Fortunate Life of the Rural Beauty
Chapter 238 - 237: Reverse the order (Misattributed)

Chapter 238: Chapter 237: Reverse the order (Misattributed)

After some idle chatting, Mrs. Jiang dismissed Chen Yuhui and Chen Yuxia, along with the two Aunties.

In the main room, Mrs. Jiang was discussing household matters with the housekeeper, while Chen Afu and Chen Yuqing were in the side room having a chat.

Chen Yuqing was quite attractive. Her soft and tender speech carried a hint of Jiangnan accent. Mrs. Jiang had taught both her daughters well. Chen Afu noticed that Chen Yuqing wanted to befriend her and it seemed that Mrs. Jiang and her three children were all trying to please her.

Mrs. Jiang truly loved Chen Shiying, hence she encouraged her children to get closer to her. She even confessed her feelings to her. Ultimately, while her intention was to please Chen Shiying, she was also benefiting from it. Given this situation, Chen Afu decided to reciprocate their kindness and maintain a good relationship with them.

Girls usually loved jewelry and clothing the most. When the conversation switched to these topics, they began talking more. When Chen Yuqing found out that some of her favorite disk buttons and lucky rabbit slippers were designed by Chen Afu, her eyes widened with excitement. Chen Afu immediately promised that once she had time, she would make a set of clothes for her. Chen Yuqing was delighted with this promise...

As it approached noon, a maid came to report that the Rose Courtyard was ready. Mrs. Jiang nodded her head to confirm and was about to take Chen Afu there when an old woman came in.

Chen Afu vaguely recognized this old woman. Upon giving it some thought, she realized that this was the same old woman who had accompanied Mrs. Chen to her home last time and had even tried to hit her. However, this old woman now limped while walking, presumably she had a disability.

The old woman said that Mrs. Chen was not feeling well and wanted Mrs. Jiang to come to Hengshou Pavilion.

Mrs. Jiang thought that Mrs. Chen wanted to see Chen Afu. She was thinking that Master had specifically spoken to Mrs. Chen last night, asking her not to cause trouble or see this granddaughter alone. Mrs. Chen had agreed wholeheartedly. However, as soon as the Master had left, she had retracted her words. It turned out she actually wanted to see Mrs. Jiang herself.

Mrs. Jiang had Mrs. Zhang take Chen Afu to the Rose Courtyard first. Chen Yuqing also insisted on going. Mrs. Jiang didn’t object and asked them to get along well. She also assigned one of her maids, Qingfeng, to temporarily serve Chen Afu.

After that, Mrs. Jiang went to Hengshou Pavilion.

Seeing Mrs. Chen’s condition, even Mrs. Jiang was taken aback. She asked, "Mother-in-law, what’s wrong with you? I will immediately have someone summon the doctor."

Mrs. Chen’s eyes were bright red and her face was as pale as wax. Her speech was also weak. She said, "I’m not seriously ill, I just got so angry yesterday that it gave me chest pains. Didn’t sleep well the entire night."

Mrs. Jiang pretended to be surprised and said, "Who dared to anger you, Mother-in-law? Tell me who it is, and I will reprimand them."

Mrs. Chen said, "Yesterday, Shiying came and told me that nasty girl wants to officially join our family and acknowledge our ancestors. He mentioned something about the Chu family wanting to propose marriage to her. He even suggested recording her name under yours as our family’s eldest legitimate daughter... After he left, I realized, initially it was I who had arranged with the Chu family to marry off our family’s eldest legitimate daughter to General Chu. But when I was referring to the eldest legitimate daughter, I was referring to Hui’er. If you record her under your name, she becomes our family’s eldest legitimate daughter. But now, Shiying wants to switch places, using that nasty girl to masquerade as Hui’er. This is unacceptable, I disagree and the Chu family will surely not agree either. That nasty grew up in the countryside, uncultured and rude. How could the Chu family be interested in her? Daughter-in-law, that nasty girl is up to no good. She’s disrespectful and wicked. If you record her under your name, even Yuqing would be affected. Record Hui’er under your name, when she marries into the Chu family, you and Lany’er and Yuqing will all be benefitted..."

