In the plain curtain, Ding Youwei and two maids were kneeling and sewing under the celadon lamp. There was a thick mat woven from cattails under their knees. There was a bronze hand-warmed stove on the small walnut table in front of him. The three maids were sewing.
My clothes and hands were cold, so from time to time I stretched out my hand to warm it on the stove. While I was warming my hands, I listened to the low whistle of the cold wind outside and felt the warmth of my home on a winter night.
Ding Youwei finished sewing a striped brocade skirt. Axiu took it over to look at it and praised: "My lady's red dress is really exquisite. The stitches are neat and fine, and the seams are perfect. Yuyan and I have been learning tailoring and sewing since we were young.
It’s almost ten years, but it’s not as good as my wife’s three years of study.”
Yu Yan said: "How can the two of us compare with Madam? She is the most ingenious person I have ever seen."
Ding You smiled and said: "Don't you find it annoying to have to praise me every time?" He stretched out his fair and slender right hand to cover the bronze heater, listened attentively, and said: "Duoduoduo, it's time again, ah, it's Haishi!
"He said to Axiu and Shi Yuyan: "Run'er and Zongzhi's New Year clothes have been sewn. You all can go down and have a rest."
As Xiu packed up her sewing utensils, she asked, "Mr. Cao Zhi should be back in the next two days. These new clothes are just for him to take with him. I really want to see Miss Run'er looking so cute in her new little skirt."
What a look."
Yu Yan said: "The north wind is blowing so hard, it might snow at night, and the young man will have to brave the snow on his way."
Ding Youwei frowned and said, "I'm young and haven't traveled far yet. I've been away for nearly three months. I wonder if I'm in good health?"
At this time, there was a faint sound of people coming from the direction of the gate. Ding's villa was very big. It was more than half a mile from this small courtyard to the gate. Ding Youwei couldn't hear what was going on and didn't care. She asked Axiu to help her.
After taking off the hairpin, her long black hair fell down and hung on her waist and hips. Her slender body became more and more graceful. When she was about to take off her clothes and put on the bed, she heard someone patting the door of the courtyard——
There was an old servant living downstairs, who had already fallen asleep. Ding Youwei said, "Yuyan, go and see, what's the matter?"
Yuyan lit a small lantern and took Axiu with her, saying that she was scared to be alone.
Ding Youwei hadn't undressed yet, and was sitting by the bed with a heater in hand, waiting to see what would happen so late.
He heard the sound of Yuyan opening the courtyard door, and then the indistinct voices, and then Axiu ran downstairs and said loudly: "Madam, the young master Cao Zhi is here. He came back from Wujun, and Chunqiu
Xiao Langjun came back together."
Ding Youwei was pleasantly surprised, and quickly put on her green silk shoes. She had no time to comb her long hair, so she found a blue ribbon and tied it with it. She quickly walked to the corridor, leaned over and asked, "Is the young man here? Are you here?"
where?"
The maid who reported the news said: "I am dining in the front hall with Mr. Chunqiu."
Ding Youwei immediately ordered Axiu to get a lamb fur and put it on. The three servants went to the front hall. Axiu went to check first and said there were foreign guests. Ding Youwei waited in the side room. Through the curtain, he could hear Xiaolang's gentle words.
, I feel really happy.
Uncle Ding Yi came over and said, "Youwei is waiting for Chen Caozhi. Haha, the three juniors came back overnight and are homesick." After a few words, he left.
Ding Youwei was a little strange. His uncle was naturally happy that Chun Qiu was back, but his uncle called Cao Zhi and Chun Qiu his juniors together. This was really a rare thing.
After a while, Chen Caozhi came over and saluted Ding Youwei respectfully.
Ding You looked at Xiao Lang with a smile and said, "Fuck, why are you traveling all night? How hard is it? What should I do if I get cold?"
Chen Cao said: "I'm worried about the snow and the delay. It's evening when we arrive in Yuhang, so I might as well walk all the way at night - sister-in-law, I'm in good health. I'm wearing warm clothes so I won't get cold."
Ding Chunqiu also came over to greet his cousin and said, "Is Cao Zhi still resting in Third Sister's courtyard tonight? Well, it's worth it. I'll have someone arrange it for you. Just go with Cao Zhi. By the way,
Go take a shower first, the hot water is ready."
Chen Caozhi then said to Ding Youwei: "Sister-in-law, please go back to the courtyard first. I will come right after taking a bath."
Ding Youwei saw that Ding Chunqiu and Chen Caozhi were very familiar with each other, and knew that the two had formed a friendship while studying in Wu County together. She was very happy and said: "Go and take a bath quickly, my sister-in-law is waiting for you here."
