Fortunate Life of the Rural Beauty
Chapter 289 - 288: Growing Up

Chapter 289: Chapter 288: Growing Up

Having tidied up the east wing, it was about time for Chen Afu to head to the gate of the Fu Garden to pick up Dabao and Alu. Zhui Feng, Sasa, and Wang Cai diligently followed, but when she called Qi Qi and Hui Hui, who were grumpily squatting on the roof, they raised their little heads defiantly, ignoring her. She could faintly hear Qi Qi’s muffled cries of "stinky woman", her teeth grinding with frustration.

She was helpless and regretful, having inadvertently offended those two hot-headed creatures.

On this trip to Dingzhou, she not only brought gifts for everyone but also for the Animal House. As before, she brought food for them. But when she thought about the generous "dowry" that Sasa had brought, Chen Afu felt she shouldn’t be like those nasty old women of this era who took things without giving anything back.

So, she asked Auntie Zeng to have a beautiful silver chain made for Sasa in the silver tower. Wearing the silver chain, Sasa looked extremely proud, while Zhui Feng couldn’t get enough of her beauty. If Wang Cai glanced longer, Zhui Feng would howl at it until it looked away.

Qi Qi and Hui Hui were upset when they saw they didn’t get a beautiful silver chain, believing that their master was favoring one over the other. Chen Afu guiltily explained, "Sasa is female and loves to look pretty. You boys squabbling over these things should be ashamed."

Qi Qi jumped up and down yelling, "Dabao is male!"

Hui Hui chimed in, "Uncle is male!"

Chen Afu bought a Yingluo ring for both Dabao and Alu.

After yelling, they flew back to the roof together. Chen Afu noticed the glimmer of tears in their eyes. She blamed herself for not realizing how intelligent her pets were. Not only would they show jealousy, but they could even differentiate between gender. If she had known, she would have made chains for all of them. It wasn’t as if she was short of money.

They sulked on the roof for two hours and still refused to come down.

Out of the corner of her eye, Chen Afu saw Wang Laowu carrying a bucket to fetch water from the Lu Garden. His house was far from the village’s well, so Chen Ming let him take water from the Lu Garden.

Seeing Chen Afu watching him, he lifted his head, giving her a smile and saying, "Thank you, miss."

Chen Afu had prepared sweets and candies for the servants and long-term workers, including Wang Laowu. She had already sent them through Shan Zi.

Chen Afu shook her head, smiling.

The gate to the Tang Garden opened, Alu and Dabao came out, hand in hand. On seeing Chen Afu, they both broke into a run towards her.

Dabao ran, shouting, "Mother, you haven’t come to pick me up for days."

Dabao’s pronunciation was so cute that Chen Afu was reminded of some "sissy" types she knew in her previous life and felt an urgent need to have separate bedrooms.

Chen Afu picked up the running Dabao and passionately kissed his little face a few times. She thought to herself, while he’s still a child, I should be as affectionate as possible, as it may no longer be possible once he grows older. Much like the imminent necessity of separate bedrooms, there might come a day when he has to leave.

Dabao giggled and returned a few kisses to his mother.

Chen Afu said to Alu, "Let’s go to your sister’s place for dinner tonight. She’s making noodles with chive oil residue."

Alu grinned widely, "I haven’t eaten this type of noodles in a long time."

Ever since their living conditions improved, they hadn’t enjoyed this simple delicacy, which once seemed incredibly appetizing.

Hearing that they were having a meal they once found irresistible, Dabao was overjoyed and mimicked his mother’s gesture of scissor hands.

While Chen Afu was making noodles in the kitchen, Alu and Dabao were playing with the dogs in the courtyard. Dabao looked up at Qi Qi and Hui Hui and said, "Come down, brother will give you peanut crumbs."

Qi Qi and Hui Hui raised their little heads even higher, they ignored him completely. They were jealous of him.

The noodles were quickly prepared and it was an early dinner.

After a few bites, Dabao and Alu noticed it didn’t taste as good as before. Dabao raised his head and asked, "Mother, did Qiu Yue make these noodles? They aren’t as flavorful as the ones you make."

Chen Afu answered, "No, I made them. Qiu Yue only helped with the fire."

"Why does the taste not match your usual flavor?" Alu wondered.

Chen Afu explained, "Well, we used to not have enough to eat. During those times, this was the best we could hope for. But now, life is better and we eat meat every day, so you’ve become picky eaters. That’s why you don’t find the flavor as appealing as you did before. When was the last time we had this kind of noodles?" Chen Afu answered her own question, "It’s been over a year. Back then, Dabao was only this tall, Alu was limping, and I was not yet fully recovered."

Dabao nostalgically remarked, "Life is like a white horse passing by a gap, disappearing in the blink of an eye."

Alu also quoted a classical phrase, "Time flies like this, not pausing for day or night,"

Looking at them, Chen Afu said, "Time flies. Before I knew it, you both have grown up to be little men and began learning from the teacher."

Thinking of those difficult days, the boys started to find the noodles more flavorful and finished their full plates.

After Alu left, Chen Afu took Dabao to the east wing bedroom and said, "You’ve grown up and can no longer sleep in the same room as your mother. This is your bedroom, you will rest here from now on."

This news was a surprise to Dabao. After his initial shock, he began to wail, "Mother, what are you doing? Are you abandoning me?"

As she wiped his tears, Chen Afu reassured him, "How could I ever abandon you! As you grow up, you must start to sleep separately from me. Just like your Uncle, who lives alone in the east wing, or your cousin Yan’er who has her own courtyard, even at such a young age..."

Dabao jumped and cried, "Si Xizi is two years older than me but still sleeps with his parents, why can’t I? Mother, you promised to always stand by my side, but now you’re breaking your promise...Although Uncle lives alone in the east wing, grandma and grandpa still live together. If they are afraid to live alone at their age, I would be, even more, afraid... I should ’ve married Mother when I had the chance...how about we separate when I turn seven?"

Dabao combined tearful pleas with several odd reasons, and then resorted to delaying tactics.

Chen Afu explained various truths to him, assured him she would never abandon him and would always love him. She told him the reason she wants him to sleep alone was so he could grow up to be a responsible and accomplished man, and so on.

Chen Afu talked till her mouth became dry, till late into the night. By this time, Dabao’s voice was hoarse from crying.

When Dabao realized Chen Afu was determined, he knew there was no use in causing a fuss. He reluctantly agreed, on one condition, "Mother, you wait until I fall asleep before you leave, so I can feel like you’re sleeping with me. That way, I know you will never abandon me."

Hearing his hoarse voice, Chen Afu felt pity and agreed, "Okay."