By Jia Xiuzhen

At that moment, Li Wan sent someone to invite them, and Daiyu took them to Daoxiang Village again.Everyone is already there.When Xiangyun saw Daiyu, he said, "I just said that you went all the way with Sister Bao. Why didn't I see you when I went back?"

Daiyu said quickly: "After saying a few words, we left, why don't you just sit there waiting for you? I don't know where you went and when you came back!"

After talking and sitting together, Li Wan smiled and said: "Speaking of which, it's the social day, just let you rest for a few days, then you will be my host, okay?"

Naturally, everyone responded with a smile, and Li Wan said again: "There is one more thing. After Baoyu wrote these two poems, he was at the bottom of the list. Now he has an errand assigned by the old lady, and he is negotiating with me."

Daiyu said: "Look at the meaning, could it be that he wants to ask for leave? He can't write a few decent sentences around him, so it's okay for my sister-in-law to take advantage of the situation."

Baoyu hurriedly said: "There is no such thing! Even if I don't sleep or eat, I can't leave this matter alone. I mean, when I write poems in the future, I just ask you sisters and sisters to take pity on me." Painting is exhausting, spend more time with me, so that I can gather up the remaining juice in my brain. But it will never be empty.”

Daiyu sneered and said, "Second brother, it's hard to rack your brains for you, but you can only write a few sentences."

Lian Xiangyun couldn't help laughing, and sighed again: "It's hard for me to think about it. If the second brother wants to ask for leave, it's really hard to say. And one more thing, you are not alone in this painting." There is also Sister Bao. Last night, Sister Bao lit a lamp and boiled oil to make such a long list. This morning, she handed it over to her brother to buy. But they are all paints for painting Pen and ink, let me ask you, what did you do again? What kind of trouble did you spend? You came here early in the morning to make a fool of yourself!"

After hearing this, Baoyu said to Baochai, "Sister, why don't you tell me? We can discuss and see what is missing."

Baochai laughed and said, "Where do you have time? It's not that you can't catch up with the meal where you drink tea, or you don't know where to go to listen to the opera and come back with red eyes. Let's follow the painting last time, I miss you Maybe I don’t know what I need to make such a big picture. I just thought about writing it alone, and it’s more convenient. I also kept the leftovers from the last painting. It’s a pity that I only used them for painting. Yes, this is another list."

Tanchun said: "Since the old lady told me about it, why did Sister Bao ask her family to prepare something. Just take it to Sister Feng and finish the job."

Baochai said with a smile: "But with so many things, why should I look far away? She doesn't know many things every day, so let's add one thing less."

Li Wan then said to Baoyu, "Look. It's always been the case that those who take on things and do their best are silent, but those who dangle their hands are easy to shout. This is called 'half-bottle dangling'."

Everyone who said it laughed, and Baoyu couldn't bring up the matter of different treatment.

After listening to Baochai's words, Daiyu thought to herself: "When I was talking to me just now, I only said that needlework female red is fundamental, and even poetry, books and articles are not part of my job. But I have never seen her do it so happily. Needlework? But I know so much about such things as piano, chess, calligraphy and painting, and I am so active. Sure enough, what Guiliu said is right, "Those who act out of their original intentions often do things that contradict their words and deeds, but it is difficult to know themselves." I don't know. Do I have this kind of thing too?" From this, I thought to myself all the way, but I forgot that the painting would take a long time to paint, that is, Baoyu Baochai had to work together for a long time.

Although they agreed to set up a poetry club, they couldn't help getting into a fight.Jia Mu was tired from visiting the garden that day, so she had to rest.People often think about things when they have nothing to do. She was bored in silence, and just as Sister Feng's birthday was approaching, she came up with an idea.The dispatcher invited Mrs. Wang to speak, and Mrs. Wang naturally did not refuse.In this way, they simply called Aunt Xue, Mrs. Xing, Mrs. Dongfu Youshi, and other sisters from the garden, as well as the respectable housekeeper and daughter-in-law, but they wanted to imitate the small family, and everyone fought to celebrate Sister Feng's birthday.

Everyone just said it was interesting, the old lady took the number first, and the rest of the wives, Aunt Xue and Wang Xing, followed suit.Li Wan and You Shi also said that the two of them paid 12 taels each.Mother Jia took pity on Li Wan's widow who was unemployed, and deliberately refused to ask her to pay the money.Li Wan said with a smile: "The old lady should let me pay the money happily. If you let me go this time, Feng girl will not dare to do anything in front of the old lady and the ladies. She doesn't know what to do behind her back." How long will it take me to go to give me peace! It's better to throw it out now and it will be quieter." Sister Feng laughed, and Jia's mother knew that Li Wan was rich, so she agreed to her.

When everyone gathers together, there are more than 150 taels, which is enough for the show and the wine.Jia's mother only entrusted this matter to You Shi, and ordered Sister Feng not to ask Sister Feng to give her a snack, so that she could enjoy it well that day.So everyone knows that Sister Feng is very fond of her. Although Sister Feng is suppressed on the face, she is inevitably full of complacency in her heart.The whole family, starting from grandma and grandma, together with sisters-in-law, uncles and sister-in-laws, and servants and housekeepers all mobilized for her alone.Since then, she has acted more and more aggressively as a housekeeper, but that's all for later.

