now, which is a good thing."

Jiuqiu puffed out her small chest, and heard her elder sister Zhuxiu say again: "It's just that you can't overdo it. If there is something wrong, just ask me and tell me."

Hearing this, Xueyan next to her felt a little envious of Jiuqiu, not to mention her generosity and ability, but also trusted her.

Xueyan ate half a piece of Yunpian Cake, saw the knots on the kang table, wiped it clean, held it up and looked at it carefully, because she said with a smile: "Sister Xiu is very handy, she can do it in the kitchen, she can also do needlework, and she can do it well." Make a net." She suddenly remembered something, glanced at Qing Jin, and pouted outside: "I heard that the girl next to Miss Xue's family, named Yinger, is very good at making nets. This Yinger's The mother was specially brought here by Mrs. Xue's family. She is an expert in making fragrant herbs. The day before yesterday, she mixed some pill incense and sent it to the second uncle and wife. The uncle and wife liked it very much, and said that it smelled fresher than the one used by the old lady here. .”

During the speech, Xue Yan pouted, looking a bit disdainful.It turned out that the girl in her family felt that she could not use some spices for the time being, so she picked some good ones and gave them to the old lady. The old lady liked the girl's filial piety, so she only praised her twice.Unexpectedly, Xue's family turned around and made this happen.

Zhu Xiu and Qing Jin looked at each other, one of them was an old lady who couldn't hide from her what happened here, and the other knew everything about Rongxitang, but they didn't know that these two things were mixed together.

Zhu Xiu hurriedly asked: "What did the girl say?"

Xueyan said: "The girl doesn't take it to heart, she just said, 'Honoring the old lady is just my heart, what is more valuable than others', but we can't see it."

Zhu Xiu smiled, and understood a little: having confidence and not having confidence are two different things, it's not that Daiyu can't afford to give away those dragon saliva, agarwood, etc., it's just that what she gives is what she thinks is good.It is said that the less confident a person is, the more he stares at others, thinking of overpowering others to show himself, but in fact, it is just a bluff in the eyes of discerning people.

Zhu Xiu said: "Since the girl doesn't care, let's talk less outside. The old ladies on the left and right are like mirrors in their hearts."

After finishing speaking, he looked at Xueyan again and said, "I know you have a straight temper, but now that the nuns have changed their tune, you still say 'Second Uncle and Wife'... You are not as good as that Yinger in Xueyan when you are with the girl. By the girl's side? She has served since she was a child, and you have grown up with the girl as a child. In terms of ability and cleverness, only you are more outstanding, and it is only because of your mouth!"

Xueyan blushed, and she knew what was wrong with her.But after thinking about it in my heart, I feel that this is very reasonable: she followed the girl since she was a child, if she hadn't been younger, she would have been the same as Sister Xingyue; that Yinger made her family's Miss Xue famous everywhere, and her own girl is not like that People, I can't say self-proclaimed words, but I can't smear the girl either-if the second uncle and wife hear it, it will be even worse.

Seeing that she listened, Zhu Xiu also heaved a sigh of relief.

After a while, Xueyan went, Zhu Xiu also asked Jiuqiu to go back to the house to rest, only Qingjin was desperate to share the bed with her.Zhu Xiu had no choice but to sleep on the inside, only hoping that Qing Jin would face outside when she punched in sleep.

She also slept until dawn, but when she woke up, Zhu Xiu was squeezed against the wall, fortunately she was not woken up by the cold through the curtain.

-

These nets are really selling very well, especially the complicated and larger ones.Like the "Bao Li Wannian" made up of eight treasure lychees and swastika patterns, Bao Li means Guozuo, so it can be hung in the hall, which is very popular with dignitaries; as for ordinary people, they love all kinds of Flat peaches, longevity flowers, longevity knots and other styles.

Into March, the atmosphere became more lively.From the north gate of the imperial palace to the imperial garden in the western suburbs, colorful sheds were built on both sides of the thirty-mile imperial street. There were dragon sheds for subjects to wait for birthday wishes, and there were also sheds for praying and chanting scriptures.The squares and markets have also taken on a new look, all decorated with lanterns and festoons, full of fiery trees and silver flowers, which is even more auspicious and lively than the Shangyuan Festival.

Other embroidery shops in the market are gradually getting new patterns of netting, which is expected.No matter how complicated the network is, it is formed by the basic knots one by one. A patient veteran can always learn by dismantling a few more.

