Fortunate Life of the Rural Beauty
Chapter 294 - 293 Big Happy Event

Chapter 294: Chapter 293 Big Happy Event

Having heard what Chu Hanyan said, Dabao felt a bit embarrassed and quickly said, "It wasn’t just me that fed it, my uncle, grandmother, and Aunt Mu also did."

Chu Hanyan admiredly looked at him and said, "But brother was the one who fed it the most, wasn’t he?"

Dabao twisted his chubby little fingers in a quandary. He lacked the courage to deny his sister’s adoring gaze, and could only nod reluctantly.

Chu Hanyan was full of triumph, believing that the pig, which Dabao had fed, was also her accomplishment.

That evening, Chen Afu prepared many dishes of meat. Chu, perhaps by some psychological suggestion, ate a great deal, to the point where Chen Afu and Marquis Chu had to tell her to stop. At the same time, Afu promised that some of the meat would be saved for her father, so he could also enjoy the most delicious pieces.

As the twelfth lunar month began, Marquis Chu prepared for his trip back to the Capital City. He was not only going to celebrate the Lunar New Year, but also going to stay until February when Chu Lingxuan and Chen Afu would get married in the Capital City. He would then return with Chu Lingzhi in tow.

Everyone, including Chu Hanyan, Dabao, Chen Afu, and Aman, was reluctant to see them leave.

Unlike the children who openly expressed their feelings, Chen Afu didn’t display her regret so readily. Instead, she spent her time cooking all kinds of foods they liked.

On the tenth day, Marquis Chu took Chu Lingzhi with him and departed. With them, Luo, the manager, who was in charge of delivering all the New Year gifts from Tang Garden and Afu’s family to the Marquis’ Mansion, also left.

Chu Hanyan moved back into Fu Garden, and Dabao and Aman continued their studies at Tang Garden under Mr. Liao’s tutelage.

Sometime later, Fu Garden was filled with joyous news that Sasa was pregnant. Not only did Zhui Feng strut around proudly, everyone in Fu and Lu gardens was extremely excited. Afu even prepared a special diet for Sasa for her pregnancy. Qi Qi and Hui Hui also stopped fighting for attention with Sasa, because Sasa was going to have a baby, and that was an achievement they couldn’t match.

Chu Hanyan was overjoyed. The first thing she did every morning was check if Sasa’s belly had grown. She had Mrs. Song make net curtains, blankets, and mattresses for the little one. She even bravely ran to the Lu Garden’s backyard to give Carpenter Wu a gift, asking him to build a little bed for the pup.

She took Dabao and Aman with her and brought a box of candies from Mrs. Chu. She painstakingly described what she wanted, "The bed should be this big, this low, it should be cherry blossom color, able to hang curtains, there should be little rabbits eating carrots, and there should be little flowers and grasses..."

Though she explained it slowly, she successfully conveyed to Carpenter Wu what she visualized for the most beautiful doghouse.

Carpenter Wu felt honored that his skills were trusted by Chu’s eldest daughter, and he promised to make such a bed.

At night, Chen Afu went into the space and told Jin Yanzi this happy news. Jin Yanzi already knew and laughed joyously, "This is indeed great news. When the little one is born, you should bring it into the space immediately. Then everyone can see it right away and it can be nurtured by the aura in the space for a long and healthy life."

Chen Afu calculated the time and said, "When Sasa is giving birth, I may already be in Capital City."

Jin Yanzi felt very disappointed upon hearing this.

On the 20th day of twelfth lunar month, Dabao and Aman finally started their long vacation. However, they got up early and, together with Chen Ming, delivered a cart of gifts to the front gate of the Tang Garden as a token of respect for Mr. Liao. Mr. Liao was heading back to his hometown in Jiaodong that day and wouldn’t return to the Tang Garden until the nineteenth of next month.

