Fortunate Life of the Rural Beauty
Chapter 282 - 281: Believe it or Not

Chapter 282: Chapter 281: Believe it or Not

When Chen Afu returned to the Rose Courtyard, a servant came to report that Mr. Zeng, the head of Fuyunlai Trading Company, had arrived.

Chen Afu had sent Auntie Zeng home the day before, and had Guard Wang deliver the presents for the family of Chen Shi, including Chen Ming and Chen Ye, to Chen Shi’s house.

In actuality, Chen Afu very much wanted to visit the Fuyunlai Trading Company, but she didn’t voice this to Mrs. Jiang, knowing that she wouldn’t agree. After the debacle with the Seventh Prince, not only was Mrs. Jiang unnerved, but Chen Afu herself was frightened too. Chen Afu had Xia Yue bring Zeng Jiang in.

Zeng Jiang reported to Chen Afu the business situation of the trading company, and they discussed the arrangements for the next step. At midday, Chen Afu had Xia Yue accompany him for lunch.

In the late afternoon, Mrs. Jiang came to the Rose Courtyard. She explained to Chen Afu the etiquette and things to pay attention to when attending a banquet at a notable family’s home and taught her some manners.

Looking at the time, it was about time for dinner at the main court. The Chens’ rule was that on holidays and every tenth day of the month, the whole family would dine with the elderly matriarch in Hengshou Pavilion. On ordinary days, they would eat dinner together at the main court with Chen Shi and Mrs. Jiang.

When Chen Afu arrived, Chen Yuqing, Chen Yulan, and Chen Yuxia were already there, but Chen Yuhui was not, and Mrs. Jiang’s expression was not pleasant.

The siblings were chit-chatting with Mrs. Jiang when a servant came to report that Chen Shi wouldn’t be coming, he’d be eating dinner at Hengshou Pavilion and told them to start eating without him.

Turning to Chen Afu and others, Mrs. Jiang instructed, "You all start eating. I’ll go to the Hengshou Pavilion and take a look."

Chen Yuqing and her siblings stood up and offered to go with her, but Mrs. Jiang shook her head and went off alone.

After dinner, Chen Afu did not wait for Mrs. Jiang with her siblings in the main court, but instead, returned to the Rose Courtyard.

Chen Afu speculates that Chen Yuhui must have stirred up trouble with the old lady again. With such a mother and daughter, Chen Shi can pacify them. Chen Yuhui isn’t particularly smart. The elderly matriarch was immobilized, and with Aunt Tang gone, the Chen household was now Mrs. Jiang’s domain. This young and old duo simply couldn’t cause much trouble. All Chen Yuhui could count on was Chen Shi’s fatherly love and his guilt of causing the death of her mother. If Chen Yuhui makes enough trouble to exhaust those, she will be left with nothing.

Very aware that she lacked a sense of belonging in this house, she decided to stay out of any quarrels unless they involved her. All she wanted now was to attend the birthday banquet tomorrow and hurry back to Fu Garden the day after. She was missing Dabao, Mrs. Wang, Alu, and Chen Ming.

The next morning, Chen Afu was woken up early by Xia Yue and Qingfeng to get ready. She bathed in a bath infused with floral fragrance and petals; ancient people understood beauty regimen too.

After breakfast, Chen Afu started getting dressed. She decided to keep it dignified, not too extravagant but not too shabby either.

She had had her dress made back at Fu Garden. The outer piece featured a blue armor-lock pattern and was embroidered with yellow stamen white plum blossom on a silkscreen with half-length sleeves. She wore a lighter purple inner garment and a matching lightweight gauze long skirt. She dressed her hair with the gold and jade headdress Mrs. Jiang had gifted her, paired with minimal makeup.

"Ms. Chen, you look gorgeous." The maids all expressed their admiration genuinely.

Even though her outfit was not too fancy, her natural beauty combined with her impeccable elegance, made her stand out the moment she got dressed.

When Chen Afu arrived at the main court, Chen Yuqing and her sisters were already seated. Chen Shi was not at the Yamen either, as he was to attend the feast at the Chus’ Mansion as their future in-law.

