Fortunate Life of the Rural Beauty
Chapter 288 - 287: The Best

Chapter 288: Chapter 287: The Best

In the front courtyard, not only was Chu Lingxuan present, but also Auntie Zeng, and the guards who had previously protected Afu were there too.

Chu Lingxuan came forward to greet Chen Shiying, and then cautioned Afu, "Be careful on the road, don’t lift the carriage curtains to watch the excitement for no reason, don’t get off the carriage at random. Return home directly for lunch, don’t eat food from outside..." As he spoke, he gave her a wallet filled with plum candies, advising her to eat a couple if she felt car sick.

He was starting to sound like a fusspot.

Afu accepted the wallet laughing and said, "Uncle, don’t worry, I’m not a kid, I know all this."

Chen Shiying’s previous impression of Chu Lingxuan was not particularly good. He thought that though Chu Lingxuan was capable, he wasn’t a good match for a son-in-law. He was from a prestigious family, and would always carry an air of arrogance, fearing he would look down upon Afu’s background. His household was in chaos and he already had a daughter, fearing that Afu would be wronged once she entered the Chu’s.

Chen Shiying thought Afu was the best girl, even though he didn’t spend much time with her, he could see that behind her beauty was her precious intelligence and tenacity. He thought that his eldest daughter marrying Chu Lingxuan was a loss.

It was all thanks to that annoying Seventh Prince...

But, seeing Chu Lingxuan’s heartfelt concern for Afu, he felt somewhat satisfied. Standing nearby, he laughingly reminded, "Afu, remember what Lingxuan has told you; your father would have said the same."

Afu, together with Auntie Zeng and Xia Yue, boarded the carriage and bid farewell to Chen Shiying and his son.

Chu Lingxuan, on his horse, escorted her until outside the city gate, and once again reminded her of a few things.

In the morning mist, the carriage sped up, and Chu Lingxuan’s figure gradually became smaller. Afu felt a sourness in her nose. It always felt like they saw each other rarely.

When his figure was entirely out of sight, Afu finally drew the carriage curtains closed and put a plum candy in her mouth. Sour and sweet, just like her current mood.

By lunchtime, they were in Shangshui Village. As they passed Tang Garden from the south, she heard the voices of Qi Qi and Hui Hui from above, calling "Mom" and "Aunt". Afu opened the carriage curtain, they crawled into the carriage and nestled into Afu’s arms for a hug, making everyone in the carriage laugh.

Turning around Tang Garden, they could see Fu Garden from far away. Zhui Feng, Sasa, and Wang Cai came sprinting to jump on the carriage.

Even before reaching Fu Garden, they could hear Dabao shouting "Mom" and Alu shouting "sister". Afu quickly told the coachman to stop the carriage. As soon as she got off, she was embraced by Dabao and Alu who came running towards her.

Afu first squeezed Alu’s little face, then squatted down to kiss Dabao’s face twice, and let Dabao kissed her twice, then she carried him and started walking towards Fu Garden.

Alu, pulling Afu’s one arm, said, "Sis, Mom wants you to freshen up and go to Lu Garden for lunch."

Afu nodded. She asked Dabao, "Son, you don’t need a crutch to walk anymore? You can run now?"

Dabao said, sounding resentful, "Dr. Lin saw my leg yesterday. He said my leg had recovered very well, and I shouldn’t have needed the crutch long back. If I knew, I would have accompanied mom to Dingzhou for my sister’s birthday."

Afu laughed, "A hundred days for a bones and muscles injury, you’re still a few days short of a hundred. You can’t be careless."

After washing up and combing her hair back at Fu Garden, she took the two children, a flock of animals from the Animal House, and half a cart of things with them to Lu Garden.

Not only was Mrs. Chen who frequently visits Lu Garden for lunch present, but Chen Ye, Mrs. Hu, Dahu, and Daya were also there.

