The Concubine's Survival Manual

Chapter 6

The eldest lady sighed, nodded on Fifth Lady's forehead, and waved her hand.

The fifth lady hurriedly saluted the eldest wife again, then got up and sat opposite the second lady.

It's almost time for dinner now, the morning and evening are fixed, and it's time for the daughters of each house to come to say hello to the eldest wife.

The eldest lady took a sip of tea and was about to speak when Brother Jiu's cheerful laughter came from outside the door.

When Brother Nine arrived in Kaimeng, for a while now, every afternoon, he would go to study with his husband for two or three hours. Always happy to learn.

"Mother! Mother!" He broke into the main room and threw himself into the arms of the eldest lady. "Mr. Today praised me for my good handwriting!"

Brother Nine has a round face, big eyes flickering, and he smiles very excitedly.

The eldest lady's face softened immediately. "Ninth brother, good boy!"

Brother Nine smiled triumphantly, and then went down to the ground to salute his sisters.

"Second sister, fifth sister, seventh sister!"

The second lady loved Brother Jiu very much, and beckoned him to her side, took out a handkerchief and wiped off a stain on Brother Jiu's nose.

"Be careful when writing in the future, don't scatter ink everywhere."

Ninth Brother giggled, seeing that Fifth Lady's expression was not right, he asked Second Lady in a low voice, "Second Sister, what's wrong with Fifth Sister? Are you making your mother angry again?"

Wu Niangzi's cold face softened, and she smiled a little when she was provoked by Brother Nine's timid attitude, "Little guy said bad things about me? Come here, screw your face for me!"

Ninth Brother covered his face and refused to go over no matter what, Wu Niangzi grabbed him, and the two siblings ran around the room, laughing endlessly.

Seventh Lady couldn't help showing a smile, and the atmosphere in the room loosened invisibly.

Lichun breathed a sigh of relief: she was the most embarrassed one, and she had to tell the eldest wife about Wu Niangzi, and she was afraid that the eldest wife would get angry and Wu Niangzi would blame her.

She came to the eldest lady with a smile, and told jokes while beating her back.

After a while, all the aunts arrived.

The auntie was the first to arrive, she greeted the eldest lady and the ladies with a smile, and then stood behind the eldest lady.

The fifth aunt and the seventh aunt came hand in hand, and the seventh aunt also took the sixth lady by her side. The sixth lady paid homage to the eldest wife and bowed to the sisters. Let Liu Niangzi sit on top of her.The eldest lady frowned slightly, but said nothing.

Both the fifth aunt and the seventh aunt kowtowed to the eldest lady in a polite manner before getting up and standing in order. The several aunts looked at each other and nodded to each other with a smile.

After all, the Yang family is a wealthy family in the south of the Yangtze River, so they must pay attention to their face.

In the eldest wife's room, meals are always eaten at the second quarter of Shenchu, and the aunts and young ladies are sent back to the room around the quarter of Shenchu. It was a little longer at the quarter of Shenchu ​​before the fourth aunt brought the third lady and fourth lady into the room. Main house.

"I'm late, please punish my wife." The fourth aunt always had a smile on her face, and the third and fourth wives also greeted the eldest wife.The third lady's face was still full of joy, but the fourth lady had a stern face without a smile on her face. People who didn't know would think that someone owed her something important and didn't pay it back.

The eldest lady smiled and said, "I know you have a lot to do." Then she opened this chapter.Fourth Yiniang kowtowed to the eldest wife and greeted the ladies, and then said to Seventh Lady, "Seventh Lady moved to the main house today? Are you still used to it?"

Seventh Lady hurriedly smiled and said, "I'm used to it, I'm used to it." Then she didn't find anything else to say to Fourth Yiniang.

A spark flashed in Si Yiniang's eyes, and she stood behind the eldest lady with a smile.The eldest lady looked at the clock and asked, "Is Eighth Aunt feeling unwell again?"

Liang's mother hurriedly said, "When I sent someone to ask today, I didn't say anything."

As soon as the words were finished, Ba Yiniang was panting, and helped a little girl into the main room.

"...Just when I was about to go out, I vomited again. I had to change my clothes before I could come here. Please forgive my wife." She said pitifully, as if she was about to kneel down.

"If you are pregnant with an heir, don't kneel down." The eldest wife said hastily.

Master Yang is almost at the age of knowing his destiny this year, and he has seven daughters, only Brother Nine is the only child. If Eighth Aunt can give birth to a son, the eldest wife will be happy too.

The eighth aunt stood up and stood delicately behind the eldest lady. The eldest lady asked about the things her daughters were studying at home, and then said to the seventh lady, "You can go to school with your sisters tomorrow. You are six years old, and you can also go to school." You should know a few words."

Seventh Lady stood up and answered with a low eyebrow, "Yes."

The eldest lady saw that there was nothing wrong, so she told everyone to disperse.

The eldest aunt always stayed to serve the eldest wife for dinner, but she did not leave. The eighth aunt was the weakest, and she could not wait for the eldest wife to speak, so she walked away first supporting the little servant girl's shoulders.She is pregnant and has a gold medal for avoiding death, so the eldest wife will not care about this with her.

