Daiyu of the Red Chamber

Chapter 22 Receiving Gifts and Returning Gifts [-]
On the second day, it was Daiyu's seventh birthday during the Huachao Festival. Jia Lian and Daiyu came to the upper room early to say hello as usual, and had breakfast with Jia Min, Lin Ruhai and his wife.Today's breakfast is not as rich as in the past, there are no snacks, only a bowl of chicken soup and noodles for each person.Inside is a round boiled egg, three or two stalks of fresh green vegetables, finely shredded chicken, and sprinkled with freshly picked green onions.As soon as Daiyu entered the house, she could smell the umami of chicken soup and the fragrance of green onion.

When Lin Ruhai sat down, everyone also sat down one by one.Lin Ruhai lowered his head and took a sip of the noodles before looking up at Daiyu and smiling, "Taste it quickly, your mother got up at Yinshi to prepare the birthday noodles for you. I can't let you down." Daiyu's face was full of gratitude when she heard it, Eye sockets were slightly red, and there was a little sparkle in an instant. He quickly looked up at Jia Min and said, "Thank you mother, it is Yu'er who is not filial for making mother work hard." Seeing that Daiyu was moved, Jia Min smiled and said, "What do you mean? The most filial child! As long as I, Yu'er, is doing well, being a mother will not feel hard at all." As he spoke, he stretched out his hand to smooth the strands of hair on Daiyu's shoulders.

Seeing Jia Min and Daiyu's warmth, Jia Lian felt sore when he looked at the noodles in the bowl.Although Jia Min made longevity noodles for himself when he turned fourteen last year, several of them ate together.But I have to admit that Jia Lian was jealous of Daiyu during the more than a year of getting along. Jia Min was gentle and loving, always thinking of Daiyu, and never forgot even if he ate a bite. This reminded Jia Lian of his biological mother. I can't remember what it looks like now.Daiyu also had a father as refined as Lin Ruhai, and a gentleman as knowledgeable as Huang Jiyun, and herself... the more Jia Lian thought about it, the sadder he felt, and his eyes got wet before he knew it.Only Jia Lian buried his head very low, but no one noticed Jia Lian's strangeness.

I only heard Jia Min say: "Taste it, Yu'er, and see if it suits your taste." Daiyu lowered her head and took a mouthful, holding back tears with red eyes, then raised her head and smiled and said, "It's delicious! What my mother made is the best in the world. The best food, no one else can compare to it.” Seeing that Daiyu still had tears in her eyes, Jia Min joked with a smile: “People often say that you don’t practice hands for three days, not to mention that you only do it three or four times a year for your mother. Is it comparable to what other people often make? It can be seen that Yu'er is making me happy." After speaking, she nodded Daiyu's smooth forehead.When Daiyu heard this, she became anxious, and quickly said: "Really, no matter how good others do, in Yu'er's heart, it is not as good as what her mother did!" Seeing Daiyu's seriousness, Jia Min felt soft , then changed the topic, prepared a gift for you, and went to see it after eating.At this time, Lin Ruhai had finished eating, and said, "I have a gift for you as a father, and I will send it to you later." After speaking, he stood up, turned his head and said kindly to Jia Lian: "Lian'er is tired. It's been a few days, so let's take a good rest today. Tomorrow I'm studying, and combining work and rest is the right way." Jia Lian immediately stood up and responded respectfully.Jia Min had already gone to get Lin Ruhai a soft quilt with bamboo knots, and when he saw Lin Ruhai walking to the door, he carefully put it on outside the official robe for him.Daiyu and Jia Lian also followed and sent Lin Ruhai out together, just like many mornings in the past.Lin Ruhai smiled and said to the three of them: "Go back and eat quickly, don't let it cool down and it won't taste good." After speaking, he looked at Jia Min and Daiyu's eyes full of softness, and then at Jia Lian who looked admiringly, he couldn't help but sigh again in his heart. Isn't it his own son?Shaking his head and walking out.

