At noon the next day, the cold wind continued to blow.
There were two large braziers in the third lady's room, and the fire on the braziers was very bright.
It filled the whole house.
Aiju pushed the window with one hand and said: Third Madam, you added too much charcoal.
"Aiju, it's such a cold day, why did you open the window?" Zhu shouted:
Aiju explained: We are burning charcoal. When charcoal burns, it will produce charcoal gas. The charcoal gas contains carbon dioxide. Carbon dioxide is very bad for the human body...
"Is it okay to just open the window?" Zhu asked:
Aiju responded: Once the air circulates, the carbon dioxide will become lighter and it will not hurt people.
Zhu replied: Is this true?
The third lady said: Mom, Sister Aiju is right.
Zhu Huai praised: Aiju, you know a lot.
Aiju argued: It’s not that I know better, it’s just that you haven’t encountered this kind of situation.
I haven't even heard of it.
"Dad, Mom, let me tell you, the reason why my daughter can live safely here is all because of Sister Aiju..." the third lady said:
"Third Madam, you are exaggerating. You should change your words to me." Aiju continued:
Aiju continued: The third lady is a master, and the servant is a servant. Being able to serve the third lady is a servant's blessing.
Besides: how the third lady treats her servants!
The third lady said: Sister Aiju and Xiaoya are sisters. Xiaoya will never forget Sister Aiju's kindness to Xiaoya.
Zhu Huai said blankly: What happened between you two!
Aiju replied: Dad, we are fine.
Zhu Huai shouted: Aiju, don't call me that! It sounds awkward to me, I'm not much older than you...
"There are only a few of us in the room. I have been married to the third lady for a long time. The third lady and I call you - Dad, what's wrong with that!" Aiju argued:
Zhu Huai was stunned and said: This!
Aiju responded: Actually, it doesn’t matter what you call it, it’s just a title at most! If you don't like me being called "Dad", I will call you "Grandpa" from now on.
Zhu Huai smiled and said: It's better to call him "Grandpa".
Mrs. Zhu said: The eldest lady in the house is very warm to people. During dinner in the morning, she specially invited me to sit in her room.
Zhu Huai asked: Xiaoya, what does the eldest lady do to you?
The third lady replied: Not bad! She helped me out a few times.
She also invited me to play in her room many times.
I've been there twice too.
but!
Zhu continued: But what!
Aiju said: Grandma, don’t worry!
Let me tell you slowly, the third lady and her servants went to the eldest lady's room twice, but the eldest lady never came here once. The eldest lady seemed very amiable.
I doubt!
Zhu Huai said: Xiaoya, Aiju has thought it through. This matter is by no means as simple as you see. You big family has many rules and things are complicated and messy. You have to be careful at all times. You are kind-hearted. It is inevitable not to be jealous or taken advantage of by others. Aiju has a delicate mind. We are a little relieved to have her by your side to help you.
Aiju called out: Grandpa, Aiju is just a servant, Aiju can’t help much...
"Sister Aiju is not a servant! You have repeatedly solved my problems and helped me overcome many difficulties..." The third lady said:
"Third Madam, you spoke so well of your servant, you are ashamed to be a servant." Aiju interrupted:
"I am the one who is ashamed, otherwise I would love Sister Ju's feet!" The third lady responded:
Zhu Huai looked at Aiju's feet and asked: Aiju, what's going on with your feet?
Aiju put her feet together and said: My feet are fine.
The third lady took a breath and sighed: When talking about this matter, Xiaoya blames herself all the time. She blames herself for being ignorant and breaking the rules of the house. As a result, she was punished by the old lady and Aiju was punished. My sister almost died on the spot.
Aiju said: Third Madam, no, sister, you don’t have to worry about these old things.
Besides, you are not kind to your servants.
Zhu asked: What happened to Aiju's feet? Can you elaborate from the beginning?
The third lady then said: Mom, the matter between me and Sister Aiju is a long story, and I can’t explain it in one or two sentences. I will choose a time to tell you carefully, today!
"Sister, where do you put your fire tongs?" Xiaoyong asked:
The third lady looked at the corner and replied: Put the fire tongs, put the fire tongs?
Aiju saw half of the charcoal on the brazier opposite and called out: "Xiaoyong, sit down and don't move!" I'll go in and get charcoal.
She stood up and walked straight to the carbon house.
The third lady shouted: Mom, Dad, Xiaoyong, come over here to warm yourself by the fire.
Zhu Huai replied: There is still a fire here, let's warm ourselves up here.
"Sister Aiju will add charcoal later, and the ashes will fly everywhere!" the third lady said:
Zhu Huai replied: "Add charcoal" will make as much ash as possible.
"Grandpa, grandma, give way!" Aiju came over carrying a bucket of charcoal.
Zhu Huai said: Aiju, put the bucket down and I will add charcoal.
