Transmigration: A Farm Girl's Brocade-Chapter 75 - Song Family_1
Chapter 75: Chapter 75 Song Family_1
Chapter 75: Chapter 75 Song Family_1
The woman chuckled, “Thank you, venerable master, thank you, little master. Our Old Madam is in high spirits indeed…”
Ah, the Little Monk was passing along the message himself. Qian Yixiu immediately lifted her pretty little face and called out, “Hello, grandma.”
Mother Zhang had already noticed the pretty little girl and nodded in her direction when greeted. It was just a casual glance, but the basket she was swinging caught her eye for its uniqueness.
She commented, “This little cloth tiger is really amusing, holding a basket, too.”
Qian Yixiu promptly handed the basket over and said, “This basket has a lucky name, it’s called ‘Little Tiger Brings a Son’.”
“Little Tiger Brings a Son, brings a boy, oh my, that really is a lucky name,” Mother Zhang laughed. She thought to herself: a little tiger delivering a boy, next year is the Year of the Tiger, so if someone made a wish this year and got pregnant, wouldn’t they have a son during the Year of the Tiger? What a good omen. Her own Fourth Lady Song had been married for six years and only had a daughter, which was causing some anxiety. They had arrived early today, and offered the first stick of incense; if she could get this lucky charm too, it would be the icing on the cake.
Also, noticing that both the tiger doll and the basket were well-made with fine materials, an idea formed in her head. She smiled and asked, “The name of this basket is really clever, and it’s exquisite. Where did you buy it?”
“This wasn’t bought, my mother made it. Since the name is auspicious, we thought it was a good day to sell it. After I’m done seeing Little Master Hongji, I was going to sell it outside the temple,” Qian Yixiu replied.
Mother Zhang, elated, said, “Then let me take it in for our madam to have a look. If she likes it, you’ll certainly be rewarded.”
Qian Yixiu also pointed towards Lady Wu in the distance and said, “My grandma has a few more with different styles. Take them all in for your madam to see, so she has more to choose from.”
Seeing Mother Zhang nod, Qian Yixiu waved towards Lady Wu in the distance.
Mother Zhang asked them to wait at the entrance of the courtyard, then she herself carried several tiger dolls with baskets into the main room.
Shortly after, Mother Zhang returned, her eyes smiling as she brought the Little Monk and Qian Yixiu into the house. Perhaps because Lady Wu was dressed in coarser clothes and was sweating profusely, she was instructed to wait outside.
Following Mother Zhang into the room, Qian Yixiu saw that it was lavishly decorated and filled with the laughter of beautiful voices, all gathered around a richly adorned old lady in her sixties who was enjoying a joke.
The Old Madam and a few other women were holding the Little Tiger with Baskets, their faces lit up with joy, saying they had never seen such adorable tiger dolls that were as lovable as children.
Qian Yixiu snuck a peek directly in front of her, then quickly lowered her gaze, as she was facing Old Lady Song of the Song family.
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The Song family was one of the renowned noble families of Ji’an Province, and Qian Yixiu had visited the Song Mansion when she was a ghost. Old Lady Song’s husband, Song Qiao, once held an office as the official of the Xiangjiang Province Patrol House and returned to his ancestral home six years ago after retiring with his wife.
The Old Madam’s eldest son held a government position in Capital City, her second son lived nearby fulfilling his filial duties, and her eldest daughter was married in Capital City. Across the Hong River, her family owned a thousand acres of fertile land and also had a manor, known as Song Mansion.
Seated next to the Old Madam was a woman in her forties, the Second Madam, who currently managed the affairs of Song Mansion.
The Old Madam greeted the Little Monk first, even inviting him to sit down, and ordered the servants to serve tea and vegetarian pastries. The group of ladies kept lavishing praises on the Little Monk.
Afterward, it seemed that everyone only then noticed that a young girl had come along with them. Qian Yixiu was not in a hurry, nor nervous, nor afraid; she stood there demurely with her eyes lowered.
Old Lady Song asked, “Whose daughter is this? She’s quite a beauty.”
Little Master Hongji spoke up first, “This Little Benefactor is a villager from Huaxi Village. Since the Poor Monk entrusted a little monkey, that he once treated, to her care, she has specially brought the little monkey to visit the Poor Monk in the temple today.”
Old Lady Song smiled and nodded, and then a servant girl laid a cushion in front of her. Qian Yixiu knew it was a signal for her to kowtow. As she was still young, kowtowing to a lady in her sixties didn’t pose any psychological barrier to her. She walked up, knelt down, kowtowed, and said, “Villager’s daughter Yixiu pays her respects to Old Madam, wishing Old Madam good health and peace.”
Most older people like sweet-talking pretty children, and Old Lady Song was no different. Seeing that the young girl, although young in age, behaved graciously and spoke well, not at all like a child from a peasant family, she immediately took a liking to her. She laughed and said, “Oh, what a smart child, get up quickly.”
A servant girl behind her handed over a purse. Qian Yixiu received it and expressed her thanks, knowing that this purse was given to her on the Little Monk’s account.
Seeing that Qian Yixiu was so young, Old Lady Song said with pity, “What a sight, such a small child already out making a living. How could your elders bear it?”
Qian Yixiu replied, “My father died in battle, my grandfather is lame, and my mother is in poor health… These toys were made by my mother, and the basket by my grandfather. It’s just that they cannot conveniently go out to sell them, so my grandma and I come out to sell instead. I am already six years old, just short in stature is all. Old Madam is kind-hearted and pities me for my young age. But in our countryside, many children my age have to help out at home. The children of the poor must take on responsibilities early.”
Her bright cheerful smile showed no signs of the hardships her days brought. Her words amused everyone present.
Fourth Lady Song, knowing Old Lady Song liked pretty children and her charitable reputation spread far, laughed and said, “Old Madam’s kind heart always goes out to pretty and charming young girls who have had a hard life, oh dear, she aches for them.”
Old Lady Song laughed upon hearing this, “Isn’t that the truth? Whenever I see these little ones working for a living, my heart just can’t bear it.”
Zhang Zhongkun’s wife, Lady Song, was also there, a distant relative of the Song family. Xiding Mountain was not far from her home, so whenever Old Lady Song visited Daci Temple, she would stay overnight at her house and come to the temple to offer incense early the next morning. Naturally, Lady Song had come to accompany her.
As soon as Qian Yixiu entered, she recognized her, and also noticed that the clothes on the young girl were made from fabric given by her own family.
She laughed and said, “What a coincidence that we meet here again.”
Upon seeing Lady Song, Qian Yixiu also greeted her with delighted respect. She thought to herself that since both had the surname Song, they must be related, which was even better.
Lady Song told Old Lady Song, “Great-aunt is unaware, but I have a connection with this child…” She briefly mentioned Qian Yixiu’s visit to sell flowers at her house.
“…Oh dear, at that time, the child was as thin as a monkey,” said Lady Song, “Now she has put on weight and seems to have grown taller too.”
Qian Yixiu bowed to Lady Song and said gratefully, “Thanks to the kindness of Madam, ever since my grandfather started taking the medicine sent by Old Master Zhang, his health has improved dramatically and he made these baskets. My brother has also started school, and not only does the teacher praise his diligence, but even Abbot Hong Yuan of Daci Temple says my brother is bright…”
As she spoke, the smile on Lady Song’s face deepened. She then said to Old Lady Song, “Using Xia Grass for floral arrangements was this girl’s original idea. Now many households in Xishan County like to use Xia Grass for their flower displays.”