As soon as it was late morning, Shitou, Si Xizi, Chen Dahu, and a few other children in the village came to Fu Garden. Dabao and Aman joined them, frolicking in the open space next to Fu Garden. Witin no time, Luo Mingcheng and several children of the Tang Garden servants also came. The once tranquil piece of land began bustling with activity again.

Seeing the envious expression in Chu Hanyan’s eyes, Chen Afu led her outside the yard, standing at a distance to watch the bustling scene. At this moment, Chen Dabao was the busiest, frolicking with the other children, then coming over to exchange a few words with his mother and sister before running off to play again.

In the late afternoon, Manager Luo returned from the Capital City. He brought back a large cartload of gifts for both Lu Garden and Fu Garden, which were the New Year gifts from the Marquis’ Mansion.

Mrs. Chen, Chen Ye, and Mrs. Hu happened to be in Lu Garden at this time. Seeing the brightly coloured cart full of items, they were quite envious. Chen Ming laughed heartily, and also gave many gifts to Dabao’s family.

On the 26th day of the twelfth lunar month, Carpenter Wu and his son stopped work to return home for the Lunar New Year. Most of the work had been done, with only some final touches remaining, which could be finished in a few days after the New Year. Chen Ming gave them some preserved meat, snacks from the Capital City, and two pieces of cloth.

The small bed that Chu Hanyan asked to be made was also ready, and Carpenter Wu personally delivered it to Fu Garden. The little girl was delighted, seeing that the small bed was as beautiful as she had imagined. Chen Afu also gave some New Year’s goods to the Wu family as a token of thanks.

On this day in the late afternoon, Chen Shi’s family also returned home. Along with many gifts, they brought back nearly a year’s worth of profits from the wine-shop. In almost ten months, the wine-shop made a net profit of 1,160 taels of silver, leaving 200 taels as working capital, and distributing bonuses to employees, the remaining 900 taels were divided among the various shareholders.

Chen Shi invited Chen Dahu’s family and Manager Luo to have dinner in the main house. After having some wine, they discussed next year’s marketing strategy for the wine-shop, reported on this year’s business condition, and finally divided the money.

Chen Dahu’s family and Chen Shi’s family each received 360 taels of silver, and the main house and Manager Luo each got 90 taels.

Looking at this huge disparity, it was not just Chen Ye and Mrs. Hu who felt uncomfortable, even Mrs. Chen looked at Chen Ye with sympathy. This son, who had contributed the most to the family, had been surpassed by his two younger brothers by such a large margin.

Manager Luo cheerfully accepted the silver, expressing his thanks. Then, he got up and took his leave. Chen Afu also did not want to stay any longer. Seeing that Chen Ye and the others were not looking too pleased, she led Dabao and Alu, and followed Manager Luo back home.

The next day, Mrs. Wang, who had come over, told that Chen Ming and Chen Shi each gave Mrs. Chen and Chen Ye twenty taels of silver.

"Mrs. Chen and Uncle Chen are both satisfied, but Mrs. Hu is still dissatisfied, pursing her lips..." Mrs. Wang said.

Chen Afu remained silent. She wasn’t sure if bringing Chen Ye into the wine-shop as a shareholder was a mistake.

On this day, Chen Shi’s family visited Lu Garden. They first inspected the dowries prepared for Chen Afu, after which Mrs. Zhang and Chen Aman came to Fu Garden to inspect the wedding gown made by Chen Afu.

Mrs. Zhang quietly complained to Chen Afu, "We have given them quite a lot in respect, but judging from Mrs. Hu’s attitude, she still wants us to split the cost evenly among our families..."

On the 29th day of the twelfth lunar month, Chu Lingxuan finally returned.

By this time it was already pitch dark, and snow was pouring down outside. In the warm dining room, Chen Afu, along with Dabao and Chu Hanyan, were eating mutton soup.

Hearing the howling outside, Chen Afu felt uneasy.

Suddenly, she heard Mr. Zeng’s loud voice, "Ah, the young master is back. Miss, Sister, Brother, we’ve all been worrying."