Chapter 2 Section 2

There is a wisteria in the corner of the back garden. From summer to autumn, the wisteria blooms heavily.Song Lian saw those purple flocculent flowers swaying in the autumn wind from her window, and it became lighter every day.She noticed that there was a well under the wisteria trellis, and there were stone tables and stone benches. It was a very leisurely place, but no one was seen, and the path leading there was full of weeds.Butterflies flew by, and cicadas sang on the branches and leaves of the wisteria. Songlian remembered that at this time last year, she was sitting under the wisteria trellis at school to study. Be careful not to let weeds and insects rub against each other, and slowly push aside a few vine leaves, and saw a layer of dust accumulated on the stone tables and benches.Walking to the well, the stone wall of the well platform was covered with moss. Song Lian bent down to look into the well. The water in the well was blue-black, and there were old fallen leaves floating on the water. Song Lian saw her face flickering in the water, and heard The sound of her panting was amplified by being sucked into the well. It was dull and weak. A gust of wind blew over, blowing Song Lian's skirt like a bird. At this moment, Song Lian felt a hard coolness, hitting her body slowly like a stone. Song Lian started to walk back, walking back very fast, and when she returned to the porch of the south wing, she let out a breath, turned her head to look at the wisteria trellis, two or three bunches of flowers fell down from the trellis, very suddenly, Song Lian Lian thought this was also very strange.

Zhuo Yun sat in the room, waiting for Song Lian.She suddenly noticed that Song Lian's face was ugly, Zhuo Yun stood up and supported Song Lian's waist, what's wrong with you?Song Lian said, what's wrong with me?I went outside for a walk.Zhuo Yun said, your complexion is not good, Song Lian smiled and said it was coming.Zhuo Yun also laughed, and I said why did the master go to my place again.She opened a paper bag, pulled out a roll of silk, and said, real silk from Suzhou, I'll give you a piece of clothing to cut. Song Lian pushed Zhuo Yun's hand, no, you give me something, how dare you, I should give it to you.Zhuo Yun hissed, what's the point?I saw that you were very sweet, so I remembered this piece of silk. If it was the woman next door, I wouldn't give it even if she paid for it. That's just my temper.Song Lian took the silk and put it on her knees, rubbing her hands, and said, the third wife is a bit strange.However, she is really good looking.Zhuo Yun said, what looks good?Half a catty of powder and cream on the face was scraped off.Songlian laughed again, and changed the subject. I just stayed at the wisteria trellis for a while, and I really like it there.Zhuo Yun cried out, did you go to the Well of the Dead?Don't go there, it's bad luck.Songlian asked in surprise, why is it called Dead Man's Well?Zhuo Yun said, no wonder you had a bad face when you entered the house, three people died in that well.Song Lian stood up and leaned on the window to look at the wisteria trellis. Who died in the well?Zhuo Yun said that they are all family members of the previous generation, and they are all female.Song Lian still wanted to ask, but Zhuo Yun couldn't tell.Zhuo Yun only knew this, she said that the Chen family tabooed about these things, and everyone kept their mouths shut.Song Lian was stunned, and said, "If you don't know these things, then you don't know."

The young masters and young ladies of the Chen family all live in the middle courtyard.Song Lian once saw Yi Rong and Yi Yun sisters digging earthworms by the side of the mud ditch, happy and innocent, Song Lian could tell at a glance that they were Zhuo Yun's flesh and blood.She stood aside and watched them quietly. When the sisters noticed Songlian, they still pretended to be no one else, and poured the earthworms into the small bamboo tube.Songlian said, what are you doing digging up earthworms?Yirong said, fishing, but Yiyun gave Songlian a blunt look, don't mind it.Song Lian was a little bored, she walked a few steps and heard the two sisters muttering, she is also a concubine, just like her mother.Song Lian was stunned for a moment, she turned her head and stared at them angrily, Yi Rong sneered, but Yi Yun curled her lips at her refusingly, and muttered something again.Song Lian wondered what kind of thing this is, she would speak harsh words at a young age.God knows how Zhuo Yun manages these two sisters.

