Red makeup against the world

Chapter 16 The Tu Family
Ge Majang placed the quills made by Ge Ma neatly on the three-dimensional round carved begonia flower mahogany plate. Xu Wanzhen looked at the quills as white as snow and was happy, and said: "Ge Ma, bring me the paint tools for painting."

When Ge Ma brought the paint, Xu Wanzhen took out a quill pen, dipped the tip of the brush into indigo blue, and carefully painted the feathers.Seven quill pens were painted with seven colors in a row, and they were colorful and beautiful when placed together.

Xu Wanzhen said proudly: "I'll keep this set of pens for my little uncle, he must like it." She painted another set of seven pens and sent them to Mrs. Xu together with the white quill pen.

Ge Ma brought a double-drawer hollow lacquer box, packed the quill pens, and walked to Mrs. Xu's main room.As soon as he walked to the hallway, he saw Yulu leading a strange servant to walk in.Ge Ma bowed his knees and saluted, and said, "Sister Yulu, I will give the old lady a pen for the young lady."

Yulu said: "You wait outside, I will call you later." Ge Ma should be.

Mrs. Xu was leaning on the warm couch. Seeing the person being led by Yulu, Mrs. Xu showed an excited expression on her face: "Tu Rui? Why are you here?"

Tu Rui is the son of the Tu family and the long follower of Mrs. Xu's elder brother.Before Mrs. Xu married Jiangnan, her personal maid, Zhenmei, was a child of the Tu family. She couldn't bear to separate their flesh and blood, so she betrothed Zhenmei to him.

Fast forward a few decades, the mountains are high and the rivers are long. Although Mrs. Xu would send people back to Beijing every year to give New Year gifts, Mrs. Xu never saw her relatives again.Even Tu Rui, I haven't seen him for nearly ten years.

Mrs. Xu looked at Tu Rui. Compared to the last time I saw him, he was almost sixty years old. He was dressed in an indigo cloth robe, with gray hair and a slightly stooped figure. Fortunately, he was energetic.He ordered Yulu to bring a chair, and after Tu Rui saluted, Yulu helped him to sit down, and then asked carefully: "You are already old, why don't you let a young man come?"

Tu Rui replied: "The old man heard that something happened to the second aunt's house, so he asked the old man to inquire. He wanted to try to get him out first, and then report to you. But he couldn't do it, so he asked the old slave to come to Suzhou to see Look, what's the trouble with Second Aunt Grandma?"

Mrs. Xu now has some clues about the case, knowing that with her father's contacts, she can't inquire about this matter, and said: "I care about this matter." Seeing Tu Rui's eyes flickering, he said solemnly: "Do you have anything to say? Hiding it from me?"

Tu Rui was startled, he had tried his best to cover it up, but the second aunt could tell the truth at a glance, and said with a wry smile: "The old man, the eldest aunt, and the elder don't let this old slave say that the second aunt is too far away to help you. , worrying in vain.”

Mrs. Xu thought for a while and said, "Is it because father is not in good health?"

Tu Rui said: "Second Aunt, you guessed it yourself, so I said I couldn't hide it." After a pause, he said, "During the Spring Festival last year, the old man caught a cold, and he kept it up until summer intermittently. When autumn just entered When I heard that my eldest grandson and great-grandson were both taken into Dali Temple, I fell ill in a panic."

Mrs. Xu had tears in her eyes when she heard these words, "I am such an unfilial daughter! I am so old, and my father has to worry about me."

Tu Rui repeatedly accused her of crimes, Mrs. Xu calmed down, asked about her condition carefully, and found out that there was nothing serious.He asked again: "Are you all right? Jane Mei is also a grandmother."

Tu Ruidao: "Thank you, Second Aunt, for thinking about it. Zhenmei asked the old slave to give you greetings for her. The little grandson is just enlightened now, and the eldest grandson is half a child. He started to listen to the young master the year before last."

After talking again, Mrs. Xu asked Yulu to take him down to have a rest first, "It's exhausting, please rest for a few days, and I'll make arrangements."

Yulu reported: "Miss sent Ge Ma to bring the pen, but she is still waiting outside."

Mrs. Xu looked carefully at the quills Ge Ma sent, and said, "It's better than the first time. This set of seven-color pens is a bit interesting."

Ge Ma replied crisply: "Miss said that she picked the feathers specially. The feathers from the left wing of the goose are thick and strong, and it is convenient for writing with the right hand."

Mrs. Xu took out one and tried it, and it really went smoothly.Ge Ma said again: "Miss also said that quill pens are easy to wear and tear, and a quill pen can last for a month. So with a set of colorful paint, it can be used for more than half a year after regular use."

Mrs. Xu couldn't help laughing, "What else did your eldest lady say? Let's talk about it together."

Ge Ma said with a smile: "Our young lady also said that it can be used as a pencil case for easy access."

Mrs. Xu said: "Zhen'er's class is tight, you tell Sang Zi, let her make two pen bags first, come and have a look." Sang Zi learned embroidery with Xu Wanzhen since she was a child. There must be no problem.

After Ge Ma left, Yulu came back to report.Mrs. Xu asked, "Is everything settled?"

Yulu said: "Yes, old madam. The servants put Mr. Tu in the guest room in the outer courtyard and sent a servant to order him around."

"When I saw Tu Rui, I remembered that time. We were all young at that time, and I was still a little girl." Mrs. Xu showed a look of reminiscence.

"Old lady, you are not old now, you see that you don't have many gray hairs."

"You call me old lady, I'm not old yet?"

Mrs. Xu hesitated and said, "Yulu, I want to go back to Beijing. Back then, I brought only one of the maidservants to Suzhou. I didn't expect that her life would be bad. Not long after arriving in Suzhou, she became ill and caught the epidemic. Now the old father is sick again, although it is not a serious illness, but he is getting old, and I haven't seen him for so many years, I am really worried about him."

Yulu walked behind Mrs. Xu, beat her back, and listened quietly.

"Changrong's family is far away in Sangquan, and Changzong's father and son are imprisoned in the capital prison. This is a good family, and they are all separated. When I sell out the stalls left by the old man, Zhen'er will go to Beijing, and I will be left alone." What's the point of such a big house, the lonely old woman and Yu'er's little grandson?"

At this moment, Mrs. Xu is not shrewd and capable at all, with tears running down her face: "Old man, I have not kept the property you left behind for you. I am sorry for you, but you will understand me, for the sake of our greatness." Son Changzong and Wenmin grandson. When you were here, you often said that people are more important than money. Only by saving them, I will have the face to see you under the nine springs."

These words have been stuck in Mrs. Xu's heart for a long time, and today she finally vented them out.

Yulu persuaded softly: "Old lady, although the servants have no chance to see the old man, but I heard you often tell me that the old man loves the children so much, and he must support your decision." Madam Xu closed her eyes, and Yulu brought hot water for her He cleaned his face again and brushed his temples.

The arrival of the old family members of the Tu family made Mrs. Xu feel deeply.Although Xu Wanzhen knew about this from Ge Ma, Mrs. Xu didn't tell her, she must have a reason, and she didn't intend to inquire.Every day, I just stepped up to practice the lessons arranged by Madam Xu, and played handwriting with Xu Wenyu in my spare time.

(End of this chapter)