A Thousand Hills

Chapter 2

In the early morning, when there was still a hint of dark blue left by the night in the sky, Xie Moru got up.

She always gets up early, and the eldest maid Jingwei came in to serve when she heard the news. Actually, Xie Moru didn't need the maid to serve anything. She could even dress, comb her hair and wash herself. Therefore, there is a master like Xie Moru who likes to come by himself. The maid around her was quite relaxed.The only requirement is that Xie Moru likes to get up early, so of course the maids don't want to sleep late.

Jingwei took a cup of mint honey water, Xie Moru took it and drank it, put the glass bottle containing the honey water on the table, and said, "Okay, you guys can do whatever you want in the house, I'm in the yard Walk around, don't follow."

Jingwei said, "At the moment the courtyard is heavily dewed, the girl's clothes are thin, let's put on a cloak." She had already prepared, and at this moment she fastened it for Xie Moru while talking.

Xie Moru waved his hand, signaling to Jingwei not to follow, and walked into the courtyard by himself.

Although the Rhododendron Courtyard is quiet, it is extremely grand, and it is no less impressive than Mrs. Xie's Songbai Courtyard.However, there are so many people in Mrs. Xie's yard, the maids and mothers-in-law are crowded like something, and the eldest maids have to share a room with two people.It's not like her Rhododendron Courtyard, which is not only spacious, but also quiet. The maids and mothers-in-law have one room per person, not to mention the spacious living, and the work is also easy.When I am free, I only complain about my poor life and no extra money.

Generally, Xie Moru would find a place where they could get extra money for such people.

Because of helping a few servants who were not satisfied with the reality to realize their dream of extra money, Xie Moru felt that his popularity among servants became better and better.No, many people greeted her spontaneously when they saw her, with a cordial and respectful attitude.And cleaning the courtyard or something, it's serious.

Xie Moru also likes flowers and plants, but Xie Moru is not partial to azaleas. To a certain extent, she does not like this kind of flowers.Rhododendron is not easy to manage. This kind of flower likes to grow among pines and cypresses on the mountain, and the soil it prefers is soil with pine needles.It is not easy to take care of if it is planted rashly in the garden.In spring, Xie Moru likes wisteria, this kind of flower is generally ignored, it will grow up slowly by itself when planted, creating a beautiful spring scene.

Xie Moru has a calm and quiet temperament, and she is also a relatively low-key person since she was young and followed her mother to practice the invisible Dafa.However, this is not to say that she has no demands on life.

On the contrary, she is quite demanding of life.

For example, she ordered people to plant wisterias beside the veranda, and now the wisterias have climbed along the veranda to reveal the elegant spring scenery. Although they have just budded, in a few days, when the wisterias bloom, they will be beautiful.Not only are the flowers beautiful, but you can also make wisteria cakes, wisteria cakes, fried wisteria fish, and wisteria porridge... just think about it, they are all delicious.

Xie Moru walked along the wisteria veranda and out of the Laurel Gate, which is the garden of Rhododendron Courtyard.

Except for her mother's lifeblood Rhododendron tree, the rest in the garden were arranged according to Xie Moru's thoughts. There are winter jasmine, jasmine, crabapple, rose, peony, peony, chrysanthemum, and wintersweet, each of which is located in the garden, especially in the garden. There is also a small clear pond brought in by running water from outside. A pool of white lotus is planted in it. Now there are small palm-sized green leaves floating on the water surface. Accompanied by the light morning mist that has not dispersed in the early morning, Xie Moru has a fresh breath. He took a deep breath and made up his mind to eat lotus leaf porridge tomorrow morning.

Even in early spring, when the weather is slightly cold, there are already some sights to see in this garden.However, no matter how good the scenery is, if you turn around and look at it once, you will be able to see it almost.Xie Moru is not, she has to walk around the garden more than [-] times along the cobblestone path every day, two years ago when she was young, she walked [-] times, now that she is older, she has to walk [-] times a day, Have to go to the forehead to sweat before it stops.

