Fortunate Life of the Rural Beauty
Chapter 237 - 236: Slip of the Tongue

Chapter 237: Chapter 236: Slip of the Tongue

Hong Feng and Qiu Yue served together as Chen Afu changed into her new clothes. It was a set of vermilion flower-embroidered brocade pinafore, a harem colored long skirt, and Chen Afu wore the jade hairpin that Mrs. Jiang had given her yesterday.

Dressed like this, Chen Afu looked even more radiant and attractive. She thought to herself that Mrs. Jiang’s choice for her to wear this big red dress was a clear statement of her attitude, right? Truly a clever woman, no wonder despite her average looks and being two years older than Chen Shiying, she received such importance from Chen Shiying. Chen Afu was only unsure if this was merely a face-saving gesture or if she genuinely had that kind of magnanimity.

Smiling, Hong Feng said, "Miss is naturally beautiful. Wearing this dress makes her look even more beautiful." As she spoke, she took out a makeup box from the dressing table, preparing to do Chen Afu’s makeup.

Chen Afu laughed and said, "Just apply a bit of perfume, I never wear makeup."

Once she was finished dressing, Chen Afu then went to the main room. Inside the east room, Chen Shiying and Mrs. Jiang were already sitting on the bed, which was covered with breakfast dishes.

A boy in his early teens was also sitting there. He was better looking than both Chen Yuhui and Chen Yuqing, bearing four or five similar features to Chen Shiying. He was Chen Shiying’s only son and the legitimate heir, Chen Yulan. He resembled Chen Afu more than his sisters, compared with his own sibling, Chen Yuqing, the two of them looked more like siblings. Compared to Alu, they also looked more like siblings.

Chen Afu bowed to Chen Shiying and Mrs. Jiang in greeting, saying, "Father, Mother, good morning."

Chen Afu’s appearance had indeed brightened Chen Shiying’s eyes. He glanced at Mrs. Jiang and nodded approvingly. It was unclear whether he was pleased with Chen Afu’s dress or Mrs. Jiang’s actions.

Upon seeing her, Chen Yulan quickly got up, greeted Chen Afu with a salute, and said, "Brother Yulan greets elder sister."

Chen Afu also returned the courtesy and said with a smile, "Little brother." Then she said, "I was in a hurry to come here, so I’ll make up for the customary gift for meeting another time."

Chen Yulan laughed and said, "Alright, I’ll be waiting."

His words provoked laughter from both Chen Shiying and Mrs. Jiang.

Chen Shiying smiled and said, "You siblings should respect and love each other in the future."

Mrs. Jiang beckoned Chen Afu to sit on the bed, smiling and saying, "Such a lovable child." Turning to Chen Shiying, she laughed and said, "Of all our daughters, Fu’er looks the best in red."

Chen Shiying nodded in agreement.

After the meal, during which no one spoke, Chen Shiying had to go the Yamen and Chen Yulan had to go to school. Before leaving, Chen Shiying couldn’t help but remind Mrs. Jiang, "Fu’er will depend on the lady for her care."

Mrs. Jiang laughed and said, "My lord, rest assured, I will take good care of Fu’er."

After sending off Chen Shiying and his son, a small Western lacquerwork gold table was placed on the bed. Mrs. Jiang pulled Chen Afu to sit on the bed and spoke softly about matters in the mansion, "In a while, the three young ladies and the two madams will come here to pay their respects. You should get along well with your three younger sisters. As for the madams, if you’re in a good mood, give them a smile, otherwise, you don’t need to bother. The old lady’s health is not good and she dislikes noise. The lord arranged for the children to pay respects every fifth and tenth days. However, he said today was special. In the evening, the whole family will go to the Old Lady’s Hengshou Pavilion and you will have to bow and offer tea to her. Then you sisters will have your age order reestablished..."

Chen Afu felt extremely angry in her heart, having to bow and offer tea to that old nuisance was utterly unjust.