Aiju placed the bucket, picked up the fire tongs in one hand, and said: I'll do it, I'll do it.
Zhu trembled and said: It's so cold here, but it's much warmer in our hometown.
Aiju said: This is in the north of Guangdong, and it must be colder than your hometown.
The third lady continued: "It doesn't snow in our hometown in winter. It's covered with snow here in winter."
Aiju put the tongs into the charcoal bucket and asked: Grandpa, grandma, has it ever snowed over there?
Zhu Huai replied: It has fallen, but rarely.
It's not as big as yours.
Mrs. Zhu pulled Xiaoyong and called out: Xiaoyong, please hurry up and thank Sister Aiju!
Xiaoyong bowed and thanked: Thank you, Sister Aiju!
Aiju sat down on the stool and said with a smile: Xiaoyong is so good! You are about the same age as my second son.
Zhu asked: Aiju, how many children do you have?
Aiju replied: I gave birth to three sons, the eldest son: Shitou, he is not at home now, the second son: Tudui, he is one year younger than Xiaoyong, and the youngest son: Shuishui, he is 8 years old this year.
The third lady said: If Xiaoyong is not afraid of life! I can have them come over and play with you.
Xiaoyong nodded and whispered: Yes!
Aiju then said: Third Madam, would it be inappropriate to let them come over?
The third lady responded: What could be wrong?
Aiju said: Over there with the second lady!
The third lady thought for a while and called out: Sister Aiju, if you ask Tudui and the others to come to the house, they are not allowed to stay in my room...
"Xiaoya, you and the second lady?" Zhu asked:
"Grandma, when it comes to a wealthy family, you can't talk too much about it, and you can't talk too much about it. It's just like that, fighting for favor and jealousy." Aiju replied:
"Old lady, the water inside Feng Mansion is so deep that it's best if we don't get involved." Zhu Huai said:
Aiju said: Grandpa also said that the third lady was kind-hearted and amiable, and Master Feng couldn't put it down.
Therefore, some people are dissatisfied.
Zhu said: Xiaoya, everyone is mutual. She will not hate you for no reason. You must have offended her somewhere!
Aiju responded: "Grandma, the third lady is well-behaved and sensible. She is always kind to others. How can she be offended in any way!" There is nothing but competition for favor and jealousy.
Zhu Huai called out: Old lady, I've told you a long time ago that Xiaoya's life will not be too easy. There are many disputes in "rich families". If you are not careful, you will fall into the trap set by others... ·
"What I didn't expect is that Master Feng cares so much about you and he can't protect you." Zhu interrupted:
The third lady said: My husband is as good to me as ever.
However, he is not in control of the mansion.
Aiju said: Master Feng is a human being. He is not omnipotent. He also has his own difficulties. There are some things that he wants to control, but he cannot.
Mrs. Zhu shouted: Xiaoyong, you will stay in your sister's room these days. You are not allowed to run around, so as not to cause trouble for your sister.
Xiaoyong responded: I won’t run around.
The third lady asked: Dad, Mom, I have something to ask you. Has my husband-in-law supported you in the past two years?
Zhu Huai replied: Master Feng has done a good job in this. Yuan Zhichao (Master Feng's servant in Guangdong) will send money to our family on time every year. Our family - the money for Xiaoyong's schooling, the food money our family has to pay, and Other household uses at home.
The third lady sighed: Xiaoya felt much better after hearing what her father said. Xiaoya married far away in exchange for a family!
However, thinking of my parents...
"My good daughter, I want to see you - it's so hard to reach the sky. Several times, I dreamed of you in my dreams, dreaming that my Xiaoya was back. When I woke up, I found it was a dream. I I had no choice but to wipe my tears secretly." Madam Zhu hugged the third lady and whispered:
"Old lady, stop talking, your words are disturbing." Zhu Huai wiped his eyes and choked:
Xiaoya hugged Zhu and cried: Mom, I miss you, I miss my dad, I miss my brother, I want to go home.
Then, tears flowed from the eyes of the third lady.
"Shut up. If you want to go home, don't let outsiders hear what you said, lest anyone take advantage of it..." Zhu said hoarsely:
"Mom!" Xiaoya cried:
Xiaoyong came up to the third lady, and they hugged each other and cried "Wow".
Zhu Huai held back her tears and said hoarsely: Wipe your tears away. It is a joyful thing for Xiaoya to marry Master Feng. We should all be happy for her.
Aiju wiped the corners of her eyes and continued: Yes! Third Madam, during your confinement period...
"Wow! Wow! Wow!"
Aiju got up and ran straight to the back room.
The third lady wiped the corners of her eyes and said: My little Lanlan is awake.
Mrs. Zhu then said: My niece's name is "Xiao Lanlan".
The third lady replied: Her name is Feng Lan, "Xiao Lanlan" is her nickname.
