When Ma received the letter, she still couldn't believe it.
She repeatedly asked Caijuan, the confidant maid sent by Zhou Ma's family: "Is the eldest sister sick? Why is she sick? Qian'er saw that she is fine!"
Caijuan squeaked: "My wife has no choice but to be sick... I can't help but go and see her. My wife has something urgent and I need to discuss it with her urgently! Now the old lady at home has reported illness, and the master wants her to stay." I stay at home to take care of my illness. My wife can’t go out, so there is really no other way except asking relatives to visit her when she is sick.”
Ma understood: "Sister, are you pretending to be ill? Your old lady is pretending to be ill, right? Just because the old military advisor went to the city to complain?"
Caijuan smiled dryly and lowered her head.
Ma sighed: "What's the use of just pretending to be sick? Does your master plan to let the old lady pretend to be sick for a year and a half to get over the matter? This doesn't look like she really wants to repent, anyway. Do you want the old lady to go to the Buddhist temple to practice meditation for two years?"
Caijuan whispered: "The master asked my wife to decorate the Buddhist hall, but the old lady didn't agree, and the accountant at home refused to pay the money. The wife didn't want to pay out of her own pocket, and she felt that the power of housekeeping was still in the hands of the old lady, so she couldn't do it herself. Lord, it’s just a name for a housekeeper. It’s meaningless, so I just called myself sick. But I have no idea what to do in the future, so I can only ask my aunt to help me with the details.”
Ma sighed: "What kind of house does your master run? He can't be the master of everything. He doesn't even listen to his orders in the accounting department and can't even pay out a few taels of silver. How can there be such a useless master in the world?! He immediately If you can't get up, the eldest sister has no one to rely on. What's the use of her forehead if it's gone? No matter how good the idea is, she won't be able to use it!"
Caijuan smiled bitterly and lowered her head. Many things are actually seen clearly by the people around them, but they have no choice but to do nothing due to their humble status.
My wife is of noble status, but she can’t do anything either!
Ma thought for a while and then said to Caijuan: "If you are not in a hurry to go back, go down to eat first. I have to discuss it with the master before I can give an answer to the eldest sister."
Caijuan retreated in response. Aunt Ma immediately took her to the sewing room in the backyard. That place is now the territory of their grandparents, mother-in-law and daughter-in-law. There is no one else around, so it's a good time to talk. She was a little worried about her daughter and son-in-law, and wanted to find out more about Caijuan.
Haitang watched from the window as they entered the sewing room next door. There was no one in the yard, so she took a piece of sewing work and walked out, walked to the window of the sewing room and stood for a while.
Caijuan was telling Aunt Ma about the current situation of Ma Xiuji, which was nothing more than making some new clothes for Mrs. Ma for the New Year. Mrs. Ma now has to pretend to be sick and will not go out to have New Year's Eve wine during the Chinese New Year. Ma Xiuju thought she could take a break, but she didn't expect to receive a new order early this morning. Not only did she have to order new clothes Follow the instructions, and add two more bodies, both of which require precision. Mrs. Ma thought she had been greatly wronged and could not go out to relax, so she had to compensate herself with a few new sets of clothes to feel better. Therefore, Ma Xiuju has to work overtime now. She is afraid that she would not be able to find the opportunity even a year ago to go shopping and visit her parents and relatives as an excuse.
Aunt Ma felt sad, but she couldn't speak ill of her old owner, so she could only deceive herself and say: "Then after the New Year, Xiuju will be free. It's the first month of the year to visit relatives."
Caijuan smiled bitterly and whispered: "You can rest for about two days in the first month, but the old lady will have to wear new clothes after the spring begins. People who work on the needlework cannot really be idle during the first month."
Aunt Ma's daughter-in-law, Ma Changnian, couldn't help but said: "My wife can't guarantee four new clothes all year round, but the old lady is very generous. Why does the old widow dress so fancy?! With all this money, Why can’t we spend more on our children and grandchildren, and why do we have to rely on our wives’ ideas?!”
This doesn't sound very nice. Aunt Ma turned around and glared at her daughter-in-law, and then the Ma Changnian family shut up.
