Fortunate Life of the Rural Beauty
Chapter 208 - 207: No Chance

Chapter 208: Chapter 207: No Chance

After dinner, Chu Hanyan had intended to stay in Fu Garden and play with Miss Yang Qian, but, thinking of her father and grandmother having to leave the next day, she obediently returned to Tang Garden.

This time, not only Chen Afu and Dabao saw them off, but also Yang Chao and Yang Qian did.

Because they were accompanied by Liao Chen on the same road, Chu Lingxuan and Chu Hanyan just looked back at them, waved their hands, and then turned around to accompany Liao Chen back to Tang Garden.

Chen Afu let Alu take Dabao and Yang Chao to sleep in the east wing, while Yang Qian followed her to the upper room.

At this moment, it wasn’t completely dark yet. The children were playing around in the courtyard with Er Gou and Er Niao.

Mrs. Wang did not go back to Lu Garden, instead she was sitting with Chen Afu under the porch of the east wing, observing the children playing.

In the distance, Honglin Mountain was like an undulating black silhouette, accentuating the crimson dusk illuminating atop the mountain. Occasionally, homeward-bound birds would glide across the sky, disappearing into the brilliant clouds and sunset hues.

Suddenly, Chen Afu saw many birds emerging from the red clouds, approaching them in a dense flock, like a bombardment of aircrafts. These birds flew closer and closer, reaching the airspace above Fu Garden. They first circled around, then dropped numerous "fecal bombs" all over, subsequently settling down on the trees and rooftops. The children playing in the courtyard all shrieked and ducked under the porch, while Qi Qi and Hui Hui were loudly exclaiming "Welcome." Because whenever guests arrived at their house, the hosts would always greet them with a "Welcome."

A bird landed on Chen Afu’s knee, and she saw that it was Jin Yanzi.

Jin Yanzi chirped, "Mommy, wake up, close your mouth. What’s the big fuss? These are all my younger brothers and sisters who want to follow me. So, I brought them all home."

Chen Afu took a deep breath and hit Jin Yanzi on its head. "So many birds," she scolded. "Where in my house do we have so many cages to keep them all? And they indiscriminately poop and pee everywhere. You made a mess in our courtyard."

Jin Yanzi turned around and noticed that indeed, bird droppings were scattered all over the courtyard.

It chirped again, "Yes, it’s my fault for not reminding them in advance. Don’t worry, Mommy, I will tell them to fly to the watermelon field on the side of the yard to defecate next time. That will save you some fertilizing efforts. I brought back ninety-eight birds this time, only forty of them need to stay in cages, the rest can sleep on the trees. Oh, and can you provide some white rice and small pieces of meat for them? I bragged to them that you would treat them with delicious food."

Chen Afu gave up, instructed Auntie Zeng and Xia Yue, Qiu Yue to get the food. She asked, "You won’t let them stay at my home permanently, will you?"

Jin Yanzi replied, "No, most of these birds are accustomed to the wild and dislike confinement. They will only come to visit occasionally. But about a dozen of them will always follow me because they are really dumb and often get bullied. An accidental encounter with eagles or large reptiles could be fatal. Besides, they are too beautiful and sing too well, it would be a shame if they died unnatural deaths."

When Xia Yue and Qiu Yue sprinkled rice on the ground and placed bowls of minced meat, the birds all flew down to eat. These birds included common types like sparrows and swallows, as well as some rare or even unrecognizable ones. Their black, grey, red, green colors made a beautiful sight.

When the birds finished eating, they all chirped towards Chen Afu while hopping around on their feet.

What smart birds they are!

Seeing their enthusiasm, Chen Afu accepted them from the bottom of her heart. She let Xia Yue and Mrs. Huang take the children to rest, and she, with Qiu Yue, sorted out those birds that needed to sleep in cages, put them in, and placed several baskets under the porch. Dry hay was also spread inside the baskets. If the birds didn’t want to sleep in the trees, they could sleep in the baskets.

By the time all of this had been sorted, it was already late. Mrs. Wang returned to Lu Garden, and Chen Afu also retired to her room.

Chen Afu got up early the next day. She led the others to decoct a pot of vegetarian dishes and made plum blossom cakes and golden silk cakes.

After everything was ready, she had half of the vegetarian dishes and snacks delivered to Tang Garden. One portion was, of course, for Chu Lingxuan. The other two were for Abbot Liao Chen and Master Wu Zhi. Even though that old monk was difficult and annoying, having a good relationship with him could always be helpful.

After breakfast, Yang Mingyuan came to say goodbye with Luo Yuan accompanying him. He wanted to spend more time with his mother before he had to rush back to the Capital City.

Chen Afu was taken aback when she saw him. Not just due to his dark panda eyes, but also because she thought he had lost weight. She wondered whether it was an illusion. How could one lose weight overnight? Besides, he came to her house as a guest, both she and the Luos had treated him with good food and hospitality without any slight.

She opened her mouth, then swallowed her doubts back down.

Chen Afu created a backdoor opportunity for Chen Ayu. After all, Lu Chuan couldn’t take the helm of a grand occasion. Chen Ayu was beautiful and clever, and deserved to grow and develop on a larger platform. Now that the Hongyun Restaurant was opening branches, it was necessary to cultivate talents. Chen Afu wanted him to follow Yang Mingyuan for some training so that he could be well-prepared for the future development of the family business.

Yang Mingyuan nodded and smiled, saying that Chen Ayu could find him in the Capital City.

Chen Afu also gave the other half of the snacks to his mother.

Yang Mingyuan expressed his gratitude, patted the heads of his younger brother and sister Yang Chao as they came to say goodbye, and asked them to go home after playing for a couple of days since their grandmother would be lonely at home alone. Afterward, suppressing the tears in his eyes, he bade farewell to Chen Afu and Luo Yuan and got on the carriage.

Yang Mingyuan had a lot of words that he wanted to say to Chen Afu. He had even considered having a matchmaker talk about marrying her before he returned to the Capital City so he could completely settle the matter between the two of them.

But when he saw what Luo Yuan and his wife were doing, and noticing that as long as Chen Afu appeared, Chu Lingxuan would subconsciously look at her, his indifferent face would also wear a smile.

He knew then that he had no chance.

Ever since his wife had passed away, his mother had been urging him every day to remarry, to find a mother for his children, but he always declined out of fear that a stepmother wouldn’t treat his children well.

When he met Chen Afu, his initial impression was one of stunned admiration for her intelligence, beauty, and unique charm; then his appreciation for her kindness. He was deeply touched by her sincere love for children, as well as by the love all the children had for her. He thought that he had finally found a girl who not only made him happy, but also could be a kind mother to his children.

While he was in Capital City, whenever he was exhausted, the thought of Chen Afu was what preoccupied him the most. Just the thought of her seemed to dissipate all his weariness. He initially thought that this trip back home would bring him a wife to accompany him for life. Little did he know, the beautiful bond had ended even before it got a chance to form....

Chen Afu was unaware of Yang Mingyuan’s emotional struggle. Upon returning home, she opened all the bird cages. As she saw Jin Yanzi flapping its wings to take flight towards the sky, the other birds all followed it, fluttering and chirping in the air.