Let's say that Li Wan and the others wrapped up the silver and sent someone to send it to Youshi in the East Mansion. Even if they rested, they just waited for the excitement that day.Then he said to Daiyu again: "It just so happens that girl Feng's birthday is the second day of junior high school, so it's a heavy day for us. If you only write a poem, then the days are not bad. But in this way, my host will do it. It's boring. This time I'll show you something fun. It was originally created by our Zhuangzi Shangxing. It will be interesting if we eat and drink together. And it must be this season. It will be too cold in the future.

So, let me ask you what you mean.In the end, should we just join in the fun and start a company, or postpone it for a few days, and talk about it when we re-elect? "

No one else had anything to say, Xichun said first: "Naturally, it will be postponed for a few days. The so-called 'auspiciousness is not equal', we have to arrange a row of days to invite New Year's wine at home, fearing that it will be inconvenient for both ends to collide. Our poetry club For such an important matter, we can only be more cautious."

Tanchun shook his head and smiled, "Usually, when it comes to reciting poems, how have you ever been active? Even the old lady asked you to draw a picture, and you have a way to push it away. Now you suddenly become respectful and cautious, asking us to believe It's hard for you too."

Baochai also said: "The trick that the old lady came up with so excitedly, we have to go and play alone, which disturbs the interest of the old man. And we live in this garden now, and we have to give it to Sister Feng for a year. So many things have happened. It’s hard to come by this time. Naturally, we should congratulate her together. It’s also our intention. After all, we can’t do two things at once, and we have to write poetry in a hurry, and we don’t have the mood. word."

One sentence makes everyone laugh, and it makes sense.Daiyu said with a smile: "I don't know about the other things, but I have a little bit of my fourth sister's thoughts. She doesn't necessarily care about wetness and dryness. I'm afraid she wants my sister-in-law to please a host." means many."

Xichun hurriedly nodded in praise and said: "Although my thoughts are straightforward, I only say that they are not figurative. Sister Lin's word 'solid and solid' is simple, but it hits the right meaning in my heart, and that's what it means!"

Li Wan said with a smile: "Since that's the case, I'll be happy for a while, so as to save them all from being lazy. Let's go ahead and set it on the fifth day, okay?"

Everyone has no objection, and the matter is settled.

Several people in Daoxiang Village discussed this matter in the afternoon, and Li Wan said: "I have made a list and handed it to Madam Xu, and those in the village will get it from the village, so as to save trouble here. Now I live in the garden. , it is getting more and more difficult to deal with the chef."

Nanny Chang said: "Actually, we should set up another kitchen in the garden. There are fixed rules for left and right, and it's convenient to ask a few women to take care of it. Now the two meals in the morning and evening come and go in the wind and rain. Yes, grandma’s place is pretty good, but if you use it later, you can come back and have a solid meal. In October, when the weather is cold, this garden is a bit colder than other places. The girls have to Going empty-hearted, eating a full stomach and then coming back, blowing a few breaths of cool air, how can I not get sick. Thinking about it, since moving in these days, the girls have indeed been sicker than before."

Yan Momo said: "Although the matter is like this, grandma can't say this. Although she means to feel sorry for the sisters-in-law, but grandma is also in this garden, so someone will change the words in thousands of ways. Back to the tongue, It's no good either."

Li Wan said with a smile: "I thought, it won't be long before someone should mention this."

Nanny Chang also smiled: "Yes, it's an idea that doesn't cost much. How much money is there to get an extra kitchen for nothing? The housekeeper can just say it, the old lady can only thank her for her hard work. The people below have it." You have to read the extra benefits too."

Yan Momo said: "The lack of this piece in the big kitchen is nothing, so there is no complaint? It's still not a loss or a profit."

Mother Chang smiled and said: "How can it be the same? Here, it is right under the nose of the tiger, girl, and even the girls who follow have to stop for a while. If only a small kitchen is set up in the garden, If you can’t say it, get active. According to the ancestors’ rules, there will be rewards for the extra servants, but this is a benefit that you don’t have in the big kitchen. Therefore, it’s an advantage when one part is added, but the other part doesn’t feel like it’s subtracted. .Speaking of which, the big kitchen doesn’t take these few cases seriously. Most of them don’t come from these.”

Several people nodded.Li Wan has drawn up a list and read it slowly for everyone to listen to.

Mother Chang couldn't help laughing when she heard "twenty tender chickens, five fires, ten roasted meats, ten roasted geese, ten roasted ducks, twelve pairs of five-inch shrimps in green shells, three baskets of crabs..." : "It's not expensive, it's just grandma. I asked some girls to compose poems? Why does it sound like a housewarming banquet for a warm stove in the beams!"

Yan Momo also said: "Grandma has done such a good job, who would dare to do this again in the future? The girls don't have enough money for one banquet every year."

Li Wan said with a smile: "You don't know, I came back with preparations for Lan'er."

Everyone laughed when they heard this, and they didn't agree with her theory. After all, there are so many people up and down, are they afraid of throwing it away for nothing? !

Nanny Chang wrote another copy and prepared to hand it in when Nanny Xu came.Li Wan asked a young man to come in again, and said: "Go to the academy and pass a message to my brother, saying that we are preparing for the club on the fifth day of next month, and ask him if he will come back to join in the fun. When you get the letter, this end will also It's easy to make arrangements." The young man took the errand and went on his own.

When he came back at night, he said, "My brother said, he will definitely come back." Li Wan nodded.Biyue led the boy out, gave him a dime and said, "Take the errand money that grandma gave you." The boy quickly took it, and knelt down outside to thank you for the reward.