Chapter 4: Tenderness Garden

  Wu Niang, Shih Nang and Wu Hsiao Chuan's family went out in a line.

  Everyone stood at the door, as if their mood had lightened up, and their facial expressions softened a lot.

  Wu Xiaoquan's family laughed and asked the two sisters: "I'll go find our family's screen now to get its size and style. But I don't know where to find the two misses later?"

  To make a hundred-year-old embroidered screen, first determine the shape and size of the embroidered screen, then have Wu Niang write down the characters to be embroidered according to the size of the embroidered screen. Eleven Niang selects the fabric and silk thread for the screen, and then you can use the needle as a pen, following the direction of the warp and weft of the fabric, and start embroidering the screen according to the font written by Wu Niang.

  So it started with Wu Xiaquan's family and Wu Niang.

  Eleventh girl naturally wouldn't intervene.

  She smiled brightly at Wu Niang.

  Wu Niang also knew that she had promised two days to Da Tai Tai, and if she didn't hand over the goods to Shi Yi Niang within two days, it would be her own responsibility if Shi Yi Niang couldn't produce anything at that time.

  This is no time for politeness.

  "If you don't mind, little sister, why not come to my place for a visit!" She smiled at Eleven, "My place is closer to Mother's, and later Wu Mama can also go give Mother an update."

  The Fifth Daughter lives in a delicate garden west of the main house, just a stone's throw away.

  "It's still sister who is considerate." Eleventh Lady smiled and said, "Then I'll be troubling sister!"

  "My own sister, why be so polite, it's as if we're strangers." Wu Niang laughed and said, "You stay at home every day doing needlework, except for the main wife's place, you don't go anywhere else. You are a noble guest that I couldn't even invite, I wish you would come and bother me every day."

  The eleventh girl smiled and said: "Then I won't be polite with sister!"

  Wu Xiaquan's family also strongly agreed with Wu Niang's decision: "Since that's the case, we'll go to Miss Wu's residence tomorrow to discuss it."

  The fifth daughter and eleventh daughter nodded: "It's so cold today, poor mom!"

  "Miss, where are you from? This is none of my business!" Wu Xiaquan's family exchanged a few pleasantries and then turned to find their own door.

  Eleventh girl ordered the nearby Bin Hua: "You go and tell Dong Qing. From now on, the amber sister who is beside Mother will come to our house to work as a servant. Let her ask someone to clean up a place for Amber Sister to rest, and then go to Mother's place to welcome her - see if there is anything that can be helped with at Amber Sister's place. I'm going to wait for Wu Mama's screen shape at Five Sisters'. You pass on the message, and then go find me at Five Miss' place!"

  Since learning that Mrs. Duan had moved to the 11th girl's place, Binju felt uncomfortable in her heart and couldn't wait to fly back to the Green Building to discuss with Dongqing what to do next. Now Miss Eleven asked her to go back and report to Dongqing, which was exactly what she wanted. She respectfully responded with a "yes" and hurried away.

  The fifth daughter gazed at Bin Hua's back and smiled: "Sister is really polite to others!"

  "After all, she's someone who served Mother." Eleventh Sister smiled warmly, "If we don't treat her well at our place, I'm afraid Elder Sister Hua will feel wronged and it would be a waste of Mother's good intentions!"

  The Fifth Daughter gazed deeply at her and smiled as she took her to the Jade Garden.

  Jiao Garden was located on the west side of Zhiyuan Building, with three rooms and two courtyards. In the middle, there was a skywell, and several banana trees were taller than the house. It was originally called Banana Garden. Later, it became the residence of Eldest Sister Luo Yuanniang. The mistress thought the name was not good, as "banana" sounded similar to "jiao", so she changed the name to Jiao Garden. After Yuanniang got married and left, the mistress arranged for Fifth Sister to move in there. To show respect for her sister, Fifth Sister kept the original second courtyard where Yuanniang used to live clean day and night, as if Yuanniang were still at home. She herself moved into the first courtyard's small building, using the middle area as a daily living space, the east side as a study, and the west side for the young maids and old women to live in. Fifth Sister lived on the second floor with two senior maids, Ziyun and Ziwei.

  As soon as they entered the door, Ziwie led two little maidservants to welcome them.

  After exchanging greetings, Wu Niang and Shi Yi Niang took their seats in order of seniority, the little maidservants served tea, and Zi Wei used a crystal plate to serve bright yellow citrus: "This was given by Madame Zhao the other day, Miss Shi try some."

  "Silly girl," Wu Niang glanced at Shi Yi Niang, "Madam has rewarded me, so she must have also rewarded you. There's no need for you to be overly flattering."

  Zi Wei smiled with pursed lips: "Eleventh Miss has it, it's Eleventh Miss', that's our heart's intention."

  Eleventh girl smiled brightly, took an orange in her hand and peeled it: "In my place, people are numerous, a few oranges are like ginseng fruit, they disappear in the blink of an eye. Just when I was feeling anxious, Sister Ziwei brought out a plate. It's just like someone who owes sleep encountering a pillow, this dedication is great!"

  Her fingers were slender and white as scallions. The golden tangerine peel fluttered between her fingers, with a brilliant beauty like a sunrise glow.

  Wu Niang's gaze fell on Shi Yi Niang's face.

  Her hair is as black as a crow's feathers, her skin is as white as freshly fallen snow, her eyes are like autumn water, and her lips are like cherry blossoms... When did Eleventh Sister become so beautiful!

  She felt a sudden dizziness in her heart.

