Chapter 186 Firecrackers (Part 2)
Eleventh Lady saw that it was still early to go to the lady's house for dinner, so she went to Dongqing's room.
Holly's house was still as clean and tidy as before, with needles and threads scattered in the sewing basket and several pairs of finished shoes piled on the kang table.
She was startled when she saw Eleventh Lady coming in.
"Madam, why are you here?" She hurriedly slipped off the kang and went to help Shiyi Niang. "If you need anything, just tell me."
Eleventh Lady sat on the kang, took the tea that Dongqing had brewed herself, looked at the finely embroidered women's shoes on the kang table, and said with some regret: "Dongqing, you make a pair of shoes every four days... It must be very boring to stay at home every day like this, right?"
"No!" Dongqing laughed, "Compared to before, I now eat and sleep every day, and when I'm free I do needlework to pass the time, living the life of a young lady. How can I feel bored!" Then she smiled and took out a bundle from the kang cabinet, "I made two dresses for you as a lady, do you like them?" As she said that, she opened the bundle, revealing rose-red and bright red brocade satin inside.
"Make something for me again." Eleventh Lady smiled and shook open her skirt.
Rose red is embroidered with stone blue mottled bamboo, and bright red is embroidered with green plum blossoms.
"They're all beautiful." She smiled, "I like the rose red one better."
Dong Qing accepted it with a smile and said: "The Madam is old and likes bright colors. You should also go with the flow sometimes." She spoke in a tone like an older sister.
Eleventh Lady smiled happily, remembering that Dong Qing had often reminded her of this in the past. She glanced at Lu Yun, motioned for them to leave, and started talking to Dong Qing in private.
"According to the date, your youngest sister should be married by now, right?"
Last time when the eldest master went back to Yuhang, Jiang Mama, who was with the eldest wife, accompanied him. Amber, Dongqing and others asked Jiang Mama to take letters back. When the eldest master came back, Jiang Mama also brought the soybean sauce made by Dongqing's mother. At that time, Shiyi Niang ate two big bowls of it with rice, and even Xu Lingyi said it was delicious. However, this sauce must be brewed before the winter solstice. If the date is missed, Dongqing, a good housewife, will be unable to cook without rice. Shiyi Niang had no choice but to keep all the sauce that was originally prepared to give away.
Dong Qing nodded: "She married into a good family." When Jiang's mother came back, she told her about the situation of each family. "My brother-in-law is an only child. His family owns more than 50 acres of fertile land and an oil press." She laughed and said, "In fact, it was all thanks to Madam... The family originally thought that our family was not well-off, but later they found out that I was working for Madam, so they agreed to the marriage."
Eleventh Lady smiled and nodded.
As long as they don't do anything wrong, she doesn't mind letting others use her name.
"Time flies. In the blink of an eye, you are already 21 years old."
Dongqing blushed when she heard this, lowered her head slightly, and rubbed the copper pin in her hand.
"I have always kept your matter in mind." Eleventh Lady lowered her voice as she looked at him, "Look, how is Wan Daxian?"
Dong Qing raised his head suddenly when he heard this, his face a little panicked: "What did Madam say... I don't understand!" Then he lowered his head again.
Eleventh Lady thought her expression was a little strange. It didn't look like the shyness she showed when someone mentioned her marriage, but a hint of fear mixed with shock.
She remembered that she had specially arranged for Dong Qing to go to Goldfish Lane so that she could see Wan Daxian with her own eyes. Could it be that she had made a mistake? Was there anything wrong with Wan Daxian?
"I think he's good-looking, and you're about the same age."
As Eleventh Lady spoke, she carefully observed her expression, "It's just that I don't have much family wealth. However, a good man does not eat his parents' food, and a good woman does not wear her wedding dress. I deliberately put him in the accounting office. With his personality, he will be able to stand on his own in three to five years. I don't know who is lucky enough to marry him..."
Dongqing's face turned pale and blue, and it was a bit unpredictable...
