Fortunate Life of the Rural Beauty
Chapter 129 - 128: I’m Back

Chapter 129: Chapter 128: I’m Back

At first, Chen Ye enjoyed listening, but as Mrs. Hu began to blatantly demand things again, he couldn’t help but blush with indignation, grumbling, "You old hag, I didn’t even ask you to tag along, yet you have the nerve to bring shame upon me the moment you show up. You keep this up, and I swear I’m going to sock you!"

Chen Ming hurriedly blushed and clarified, "Sister-in-law, it’s not our family buying the servant, it’s Afu’s family who purchased her. We don’t have plans to buy a servant yet."

Chen Afu glanced at Chen Ye and Mrs. Chen, suggesting, "Grandma, Uncle, I’m currently designing clothing and accessories for the embroidery workshop run by the Chu family, and sometimes I need skillful hands to assist me. How about this: if I design something, Big Sister-in-law can come work at my place when she’s free, and I’ll pay her wages. But there’s one condition, whatever she makes, she can’t divulge it to anyone, nor wear it or use it for herself. Everything must remain a secret."

Her family’s newfound wealth doesn’t mean they can ignore the needs of the main house, especially given they’ve lent a hand in crucial situations and notably assisted Chen Ming. But Chen Afu was reluctant about handing out the "charity" especially if it was forced out by Mrs. Hu. If they created a habit out of this, Chen Ming would face unending problems in the future.

So, she came up with a solution. She would let the branch family earn its own keep. Mrs. Wang would handle the complex tasks and those requiring higher skills. As for the simpler things, she would pass it on to Mrs. Gao. She initially considered asking Alan but knowing that her wedding was around the corner and she must be busy preparing her own stuff, she decided against it.

Through their acquaintances, Chen Afu felt more assured about Mrs. Gao. She was stable and had no malicious intent. Despite Chen Agu being the silent type, he was sensible.

After hearing Chen Afu’s proposal, Mrs. Chen and Chen Ye were over the moon. Mrs. Wang used to work at the county town’s embroidery workshop, and her monthly earnings were enough to feed an entire family. If Mrs. Gao worked for the capital city’s embroidery workshop, wouldn’t her earnings be more? They reassured Afu that Mrs. Gao was skilled and reserved.

Although Mrs. Hu was dissatisfied, seeing her husband and mother-in-law happy, she dared not to say another word.

Chen Ye then told Mrs. Hu, "From now on, our daughter-in-law will be working with Afu to earn money, and since Alan is about to get married, it’ll be best for you to do more housework with Aju."

At midday, the three of them dined in the second house. Chen Ye and Chen Ming had a few drinks with lunch.

Before they even finished their meal, Luo Yuan rushed to the Chen’s house. He was panting heavily from running and was drenched in sweat. He said to Chen Afu, "Sister Afu, quickly go check on my little sister. She’s been crying all day because you didn’t go to Tang Garden, constantly shouting ’I want my auntie.’ Mrs. Song thought she could console her, but who would’ve expected her to cry all morning. She even refuses to eat."

Chen Afu was shocked, "Your sister hasn’t eaten lunch yet?"

"No, she hasn’t even taken a sip of water," Luo Yuan said with concern.

Upon hearing this, Chen Afu quickly got up from her meal, followed Luo Yuan and hurried to Tang Garden. Dabao wanted to follow too, but Chen Afu stopped him. Yan’er was already too attached to her and she didn’t want her to become overly dependent on Dabao as well.

When they arrived at the Yiran Courtyard, the little girl was still sobbing in Mrs. Song’s arms. Her eyes were red and swollen, and evoked sympathy from all who saw her.

Seeing Yan like this made Chen Afu’s eyes well up. She took Yan into her arms and comforted her, "Yan darling, what’s wrong?"

The little girl choked, "Auntie.....Dabao.....Southern Region, looking for Jinbao."

With their absence for a day, the little girl’s intelligence had somehow deduced that they had gone to the Southern Region to find Jinbao.

Chen Afu reassured her, "Auntie and Dabao are not going to the South. We can’t bear to be away from Yan’er and won’t go anywhere else." She then cooed her for a while. When her crying subsided, Chen Afu let her sip down sweet water prepared with fruit before ordering the servants to bring out her lunch.

Hanyan sat on Chen Afu as Mrs. Song fed her.

Usually, after meals, the little girl would play with her toy swallow and sleep next to Mrs. Song. But today, she clung to Chen Afu as if scared that she might leave.

Chen Afu, therefore, carried her to the bedroom, "Yan’er should be obedient and lie down on the bed. Auntie will sing ’Little Swallow’ for you."

Upon hearing this, Yan finally loosed her grip around Chen Afu’s neck.

Chen Afu placed her on the bed, tucked her toy swallow into her arms, and began to sing.

This time, she sang the happy and light-hearted children’s song as a lullaby, singing it very slowly.

Any song, when slowed down, becomes melodious. Coupled with her slightly deep voice, it became even more linger and wise.

Little swallow, wearing the flower dress,

Comes here, every spring, I guess.

I ask the swallow, why here it flies,

The swallow says, here the most beautiful spring lies.

Little swallow, let me tell you,

Now, here is even more beautiful, too.

Yan’er has grown taller still,

She thinks of you, everyday, she will,

Welcome you to live here longer, if you will.

Chen Afu reiterated the song countless times. Every time she sang "Yan’er", she would lightly tap on the little girl’s cute button nose with her index finger, which sent the girl into fits of giggles. She later even began to attempt to join Chen Afu in the singing by making small sounds. Though they were mostly off-pitch, she occasionally managed to harmonize.

After who knows how many cycles of repetition, Hanyan’s voice grew fainter, and before long, she was fast asleep.

When Chen Afu noticed the little girl had fallen asleep, she gently covered her with the blanket, tiptoed out of the bedroom.

Just as she stepped out of the bedroom, she was surprised to find Chu Lingxuan and Manager Luo standing in the hall, peering into the room.

Chu Lingxuan never imagined there could be such a strangely beautiful and melodious song, with such simple and vernacular lyrics, and paired with an exceptionally beautiful yet somewhat low voice... He could feel the boundless love and cherishing embedded within the lyrics for Yan’er.

He was so immersed in the beautiful melody he wasn’t aware that Chen Afu could suddenly emerge at any moment, which made him feel like he got caught red-handed. Feeling a bit embarrassed, he cleared his throat lightly with his fist covering his mouth.

Chen Afu too was taken aback, she curtseyed and whispered, "Mr. Chu, you’re back."

Chu Lingxuan nodded and spoke softly, "I heard from Manager Luo how you’ve been teaching Yan’er these past few days. Your methods are good, thank you for your troubles." He then smiled and added, "Mmm, that song just now as well, it was very pleasing to the ears. I genuinely did not expect Yan’er could actually grasp the melodies, let alone sing along."

Chen Afu chuckled, "I’ve always considered Yan’er to be a bright child. It’s just, it seems like she’s been locked away in her own world since she was little, thus does not know and does not wish to step out of her world to interact with others, making her seem different. Maybe she finds her world more beautiful, or perhaps this is a way she protects herself."

Upon hearing this, Chu Lingxuan felt a pang of regret, sighing, "I’ve let Yan’er down by seldom being there for her." He then asked, "You said, Yan’er is a bright child?"

Chen Afu answered sincerely, "Indeed she is, at least she’s a lot more intelligent than I used to be." She wasn’t evading the fact that she used to be considered dumb, he had witnessed her behavior then.