Chapter 85: Poetry on the Qixi Festival
The first wife intended to place the second master between Xiu'er and Mengxi, but the old lady didn't say anything. Xiu'er was the first wife's niece, and Mengxi knew that the first wife supported her. What she couldn't guess was why the old lady's attitude towards Xiu'er was so ambiguous? She shook her head and concentrated on the family dinner.
Because the old lady and the eldest master were there, there was no scene of toasting and chatting as Mengxi had imagined. Everyone ate in silence, especially the concubines and wives. Even when they spoke, they spoke in low voices, which was very boring.
After the wine was served and the table was cleared, the old lady ordered people to place Qiqiao fruit, tea, wine, melon seeds, peanuts and other foods in the garden. As expected of a noble family, although there were no modern electric lights, lanterns were lit everywhere in the garden, and it was as bright as day. The family sat around and whispered about some legends of the Qiqiao Festival. The old lady saw that the children were very restrained and the atmosphere was not lively at all, so she said to the eldest master, "You are here, the children can't let go, and you are tired all day, go down and have a rest, it's enough to have the children sit with me." The eldest master was really tired, and he was here only to make his mother happy. After hearing her say this, he got up and said goodbye and went back, and the eldest wife also said goodbye to serve the eldest master.
As soon as the eldest master and mistress left, the garden immediately became lively. Xiao Yun and the five girls in particular started guessing riddles. The eldest master's daughter Xiao Ying stood up and said a riddle:
"Thousands of silk threads, tens of thousands of lines, disappear when they fall into the water." Guess the object.
Xiao Chun stood up and said quickly: "It's the sun."
Xiao Ying shook his head and guessed two more times, both of which were wrong. Meng Xi had already guessed what it was, but sat there and didn't want to say it. She thought it would be better to just sit there and listen, and not draw attention to herself.
Xiao Yun said loudly: "It's rain."
Seeing Sister Xiao Ying nod, Xiao Chun regretted it so much that he stomped his feet:
"Yes, why didn't I think of that? I'll also make a guess and whoever guesses correctly will get the flower as a reward," Xiao Chun said as he picked up a flower on the table.
When everyone present heard this, they burst into laughter.
After calming down, Xiao Chun said: "This thing is big and light, and it makes my stomach burn with anger."
Xiao Yun shouted: "Lantern"
After hearing this, Xiao Chun stamped her feet and glared at her Third Uncle, tightly holding the flower in her hand and refusing to give it to him. The Second Master stepped forward, picked up Xiao Chun and put him on his lap.
I'll give Chun'er a suggestion: "Long sharp beak, piercing bones, take a bite, take a step"
Xiao Yun thought for a long time and shook her head. Xiao Chun looked at the Third Uncle in a protest. The Third Uncle tore open his mouth with his hands and made a face at her.
Miss Xiu opened her mouth and said, "It's a furnace brazing."
Xiao Jun shook his head, and Miss Xiu sat there frowning again.
Seeing that no one was talking, Mengxi couldn't help but say, "It's a pair of scissors."
Xiao Jun listened, looked at her and nodded, indicating that he guessed correctly. Seeing his father nod, Xiao Chun handed the flowers in his hand to his mother, glaring and speaking.
"Mother guessed right, this flower is for you"
"Chun Er is so good"
Mengxi said with a smile, motioning Zhiqiu to come forward and take the flowers.
Seeing her cousin nodding his head in appreciation of his wife, Xiu was very worried. She rolled her eyes and suddenly remembered that her cousin's wife didn't know how to play chess. She must be good at neither chess, piano, calligraphy, nor painting. What else could a merchant's daughter know? She probably only knew how to cook, otherwise why would she run to the kitchen every day? Guessing riddles wasn't Xiu'er's specialty. In front of her cousin, she had to play to her strengths and avoid her weaknesses. Thinking of this, she said:
"How can such a poetic night be complete without poetry? Why don't we write poems on the theme of Qixi Night? Everyone can write one poem and then we'll select the winner. My cousin's wife is new this year and it's her first year participating in our festival, so why don't we let her start with one?"
Xiu'er had prepared a poem long ago, waiting for her cousin's wife to fail to perform it, and then she would take it out. Even if her cousin's wife was lucky, she could not beat her son's. In this way, she could defeat her cousin's wife in front of everyone, and at least let the old lady and cousin realize that how could a merchant's daughter compare with her, Xiu'er!