  The gentle and soothing voice of the eleventh girl sounded in her ear again: "A hundred 'shou' characters, sister, have you thought about how to write them? Is it thinking of writing a big 'shou' character in the middle, and then writing ninety-nine small 'shou' characters on the back? Or are you preparing to arrange ten 'shou' characters horizontally and vertically each? I think about it, and feel that both patterns are not bad. I don't know which one sister thinks is good? Is there any good idea that I haven't thought of?"

  The fifth daughter was shocked and came back to her senses.

  What's the use of being beautiful again? If you can't marry into a good family, time will pass and people will be abandoned. It's just a joke to let people laugh. Wanting to marry well requires the approval of the elder mistress...

  She smiled and stood up: "Sister, follow me."

  Wu Niang's study was spacious, but there were only two pieces of furniture in the room - one was a large black-lacquered desk by the window. On it, a stack of famous people's calligraphy and paintings was neatly arranged, with four or five inkstones and an old celadon pen holder inserted with over ten pens of varying thicknesses. The other was a black-lacquered Guifei couch against the wall, covered with an old autumn-colored cloud-patterned brocade cushion. It couldn't help but feel a bit cold and empty.

  Eleventh Sister rubbed her hands together: "Sister, won't you light a brazier? What about when I'm practicing calligraphy? I really can't do it. If I want to embroider flowers, I must have a brazier lit." As she spoke, she smiled, "However, the place where I live is only as big as Sister's study, and often there are maidservants who come to ask me for help with needlework, even without a brazier, we squeeze together to work, and it's not cold."

  Wu Niang knew that Shi Yi Niang was skilled in embroidery, and all the maidservants and daughters-in-law at home loved to find her, either to help with some embroidery or to ask for guidance on embroidery techniques. Upon hearing this, she joked: "My place can't compare to your place, where people come and go like a marketplace!"

  The eleventh girl smiled a little awkwardly. She pointed to the thickest pen in the pen sea: "Sister, when did you start writing big characters? I remember that sister liked to write cursive script the most."

  Wu Niang smiled and said, "My sister and I thought of something - to write a big 'shou' character in the middle with grass script, and then use hairpin flowers small regular script to write ninety-nine smaller 'shou' characters next to it..."

  The eleventh girl was shocked.

  Wu Niang said this, which is equivalent to hinting at Shi Yi Niang that she had long known what birthday gift the old lady would give to Yongping Hou's wife... How could she have known so early? Either it was the old lady who told her, or someone who knew the old lady's thoughts beforehand informed her. If it was the former, it means that Wu Niang is more favored by the old lady than Shi Yi Niang, and not only did the old lady tell her about her plans, but also let her prepare in advance to avoid being slow and losing face when the time comes; if it was the latter, it means that Wu Niang has an extraordinary relationship with many dignified maids and mothers, which is beyond Shi Yi Niang's comparison!

  No matter what kind of expression it is, this is a **naked show of force!**

  Before Wu Niang finished speaking, a look of regret appeared on her face, as if she was very sorry for what she had just said. She hastily added: "You know me, I usually like calligraphy and often ponder over these things when I have nothing to do..."

  There's a bit of "this place has no silver three hundred taels" flavor here.

  The eleventh girl smiled and nodded: "Sister has always been clever, which is beyond me."

  There was no bitterness or gloom in Wu Niang's prediction.

  It seems like Wu Niang has no suspicion at all about his habit of thinking about these things when there's nothing else going on.

  The fifth daughter was not discouraged.

  Every time I talk to her, it's like this, as if punching a cotton flower, without any sense of accomplishment. Unlike Shining, who has eyes full of anger but doesn't dare to erupt...

  She thought it was boring, and took out a few drafts she had written before to show to Shiyi: "...... This one is the one we just mentioned, with a big longevity character in the middle and 99 small longevity characters on the side...... This one is written in a diamond shape, with small script in the middle and clerical script on the edges...... This one is written in a circular shape, all in small script......"

  Two people were talking, when Zi Yun presented a brocade box to Shiyi Niang.

  Eleventh daughter had just sat down when Wu Xiaquan's family arrived.

  Ziwei and Ziyun were busy for a while. They served tea and snacks, and arranged the embroidered pillows. Only after a good while did the three of them sit down to talk.

  "This was drawn according to the mistress's idea earlier." Wu Xiaquan's family handed a cowhide paper to Wuniang, "The base is carved with Huang Yang wood Peng Zu eight hundred sons, the frame is made of chicken wing wood..."

  "Why not use Huang Yang wood?" Wu Niang interrupted Wu Xiaoquan's family, "Since the base is made of Huang Yang wood, using Ji Chi wood for the frame might not be good, right?"

  Poplar wood is yellowish in color, and chicken wing wood is dark reddish in color.

  "Who says it's not." Wu Xiaoquan's family was also a big housekeeper next to the big lady, following reading and writing, with some basic appreciation level. "Originally had other ideas. One is to change the base to the same color as the chicken wing wood, purple sandalwood. But now Huangli wood is hard to find, let alone purple sandalwood. This method is definitely not feasible. Two is to change the base to chicken wing wood, so that the frame and base material are the same, which is the best. Our family has an impression, saying that there is a usable one at home. When I went to the warehouse to pick it up, I just knew that last time Zhejiang's governor Huang's mother had a birthday, and my brother asked someone to carve a longevity star as a gift. This matter was decided by Mrs. in a hurry, and there was no time on the market, so she left a message with several families who did woodwork, but until now there has been no response."

  The fifth daughter heard this and frowned: "Who decided this? It's too sloppy! Does mother know?"

  (New book...... (*__*) Hehe...... Click, recommend, and collect it!)