While talking, after exchanging pleasantries with Mother Wu, the maid personally led Wu and Liu Yingying into the Beiyuan courtyard.
After walking around the courtyard, I saw that it was very quiet. As far as I could see, there was no movement except for a few maids and women in red and green clothes walking through the courtyard holding trays.
There was silence everywhere. In the silence, the second-class maid Qingfang whispered a report outside. After a while, she opened the curtain and welcomed Wu's mother and daughter into the main hall.
After entering the main hall, I saw that the hall was not very big. As soon as I stepped in, I saw a square of eight baby pagodas placed at the door. Green smoke curled up in the pagoda, and a faint fragrance of sandalwood, similar to that in the temple, overflowed. , as far as the eye can see, there are two rows of six chairs and four desks in the main hall. The tables are full of beautiful things, and all kinds of tea sets have been prepared. In the center of the hall is a high red sandalwood couch, on which are placed There was a pear-shaped table, and on the left side of the table sat an old man with silver hair. It was Mrs. Shen who was famous in the lintel of this century-old door.
Mrs. Shen is about seventy years old. She wears a dark blue short jacket with dark patterns. Her hair is white and is rolled up without any trace. There is no decoration on her head. She only wears a brown auspicious cloud pattern on her forehead. Wiping her forehead, she looks like an old woman who is simply dressed but has an extraordinary temperament. She is by no means an ordinary old woman.
I saw that her face was rosy and plump, her eyes were sharp and sharp, and she was smiling. She looked kind and easy-going, and she was in good spirits. There was no trace of the fatigue that Mother Wu mentioned just now after recovering from a serious illness.
Seeing the arrival of Wu's mother and daughter, without waiting for Wu's greetings, she actually asked with a smile: "Is it Sister Xian, the youngest daughter of Shulan's family? Or was she talking about it when she heard Shulan mentioned it in the letter? My lovely youngest daughter, I never expected that after so many years, she would be a mother."
Mrs. Shen stood up from the high couch with a smile on her face, and was helped by a hunchbacked old woman who was even older than her. She came over in person.
Mrs. Wu originally thought that Mrs. Shen must be tough and serious when she saw the grand family of the Shen family. Her heart was pounding all the way. After seeing Mrs. Shen's smiling face, she actually mentioned her mother. He suddenly looked stunned, and couldn't help but feel flattered. He went up to help her and said, "Old Madam, you actually know Xian'er's name?"
Then he said hurriedly: "Why are you so old? Sit down, sit down, sit down, Xian'er... Xian'er can't bear it."
After saying that, he immediately helped Mrs. Shen back to the high couch.
But she saw Mrs. Shen holding Wu's hand with a smile and said, "How could you not know? When your mother was still in the boudoir, she said she would give birth to a well-behaved daughter in the future. The name Xian'er was born early in the morning. Yes, not only the old lady knows about it, but also many of my friends who played together in Beijing, and they even joked about having a son so that he could marry her good daughter in the future."
Mrs. Shen joked with a smile. As she spoke, she held Wu's hand and looked at each other. While looking at them, she couldn't help but nodded and said: "Your mother's eyebrows are similar to hers. They both have bright eyes and beautiful eyes." , born gentle and beautiful.”
As he spoke, his eyes fell on Liu Yingying behind him. Seeing her graceful and graceful appearance, he couldn't help but be surprised and asked: "Is this your daughter?"
Wu immediately said: "Ying'er, why don't you come and see the old lady soon?"
Hearing this, Liu Yingying walked forward slowly, bowed to Old Man Shen respectfully, lowered her eyebrows and said, "Ying'er has met the old lady."
As soon as he finished speaking, Old Shen immediately took Liu Yingying's hand and looked at her again and again. However, Liu Yingying's face was covered with a veil, so her face could not be seen. Wu on the side did not let her take off her veil, so she quickly Someone on the side explained: "My little girl has contracted some illness, and she is afraid of exposing others and making the old lady laugh."
