Chapter Five Painting Samples

  Wu Xiaquan's family listened to Wu Niang's tone, very dissatisfied, and hurriedly accompanied a smile: "The eldest lady knows. It's just that Miss Wu didn't ask so carefully."

  The usually quick-witted Wu Niang's expression changed, and she said seriously: "Mother is particular about this matter, and has entrusted it to us three. If something goes wrong, none of us can shirk responsibility. There are some things that I must say..."

  Although Wu Xiaquan is the steward of the Luo family, his family does not work in the Luo household. Usually, he just follows the first wife around, chatting with her about trivial matters or helping with some errands. The first wife seems to like having someone like him by her side, and although she doesn't rely on him as much as she does on Mrs. Xu, she still trusts him a bit. Therefore, everyone in the Luo household gives him some face.

  Eleventh Girl listened to Fifth Girl's tone of teaching, and couldn't help but secretly sigh in her heart.

  Everyone is acting according to Mrs. Dai's expression, sometimes Wu Niang is too impatient.

  For example, in this matter, Wu Xiaquan's family had mentioned the appearance of the screen from the beginning, but only when the fifth daughter spoke out against it and gave a lot of difficult reasons. Later, the fifth daughter asked "does mother know", Wu Xiaquan's family said "the lady asked is not careful"…… Everything, everything, was tactfully telling the fifth daughter that this matter, the big wife knew about it.

  She looked at Wu Xiaquan's family with a slightly stiff smile, interrupting Wu Niang's words, and asked with a smile: "Auntie Wu, won't the size of this screen be changed?"

  The words of the eleventh daughter interrupted the teachings of the fifth daughter, and Wu Xiaquan's family was naturally pleased to see this. Hurriedly smiling, she said: "If it were any bigger, it would look clumsy; if it were any smaller, it would look frivolous. It won't change." Her tone was very gentle.

  "Sister, let's start writing according to this size first!" Eleventh Girl smiled brightly at Fifth Girl, "There are still more than three months before the birthday gift-giving day, let's get started and make it. Once we find suitable wood, it won't be too late to carve the screen base and make the screen frame."

  Wu Xiaoquan's family couldn't help but sneer in their hearts.

  Look at Miss Eleven, gentle and polite, generous and magnanimous, speaking and acting without offending anyone, that's what it means to be eight-sided and clever. Unlike some people who think they can make others laugh just by talking, but don't know that people who are good at talking often don't talk, while those who can't talk are afraid of being found out, so they keep saying unreliable things. It's like a half-empty bottle making noise, while a full bottle never makes a sound... thinking the madam likes her, she really thinks she's the legitimate young lady!

  "That's the idea." She smiled and nodded in agreement with Shiyi, "Those who make wood are the most powerful in Hangzhou Prefecture, and they also have inventory at home. It's just that it doesn't quite meet our requirements. If not, we can settle for second best and use a few pieces to make do."

  The fifth daughter saw a flash of sarcasm in Wu Xiaquan's eyes and was startled, realizing she had said too much.

  Changed her mind and felt secretly annoyed.

  These wicked slaves, relying on the power of the great madam, don't even put miss in their eyes... It's all because they are not born to the great madam... When Yuanniang was at home, she was young, but some things were remembered clearly.

  Once, Yuanniang found the red bean paste in the tangyuan too sweet and spat out half of it into the bowl. Wu Xiaquan's family picked it up and ate it, smacking their lips and saying, "Luckily Eldest Miss doesn't like eating this, what a bargain for me." The look on her face was just like that of a fawning dog...

  Her two hands clenched together involuntarily.

  A little maid came in and said: "Fifth Miss, where is lunch being served?"

  "Just talk, and forgot to look at the clock." Wu Niang took a deep breath, her smile even brighter. She pulled out her pocket watch and took a glance, "It's indeed a bit late. Why don't you two stay for lunch?" She also instructed the little maid: "Go tell the kitchen that Miss Eleven and Wu Mama are having lunch here, bring over some dishes they like."

  Thinking that things are still uncertain, going back to Mrs. Dai's place doesn't know if she has prepared her meal, going back home to eat can't avoid starting a fire and cooking rice, it's better to just eat here at Fifth Miss's place.

  Wu Xiaoquan's family laughed and said: "Then let the fifth young lady bear the expense."

  Everyone eats in the public canteen, each meal has a fixed portion, if you want to add dishes, you have to pay for it yourself.

  "Don't worry, I won't eat you out of house and home."

  The eleventh girl had several hesitations.

  That little maid hadn't left yet, and suddenly said: "Eleventh Miss, are you worried that things in your room haven't been put away properly?"

  The eleventh girl listened with a silent shock.

  She was indeed worried about things at home...

  But couldn't say it to Wu Niang.

  Afraid she would think he valued Amber more than her - though this was true.

  Wu Niang heard this and indeed cast her gaze towards Shi Yi Niang.

  Before the eleventh lady could explain, the little maid had already said: "Eleventh miss, don't worry. Binju sister has arrived early. She saw you and our young lady talking, so she didn't dare to report back. She said that Dongqing sister has taken care of everything in your room - the place where Huopo sister is staying has been cleaned up, and the person has also been sent back to Lüqún Building, and the kitchen has added dishes for Huopo sister's welcome dinner. You can rest assured and have dinner here with us!"

  Her voice was crisp and clear, her words were fluent, and she spoke with logic. Everyone's eyes fell on her, including Wu Niang.