After Chen Caozhi hurriedly took a shower, he rushed over and saw that his sister-in-law was still waiting for him here. Axiu and Yuyan were both there, breathing in and out to warm their hands. They were cold.
The four of them walked towards the small courtyard. Ding Youwei looked at Chen Caozhi and said, "Caozhi has grown really fast. He is already seven feet tall now. When he came in April, he was almost as tall as me. Now
He’s just a bit taller than me.”
Chen Cao said: "Sister-in-law, I will be sixteen years old after the Chinese New Year. I will be a strong man and will be dragged to do chores."
Ding You smiled and said: "You are a sixth-grade official. Who dares to drag you to do miscellaneous labor?"
When they arrived at the small courtyard, Yuyan and Axiu hurriedly went to tidy up Chen Caozhi's bedroom, fold the quilt and make the bed. Yuyan also placed one of her own tin pots, commonly known as "Tang Pozi", at the bottom of the quilt, so that Cao Zhi could sleep there later.
The bed was warm by then.
In the study, Chen Caozhi told his sister-in-law about the two and a half months of studying in Wu County, but did not mention his interactions with Lu Weirui.
Ding Youwei frowned and said: "Cao Zhi, it seems that the Chu family has a deep grudge with you. You must be careful. My uncle once said that Chu Jian is a very insidious person and he will not let it go."
Chen Cao said: "Sister-in-law, don't worry. The county is a matter of the king of the Wang family. There is a prefect Lu in the county. The Chu family cannot do whatever they want. I will deal with it carefully. It will be fine after it is officially finalized in March next year."
Ding Youwei still had a lot to say, but knowing that Xiao Lang had a hard time traveling and it was almost midnight, he didn't say any more and asked Yu Yan to hold the lamp and send Chen Caozhi off to rest.
Chen Caozhi was indeed tired, so he went to sleep. When he woke up the next morning, he heard a faint rustling outside the house. He hurriedly dressed and went to bed. He opened the door and went to the corridor to take a look: ah, it's snowing!
The snow is not heavy, it is floating here and there, and it has not accumulated on the ground yet, but looking at the thick gray clouds in the sky, the snow will definitely fall heavier and heavier.
After sleeping late last night, Ding Youwei, Axiu, and Yuyan hadn't gotten up yet, so Chen Caozhi went to get water to wash himself. When he returned upstairs, his sister-in-law Ding Youwei was already sitting in front of the bronze mirror, dressing up, and Axiu was waiting on her, as if passed down from later generations.
"The Picture of Women's History" painted by Gu Kaizhi depicts the scene of women dressing up.
Ding Youwei looked at Chen Caozhi in the mirror and said with a smile: "It was a good time for Caozhi to come here last night. You see, it's snowing this morning."
Chen Cao said: "Sister-in-law, I have to rush back to Chenjiabao immediately." He said his original promise to Run'er.
Ding Youwei laughed in surprise and said: "That little one Run'er really knows how to cry." He hurriedly ordered Axiu and Yuyan to pack their things, all for Agu, Cao Zhi, Zongzhi and Run'er, who had sewn new clothes and some New Year's clothes.
Gift.
Chen Caozhi said: "I also brought some small gifts to my sister-in-law, sister Axiu and sister Yuyan in Wujun." After saying that, he went downstairs to be discharged from the hospital. After a while, he brought Laide and Ran Sheng with him and presented gifts.
, it is Wu Jun embroidery, silk patterns, openwork ivory combs and other things, and there is also a volume of Wei Heng's "Four-body Calligraphy" copied by Chen Caozhi. This is for Ding Youwei. Chen Caozhi heard it from his sister-in-law for a long time.
I have heard of the name of "Si Ti Shu Shi" but have never seen it.
Chen Caozhi couldn't wait to eat soup cakes, so he said goodbye to his sister-in-law and asked Lai De to call Liu Shangzhi to set off together. Ding Chunqiu came to see her off before she could wash up, and they agreed to go to Wu County in early February next year.
At the end of Mao Shi, two oxcarts were rolling southward, and the snow gradually became heavier. An hour later, they arrived at Fenglin Ferry. There was already a thin layer of snow on the ground, and the Qixi Ferry was right here. Chen Cao gave way.
Laide led the ox cart behind him. He and Ran Sheng first crossed the river in a small boat. They said goodbye to Liu Shangzhi at the ferry, put on high-toothed wooden clogs, swung their sleeves, and walked on the snow first.
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Han Shi strongly recommended it. It should be on the shelves on the 1st of next month. The list will be changed tonight. Xiaodao wants to compete in the weekly point and weekly recommendation list. Please support the book friends with clicks and votes. Thank you Xiaodao
