Spring is fleeting, and the branches of the apricot trees are already bearing numerous green fruits.
The flower girl at the street market has baskets filled with late peach blossoms and hibiscus.
A small sedan in green clothes stopped in front of the west corner gate of Chengyi Hou Mansion. Xu Chunjun came out of the sedan holding Lvchun's hand.
She was a little thinner than before. She had a silk handkerchief tucked into the side of her narrow-legged Xilan-colored coat. Under her egg-green pleated skirt, the toes of her double-breasted, cocked-toe shoes were slightly exposed.
Zi Ling walked to the door and handed over the post. The servant guarding the gate of the Hou Mansion looked them up and down and said, "Just wait!"
Then he went in to report.
After about a stick of incense, two maids came out, both of whom I had never seen before.
Judging from the clothes and attire, she must be a third-class maid in the mansion. One of them in a green shirt said to Xu Chunjun: "Miss Xu, Madam asked us to take you in. We specifically ordered you to bring only one servant."
Xu Chunjun and others looked at each other, and finally Cheng's mother followed in.
After all, she is older and can discuss things when they happen.
Zi Ling and Lvyan didn't say anything they wanted to say. The girl was cautious in everything and didn't need their advice.
I just can't help but feel anxious, not knowing what the outcome will be.
Xu Chunjun followed the two maids into the house from the west corner gate, walked around the screen wall, entered the second gate, passed through a row of buildings, and then came to the main room.
On both sides of the steps are two rows of flower pots of regular size, holding various flowers and plants. The flowers are so beautiful that they seem to never wither.
The two women were taking care of the branches and leaves, watering and loosening the soil. When they saw Xu Chunjun, they couldn't help but look at it curiously.
Entering the door, the Xiang bamboo curtain covers the ancient screen, and everything is spotless.
The scent of sandalwood is diluted and it is the favorite incense burned by people worshiping Buddha.
Today, Mrs. Houye is wearing a thin silk jacket in the shape of a banana moon and a cloud. The lower body is a grape-brown gauze skirt with two layers of mountains. There is a string of jade beads in her hand.
Like most aristocratic women of her age, she was slightly stout. She wore lead powder and rouge on her face, but it was only a light make-up, not exaggerated.
Xu Chunjun took a special look at the white jade sparrow hairpin on his wife's head, and felt a little more at ease.
After greeting Mr. Hou, Mrs. Hou gave him a seat and asked Xu Chunjun: "How is your foot now?"
Xu Chunjun leaned forward and replied: "Thank you madam for asking, it's okay."
She is answering calmly now, but in fact, it took nearly half a month to recover from her foot injury before she dared to go to the ground. It has not recovered yet, but because she was anxious to save people, she came to see Mrs. Hou as soon as possible.
Fortunately, she is naturally strong. If it were anyone else, she might not be able to get off the ground in a month.
After drinking a cup of tea, Xu Chunjun said: "Chunjun came today to ask me what the second thing my wife wants me to do is?"
Mrs. Marquis looked at her, smiled with unknown meaning, and said: "I am planning to hold a banquet in the next few days. There are not enough manpower in the house, so I want you to help with the cooking."
"The banquet at the Marquis Mansion is a big event, but I don't know what I should do specifically?" Xu Chunjun didn't get too involved in these things when he was at home, because his third aunt Xu Lang took care of everything.
What's more, in order to avoid suspicion in front of her aunt, she didn't steal the limelight, so she had little experience.
"Don't worry, I won't give you anything too difficult," Mrs. Houye said with a smile, "Mama Ye and the others can do things like deciding the menu and arranging the seats. You just need to help wash the vegetables, carry the plates, and clean up."
Just leftovers."
Mother Cheng, who was behind Xu Chunjun, couldn't help but complain in her heart. According to Mrs. Hou's wishes, it was obvious that the fifth girl came to his house to be a servant, and she did the lowest work. This was too humiliating.
To be honest, the first thing Mrs. Marquis told me was already too much to bear, and the second thing was even worse.
Mother Cheng is now very suspicious that Mrs. Hou Ye does not really want to help the Xu family at all, but is just taking this opportunity to have fun with Xu Chunjun.
By then, they might not be able to eat the fish and would be covered in fish. Not only could they not save the second young master, but they would also suffer humiliation in vain.
At this moment, she was anxious, but she could not act rashly, because she, a servant, was never allowed to speak in such an occasion.
"Of course, you can refuse. Between the two of us, it's all about one willing to fight and the other willing to suffer." Mrs. Hou Ye looked at the new gemstone ring on her hand and said: "When Jiang Taigong fishes, whoever is willing will take the bait."
.I didn’t force you."
"If Madam doesn't think Chunjun is clumsy, what's the problem?" Xu Chunjun was gentle and gentle: "I don't know which day to start, so I'll be ready."
"Since you're already here, there's no need to go through any further trouble. It's better to choose a different day than to hit the sun, let's do it today. Tell everyone who's following you to go back and wait. It's enough for you to stay alone." Mrs. Marquis raised her hand and pressed the button.
He pressed the emerald comb on his head and said, "The banquet is scheduled for the day after tomorrow. In the past few days, you should first get familiar with the situation in the house and help them with the tasks at hand."
Listening to this tone, it seems that Xu Chunjun has been summoned.
"Excuse me, madam, after the banquet is over, will this second thing be considered completed?" Xu Chunjun asked.
"Yes, but the premise is that you must do your job well and not shed a single tear." Mrs. Hou Ye looked directly at Xu Chunjun without a trace of smile on her face: "Otherwise our agreement will be terminated and you will never even think about it.
Let me save your second brother."
After saying that, he got up and went to the inner room, leaving Xu Chunjun outside.
"Fifth girl, I don't feel comfortable leaving you alone here. How about we forget it and try another way, maybe it will be more pleasant than this." Cheng's mother whispered to Xu Chunjun.
"Mom, don't worry. I can stay here alone. Nothing will happen." Xu Chunjun comforted her: "There is no turning back. We have reached this point and we must not give up. Don't worry and go back! It will only last three to five days in total.
With effort, I can hold on."
"Girl, this Madam Marquis is too troublesome." Although Xu Chunjun repeatedly assured that she would be fine, Cheng's mother really felt bad.
"I'm not afraid of her making things difficult for me, as long as she's willing to tell me what she wants me to do." Xu Chunjun didn't feel embarrassed at all: "Go back and wait for me!"
Cheng's mother wanted to say something more, but when she saw that the maid of the Hou Mansion who stayed outside looked impatient, she stopped talking.
As soon as Cheng's mother stepped out, the maid said to Xu Chunjun: "Follow me to the backyard. First go to the warehouse to get your luggage, and then I'll tell you what work you do."
"Thank you, sister." Xu Chunjun seemed to not see the maid's disgusted look, and said politely: "There is something I don't understand, please give me some advice."
The maid snorted in response and took Xu Chunjun to the backyard.
