Fortunate Life of the Rural Beauty
Chapter 257 - 256: Alive

Chapter 257: Chapter 256: Alive

Mr. Lin and his son happily reported that the watermelons from the eighty acres were thriving. Many watermelons had grown, with the largest weighing two or three jin (approximately 1-1.5 kg). They predicted that they would be able to harvest the first batch in about half a month.

While they were speaking, Chu Xiaoniu led a long-term worker over. This worker was called Wang Laowu. In his twenties, Wang had already lost most of his hair, a severe case of "local areas overcoming the central area", with strands of thin hair sticking up on top of his head like small horns.

He was an immigrant and a distant relative of Junior Officer Gao. He claimed that his hometown had been devastated by floods, claiming the lives of all his family members. As a result, he came here to seek refuge with his relatives. Junior Officer Gao helped him with his housing registration and leased a small courtyard in the north of the village, next door to Chen Ming’s old home. From then on, he resided here, working as a long-term worker for others, doing short-term jobs as well. So long as it paid, he was willing to do any dirty or tiring work.

This man didn’t talk much, but he was diligent. However, his standards, when it came to finding a wife, were unreasonably high; she had to be beautiful. He had proposed to just about every home that had a beautiful girl in the village. He was even enamored with the delicate beauty of Chen Afu and often went to the vegetable garden hoping to run into her. The village joked about him, saying that he was like a toad wishing for swan meat. Hence, at twenty-five, he was still unmarried.

Last year, when Fu Garden and Lu Garden were recruiting long-term workers to tend their fields and watermelon patches, he registered for the job. Chen Ming and Chen Afu thought highly of him; he was responsible and hardworking. Other than his unrealistic standards for a wife and his disregard for personal hygiene, he was alright. Therefore, they hired him on the condition that he improved his personal hygiene.

Wang Laowu was very diligent, even more so than the other three long-term workers. He was also willing to use his brain and paid some attention to hygiene. After a while, Chen Afu even promoted him to foreman and put him in charge of the watermelon field.

Wang Laowu came with a huge watermelon close to ten jin in weight (approximately 5 kg), his smile reaching from ear to ear. His sparse hair, drenched in sweat, stuck to his head, making it look even sparser.

Chu Xiaoniu laughed and said, "Elder sister, our watermelons are this big now."

Wang Laowu chuckled, "Reporting to elder sister, there are quite a few melons of this size in the field. I knocked on them, they sounded hollow, so they should be ripe. If you think they are ripe, we can start harvesting in a few days."

Chen Afu was incredibly happy. She quickly asked someone to wash and cut the watermelon. The melon’s flesh was a vibrant red. It was sweet, crisp, and juicy. If they waited a few more days, when it gets more gritty, it would taste even better.

Mr. Lin exclaimed excitedly, "Dear heavens, how did the melons here ripen this early? They’re at least ten days ahead of our melons in Wangshan Village, and they taste better than any other watermelon I’ve had before."

Of course, Chen Afu would not mention that she had watered it with special, precious "Yan Poop" fertilizer. She simply replied evasively, "Perhaps, it has something to do with the soil quality here." Then, she asked them to go to Dingzhou and contact Zeng Shuang right away. They would start harvesting the melons in three days and ship them to Dingzhou to sell. Dingzhou was one of Dashun dynasty’s key transportation hubs, with canals leading northward to the Capital City and southward to Jiangnan. From there, they could sell the watermelons to the two wealthiest regions in the Dashun Dynasty and various locations along the waterway.

They would also supply Chen Ming’s Chen Er Grains Shop in Sanqing County with a small quantity. Although the shop mainly sold grains, it could also sell watermelons.

Aside from setting aside a slice for Chu Lingyan, who was still asleep, and Jin Yanzi in the space, the remainder of the watermelon was given to the servants and the flora and fauna at Animal House to eat. Zhui Feng, of course, wasn’t interested. However, Qi Qi and Hui Hui, the two clever birds, loved everything delicious.

Then, she asked Wang Laowu to pick two more watermelons, one to send to Lu Garden and the other to Tang Garden. After thinking for a moment, she asked him to pick two more, one for Master Wu Zhi and another for Abbot Liao Chen.

Around midnight, after a busy day, Chen Afu cut a slice of watermelon into a small bowl and brought it to the space. Ever since Jin Yanzi got the amber bird, she had been hiding and playing in the space, refusing to come out even when called.

"Sweetheart, come and eat some watermelon. It’s really sweet." Chen Afu called out.

Jin Yanzi was still prodding the amber bird with her wing. She said, "Mummy, isn’t it strange? If it was just a bit darker, I would think it was a sculpture made to look like me when I was young. Doesn’t it look just like me? And I have a feeling, like it’s alive. It’s just sleeping now, but one day, it will wake up."

Chen Afu was startled and moved closer to take a detailed look at the amber bird. She shook her head and said, "I don’t see how it looks alive. To me, it’s just like the other trinkets I have at home, only prettier." When she saw Jin Yanzi’s beak curling up even more, she laughed and said, "Mummy is just an ordinary person; I can’t see things like Jin Bao can. Maybe this amber bird will actually wake up after absorbing some spiritual energy in the space. If it wakes up, that would be great. Jin Bao wouldn’t be lonelier when in hibernation in the space. If it’s a female, that would be even better. You’d have... a sister."

She was going to say wife, but thinking that the little one might become more infatuated if he had that thought, she changed it to sister.

Jin Yanzi’s mouth curled up in a cheerful smile, and she chirped, "Mummy, don’t call it the amber bird anymore. That sounds so cold, like it’s a decoration. Let’s call it Jin Bei. It sounds like we’re a pair." Then she added regretfully, "I don’t know whether it will wake up in a hundred years or a thousand years."

Chen Afu wasn’t interested in things that didn’t concern her and were so far off in the future. She yawned and said, "Sweetheart, eat your watermelon quickly. This watermelon is sweet and grows fast, just like you."

On the evening of the nineteenth, in Fu Garden, they were having dinner. Chen Afu was at a table with the three children. Old Lord Hou was at another table, drinking alcohol. Jin Bao, Qi Qi, and Hui Hui were gathered around a colorful porcelain plate, while Zhui Feng hid his head in a wooden basin, enjoying his dinner.

Suddenly, Mr. Zeng’s surprised and delighted voice rang out from the courtyard, "Oh, young master is home." He raised his voice and called out, "Old Lord, Miss, young master is home."

Following the footsteps, Chu Lingxuan walked into the dining room. He had already gone to Tang Garden to freshen up, and now he was wearing an ice-blue gown, his damp hair hanging loose.

Chu Hanyan had already put down her chopsticks and gone to the door. Upon seeing him, she spread her arms and called out, "Daddy, Daddy."

Chu Lingxuan picked up Chu Hanyan, first smiling at Chen Afu, then going over to Old Lord Hou and greeting him.

Chen Afu stood up and chuckled, "Young master, you haven’t eaten, have you? I’ll ask someone to bring a set of tableware for you, and order a couple more dishes."

"Okay." Chu Lingxuan nodded, and took a seat beside Old Lord Hou.

Dabao and Chu Lingzhi went over to greet him, one saying "Daddy", the other "Brother". Qi Qi and Hui Hui went over to join in the fun too, calling out "Daddy" loudly.

Chen Afu personally went to the kitchen and cooked two of Chu Lingxuan’s favorite dishes: Ginger Chicken and Stir-Fry Pork with Green Peppers. She had anticipated that he might return tonight and had prepared the ingredients. However, fearing that he might return late, she hadn’t cooked the dishes yet.