Chapter 3 Old courtyard deep
Dexintang had two meals throughout the year, which was relatively common in that era.For a big family like the Kang family, breakfast and supper are all they need to do in the morning and evening.But the Kang family has always practiced sharing food between men and women, in order not to forget the poverty of their ancestors.
Poor peasant households in the countryside have the custom of eating "men and women rice".That is, in order to ensure the man's labor force, the family cooks two kinds of food, men eat dry food, women eat thin; men eat clean food, women eat bran vegetables.The same was true before the ancestors of the Kang family made their fortunes.After getting rich, in order not to forget the roots, a family rule was set up, and men and women shared food: the male lead of the family, no matter how old or young, had to eat in the big kitchen of the "old man"; the female relatives of each house had to eat in their own small kitchen .Naturally, a large kitchen is much more particular than a small kitchen.But after several generations of evolution, this ancestral rule has become a popular phenomenon. The hero eats in the big kitchen, which has become too grand, too serious, and too luxurious.As a result, some male protagonists often find excuses to eat and drink in the small kitchen of their own women, trying to make something delicious, casually.When there are festivals or guests, it is a last resort to eat in the big kitchen.
Kang Hunan has always been dissatisfied with this kind of "failure", but he can't sit still every day.As soon as he went to the big kitchen to sit down and eat, the six masters and young masters dared not miss him.But he didn't come for a meal, so they let the sheep go.I heard that only the fourth master is the most restrained, and he doesn't come all the time.Kang Hunan usually didn't come to the big kitchen to eat, but he didn't hide in the old lady's small kitchen, but the housekeeper Lao Xia specially set up a small kitchen for him.He is old and can't eat greasy and hard food.You guys are so young, you want to compare with him no matter what!
However, Kang Hunan never ate in his small kitchen since he led the four masters to ridicule the poor shopkeeper Qiu like a play.For two meals a day, he came to the big kitchen on time, meticulously, and ceremoniously ate.As a result, the old and young men in each house suddenly cheered up and came out to eat on time.
In order to eat on time, other aspects must be punctual, and the atmosphere in the Kang Manor seemed to have changed for a while.
The old lady Du Yunqing also felt that the atmosphere was suddenly strange.She didn't quite understand it, but she didn't ask any more questions.Besides, who to ask?What Kang Hunan didn't want to say more, she asked in vain.The servants around her didn't say much either.
On this day, before Si time, Du Yunqing had breakfast in her small kitchen ahead of time, went to the small study to greet Kang Hunan, and said, "Aren't you going out? I'm going to the city to take a bath today."
Kang Hunan was practicing boxing at the door of the small study room, he didn't stop, he just snorted.
Madam Du didn't stay long, and returned to the big study of the old courtyard, which was where she usually lived.Her accompanying maid, Lu Bu, has already packed everything needed to take a bath in the city.Soon, another maid came in and said, "Madam, the carriage is already waiting outside the door, when are you going to get up?"
Lu Bu hurriedly said, "Let's go now."
So, Du Yunqing was served by Lu Bu, walked through the hall and courtyard, walked out of the side door facing east of Dexin Hall, boarded a big saddle car inlaid with copper and silver, the young and handsome driver walked lightly With a flick of the reins, the carriage started majestically.
After the carriage left the village and walked onto the quiet country road, Lu Bu got out of the sedan chair and sat on the side of the carriage.Although the sedan chair was wide, it was hot after all, and both of them were sitting in it, so she was afraid that the old lady would be hot.She called out to the driver again: "Xixi, come up and sit in the cross yard too, while the road is quiet."
"What's the matter today, you are so fawning on me?"
"I don't know how to lift, pull down!"
The Kang family has a family rule of not using young maids.Lu Bu was a middle-aged woman who was a few years older than the old lady Du Yunqing, so she didn't have much scruples about calling out to the younger driver.Moreover, Du Yunqing has always disliked majesty, allowing the servants around her to be lively and casual.She herself likes to be a little out of character sometimes.
The coachman's name was Sanxi, he agreed, jumped lightly, and sat on the other side of the chariot shaft.
Two tall and beautiful bay red horses, the color of their coats seemed to be dyed with water, shining like satin.At this time, they were a little excited again, but the rhythm was not chaotic, and they moved forward smoothly.
Du Yunqing felt very comfortable driving in such a light and easy way on the quiet country road.
When she first arrived at the Kang family, every time she went out, the housekeeper, Lao Xia, would set her up two cars, a big saddle cart for her, and a small saddle cart for Lu Bu and the others who were serving her.Each car has a driver, a follower, and two drivers.Going to the city to take a shower, just like that, don't you want to be annoying!She insisted on taking only one car, and Lu Bu was the only maid.Can the driver be alone?Lao Xia said, it's like a farmer's family, so it's impossible!She asked Lü Bu again, and Lü Bu said, why not? I've been running on a familiar road all day long. I'm glad he can drive you into the ditch?Du Yunqing knew that Lu Bu wanted to please her, but she still insisted on leaving only Sanxi as the driver.Kang Hunan praised her for being so light and easy.When he travels sometimes, he also has one car, one servant, and one driver.
Du Yunqing's father, Du Changxuan, had been the French interpreter of Zeng Jize, Minister of the British and French envoys, for many years.After being a diplomatic mission in Paris for a long time, I developed a hobby of bathing.Du Yunqing's mother is from Songjiang in the south of the Yangtze River, and she also has the habit of bathing in the south.Therefore, Du Yunqing has been accustomed to a problem since she was a child: without taking a bath, she simply cannot live.After becoming the fifth continuation wife for a rich man like Kang Hunan, she followed her father's suggestion and asked the Kang family to build a Western-style bathroom in her mansion.
Kang Hunan agreed very readily at the beginning, saying: "Taigu is the first one to build a Western bathhouse in his house, right? Build it! The Du family will hire Western craftsmen." But not long after, Kang Hunan I changed my mind and said that according to Feng Shui theory, water should be avoided in a Kang house, so it is not suitable to build a bathhouse in the house.He advocated building a women's bathroom for Kang's family in the most exquisite Huaqing Pool bathhouse in the city, which is the same as building it at home. You can use it whenever you want.
How can it be the same, once you take a bath, you have to mobilize people, run more than ten miles, and enter the city once.Although Du Yunqing was dissatisfied, that was all she could do. How dare she bear the charge of damaging the Kang family's feng shui.