The fourth aunt also took her daughters to leave. When the third lady got up, she smiled and said to the seventh lady, "Seventh sister, why are you dressed so plainly in such a cold day? I have a squirrel cloak. Little one, if you don't dislike it, my sister will send it to you later?"

The eldest wife raised her eyebrows, the first aunt and the second aunt bowed their heads and said nothing, the second lady glanced at the third lady, her eyes were as sharp as a knife.

In fact, no one hid it from anyone.

Seventh Lady sighed in her heart, stood up and smiled and held Third Lady's hand, Third Lady looked at her slightly surprised.

"My mother has asked the master in Xianxiufang to make new clothes for me. I'm afraid I can get them in a few days. The kindness of the third sister is appreciated by the seventh sister." The seventh lady smiled sincerely, "Tomorrow, I will invite you to the school. Third sister, take care of me."

The third lady was a little at a loss, the fourth aunt glanced at her, and she smiled and withdrew her hand.

"Where is it, the family needs to be taken care of more." She glanced at Wu Niangzi nonchalantly, then bowed to the eldest wife, and then left the main room with Si Yiniang and Si Niangzi.Fifth Yiniang and Seventh Yiniang hurriedly followed suit and left the main room as if fleeing.

From the beginning to the end, Wu Niangzi didn't dare to raise her head.The eldest lady glanced at her and sighed.

Fortunately, Seventh Lady is sensible!Otherwise, wouldn't I lose all my face?If this matter is going to be passed on to Master Yang, he will be left behind again.

"Let's eat." She said wearily, "Li Chun sent Brother Jiu to wash his hands."

Lichun struggled to pick up Brother Nine and walked to the clean room. Second Lady and Fifth Lady also got up and followed Lichun, and Seventh Lady hurriedly followed behind them.

Brother Jiu blinked, but didn't make a sound, but twisted back and forth when Li Chun washed his hands, very restless.

The second lady frowned, and looked at Brother Jiu coldly, but Brother Jiu was a little afraid of him, so he calmed down.

After Brother Nine washed his hands, Lichun carried him out. Second Lady's maid, Qingming, went up to pour the remaining water, poured the hot water from the white tin kettle down the basin, and rolled up her sleeves for Second Lady.There was the sound of splashing water in the room.

"Yang Wu, look at the good things you did today." The second lady said to the fifth lady while washing her hands, "If you have the ability to cut Qimei's clothes, why don't you cut Yang Shan's? You have the ability to pick soft persimmons." .”

Her tone was heavy, and Seventh Lady couldn't help looking at Second Lady in surprise.The second lady looked cold and didn't care about her gaze.

Fifth Lady felt a little ashamed, she lowered her head and muttered, "I don't know that it's not my clothes."

"Why did eldest sister ever see you?" The second lady extended her hand to Qingming, Qingming took a white cloth and carefully wiped her tender hands. "Seventh sister entered the main courtyard, she is your own sister, if you make things difficult for her in the future, I will skin you carefully."

Although the fifth lady dared to smile playfully at the eldest wife, she seemed to be very afraid of the second sister, so she lowered her head and obediently agreed.

Gu Yu stepped forward to take over Qingming's errand, poured water, and asked Wu Niangzi to wash her hands.

Second Lady nodded meaningfully to Seventh Lady, and walked out of the clean room with Qingming.

Only Fifth Lady, Seventh Lady and Gu Yu were left in the room.

Wu Niangzi lowered her head and rubbed her hands vigorously, until her hands turned red, she said sullenly, "Yang Qi, be careful."

"I should be careful." Seventh Lady didn't think it was disobedient.

Talking to Qin Niangzi is like punching a cotton bag. If you like her, she is so soft, but if you hate her, she is still so soft.

Wu Niangzi had an unknown fire again, she stretched out her hand to Gu Yu to dry it off, snorted, and left with Gu Yu.

Both Bai Lu and Li Xia were busy tidying up the house in the West Side Courtyard. Seventh Lady smiled wryly, and lifted the white tin kettle, and picked it up easily.

There was no residual water in the jug. Come to think of it, in the past, only these three young masters and ladies were prepared to wash their hands, and there was only so much weight.

Qin Niangzi felt a little wronged for no reason.

She looked at the clear water rippling in the heavy silver lotus pot, and rolled up her sleeves hesitantly.

Suddenly there was the sound of hurried footsteps behind him.

Bai Lu stood at the door, her hair had been rolled up into two girl buns, different in size, but a bit playful, and she put on a new light green jacket and skirt, although she looked a little flustered, she could still be on the stage .

"I'll help Seventh Lady wash her hands." Bai Lu was still panting, holding a small brass kettle in her hand.

Qiniangzi's eye circles were a little hot, she lowered her head and hummed softly.

Bai Lu came out of the eldest wife's house, and she was very familiar with the rules of conduct in the eldest wife's house. She stepped forward to pour residual water, poured a basin of hot water, and picked up a piece of white cloth to wait.