Eleventh Lady was already very sure that she was not very happy about this matter.
She sighed slightly and changed the subject: "When I was sick, it was all thanks to you and Binju who took care of me. We have a special bond. If you have any problems, just tell me. No matter what, I will always stand by you..."
Holly's expression showed a hint of shyness.
Or maybe someone has taken a fancy to him...
Eleventh Lady's heart was slightly moved, and she continued softly, "If you are embarrassed to tell me, it's the same to tell Amber or Binju."
Dongqing said nothing, but tilted her face slightly, her cheeks becoming even redder.
It’s just a pity for Eleventh Lady.
She thought Wan Daxian was a pretty good guy.
After saying a few more words, he stood up and went back to the house, calling Amber over: "Go and test Dongqing's mood and see what she is planning."
Amber smiled and poured her tea: "We have been wandering around in this small place, how can we compare with the vision of the madam. Of course I will listen to you."
"You can't say that." Eleventh Lady smiled, "If everything was conditional, there wouldn't be so many foolish men and resentful women in this world. I always hope to fulfill your wishes and make everyone happy." Amber's face turned red.
"I'll go check on Sister Dongqing tonight. She can't afford to delay any longer at her age. Otherwise, there will be more gossip in the mansion."
"Idle talk?" Eleventh Lady was stunned.
Amber stammered, "It's nothing! I just said that Sister Dongqing and Sister Binju are both old, why haven't they found a partner yet? I just said that there is no one suitable."
"Did anyone ask you?"
Amber nodded: "Mother Stone beside the Fifth Madam."
"There really is no suitable person." Eleventh Lady sighed, "I always feel that no one is worthy of you."
"What's worthy and what's not?" Xu Lingyi's voice was heard in the room without warning.
Amber hurriedly helped Shiyi Niang off the kang, while Xu Lingyi stared at the newly hung turmeric-colored fine hemp cloth tent: "It's been tidied up so quickly."
Eleventh Lady and Amber bowed to him, and as they asked him to sit on the kang, they said with a smile, "The Marquis has spoken, who dares to neglect him?" Then they personally brought the tea that the maid had brought to him.
Xu Lingyi continued what he had just said: "What are you talking about?"
Amber listened and retreated with shame on her face.
Xu Lingyi looked strange.
Eleventh Lady smiled and said, "Just talking about Dongqing and Binju - they are both not young anymore, and they want to marry someone, but there is no suitable one."
Xu Lingyi nodded and said nonchalantly, "Why don't we just tell Manager Bai? There should be someone of the same age and good character in the family."
If only marriage were that simple!
Eleventh Lady was really afraid that he would be interested in interfering and marrying the two of them casually. She smiled and changed the subject: "It's a rare opportunity for the Marquis to come early today. Why not call Brother Yu and Sister Zhen to come to my place earlier."
Xu Lingyi thought for a moment and said, "Alright, I'll go there early so I can talk to my mother about Zhen Jie'er going to Xishan."
Eleventh Lady asked the maid to pass on the message, and then sat down with Xu Lingyi to chat about some family matters. After Xu Siyu and Zhen Jie'er came over, they went to the lady's place together.
The lady was very happy to see that they had arrived early. After Zhuge paid his respects to Xu Lingyi and Shiyi Niang, he pulled them aside to talk: "...Xiaowu brought back a few big firecrackers like this," he said, gesturing with his hands, "to be set off in front of the ancestral hall during the New Year's Eve ancestral worship..."
Eleventh Lady thought that Xu Lingyi would talk to the Taifu later about Zhen Jie'er. It would be inconvenient for the mother and son to talk if she was here. She winked at Xu Siyu and Zhen Jie'er and took the opportunity to hold Zhe Ge's hand: "Mother, I will take Zhe Ge to the hall to play shuttlecock." The Taifu smiled and nodded: "Go! Go!" The look in her eyes was kind and doting. Xu Siyu and Zhen Jie'er also said they wanted to go, so Eleventh Lady led the three children out.