Back to the table.Jia Lian also took out a red lacquered nanmu carved box inlaid with treasures in front of Jia Min, and handed it to Daiyu with the crimson longevity pattern brocade box, saying: "A little heart, please accept it, cousin." Daiyu Glancing at Jia Min, Jia Min smiled and said, "What good thing? It should open my eyes." Hearing what Jia Min said, Dai Yufang took the boxes and opened them one by one. Two golden juice dotted plum and bamboo leaf sticks, the calligraphy on them is Huang Jiyun's handwriting.There are round fans in another brocade box: a picture of Youlan and Xiaochun, a picture of a magpie on a branch, a picture of Furong on a dish opera, and a picture of red plum and Aoxue.Looking at it, it was painted by Jia Lian himself. Although the technique is jerky, it is not difficult to see that he has put his heart into it.Then he said with a smile, "It can be seen that my brother loves me, and he knows that I like these things." After speaking, he smiled at Jia Min and said, "It's nothing more than my own brother." Can not help but love a little more.Jia Min was also very happy to see Daiyu's closeness with her natal nephew.

After dinner, Jia Lian said goodbye and left. Daiyu chatted and laughed with Jia Min for a while, then walked around the garden, supported Jia Min's hand and went back to the upper room.Seeing that Jia Min was a little tired, he got up when he thought of Jia Minyin, so he didn't stay any longer and went back to his yard.

Jin'er and others also presented their own gifts, although they were nothing more than purses, shoe uppers, handkerchiefs, sweat towels and other items, but they were all made very exquisitely, especially the bluegrass handkerchief embroidered with a smile, each orchid leaf All come alive.Zhixuan had the most ingenious thoughts, and embroidered a SpongeBob SquarePants pouch according to Daiyu's cushion, which looked cute too.

After a while, Nanny Sun came to report to Princess Wujun to send her a birthday gift, and his wife let her go.Daiyu was startled.He hurriedly went to Jia Min's Xiaohua Hall to meet the person who came, it was the servant girl next to Princess Wujun, I don't know what it was called, but I saw it yesterday.Seeing Daiyu coming, Jia Min said with a smile: "The one who gave you the gift, you can look at it yourself." After speaking, he put the gift list in Daiyu's hand, turned around and went out.Daiyu glanced at the gift list hastily, before she sat down on the high chair on the west side.

When the visitor saw Daiyu, he bowed deeply and said: "My servant Yunque has seen Miss Lin, and I wish Miss Lin a long life. Knowing that today is the girl's birthday, the princess sent a servant to send her a birthday gift. The gift list is The concubine saw it in person. The items were chosen by the county magistrate herself, and I hope the girl likes them." After hearing this, Daiyu smiled and said, "What a coincidence. No wonder the concubine sent you here, so it will last forever? Nothing has changed. Become a monster." As he spoke, he covered his mouth and laughed first.After reading the gift list again, he said: "You go back and report to the princess, just say that Yu'er is grateful for the concern of the princess and is more grateful for the kindness of the princess, and sister Xie Wan for taking care of her. If I get a good tea recipe later, it will definitely be I can't forget the princess. And Sister Wan, remember to come and play with me if you have time." After speaking, I heard Yunque say: "Unfortunately, the prince has already set a fifteen-day departure, and I am afraid that the county owner will not come here free. But please Don't worry, girl, when the maidservant returns, she will definitely report the girl's original words to the concubine and county master." Daiyu nodded after hearing this and was given a first-class seal to let her go back.

Just as the girl on this side left, Zhixuan on the other side ran in again and said, "Young lady, go back quickly, the master sent someone to give you a present. I don't know what it is, but it's packed in a nanmu box." She happily said to Nanny Sun: "Since mother asked me to come and deal with it, I can't lose my courtesy. Nanny first finds two people to move all the presents to my room. I'll take a closer look before making any plans. You have to think carefully about how to return the gift." Nanny Sun nodded and left after hearing this.

As soon as Daiyu returned to the room and sat down, she saw Hanxiao leading two rough envoys into the room carrying a small nanmu box.Knowing that this was a gift from someone sent by Lin Ruhai, Daiyu hurriedly stepped forward to open it happily, and it was even more beautiful.Daiyu didn't care much about Baojin Zhaifatie, but her collection was pretty good. Zhou Fang's "Picture of Lady with Hairpin Flowers" was Daiyu's favourite. Own.I am so happy that I can't see my eyebrows.Even Jin'er and the others next to her were all smiling when they saw Daiyu happy like this.