When Song Lian meets Zhuo Yun again, she can't help but tell her what Yi Yun said.Zhuo Yun said, that child just didn't stop her mouth, watch me go back and pinch her mouth.After apologizing, Zhuo Yun said, in fact, my two children are quite easy, you haven't seen the young master next door, who is like a dog, biting and spitting at everyone.Have you ever been bitten by him?Song Lian shook her head, she thought of the little boy next door, Feilan, standing on the porch, eating bread while looking at her, his hair combed shiny, wearing small leather shoes on his feet, Song Lian sometimes looked at Feilan from Feilan's face. Seeing an expression similar to Chen Zuoqian's, she could accept Feilan psychologically, perhaps because she wanted to give Chen Zuoqian another son.Boys are better than girls, Songlian thought, it doesn't matter if he bites or not.

Only Yuru's two children, Song Lian hadn't seen for a long time.What is obvious is their status in the Chen Mansion.Songlian often hears about Feipu and Yihui.Feipu has been collecting bills outside, and also engaged in real estate business, while Yihui is studying at Women's University in Beiping.Song Lian inadvertently asked Yan'er about Fei Pu, Yan'er said, our young master is a capable person.Song Lian asked, how can someone be capable?Yan'er said, anyway, the Chen family relies on him now.Song Lian asked Yan'er again, how is the eldest lady?Yan'er said, our eldest lady is beautiful and quiet, and she will marry a nobleman in the future.Song Lian laughed inwardly, she was disgusted by Yan'er's words of praise and derogation, so she vented her anger on the Persian cat under her skirt, Song Lian kicked the cat away and cursed, bitch, come here to lick it What show?

Song Lian became more and more disgusted with Yan'er, the most important point was that she ran into Mei Shan's house whenever she had nothing to do, and Yan'er always looked unhappy every time she took Song Lian's underwear to wash .Song Lian sometimes scolded her, who would you show your face to, if you don't want to go back to the servant room with me, or go to the next door.Yan'er argued, no, how dare I lose face, I was born without face.Song Lian grabbed a comb and threw it at her, Yan'er stopped talking.Song Lian guessed that Yan'er often spoke ill of her outside.But she can't be too cruel to her, because she once saw Chen Zuoqian come in and touch Yan'er's breast, although it was a momentary and natural thing, Song Lian had to restrain herself a little, otherwise Yan'er will not be so insolent.Song Lian thought, even a little girl knows how to rely on her to strengthen her courage, women are such things.

On the day before the Double Ninth Festival, the young master Fei Pu came back. Song Lian was admiring the chrysanthemums in the middle courtyard, and saw Yu Ru and the housekeeper surrounded by several men, one of them was very young in a white suit, and looked very burly from a distance, Song Lian guessed that he was Fei Pu.She watched the servants carrying a carload of luggage to the backyard like a revolving door. Gradually everyone entered the house, and Song Lian was too embarrassed to go in. She picked a branch of chrysanthemum and walked slowly to the back garden. On the way, she saw Zhuo Yun and Mei Shan were walking this way with their children, Zhuo Yun grabbed Song Lian and said, the young master is home, don't you want to meet him?Song Lian said, should I go see him?He should come to see me.Zhuo Yun said, that's right, he should come to see you first.Mei Shan on the other side patted Feilan's head and neck impatiently, walking quickly.

Song Lian really saw Fei Pu at the dinner table.That day Chen Zuoqian asked the cook to hold a banquet for Feipu, the table was full of delicate and sumptuous dishes, Song Lian instigated the rounds of the table, and couldn't help but think of the day when he first entered Chen's mansion, the table was far inferior to Feipu's welcome banquet, She felt a little sour, but soon her attention turned to Feipu.Feipu sat beside Yuru, Yuru said something to him, then Feipu leaned over and nodded to Songlian with a smile.Songlian also nodded and smiled.Her first impression of Feipu was that he was unexpectedly handsome and young, and her second impression was that he was very scheming.Song Lian usually likes to meet people.