In order to cover up her mother's gaffe, Putao hurriedly changed the subject: "Sister Caijuan, how is sister Cailuo? I haven't seen her for a few days, and I don't know how she is now?"
Caijuan hurriedly smiled and said: "Cailuo is fine. Now I can help my wife by my side. If she hadn't been here, I wouldn't have dared to go out to run errands today."
Aunt Ma caught a glimpse of someone by the window, and hurriedly got up to look: "Who is that outside?"
Haitang walked into the house naturally: "Aunt Ma, I heard that my aunt sent a sister who is in need here, so I wanted to ask her for a favor. But I heard you guys talking in the house, so I'm sorry to disturb you."
Aunt Ma hurriedly smiled and said: "Young lady, you are speaking harshly. Just tell me what you have told me to do. If there is anything to disturb you, why don't you disturb me?"
Caijuan also stood up to greet her: "My servant is Caijuan. I met Miss Hai at the villa that day. I wonder what Miss Hai's orders are?"
Haitang took out the needlework in her hand: "When my aunt came back to our house last time, she said that the magnolia flowers I embroidered were beautiful, and she asked me to embroider a handkerchief for her. I have almost done it, I just need to lock the edges, but I don't want to do it. Do you know if my aunt will like this color pattern? Sister, can you take a look for me? "
Caijuan took the handkerchief and took a look. She felt that the magnolia flowers on it were really finely embroidered and the colors were elegant. It was hard to believe that at such a young age, Miss Hai's embroidery skills were no worse than those girls who were used to needlework all year round. It's really rare.
She praised it quickly and said, "My wife will definitely like it, and maybe she will also dislike the tacky colors of the needlework and threads made by us girls!"
Haitang pretended to be shy: "I didn't do that well... Then I will hem the veil like this? When I follow my grandma to see my aunt, I will give the veil to her. "
She took the veil and left without staying at the door to eavesdrop. She allowed Aunt Ma, daughter-in-law, grandson and grandson to continue talking to Caijuan while she went to the front courtyard.
Haixi Ya just arrived home. Mrs. Ma took off the official uniform for him when he went out and handed it to Aunt Cui to hang up. She also got a warm home-made cotton robe for her husband to put on, and by the way told the purpose of the colorful silk.
She said: "The eldest sister seemed to be in a dilemma and wanted to take a look at her. Whether she was really ill or pretending to be ill, she always said she was ill. If her parents didn't take a look, it seemed like no one cared about her life or death. In the future, The Zhou family is going to despise her more and more."
Haixi Ya said: "Then let's go there the day after tomorrow. I will take a rest the day after tomorrow and I will accompany you to the third room of the Zhou family. You sisters can go on your own, and I will just have a talk with my brother-in-law. No matter what his purpose is, He has become Mrs. Ma's accomplice, and if he is merciless this time, he will be despised by his clan. Although he is a direct descendant of the Zhou family, he is not from the frontier army. He only has a casual job on weekdays and rarely makes friends with people in the army. I don’t understand the taboos of the border army. There are some things that outsiders can’t do, but the Zhou family cannot do. Although the third old man of the Zhou family retired early, he was also a famous general with great military exploits. When he was in charge of logistics, he was honest and upright, and he never fell into trouble. . He was respected during his lifetime, how could he be burdened by his wife and children after his death? I also worked under the old general back then, and I had to take care of him for many years, so I still have to do my part."
Ma laughed when he heard this: "Okay, let's wait until Master Xiu Mu comes over. I just happened to take advantage of this day to go outside and find out what the Zhou family is talking about. If you can know the secrets of the Zhenguo Duke's Mansion, I mean, that would be better.”
At this time, Hai Jiao happened to come in from outside. When he heard this, he raised his voice and said: "I just saw a large group of carriages and horses passing by on the street outside, going to Zhoujiaqian Street. It seems that the lady of General Zhou's family has entered." City. If grandma wants to ask what the town government wants, why not send someone to say hello to Miss Wenjun?"
Haitang followed her brother and kept echoing: "Yes, yes. Sister Wenjun was injured at the time, so she couldn't go back to Chang'an with us. It's been so many days, her foot injury should be healed Right? I’m really worried!”
(End of chapter)