Daiyu hurriedly ordered people to bring all the presents to her. What Jia Min sent was a set of red gold and pearl inlaid heads, which was not complicated. It was just a red gold peony Huasheng, with large and small pearls as stamens, and the petals were delicate and textured. Ye Tuo's hollow design is very delicate, but Daiyu is useless, she is still wearing a double bun.Two red gold butterfly hairpins, with several small but round rice beads embedded in the wings of the butterfly.If it is inserted on the head, it will be beautiful when the wings are flapping when you move around.A red gold necklace with nine pearls pendant on the forehead, the chain is very thin and the middle pearl is the size of a thumb.A half-opened peony with golden steps, and a pair of golden bracelets engraved with rich flowers and pearls.Pair of upside down peony and pearl earrings.It was a very neat set, and Daiyu looked at it again and again before asking Jin'er to put it away carefully for her.There is also a pink-gold leather silk double-breasted shirt, embroidered with peonies and a wide border with a gold background, and two or three tiny pearls are nailed to each peony stamen on the border of the cuffs.It looks gorgeous and exquisite, and I don't know how much Jia Min's thoughts have been abolished.Daiyu couldn't help being moved again when she saw it, and remembered that her mother often made new clothes for herself in the same way in her previous life, sweaters in winter and dresses in summer, even if she was busy at work, she would stay up late to prepare them for herself.There was another sourness in my heart.Daiyu hugged the clothes in her arms for a long time before she asked Jin'er to carefully box them and put them in the box, waiting to wear them for the banquet on March [-]rd.

Then he opened the gift box from Princess Wujun, which contained a string of east beads and a string of south beads. Daiyu already knew this from the gift list, and also knew that there were twelve bolts of brocade in various colors. Daiyu asked Jin'er to collect them carefully. After entering the storeroom and locking it up, it was a pair of Shoushan colored stones and a pair of Changhua chicken blood stones as gifts from Wanyu. Daiyu felt very happy, and the chicken blood stones could just engrave a seal for Jia Min and Lin Ruhai.The Shoushan colored stones are full and magnificent in color, so Daiyu decided to engrave a seal for herself and Wanyu as well.Daiyu also likes the octagonal glazed palace lantern, which reminds me of Baoyu's glass hydrangea lantern in the original book.So she ordered Zhixuan to hang the palace lantern in her room, which was much brighter than a candlestick.The three-legged jade smoker made Daiyu ponder for a long time, because it looked very familiar, but she still couldn't remember where she had seen it before. The jade smoker was hollowed out from a whole piece of material, and the carved phoenix flower ornaments were complicated and gorgeous, very exquisite. Especially the three phoenix tails intersecting on the top of Yuxun, which is not only thin, but also has a hollow design, which is very rare.Daiyu thought about it for a long time but didn't remember why the eyes were familiar, so she put it down and didn't mention it.Then let Hanxiao take it by herself and put it at the end of her bed.I also saw that the prince gave a set of jade stem lake pens with carved plum blossoms and twigs. The carving is extremely delicate, so it can be seen that they are good things.Mo Xuan also gave a set of Longquan Ge Kiln celadon teacups, the color is like emerald jade, the glaze layer is crystal clear, like jade like ice, the glaze surface reveals patterns like ice cracks, Daiyu knows that it is a piece of rubbish, it is very rare and delicate Good stuff, very happy in my heart.Thinking that the concubine sent someone to Jia Min to see it too, so she accepted it calmly as it could not be regarded as a private gift.

But I don't know, when Wanyu went back yesterday, she hurriedly went to the room with the concubine, and asked someone to invite Mo Xuan over, saying that the concubine had something to do with him.Since Wanyu was seven years old, this matter has been done for a long time, and the princess didn't say much, just shook her head and smiled and ignored it.

After a while Mo Xuan rushed over, unexpectedly Hong Jin also followed, but Wan Yu ignored Hong Jin also followed and said to Mo Xuan: "Didn't my cousin say that I couldn't apologize for hurting my sister Lin back then?" ? Now I have a chance." The princess didn't expect that Wan Yu came here for the girl of the Lin family, she frowned slightly, and then she let go.The confused Mo Xuan said: "Didn't you apologize to Miss Lin today?" The princess frowned and asked in a low voice, "When did you meet Miss Lin?" Seeing this, Hong Jin was afraid that the princess would misunderstand , Fang carefully recounted the accidental encounter in the garden today, and praised Daiyu's tea ceremony skills, and the princess frowned again after hearing this.