The next day was the Double Ninth Festival, the gardener moved all the chrysanthemum pots in the garden together, and made them into four characters of Fu, Lu, Shou, and Jubilee in colorful patterns. Song Lian got up early and walked around the chrysanthemums by herself. Walking and watching, there was a cool breeze in the morning, and Song Lian was only wearing a woolen vest, so she walked and watched with her arms around her shoulders.From a distance, she saw Feipu coming from the middle courtyard and walking towards here.Song Lian was hesitating whether to greet him first, Fei Pu called out, Song Lian, good morning.Po Lian was a little surprised when he called her by my first name. She nodded and said, according to your seniority, you shouldn't call me by my name.Feipu stood on the other side of the flowerbed, smiled and fastened the collar button of his shirt, and said, I should call you the fourth wife, but you must be a few years younger than me, how old are you?Song Lian looked unhappy and turned to look at the flowers.Feipu said, you also like chrysanthemums, I thought that early in the morning, I could grab Fengshui first, but I didn't expect you to be earlier than me, Songlian said, I have liked chrysanthemums since I was a child, but I didn't just like them today.Fei Pu said, which one do you like the most, and Song Lian said, you like them all, but you hate crab claws.Philips says that's why.Song Lian said that the crab claws opened wildly.Feipu laughed again and said, it's interesting, I like crab claws the most, Songlian gave Feipu a look, I guess you will like it.Feipu said again, so why?Song Lian took a few steps forward and said, flowers are not flowers, people are not people, flowers are people, people are flowers, don't you understand this truth?Song Lian raised her head abruptly, she noticed a kind of colorful water grass flitting across Fei Pu's eyes, she saw it, and she was able to catch it.Standing on the side of the chrysanthemum with his hips akimbo, Feipu suddenly said, let me replace the crab claws.Song Lian did not speak.She watched as Fei Pu replaced the crab claws, and brought a few pots of black chrysanthemums on top.After a while, Song Lian said again that the flowers are all good, but the words placed are not good and are very vulgar.Fei Pu patted the mud on his hands, and squeezed his eyes at Song Lian, then there was nothing he could do. The Fu Lu Shou Jubilee was arranged by the master, and it happened every year, a rule passed down from the ancestors.

Later, Songlian thought of the scene of admiring the chrysanthemums on Chongyang Festival, and she felt happy.It seems that from that day on, she and Feipu had a certain kind of tacit understanding. Songlian would laugh out loud when thinking about how Feipu moved the crab claws away. Only Songlian knew that she didn't particularly hate that kind of behavior. Chrysanthemum called crab claw. Who do you like best?Song Lian often asks Chen Zuoqian like this, among the four of us, who do you like best?Chen Zuoqian said that of course it was you.What about Yuru?She was already an old hen.What about Zhuo Yun?Zhuo Yun was still getting along but she was a little loose.What about Mei Shan?Song Lian can't restrain her curiosity towards Mei Shan, where is Mei Shan from?Chen Zuoqian said, I don't know where she is from, not even herself.Song Lian said that Meishan was born as an orphan, and Chen Zuoqian said that she was an actress, a dan role in the Peking Opera troupe.I am a fancier, and sometimes I go to see her backstage and treat her to dinner, and she follows me when I come and go.Song Lian patted Chen Zuoqian's face and said, all women want to be with you, Chen Zuoqian said, you are half right, it should be said that all women want to be with rich men.Song Lian laughed, you are only half right. It should be said that rich people need women if they have money, but they are not enough.