Furthermore, you can go around in circles, and she also likes to give some ideas on the construction of the garden while circling around.The woman who took care of the flowers and plants in the garden had to tense up every morning to prepare for the elder girl's inquiries. After a year, she would be more than ten years old.

It took half an hour to circle around the garden like this, when Xie Moru returned to the house, the hot water in the bathroom was already ready, Zhang Nanny had already found out the big clothes Xie Moru was going to wear today, Jing Wei took Xie Moru I wrapped my hair well, because I was going to pay my respects to Mrs. Xie after breakfast, and I accidentally wet my hair at the moment, it might be difficult to dry it for a while, if I go to pay my respects to the elders with a wet bun, it would be a bit unattractive.

It's better to wait for Xie to come out of the bathroom, and the breakfast has been placed on the porch.Xie Moru doesn't like to eat in the house, the fresh air in the morning is far better than his time, so she has to eat breakfast outside.In particular, the wisteria in this courtyard is budding, and the small purple buds hang down in clusters, like silent wind chimes.Eating under this flower stand will give you an appetite.

Of course, the last sentence was said by Xie Moru.Nanny Zhang is an honest person. She said at the time, "If the old slave is hungry in the morning, he will have an appetite wherever he eats." Mother, at that time she was only responsible for breastfeeding Xie Moru, and the other things were taken care of by the mother in charge.Later she didn't know what was going on, the Rhododendron Academy became more and more desolate, many people were transferred out of the Rhododendron Academy, and as a result, Madam Zhang, who was not in charge of things before and had little knowledge, became a top performer.At that time, she planned to go home, but who knew that after she was selected into the mansion as Nanny Xie Moru, the man in the family couldn't bear the loneliness, and had already lived with a seductive woman.Nanny Zhang had a daughter who had died in her infancy in two months.The man is like mud, and there is nothing to worry about at home. When people in the Dujuan courtyard are in panic and looking for ways, Madam Zhang has no way to find, and she will Xie Moru since she was a child, and she has long regarded Xie Moru as her own flesh and blood. Seeing that Xie Moru didn't have a reliable person to take care of him, he didn't feel at ease, so he stayed.After the people of the Dujuan Academy left, Madam Zhang became the managing mother of the Rhododendron Academy.In the past, many servants could not get into this position even if they sharpened their heads, but now, it has become a bleak role.

Others looked at the desolation, but Madam Zhang didn't feel desolate.On the contrary, Nanny Zhang is very confident. She feels that her eldest daughter is the best girl in the world.Whether you have a good temper or not, your temper is even better...Anyway, in the words of Nanny Zhang, there is nothing wrong with it.Well, it would be better if he changed his eccentric temper a little bit.

Let's take the matter of having breakfast in the yard for example. Nanny Zhang went out to inquire about it a long time ago. It was cold in the morning, so eating in the yard like this would be bad if you choked on the wind.Like the second girl, Xie Moyou, even when she occasionally eats in the courtyard, she has to surround herself with Sichuan brocade to keep out the cool morning breeze.Mammy Zhang also found some Shu brocades to protect her girl from the wind, but her girl said, "Mammy made these Shu brocades to surround the porch, it's no different from being inside the house."

When Mammy Zhang said she was afraid that her girl would be caught in the wind, her girl said, "I have to eat in the morning breeze, that's all right, Mammy, if you are willing to surround the brocade, you can go and eat around the brocade." I can't understand her old man's good intentions at all.Mother Zhang is not good at mentioning that Xie Moyou is so delicate, she is afraid that mentioning it will make her girl sad, but her girl said, "I am me, Mo You is Mo You, always compare with her .” I have already seen who Xie Mama learned the trick of besieging the Shu brocade from.

Nanny Zhang insisted, "It's not a comparison, the girl is still young, and it's cool in the morning, so it won't be good if it's really cold."

"Let's talk about it when I'm cold." According to Madam Zhang, she was born prematurely and often got sick when she was a child.Later, the yard became deserted, and she was like weeds in the wilderness. Not to mention her body gradually recovered, and in recent years, it was common for her not to even sneeze.

