Fortunate Life of the Rural Beauty
Chapter 274: Grievance

Chapter 274: Chapter 274: Grievance

Chen Afu handed a small mirror to Mrs. Wang with a smile, saying, "Look at yourself, mother. You appear much younger, like a young wife not yet thirty."

Mrs. Wang indeed looked younger and more delicate in the mirror. Although Chen Afu might have exaggerated a bit, she certainly didn’t look as old as before.

She blushed at his words and retorted, "Nonsense. I am an old woman now, certainly not a young wife."

While they were chatting, they heard Mr. Zeng from the courtyard shouting, "Miss, Madam, Mr. Chen has arrived."

Ever since Chen Afu got engaged to Chu Lingxuan, the servants had changed how they addressed Mrs. Wang and Chen Ming. Now, it’s Lord Chen and Lady Wang.

Why did he come all of a sudden?

Chen Afu glanced at Mrs. Wang and hurriedly rose to go meet him.

Chen Shiying had already entered the courtyard. Coming straight from Wangshan Village in a horse-drawn carriage, he was still dressed in his official uniform and hat. His face was rouge-red, probably from exposure to the sun all day.

He laughed, saying, "Fu’er, your father will be a guest here tonight and leave early tomorrow." As he finished speaking, he saw Mrs. Wang following out.

Mrs. Wang appeared dramatically different from when he last saw her. She had aged significantly back then, and the hardships etched onto her face had pained him. But now, she looked much younger than the last time. She had aged much in the past ten years but beneath those delicate brows and gentle charm, there was a glimpse of the young woman who used to wait by the door to see him home from school every day...

This scene reappeared in his mind: a boy, his hair neatly combed, returning home. Beaming with joy, he called out to his elder sister who was waiting for him at the door. "Sister, sister, I’m home."

Her sister was beaming, "Ying Di, you are back."

She walked down the steps, led him into the kitchen, washed his face and hands, and asked if he was hungry. She would stuff a piece of crystal sugar or stir-fried peas or something similar into his mouth even before he could respond. Then she would ask him, "Is it sweet?"

The boy replied, "Sweet."

Then she would squeeze his little face with a giggle. That warmth and softness, he could recall even now.

Chen Shiying’s nose tingled, and he called out, "Sister."

Mrs. Wang looked at him, her hands tightly clenching into fists to the point that her veins were bulging out. Lowering her head, she whispered back, "Ying Di, you are here."

"Mmm." Chen Shiying responded, his eyes fixed on Mrs. Wang.

Seeing them like this, Chen Afu felt awkward on their behalf. She suggested, "Father, mother, why don’t we move inside to talk?"

"Alright." Chen Shiying began to walk towards the house.

Mrs. Wang, who was still standing at the door, murmured, "Afu, I should go now."

Having already stepped inside, Chen Shiying turned back and entreated her, "Sister, can’t you spare some time to talk to your brother, who rarely visits?"

Mrs. Wang shook her head and responded, "No, I still have to cook dinner for my family..." Only then did she remember Chen Ming hadn’t returned from the county granary. She hurriedly corrected herself, "I’m going to prepare dinner before my husband returns. Ying Di, please make yourself at home in your niece’s home. Don’t be shy." With that, she hastily left.

Chen Shiying stood there, just staring blankly as Mrs. Wang’s figure disappeared out the gate, his face full of disappointment.

Although Chen Afu felt sympathy for their circumstances, they had separated and each had their own families. Those old sentiments were better left in their hearts.

She tugged on Chen Shiying’s sleeve, "Father, are you thirsty? I can prepare a bowl of osmanthus honey for you. I made it myself."

Chen Shiying regained his senses and managed to give her a strained smile. "Alright." He generally preferred tea, but he was willing to try the osmanthus honey made by his daughter.

Chen Afu served him a bowl. The honey was a pale golden colour in a white fine porcelain bowl, with a few small osmanthus flowers floating on top. It looked very appetizing. After taking a sip, its fragrant sweetness filled his mouth.

After he finished the honey drink in just a few sips, he asked somewhat awkwardly, "Fu’er, you don’t think your father is making a fool of himself, do you?"

Chen Afu shook her head and said, "No."

Chen Shiying sighed again, saying, "Your mother not marrying me might have been a good thing. I was afraid that I would mistreat her... make her sad..." After a moment’s thought, he murmured, "Maybe, if I’d married your mother, I would never want to mistreat her."

Chen Afu didn’t quite hear his last words.

"What did you say, father? Something about mistreatment?" Chen Afu asked.

Chen Shiying waved his hand and pushed the bowl a little bit forward, "I like this sweet drink, Fu’er. Can you pour me another bowl?"

What he didn’t tell his daughter was that Aunt Tang had died from the plague on their estate last month, and only a few days ago, the virtuous Mrs. Jiang had taken F a sixteen-year-old concubine for him...

As Chen Afu was chatting with Chen Shiying, they heard a commotion coming from Lu Garden.

Chen Afu instructed Mr. Zeng, "Go see what’s happening in Lu Garden."

Mr. Zeng quickly left. After a while, he came running back and reported, "Miss, it’s the stepmother and brother from Madam’s mother’s family. They carried Madam’s father here, saying that he’s seriously ill, and that their family does not have any money. They were left with no choice but to bring him to his biological daughter’s home, hoping that Madam would feel compassion and offer money for his treatment... "

Worried that Mrs. Wang could be taken advantage of, Chen Afu stood up and said to Chen Shiying, "I’m going to check."

Although it was the busy farming season, there were a handful of people gathered at the entrance of Lu Garden to watch the commotion.

Xue Dagui and Shan Zi cleared a path through the crowd, and Chen Afu walked in. She saw Wang Laohan lying on the ground, Mrs. Ding kneeling beside him, wailing, and Wang Cai pleading with Mrs. Wang. Essentially, they were saying they were out of money and couldn’t afford further medical treatment for Wang Laohan. If the delay continued, Wang Laohan would die. Reluctantly, they had to bring him to his biological daughter’s home and ask for money to continue his medical treatment...

Mrs. Wang stood there, at a loss. She didn’t want to invite the malicious mother and son into her house. Ever since she found out about the mistreatment that her younger brother, Wang Cheng, had suffered, and that his fate was still uncertain, she resented Mrs. Ding more and despised her father’s cold-heartedness. However, Wang Laohan, lying and moaning in the courtyard, as well as the onlookers outside, left her with a dilemma. She feared that her father might truly be gravely ill, but she also feared that they might be plotting together and acting out a scene. She was loathed to give her hard-earned money to the insincere Mrs. Ding.

As filial piety was held supreme in ancient times, though Chen Afu despised Mrs. Ding and Wang Cai, she knew she must take care of Wang Laohan for Mrs. Wang’s sake, lest the blame fell on Mrs. Wang.

With a stern face, she stepped forward and said, "My mother was not refusing him. What are you crying for?" Then she turned to Mr. Zeng and instructed loudly, "Go and fetch Dr. Lin from the village." She also gave him a meaningful look, and Mr. Zeng quickly understood her instructions and headed off rapidly.

Xue Dagui and Shan Zi carried Wang Laohan to a lounge chair under the porch and gave him water.

Wang Cai said, "We’ve come a long way, my mother and I are thirsty too. Pour some water for us too."

Xue Dagui and Shan Zi pretended not to hear.

Auntie Zeng then began telling the onlookers outside the door all about how Mrs. Ding had sold Mrs. Wang and her biological brother, which had resulted in him being mistreated and his current fate being unknown...