On a summer afternoon, the sun scorches the earth mercilessly. In the Yuehua Courtyard of the Marquis of Zhongyi's Mansion in the capital, the head of the house, Han, was immersed in a nap, and the surroundings were quiet. The doorkeeper Yu leaned on the pillars of the verandah, drowsy, unaware of the approaching footsteps.
Mama Qi hurried from the alley behind the house, sweat soaking the back of her clothes, and fine beads of sweat hung on her forehead and cheeks. When she saw that Yu Shi was dozing off, she couldn't help but feel annoyed, and unceremoniously woke her up: "You old thing, you dare to be lazy and nap here." If you let those little hooves that don't have long eyes take the opportunity to sneak into the yard and disturb Madame, you won't be enough to pay for a few lives! ”
Yu Shi was awakened, although her mind was undecided, but her body reacted quickly, she immediately stood up and slapped herself in the mouth with self-blame: "Mama Qi's lesson is that I don't dare anymore." Mama Qi didn't have the heart to look at her like this, so she only dropped a sentence coldly: "Guard the yard well, let me find out again, you don't have to do this errand." With that, he hurried away.
Yu Shi came to her senses completely, she knew that this door-guarding errand was not easy to come by, and if she was replaced by Mama Qi, she would have nowhere to cry. So she immediately cheered up and didn't dare to slack off in the slightest.
Under the porch of the main house, the big girl Qingliu is sitting at the door and playing a tie. When she saw Mama Qi coming, she hurriedly got up to greet her, and asked softly, "Why did Mama come over on such a hot day?" Look at your sweat, please come inside and cool off. Madame has just fallen asleep, but what is the urgency? With that, she carefully lifted the bamboo curtain at the door and invited Mama Qi into the house.
In the hall of the main house is a large porcelain basin filled with ice. Mama Qi took a fan by herself, stood by the ice basin and fanned it gently, and suddenly felt a burst of coolness. Qingliu brought a cup of warm sour plum soup and said with a smile: "Mama just came back from outside, and I don't dare to give you a cold drink, for fear of hurting your stomach." Mama Qi took the teacup and said with a smile: "You are still careful." "I drank it all in a few sips.
She handed the teacup to Qingliu and asked, "Why are you alone on duty here?" Qingliu whispered back: "Madame wants to take a nap, so there are not too many people to serve, so let the light rain and them all go to rest." Mama Qi nodded: "Madame is really kind-hearted." Qingliu also nodded in agreement: "Exactly, it is also our blessing to be able to have a master like Mrs. ”
The two chatted for a few more words, and suddenly heard Han's voice from the inner room: "Qingliu, who's coming?" Mama Qi hurriedly responded: "Mrs. Hui, it's the slave who is here." It's disturbing your rest, it's not a slave. Han sat up: "That's it, you won't come over this noon." Light willow, serve me and get up. ”
Qingliu hurriedly entered the inner room, lifted the curtain for Han, helped her up, and rinsed her mouth with warm water. Han Shi looked at Mama Qi's appearance of wanting to speak and stopped, sat down in front of the dresser and said, "Xu is a little stronger, Mama will give me a head." Qingliu, you go to the tea room to make me a cup of narcissus sent by my second sister-in-law, remember, that tea must be brewed with boiling water. ”
Yes, ma'am. The light willow saluted and turned to go out. Han Shi then asked: "Say, what is so mysterious and secretive, and you still have to hide it from Qingliu?" Mama Qi whispered: "This morning, the people from the Bai family came over, and together with Aunt Bai, they talked in the old lady's house for a long time. The girl from Pearl listened a lot by serving tea and pouring water. The Bai family wants to hire a girl from our family ...... their eldest son”
Han sneered: "Hmph, it's a shame that the old lady always claims to be from the Guogong Mansion, and she doesn't look at her behavior, and treats her aunt's maiden family as a serious relative all day long, which is really a shame for the Anguo Mansion." I don't look at what kind of goods that family is, even the concubines in our house are not such people. ”
Mama Qi nodded: "Madame said yes." It's just that the old lady was born as a concubine, what insight can she have? The slave maid sent someone to inquire, although the eldest of the Bai family was only sixteen or seventeen years old, but like his father, he did a lot of things like stealing chickens and walking dogs, looking for flowers and asking willows. The Bai family has no permanent production, and for many years they have just relied on the autumn wind to live, and the family has no fixed income. They just thought that the second girl grew up next to Mrs., and if they went out of the cabinet, in addition to the share of 3,000 taels in the public school, Mrs. and Hou Ye had to make up for it in private. And the second girl is a concubine, and it will always be more difficult for her family. If the old lady had to be pressed down as an elder, the Hou Ye would not be able to shirk very much. ”
The more Han thought about it, the more angry he became: "Hmph, although the ancestor has passed down the title, is there any real power in his hands, and the difference in those days is only a little bit of a star?" Hou Ye has been an official on the coast for many years, not to mention the wind and sun all day long, there are often pirates who come to commit crimes, and I don't know how much suffering I have suffered to keep the glory and wealth of our family. This nest of people doesn't feel sorry for Hou Ye, just transfer three nests and four all day long, thinking about pulling Hou Ye's hind legs, what kind of heart is Ande? It's nothing more than because of Master Hou.