Wan Yu ignored this, and said: "Tomorrow is Sister Lin's birthday, cousin should pack up a gift carefully. It is both an apology and a birthday celebration, cousin can't be stingy!" Mo Xuan listened He just lowered his head and smiled, and then he agreed, Hong Jin didn't know what to say: "Since that's the case, I'll take the gift with me. Brother Shan Xuan will send the gift, so don't be rude, Miss Lin." The princess nodded and said: " It should be so. I will take a copy too, and I will send someone to send it in my name tomorrow." Wanyu was happy when she heard it, and quickly took the princess's arm and shook it vigorously: "Mother and concubine wants to take a copy. Li, why don't you pick out one of the Su brocade you got in Beijing this time and send it to Sister Lin, Sister Lin will be happy." Seeing her pretending to eat like this, the princess smiled and said: "It can be seen that you are I like your little sister Lin very much, and all your ideas have come to me, why don't you see me so caring about me?" Wan Yu also said coquettishly: "My daughter doesn't care about my concubine mother? Didn't you suggest to my mother early in the morning? Did the imperial concubine accept younger sister Lin as her adoptive daughter? Yes, the daughters all want to go to our house? But the concubine mother doesn't want to, so I blame the daughter." After finishing speaking, she pouted and looked sideways at the princess The princess smiled when she saw her appearance like this.

Then Hong Jin took out the jade-carving Meihu brush and made Wan Yu jealous for a while, and complained: "Yu'er begged for this for a long time, but my brother never gave it to me. Now I am willing." Mo Xuan also came in, holding a brocade box in his arms, with a bit of reluctance on his face, Wan Yu changed her mind and smiled when she saw it: "What good thing is my cousin holding? Since you brought it here, don't Thinking about taking it back again, this is your apology and birthday celebration for my sister Lin, if it’s not good, I won’t accept it.” After speaking, Hong Jin raised her eyebrows and looked over, only to see Wan Yu running over to snatch the box, don’t worry. Xuan hurriedly said: "Slow down, don't drop it on the ground." It can be seen that it is a very beloved thing, so he also laughed, and was about to say something when he saw that Wan Yu had already opened the brocade box, and inside it was a set of ice and jade The tea set, hurriedly walked over to take a closer look, and was sure that it was the set that Mo Xuan loved so much that he had begged for it twice but was never willing to give up.He couldn't help raising his eyebrows and squinting at Mo Xuan, only to see that Mo Xuan's eyes were still staring at the tea set, his eyes were full of entanglements of reluctance and reluctance.In the end, she closed her eyes and said to Wan Yu, "This is a good thing. Miss Lin is also a tea lover, so I think I won't disappoint this set of good things." After speaking, she turned around and strode away. As if he would regret it if he walked slower, Hong Jin laughed out loud.

Daiyu got a good thing from the eldest son and Mo Xuan, so it's hard to be too stingy.Knowing that the prince admired his master very much, he personally went to find two sets of new books annotated by Huang Jiyun, and a duan inkstone carved with magpies on plum blossoms, as a gift for the prince; The leaf lotus pen hangs and the carp pen holder carved with white marble is Daiyu's own extremely beloved thing and used it as a gift from Mo Xuan.He also picked seven figurines made of spun yarn for Wanyu. The seven figurines wore seven-color trousers and seven-color vests.In fact, Daiyu originally wanted to be the Seven Dwarfs and Snow White, but she didn't do it because it was too much trouble after thinking about it.This became the seven gourd babies.I also wrote the stories of seven gourd babies and seven little people in a brocade box with my own handwriting, and wrote a note to tell Wanyu how to water it, there will be surprises.In fact, there are only some millet inside...but the shape is very delicate and lovely.The eyebrows and eyes are very delicately embroidered, and this was made by Hanxiao and Heather Linglan according to the picture she drew last night.Originally, it was intended to be given to Wanyu when she left, but it happened to come in handy today.

Only the concubine's return gift Daiyu thought for a long time, and finally chose a "handbag" made for Jia Min that was of no use.The face and base are made of rose red leather silk, and the opening is made of layers of lotus leaves drawn from the thin edges of rose red yarn rolled in silver red yarn, and the opening is drawn with ribbons. It looks like a blooming peony flower. Small, but no one has seen this thing at this time.It's not bad to give it to the princess, but it's a new trick.Besides, is there anything good for the princess?There is no need to fall into the cliché.After tidying up, they packed boxes separately, pasted signs, and sent them to Jia Min's room, waiting for Jia Min to send them over when he was free.