Qin Niangzi put her hand into the water, felt the warm water flowing between her fingers, and suddenly felt emotional.

For the past few years, she and Jiu Yiniang have depended on each other for life, and after washing their hands, wipe them with a handkerchief, and it's over.

Who would have imagined that the old lady's house rules are so extravagant, these white cloths are thrown on the ground when they are used up, and they will not be used again.

This is the real rich.

Qiniangzi extended her hand to Bai Lu, Bailu wiped it carefully, and followed Qinianzi out of the clean room.

"The rest will be done by someone else." Bai Lu softly explained to Qin Niangzi.

Now that she is new here, she naturally wants to know more about the rules in the eldest wife's house.

Seventh Lady nodded, before she had time to say anything, she turned into the dining hall.

The eldest wife has a fixed place for her daily life, and the dining table is always placed in the west room of the main room. There is no other purpose here except for eating three meals a day. There are antique shelves on the four walls, and two small square tables. In the room, the eldest wife brought Brother Nine to a table, and Second Lady and Fifth Lady sat opposite each other.

"Seventh Sister is here." The eldest lady greeted with a smile, "Sit down until Fifth Sister can help."

Seventh Lady walked up to Fifth Lady and sat down, just in time to face Brother Nine, who made a face at her.Qin Niangzi couldn't bear to laugh, Jiu Ge felt a little bored, and turned his head to talk to Li Chun.

The smile on the eldest lady's face deepened.

Although the Yang family is one of the most wealthy families in the south of the Yangtze River, they have always been heirs of poems and books, and their behavior style is very different from that of the newly rich and upstart.Dinner is just eight dishes and two soups, but everything is cooked very delicately. Although the portion is not much, it is just right for three people.The kitchen is also thoughtful.

Both the second lady and the fifth lady put down their chopsticks after eating only half a bowl of rice, and the seventh lady only ate half a bowl, so she didn't dare to eat more.

In fact, she is growing up, and this half bowl of rice is just to fill her stomach, not necessarily full.

After eating, the tea was exchanged, and the three of them sat and sipped the tea quietly without saying a word.Even Brother Nine chews his food slowly and eats elegantly.

Qin Niangzi felt a little more relieved when she saw it: the eldest wife is still very careful in raising Brother Ninth.

After dinner, the three girls went back to the room together.

The Yang Mansion occupies a large area. After the girls are eight years old, they each live in the small embroidered buildings in Baifang Garden. He is the most favored and lives in the same room with the eldest wife.The second lady has already moved to a bamboo forest in the garden. The small building she lives in has a good name, Youhuangli.

It is more elegant than the Xiaoxiang Pavilion, Qiniangzi thought to herself.

The second lady was always reticent, so she just left the main room, and she helped Qingming to turn out of the hanging flower gate.Seventh Lady nodded to Fifth Lady, then turned and walked away.

Wu Niangzi made a big mistake today, and she must be suffocating in her heart. She doesn't have to say more to Wu Niangzi, if she talks too much, she will make more mistakes.

The west side courtyard has been tidied up very cleanly, and when entering the courtyard, you can see the faint lights in the main house, and the small side rooms on both sides are also lit, Seventh Lady stopped and asked Bai Lu, "How did you arrange it? "

Bai Lu remained calm, "The ladies go back to sleep on weekdays. The east side room has been made a clean room, and the south room has been vacated for two rooms. The four little maids sleep in it. When Li Xia and I are not on duty at night , and slept in the west ear room."

How to vacate two rooms from the overcrowded south room is Bai Lu's business. Qin Niangzi was pulled out after sitting in the west side courtyard for a long time.Li Xia is an inexperienced person again, and Bai Lu has settled things like this by herself, which shows that she is capable.

Seventh Lady nodded invisibly, and said, "You two should have your own room." Then she entered the main room with Bai Lu.

In the middle of the main room, there is a sour branch wood Eight Immortals table, two or three round stools are randomly placed beside the table, a small marble screen is placed on the table, and three or four candles stand on the candlesticks, the room is very bright.There are two antique racks in the corner of the room, on which there are scattered bottles and cans, and a couplet is hung on the empty wall in the middle of the racks: the ground is full of water when the moon comes, and the clouds rise and the mountains rise one day.

"Very elegant." Seventh Lady smiled and glanced at Bai Lu.

Bai Lu was stunned for a while before bowing her head in thanks.She didn't expect Seventh Lady to feel good about it.

Still underestimated Qin Niangzi, Bai Lu secretly blamed herself in her heart.

"Where did you get the couplets?" Seventh Lady asked as she walked to the back room.

"It was sent by the second lady." Bai Lu followed behind her, and said, "You just entered the main courtyard, and she sent someone to deliver it."

Seventh Lady has already entered the east room, which is her bedroom.

As soon as she entered the bedroom, she froze.

There was also a sour branch wood plum blossom table in the middle of the bedroom. On the table was a small plate of silver. The frosted silver ingots were neatly stacked, and they shone strangely under the candlelight.

(End of this chapter)