It was the thirteenth year of Guangxu. Although Taigu City was extremely prosperous, none of the bathhouses in the city had a women's department.Du Yunqing went to the city to take a bath in such a grand manner, which actually created a new show for the wealthy businessmen in Taigu, and the female relatives of all families followed suit.For a while, the bath wind was surging, and the fragrance of the Chinese cars was wafting. It was very lively for half a year.This made Du Yunqing very excited, she was the first person to open up this new trend.However, after half a year, the craze subsided.There are not many female guests who can insist on going to the city to take a bath every three to five days, and persist for many years.
The water quality in Taigu is not good, coupled with the long and cold winter, most people don't like bathing, especially women.But those noble women can't fall in love with bathing, she can't understand.No matter what others do, she must take a bath, otherwise, she really can't live.
However, in recent years, a group of young women from wealthy families have become more popular in bathing, making Huaqing Pool's women's department lively again.
In previous years, when the weather was hot, Du Yunqing would go to the city every three days.The weather has been hot enough these days, but seeing Kang Hunan's sudden sternness and abnormality, the whole family was nervous, and she was embarrassed to go out every day.It had been two days, and she couldn't bear it anymore, so she dispatched early that day and went to the city to take a bath.
In the quiet countryside, apart from the rhythmic sound of horseshoes, there is the occasional chirping of cicadas.After walking out of the Kang family's deep compound, Du Yunqing always felt better.Not long after leaving Kangzhuang, she said to Sanxi:
"Sanxi, please sing a few more lines of Taigu Yangko, do you have any new words?"
Sanxi looked at Lu Bu and said, "She seems to have lost her soul today. If I sing, won't it frighten her?"
Lu Bu hurriedly said, "Who has lost his soul? The old lady told you to sing, so you can sing yours. What a harm to me!"
Du Yunqing also said: "Sanxi, don't worry about her. I said a few words to her when I got up early, and she is feeling wronged. Don't worry about her."
Sanxi jumped off the ground, followed the car, and sang:
Lu Bu said: "How many times have I sung it, the old lady wants to hear new words, do you have any?"
Du Yunqing said: "Singing is good, but humming and coughing are difficult."
Sanxi said, "I'll give the old lady a few more words."
This plain Yangko tune popular in the Qitaiping area is more popular in the mountain Ertai, Xintianyou, and Mountain Climbing tunes in the northern border area. There is no "roar" with strong game flavor.Sanxi sang while driving the carriage again. If he didn't "roar", he couldn't get the game out, and he couldn't cover the sound of horseshoes.
"It's all about singing!" Lu Bu was obviously restless.
"If you want to hear something nice, I'll sing it for you!" Sanxi sang with enthusiasm.
Seeing Lu Bu's anxious look, Du Yunqing said to Sanxi: "Seeing that Lu Bu is not happy today, you don't have to sing."
Lu Bu hurriedly said, "Xixi, you can sing to the old lady quickly, and leave me alone."
Sanxi roared twice again:
Du Yunqing didn't expect Sanxi to sing these two lines, and hurriedly said: "There's no need to sing, it's almost time to stop singing."
It turned out that Lu Bu was restless because he heard that his father was seriously ill and bedridden.But she dared not ask for leave.She has experience, and she must not ask for leave when the old man is so dignified.Once you take a leave of absence, you can never come back.Although she was a servant in the Kang family, Xin Jin was also comparable to a senior runner in the name because she served the old lady personally.Therefore, I regard the humble position as my life, and dare not make any mistakes.
Du Yunqing saw what she was thinking, and said to Lu Bu: "I will grant you a vacation, if you want to go back and have a look, I will return yours."
Lu Bu actually said: "Old lady, you have a good heart, I know, but you can't accept my leave. Your Kang Manor has rules, we servants can only take ten days off in three months, just like the guys in the shop who are stationed abroad. Friends, in less than three years, even if you say it, you won’t be able to come back.”
Du Yunqing was a little displeased, and said, "I'll go and tell them that if you serve me as an adult, I can't give you a few days off?"
Lu Bu became even more anxious: "Madam, you must not talk about it. Once you talk about it, you will never see me again!"
Du Yunqing was very unhappy.This Lu Bu used to serve Kang Hunan, and after she passed through the door, he followed her.Even the name Lu Bu was given by Kang Hunan.He likes to give the names of the ancients to the servants around him.But Lu Bu has been with her for many years, and Kang Hunan is the one who is afraid!
Du Yunqing thought about it, then sent the other servants away, and asked Lu Bu alone: "Do you want to visit your father?"
Lu Bu said, "How can you not want to!"
"Then I'll find a way for you, so that you don't have to ask them for leave, and you can go home."
"Old lady, it's really great to have such a way!"
"I'm afraid you won't dare to listen to me!"
"Old lady, what method did you come up with?"
"Isn't your house not far from the city? You wait for me to go to the city to take a bath, and you have to wait until you reach the gate of Huaqing Pool. I go in to take a bath, and you hurry back to your home. There are many maids in the bathhouse, and someone serves me. I take a bath very well." Take it easy and wait for you to come back. It depends on you, whether you are willing to work hard or not."
"I'm still afraid of hard work? I'm afraid of—"
"I'm afraid that someone will tell the old man, right?"
"You don't need the old man, even if Old Xia Laoting knows about it, it will be great—"
"Old Xia Laoting and the others, you are all afraid, but you are not afraid of me, right?"
"Old lady, if you say that, I can't live anymore!"
"Then you will follow my arrangement and go back to your home while I take a bath!"
"That--"
"Then what, don't you dare?"
"Will San Xi talk too much?"
"Then don't let him know. Before taking a bath, I will tell you to buy something for me in front of him. Needless to say, Lao Xia Laoting, it is the old man. If you don't mind, I will send you to buy something!"
"What can buy so much time?"
"Hey, you can run all over the city, but you can't find it!"
"Then listen to the old lady?"
"If you don't dare to listen to me, it's up to you!"
Although Lu Bu said he would do so and went home secretly, Du Yunqing could tell that she still hadn't made up her mind.Now, she has set off to enter the city, and that time will soon come. Should she go or not?Lu Bu must have felt uneasy because of this.
Du Yunqing tried her best to persuade Lu Bu to do such an outrageous thing, but she herself was very excited.So, along the way, even though she didn't call Sanxi to shout Yangko again, she still kept gossiping with him, looking relaxed and happy.She also tried her best to get Lu Bula in to talk, but unfortunately Lu Bu couldn't relax.
