大姐 The First Sister
归路满青苔，桃花始盛开。
慈柔情几许，姊妹相亲爱。
The path home is covered in green moss,
Peach blossoms begin to bloom across.
How tender and gentle, her caring affection,
Among sisters, a loving connection.
朱家大姐，行事温柔和平，于众妹妹有如母亲一般，起居大小事情，皆由她体贴照管。
即便爽利如二姐，自立如四姐，在大姐跟前也都老老实实，有些小女儿的娇憨之态。
每日里，她要管待洞里的茶饭，众人的衣裳，生病吵架的寻她，高兴伤心的也寻她，整日忙忙碌碌。
来她身边传话的小妖，总是终绎不绝:
“大奶奶，二奶奶和四奶奶吵起来了。”
“大奶奶，五奶奶教训了个织工，现在那边差个人手，问能不能调上来一个。”
“大奶奶，六奶奶练功伤了气脉，请您过去瞧瞧。”
某日，夫人将她唤到自己跟前。
一踏入若仙庵，大姐就见母亲正在树下赏花，她招招手，叫大姐过来:“我们庵中的花，可比天上的好。”
而此时，若仙庵门外，当值做饭的小妖在等大姐定菜品，看育虫茧的管事在等票报事项……
大姐问道:“母亲找女儿来，可是有什么示下?”
母亲只是拉住她的手，道:“陪我看看花。”
她慈祥地对大姐微微一笑：“我怕他们累坏了你。”
大姐看着母亲，忽然想起很多很多年前，母亲也曾牵着她的手，看过同一树桃花。
那时花很美，母亲也很美。
The eldest sister of the Zhu family was gentle and serene, caring for her younger sisters like a mother. She meticulously managed every aspect of their daily lives. Even the straightforward second sister and the independent fourth sister behaved obediently and showed a touch of girlish charm in her presence. Each day, she oversaw the cave's catering, everyone's clothing, and was the go-to for disputes, illnesses, joys, and sorrows, keeping her busy from dawn till dusk.
There was always a steady stream of courier lesser yaoguais coming to her with messages: "My lady, the second and fourth ladies are arguing." "My lady, the fifth lady scolded a weaver, and now they need an extra hand. Can someone be sent?" "My lady, the sixth lady injured herself while practicing and asks for you to come and have a look."
One day, the lady of the house, her mother, called her to her side. As soon as she stepped into the hut, the tranquil scene of her mother admiring the flowers under a tree caught her eyes. Her mother waved her over, saying, "The flowers in our abode are more beautiful than those in the upper realm." Meanwhile, outside the hut, the lesser yaoguai in charge of catering was waiting for her to decide the menu, and the steward overseeing the cocoons was waiting to report matters...
The eldest sister asked, "Mother, is there something you wish to instruct me on?"
Her mother gently took her hand and said, "I just want you to accompany me in admiring these flowers." She smiled warmly, adding, "I worry they will wear you out." The eldest sister looked at her mother and was suddenly transported back to many years ago, when her mother had held her hand in the same way as they admired the peach blossoms together. The flowers were beautiful then, and so was her mother.