  That little girl was only eight or nine years old, with a round face and a green cotton jacket, standing there as tender as the buds on a willow branch in March.

  Wu Xiaoquan's family looked at her with a smile and said: "Whose daughter is this? She looks good and has a clever mouth."

  The maid smiled and stepped forward, curtsying: "I'm called Zhuo Tao. Since Autumn Lian is ill, the mistress ordered me to send someone back home to rest, so Mother Permit arranged for me to fill in for her. Zhao Sheng from the accounting room is my older brother. After arriving at Fifth Miss's residence, I followed several sisters to learn etiquette and only then did I understand how to advance and retreat. I don't dare accept Mother's praise."

  "Ah, peach!" said Wu's mother with a smile, "I think it doesn't look like a peach, but rather like a willow!"

  Xiao Tao was very quick-witted and immediately said, "Thank you, Mother. I also think this name is not good, it's better if Mother helps to choose one, so that I can also benefit from Mother's good fortune."

  "This has nothing to do with me. You should go ask your family's young lady."

  Zhuo Tao knelt down in front of Wu Niang: "Please, miss, give me a name."

  "Who taught you this?" Wu Niang said with a mixture of laughter and tears, "Your body and skin were given by your parents, and so was your name. In my house, such things are not allowed." She then said, "Quickly go to the kitchen to serve dinner!"

  Zhuo Tao nodded and went to serve the meal.

  Wu Xiaoquan's family looked at her back and smiled: "This really fits the saying 'if you're not from the same family, don't enter the same door'. This maid is also quite straightforward with her words."

  After dinner, Eleventh Sister couldn't help but let out a yawn.

  The fifth daughter was slightly stunned.

  Eleventh girl said embarrassedly: "I'm used to sleeping at this time every day, and it's no exception even in winter. So I don't want to stay for dinner at my sister's place..."

  The little discontent in Wu's heart vanished into thin air as she smiled and said, "In that case, why don't you go take a nap on my bed?"

  "Let Purple Wei sister make us a cup of strong tea!" said Eleventh Young Lady with a smile, "The screen is more important. Otherwise, I won't be able to sleep soundly either."

  The fifth daughter smiled and nodded, and went with the eleventh daughter and Wu Xiaquan's family to the study room, calling Ziwei to make a strong tea.

  Everyone discussed some details, Wu Xiaquan's family was about to go and report to Mrs. Dai: "... so as not to make Mrs. Dai anxious." But he took in his hand several drafts of the paper that Wu Xian thought were the best.

  Wu Niang understood, got up and smiled: "Then let's go together - just right to let mother see these drafts I drew, see which one the old lady likes, and Eleventh Sister can also embroider according to which one."

  The eleventh girl couldn't help but smile bitterly.

  These two fought on stage and dragged her into it as well.

  However, she would never refuse such a thing as reporting merits.

  "I also want to know which one Mother likes best!" The Eleventh Young Mistress smiled and followed them to the Eldest Lady's place.

  From a distance, there were young maidservants greeting them and lifting the curtains.

  As soon as I entered the door, I saw Big Aunt and Second Aunt sitting on a small stool beside the bed of the Arhat, chatting with Madame.

  The elder aunt, Duan Shi, and the second aunt, Yuan Shi, were both senior maids by the old master's side. After the eldest mistress married in, she took charge and accepted them as aunts. The elder aunt gave birth to the second and third mistresses, while the second aunt gave birth to the second master. The second mistress died at the age of three, while the second master only lived for two days. The third mistress was premature and had poor health since childhood. When she grew up to fifteen years old, under the arrangement of the eldest mistress, she married a younger cousin from her mother's side who was born out of wedlock. She died of illness within three years without leaving any children, so they had to adopt the daughter of the concubine and give her the name to hold the funeral rites.

  Since then, the elder aunt started having vegetarian meals with the second aunt. The lady of the house also specially invited a chef to cook for the two aunts in a small kitchen. As they were now lay practitioners at home, the two aunts had stopped serving the lady of the house several years ago.

  How come you're suddenly chatting with the big wife today?

  Eleventh girl felt strange in her heart, but she didn't dare to show it on her face. With a smile, she followed Fifth Girl to pay respects to Madame and the two aunts, then stood quietly half a step behind Fifth Girl.

  Both aunts were prematurely grey-haired, but the elder aunt's life was rounded and looked very gentle, while the younger aunt's life was gaunt and looked somewhat stern. However, whether it was the elder or younger aunt, when they saw the eleventh daughter, they both smiled slightly at her.

  The old lady looked at them and smiled: "However, I helped you embroider a Buddhist scripture and offered it to the Ci'an Temple, but you look at her with joy."

  The elder sister-in-law smiled and said: "You're still willing to follow us to learn the classics, how can we not like you!"

  Shiying's face turned slightly red as she lowered her head.

  The old lady looked at Eleven and smiled warmly.

  The fifth daughter hinted at Wu Xiaquan's family to bring out the paper: "We've discussed several ways, and we'd like to ask Mother for her opinion!"

  The other senior maid of Madame Wang, Lai Qiao, took over the draft from Wu Xian's family and handed it to Madame Wang.

  The lady took a look and handed it over to a nearby aunt: "You also take a look, which one looks good?"

  The elder sister-in-law accepted it and smiled as she took a look, saying: "Madam knows me, these few years my eyes have gotten worse. Let the second sister-in-law help take a look instead!"

  (Made a character list for everyone to refer to when reading...)