When approaching Nanguan, Lu Bu got into the sedan chair.Sanxi also jumped off the shaft of the car, and drove with all her heart.
In the sedan chair, Du Yunqing glared at Lu Bu.Lu Bu was still very nervous and lowered his head, not daring to look at the old lady.
Huaqing Pool is on the bustling East Street in the city, but its back door is in a secluded alley.The female guests take a bath and walk behind.As soon as Du Yunqing's carriage stopped at the secluded back door, Chitang's maid came out to serve her.
Du Yunqing got out of the car calmly, and then said to Lu Bu calmly: "Go around the street and see if you can buy some velvet flowers for me. I want the velvet flowers with a bunch of purple grapes and a little squirrel crawling on them. Don't worry." The colorful ones, no. Do you hear me clearly?"
Lu Bu said, "Understood clearly—"
Seeing that she agreed unnaturally, Du Yunqing asked sharply on purpose: "You don't want to go?"
Lu Bu hurriedly said, "I'll go, I'll go right away!"
Du Yunqing didn't say any more, and was served by the bathhouse maid gracefully, before stepping into the back door.
Du Yunqing took a bath as much as possible, but it was a hot day after all, and there was a limit to how much she wanted to wash.You can't heat yourself to death just because of this Lu Bu!After she got out of the bath, she chatted with the female guests as much as possible for a while.During this period, I sent the bathhouse maid out several times to look at it, but Lu Bu still didn't come back.
It seems that Lu Bu followed her arrangement and secretly went home to visit his father.If you didn't go, you would have been waiting outside.This made Du Yunqing happy.What made her happy was not that Lu Bu obeyed her, nor did she do good deeds for Lu Bu, but that she instigated Lu Bu to break the rules of the Kang family!Breaking the rules of the Kang family seems to be an irresistible temptation for Du Yunqing.
But, you have to come back quickly!
Waiting foolishly in the stuffy bathroom like this, the comfort after bathing is almost gone.Du Yunqing really didn't want to wait any longer, so she told the maid in Huaqingchi: "I'm leaving first, tell Lu Bu, she will come later."
After getting out and getting into the car, she said to Sanxi: "Look at this Lu Bu, I don't know where he is going! Let's go first, I'm going to die of heat."
Sanxi started the car, and said: "I see she is also staring in a daze today, not sure what's wrong, probably lost her way."
"How big is Taigu City, can she get lost? If she is really this stupid, I don't want her."
"I'll keep an eye out and see if I can see her."
"Be careful driving your car and leave her alone."
It's past noon, and the market at noon on a hot day is not crowded.The carriage crossed the street and the city, and soon left the city, and soon left Nanguan.Walking for a while on the quiet country road, a jujube forest appeared on the side of the road.
Du Yunqing said: "Sanxi, stop for a while, here is shade, see if you can wait for Lu Bu." She knew that when Lu Bu ran to Huaqing Pool and lost his horses and chariots, his soul would come out of a hurry.
Sanxi stopped the horse, stopped the car, and said, "Madam, you are so kind. If you don't punish her, you have to wait for her."
"You like being punished, don't you?"
"Who likes to be punished? If you don't want to be punished, you have to obey the rules."
"The kind of velvet flowers that I asked her to buy are not easy to buy. I'm afraid that the stores in Beijing won't sell them, so I have to look for small peddlers from all over the street. How can I find them easily?"
Du Yunqing is a natural foot, easy to move.She easily got off the sedan chair and walked into the jujube forest.Although the jujube forest has sparse branches and leaves and is not densely shaded, it still blocks the heat.The further you go in, the more refreshing and refreshing it becomes.So, she just walked deep into the jujube forest.
Seeing the old lady walking towards the jujube forest, Sanxi quickly picked up the footstool for getting on and off the car, and followed behind.But the old lady didn't seem to want to stop.
"Old lady, don't dare to go in."
"What are you afraid of? Are there wolves or ghosts?"
"In broad daylight, how can there be those unlucky things? I'm afraid that if I go further in, I won't be able to take care of the chariots and horses."
"Then you call on the chariots and horses, and I'll take a few steps in the woods."
"Lu Bu is not here, no matter what, I have to serve the old lady first."
It was only then that Du Yunqing realized that in this peaceful jujube forest, there were only her and the driver.This is almost never the case.Ever since he entered Kang's house, Lu Bu was always by his side at any time.And as long as Lu Bu followed, there would be more servants waiting around.In the Kang family's mansion, Du Yunqing felt lonely almost all the time, but she was always surrounded by many servants.Now that the siege was suddenly gone, especially the sudden absence of Lu Bu, she felt a sense of freedom and excitement.
"Then I won't go in." She said to Sanxi, "Put down the footstool, and I'll just sit here."
Sanxi hurriedly chose a cool and shady place, put down the stool, wiped it again, and said, "Madam, can I sit here?"
"I'll listen to you, it won't take you to greet the horses and horses here, right?"
"That's right, Madam, please sit down."
Du Yunqing sat down and said to Sanxi: "You also find someone to sit down, sit down, I don't know when Lu Bu will catch up."
"I haven't suffered much today, so I don't need to sit down. The old lady must be tired. She just finished taking a bath, and walked this kind of rough place again."
"Walking in the woods is great. When I was young in the capital, my father took us for an outing, and I loved looking for the woods. He often told us that Westerners would also enjoy the blessings. They brought all the food, drink, and entertainment to us. Find a quiet forest in the wild, and the whole family will have fun playing games for a day, and they will not return at night when they are happy. Think about it, it will be a blessing."
"Spending the night in the woods? Are there no wolves, tigers and leopards in the West?"
Du Yunqing smiled: "Sanxi, you are so timid! Do we have wolves, tigers and leopards here?"
"Why not? When the crops are high, there will be."
"Yes, you don't have to be afraid, I will cure them."
Sanxi smiled.
"You do not believe?"
"Xin, who doesn't know that you are not an ordinary woman, old lady."
"Little servants, do you dare to talk about me behind my back?"
Seeing that the old lady was not angry, Sanxi said, "We all praise the old lady, and we never said anything bad about you, really."
"I didn't say bad things, who knows. Tell me, how do you praise me?"
"It's nice to say that the old lady speaks Beijing dialect. She also said that you have a kind heart and are so kind to the servants, and you are not afraid of spoiling them. You are very civilized, love cleanliness, and are not afraid of trouble. You go to the city to take a bath like this every three days, and the more you wash, the more you wash. The younger you are, the more beautiful you are."
