Grandma Yuan Er picked up a butterfly in a dream

Summer was in full swing, and ice was being used more and more frequently in each room.

The icehouse was frozen solid, clear and transparent, like a thick mirror reflecting the entire room. Just step inside, and you'd instantly appear both large and small, a miniature version of a strange creature. Servants would often accompany them, inevitably engaging in playful banter. That was their kind of amusement—creating amusement from the mundane. The wealthy, on the other hand, were also happy to laugh, but in public, they always wore a stern face, sarcastically remarking, "Just the amusement of the mundane," to demonstrate their worldly knowledge.

Grandma Yuan was an early riser, and the servants in her room had already prepared water for her to wash and dress, and were already waiting outside the door.

She turned over and tried to get up, but the third young master grabbed the corner of her clothes; he was still sleepy.

"What time is it?"

"It's still a while before 9 AM."

Upon hearing that it was so early, he turned the noodles over again.

The Yuan family's ancestral home was larger than the Bu family's, but its exterior and interior were slightly less tasteful.

As Third Grandma passed by the house, she glimpsed an oil lamp burning in the second bedroom. A sliver of light shone faintly through the paper window, and she could vaguely see a shadow sitting at a round table, tapping his body occasionally as if in a dream.

I was surprised that Second Grandmother had gotten up so early today.

The Bu family's matter has finally been settled, and today they sent people to each household to deliver gifts and express their gratitude. They arrived at the Yuan residence early this morning.

Old Mrs. Yuan died more than ten years ago, and Mr. Yuan has been indulging in opium all his days. Now quite old, he is even less interested in family matters. He spends all his time on his opium couch, never moving an inch. A few years ago, he frequented the theater and became infatuated with a young man who played female roles, taking him in as his concubine and raising him at home. That young actor, swaying and babbling, would drift around the theater all day, his body so thin it seemed a gust of wind could fold him in two.

Young Master Yuan angrily said that he was such a heavy smoker that he was so muddle-headed that he would bring men into his home, as if he wanted to put the Yuan family on a pedestal for people to laugh at.

Of the three young masters of the Yuan family, only the eldest is truly capable of managing the family business. The second young master died of illness a few years ago, leaving behind his two young children and wife to live a lonely life. The third young master is refined and gentle, but has a very stubborn temper. He spends his days reading books and newspapers and would never concern himself with family matters.

As a result, the eldest son was very powerful in the mansion. Although the eldest mistress was the youngest, she acted like a lady of the house, and every day she would have her two younger sisters-in-law, the second mistress and the third mistress, come to her room to greet her.

That day, the Bu family sent someone to deliver gifts. The Third Madam happened to pass by the door and asked the servant boy how he was doing.

The answer was straightforward: they came from the Bu family.

Because the eldest son was the head of the household, all matters of etiquette and social standing had to be discussed with him. Even if the master of the house spoke to him, it would be a mere formality, as he was unwilling to pay attention to outside affairs and was only interested in watching the young actors' performances while puffing on his pipe. Some relatives secretly laughed at him for losing his dignity as an elder.

In the past, faint moans would occasionally drift from his room, reaching the ears of gossipy people, who would then let outsiders know. Young Master Yuan was teased by his peers, who said, "Your third aunt is probably going to give you a little brother." Being young, he became furious upon hearing this, and it took a long time for the group to calm him down. Afterwards, no one was allowed to mention it again, and they assumed the actress was dead.

The couple had already dressed themselves while waiting for the gifts to be delivered to the young master's door. The eldest mistress sat leaning against the dressing table, having her dowry maid, Liu Zhu, comb her hair. She raised her eyes slightly, caught her husband's gaze in the bronze mirror, and then asked, "What did the Bu family send?"

"It's just a showy thing; the exterior is decorated lavishly enough."

Grandma Yuan chuckled twice, dusted some powder on her face with her nail polished hands, and reached for the square porcelain rouge box with its small base. She continued, "The Bu family is nothing but a show-off. We only asked them to help Bai Ning get a government job, and now they're making all sorts of excuses. What a hypocrite!" Yuan Bai Ning was Grandma Yuan's son. He had returned from studying abroad a few years ago, and his family wanted to find him a job in the government. They had originally asked the Bu family for help, but Grandma Bu, though elderly, was still incredibly shrewd. After several rounds of running around, they still hadn't given in, and Grandma Yuan had a very negative opinion of them.

After getting dressed, Young Master Yuan sat down at the table to drink tea. The porcelain blue teacup with its rounded rim was covered with a thin layer of transparent steam from the boiling water, and a few tea leaves floated in the cup, swirling around a few times before settling peacefully in the center.

The maidservant of Second Madam Yuan went over early in the morning and saw the shadow reflected in the paper window of the bedroom. She assumed that her mistress had already gotten up, so she knocked on the door a few times and said, "Second Madam, I'm coming in."

Pushing open the door, I saw the second grandmother dozing off at the table, her head propped up on her hand, as if dreaming of something, a faint smile playing on her lips.

When she finally woke up, she stretched her sore arm and asked, "Konoha, has Grandma woken up?"

"They said he's awake, so it would be perfect for Second Grandmother to go over now."

After washing up, she waited at the door. Third Grandmother was a little earlier than her, and the two sisters-in-law smiled at each other.

Third Grandmother said, "Second Sister-in-law looks so energetic, she must have slept very well."

Yi Ling smiled, just as the eldest mistress's maid opened the door. The eldest young master came out first, and the two bowed slightly, greeted each other, and went inside.

Grandma sat at the table drinking tea, while the person massaging her legs squatted down beside her and massaged them.

At this moment, he looked up and saw his two sisters-in-law, and smiled slightly. Seeing Yiling's rosy complexion, he said...

"Second Madam looks very rosy-cheeked today, could it be that she's had some good fortune?"

Yi Ling quickly straightened her expression: "I'm sorry to have made you laugh, sister-in-law. I caught a chill last night, and I probably have a fever."

After returning to my room early for dinner, I took a bite and a strange, sweet feeling began to spread through my heart, regardless of what I was thinking.

After taking a few bites, he became increasingly puzzled and called out, "Konoha, go and get my needlework."

She was such a skilled embroiderer, but today she felt her hands were becoming even more dexterous. She couldn't help but keep embroidering, and halfway through, she stopped and looked down. It turned out to be a butterfly made of blue silk thread mixed with black and outlined with gold.

Ah! Butterfly

Startled, her hand trembled a few times, and the needle she was holding pricked her finger, drawing out a fresh, red drop of blood that landed on the embroidered butterfly.

The butterfly, then, seemed to come alive with vibrant color.

Ah! She clearly dreamt about it last night.

She dreamed of a field of flowers, all kinds of colors and styles, some gentle and pretty, each one blooming distinctly.

Just as I was looking around, a butterfly flew out from a deep place. Its body was shimmering, a clear mineral blue with fine black spots, and its outer body was wrapped in a ring of gold lines. When the light shone on it, it seemed as if it had stepped into a halo in the air, flying so leisurely and peacefully.

Looking at the lifelike butterfly, she felt as if tears were welling up in her eyes.

But then a slight smile appeared on his lips, revealing a contented expression.

He held the shovel in his hand repeatedly, longing for it to truly come to life.