But here Jia Lian took Zhao'er and Xing'er out early in the morning.It was the first time for Jia Lian to go out for a stroll in Yangzhou city for half a month. Although they are all water towns, they are different from Gusu’s rich literary style and can be seen everywhere. Yangzhou faces the surging Yangtze River in the south and the quiet Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal in the east. It is also a good place with profound ancient rhymes and pleasant scenery, and there is even a Taibai poem that says: "Fireworks go down to Yangzhou in March." Although it is not March, the beauty of Yanliu Qionghua can be seen everywhere.

Jia Lian went all the way along the street to Xiaodongmen, intending to take a walk outside the city.Passed by a lacquerware shop and walked in.Seeing Jia Lian's gorgeous clothes, the waiter in the shop knew that he was either rich or expensive, so he didn't say a word to disturb him, but followed him with a flattering face.Jia Lian went around and found that many things were very delicate, so he thought about buying some for Jia Min and Daiyu.Since he wanted to give Jia Min, the aunt who treated him like a mother and Daiyu who treated him like a brother, Jia Lian wanted the best.It just so happened that Xiaoer saw that Jia Lian had already seen it all, and he seemed to like something in his expression, so he went to the side and wiped the chair with his sleeve and said, "Sit here, sir. If you see something, just tell Xiaoer." Yes, bring me the small ones for you to take a closer look." Jia Lian didn't refuse, walked over and sat down and said, "Bring me all the most exquisite things in your shop and let me have a look." Hearing what Jia Lian said, the shopkeeper knew that he was a big customer, so he didn't hesitate. Hastily walked over and said: "This young master wants to find some exquisite ones. I don't know if there is any particularity. Our century-old brand has absolutely no problem with craftsmanship. I just don't know if this young master wants to use it for himself or give it away." Jia Lian thought for a while and thought: "It's not a gift. Our family just arrived in Yangzhou, and we just want to find some playthings for our mother and younger sister. You just take out the best." When the shopkeeper heard this, he felt even more worried. Happy, he hurriedly said to Xiaoer: "Go and carry out the six-panel screen painted with red and carved lacquer in Curry, and take out the screen with gold snails and fine hibiscus on the black background." After speaking, he said to Jia Lian: "Xiao Sit down for a while, I'll come as soon as I go." Then he said to another waiter: "How about tea soon?" After speaking, he turned and went into the back hall.

After a while, a six-panel red and carved lacquer screen was carried to Jia Lian.Uncovering the silk cloth on it, one can see that the continuous green lotus and red lotus on the red screen are very delicate and eye-catching.The screen frame is carved with red carved lacquer with the same color as the wishful pattern of the ten thousand characters.When Jia Lian saw it, she couldn't help nodding her head and was very happy. She knew that Daiyu loved lotus the most, and she must like it when she saw it.Seeing another fan-shaped screen with ebony carved auspicious cloud base, finely ground black surface, gold lines to trace hibiscus flowers, and colorful butterflies flying among them, Jia Lian liked it even more.He hurriedly asked the waiter in the shop to pack it up carefully and sent it to Xunyan Yushi's mansion. Jia Lian was afraid that someone would snatch it first.As soon as the waiter in the shop heard that he was visiting Yan Yushi's mansion, he quickly nodded in response.

Just at this time, the shopkeeper turned around, still holding two boxes in his hand, followed by two waiters who were also holding two or three different boxes.Hearing Jia Lian's talk about inspecting Yan Yushi's mansion, he knew that it was the home of the new master Lin.Busyly told Xiao Er to be careful not to mention it, and then opened the boxes just carried out one by one, picking red carved lacquer garden Fu leisure picture big round box, picking red Sanskrit lotus leaf plate, picking red double-layered peony and pomegranate plate, picking red carved bamboo printing box , black lacquer inlaid shells and snails with fine flowers blooming rich and precious treasure chests, colorful dowry with pictures of ladies, black lacquer painted four gentlemen tea cushions... There are a dozen of them all exquisite, and Jia Lian was overjoyed.He couldn't stop saying: "Wrap this up." "Wrap this up too"... After a while, a dozen or so pieces were wrapped.Jia Lian chose miscellaneous ones in the store again, and after finishing the calculation, he trimmed the head and tail to 980 taels.During the Chinese New Year, Jia She was temporarily happy because Jia Lian had passed the Tongsheng exam, and he also considered that he was only rewarded with 1000 taels when he was out alone.Let the store send all the things directly to Xunyan Yushi's Mansion, and let Zhao'er follow.Jia Lian continued to wander around with Xing'er, but this time he didn't dare to go into any shops anymore, and went all the way out of the city.

(End of this chapter)