Fortunate Life of the Rural Beauty
Chapter 181 - 180: Block Card

Chapter 181: Chapter 180: Block Card

Chen Afu had just made a joking comment, but the young lady took it so seriously that it seemed like she was praising herself. She felt a bit embarrassed but still managed to suppress it and not show it.

Meanwhile, she thought that the old Marquis was amusing, not at all like an old-fashioned stubborn lord, quite humorous in fact. With such an open-minded patriarch, along with Mr. Chu she had met before, the men of the Chu family were all decent. The Chu family must indeed be very harmonious.

It must be that so-called princess who was the bad apple that spoiled the whole cluster. She wondered what kind of man Marquis Chu was to involve himself with such a princess. Forced his original wife to leave, drove his only son away to a far-off frontier, and even under his very sight, allowed his daughter to become sick. Perhaps even the death of his daughter-in-law was not natural...

Yet, out of the corner of her eye, she saw a hint of a smile on Chu Lingxuan’s face. This smile was warm, like the sun after a snowfall. It wasn’t scorching, but clean and bright.

The face of Chen Afu seemed to be slightly blushed. She bowed slightly, knelt to give her respects to the old Marquis and Chu Lingxuan, and said, "Old Marquis, Mr. Chu, happy lunar new year."

The coolness returned to Chu Lingxuan’s face. He nodded and said, "It must have been a hassle for you, Master Chen, to come here especially today on Lunar New Year to cook a meal for my grandfather."

Chen Afu smiled, "It is my honor to cook for the old Marquis who likes my dishes." She then said because it’s already late for the hot pot that she would prepare it for dinner and instead make some stir-fry dishes now.

The old gentleman laughed heartily, "Even better, two meal times enjoying the cooking of the little lass."

After Chen Afu and Mrs. Wei left for the small kitchen behind, the old gentleman finally frowned and told Chu Lingxuan off, "Young man, your craving exceeds mine, but you’ve used me as a shield. If it weren’t for you to mention how delicious her cooking is, how could I have known?"

He then took Chu Hanyan by the hand and called over Qi Qi and Hui Hui to play over on another side of the courtyard.

Feeling left out, Chu Lingxuan had no choice but to stride into the house.

After checking out the ingredients in the kitchen, Chen Afu decided the menu. Golden-brown ribs, braised fish, minced meat with garlic sprouts, fried tofu with garlic sprouts, stir-fried beansprouts, stir-fried lotus root, finished off with a pot of fishball soup.

She knew her cooking skills couldn’t be better than the cooks in Tang Gardens, it’s just that the water quality of her home was better, so the dishes she cooked were more fragrant.

For every dish apart from the golden-brown ribs and soup, she added a few garlic sprouts watered with Yan poop for that extra flavor, but not too many as they were limited in quantity.

With the Chu family’s wealth and generosity in food, she also carved several flowers from radish and oranges for decoration once the dishes were ready.

This is taste! Even in the past, even if she was alone at home, she would wipe clean the edges of the plates before serving the food, and if there was time, even make some shapes with cucumber and radish. She disliked placing dishes dripping with grease on the dining table, found it untidy.

The Chu family had delicate plates and the addition of those ’flowers’ as decoration made it even more appealing.

Mrs. Wei and the cook both commended, "Indeed a feast to the eyes and palate, Master Chen has outdone herself."

Chen Afu declined to stay there for dinner and also thanked the Chu family for their kind invitation for Dabao and Alu to join dinner. Today was the second day of the Lunar New Year and she preferred to go home for dinner. After the meal, she would come back to Tang Garden to prepare the hot pot. Before leaving, she instructed the cook to make chicken broth with a hen.

After eating at Lu Garden, Chen Afu told Chen Ming and Mrs. Wang about Wang Laohan’s visit and how she sent him away.

Chen Ming was furious, "Afu did the right thing. This man does not deserve to be a father. When his son was sold, he didn’t even bother to find out where he was sold to, or how he would fare henceforth."

Mrs. Wang just covered her mouth with a handkerchief and cried.

After Chen Afu comforted her a bit more, she got ready to go back to Tang Garden to prepare the hot pot. Dabao wanted to tag along, Chen Afu instructed him, "You can go play, but you can’t stay there for dinner."

Seeing Dabao nod, she took his hand, brought Zhui Feng along, and had Xue Dagui and Chu Xiaoniu shoulder the custom-made furnace and table set, together they headed to Tang Garden.

The old man and Chu Hanyan were still taking their afternoon nap. As soon as Chen Dabao entered Yiran Courtyard, Chu Lingxuan called him under the eaves, saying he will teach him real martial arts. Dabao was so excited that he dashed over with a wide grin on his face.

Chen Afu got the ingredients ready for the hot pot and set the boiled chicken broth on the stove to simmer. Next, she secretly added a bit of agarwood residue into the pot. When everything was ready, and the soup was done, a delicious aroma filled the air.

She had her men carry the pot and dishes into the main room of the house.

By now, it had turned pitch black outside, and snowflakes were quietly falling from the sky.

Arriving at the front courtyard, the lanterns hanging from the trees in the corridor had already been lit, casting a warm glow onto the ground. A hue of orange light seeped out from the louvre windows of the main room, along with laughter and chatter. They could notably hear the old Marquis and Dabao’s voices were the loudest, followed by those of Qi Qi, Hui Hui, and Zhui Feng, occasionally Ms. Chu’s giggle, and Chu Lingxuan’s voice.

Even before entering the room, they could already feel the thick air of warmth from inside.

The maid opened the door and lifted the thick curtain. Chen Afu walked in, a wave of warm air greeted her. As Dabao and Ms. Chu jostled each other to call out "Mom" and "Aunt", Qi Qi and Hui Hui followed in confusion.

Because Chen Afu was followed by a servant carrying a pot full of soup stock, the children and the dog were guarded against, in fear that they might accidentally jump at them.

Chen Afu laughed softly as she replied and instructed the staff to place the pot and dishes on the table. Then, she explained that the soup in the pot will become more and more concentrated and delicious with long simmering; just add some chicken broth to it and it will last for several days at the least.

After that, Chen Afu, holding Dabao and Zhui Feng, took their leave.

Qi Qi and Hui Hui, unsatisfied with their playtime, clamored, "We won’t leave, won’t leave, we want to be stay dogs..." This was Dabao’s voice.

Everyone burst into laughter again. Poor Zhui Feng didn’t even realize they were making fun of him.

Chen Afu and Dabao had already walked down the stairs when Chu Lingxuan opened the door and came out. He said, "Dabao has talent in writing. I have a book of Mr. Wang Youjun’s rubbings for him to copy every day, which will do him great benefit. The rubbings are in the outer study, I’ll go and get it now."

Without waiting for Chen Afu to agree or disagree, he walked ahead, and Chen Afu, holding Dabao’s hand, had no choice but to follow him. After some distance, they went up to the corridor. Lighted lanterns were spaced along the corridor, their red light illuminating the path ahead, and the tall figure walking in front.

When they got to the outer study, Chu Lingxuan entered and exited shortly after. In addition to handing a booklet of characters to Dabao, he also handed him two brushes and a stick of ink. He said, "Study hard, and if in the future, even Mr. Jiang from the private school is unable to teach you, I will find a way to invite a better teacher for you."