Uncle Cheng smiled. With his niece around, the people in his shop would naturally be the first to know.Uncle Cheng drove the fresh food, rented stalls or consigned them in Wangpu in a few square markets, and made a lot of money.When other embroidery shops also came up, Uncle Cheng stopped the battle and only slowly sold them in his own shop, and rushed to deliver letters to his niece, telling him to temporarily stop the small embroidery and only make big ones.

Hearing this, Zhu Xiu decided to help Qingjin wholeheartedly.Nowadays, there are no jade threads of various thicknesses. If you want to weave large knots, you must first tie the thin threads together.Zhu Xiuman grabbed a lot of silk thread, fixed one end on the board, his hands were like butterflies piercing flowers, and soon weaved a large Nine Vehicle Kasyapa Knot, which was as thick as a little finger.To put it bluntly, the Nine Vehicles Kassapa Vajra Knot is a round braid made of sixteen strands of silk thread, like corn knots with high knots, all of which have good intentions, and it is the best rope material.

"Qingjin's hoof disappears after a while. I don't know where to play tricks?" In the main courtyard, Jin Chuan'er complained to her sister Yu Chuan.

Yu Chuan'er's temperament is not as lively as her sister's, and she is more calm. Hearing this, she said: "Whatever you do with her, at least she is a worry-free person, unlike others."

Jin Chuan knew that he was talking about Caiyun Caixia. These two people who didn't know what to think, became more and more close to Third Master Huan, and privately sent things to Aunt Zhao.The corners of Jin Chuan'er's mouth drooped, and he sneered, "It's not that the men are growing up gradually. They thought about it and saw that they couldn't pick up the second master Bao, so they turned to the third master Huan. It's just that the two of them didn't think about it. What crawled out of my aunt's stomach can compare with Baoyu? Which old lady, madam, or Second Grandma have looked at the third master Huan!"

Yu Chuan'er knew what her sister was thinking, so she hurriedly said: "Okay! What we don't care about has nothing to do with us. We only serve my wife. The day before yesterday, my mother said that when I was old, I would ask my wife for a favor." , the wife is generous and loving, it must be allowed."

Jin Chuan'er knew that not only her younger sister, but even her mother did not agree with her thoughts. This kind of grace meant letting her out and allowing her parents to marry freely.Feeling dissatisfied at the moment, he kept his face sullen and silent.

Afraid of attracting others to ask questions, Yu Chuan'er quickly changed the subject and said, "I heard from the little girl that Qing Jin has been going to Zhu Xiu's place in the old lady's house for half a month. Live in that house."

As soon as Jin Chuaner said this, she became suspicious, "It was good before, and she never stuck together like this. She is getting more and more courageous, and she dares to live outside. How come the mothers who were last night have nothing to say?"

Yu Chuan'er smiled and said: "She is no better than us, she is a daughter of the family, and we can still live in different homes. She doesn't have any relatives here, so Zhu Xiu is the only place to go."

Jin Chuan'er made up her mind to ask Qing Jin clearly, she shook her head and said, "That's not the case, let's go to our house, it's always been like this with daughters, and the mother in the yard also knows. Although Qing Jin didn't go out of the second school, but It’s like this all day long, and you don’t tell anyone, there must be a ghost! Let me know, and see how I can cure her!”

Yu Chuan'er jumped, and hurriedly stopped her and said, "My sister is in a hurry again. It has nothing to do with us, why bother to be hated." In her eyes, the attackers in front of her ordered her to give the old lady a good meal. Now the attackers can't hold back her head. There is a lot of chaos in Master Bao's room all day long, and the wife is angry when she knows it. , Said it was wrong to attack people. I was born in an old lady's courtyard and it's not easy to interfere with others. Sister-in-law Zhou went to those tricky people a few times and didn't buy it... We don't need to offend her, and Qingjin didn't make any big folds. It’s over if you pretend you don’t know.”

Yu Chuan'er originally intended to persuade Jin Chuan'er to make things trivial and calm down, but her words "It's not good to meddle with others" just hit Jin Chuan'er's heart, Jin Chuan'er frowned and hid this idea in her heart , And don't pay attention to Yu Chuan'er.Yu Chuan'er only thought that she had made sense of her sister, so she put all these aside.