Mrs. Jiang probably noticed Chen Afu’s gloomy face and patted her hands, saying, "Fu’er, I’ve heard your father mention your mother. In my heart, like your father, I respect her and regard her as my own sister. I am especially grateful to her for nurturing your father into such a wonderful person, giving him so much warmth and happiness in his youth. Ah, these years, she and you have suffered... Let me tell you a heartfelt truth, some things are better kept inside, if you bring them out, the gossip could drown you..."

While they were talking, a young maid’s voice came from outside, "Second Miss has arrived."

Next, a young lady dressed in lilac petticoat and watermelon red dress entered. It was the young lady Chen Afu had encountered in Jade Kirin Silver Tower last year, Chen Yuqing, a legitimate daughter of Mrs. Jiang.

At 14 years old, Chen Yuqing resembled Mrs. Jiang more. However, her pair of curved smiling eyes added a few traces of liveliness to her ordinary face, making her look quite approachable.

She must have heard that Chen Afu was here. Chen Yuqing bowed to Mrs. Jiang, but her eyes were glancing at Chen Afu.

Mrs. Jiang smiled and said, "Qing’er, come and meet your sister."

Chen Afu quickly got up and exchanged courtesies with Chen Yuqing. Chen Afu explained again that she had arrived in a hurry, and she would bring her traditional meeting gift another time.

Next, a beautiful woman in her twenties and a young girl arrived. The woman was Mrs. Lu, and the girl was her eight-year-old illegitimate daughter, Chen Yuxia. Chen Yuxia resembled Mrs. Lu more, she was a very charming little girl.

However, both were dressed modestly. Mrs. Lu was wearing a half-worn, bean-green embroidered pinafore, and the little girl wore a primrose yellow mini petticoat skirt.

Chen Afu exchanged courtesies with Chen Yuxia.

Following this, Mrs. Tang and Chen Yuhui arrived. Chen Yuhui was dressed very flamboyantly today. She wore a pomegranate-red, peony-embroidered brocade pinafore, a silver-red scattered flower pleated long skirt, and her hair was adorned with pearls and jade, her makeup was also rather heavy. Perhaps she had been mentally scarred by Chen Afu’s insult about her appearance yesterday, so she made extra effort to dress up.

Just looking at this spoilt girl made Chen Afu furious. If she hadn’t caused trouble yesterday, Chen Afu wouldn’t have been noticed by the Seventh Prince, and none of the subsequent events would have occurred.

Mrs. Jiang said again, "Hui’er, come and meet your sister, Fu’er."

Chen Afu sat firmly in her chair without moving, waiting for Chen Yuhui to salute her.

Despite her unwillingness, Chen Yuhui had no choice but to come over. Last night, after she had gone to bed, her father sent a maid to wake her up, specifically to tell her about Chen Afu’s return to the mansion. He even threatened that if she and Aunt Tang dared to make trouble, they would be sent to the temple to copy Buddhist scriptures for half a year.

However, when she saw Chen Afu dressed in bright red, looking dazzlingly beautiful, she felt anything but pleasant. She curtly gave a shallow bow, saying "Greetings, sister," then covered her mouth with a handkerchief and laughed, "Seeing sister in this outfit, it really does look like a lady from an official family."

Chen Afu smiled and said, "Dear sister. This clothes was given by mother, and I really love it. Do you also like it? But it doesn’t suit you. Even if you wore it, you wouldn’t look like a young lady from an official family."

Chen Yuhui retorted, "I don’t need to prove anything by wearing fancy clothes like some people who’ve been growing up in the countryside for over a decade. I was born in this mansion, so even without that dress, I’m still a lady from an official family."

Chen Afu smiled again and said, "Yes, Miss Chen is indeed an official family’s young lady. But if you wore this dress, you wouldn’t look like an official family’s young lady, but rather like the sweet potato flowers from our countryside."

On hearing this, Chen Yuqing let out a laugh. Little Chen Yuxia was trying hard not to laugh with a red face.

Chen Yuhui was so angry that her face turned beet red. She wanted to respond, but upon seeing Mrs. Jiang had already frowned, she reluctantly closed her mouth.

Mrs. Tang gave Chen Yuhui a cue with her eyes, telling her not to cause trouble outright; Chen Yuhui sulkily went and sat on the chair.