Volume 1 Chapter 74 April (Middle)

  The originally lively cabin was even more filled with laughter and chatter at this moment.

  "...I heard that her body is not feeling well. The old lady remembered and specially instructed me to come and take a look at the eleventh miss." From afar, the eleventh daughter already heard the bright and clear voice of the third lady.

  "There's nothing wrong," said the mistress with a smile. "It's just that she was exhausted from helping Wu Niang with her needlework a few days ago. I've had the maid keep an eye on her these past few days and not let her do any more needlework."

  Someone laughed and said: "I've long heard that Miss Eleven's needlework is extremely fierce, has she obtained the true transmission of Xianyun Pavilion? Is this really true?"

  The lady smiled and said, "I invited a seamstress from the Xianying Pavilion to come home and teach my daughter embroidery. Who would have thought that I also learned from her? Now I can do intricate stitches like 'dai zi' and 'shuang mian xiu' with ease!" Her words were humble, but they carried a hint of pride.

  He said: "Since it's like this, one day let Miss Eleven also make a few knots for me."

  The old lady was just about to respond when the little maid said: "Miss Eleven is here!"

  "Please come in quickly!" The old lady smiled and responded, and Eleventh Sister walked in.

  Third Lady was resplendent with pearls and jade in her hair, wearing a bright red embroidered jacket with auspicious cloud patterns, her hair styled in a high chignon adorned with pearl pins, and sporting earrings made of celadon; she looked utterly stunning.

  Seeing Miss Eleven, she immediately came over: "I said I'd go see you, but the old lady wants to call you. Are you feeling better?"

  The eleventh girl curtsied and said with a smile, "Thank you, Third Madame, for your concern. I was just feeling a bit tired the past few days. After resting for a few days, I'm much better now."

  "That's good, that's good." He said, holding her hand and sitting down on a nearby rose chair. "The empress especially asked me to come see you. She also asked me to ask you if the cherries we sent last time were delicious? If they were delicious, after a few days when the palace rewards us with some more, I'll send them over!"

  The women in the house all looked at her and smiled.

  Eleventh girl is very uncomfortable.

  She and Xu's family had nothing but a verbal agreement, nameless and unaccounted for. What kind of situation is this?

  Eleventh Sister smiled and said, "These past few days have been good for Fifth Sister, but she's had a lot on her plate. I was originally planning to visit Third Madame after a few days, but since you're here today, it's perfect timing - can you help me bring something over?" She called out to the maid who followed her, "Bring me that fan I embroidered the other day and give it to Third Madame." Then she turned back to Third Madame and said, "Please trouble yourself to pass it on to Madame."

  The three ladies laughed and said: "Our lady has made a good bargain. A plate of cherries for a fan."

  Everyone burst out laughing.

  The lady also smiled, but a hint of satisfaction flashed in her eyes.

  Three Madam mentioned cherry or not in front of everyone, it's nothing but to say that Tai Fu Ren has a different view on Eleven Niang. However, Eleven Niang and Hou Ye haven't formally settled down yet, if this matter doesn't work out, the one who will be hurt the most is naturally the Luo family. Others may not think so, but she knows clearly in her heart, the memorial that Yuan Niang presented to the Empress Dowager before her death was precisely to ensure that this matter could succeed. It's necessary to know that the Empress Dowager also worries about the same thing as Yuan Niang - the safety of the children!

  Thinking of this, Mrs. Big's satisfaction turned into gloom.

  If Mother were still alive... how wonderful it would be...

  The three ladies smiled, but somewhat awkwardly.

  She was really annoyed at the agreement between the Xu and Luo families. To say nothing of other things, when the time came, she would have to call a little girl who was only two years younger than her own son "sister". And for some important matter, she would still have to go to that little girl's hands to get the token... If she didn't stab her first, she really couldn't swallow this.

  The smile of the eleventh girl is faint.

  Those who can express their thoughts like this are not scary, what's scary is those who hide and conceal everything!

  Everyone had their own thoughts, laughed and chatted for a few words, and the amber thing was delivered.

  The eleventh girl handed a red lacquer and gold decorated box to Third Lady: "Thank you for your trouble!"

  The third lady's eyes sparkled as she smiled and said, "I must take a look first." With that, she opened the box.