"Dog slaves, I can guess what else to say: it's a pity that I gave birth to a pair of big feet! Right?"
Sanxi hurriedly said: "We didn't say that! They all said, look at the old lady, she has left her natural feet, isn't it noble and elegant? Not only noble and elegant, but also generous, lively, and flexible. Wherever you want to go, you can go Where to go, how good. Are all the noble women in the capital like you, old lady?"
"Where is it! It's my father who wanted to take me to the West, and he didn't allow me to bind my feet when I was young."
"Western women don't bind their feet?"
"No, and the banner women don't bind their feet either. Sanxi, you married a daughter-in-law with small feet, right?"
"No, I can't do anything, I can't go anywhere."
"Is the daughter-in-law handsome?"
"Small family, where is Neng Jun?"
"Little slave, what are you talking about! Do you want to change your mind?"
"No, I mean, I can't compare with rich and powerful families like you, my boss."
"Little servant, you still have high eyes! You must be a wealthy family, you must be fine? I think you don't want to see your own wife?"
"no no."
"How about the parents at home, are they all right?"
"My father has been stationed in Lanzhou for many years, and my mother is fine."
"Is your father a ticket dealer or a tea farm?"
"The tea house, for a lifetime, is in the tea house."
Gossiping with this young and handsome driver made Du Yunqing feel very happy.The drivers selected by the Kang family for the car are all young and handsome youngsters of this type.They, together with the gorgeous and majestic carriages and horses, are the face of the master when he goes out.They are driving cars here, which is the same as being apprentices at Zihao.After working for a few years, he was sent to a firm in another city.Du Yunqing's driver has already changed two, the first one is reserved, the second is shy, they are not like this Sanxi, they are lively and talkative.
Unfortunately, such pleasure will not last long.It seemed that before he had said a few words, Lu Bu rushed over in a daze.
After re-boarding the car and setting off, Lu Bu kept asking why he didn't wait for her.He also said that when she ran to Huaqing Pool, the carriages and horses disappeared, and her legs were weak.But Du Yunqing didn't talk to her much.The desire to instigate Lu Bu to break the Kang family's rules has been fulfilled, but she no longer feels much excitement.
She just missed the joy just now.In the jujube forest, something seemed to move her.
In the autumn of the eleventh year of Guangxu, Du Yunqing returned to Taigu from the capital with his parents.
That year, because of the Vietnam case, China and France turned against each other.Her father, Du Changxuan, followed Zeng Jize, the minister who was envoy to Britain and France, and worked hard in Paris, negotiating and protesting, trying to maintain the dignity of the court and preserve Vietnam.Unexpectedly, Li Hongzhang, the Minister of Beiyang, urged the court to resign the upright Mr. Zeng in order to negotiate a peace.Du Changxuan, as the second-class interpreter of the envoy, was also called back to the country.Du Yunqing remembered that the father who came back didn't say much, but loved to look up to the sky and laugh.In the summer, I began to prepare for returning to my hometown for leisure.She did not believe that her father would really return to Taigu.But just in autumn, when the capital was a bit cooler, the father took their mother and daughter and left the capital.
During the long and desolate journey, my father's interest increased day by day.Especially after going out of the Zhili Plain and heading west into the mountains, the barren valleys and ridges, the withered grass and lonely trees, the piercing mountain wind, the frighteningly silent canyon, the silently flowing mountain stream, and the always The hard-to-reach stations seem to be what my father desires.
Du Yunqing has never been able to believe that everything is true.
Taigu is the hometown of the Du family. Du Yunqing, who was born in the capital, has grown up so much that she hasn't come back yet.She only imagined it from her father's constant narration.The Taigu in her imagination was already extremely prosperous, and when she finally saw the real prosperity, she was still very surprised.When she came back from the capital, it was not bad that her hometown did not disappoint her, but it actually surprised her!
Du Yunqing remembered that when he arrived that day, it was almost dusk.The setting sun casts the past, and the White Pagoda and the Drum Tower stand above the city, which are extremely brilliant.Approaching slowly, I can see clearly that the Drum Tower is extremely magnificent, but the towering white pagoda seems to be more resplendent.The official road back home was in the east of the city, and the setting sun just set off the splendor of the hometown for her to see, and then slowly set in the west.When approaching Dongguan, the sky was already hazy, but there were many shops, heavy traffic, and the noise of the city was even more overwhelming.
Especially the camel caravan that came back that night, it was so long that you couldn't see the beginning and the end, and only the sound of the camel bells was broadcast into the night.After crossing the Yongji Bridge and entering the East Gate, a sea of lights suddenly appeared in front of my eyes.
After going through a journey that is getting more and more desolate and seems to have no end, at that moment, it is like walking into a fairyland.
The ancestral home of the Du family is hidden deep at the end of a quiet alley in Xicheng.Its unexpected delicacy and refinement also surprised Du Yunqing.It was not a very big mansion, but from every tile and rafter head of the gatehouse facing the street, to the hut for storing firewood in the side yard, everything was meticulously decorated.Du Yunqing was even more surprised by the elegant and graceful garden behind the mansion.The house where my father lived in the capital couldn't be compared with this place!Although the second-class interpreter also has the status of the third and fourth ranks, but how can such a miscellaneous official live in a mansion with a garden?
In short, Du Yunqing was overjoyed by the hometown he met for the first time.However, the first sip of water she drank surprised her beyond imagination: Is this water?So bitter and salty!
My father said that what I drink is already sweet water, and my servants have to fetch it from a well far away.The well in the back garden is the bitter water, which is only used for general washing.
Goodness, this is already sweet water!
Like her mother, Du Yunqing didn't want to stay in Taigu for a long time from the first day she came back. The too bitter and salty water was one of the reasons.My mother said to her: "After eating this kind of bitter water for a long time, our white and clean teeth will become unclean. First, yellow spots, and later dark spots!"
At this she was terrified and horrified.But can you not eat or drink?
When I asked my father when he would return to Beijing, he always said: "I won't go back. My old roots are in Taigu, so I will retire in Taigu for retirement. There is something in the capital, and there is something in Taigu. Why do you want to go back?"
As for the mother, the president said to her behind his back: "You don't have to listen to your father. He came back this time to raise a sum of money so that he can return to the capital to make a comeback, and ask the court to send him back to France."
Of course Du Yunqing hoped that what her mother said was true.