Chen Yuqing respectfully chose to wear the dress Chen Afu had given her previously, instead of the one Mrs. Jiang had given her yesterday.

The smokey-red brocade, standing collar, broad-sleeved short jacket, and the corresponding pleated skirt were accented by light blue and apricot-colored phoenix tail shaped disk buttons. The well-tailored outfit emphasized Chen Yuqing’s slender figure, outlining her elegant silhouette.

We cannot forget about Chen Yuqing, who should have been the highlight of the Chen sisters today.

At first, Chen Yuqing was thrilled, because the outfit was truly gorgeous and suited her. But when she saw Chen Afu, she started to feel inferior. Having such a beautiful sister made her look even more ordinary.

Chen Afu noticed the inferiority and sadness in Chen Yuqing’s eyes and examined her makeup. Although she had applied makeup, it neither hid her flaws nor highlighted her strengths.

No matter what Mrs. Jiang’s intentions were in being friendly to Chen Afu, Chen Afu acknowledged her kindness.

Chen Afu smiled and said, "If you trust me, my little sister, let me redo your makeup."

Chen Yuqing laughed and said, "Of course I trust my older sister."

Then they entered Mrs. Jiang’s bedroom and Chen Yuqing sat down in front of the mirror.

As a servant brought water for her to wash her face, Chen Afu began to put makeup on her, while explaining, "Your eyes are the most beautiful, curved like a crescent moon, radiating an inherent delight and charm. So we must emphasize the curve, rather than following others to draw the eyeliner upwards... Your lips are slightly full, so we can’t use bright red. The color should tend towards rosy or Consort Yang, adding some gloss to make them look soft and moisturized... Blush should be applied like this to make it look good... The hairstyle should also be changed..."

Chen Yuqing resembled Mrs. Jiang more, with average features and a rather strong character. However, she had one advantage, she not only had smiling eyes but also loved to smile.

Chen Afu also reminded her to maintain her tendency to smile.

About two quarters of an hour later, when Chen Yuqing appeared again in the hall, not to mention the mountain of compliments from the servants, Mrs. Jiang herself was stunned. She couldn’t believe her daughter could be so beautiful!

After gazing at her daughter, Mrs. Jiang gave Chen Afu a nod of thanks. Yuqing was already fourteen years old. Some families had previously proposed marriage, but due to one reason or another, she and Chen Shiying had not been satisfied. She hoped a good family would take notice of her daughter today...

Chen Shiying also nodded in satisfaction. He had always been perplexed why none of his daughters had inherited his good traits. Fortunately, upon seeing that Chen Afu resembled him greatly, his regret lessened.

Chen Shiying rode in one carriage by himself, while Mrs. Jiang took the three girls in another carriage.

About two quarters of an hour later, they arrived at the Chus’ Mansion.

The female relatives were led directly to the Hua Hall in the Inner Courtyard. The one leading the ladies of the Chen family was Yu Zhuo who previously served Chen Afu. Chu Lingxuan specifically assigned her to wait for and serve Chen Afu here.

On the way, Yu Zhuo mentioned that since there was no adult female head of the family in the Dingzhou Chu Mansion, Mrs. Chu, the eldest, was considered the elder of the Chu family, and the women of the inner courtyard were cordially received by Chu Lingxuan’s sister, Chu Hua, and his cousin’s wife, Granny Luo...

As they reached the entrance of the Hua Hall, the servant announced loudly, "Mrs. Chen, Ms. Chen, third Miss Chen, and fourth Miss Chen have arrived."

Usually, as the Chens were future relatives of the Chus, Mrs. Chu should have stood up to greet them. But as they entered the Hua Hall, they saw the middle-aged woman sitting comfortably on the main seat, chatting and laughing with the guests on both sides.

Mrs. Jiang’s face flushed red at once.

Just as they were feeling embarrassed, they saw Granny Luo and a beautiful young woman in her early twenties walking towards them with smiles on their faces.