Fortunate Life of the Rural Beauty
Chapter 167 - 166: Pick you up to enjoy blessings

Chapter 167: Chapter 166: Pick you up to enjoy blessings

Yet to everyone’s surprise, Afu didn’t seem startled by these remarks, nor did she bow immediately to Granny Chen, as expected. Instead, she helped Chen Ming to sit on a chair.

Standing beside Chen Ming, she calmly replied, "Mrs. Chen, you must be joking. If you were indeed my grandmother, you wouldn’t have paid to have me sold. No use pretending to be charitable, as I know you are not. My real grandmother lives in Xiangluo Village and my real father is right here. I have no idea who this so-called Mr. Chen is, nor do I recognize him. I wonder what brings you here today. Could it be another attempt to drive me out of Tang Garden, or perhaps to have my parents marry me off forcibly? I warn you, that dream of yours will not come true."

Granny Chen was taken aback by Afu’s audacity. Her face turned beet red and she smacked the armrest of her chair, scolding, "Insolent girl! You show no basic filial piety, how could Mrs. Wang raise such a disrespectful child?"

Afu rolled her eyes, retorting, "Huh, so now I’m the one who’s impolite. Is causing a racket in another’s house an act of politeness then? My mother raised me well, I assure you. I am devoted and respectful to my grandparents and parents. Even our villagers praise me for it."

Granny Chen clenched her fists before loudly declaring, "This won’t do! My Chen family’s polite daughter won’t be spoiled and wasted. Afu, you must come home with me."

Afu reacted surprisedly, "Home? This is my home. Where else would I go? Here, I have a wise and lovely younger brother, a doting father and a gentle mother. I am not so foolish as to leave this excellent home and jump into a wolf’s den!"

She was prepared to give Granny Chen a piece of her mind today, to avenge Mrs. Wang and the late Afu for their grievances. After all, she was not from this era, and she didn’t subscribe to the traditional belief that parents can do no wrong. Besides, she wasn’t the original host.

Upon hearing her home referred to as a wolf’s den, Granny Chen flared up again, commanding, "Come! Someone slap this ungrateful wretch!"

The old servant behind her hesitated for a moment before reluctantly stepping forward towards Afu.

Chen Ming rushed to shield Afu and warned, "Don’t you dare lay a finger on Afu."

Afu reassured him, "Don’t worry, father. We are in our own home, guarded by Tang Garden’s servants. Anyone who so much as touches me won’t be able to leave."

The advancing servant came to a halt and dared not move further.

Seeing Granny Chen getting so angry that she had forgotten her purpose of the visit, Aunt Tang let out a few loud laughs, trying to lighten the atmosphere. "Now, this is a case of family members not recognizing each other," she said. "Granny Chen, Afu is your biological granddaughter. Her harsh words are just her way of throwing a tantrum. Considering the hardships and poverty she has experienced over the years, can’t she vent a little? Weren’t you here to take her home to enjoy a comfortable life? Did you forget your primary goal?"

Recalling her original engagement, Granny Chen hurriedly patted her forehead, blinking, "How forgetful of me! Afu, I know you hold a grudge against me. You believe that I, as your grandmother, have abandoned you. But I cannot take the blame alone for this. It was Mrs. Wang who deceived all of us. She concealed her pregnancy and even took you from our family to suffer here. Come now, child, now that I know, I will take you to a better place. Let’s pack up and leave right away." She paused, then added, "Actually, there isn’t much to pack. Just come with us. I’ll buy you beautiful clothes, jewelry, and arrange a grand marriage for you."

Afu watched as the old woman tried to lure her with promises of a luxurious life. She thought to herself that if she were a naive, fifteen-year-old country girl, she might have fallen for the trick.

The girl sitting next to Granny Chen stood up, and strolled over to Afu, giggling. "Big sister, I’ll take you to the Nirvana Embroidery Workshop and Jade Kirin Silver Tower in the capital. There are so many lovely things there! We can have Granny splurge and buy you lots of beautiful clothes and jewelry."

She wore a silver-red embroidered jacket with a diagonal row of clove-colored disk buttons from the collar to her waist and a matching clove-colored silk pleated skirt. This was the outfit Afu had designed for the Nirvana Embroidery Workshop, only the color was different.

She must have noticed that Afu was wearing a somewhat worn silk robe, a semi-old thin skirt, and just a wooden hairpin. She deliberately pulled at her jacket and brushed her solid gold jade butterfly hairpin.

This girl was not just physically similar to Granny Chen, she was also her accomplice in wicked deeds. What a naughty girl she turned out to be!

Afu yanked her arm out of the girl’s grip, sneering, "Are you inviting me to your home?"

Granny Chen declared righteously, "Of course, to our grand mansion in the capital of Dingzhou."

Afu scoffed, "I don’t believe it. If you were truly welcoming me to that household," she pointed at Aunt Tang and her fellow guest as she said, "then these two wouldn’t be so pleased. With my clever mind and radiant beauty, wouldn’t I outshine this young lady, making her look dull and unattractive? She and her mother would definitely not want that. I’m not foolish enough to fall for your trick."

Afu’s remarks caused Aunt Tang and the girl to seethe with anger. Humiliated and bearing a grudge against her inferior looks not resembling her attractive parents’, she was further humiliated when Afu bluntly insulted her in front of everyone. "You impudent woman!" she hissed, raising her hand to slap Afu.

Afu grabbed her arm and forcefully pushed her away. If Aunt Tang hadn’t been quick witted by stepping in, the girl would have certainly landed on the floor.

Pulling out a handkerchief to wipe her hand, Afu threw the handkerchief onto the floor. "Dare to hit me again and I’ll break your arm!"

Aunt Tang whispered something into the girl’s ear, who then stomped her foot and walked away in tears, muttering resentfully, "Barbaric and disgraceful woman!" She reluctantly sat back down in her chair.

Granny Chen was furious at Afu’s audacity and rebellious attitude. Suppressing the rage in her heart, she tried to reason, "Yuhui is your own younger sister. How could you speak about her like that? She was sincerely offering to welcome you home."

Afu responded, "And what would my place be if I go to your home? Surely, Mr. Chen Shiying wouldn’t admit to having an illegitimate daughter, would he? That would harm his reputation and he could be impeached...."