Du Yunqing's grandfather was a senior member of Zhuang Xiecheng, another big ticket family in Taigu who was stationed abroad.The place where he led the village for the longest time was very far away in Xiamen.He had a close relationship with Zhou Kaixi, Fujian chief envoy.Therefore, when Zhou Kaixi assisted Zuo Zongtang in founding the Fujian Shipping Bureau, he followed Zhou Fantai's persuasion and sent fourteen-year-old Du Changxuan to the former school of the Shipping Bureau to study French and shipbuilding.At that time, Du Changxuan had already been selected as a scholar and was extremely intelligent.Although he traveled thousands of miles to Fujian to study French when he was a weak crown, he was quite talented.After graduating from the previous school, he was selected to study in France.It was not surprising that Zeng Jize later chose him as a French interpreter.It's just that Du Changxuan's diplomatic path sent by his father is neither a businessman nor an official, which is very unique in Taigu.
Therefore, when Du Changxuan returned to Taigu, he received an extraordinary courtesy.Those who visited him and entertained him almost continued all day long.Those big business houses, officials, gentry and celebrities in Taigu, who have a great view of the world, almost invited him all over the place.
The high society in Taigu kept inviting Du Changxuan, just to listen to him tell about the French court scene, the twists and turns of the Vietnam case, and some anecdotes about Zeng Jize and Li Hongzhang.Of course, we should also ask about Western merchant trade, money business, ships and guns, and the Western atmosphere of free communication between men and women.The same topic, the same story, each family has to hear it with their own ears, which is also a kind of ostentation.
During the days when Du Changxuan was in and out of the high society in Taigu, he made a very westernized move, that is, he always took his daughter-in-law Du Yunqing with her.At that time, women were not allowed to show their faces in public, let alone enter and leave the social occasions of the upper class.But Du Changxuan took her daughter away just like that, and the high society in Taigu accepted her like that.
At that time, Du Yunqing was twenty-one years old, and he had a different kind of demeanor, which was eye-catching.According to Du Changxuan's ideal, it is to make her beautiful daughter into a minister's wife who is suitable for going to and from Western diplomatic scenes.Because the wives of the ministers of the Qing Dynasty he saw were poor in style and aptitude, especially those with golden lotus feet, so they couldn't be on the social stage.Du Yunqing started from not binding her feet, and approached the Minister's wife step by step. She gained talent and learning, became addicted to bathing, and learned simple French and English.
When she was seventeen, her father selected a man who was expected to become a minister for her in the Beijing Normal University Tongwen Hall.Unfortunately, not long after the marriage, the husband passed away early.She was regarded as a hit with Koff, and it was difficult to get closer to the Minister's wife.Her father's ideal was suddenly shattered like this, but she had already made it up and couldn't change it.
However, Du Yunqing really has a kind of charm that is different from that of a lady from a boudoir. She is graceful and elegant, healthy and bright, which makes people feel that women leave their natural feet, so there is no beauty in it.Perhaps it is this kind of demeanor that the high society in my hometown wants to see with their own eyes.
When Du Changxuan described the atmosphere of the French court, he would specifically point out that the Western ladies who gathered at the court banquet and dance, including noble women such as princesses, princesses, and princesses, were all natural.Therefore, they can socialize freely with male guests and dance lightly without losing their noble manners.Western social occasions, without noble women, will collapse.Noble women can freely enter and leave social occasions because they are all natural.In China, the more noble women are, the smaller their feet are bound, and they can't go anywhere.It was the humble big-footed wife who showed her face and ran all over the street.
Du Changxuan's new theory made those old and young bosses, big and small shopkeepers, officials, gentry and celebrities listen to it, and they also felt that they were brain-opened.
During those days when she accompanied her father in and out of the high society in Taigu, what Du Yunqing kept repeating were two things.One was to speak Beijing dialect to the host, and they were overjoyed to see that she, a graceful and beautiful female village party member, could speak such pure and pleasant Beijing dialect.Her Beijing dialect is flexible and tactful, like singing a song.Sometimes, I would praise her for her good Mandarin, and I would also praise her teeth, saying how they are so white and clean, like jade.
Another thing is to walk a few steps and ask them to watch.They were also very happy to see that she walked gracefully and gracefully with her pair of natural feet.I believe that Du Changxuan's praise of Western women is not a joke made up.
It's just that when these rich and famous people listen to her speaking Beijing dialect and walking like a beautiful woman, their eyes often become silly, as if they can no longer blink, and their mouths open stupidly, and they forgot to close them for a long time.At such a time, Du Yunqing would find that many of the wealthy and famous people in these villages had dirty teeth.Both yellow and black.
Sometimes, Du Yunqing would be invited into the inner room alone to meet with the female relatives.They will also ask her to speak Beijing dialect and walk.It's just that they always look at it coldly.
From autumn to winter that year, Du Yunqing accompanied his father just like that, kept going to appointments and visits, was used to riding in the gorgeous and majestic big saddle cars of rich families, and also saw the rural scenery all over the country.When it is sunny, the sky always seems to be too blue; when it is windy, the wind is obviously too harsh.However, she gradually got used to it.The Phoenix Mountain in the south of the city, the Wuma River in the north of the city, and the jujube forest among the falling leaves, and the car marks that meander and swim on the snowfield when the snow first fell, all gradually fell in love with her.
But she didn't remember going to Kangzhuang or entering Kang's house.
Those days finally faded away.
Later, Du Changxuan did not raise the money he needed.The rich merchants in the township, especially the money business bank, did not value his future.Xibang Piaozhuang predicts a person's value, and his vision is too vicious.They obviously think that a translator like Du Changxuan is not worth investing in even if he is well versed in Western powers.Du Changxuan soon understood this level.But he didn't feel too much worry and anger except for occasionally laughing up to the sky.
It seems that he is really going to retire in Taigu.For a period of time, he was enthusiastic about advocating letting go of his feet among the villagers, and took Du Yunqing around, but it had little effect.The villagers asked him: "It's so good to let go of your feet. Why can't you marry this big-footed daughter of yours?" He really couldn't answer.
Later, he went all out to get rid of the bad habit of the villagers who didn't like to take a bath.Enthusiastically promote the beauty of Western private bathrooms to those wealthy families.He said everywhere, why are the skin colors of Westerners so fair and watery?It is because people bathe every day!Talking about the beauty of bathing to this extent still can't impress anyone.This is the same as the bathing craze that Du Yunqing set off in Taigu later, it is the same as the underground, and the same as the sky.
