Re-embroidering life

Chapter 127 Wives and Concubines

Shen Xin simply stood up and took Shui Qinghua and the other person to the lobby on the first floor, where there was a counter displaying a row of bright and colorful costumes.

Shen Xin pointed at the costumes and explained to the two of them carefully: "The roles of Sheng, Dan, Jing, Mo, and Chou on the opera stage each have corresponding clothes and patterns. Bao Gong's black clothes and Guan Gong's green robes cannot be changed at will. Civil officials embroider flying birds, and military officials embroider beasts. Different patterns of birds and beasts correspond to different levels of official positions. There are also matching costumes for helmets, boots, battle flags, jade belts, etc...."

Shui Qinghua listened carefully to Shen Xin's explanation, and was surprised that there were so many details in costumes. It turned out that any profession is very knowledgeable and should not be underestimated. She silently memorized what Shen Xin said.

Shen Xin was still teaching tirelessly: "For good opera troupes, the robes are mostly made of cloth, silk, satin, and damask. A few wealthier troupes will also use expensive fabrics such as brocade and cloud satin."

When Shui Qinghua heard this, she was moved and thought to herself that she should go back and take a closer look at the materials of Han Qiu's costumes, so as to judge the strength of the troupe.

After talking about the costumes, Shui Qinghua finally found time to ask the question she had been wanting to ask: "Sister Shen, when did you come to the capital?"

Shen Xin lowered her eyes slightly, revealing a hint of helplessness: "It has been nearly a year since I came to Beijing. I also accompanied my husband to take the exam, hoping that he would pass the exam, but unfortunately, my husband failed. Perhaps the wealth of Beijing has blinded him, and he is determined not to leave Beijing and wants to settle down here. He said that he wants to concentrate on studying and painting in order to plan for the future."

Shui Qinghua couldn't help but feel curious about her husband: "May I know your husband's name?"

Shen Xin replied: "My husband is from the Yu family in Jiangnan."

Shui Qinghua was shocked when she heard the word "Yu Family" and asked hurriedly, "But is it the Yu Family that once produced Mr. Baishan, the representative of the Wu School of Painting?"

Shen Xin nodded slightly and replied, "That's right."

Shui Qinghua thought to herself, Ji Zimo has always admired Mr. Baishan and often talked about going to Jiangnan to visit the Yu family in the future. She didn't expect that Sister Shen would be the daughter-in-law of the Yu family. What a fate.

Just as Shui Qinghua was planning to bring Ji Zimo with her to visit the Yu family next time, there was a noise downstairs, mixed with a woman's sharp screams.

Shen Xin couldn't sit still any longer, so she stood up and said, "I'll go down and take a look."

Before she could move, the sharp crying sound and footsteps came closer and closer. After a while, two women in gorgeous clothes and heavy makeup rushed into the private room, supporting each other.

A woman in lilac clothes covered her eyes with a handkerchief and sobbed, "Sister, you have to make the decision for us."

Another woman in a moon-white dress also cried, "Yes, sister, we sisters really can't survive."

Shen Xin's face flushed red, and she asked the head shopkeeper who was standing behind the two girls with his hands hanging down, "What happened?"

Before the shopkeeper could say anything, the woman in the lilac dress raised her head and looked at Shen Xin with tears in her eyes: "Yesterday, the master told us sisters to go to the shop and pick out the clothes and patterns we like, and my sister agreed. But we only picked two pieces, and this hateful shopkeeper stopped us from choosing!"

The white skirt in the moonlight also started to cry: "This slave is not bullying us, this is not giving face to my sister. If it gets out, outsiders will only say that my sister is stingy and harsh!"

Shen Xin was so angry that her whole body turned cold, and her hands were shaking: "Manager Liu is an old man in my Shen family. He has been guarding the Beijing Siyifang for more than 20 years. How dare you disrespect him and call him a servant?"

Shopkeeper Liu, who had been silent the whole time, stepped forward, bowed and said, "Boss, it's not that I'm stopping the two concubines from choosing. It's just that the ones they liked were already ordered and paid for by the customer. I asked them to choose something else, but they refused and started to make a fuss."

Shen Xin glared at the two concubines: "You are making trouble without reason!"

Ouheyichang pretended to be scared and hid behind Yuebaiqiqun, whispering, "Oh, sister is so powerful. We sisters dare not say anything."

The white dress in the moonlight was not willing to give in. "Humph, they said that a customer had placed an order, but who knows if it was just an excuse to deliberately embarrass us? We want to expand the Yu family, sister, you are really disappointing!"

Hearing this, the concubine in lotus-colored clothes suddenly went limp and collapsed to the ground, crying, "Sister, my stomach aches, I'm afraid I'm having a miscarriage, please be kind and let us go!"

Shen Xin was a lady from a wealthy family, and had never seen such a tantrum before. She was angry and anxious. Just when she was at a loss, Shui Qinghua came over, grabbed Shen Xin's hand, and held it tightly. Shen Xin then calmed down.

"Manager Liu, please call a doctor to check on this concubine. Since she is pregnant, she should not go out and just stay at home." Shui Qinghua said slowly.

Shopkeeper Liu said "oh" and left after receiving the order.

The girl in the moon-white skirt glared at Shui Qinghua with her pretty eyes: "Who are you to meddle in our affairs?" Then she smiled maliciously: "I was wondering why my sister became so tough today. It turns out that she found a helper for herself. It's a pity that although you are good-looking, the master will not like an old-fashioned person like you!"

Shui Qinghua's face suddenly darkened, and her cold eyes locked onto Yue Bai Skirt. Yue Bai Skirt was smiling flamboyantly, and she couldn't help but tremble when she touched her eyes.

Not long after, there was another round of noise, and a man rushed in. He was about thirty years old, fair-skinned and handsome, but his eyes were not very clear, as if he had been tainted by alcohol and sex.

As soon as the two concubines saw the man, they threw themselves into his arms and cried even harder. He also hugged one of them in each hand, calling them his darlings non-stop.

Shui Qinghua watched this scene coldly and glanced at Shen Xin worriedly, only to see that she was pale and staring blankly at her husband with sadness in her eyes.

The doctor called by Manager Liu took Ou He Yishang's pulse and said that there was nothing serious. He prescribed a pregnancy-stabilizing medicine and left.

Only then did the man put down the concubine in his arms and looked at Shen Xin with hatred: "Madam, I respect you for your noble family background and your tolerance, so I entrusted Zhi'er and Cui'er to you. I didn't expect you to be so jealous. It's bad enough that you treat concubines harshly, but you almost hurt the bloodline of the Yu family! Do you hate me so much that you hope I will have no children or grandchildren?"

The man's words were like a sharp knife piercing Shen Xin's heart. She looked at him in disbelief, her body shaking violently.

Shui Qinghua couldn't bear it any longer, so she supported Shen Xin and said to the man in a serious tone, "Master Yu, I was there the whole time and saw it clearly. Sister Shen didn't do anything. It was you two concubines who took the initiative to provoke, humiliating the mistress, the shopkeeper, and me as a guest. How could you two concubines be so bold? It must be you, Master Yu, who gave it to you, right? You come from a famous family and have made great achievements. Naturally, you understand the principle of husband and wife being one. Aren't you afraid of being accused of favoring concubines and neglecting your wife, which will hinder your future?"