Even if Li Shu didn't say it, the first thing Zhu Ping'an did when he came back was to take a bath.
But I don’t know why, when I see a wooden barrel, I always think of Sima Guang, even though he smashed a jar.
In ancient times, people used to take baths in wooden barrels. Ancient bathtubs were all made of wooden barrels. They were made of dry wood at first, and then soaked in water. The wood would expand and stop leaking. The more you use a wooden barrel, the less likely it is to leak. The production process of wooden barrels is quite complicated. In ancient times, there was a profession called coopers who specialized in making barrels. A wooden barrel went through dozens of steps from material selection to finished product. It was quite durable and would be brushed with a kind of oil for maintenance.
The water in the wooden barrel was steaming, so Zhu Ping'an took advantage of the heat and went in to take a hot bath.
However, when Zhu Ping'an was about to take the towel after washing for a while, he touched a pair of small hands, which scared him so much that he turned his head sharply and saw the chubby little maid with a red face who wanted to lower her head to her neck.
"Auntie...Uncle, the young lady asked me to come in and rub your back."
The little maidservant's voice was trembling, and her hands were shaking as she held the towel and wiped Zhu Ping'an's back with trembling hands.
"No, no, I can do it myself, you go out first."
Zhu Ping'an took the towel from the maid Baozi, then waved his hand speechlessly to signal the maid to go out.
In ancient costume dramas, there are always scenes of beauties or noblemen bathing and changing clothes. The masters are served by maids and enter a large wooden barrel to bathe in hot water full of flower petals. Because the ancient times were not as convenient as the showers we have at home today. At that time, if it was cold, you had to add hot water, and it was not convenient to sit in the barrel to get things. At the end, you had to rinse and wipe. If it was a master taking a bath, there might be some inappropriate scenes for children.
Although Zhu Pingan also had some yearning, he absolutely did not have such bad taste now. He was only a little old and his body did not allow it.
Besides, he and the scheming woman Li Shu were just having a casual affair, and their future marriage would not count. In ancient times, maids were considered important during the dowry, and this Baozi maid was Li Shu's maid during the dowry. Why add to the trouble
The sinister woman Li Shu sent her maid who came with her dowry over here, and no one knows what her plan is!
So Zhu Ping'an sent the little maid Baozi away.
"But, Master... Miss, Miss ordered it." The chubby little maid behind the tub blushed and clutched the corner of her clothes, acting like an ostrich.
"It's okay, go out." Zhu Ping'an waved again.
Because of Zhu Ping'an's insistence, the red-faced, ostrich-like little maid felt as if she had been pardoned. She retreated towards the door with a red face and head lowered, and almost bumped into the pillar.
Zhu Pingan heaved a sigh of relief after watching the little maid Baozi leave the house. Really, this evil old society has too many temptations.
"One, two, three, four, five, six..."
Li Shu looked at the door of the inner room expressionlessly and counted silently. When she counted to ten, she saw the little maid Baozi walking out of the bedroom with a blushing face and her head lowered.
Seeing the little maidservant Baozi coming out, Li Shu had a satisfied look on her face and whispered in a low voice, "You are sensible."
"Miss, my... my uncle won't let me wipe your back." The chubby little maid blushed. She was so nervous about the scene just now that she even stuttered.
"Oh, forget it if you don't allow me to." Li Shu said lightly.
After the episode with the maid, Zhu Pingan quickly finished his bath, dried himself, and put on his clothes.
"Ah, why are you wearing these tattered clothes again?" Li Shu looked at Zhu Ping'an's clothes and pouted.
"My mother made this dress herself, stitch by stitch, and she stayed up for several nights to make it. In my heart, this is the best dress." Zhu Ping'an glanced at Li Shu and said lightly.
"But do you know where we are going?" Li Shu stamped her feet in anger. "The people in the old house are all snobs who flatter the powerful and bully the weak."
"So what? I'm just a commoner." Zhu Ping'an curled the corners of his lips slightly.
"You... ... Okay, I admit that I was wrong just now. I shouldn't have disliked the clothes made by my aunt." Li Shu glared at Zhu Ping'an. Then the eldest brother reluctantly apologized to Zhu Ping'an in a low voice.
Well
Unexpectedly, Zhu Pingan really didn't expect that such a proud and arrogant girl like Li Shu would actually apologize. The probability of Li Shu apologizing seemed lower than the sun rising from the west, which was simply impossible. But now this girl actually apologized, although her attitude and expression did not show any awareness of apologizing, but she really apologized.
To the extent that Zhu Ping'an was a little stunned when he heard it.
"Uncle, let me help you change your clothes." The chubby little maid said at the right time, then ran to Zhu Ping'an happily and helped him change his clothes very diligently.
Because people wear inner garments underneath ancient costumes, it won’t be awkward to change.
By the time Zhu Ping'an reacted, the maidservant had already helped Zhu Ping'an change his coat. The robe was made of fine silk, embroidered with black bamboo, tied at the waist, and covered with an eggplant-colored fox fur coat, tight inside and loose outside. The clothes fit him inexplicably, as if they were tailor-made.
The maidservant wiped her hair dry with a towel, combed it again, tied it into a bun on top of her head, and wrapped a net scarf around her head to secure her hair.
"Miss, look, our young master looks much more energetic after he puts on his clothes." After the chubby little maid had tidied up Zhu Ping'an, she sighed with a sense of accomplishment.
Hearing this, Zhu Pingan was a little speechless. I feel more energetic after putting on clothes? This girl said it as if I didn't wear clothes before.
Li Shu glanced at Zhu Ping'an, her eyes lit up slightly, but she pouted and said, "No matter how good the clothes are, they still smell earthy."
Zhu Ping'an changed his clothes and put the clothes made by his mother Chen into his bag. He also packed up his other things in the room, and then went downstairs at Li Shu's urging.
The waiter who was busy downstairs was not surprised to see Zhu Ping'an's outfit. He felt that Zhu Ping'an should look like a rich family's son. The waiter had this idea when Li Shu came to the inn just now. Now that it was confirmed, he was even more respectful to Zhu Ping'an.
After leaving the inn, they got on the carriage again. The carriage headed towards the west city, to the old house that Li Shu mentioned.
From the direction of the carriage, Zhu Ping'an deduced that Li Shu's family was indeed extraordinary.
There is a proverb in Beijing: "East City is rich, West City is noble, South City is poor, and North City is poor." This proverb can be verified by looking at the width of the alleys in various districts of Beijing. Because the width and narrowness of the alleys can be used to judge the wealth and poverty, power and humbleness of the residents. In the palaces of the kings, official residences, and so-called big mansions, the alleys must not be narrower than ten feet (about two meters), just to facilitate the entry and exit of the sedan chairs with four in front and four in the back. The alleys in the east and west cities are mostly wide and straight, while the alleys in the south and north cities are mostly narrow and curved. The former must be particular because of the entry and exit of sedan chairs, while the latter are sloppy and casual because of the citizens' walking.
Therefore, Zhu Ping'an made this inference. (To be continued.)