Whether he really wanted to or not, Du Changxuan was truly unemployed.He personally supervised the work and built a private bathroom in the Du family's ancestral home.In addition to insisting on taking a bath every day, he also insisted on taking a walk outside the city every day at dusk, accompanied by Du Yunqing, to see the rural scenery and the sunset and sunset.Whenever there is any excitement in the city, he would run to watch it like a child.
In those days, Du Changxuan was most relieved by the few American pastors who had just come to Taigu to preach.They are clergy sent by the Congregational Church of Oberlin University in Ohio, USA. When they came to such a strange Taigu, they suddenly saw a Chinese who could speak English and French.It's just that they were too stupid, knowing Du Changxuan's background, they blindly persuaded him to convert to Christ.Du Changxuan is an official appointed by the imperial court, so of course he cannot join a foreign religion.However, he often visited these missionaries in order to speak English, and sometimes he couldn't bear it, and he also spoke French.
Du Yunqing followed her father and went to see them as well.At that time, they were still living in Limeizhuang on the outskirts of the city. Although there were men and women, they were all blond, blue-eyed, tall and tall, and their conversation was very boring.There are so few boring Westerners living in Taigu, no wonder not many people believed my father's praise of Westerners.My father was too lonely to talk so fascinatedly with such a boring person.
In the thirteenth year of Guangxu, that is, in the spring of the third year when they returned to Taigu, Kang Hunan's fourth Mrs. Suxian passed away suddenly.
At that time, the Du family and the Kang family had no contacts.The Kang family is a wealthy family in Taigu. In comparison, the Du family is nothing!满城都在议论康家即将举行的那场葬礼如何盛大，如何豪华的时候，杜长萱只是兴奋得像一个孩童。他不断从街肆带回消息，渲染葬礼的枝枝节节：城里蓝白绸缎已经脱销；纸扎冥货已向临近各县订货；只一夜工夫，几乎整个康庄都银装素裹起来了；一对绢制的金童玉女，是在京城订做的；寿材用的虽是柏木，第一道漆却是由康笏南亲手上的；出殡时，要用三十二人抬双龙杠……
杜长萱去乡已久，多年未见过这么盛大的葬礼了，很想去康庄一趟，看一看那蔚然壮观的祭奠场面。只是因为杜筠青和母亲站在一起，无情地讥笑他，才没有去成。
发丧那天，康家浩荡异常的送葬队伍，居然要弯到城外的南关，接受各大商号的路祭。所以，南关一带早已是灵棚一片。杜长萱无论如何不想放过这最后的高潮了，决意在发丧那天，要挤往南关去观礼。他极力鼓动杜筠青也一同去，说，去了绝不会失望后悔。父亲变得像一个顽童，杜筠青有些可怜他，就答应了。
可她一个女子，怎么能和他一起去挤？
父亲说，他来想办法。
杜长萱终于在南关找到了一间临街的小阁楼。楼下是一间杂货铺，店主是他的一个远房亲戚。杜筠青也不知那是真亲戚，还是假亲戚。
到了那一天，杜筠青陪着父亲，很早就去了南关。那里已是人山人海，比大年下观看社火的场面还大。在这人山人海里等了很久，才将浩荡的送葬队伍等来。那种浩荡，杜筠青也是意外得不能想象！
她问父亲：“你不是常说，晋人尚俭吗？我们在京时，也常听人说，老西儿财迷。这个康笏南，居然肯为一个续弦的女人，举行这样奢华的葬礼，为什么？”
杜长萱说：“那能为什么，康笏南喜爱这个女人吧。”
父亲的这句话，杜筠青听了有些受感动。但最打动了她的，是在树林一般的雪色旗幡中，那个四人抬的银色影亭：影亭里悬挂着这位刚刚仙逝的女人的大幅画像。她出人意料地年轻，又是那样美丽，似乎还有种幽怨隐约可见。杜筠青相信，那是只有女人才能发现的一种深藏的幽怨。
她是不想死吧？
但杜筠青怎么都不会想到，自己竟然做了这个女人的后继者！她更不会想到，这个女人的死，竟然可能与自己有关！
康笏南的这位夫人，是在春末死去的。到了秋天，满城就在传说康笏南再次续弦的条件了：可以是寡妇，可以是大脚，可以通诗书琴画，也可以不是大家名门出身。
这些条件，简直就是描着杜筠青提出来的！
但在当时，无论是杜长萱，还是杜筠青，都根本没朝这里想。他们正被满城议论着的一个神秘话题吸引住了。
康家有不纳妾的家风。这份美德，自康笏南的曾祖发家以来，代代传承，一直严守至今。康笏南虽将祖业推向高峰了，他也依然恪守了这一份美德。只是，他先后娶的四位夫人，好像都消受不起这一份独享的恩爱，一任接一任半途凋谢，没有例外。乡人中盛传，这个康笏南命太旺，女人跟了他，就像草木受旺火烤炙，哪能长久得了！每次续弦，都是请了最出名的河图大家，推算生辰八字，居然每次都失算了。
康笏南就好像不是凡人！
对康笏南神秘的命相，杜长萱提出了一个西洋式的疑问：“康笏南是不是过着一种不洗浴的生活？”
杜筠青的母亲是相信命相的，她无情地讥笑了自己的丈夫。
叫杜筠青感到奇怪的是，既然这个老财主的命相那样可怕，为什么提亲的还是应者如云？如此多的女人，都想去走那条死路？
母亲说，康笏南提出的续弦条件太卑下了，那样的女人，满大街都是。
父亲却说，康笏南倒是很开明。
但他们谁都没有把康家的续弦条件，同杜家联系起来。很显然，从杜长萱夫妇到杜筠青，还没把杜家看成太谷的普通人家呢。
既然与己无关，即使满城评说，那毕竟也是别人的事，闲事闲话而已。很快，杜家就不再说起康笏南续弦的事了。那已是落叶飘零的时节，有一天，杜长萱带了女儿杜筠青，前往里美庄，去观看西洋基督教的洗礼仪式。那几位美国传教士，终于有了第一批耶稣的信徒。他们邀请杜长萱光临观礼。杜筠青不明白什么叫洗礼，当众洗浴吗？杜长萱笑了，便决定带她去看看。
去时，雇了两顶小轿，父女俩一人坐了一顶。已经出城了，轿忽然停在半路。杜筠青正不明白出了什么事，父亲已经过来掀起了轿帘。
“不去看洗礼了，我们回吧，先回家——”
见父亲神色有些慌乱，她就问：“出什么事了？”
“没有，没有，什么事也没出。我们先回吧，回家再说——”
父亲放下轿帘，匆忙离开了。
回到家，杜筠青见街门外停了一辆华美异常的大鞍轿车。父亲去会见来客，她回到了自己的闺房，但猜不出来了怎样的贵客。并没有等多久，父亲就匆匆跑进来。
“走吧，跟我去拜见一个人，得快些。”
“去拜见谁呀？”
“去了，你就知道了。赶紧梳妆一下，就走。”
杜筠青发现父亲的神情有些异常，就一再问是去拜见谁，父亲不但仍然不说，神情也更紧张了。她只好答应了。
正在梳妆，母亲拿来了父亲的一件长袍，一顶礼帽，叫她穿戴。这不是要将她女扮男装吗？
到底要去见谁，需要这样神秘？
父母都支支吾吾地不说破。她更犯疑惑，也起了好奇，你们不说，我也不怕，反正你们不会把我卖了。
杜筠青就那样扮了男装，跟着父亲，出门登上了那辆华美的马车。那天她就发现，赶着这辆华美马车的，是一个异常英俊的青年。马车没走多远，停在了一条安静的小巷。从一座很普通的圆碹门里，走出一个无甚表情的人来，匆忙将她和父亲让了进去，没有说一句话。
后来她当然知道了，那次走进的是天成元票庄的后门。但在当时，根本不知道是到了哪儿，只觉得是一处很干净，又很寂静的深宅大院。他们刚被让进一间摆设考究的客厅，还没有坐稳呢，旋即又被引至另一间房中。
进门后，杜筠青还没有来得及打量屋中摆设，就感到自己已被一双眼睛牢牢盯住。那是一双男人的眼睛，露出放肆的贪婪！她立刻就慌了神。
“你就是杜长萱？”
"yes."