Today's breakfast is milk japonica rice porridge, four side dishes, one spring bamboo shoots, one cold cut beef, one cold fungus, one sauced cucumber, and two steamed vegetarian dumplings and milk cakes.

Xie Moru didn't pay much attention to his meals, and he didn't have the habit of not talking about food, so he asked, "Is this the spring bamboo shoots in our garden?"

Nanny Zhang smiled, "Why not? Didn't the eldest girl tell you yesterday, what do you want to eat today? The mother-in-law in the garden dug it out early in the morning, boiled the water, mixed with autumn oil, and it was fresh." It's amazing."

Xie Moru smiled, "I'll mix another one to eat at night."

If it was any other knowledgeable nanny, she would definitely persuade Xie Moru at this moment, even if it is something that suits her mouth, she doesn't have to come to eat every now and then.However, Nanny Zhang has never received those knowledgeable teachings. Seeing that Xie Moru was happy to eat, she also served Xie Moru some vegetables, and smiled, "The eldest girl likes it, so she eats more. Bamboo shoots are seasonal, and there are also Just eat for a few days."

"Yes." Xie Moru said with a piece of crispy bamboo shoots in his mouth, "Don't make milk porridge tomorrow, I see the lotus leaves growing in the lake, pick two pieces and make lotus leaf porridge."

Nanny Zhang dotes on Xie Moru very much, as long as Xie Moru says something, she will have nothing to say.Nanny Zhang smiled, "Yes, tomorrow morning I will ask the woman in the garden to row a boat and pick the tender lotus leaves. I will eat lotus leaf porridge now, and when the lotus leaves are bigger, I make lotus leaf chicken for girls, and it's also very fragrant and delicious."

Next, the two had a big discussion on the dishes made of lotus leaves. After Xie Moru was full, Madam Zhang helped her change into the clothes she wore for school. The amethyst flower hairpin picked out yesterday.Nanny Zhang praised, "Our eldest girl is getting better and better."

Xie Moru smiled, "I'm going to pay my respects to my mother, and the mother should also go to eat."

Seeing Jingwei coming with the little maid Wisteria, Zhang Momo smiled, "Okay, girl, go to Grandma's place quickly, the time to greet the wife is coming, don't delay."

Compared to Xie Moru who is an early riser, her mother Fang is definitely a late riser, Fang usually does not get up until noon.Xie Moru said he was going to pay his respects, but he just greeted Fang outside the door.

Xie Moru said to the mother-in-law who guarded the door, "When mother gets up, you can serve me well." Then he went to Mrs. Xie's place to say hello.

The time for other families to pay respects to the elders of the head of the family will be earlier than that of the Xie family. Generally, when the mother-in-law gets up, the daughter-in-law has to go to serve.Mrs. Xie has never had such a rule, she always let each room have their own breakfast before going there.Of course, this may also be related to the special situation of the eldest house, and the fact that the second son Xie Bai is not yet married.After all, Mrs. Xie's eldest daughter-in-law, Mrs. Fang, seldom came out of the Dujuan Courtyard. The eldest daughter promoted Aunt Ning to be the director, but Aunt Ning was only a concubine no matter how good her reputation was.

This inference was muttered between Madam Zhang and Xie Moru in private.Nanny Zhang's original words were, "A concubine is a concubine, but she wants to rush to serve the wife, the wife must have a crush on her!"

Xie Moru was very speechless, if Mrs. Xie looked down on Aunt Ning, how could she allow her son to be devoted to this daughter, how could she allow Aunt Ning to give birth to a daughter and three sons, how could she let Aunt Ning be in charge of the housekeeping?
Xie Moru arrived at Mrs. Xie's courtyard at the right time, neither too early nor too late. Of course, it was slightly earlier than Aunt Ning arrived with her three sons and one daughter.