After Xiu'er finished speaking, she looked at her cousin's wife and thought happily.
When everyone heard about writing poems, they became more excited. Several girls clapped their hands happily and almost jumped up. A maid had already gone out to prepare pens and ink. Xiao Yun said:
"Yes, Second Sister-in-law's cooking skills and literary talent are first-rate. Tonight Second Sister-in-law must take the lead and win first prize, and set an example for others."
After hearing what Third Master said, Miss Xiu frowned. Although Third Master's words were obviously helping her and taking advantage of her misfortune, she didn't want anyone to praise her cousin's wife in front of the old lady and her cousin, not a single word was acceptable.
Xiao Jun glanced at Mengxi. He didn't think she could write poetry. They had been married for so long. If she could, she would have done it to please others. Why wait until now? How could she write poetry when she couldn't even play chess? After hearing what his cousin said, he sat there frowning, secretly thinking that his cousin was going too far. Seeing that the Third Master followed suit, he glared at him fiercely. How did he know that Xi'er was a first-class writer? Wasn't this obviously a conspiracy to embarrass her? Just as he was thinking about how to help her out, Zhiqiu's words came:
"Second Madam, just read it, and I will write for you."
Zhiqiu knew the level of her second grandmother's calligraphy and was afraid of missing any mistakes, so she hurried forward to take the pen and ink handed over by the maid, spread them on the desk, and turned to look at the second grandmother.
Xiao Jun glanced at Zhiqiu coldly. This maid was too ignorant. Why did she come to join in the fun instead of protecting her own grandmother? For some reason, Xiao Jun was not happy with the people in the yard at this time. He sat aside with a dark face and frowned.
Mengxi frowned after listening to what Xiu'er and Sanye said. She really couldn't compose poetry, especially this kind of propositional poetry with all the tones, such as Ping Ping Ze Ze. She was a modern person, so how could she have learned these things?
When Zhang Xiu saw her cousin's wife frowning, she was so happy that her heart almost jumped out of her chest. She looked at her excitedly with a red face, just waiting for her cousin's wife to make a fool of herself.
Mengxi lowered her head and thought about it, and she really remembered a poem. In her previous life, she thought the meaning was very beautiful, so she just wrote it down. Piracy is shameful. That was taught by her teacher in her previous life. No one taught her in this life. At this time, there is no morality or immorality. So she copied it and recited it:
The thin clouds are playing tricks, the flying stars are conveying hatred, and the Milky Way is moving in the dark.
When the golden wind and jade dew meet, it is better than countless things in the world.
Tenderness is like water, good times are like a dream, I can’t help but look back at the Magpie Bridge on the way home!
If the love between two people lasts for a long time, why does it matter if they are together day and night?
When Mengxi finished reading, Zhiqiu had already written it down quickly.
"What a wonderful saying: If love lasts forever, why would it matter if we are together day and night? This is truly the best poem of the time. Compared with my second sister-in-law's poem, Yun'er's poem is really not up to par. It's better not to have it."
After listening to his second sister-in-law's poem, the third master tore up the half-written poem and looked at her with admiration. He admired her from the bottom of his heart, but it was a pity that she followed this second brother who did not know how to be gentle with women.
Xiao Jun was also shocked, and looked at Meng Xi with admiration. He had prepared a plan just now, and was thinking of stepping in to smooth things over for her. After all, if she couldn't do it, he would be embarrassed. Unexpectedly, she did it in a blink of an eye, and he didn't even do one tenth of hers.
In the evening, as soon as he entered the hall with the master, he saw her with her plain face among the flowers. Her plainness seemed out of place against the lively backdrop of the hall. But it was this out-of-place that became a unique landscape in his heart, like a delicate and fresh lily , standing tall and graceful. It was the same at this moment. He never knew that she was actually a hidden and extraordinary talent.
He was finding it increasingly difficult to understand her. This mysterious woman was like fog, rain, and wind. She always gave him different feelings at different times: surprise, anger, expectation, disappointment, and more of a desire. Facing this woman, he had a feeling that he had no control over.
Zhang Xiu was already gritting her teeth at this time. She didn't expect that her suggestion would make her cousin's wife steal the limelight and really take the lead. Especially the look her cousin gave her was like a knife stabbing her heart, making her want to go up and eat her alive.