“久仰大名。你把西洋诸国都游遍了？”
“去是都去过。”
“那就不简单，游遍西洋，你是太谷第一人！”
“我是给出使大臣当差，笏老你才是太谷豪杰，生意做遍天下！”
“我看你也能当出使大臣，反正是议和，割地，赔款，谁不会？她就是你的女公子，叫杜筠青，对吧？”
"right."
“从小在京城长大，就没有回过太谷？”
父亲暗示她，赶快回答这个男人的问话。正是这个男人，一直贪婪地盯着她不放。不过，她已经有些镇静下来。被富贵名流这样观看，她早经历过了。
“没回来过，长这么大，还是第一次回太谷。”
“你的京话说得好！多大了？”
“二十三了。”
“杜长萱他去西洋，带你去过没有？”
父亲忙说：“我是朝廷派遣，哪能带她去？”
“我不跟你说，只跟你家女公子说，我爱听她说京话。”
“小时候，父亲答应过我，要带我去法兰西。”
“看看，还是他不想带你去。你父亲他只出使过法兰西，出使过俄罗斯没有？”
“他没有出使过俄罗斯，只是去游历过。”
“那他去过莫斯科没有？法兰西没有我们的字号，莫斯科有。就是太遥远了，有本事的掌柜伙计都不愿去。去了，五年才能下一回班，太辛苦。我对孙大掌柜说，也叫他们三年回来一趟吧，五年才叫他们回太谷瞥一回婆姨，太受委屈。大掌柜不听我的，说来回一趟，路途上就得小一年。三年一班，那还不光在路途折腾啊？你父亲他出使法兰西，几年能下一回班？”
“长时，也就三年吧。有了事，也不定什么时候就给召回来了。没事时候，也就在京师住着。”
“那他没有我们辛苦。哎，你把男装脱了吧，在屋里不用穿它。”
杜长萱就招呼她除下长袍，礼帽。杜筠青正被这位说话的男人盯住看得发慌，哪里还想脱去男装！可那个引他们进来，一直没有表情的人，已经站到她的身边，等着接脱下的衣帽。父亲又招呼了一声，她只好遵命了。
脱去男装，那双眼睛是更贪婪地抓住了她。这个男人一边跟她说话，一边就放肆地盯着她，一直不放松。这是个什么人呀？
“你父亲他是跟着曾纪泽？曾纪泽他父亲曾国藩，也借过我们票庄的钱。左宗棠借我们的钱，那就更多了。你父亲他借过我们的钱没有？”
"no?"
父亲忙说：“在京也借过咱山西票号的钱，数目都不大。”
“哈哈，数目不大，哪家票号还肯为你做这种麻烦事？”
父亲有些脸红了。
“杜大人，那是耍笑的话！我还要请教你，西洋女人，还有京城在旗的女人，都是你家女公子这样的天足吗？”
父亲回答：“可不是呢。”
接下来，杜筠青就开始为这个男人走佳人步。他看得很着迷，叫她走了好几个来回。
走完佳人步，这次神秘的拜会就结束了。杜筠青又穿戴了男装，跟了父亲，静悄悄地离开了这处深宅大院。
杜筠青后来当然知道了，这个神秘召见她、放肆打量她的男人，就是康笏南。他这是要亲眼相看她！
在等待相看结果的那些时日，杜筠青和她的父母，谁也没有议论康笏南是怎样一个男人，也没有挑剔康笏南竟然采取了这样越礼、这样霸道的相亲方式，更没有去提康笏南那可怕的命相，她们全家似乎被这突然降临的幸运给压蒙了。除了焦急等待相看的结果，什么都不想了，好像一家三口人的脑筋都木了。杜筠青自己更是满头懵懂，什么都不会思想了。
当时，她们全家真是把那当成了一种不敢想象的幸运，一种受到全太谷瞩目的幸运。
相看的结果，其实也只是等待了两天。在那次神秘相亲的第三天，康家就派来了提亲的媒人。媒人是一个体面的贵妇，她不但没有多少花言巧语，简直就没有多说几句话，只是要走了杜筠青的生辰八字。
她克夫的生辰八字，在康笏南那里居然也不犯什么忌。康家传来话说，这次是请了一位很出名的游方居士看的八字。这位居士尊释氏，也精河图洛书，往来于佛道两界。也是有缘，正巧由京西潭柘寺云游来谷，推算了双方命相，赞叹不已。
跟着，康家就正式下了聘礼。聘礼很简单，就是一个小小的银折。可折子上写的却不简单：在杜长萱名下，写了天成元票庄的五厘财股。
杜筠青和她母亲，不太知道这五厘财股的分量，但杜长萱知道。他的父亲在协成乾票庄，辛劳一生，也只是顶到五厘身股。为了这五厘身股，父亲大半生就一直在天涯海角般遥远的厦门领庄，五年才能下一次班。留在太谷的家、家里的妻小，几乎就永远留在他的梦境里。在去福建船政局以前，父亲对杜长萱来说，几乎也只是一种想象。
杜筠青听了父亲的讲解，并没有去想：这也是康家给她的身股吗？她只是问父亲：“这五厘财股，能帮助你回京东山再起吗？”
父亲连忙说：“青儿，我早说了，老根在太谷，就在太谷赋闲养老了，谁说还要回京城！”
母亲也说：“我们哪能把你一人扔下？”