This is not to say that Concubine Ning is late, but Concubine Ning has to serve her husband, take care of the children and take care of the eldest house.

Mrs. Xie saw that Xie Moru had an amethyst flower hairpin on her head, and smiled, "You should dress up like this, you are also more clean on weekdays."

Xie Moru answered yes, and had nothing else to say.Mrs. Xie also sipped her tea quietly. For a while, the room was silent, and even the maids were a little more cautious.This is also strange, Mrs. Xie is famous for being a well-known person, Xie Moru should be less talkative, she is not a stupid person, but the two of them are very indifferent when they meet.However, the two still have something in common: that is, they can still sit quietly in such a dull meeting, and then ignore each other.

Finally, Aunt Ning came over with her three sons and a daughter. After greeting each other, Aunt Ning looked at the amethyst hairpin on Xie Moru's head and smiled, "My wife's things are good, our eldest girl is getting better and better. All right."

Xie Moru had a laugh, thinking that Aunt Ning might have learned this from Nanny Zhang.Xie Moyou smiled, "Big sister is in a good mood today." The concubine seems to have natural competition and hostility, Xie Moyou is very upset when Xie Moru laughs, my aunt compliments you kindly, what do you mean by smiling like this?I don't know what is good or bad!

Xie Moru didn't explain why she was laughing, she said, "Yeah, I don't know why I suddenly felt happy, so I laughed. I think today is the day of posting the gold medal, or it is a good omen."

Xie Moyou twisted the handkerchief in his hand, almost dying of anger from Xie Moru's shamelessness.Nima, just laugh when you laugh, my aunt is well known for being generous and kind, so why would she care about you?But what do you mean by auspicious omen?A big family, who can't laugh, but if you laugh, it's a good omen!
The person Xie Moyou hated the most in her life was none other than Xie Ruru. Because of this person, she became a concubine, and her younger brothers became concubines.

Die!concubine!
One word difference!The difference between heaven and earth!

Even if her aunt is in charge of the house, even if her father loves their siblings a lot, others will still say behind their backs: a concubine!Concubine!

How can there be such a person in the world, who is the most annoying existence from birth.

Xie Moyou took a look at Xie Moru, then moved his eyes away, took a red dress embroidered with gold thread and sat beside Mrs. Xie affectionately, and asked with a smile, "Grandma, should the second uncle come back too? I miss the second uncle. "

Mrs. Xie smiled, "What do you miss about him? I want him to go to the Zhuangzi to be happy and not take you with me."

Xie Moyou's pink lips were slightly pouty, and there was an indescribably charming face on her pretty face, and she complained, "I promised to take me to Xinghualin to brew apricot blossom wine, but at the end of the day, I ran away secretly. When Uncle comes back, I ignore him."

"You child, your second uncle loves you the most." Mrs. Xie stroked her granddaughter's back, Xie Moyou whispered something in Mrs. Xie's ear, and Mrs. Xie was very happy, "Monkey, don't play tricks on your second uncle." .”

Xie Mo smiled sadly, "Grandmother just listens to me." She has bright eyes, a bird's head inlaid with jewels in her hair, and the beads are slightly red, and the white skin is more elegant than the light of the jewels three points.Aunt Ning looked at her daughter tenderly, and said angrily, "I gave birth to four of you, and you are the older sister, but you are the most unstable. Look at your eldest sister, this is the demeanor of our parents."

Xie Mo smiled sadly, "It's fine if the eldest sister is good, but if we want to talk about our patriarchal demeanor, it should be the noble concubine and aunt. Auntie sees that the eldest sister is better than me in everything, so don't be too partial."

Aunt Ning said angrily, "Your mouth..."

"But to tell the truth." Xie Mo asked with a smile, "Is that what Big Sister said?"

Xie Moru nodded, "The noble concubine is a sign of auspiciousness for the Xie family. There has never been anyone before, and there will be no one to come after. Naturally, no one can match. My sister's words are indeed absolutely right." One sentence choked Xie Moyou to death, and no one before was right. , What did no one come after?Also, where did she say these words, Xie Moru actually put it on her head, Xie Moyou could vomit out a mouthful of old blood.Bisheng Xie Moru still sat upright, with a dignified face.So Xie Moyou became even more depressed.