"The origin of her name is really dumbfounding." The third lady continued:
"Third Madam, please go call the wet nurse." Aiju shouted:
The third lady shouted: Sister Aiju, let me feed you today.
Aiju glanced at the third lady and handed Feng Lan to the third lady.
The third lady took Feng Lan and said, "Xiao Lanlan" usually lets the wet nurse breastfeed her.
Zhu said: Why do you want a wet nurse to feed you? She will kiss the children she feeds herself.
The third lady lifted her clothes and replied: I also want to feed the child myself.
However, I don’t have enough milk.
Zhu replied: Xiaoya, please eat more milk-friendly foods.
Aiju continued: The servant feeds the third lady some milk-friendly food for three meals a day, such as crucian carp soup! Pork trotter soup! chicken soup! Huanghuatongcao soup!
Zhu replied: The lack of milk is really worrying.
Zhu Huai consoled him: Xiaoya, it doesn’t matter who feeds the child! The child has grown up!
Zhu argued: You are not a woman, you can't understand it!
"Old woman." Zhu Huai shouted:
Zhu Huai continued: Master Feng's family has a great business, didn't he hire a wet nurse?
Zhu said blankly: "Yes, yes, Xiaoya, don't worry about such trivial matters in the future. The most important thing is that the child has enough to eat."
Zhu Huai said: Xiaoya, the name you said "Xiao Lanlan" makes you dumbfounded, you!
The third lady said: On the day Xiao Lanlan was born, something happened in the house, and the word "lan" for Xiao Lanlan came from this.
Aiju winked at the third lady and said: It’s okay not to mention this matter!
Seeing Aiju's behavior, Zhu Huai and his wife deliberately changed the topic.
After Feng Lan took a sip of milk, she fell asleep quietly.
Aiju picked up Feng Lan and put her on the bed.
Zhu Huai said: "Xiao Lanlan" was very obedient, got up, ate a meal, and fell asleep again.
The third lady responded: Children are like this, eating and sleeping are their main lifestyles.
Zhu Huai replied: We are not like this! There are very few people who can eat well and sleep well.
Zhu continued: Xiao Lanlan is different. She was born into a wealthy family, so she must be either rich or noble.
The third lady replied: I don't ask for "wealth and honor", I just hope that Xiao Lanlan can grow up safely and happily, and there will be no disasters in her life.
"When Xiao Lanlan was born, she opened her eyes. The mother she found was reasonable, gentle and pleasant..." Aiju sat on the stool and said:
"Sister Aiju, don't make fun of Xiaoya!" The third lady interrupted:
Aiju replied: How dare I make fun of the third lady! Third Madam, you might as well ask your parents if what I said is the truth!
Zhu said: Facts.
The third wife warned: Xiaoyong, you are the male in the family, and the family ultimately depends on you. It is not easy for our parents to raise us. You must study well. Only after you go out into the society can you have the ability to change your life. Change your current environment.
Xiaoyong lowered his head and remained silent.
The third lady asked: Xiaoyong, are you studying well?
Xiaoyong stretched and whispered: It's okay.
The third lady smiled and said: That's fine, you have to work hard!
"Third Madam, it's time to eat. You and grandpa and grandma go to the hall to eat..." Bob shouted:
"Bob, you go back, we will be together for a while..." Aiju stood in front of the window and replied:
"Aiju, let's eat in the room!" Zhu said:
"Grandma, the old lady and the others are all eating in the hall, and we are hiding in the room and not going out!" Aiju responded:
Zhu Huai replied: Is it so difficult for you to walk a few steps?
The third lady then said: Mom, if you want to eat in the room! I'll go back and talk to my husband!
Mrs. Zhu called out, "I don't want to eat in the room. The weather is so cold that I feel anxious even if I leave the room."
Zhu Huai replied: There is no need to climb mountains and ridges from here to the hall. No matter how cold the weather is, it won’t freeze you to death...
"My death is just what you want, so you can marry another one." Madam Zhu said:
"What are you talking about! In front of the children!" Zhu Huai responded:
"Dad, Mom, you two, stop arguing!" the third lady shouted:
"If we go to the hall to eat, the old lady and the others will be happy, and no one else will find fault! If we hide in the room to eat! Someone will seize this to trip up Xiaoya. We are happy to come, let's go Even more joyful." Zhu Huai commented:
"Grandpa, I am impressed by your words." Aiju praised:
Zhu murmured: Xiaoya, what mom just said, you must not tell Master Feng, don't let others think it! I'm doing something special.
Aiju replied: Grandpa, grandma, you are both sensible people.
"Aiju wins the prize!" Zhu Huai continued:
"Dad, Mom, the hall is probably full of people! Let's go there quickly!" The third lady shouted:
Zhu Huai shook his head and replied: Let's go.
Zhu said: Aiju, help Xiaoya go forward...