婚期订在腊月。比起那奢华浩荡的葬礼来，婚礼是再不能俭仆了。按照康笏南的要求，她的嫁衣只是一身西洋女装，连凤冠也没有戴。因为天太冷，里面套了一件银狐坎肩，洋装就像捆绑在身上似的。康家传来话说，这不是图洋气怪异，是为了避邪。在那个寒冷的吉日，康家来迎亲的，似乎还是那辆华美威风的大鞍马车。上了这辆马车，杜筠青就成了康家的人，而且是康家新的老夫人。可康家并没有为了迎接她举行太繁复的典礼。拜了祖宗，见了族中长辈，接受了康笏南子孙的叩拜，在大厨房摆了几桌酒席，也就算办了喜事。
康家说，这是遵照了那位大居士的留言：婚礼不宜张扬。
不宜张扬，就不张扬吧，可杜筠青一直等待着的那一刻：与康笏南共拜天地，居然也简略去了。只是，新婚之夜无法简略。
但那是怎样的新婚之夜啊！
盖首被忽然掀去了，一片刺眼的亮光冲过来，杜筠青什么也看不清。好一阵儿，才看清了亮光是烛光。天黑了，烛光亮着，烛光也照亮康笏南，他穿了鲜亮的衣裳。他那边站着两个女人，还有一个男人。这个永远无甚表情的男人，就是时刻不离康笏南的老亭。她这边，也站着一个女人。远处、暗处，似乎还有别的人。
“十冬腊月坐马车，没有冻着你吧？”康笏南依然是用那种霸道的口气说，“你穿这身西洋衣裳，好看！就怕不暖和，冻着你。”
杜筠青听了，有些感动。可她不能相信，康笏南居然接着就说：
“你们端灯过来，我看看她的脚。杜长萱他说西洋女人都是天足。驻京的戴掌柜也常说，京城王府皇家的旗人女子，也不缠足。我真还没有见过女人的天足。你就是天足吧，我看你走路怪好看。你们快把鞋给脱了，我看看她的脚。”
杜筠青简直吓傻了。就当着他的面，当着这些女人的面，还有那个老亭的面，还有远处暗处那些人的面，脱光她的脚吗？康笏南身边的一个女人，已经举着一个烛台照过来。杜筠青身边的女人，已经蹲下身，麻利地脱下了她的鞋袜，两只都脱了。天爷，都脱了！这麻利的女人，托着她的脚脖子往上抬——老天爷，杜筠青闭上了眼睛，觉得冰冷的双脚，忽然烧起来了。她第一次觉得自己是这样的无处躲藏，仿佛被撕去了一切，裸露了一切，给这许多人看！
“唔，你的脚好看！好看！长得多舒坦，多细致，多巧，多肉，看不出骨头，好看，天足要是这样，那真好看。”
天爷，这一定是他的手，摸住她的脚了，烫人的手。
杜筠青再也听不清康笏南说什么了，只是恐惧无比。她知道不会再有什么拜天地的礼节了。观看她的脚，也是这吉日的礼节吗？看完脚，他会不会叫这些下人麻利地剥去她的西洋衣裳？她紧闭了眼睛，仍然无处躲藏。她多么需要身上的西洋服装一直这样紧紧地捆绑着自己！可这些下人的手脚太麻利了。
杜筠青不知道康笏南后来说了什么，又是怎样离去的，不知道他还来不来。好像是连着几声“老夫人”，才把她从恐惧里呼叫出来。
老夫人！
杜筠青不知道这是叫她，只是听见一连声叫，她才睁开了眼。一切都安静下来了，一切都消失了。康笏南和他身边的男人女人都不在了。西洋服装还紧紧捆绑在身上，鞋袜也已经穿上，刚才的一切就好像没有发生过似的。
这个女人的手脚太麻利了。
“老夫人，请卸妆洗漱吧。”
老夫人，这是叫她，她成了老夫人？
“老夫人，请卸妆洗漱吧，夜宵要送来了。”
夜宵，就在这里吃？烛光照着这太大的房间，杜筠青不知道这是什么地方。她也不想吃饭，一点都不想吃，连渴的欲望也没有了。
“老太爷吩咐了，吃罢饭，老夫人就歇着吧，今天太劳累了。老太爷也劳累了，他不过来了。从今往后我伺候老夫人。”
他不过来了，那今天就这样结束了？杜筠青多少次设想过，在今天这个夜晚，只剩了她和那个人的时候，一定不能害怕，要像个京城的女子，甚至要像西洋的女子，不害怕，不羞怯，敢说话，说话时带出笑意来。可这个夜晚，原来是这样的叫人害怕，又是这样意外的简单！那个康笏南，还没有看清，就又走了。
这个伺候她的女人，就是外间传说的那种上了年纪的老嬷子吧。年纪是比她大，但一点也不像上了年纪，而且她生得一点都不难看。
"what's your name?"
“老太爷喜欢叫我吕布，老夫人你不想叫吕布，就叫你喜欢的名字。”
她笑了笑，笑得很好看，她的牙齿也干干净净。杜筠青想问她多大了，但没有问。自己肯定比这个女佣年轻，可已经是老夫人了。她从来没有想过，突然降临的幸运，就是来做康家的老夫人！父亲、母亲，也从没有说过，她将要做康家的老夫人。既是老夫人了，老太爷他怎么能这样对待她，简直是当着这些男女下人把她剥光了！
杜筠青对吕布说：“我什么也不想吃，我这里也没事了，你去歇了吧。”
但吕布却不走，撵也撵不走。就是从那一天起，吕布成了她难以摆脱的影子。
自从新婚之夜，康笏南那样粗野地观看过她的天足后，再没有来看过她。除了被引去履行种种礼节，杜筠青就独自一人守在这太大的屋子里。
吕布说，这里就是老太爷住的屋子，他叫大书房。杜筠青从来没有住过这样大的屋子，它七间九架，东西两边还各带了一间与正房