Chapter 143 Drill
After listening for a while, Lin Yuesha realized that the ghost the two old women were talking about was the girl she and the pockmarked-faced man had rescued the night before.
The girl didn't wait for them to take her away; instead, she left the house, so she's most likely still alive.
Lin Yuesha smiled, keeping her good deeds hidden. She only wanted to keep a low profile and not seek any reward. Of course, if heaven could record her good deed and let her earn more money, that would be even better.
As instructed by Granny Xiao, Hongliu stayed in the courtyard to wait for someone. She was a good-natured person, and when she saw Lin Yuesha, she hurriedly invited her to sit down.
“Sister Hongliu, I am a clumsy person. I have learned needlework at home, but my hands are like sieves, full of holes, so I have no confidence.”
Women in ancient times were truly pitiful. Men were in charge of external affairs while women were in charge of internal affairs. Women not only had to bear children and do all the housework, but they also had to master skills to supplement the family income. Despite doing so much, they still had no social status.
Lin Yuesha was very resistant to learning needlework, but Granny Xiao was right. Women must master this skill, at least to make themselves presentable.
Moreover, the old monk said that if she were to marry a noble man in the future, and he turned out to be a man of exceptional talent and handsome appearance, she would really be reluctant to let her husband wear clothes made by other women.
"This is true for beginners. As long as you have patience, there is nothing you can't do."
Hongliu smiled slightly and explained the rules for learning needlework, which made Lin Yuesha's eyes sparkle.
"Hold out your hand and let me see it."
After Hongliu finished speaking, she took a ruler and tapped it on the table.
Lin Yuesha stretched out her hand tremblingly, feeling a little like crying. Don't underestimate the ruler just because it's a piece of wood; when it hits you, it really hurts.
Granny Xiao said that Hongliu had a good temper, which was true, but she was very demanding when it came to needlework.
Lin Yuesha dared not imagine how miserable the future would be, and she always had a premonition that she had fallen into a pit again.
"Your hands are fair, delicate, and smooth; they are indeed excellent material for needlework."
Hongliu was very satisfied. However, in winter, a woman's hands must not come into contact with cold water, otherwise they will crack and the fabric will be easily damaged when doing embroidery.
Northern women are less particular, while Southern women raise silkworms, weave cloth, and embroider, and their hands are carefully maintained and cared for.
Lin Yuesha twitched her lips. Her hands in her previous life looked alright, but they had calluses from many years of work that she couldn't get rid of.
As a chef, how can I compare myself to someone who lives a life of luxury?
When she transmigrated to Chenjia Village, her hands became smooth and fair because the original owner was extremely lazy and the Chen family doted on their daughter.
"Come on, these are all pieces of fabric that I cut up. From now on, you need to practice threading a needle and then sew all the fabric together."
After Hongliu finished speaking, she sat down and calmly drank her tea.
"Sister Hongliu, which needle should I use?"
A set of women's needlework, containing more than a dozen needles of different sizes, was taken by Lin Yuesha with trembling hands, and she asked.
"For the finest things, start by practicing threading the needle. There are no special skills involved; practice makes perfect."
Granny Xiao told her to practice for one or two hours every day, but Hongliu had observed that the little girl had no foundation at all, and two hours was not enough; she should at least double that.
Lin Yuesha looked at the hundreds of pieces of cloth, feeling like crying but unable to shed a tear.
What to do? Well, we'll just have to grit our teeth and get on with it!
By noon, Lin Yuesha was covered in sweat. Two hours had passed; could she go back now?
Actually, compared to learning needlework, serving Xuan Yao, even when faced with Xuan Yao's difficult behavior, wasn't so bad.
"Sister Hongliu, two hours have passed. Can I come back tomorrow?"
Lin Yuesha decided that from now on she would not listen to just one side of the story, and she would never believe someone she had never met before.
Red willows are good-natured and don't target needlework.
"How can that be?"
Hongliu looked at Lin Yuesha's stitching and thought, "With this level of skill, it would be good if she could become a master in a few months."
The early bird catches the worm; if you're slow and clumsy, you have to spend more time than others.
Lin Yuesha: "..." Stupidity was her way of being modest; she wouldn't admit to being stupid!
“There are red silk embroiderers in the small courtyards on the left and right, and we don’t need you, so you can stay here, have dinner, and then go back.”
Hongliu stayed indoors, keeping a close eye on Lin Yuesha.
Helpless, Lin Yuesha worked until dusk, when a maid from the manor brought her dinner, finally giving her a chance to catch her breath.
"You've only completed half of today's task. Tomorrow, come half an hour earlier."
Hongliu stood in the courtyard, watching Lin Yuesha leave, and said, "If you're not punctual, you'll have to add an extra hour of practice time."
Lin Yuesha staggered and ran away as if fleeing.
Back in Xuan Yao's courtyard, Lin Yuesha felt a sense of familiarity even with Hongtao, whom she disliked, and wished she could go up and give her a hug.
"Moonlight Maiden, you've been slacking off for way too long!"
Hongtao's eyes drooped. She used to go out for leisurely strolls every day, but now she stays in the yard, obediently doing laundry. These are chores that she shouldn't be doing.
Hongtao was overjoyed, especially after meeting the hardworking Hongchou and the easy-going Lin Yuesha, she took it all for granted.
"Sister Red Peach, I'd like to slack off. Could you and Sister Red Willow put in a good word for me?"
Lin Yuesha looked distressed. As long as she wasn't made to learn needlework, she was willing to take on all the chores herself.
Lin Yuesha stretched out her hand, and Hongtao immediately exclaimed in surprise.
All ten fingers were red and swollen, covered with red styes, a truly pitiful sight.
"Did you go to learn needlework or to be tortured?"
Lin Yuesha's life was not easy, and Hongtao strangely felt a little sympathy for her.
"I'm not cut out for this!"
Lin Yuesha is very distressed. Her hands are stiff when she takes off her clothes, and her joints can't move.
Fortunately, Hongliu gave her some ointment to apply at night, and she could continue training after the swelling subsided the next day.
"Now that you've fallen into Sister Red Willow's hands, good luck to you."
Hongtao looked at Lin Yuesha with sympathy, patted her shoulder, and said considerately, "There isn't much work in our courtyard, Hongchou and I can handle it."
Lin Yuesha was speechless. She had promised to plead for her, but Hongtao had switched sides so quickly!
"How are you, young lady?"
Seeing that the oil lamp was lit in the main room, Lin Yuesha figured that Xuan Yao should be awake.
"She's doing well. I heard her family is coming to Hanmen Pass tomorrow, so the young lady spent money to have a new jacket made and even did her makeup."
Outsiders are unaware of the situation and do not know that Xuan Yao has not yet gained the favor of the Prince of Zhenbei. However, the Prince of Zhenbei does not have many concubines in his harem, so in the eyes of the Xuan family, Xuan Yao is no different from a sparrow that has flown to the top of a branch.
Are the Xuan family members coming?
Just thinking about that fat, lazy Master Xuan, with his folding fan and pig-head-shaped paper decorations, gave Lin Yuesha a headache. She wasn't home, and her older brother was such a kind old man; she wondered if he'd been bullied by the Xuan family.
Anyway, her family is her bottom line. If Master Xuan still wants to cause trouble, humph, she's not one to be trifled with!
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