  A round fan made of silk gauze with a handle made of Xiang bamboo, embroidered with a lifelike peony flower in full bloom.

  Really good at needlework!

  She couldn't help but praise in her heart and smiled: "It's really beautiful!"

  As I turned it over, there were one or two peony flowers with connected stems, one bud waiting to bloom and the other just unfolding its petals.

  The three ladies were stunned.

  Third Aunt looked at it carefully and smiled: "This is the double-sided embroidery of our family's eleventh young lady. Originally, Jian Shifu from Xianling Pavilion was invited by Eldest Sister to come home to teach needlework. Our fifth and tenth sisters also learned some together."

  Everyone gathered around, you take a look, I'll take a look. Not one of them didn't praise it to each other's face.

  When it's time to fight, fight; when it's time to unite, unite. Otherwise, your own family will fall apart first, and others won't take you seriously!

  Third wife couldn't help but glance at the first wife with some pride, and the first wife smiled and nodded slightly towards her. Third wife felt a little regretful in her heart. If only she had given this fan to Madame on her birthday that day! But then again, gifts were always handed over to the servants, so there was no way to show off in person, it's better now!

  Just then, a little maid ran in: "The second wife is back!" The words had barely fallen when the second wife rushed in, dusty and disheveled, with Qiuniang following behind her, looking exhausted.

  "Don't blame me," she said hastily. "The northwest has been transporting grain from Shandong, and the postal road was closed for three days, or I would have arrived earlier."

  "Hard work, hard work!" said the mistress, holding Seventh Sister's hand. "Are you tired? Go and rest with Eleventh Sister quickly."

  Everyone came forward to pay their respects, and after Eleven exchanged greetings with the crowd, she took Seven away to her own quarters.

  The third wife took the opportunity to say to the first wife: "Their family is wealthy and noble, our family is not much worse off. Some things are better done slowly!"

  The lady knew what she meant and couldn't help but sigh: "I heard that the new law implemented by Chen Gonglao has achieved remarkable results, and the military expenses in the northwest are quite large, all thanks to last year's tea tax revenue... The old master is no longer around. If we don't make some moves, I'm afraid some families will look down on us."

  "But what if something unexpected happens..." The third wife still had some doubts.

  "Some things are not suitable for the third wife to hear, so she said vaguely: 'Don't worry, I have a plan in mind.'"

  Third Aunt didn't say anything more.

  The two were talking when Second Mistress came over and handed a stack of silver bills to Eldest Mistress: "This is the intention of Master and me."

  The mistress took a glance and found they were all 100 taels each, estimated to be around 2000 taels.

  "This is too much..." Second Aunt hastily waved her hand, "When Father was around, we never worried about household matters, every day only knowing to take the silver from the public treasury to make ends meet. Now that the family is in difficulty, it's also our turn to contribute. Eldest Sister, hurry up and accept, otherwise I won't be able to explain myself to Master when I get back."

  The third aunt couldn't help but feel a bit unnatural.

  Two rooms were also too generous.

  At this time, she couldn't muster up the courage to argue back, and instead smiled awkwardly: "Yes, sister-in-law, you'd better just accept it! I heard that in a few days, the Wang family will be coming to discuss the engagement. At that time, there will be many formalities and expenses. But our household is a simple one, although we don't have much money, we can still manage to do these small tasks."

  The first wife took the second wife and the third wife: "A family doesn't speak two languages. Fourth Uncle is now at the height of his good fortune, and in a couple of years, Eldest Brother will also come out, and our family's days will be a bit better."

  Third Aunt nodded in agreement as she listened, but Second Aunt's eyes sank - no matter how good the son-in-law was, he couldn't compare to her own son. Not to mention that the Yu family still had so many younger siblings...

  She combed and washed up on the other side. Wearing the new clothes of the eleventh girl, she lazily leaned against the large kang by the window: "...It's been a year since I saw you, how did you grow so tall... slightly taller than me. You should eat less in the future, growing too tall is not good for finding a wife."

  The eleventh girl smiled and ignored her.

  On the side, Amber said: "Our family's young lady has already become so thin, if she doesn't eat, I'm afraid she'll be blown away by the wind."