Mrs. Jiang had had enough. Do they still need to benefit from Chen Yuhui? She quickly interrupted Mrs. Chen’s rant, "Mother-in-law, there seems to be a misunderstanding. According to what the master told me, Afu was seen by..." She hesitated to mention Chu Lingxuan’s name, so she quickly changed her words, "...the Chu family’s old Marquis because she was Ms. Chu’s needlework master. He suggested that General Chu should propose marriage to Afu. Yesterday, the master and General Chu’s conversation was also about Afu..."

Mrs. Chen secretly wondered, could it really be that Chu family misjudged and actually preferred that nasty girl? She then said, "Tonight, not only should you record that nasty girl under your name but also include Hui’er. Make it clear which legitimate daughter the Chu family intends to marry. I would like to see if they want to marry the gentle and well-bred Hui’er or the uncultured and rebellious nasty girl."

Mrs. Jiang’s lips curled up in mocking smile, "Alright, Mother-in-law. I will do as you say. I am very fond of Hui’er and wish her a good future."

Upon hearing this, Mrs. Chen finally smiled satisfactorily and dismissed Mrs. Jiang.

As soon as Mrs. Jiang left, Chen Yuhui emerged from the side room. Her eyes were red and swollen, and she was intermittently wiping her tears with a handkerchief.

When she left the main court and came to the Hengshou Pavilion, she overheard Mrs. Chen saying that her father and Mrs. Jiang were planning to send Chen Afu to marry into the Chus’ Mansion in her place. She burst into tears immediately.

"Grandmother, why did my mother say that the Chus want to marry Chen Afu? What about me, what about me..." Chen Yuhui began to sob again, covering her mouth with her handkerchief.

Mrs. Chen soothed her, patting her hand and saying, "Ay, Hui’er, stop crying. Grandmother is thinking of a solution..."

The Rose Courtyard is a not-so-big courtyard with a willow tree. There’s a wooden fence all around and it’s covered in climbing vines, with large blooming roses on them, very beautiful. There are six rooms in total, and at the back, there is a stove likely used for boiling water.

Seeing the stove, Chen Afu had an idea. She said to the accompanying Mrs. Zhang, "I can make many delicious dishes. I’d like some ingredients to cook and show my respect to the elders."

Mrs. Zhang, the housekeeper of the main court, was very astute. She understood Chen Afu’s implication — she was distrustful of the food at home. However, it was understandable, as she heard that the young lady had been greatly wronged by Mrs. Chen, Aunt Tang, and the eldest sister.

She laughed and said, "All right, I’ll have Mrs. Xu go to the kitchen with me later to get some ingredients and firewood."

At midday, Chen Afu had Chen Yuqing stay and have lunch at Rose Courtyard. As long as Chen Yuqing was present, she wasn’t afraid of anyone trying to harm her, so she ate the dishes made by the kitchen. She also personally cooked a dish of golden slippery meat. Thinking that children like this dish, she had another plate delivered to Chen Yuxia.

Chen Yuqing smiled and said, "I’ve had this dish at the Xinglong Wine Shop, and I didn’t expect sister’s dish to be just as delicious."

Chen Afu grinned and remained silent.

In the late afternoon, Chen Afu remained in Rose Courtyard, making golden cakes, which she intended to take to Hengshou Pavilion for dinner later that evening.

At dusk, Hong Feng came to Rose Courtyard again and announced that the master had returned and asked Chen Afu to come to Hengshou Pavilion.

Thinking that she would soon have to meet that wicked old woman again, Chen Afu felt a surge of irritation. However, there was no way out at this point, so she had to go.

They passed through a few pavilions and walked along a corridor before arriving at a large courtyard.

Upon entering the main house, right across from them on the Luohan Bed sat a beaming Chen Shiying, and Mrs. Chen on the other side with a sullen look on her face, staring at the incoming Chen Afu.