Mrs. Shen's eyes were still fixed on Liu Yingying's face. Although the veil was covered, it could not cover the youthfulness inside. Just the pair of peach blossom eyes that looked at her with affection and gaze were better than those of thousands of people. Well, with just one glance, Mrs. Shen concluded that she was a beautiful woman. She couldn't help but said with surprise: "There are no jokes on her. They are all her nephews and grandchildren."
He then hurriedly asked with concern: "Are you seriously ill? Do you need to call the doctor over for treatment?"
Wu hurriedly said: "These are all old problems."
Old Mrs. Shen felt a little relieved, but her loving but capable eyes fell on Liu Yingying again. She paused and looked at the person from beginning to end. While looking at him, she asked her age. After reading some books, I couldn't help but praise her: "I never thought Sister Xian's daughter would be so old. Shulan is so lucky."
He added: "My granddaughter looks about the same size as the old lady, but if you look at her coldly, she is probably a lot more outstanding than my granddaughter. It's really enviable!"
After saying that, he took a jade bracelet from his wrist and put it on Liu Yingying's wrist.
Liu Yingying only felt a warm and cool air coming from her wrist. Before she could take a closer look, she noticed the extraordinary appearance of the bracelet. She was immediately flattered and was about to refuse when she saw Mrs. Shen patting her crystal slender hand. Suppressing her movements.
Liu Yingying looked at Mrs. Wu on the side again. Mrs. Wu nodded at her. Only then did Liu Yingying accept it and saluted Mrs. Shen again.
His manners were elegant and elegant, without the embarrassment of a small family.
After some pleasantries, the group began to sit down, and after a while, the maid quietly served tea.
Mrs. Shen seemed particularly happy to see Mrs. Wu and her daughter. She asked Mrs. Wu about her health, the current situation of her hometown in Shandong, and the current situation of the Liu family in Yuncheng. She learned that Wu had given birth to four daughters. , repeatedly surprised and praised: "One is so eye-catching. If four such pretty daughters stand together, the four golden flowers will not become one. Blooming rich and blessed, you will have all the blessings in the future." It’s at the back!”
Speaking of Mrs. Wu and the scenes of Mrs. Shen when she was a child, Mrs. Shen couldn't help but linger a little and said with nostalgia: "I remember that your mother and my cousin had a very good relationship, and she would come to the Han Mansion from time to time. Come on, she has a good temper, is gentle and virtuous. When I was a child, I was arrogant and had a bad temper. Not many could stand it, but your mother can tolerate my temper. Among all the sisters in my boudoir, I like your mother the most. We made friends. At that time, we were arranging flowers, making tea, admiring gardens, and catching butterflies. Now I find it interesting just thinking about it. Unfortunately, after your mother married the Wu family, she moved to Shandong, and I came to Qingyuan again. After getting home, the babies were born one by one, and they could no longer care about anything else, so they lost contact. Now, in a flash, they are all grandmothers, and they are all people with half of their bodies buried in the ground. How time flies. Hurry-"
Mrs. Shen told Mrs. Wu about the interesting things she had done with Mrs. Wu in her boudoir when she was young. Mrs. Wu and Liu Yingying listened with great interest.
At the end, he added: "By the way, are you going back to Shandong to celebrate her birthday? I remember Shulan is two years younger than me. After calculation, isn't she seventy this year?"
Upon hearing this, Mrs. Wu quickly said: "The old lady has a really good memory, she is exactly seventy."
Then he said: "If he hadn't been a full year old, I wouldn't have had much chance to go back and visit him."
As he said that, he glanced at Liu Yingying who was sitting next to him, and then said: "In the seven or eight years since I came to Yuncheng, I have never been able to go back once. No, her grandmother raised this child with her own hands. Noisy They insisted on going with him, but the child had been weak since he was a child. After getting on the boat, he got shipick again. He vomited for half a month, almost vomiting out his intestines and lungs. He lost a lot of weight. In addition, she has some old illnesses, and she still has more than half a month to go to Shandong this time. I really can't bear her suffering, so I shamelessly came to disturb you. This time I returned to Shandong, If mother knew that I was disturbing your tranquility, she would definitely knock me on the head again."