"After all, they are blood relatives." The lady smiled as she looked at the swaying curtains. "Brother Zhe was so shy, but in just three or four months, he is already talking and laughing with Shiyi Niang."
Xu Lingyi was stunned when he heard this.
I don’t seem to be the kind of person who is easy to get close to, but after three or four months, I seem to have gotten used to having Shiyi Niang around me... and I never get tired of teasing her...
Thinking of this, he responded "yes" somewhat unnaturally.
The lady looked at his absent-minded expression, then looked at the curtain that was already hanging quietly, and smiled.
Eleventh Lady led her three children to the hall and gathered around to watch Brother Zhen play shuttlecock.
Brother Zhe was very happy and performed in different ways.
Could it be that he was called out just to watch his brother play shuttlecock? Xu Siyu was very confused.
Sister Zhen was a little worried.
I don't know what my father will say to my grandmother. If my grandmother knows that it was my stepmother who spoke for me, will she blame her? Seeing how lively the house was at that time, I was only concerned about my second aunt, but I didn't consider my stepmother's position... My smile became a little forced.
Sensing that his brother and sister were acting strangely, the older brother stopped and looked at them in confusion, tilting his head and looking at them strangely: "What's wrong with you? Did I play badly?"
When they heard Brother Zhe asking them, there was still some confusion in their eyes.
Shiyi Niang hurried forward and touched Zhege's head, smiling and comforting him: "No, no. We were all surprised to see that you are so good at kicking the shuttlecock."
"Really!" Brother Zhe's smile immediately brightened.
"Yes!" Shiyi Niang smiled and pulled his hand. "You've been playing for such a long time, are you tired? Otherwise, let's go to the east room to rest and play again later."
"I'm not tired." Brother Zhe said with a smile, "I want to keep playing." He looked eager to show off.
Seeing that his face was red and there was no sweat on his forehead, Shiyi Niang knew that he was really not tired. She let go of him and stood aside with a smile.
After hearing this, Brother Zhe nodded repeatedly and kicked the shuttlecock even harder.
There was a crackling of applause.
Everyone looked in the direction of the sound in surprise, and saw Fifth Master Xu Lingkuan and Third Master Xu Sijian standing at the curtain and applauding.
"Brother Zhe, I didn't expect you to be so good at shuttlecock!" Fifth Master's tone was sincere, and one could tell it came from the heart.
Brother Zhuan smiled and ran towards Uncle Wu: "Uncle Wu, Uncle Wu, have you set off the big firecrackers?"
The Fifth Master picked up Brother Zhe, pinched his little nose, then put him down and greeted Eleventh Lady.
Eleventh Lady returned the gift and greeted him with a smile: "Fifth Master went to buy firecrackers today."
The Fifth Master said politely, "Yes. I just went with Brother Zhao to put all the firecrackers in the warehouse... to prevent the servants from accidentally lighting them and causing trouble."
Eleventh Lady smiled and nodded, explaining her whereabouts to him: "The Marquis is talking to you in the inner room."
As a result, Fifth Master couldn't go in either, so he stood with Eleventh Lady on the east and west sides. Xu Siyu and Zhen Jie'er came forward to pay their respects to him, and Xu Sijian also came forward to pay his respects to Eleventh Lady, then pulled Xu Siyu aside to ask, "Second brother, has he seen my eldest brother? I went with Fifth Uncle to buy firecrackers early this morning, and when I came back, I didn't see any trace of him. My eldest brother's two personal servants are missing, and mother and Qiu Ling are not in the room either. I asked other people, but they all said they didn't know..."
Xu Siyu smiled with a hint of joking, "Oh, in the afternoon, the Duke Zhongqin's residence came to deliver New Year gifts. The mothers came in to greet Grandmother and mentioned that their eldest daughter had been offering sacrifices to the goddess of smallpox these days. Third aunt was very worried and took eldest brother back to her parents' home. I don't know if he will stay at the Duke Zhongqin's residence for dinner!"