Fortunate Life of the Rural Beauty
Chapter 251 - 250 Father Acknowledgement

Chapter 251: Chapter 250 Father Acknowledgement

Upon hearing the Seventh Prince’s words, the Chus pretended to persuade him to stay, before happily seeing him off.

Afterwards, Chen Afu went to the West Wing to fetch the children to the main hall.

The Marquis Chu sat by the square table, Mrs. Chu took the first seat on his right, Chu Lingxuan occupied the first seat on his left, and a cushion was placed in front of Chu Lingxuan.

Chen Afu patted Dabao’s head, whispering, "Dabao, be good."

Having grown up in such circumstances, Chen Dabao knew what he needed to do in his best interest. Despite his reluctance, he knew he must follow along. So he obediently knelt on the cushion, bowed his head three times to Chu Lingxuan, and said, "Respected Father, your son pays his respects. I wish you good health and auspiciousness in all your affairs." After speaking, he raised the tea cup handed to him by a maid.

Chu Lingxuan accepted the tea, sipped it, and said, "Good child, strive to be of great service to the court in the future."

After speaking, a maid stepped forward carrying a tray that held a red Fei "carp leaping over the dragon gate" ornament. Chu Lingxuan handed the ornament to Dabao. Dabao stood up to receive it, saying, "Thank you, Father."

Xia Yue, standing behind him, took the ornament.

The ornament, measuring about a dozen centimeters square, was transparent and brightly colored, obviously extremely valuable. Chen Afu was astonished that Chu Lingxuan would give such a precious item to a child.

Dabao then paid respects to Marquis Chu and Mrs. Chu, changing their titles to "Great Grandfather" and "Great Grandmother," respectively.

Marquis Chu gifted him a white jade flying horse ornament, while Mrs. Chu gave him a white jade pendant of superior quality.

Then Dabao stood still, Chu Hanyan came over and curtsied to him, calling him "brother."

Dabao broke into a grin, his smile as sweet as the blooming flowers outside the window. He puffed out his little chest and said, "Good sister, you need to eat well, so you can grow strong. You also need to be respectful to Mother, Father, and other elders."

After speaking, he took a small cow hairpin prepared in advance from Qiu Yue’s hand and gave it to Chu Hanyan.

Chu Hanyan very much liked the hairpin, and cheerfully accepted it, asking Chen Afu to put it on for her.

Chen Afu smiled and said, "Little Yan, you have your hair done up in a bun right now, it’s not suitable for this hairpin. It will look better when you let down your hair in the evening."

Chu Hanyan obediently nodded, then asked in confusion, "Aunty, now that Dabao...brother has started addressing my father as his father, shouldn’t I pay respects to you and call you my mother?"

Chen Afu blushed, while Mrs. Chu laughed heartily, saying, "Little Yan is impatient. You need to wait until next year, when your father is married, before you can call aunty ’Mother.’

Chu Hanyan pouted in disappointment, saying, "I have to wait that long? I’m in a hurry."

Marquis Chu laughed heartily, saying, "Even if you’re in a hurry, you have to wait. That’s how the rules are."

Chu Lingzhi, realizing he was being left out, grew impatient and said, "What about me? Dabao hasn’t paid respects to me, his fifth uncle, yet."

Dabao paid respects to Chu Lingzhi as well. Chu Lingzhi gifted him a jade pendant in return, saying, "Good nephew, make sure to join your uncle for some fun in your children’s playground at home in the future. I really like it there."

The crowd erupted into laughter. Afterwards, they returned to Tang Garden for some rest, with plans to come back to Fu Garden for dinner in the evening.

Marquis Chu, Mrs. Chu, Chu Lingzhi, and some of the servants left first. Chu Lingxuan carried Chu Hanyan, trailing behind them.

Chen Afu led Dabao to the doorway to see them off. Chu Lingxuan took out a wallet from his bosom and, smiling, said to Chen Afu, "This is your birthday gift."

Chen Afu thanked him and accepted the wallet.

Chu Hanyan also took out a handkerchief from her bosom and said, "Aunty, this is my birthday gift to you. I even made a few stitches on the flowers myself," she pouted and wiggled her little fat fingers, "I pricked myself several times. It hurt."

Chen Afu’s heart softened as she examined the handkerchief. It was embroidered with a few simple flowers and leaves. She gently pinched Chu Hanyan’s little chubby fingers and said, "Thank you, little Yan. Aunty will use the handkerchief you embroidered. But you’re still very young, so wait until you grow up to start doing embroidery. If you prick your fingers, aunty will be heartbroken."

As soon as Chu Lingxuan reached the willow tree, he paused and turned around. He saw Chen Afu and Dabao still standing at the gate, watching them. He waved his hand, telling them to go back. He then turned and walked towards Tang Garden.

Chu Hanyan was confused and asked, "Father, why don’t we stay a little longer? I want to watch them."

Chu Lingxuan said, "The sun is high now. Once we leave, they can go back in the house."

When Chen Afu returned to the main hall, Mr. Zeng had brought in the list of gifts and the gifts themselves.

The Seventh Prince had given her a red sandalwood Buddha statue from Lingyin Temple, which was said to have been blessed by senior monks. Chen Afu guessed that the senior monk referred to was Monk Gui Ling. The Marquis Chu had given an agate carved flower ornament, Mrs. Chu had given a set of gold and jade hair ornaments and two rolls of Zhuanghua satin, and Abbot Liao Chen had also given a gift, a string of agarwood beads.

Chen Afu then opened the wallet. Chu Lingxuan had given her a pair of jade bracelets. She slipped them onto her wrist. The jade was naturally bright green, making her wrist appear even whiter and more delicate.

She pursed her lips and smiled, removed the bracelets, and then put away the rest of the gifts and the clothes that Mrs. Wang had sent earlier that morning. She saw that Dabao had come in front of her, his hands behind his back. She asked, "Why haven’t you gone to bed for a nap yet?"

Dabao brought his hands out from behind, holding a piece of paper, and said, "Mother, this is your son’s birthday gift."

Chen Afu was surprised, saying, "Did you also prepare a gift for your mother?"

Dabao nodded and said, "Yes, I secretly drew this to give mother a surprise."

Chen Afu turned over the paper. It depicted a woman with her hair in a bun, leading a boy with a skyrocket hairstyle. The woman was looking down at the boy, and the boy was looking up at the woman. Two large characters were written vertically, Forever.

Dabao lowered his head and twirled his chubby fingers, saying, "No matter whether mother’s illness is cured or not, mother is always holding me this way. It’s always been this way in the past, and I hope it will be the same in the future. Forever, forever."

This drawing perfectly expresses his profound love for his mother, along with the worries and expectations deep in his heart.

Chen Afu hugged him and said joyfully, "Oh, you draw so well. Thank you, son. Your mother loves this drawing very much." Her voice softened as she said, "Yes, in the past and in the present, your mother has always held your hand this way. But when you grow up, and you become taller than your mother, you will have to lead your old mother by the hand. Then, you will be holding not only your mother’s hand, but also those of your wife, children, and grandchildren. A long line indeed."

As Dabao pictured that scene, he smiled and said, "Yes, when mother gets old, I’ll bring a wife home to take care of her, and let my wife have lots of children to bring joy to mother."