Wu spoke with an embarrassed look on her face, but there was no trace of temptation in her words.
Mrs. Shen had already received a letter of greeting from the Liu family, which vaguely mentioned the reason for the visit. Therefore, Mrs. Shen quickly glared at Mr. Wu and said, "Anyone who wants to disturb me or not is my nephew. I haven’t blamed your mother for being estranged from me over the years. If she dares to knock on your head, I will definitely write a letter and scold her!"
Mrs. Shen pretended to be so angry as she said this, and then immediately said: "As long as you don't dislike the Shen family's old house, you can stay there as long as you want, just like living in your own home."
As she spoke, Mrs. Shen looked at Liu Yingying and said with a smile: "It just so happens that there are a few young ones in the house who are about the same age as my daughter, so we can keep each other company."
Then he looked at Mrs. Wu and said, "Don't leave in a hurry. Stay in the house for a few more days. It just so happens that the old lady has prepared the congratulatory gifts. Please bring them to Shulan for me."
After Mrs. Shen heard Mrs. Shen's polite words, her heart suddenly relaxed. Her heart, which had been hanging all the way, finally fell to the ground. She paused and immediately said with a smile: "My daughter Xu is going to trouble your house." It's been a few days, and I will come to pick her up immediately when I return in three months. However, I'm afraid my niece won't be able to live here this time. The merchant ship we rented also carries a lot of goods, and the merchant ship has to go to other places on time along the way. We are unloading goods at a pier, and since my mother’s birthday is approaching, I’m afraid we can’t delay it any longer.”
Wu said so.
Initially, she was worried that the Shen family would not keep anyone, but until she arrived here, Wu's tense heart finally felt relieved and she spoke a little more relaxedly.
Mrs. Shen was a little surprised and said: "It's such a rush?"
Then he asked her when the ship was going to leave.
Wu said: "The merchant ship is parked at the ferry now. It will only stay for half a day. It will set off in the evening. I am afraid it will leave now."
Old Mrs. Shen was surprised again. She kept asking Xiang Liu again and again, but it didn't make any sense. Seeing that Wu's schedule was so busy, she really couldn't delay, so she had to immediately arrange for Liu Yingying to be settled, and then sent her servants to see Wu off. ferry.
However, Mrs. Wu still had something to tell Liu Yingying. After bidding farewell to Mrs. Shen, she accompanied Liu Yingying to the place where she was placed.
As soon as the Liu family's mother and daughter left, Beiyuan became quiet again.
After chatting for so long, Mrs. Shen was indeed a little tired, so she leaned on the high couch and closed her eyes to rest.
When the maids came to take away the tea, Mrs. Shen ordered another third-class one, and a second-class maid went over to wait on her.
Mother Wu, a hunchbacked old woman, saw Mrs. Shen looking tired and was about to persuade Mrs. Shen to go and have a rest. At this time, Mrs. Shen slowly opened her eyes and asked casually: "Amin, what do you think about the little girl from the Liu family?" How is your wife?"
There were traces of fire on Mother Wu's face, and most of her face was expressionless. It was very scary at first glance. After hearing this, she just walked over with an expressionless face, squeezed Mrs. Shen's shoulders, and said lightly: "Since ancient times, beauty has been a beauty. What a miserable fate."
Mrs. Shen smiled and closed her eyes, saying, "Do you think the little girl is seriously ill?"
Mother Wu blurted out without thinking: "It depends on how many young men there are in the house?"
Mrs. Shen was amused again by her words. After laughing, she recalled the interesting things she mentioned just now, and couldn't help but murmured with emotion: "In a blink of an eye, we are all old, and the world is dominated by their young people."
After Mrs. Shen finished speaking, she didn't speak for a long time. It was so long that Wu's mother thought she was about to fall asleep. At this time, she only heard Mrs. Shen's vague voice saying: "It's almost March, Brother Ye is coming back soon." .”
Mother Wu said: "Second Young Master has been gone for almost two months, he should be coming back."