Unexpectedly, at noon the next day, Jin Chuan'er sued Qing Jin in front of Mrs. Wang, and Yu Chuan'er turned pale behind her.

She thought she had explained all the truth, but what Jin Chuaner thought in her heart was: if what she had planned really came true, there would be one less example in the wife's room. Since the wife's favor with Qingjin in the past, it was inevitable to mention it. She came up; Qingjin and their sisters were not bad at first, but Jin Chuaner didn't want to prevent her from being promoted, but she thought that her younger sister Yuchuan was honest, and she was afraid that she would not be able to convince Qingjin, so she would let someone bought from outside beat her sister. order to go.

Jin Chuan'er has the idea of ​​being Aunt Baoyu's mother in her heart, and plans to go to Baoyu's house. It is precisely because of this that she needs her sister to stand firm and help her a little bit in the future.

Mrs. Wang didn't know what Jin Chuan'er was thinking, and praised her for being respectful and cautious, so she ordered someone to summon Qing Jin in.

Qing Jin just removed the lead pillow, backrest and chair cushion in Mrs. Wang's room and sent them to be washed. , saw Xiuluan come in and call her, with unspeakable gloating in her eyes.

Qing Jin understood in her heart.

When Mrs. Wang questioned her, she knelt on the ground and said with a smile on her face: "Who is so quick to talk? I was going to finish it before presenting it to my wife who likes it... Besides, I live elsewhere, and I didn't leave the house. Two, I also told Aunt Wu who was watching the night, but I just begged Aunt Wu to keep it secret for me first."

Mrs. Wang's face softened, and Zhou Rui's family smiled and said: "What is it that is so secret? Good girl, tell me quickly! If it is true, I will help you ask your wife to forgive you."

Qing Jin said: "It's in the floor cabinet in my room, you can find it when you open it. I beg my wife to send two people to fetch it."

Zhou Rui's family saw that she was so determined and wanted to please Mrs. Wang, so they personally called the two maids in the courtyard to get it.

Mrs. Wang heard Zhou Rui's family say "Alas", the voice was both surprised and happy, and her complexion became even better.

Zhou Rui's family was overjoyed, "But I have a heart, madam, take a look, this girl did this."

The two maids put it on a tray and carefully presented it to Mrs. Wang, only to find that there were two knots bigger than the tray.One is the auspicious Yuyu composed of Jiqing knot, Xun knot and fish knot, and the other is the bat knot plus money knot, and the accumulated blessings are in front of you.The "blessing is in front of you" has not yet been completed, and the girl holding it is extremely careful, for fear that it will fall apart.

Qing Jin said: "I heard that there is a big auspicious knot that can be hung on screens and walls outside, so we thought we would make it up and present it to old ladies and wives to please the old lady. Some people don’t even realize that the big ones are so difficult to make. If one is not careful, it will fall apart, and someone has to help to fix it... It took a few days to make it. The silk thread and strength consumed are more expensive than those bought from outside. Throwing money away... It's just our intention after all, I just ask my wife to show her face."

Zhou Rui's family said with a smile: "What to throw away, just use gold and silver threads, who cares. What my wife likes is just your heart."

Mrs. Wang saw that this knot was really hard work, and she smiled and said: "You have a heart." Yu Chuan'er hurriedly stepped forward to help Qing Jin up. Although Jin Chuan felt that he was right, he didn't dare to say more, so as not to disturb Mrs. Wang's interest.

Knowing that this job cannot be done by one person, Mrs. Wang told her to finish it first before going on a job, and ordered Caixia to reward her.

Qingjin let out a sigh of relief when she went out, but fortunately she had already made preparations.These knots are sent out by the Lin family. The Lin family often sends things in to honor Miss Lin and the master of the house. Those who go to the old lady’s side send the boxes to the backyard, which is convenient for them to put the finished ones in the empty space. In the box, no one will find it.

There are a few people in the main courtyard who never say hello when they enter other people's residences. Qingjin can make the usual network in her own room, but the older ones can't do it.But there must be a saying for staying at Zhu Xiu's place often, that's why I came up with it just now.

Having passed the Ming Road and told all about the difficulties, Qing Jin's heart really resounded.It consumes a lot of silk thread, and it takes two people more than half a month to do it. Thinking about it, those eminent mothers and daughters-in-law are too embarrassed to open their mouths.Just opened his mouth, and just said that he didn't have the time, so he prevaricated and declined.