Song Lian had never heard Mei Shan sing Beijing opera, this morning a few long and clear singing came from outside the window, awakening Song Lian from her dream, she pushed Chen Zuoqian beside her and asked if Mei Shan was singing?Chen Zuoqian said in a daze, she sings when she's happy, and laughs when she's unhappy, son of a bitch, Song Lian pushed open the window and saw the snow-white autumn frost falling in the garden at night, under the wisteria trellis, one in black The woman in the black dress dances and sings.Sure enough, it was Meishan. Song Lian came out in her cloak, and stood on the porch looking at Mei Shan from afar.Mei Shan was already immersed in it, and Song Lian felt that she sang sadly and melodiously, and her heart floated when she heard it.After a long time like this, Mei Shan stopped abruptly, she seemed to see tears in Song Lian's eyes.Mei Shan put her long sleeves on her shoulders and walked back. In the morning light, some crystal-colored spots of light danced on Mei Shan's face and clothes, and her shrunken hair was wet with frost and dew. , Walking like this, she looked wet and bruised, like grass in the wind. you cry?Aren't you living a happy life, why are you crying?Mei Shan stopped in front of Song Lian, and said calmly.Song Lian took out a handkerchief and wiped the corners of her eyes, he said he didn't know what was wrong, what's the name of the play you sang?It's called "Nvhang".Mei Shan said, do you like to hear it?I don't know anything about Peking Opera, the main reason is that you sang so emotionally that it made me sad too. Song Lian said that she saw Mei Shan's face showing a kind expression for the first time, Mei Shan looked down at her costume, she Said, it's just a show, it's not worth being sad.If you do well, you can deceive others, but if you do poorly, you can only deceive yourself. Chen Zuoqian coughed in Songpong's room, and Songpong looked at Mei Shan in embarrassment.Mei Shan said, don't you go wait for him to get dressed?Song Lian shook her head and said that he wore it himself, and he was not a child.Mei Shan was a little resentful, she smiled and said why did he want me to dress and put on shoes for him? Sing me a song!Mei Shan's slender eyebrows immediately raised, she sneered, ran to the window and rushed inside and said, "I don't want to!" Song Lian saw Mei Shan's temper.When she beat around the bush and he brought up this topic, Chen Zuoqian said, it's all my fault for spoiling her a few years ago.When she gets upset, she dares to scold my family's Zuzong eight generations. Chen Zuoqian said that she is a little bitch, and sooner or later I have to deal with her severely.Song Lian said, don't be too cruel, she is actually quite pitiful, she has no relatives for no reason, afraid that if you don't love her, she will lose her temper. Later Song Lian and Mei Shan had a lukewarm relationship. Mei Shan was a fan of mahjong, and often invited people to play mahjong with her, from after dinner until late at night.Through the wall, Song Lian could hear the sound of cards being shuffled next door, making it difficult for her to sleep.She complained to Chen Zuoqian, Chen Zuoqian said, just bear with it, it's normal for her to play mahjong, anyway, I won't give it to her if she loses all the money, let her play mahjong, let her do it die.But one time, Mei Shan sent her maid to ask Song Lian to go to the poker table. Song Lian stopped the maid with one word, and she said, I'm going to play mahjong?Thank you for thinking it out.After the maid went back, Mei Shan came by herself, and she said, if one of the three is missing, let's do it a favor.Song Lian said I can't, isn't it looking for defeat?Mei Shan came to pull her arm, let's go, I won't take your line if you lose, or you will pay if you win, and I will pay if you lose.Song Lian said, that's not the case, the main reason is that I don't like it.As she spoke, she saw Mei Shan's face drop, and Mei Shan snorted and said, what do you have here?It seems that he is guarding a big treasury and refuses to move a step, but he is just a shriveled old man; Song Lian was so angry that he was about to explode, but the ugly words slipped to his mouth and swallowed them back. She bit her lip and thought about it for a few seconds Zhong said.Okay, "I'll go with you. The other two people were already sitting at the table waiting, one was the housekeeper Chen Zuowen, and the other did not know each other. Mei Shan introduced him as a doctor.The man wore gold-rimmed glasses and had dark skin, but his lips were as red and tender as a woman's. Song Lian had seen him go in and out of Mei Shan's house before, and for some reason she did not believe that he was a doctor. Song Lian sat on the poker table absent-mindedly, she really wasn't very good at playing, she was confused when she heard them yelling, and touched herself.She just paid for it, and slowly she felt distressed. She said, I have a headache and want to take a rest.Mei Shan said that it is a rule to play eight laps on the table.I'm afraid you feel bad about losing, Chen Zuowen said on the sidelines, it doesn't matter, a little fortune can eliminate disasters.Mei Shan said again, you can do something good for Zhuo Yun today, she is suffocated to death, lend the old man to her for a night, and let her pay you the money you lose.Both men at the table laughed.Song Lian also laughed, Mei Shan, you can really make fun, but you feel like you swallowed a fly in your heart. Song Lian watched the eye contact between Mei Shan and the doctor with cold eyes. She found the shape of their four legs immediately after thinking about everything. The four legs hidden under the table were tightly intertwined, and they separated quickly and naturally. , but Songlian really saw it. Song Lian remained calm.She never looked at the faces of Meishan and the doctor again.Song Lian was in a very complicated mood at this time, a little confused, a little nervous, and a little gloating. She said in her heart that Mei Shan, you are living a comfortable life and you are too crazy.