Aunt Ning smiled, "It's almost time to go to school, don't be tired of your grandmother, watch out for your siblings to laugh at you."

Xie Moyou loves to be coquettish, and he is very measured. He got up and saluted, "Yes. Grandmother, aunt, my eldest sister and I will go to school first."

Mrs. Xie smiled, "Go, I have delicious food here at noon, if you are fast, you will have it, if you are slow, you will not have it."

Xie Mo smiled sadly, "I wish I could grow wings under my ribs." She made Mrs. Xie amused again, "Greedy cat." Said, "Why don't you come here at noon."

Xie Moru said, "Yes." Then he and Xie Moyou went to study together.

A family like the Xie family cares about the girls as well. Rao Xie Moru, who is semi-invisible, will receive the same education when they reach the age when they should be able to read and write.

Because Concubine Xie is in power in the palace, the person who comes to Xie's house to be the lady's husband is a female official surnamed Ji from the palace.When you are old, you will be released from the palace, and you will delay your youth in the palace due to unnatural birth. Let's get married, whether you are high or low, go back to your mother's family. The real mother's family is reliable and will not go to the palace at a young age.So she simply became a female husband in the Xie family. The rich and powerful family of the Xie family enshrined Mr. Ji.

Seeing that the two of them had arrived, Mr. Ji had nothing to say, so he started talking about homework.It's just that before the class started for a long time, Su Xin, the first-class maid in Mrs. Xie's house, came to report with joy, "Our second master won the first prize, and the whole family is very happy. My wife said that today the girls should take a rest." , have a good day, and congratulate the second master."

Xie Moyou was overjoyed and asked Suxin, "Is Second Uncle back?"

Su Xin smiled and said, "Even though Second Master hasn't come home yet, what day is it today? It's almost here soon. Girls, hurry up. Madam is very happy. She's talking to Auntie about setting up wine and singing a play."

Xie Mo smiled sadly, "Please run back, my sister and I will go there right away."

Su Xin smiled, "Such a big happy event, even if the servants run away and lose their legs, they are willing."

Xie Moyou smiled again, and said to Xie Moru, "Big sister, let's go to grandma's place first, and let the maid clean up the pens, ink and books."

Xie Moru said, "Sister, you might as well go first, I'm about to tidy up here."

Xie Moyou ignored Xie Moru and left a little girl to clean up her pen and ink. She lifted her skirt and Suxin and went to Mrs. Xie's room.

Seeing that Xie Moyou led the people away, Jingwei was very anxious for her girl, and whispered, "I will serve the girl and go to my wife first, it's the same to let Wisteria clean up."

"What's the rush? Uncle He Bu He Xi is always looking for flowers, I've already cleaned up half of it." Xie Moru wasn't in a hurry, Jing Wei was so anxious that she wanted to hang herself.Xie Moru had already washed the brushes and put them in the pen case, and put the books and homework into the book case one by one. Mr. Tong Ji gave a slight compliment, "I don't think there will be classes in the afternoon, sir, just take a rest."

Mr. Ji smiled, "I haven't thanked the eldest girl for the cold bamboo shoots brought in this morning. It's fresh and refreshing, and it's in season."

Xie Moru smiled, "It's the spring bamboo shoots in my garden. Mama said that the bamboo shoots will get old as soon as they sprout, and they will be the most tender when they are dug out before they sprout."

"Yeah, as long as you mix it a little bit, it will be very fresh."

"It's a pity that there is no water shield, otherwise it would be a soup that would be even more delicious."

The master and the apprentice chatted some gossip, and when they left the Huazhang Hall where the class was taking place, Xie Moru asked Mr. Ji to go first, and Fang leisurely enjoyed the spring scenery, and went all the way to Mrs. Xie's courtyard.

(End of this chapter)