Seeing Mrs. Hu’s intense gaze, Chen Afu could guess that she had brought Chen Ye over today with the eager intention to be the first to see what gifts the third and his mother had brought them. Her unwillingness to wait for even two hours exposed her shallow intentions. However, when thinking of Mrs. Chen and Chen Yuhui back at the Chen’s Mansion in Dingzhou, Mrs. Hu’s greed wasn’t so detestable.

Since she was anxious, Chen Afu catered to her wishes. The first thing she did was to have Xia Yue bring out the gifts for the main household.

There were food and fabric brought by the third household for Mrs. Chen and the main household. Additionally, there were fabric and wine that Chen Afu had Auntie Zeng purchase in Dingzhou. Moreover, toys for Dahu and Daya as well as two pieces of satin for Hu Laowu’s wife purchased by Auntie Zeng. The plan was to have Mrs. Hu deliver them. A few pieces of the satin and pastries were also bought for the Wu family. They were to be delivered to Carpenter Wu in the backroom.

Since Chen Afu and the third household now had money, the purchased items were plentiful and of good quality. The dazzling pile of items brought great satisfaction to Mrs. Chen and the others.

After the meal, Mrs. Hu wanted to stay and see what the third household had brought for the second. She feared that the third household, given their generosity, might have brought more gifts for the second than for her household.

Mrs. Chen understood her intentions and berated her, "Not content with a free lunch, you now want to stay for dinner?"

Chen Ye also scolded, "You greedy old woman, never satisfied. Let’s go home."

Mrs. Hu had no choice but to get up and follow them out.

Chen Afu didn’t return to Fu Garden. Instead, Dabao, who had been clinging to her, was led to the east wing by Alu for a nap.

Dabao’s head wobbled like a bobblehead. He whimpered, "Mommy’s back. I want to nap with mommy."

Chen Afu insisted, "Mommy has to discuss things with Grandpa and Grandma today, and won’t be taking a nap. Be a good boy, you still have class after your nap."

Having no choice, Dabao slid off Chen Afu’s lap and was led off to the east wing by Alu.

Chen Afu had made up her mind; as Dabao had not shared a bed with her these past few days, they would start sleeping in separate beds today. She had thought about this for a while, but due to Dabao’s leg injury, it was delayed until now.

Chen Ming, drowsy from a little drink, went back to his room to rest, leaving only Mrs. Wang and Chen Afu in the room. Chen Afu laid out the gifts for Mrs. Wang, which included herbs for Chen Ming given by Mrs. Jiang and satin for Mrs. Wang.

Mrs. Wang asked, "The old lady did not give you a hard time, did she?"

Chen Afu smiled and said, "No. The old lady now needs assistance even for walking, and the servants in the yard are all different. She couldn’t bother me even if she wanted to." Seeing Mrs. Wang’s astonishment, she added, "Mrs. Jiang is a good woman, gentle, understanding, and wise. With such a virtuous wife, father’s life is good."

Though Mrs. Wang’s face remained expressionless, her eyes were filled with relief. She had always hoped for Chen Shiying’s lifelong happiness.

Chen Afu had never told her about Chen Shiying’s concubines other than Mrs. Tang. Mrs. Tang was forced upon him by Mrs. Chen, and he had no choice, but the other concubines were willingly taken in by him. Chen Afu hadn’t mentioned this to preserve Mrs. Wang’s pure and fond memory of Chen Shiying. In Mrs. Wang’s heart, Chen Shiying, who she had raised, was the best.

At the end of the midday hour, Alu and Dabao woke up. The two boys, accompanied by Xue Dagui and Chu Xiaoniu, went to Tang Garden to study.

Chen Afu returned to Fu Garden, had the servants clean up the bedroom in the east wing, and moved all of Dabao’s clothes into the wardrobe there. She then officially appointed Qiu Yue as Dabao’s maid, responsible for all his daily needs and to stay in the east wing overnight.