Mrs. Shen gave a faint hum and her breathing gradually became evener. At this time, Mother Wu suddenly whispered: "The eldest young master should be coming back soon."
As soon as she finished speaking, Mrs. Shen, who was about to fall asleep, suddenly opened her eyes without any warning, and her eyes suddenly became awake.
It is said that Mrs. Wu followed Qingfang to the small courtyard where Liu Yingying was staying. The Shen family has a large business and many relatives. Guests often visit the house. Therefore, when receiving the letter from the Liu family, Mrs. Shen had already sent someone to arrange the place properly. .
The courtyard is called Qinfang Courtyard. It is not big and is not far from Beiyuan where the old lady lives.
"Qinfang Courtyard is located in a quiet location, with a pavilion and creek in front and a bamboo garden behind. Because the Shen family has many relatives and relatives visit from time to time, the courtyard is divided into two. There is also a girl from Yao living on the other side of the courtyard. If Miss Liu is bored, she can go talk to Miss Yao."
Qingfang led Liu Yingying and her daughter to Qinfang Courtyard and introduced the scenery of the courtyard. Seeing that Mrs. Wu still had something to say to Liu Yingying, she said goodbye with a wink, "Miss Liu and Mrs. Liu have worked hard on their journey, but we can get to know each other temporarily." Get acquainted with the yard or take a rest, and the servant sent by the old lady will come over to wait on you in a while, so I won’t disturb you two."
After Qingfang finished speaking, she left first.
After Qingfang left, Mrs. Wu saw that the yard that Mrs. Shen had placed for Liu Yingying was quiet and elegant, much more exquisite than their residence in Yuncheng. She also saw Mrs. Shen's warm and caring words just now. Mrs. Wu was very excited. Her heart finally fell, and she couldn't help but sigh with emotion, saying: "Old Mrs. Shen seems to be a decent person. She is so polite and considerate to distant relatives and old acquaintances like us who have not been in contact with each other for decades. Ying'er, you need me in the Shen family." Observe the rules of the Shen family and never listen to your second uncle or third uncle’s advice to do whatever you want, you know? Regardless of success or failure, my mother will come to pick you up in three months—"
It was said that Mrs. Wu was afraid that Liu Yingying would sacrifice herself for the Liu family, so she couldn't help but give her numerous instructions before leaving.
As he spoke, he personally took off the veil from Liu Yingying's face and said, "Ying'er, do you know why mother keeps letting you wear this veil?"
During the questioning, looking at the stunning face in front of her, before Liu Yingying could reply, Wu could not stop feeling frightened and said: "On the one hand, mother is giving you an excuse to take care of your illness. On the other hand, mother is I'm afraid that if you are too beautiful, I'm afraid that Mrs. Shen will be jealous and won't be able to keep us here easily."
While speaking, Mrs. Wu only touched Liu Yingying's face lovingly, and then called her newly purchased maid Tao Yao to her side. She said Qian Ding Ling Wan: "After I leave, you must take good care of the girl. Do you understand?" ? After three months of return, Madam will be richly rewarded. If you don’t take good care of her and let the girl suffer, I will tear your mouth to pieces and sell you away!"
Wu, who had always had a gentle temperament, actually acted as a bad woman for Liu Yingying.
The mother and daughter had a heart-to-heart talk for a while, and then the third master of the Liu family in the outer courtyard sent someone to urge them. Wu had no choice but to go there with tears in her eyes.
Before leaving, I remembered something again. I immediately took a bundle from Taoyao and stuffed it into Liu Yingying's arms. She came to Liu Yingying and whispered, "Mom, I've prepared some towels for you. Your figure is... It's getting...more and more plump. As the weather gets hotter, the clothes are getting thinner and thinner. The rules of the Shen family are strict. If my son feels uncomfortable, he can tie up his body a little. Don't let bad people worry about him——"
It turned out that the eldest daughter's plump figure was more worrying than her beauty.
After saying this, he finally left reluctantly.
Chapter 009
By the way, as soon as Wu left, only Liu Yingying and Taoyao were left in the whole yard, the master and the servant.