  Qī Niáng listened and then turned her head to look at Shíyī Niáng, who was sitting on the edge of the kang sewing a seam for her, and said in a low voice: "Hey, has yours arrived or not?"

  "What?" Shíyīniáng pretended not to understand, and tied a knot with her hand. She cut the thread head with small scissors and handed the needle to Dōngqīng beside her. Dōngqīng took it over and handed another needle that had already been threaded and knotted to Shíyīniáng.

  Eleventh Sister took it and sewed, still looking up at Seventh Sister with a glance, but her hands didn't slow down one bit, the needle's angle not off by a single degree.

  Qī Niáng watched with admiration: "How many stitches do you have to do every day? I'm afraid even the embroidery class can't compare."

  Not doing needlework, every day thinking about those messy things, either worrying to death or annoying to death...

  The eleventh girl smiled but did not answer.

  "Your needlework is so good, can you make a purse for me?" Qī Niáng looked at him with slightly averted eyes, and her cheeks, as white as the first snow, flushed with a cloud of red.

  Eleventh Sister looked suspicious and thought of what she had asked her earlier, but didn't say a word. She called Dong Qing: "I embroidered several lotus-leaf pouches two days ago, bring them over and let Seventh Sister choose!"

  Dong Qing responded promptly and soon brought over a small wicker basket bag, with all sorts of styles available, some were delicate and lovely, some were simple and elegant, while others were luxurious and beautiful. Qī Niáng's eyes widened in amazement, thinking that this one was good, that one was also good, and she wished she could take them all away if possible.

  She rummaged through it hastily and suddenly exclaimed: "Ah, Eleventh Sister, you've actually embroidered a pair of lotus flowers on your purse!"

  Eleventh Sister looked at her: "What's wrong?" Her gaze was extremely serious.

  Qī niáng liǎn jiù chéng le yí kuài dà hóng bù.

  Translation:

  The face of the seventh daughter had become a big red cloth.

  The eleventh girl couldn't help but burst out laughing.

  Qī niáng xiū de bù xíng, tiào qǐ lái jiù róu zhe shí yī niáng: "nǐ zhè ge gǔ zi, píng rì yī běn zhèng jīng, xiǎng bù dào rú guò cuō zuò, zhuāng nòng qǐ jiě jiě lái."

  Translation:

  Seventh sister blushed and couldn't move, jumped up and rubbed against Eleventh sister: "You this guy, usually so serious, didn't expect you to be such a tease, playing tricks on your sister."

  The eleventh girl laughed so hard that she begged for mercy: "Good sister, let me embroider whatever you want me to embroider for you, and I'll never dare say anything again!"

  The two of them were laughing and making a ruckus. Suddenly, they heard the little maid say: "Eleventh Miss, Fifth Miss has arrived!"

  Qī niáng hé shíyī niáng gāng fēn kāi, wǔ niáng jiù zǒu le jìn lái.

  Translation:

  The Seventh Sister and the Eleventh Sister had just parted ways when the Fifth Sister walked in.

  "Good one, Seventh Sister! You came but didn't even come see me!"

  Seventh Sister hastily stood up and showed Fifth Sister her body: "My hair isn't even dry yet?"

  The fifth daughter said with a smile and sat down on the edge of the kang: "I'm just joking with you!"

  Qī Niáng turned her dark eyes: "Fifth sister, have you seen Fifth Brother-in-law?"

  The fifth daughter's face turned slightly red: "What are you talking about!"

  "That's right!" Qiuniang's eyes lit up, "Quickly tell me, what kind of person is Wu Jiefu?" With a very curious expression.

  The last time I went to the temple, Wu Niang didn't pay much attention to Qian Ming. Later, she found an opportunity to take a good look and never complained about her own bitter fate again.

  The eleventh girl couldn't help but purse her lips and smile.

  "Stop causing trouble here." Wu Niang's face turned even redder, ignoring Qi Niang's words and asked instead, "Is Shandong fun?"

  The seventh girl nodded, her eyes shining brightly: "It's fun. My mother and I also went to the temple fair, not like in Yanjing, where we're locked up at home every day." She said again, "It's still better to get married. After getting married, you can go out with a clear conscience." With a very envious look.

  Sisters, pink tickets... adding more will be 450!