Fortunate Life of the Rural Beauty
Chapter 180 - 179: When is it Not Piaopiao?

Chapter 180: Chapter 179: When is it Not Piaopiao?

Mrs. Wei gave an awkward smile and said, "Marquis Chu heard your hot pot is delicious and he wanted to eat it for midday meal today. But, today is the second day of the New Year, and it’s not very polite to visit others. So, could Afu you please go make it at the Tang Garden?"

Shyly, she then revealed that yesterday, Marquis Chu praised Afu, saying the dishes cooked at home were not as delicious as those done by Afu, so they all wanted to go over to the Lu Garden for a meal. However, they were convinced to stay by the Marquis. Today, they wanted to do so again and were once again convinced to stay. The Marquis argued that it was not appropriate to go to someone else’s house for meals on the first and second days of the New Year...

"Oh dear, it’s a bit late now," Afu replied, laughing. "If the broth for the hot pot isn’t simmered until it’s thick, it’ll lack flavor. How about this, I can stir-fry a few dishes for Marquis Chu’s midday meal first. In the late afternoon, when there’s more time, I’ll prepare the hot pot?"

Mrs. Wei laughed, "That would be even better. We servants are so foolish, we can’t serve the masters well, so you will have to take the effort, Afu."

Afu modestly declined this praise and, moving into the kitchen, took a large handful of garlic sprouts and a small jar of "Fine Bran". Along with Mrs. Wei and the two guardians who had arrived with her, she exited the house.

As they had barely left the house, an old man came out from the other side of a tree, blocking their path.

With his murky eyes, the old man glanced at Afu and asked, "Are you Afu?"

On recognizing the man, Afu took a second look. He was probably in his fifties, dressed in a grey long padded cotton gown, with a fur hat on his head. His clothing and hat were shiny from wear, evidence of how long he’d been wearing them. His face was lined with deep wrinkles, displaying a wretched and grief-stricken look, and bore some resemblance to Mrs. Wang, allowing Afu to guess who he was.

Afu asked coldly, "Who are you? What are you doing outside my house?"

Wang Laohan laughed slyly and said, "Afu, I am your real grandfather. Today is the second day of the New Year, so I’ve come to invite you, your mother and your family to my house for a meal." His demeanor was humble; at first glance, he seemed like a weak man who’s unable to stand up for himself.

"Grandfather?" Afu scoffed, "I have never heard my mother mention my grandfather. I’ve always thought he’s passed away. If he is still alive, why did he allow my mother to be sold twice by her stepmother? How could he let my young uncle, only six years old, also be sold by her?"

Listening to this, Wang Laohan seemed distressed, and tears welled up in his murky eyes. Wiping them away with his sleeve, he said, "I had no choice, I... I can’t defy Ding that damned woman. And...and after your mother got married to your father, hasn’t her life improved in every way? She’s even been able to construct such a large courtyard. Maybe, your uncle’s life might also improve now that he’s left our poverty-stricken home..."

Afu was so frustrated that she didn’t want to talk to him anymore. She interrupted him, saying, "You don’t need to seek out my mother. Neither she nor we will go to your home." After a pause, she asked, "Where was my young uncle sold to?"

Wang Laohan stammered, "I don’t know. I asked Ding, but she didn’t tell me. She just said he was sold to the city to lead a better life."

Afu was filled with anguish and raised her voice, "The one who was sold is your son, not a pig or a chicken from your house. He’s been sold off, and you are not concerned? And you never bothered to find out where?"

Watching Wang Laohan looking perplexed, Afu shook her head and said, "Just go. I don’t want to talk to you, because you’re not worthy. Don’t you dare go to my house and disturb my mother, because you’re even less worthy."

As she finished speaking, the two "bodyguards" glared at Wang Laohan, who was frightened and so ran away.

Such a man, such a father! No wonder on her deathbed, Mrs. Wang’s mother preferred to entrust her young son to her seven-year-old daughter rather than have faith in her husband.

Thinking of her grandmother whom she never met, Afu felt some heartache. She should have been a witty and capable woman to have raised Mrs. Wang to be so kind, capable and intelligent. How could she have married such a foolish, incompetent, and cowardly man?

The twisted nature of ancient marriage systems can be seen in the fact that a majority of men and women would meet for the first time on their wedding night. No matter how the husband turned out to be, what could a weak woman do? She had no choice but to accept her fate.

Watching his figure disappear into the fields, Afu finally let out a long sigh and said, "Let’s go." Then, they proceeded towards Tang Garden.

Seeing the confusion in Mrs. Wei’s eyes, Afu, while walking, explained, "Some people might think I’m being disrespectful with my actions. But I just can’t have even an iota of respect for that man, because he doesn’t deserve it, he is undeserving of being called a father."

Mrs. Wei hurriedly said, "No, I understand your feelings..."

After entering Tang Garden, they went directly to Yiran Courtyard, where Chu Hanyan was staying. Mrs. Wei said that for the past couple of days, the Marquis and Hanyan, except for sleeping at night, spent all their time here during the day, playing with the kids. They’ll be cooking in the small kitchen of the Yiran Courtyard today.

Before they even entered the Yiran Courtyard, they could hear the hearty laughter of Marquis Chu, and the loud voices of Qi Qi and Hui Hui.

Afu looked puzzled, wondering when these two little ones of hers had come over.

After entering the main entrance, she saw the three generations standing in the courtyard, all watching Qi Qi and Hui Hui fool around.

When Chu Hanyan saw Afu, she ran towards her joyfully like a little swallow, shouting out, "Auntie, auntie, Hanyan missed..."

Qi Qi and Hui Hui didn’t move, but they echoed in their little voices, "Auntie, auntie."

Afu squatted down with a smile. Since she was holding stuff in her hands, she couldn’t lift the little girl. Instead, she simply opened her arms to receive the little Miss Chu in her hug. She laughed, "Auntie missed Hanyan too. Very much, very much."

After the young Miss Chu’s face had met with hers, Afu stood up. The young girl tugged at her skirt and, filled with admiration, she exclaimed, "Auntie, you’re pretty."

Today, Afu was dressed in a peach blossom, spotted rabbit fur-trimmed jacket with a damask front, and a big red pleated skirt embroidered with phoenix tails. Although she was not wearing makeup, her red attire brought out the peach blossom flush of her face.

Upon hearing the little girl’s words, Afu looked down at her and laughed, "When was your Auntie not pretty?"

She meant it as a joke, but the young Miss Chu didn’t know that. She thought that her Auntie had asked her a real question. So, she thought about it very seriously, but couldn’t remember, "Yes, when...was it? Hanyan...doesn’t know..."

Marquis Chu roared with laughter, "Little girl, you’ve posed quite a difficult question for my great-granddaughter." He then said to young Miss Chu, "If you can’t recall, you don’t have to. This means Master Chen is always....um... beautiful."

The Marquis’s words made everyone laugh, including Chu Lingxuan. He felt rather bemused, this girl could really boast about herself and not seem insincere or affective. It was quite the opposite, she seemed open and honest.

But he couldn’t deny that she was truly, really beautiful: bright eyes, white teeth, white skin that seemed almost compared to snow, and most importantly, the elegant, fresh demeanor she exuded from within...