The Wu family had just bought Taoyao half a month before their trip. The sister-in-law of the family sold her sister-in-law for twenty taels in order to save her son's bride price, and it was a death contract.
Liu Yingying had been living in Bieyuan before. Wu was worried that her identity would be curiously explored, so she replaced all the women and maids who had served her before.
Taoyao is one or two years younger than Liu Yingying and has a strong body. Wu thinks that she can be half a man and can protect Liu Yingying in times of danger. She is also talkative and clumsy, with a mouth like a sawed-off gourd. He couldn't come up with a few words all day long, and he didn't like to ask around and talk nonsense. He also worked quickly and trained and taught her for half a month before she was pushed to Liu Yingying's side before departure.
After walking on the boat for half a month, Liu Yingying vomited for half a month. Because she was not feeling well, she never had a good conversation with her. However, although Taoyao didn't talk much, she always took good care of Liu Yingying. After half a month, the master and the servant I gradually got used to this way of getting along.
As soon as Wu left, Taoyao immersed herself in work.
Not long after Liu Yingying stepped into this yard, Liu Yingying's two boxes and cages were given to her by Mr. Liu. They were all her belongings in the fifteen years of her life, and they were all given to her by the Wu family in the past six months at the Liu Family Villa. Tim.
This time, they were brought with them all the way, either the Shen family or the Wu family in Shandong. No matter where they went, there was probably no turning back. Liu Yingying was prepared to go to the dark side on this road.
Complain?
not at all.
She didn't complain about the Liu family's way of throwing her out like a rag in exchange for a future. It was like she had never thought that in a brothel where she was often beaten, scolded, teased, teased and bullied, she would be treated like a puppet. As if she was pushed in front of others, like an animal, allowed to be picked, teased, and played with, someone would actually fall from the sky, rescue her from the treacherous hell, and tell her that they are hers At that moment, Liu Yingying felt nothing but gratitude to the Liu family.
The scene when the Liu family appeared in front of her half a year ago was Liu Yingying's greatest aura and redemption in her life, oh, no, at least in the past five years.
Because if they hadn't descended from the sky, if they hadn't arrived as scheduled, Liu Yingying would have really stepped into the prostitute in three days, sold her songs and sold herself, and been ridden by thousands of people, and became the most despicable prostitute in the world. , will completely become a lowly whore who trades her body for life.
As for how the Liu family lost her, and how they missed the opportunity to rescue her so many times that she ended up in a brothel, none of this is important anymore, because Liu Yingying has already lost that memory, and it should be her He was muffled by drugs and was taken captive all the way to Yuanling. Due to an overdose of drugs, he was muffled and lost his memory.
As long as she can remember, she was beaten and scolded by human traffickers, starved and cold, and finally sold to a brothel.
She actually doesn't have much affection for the Liu family.
She is gentle and virtuous, obedient and obedient. When the Liu family found her, rescued her and apologized to her in every possible way, she responded with the meekness and gentleness they wanted, being submissive, considerate and obedient, as if she was in trouble. After death, she looks like a pitiful, obedient and beautiful lady.
If it were other people, they would want a daughter who is either lively and cute, or arrogant and arrogant, or a cold and scheming daughter. As long as they want, Liu Yingying can correspondingly show whatever appearance they expect.
After wasting five years in a brothel, and being trained and taught by Mother Qin for three full years, how could Liu Yingying still be innocent and delicate? She has long been invincible. She has thousands of faces and different postures. Those skills that she thought she would be able to use in the future were tried out on the Liu family for the first time. They all got what they wanted, and there was no resentment. Not complaining.
However, Wu is an exception, as is her younger sister Yaoyao.
For half a year, Wu's worries for her, the tears she shed, and Yaoyao's sweet "big sister" were all unfamiliar to her, but they were also bombarded day after day. Gradually it came into my heart, it turned out that family love is like this.
It is precisely because of this that Liu Yingying still obeys Wu's "dictation" on her life, because she knows that if there is anyone in this world who sincerely wishes her well, that person must be Wu.
