Fortunate Life of the Rural Beauty
Chapter 323 - 322: Six-finger Wang

Chapter 323: Chapter 322: Six-finger Wang

Chen Afu heard the people from the Embroidery Workshop behind her calling out to the little boy, "Wang Xiaodi, what have you brought to sell today?"

The boy laughed and said, "Mr. Li, this time it is a medium piece, ’Cat Rolling Embroidery Ball’, it can be used as a bed screen or a decorative piece."

She glanced back at the skinny shadow of the boy. Another child hustling for life.

Without much thought, she led Yang Qian back to the wine-shop.

A few men were having a lively discussion, Yang Mingyuan leading the conversation, followed by Chen Ayu. Chu Lingxuan only occasionally interjected. Apart from speaking more with Chen Afu and Chu Hanyan, he was usually sparing with his words. Yang Chao sat like a little adult, quietly listening, signaling that Yang Mingyuan had already started grooming him.

Yang Qian excitedly showed off the flower in her hair and the wallet in her hand to her father and brother.

Chen Afu sat down and sipped some tea. Two tables with hot pot were already set. Three men were at one table, and Chen Afu was leading the two children at the other.

The aroma of the hot pot was appealing, it not only amplified Chen Afu’s teachings but also incorporated the local food culture.

However, Chen Afu felt a constant unease, as if something was left undone. Halfway through the meal, a thought flashed through her mind, making her realize why she felt uneasy. The boy she had just run into bore a striking resemblance to Chen Alu who resembled Mrs. Wang, and the boy’s surname was also Wang... Although her uncle had changed his name to Li Gousheng, he must remember his own name given that he was sold at the age of six, and there was a chance that he could have reverted back to it.

But so much time had passed that the boy must have left, right? Regardless, it wouldn’t hurt to go and find out.

She spoke to the nursemaids behind the two children. "Take care of the children." She stood up and addressed the men at the other table. "You guys take your time. I have something to take care of at the Shui Linglong Embroidery Shop."

Chu Lingxuan asked, "What is it?"

Chen Afu replied, "I just ran into a boy at Shui Linglong who bears resemblance to Alu and his family name is Wang, I want to check."

Knowing how much Chen Afu and her family longed to find Wang Cheng, Chu Lingxuan stood up and said, "I’ll accompany you."

Yang Mingyuan and Chen Ayu also stood intending to accompany them.

Chen Afu laughed and said, "It’s not guaranteed that the boy has any real connection with my uncle. It can’t be that coincidental. I just want to check, you guys continue eating."

Chen Ayu said, "It’s been so long, the boy must have left. I am familiar with the owner of Shui Linglong, I can help you inquire." She turned to Chu Lingxuan and Yang Mingyuan and said, "General Chu and Boss Yang, please continue. I’ll accompany my sister."

Chu Lingxuan was Chen Ayu’s brother-in-law and Yang Mingyuan was her brother by marriage. One was a lofty general, and the other was a direct superior. Both of them treated her well, but Chen Ayu never showed off in public and never called them brother-in-law in public.

Chen Afu and her brother took a few people and went to Shui Linglong. As expected, the boy had already left.

Chen Ayu then asked the owner if he knew where the boy lived and who his family members were.

Mr. Lu said, "I only know that he is called Wang Xiaodi, his mother’s family name is Wu, and they live in the eastern suburb of the capital. He sold the embroidery work made by his mother, that’s all I know."

Saddened, Chen Afu listened to this.

Chen Ayu comforted Chen Afu and said, "Sister, don’t worry. Next time when Wang Xiaodi comes to sell embroidery, we will let Mr. Lu notify me."

Mr. Lu chuckled and said, "Then, Second Master Chen, you’ll have to wait a long time. As you know, we at Shui Linglong are very picky about the work we accept from outside. It must be exquisitely embroidered. These fine works take time, a small piece generally takes at least two months, while a medium-sized piece takes over half a year. Wang Xiaodi’s mother is not well; their work is even slower. Since Wang Xiaodi came today, he won’t be back for three or four months."

Chen Ayu then said to Chen Afu, "Sister, rest assured and return home. When Wang Xiaodi returns to the embroidery shop, I’ll inquire. If he really is related to Sister’s uncle, I will send you a message."

At that moment, a waiter walked over and said, "Second Master Chen, it seems like Wang Xiaodi is quite familiar with Shan Zi from your wine-shop. I once saw him talking with Shan Zi."

Having heard that, Chen Ayu joyfully said, "Then it’ll be easy."

When they returned to the Hongyun Restaurant, Chen Ayu called over a young man, around seventeen or eighteen years old, and asked, "Shan Zi, are you familiar with Wang Xiaodi who often sells embroidery at Shui Linglong?"

Shan Zi, a waiter in the restaurant, hastily said to Chen Ayu, "Wang Xiaodi and I are neighbors, of course we are familiar. Second Master, what do you want to know about him?"

Chen Ayu said, "I want to know every detail about him. Let’s go into the private room to talk."

They all returned to the private room and listened to Shan Zi talk about Wang Xiaodi.

Both Wang Xiaodi and Shan Zi lived in Jiuli Village in the eastern suburbs of the capital, which was about ten miles from the city.

His father, in his thirties, fed horses in the Left Guard Battalion. Because he was missing four fingers on his left hand, he was nicknamed as Six-finger Wang. As this nickname spread, his real name became less frequently mentioned, so much so that Shan Zi didn’t know it either.

His mother, known as Mrs. Wu, had excellent embroidery skills and had been making embroidery for the Shui Linglong Embroidery Shop since she was young. However, her health was not great, and apart from making embroidery, she was unable to do heavy work. He also had a five-year-old sister.

Their family was not living well and resided in a few thatched rooms.

Chen Afu asked, "Wang Xiaodi’s father takes care of horses in the army, they should have a military position. His mother can make embroidery, especially since she can sell to a place like Shui Linglong, her work should be paid quite handsomely. There are only four people in the family, so why are they still living poorly?"

Shan Zi said, "Mrs. Wang’s family is from our village, because of her good embroidery skills, her family was reluctant to marry her off. They said her skilled hand at embroidery was like marrying into a treasure trove. Her family was asking for a dowry of one hundred taels of silver before letting her marry. Those who could afford a dowry of a hundred taels wouldn’t covet a woman with embroidery skills, so no one came to propose. When she was eighteen, she went to the Capital City to sell her embroidery work. She was molested by someone, and Six-Finger Wang, an army man, saved her. Somehow, the two fell for each other. Six-Finger Wang didn’t have a lot of money and could only muster thirty taels of silver even with loans. He then tried to negotiate with Mrs. Wang’s family, agreeing to repay ten taels of silver each year. Mrs. Wang’s family agreed. Seventy taels of silver, plus the interest, is still not paid off."

Her natal family was truly despicable.

However, after hearing so much, only three pieces of useful information were obtained that would be relevant to Wang Cheng: his surname was Wang, he was around thirty years old, and he worked in the army.

This information was already enough to make Chen Afu very happy. She wanted to go to Wang Xiaodi’s house in Jiuli Village to take a look.

Chu Lingxuan said, "If we leave the city now for Jiuli Village, it will take at least an hour and a half by car. It’ll be late, and it’s not suitable for a woman to go. Moreover, people in the army don’t go home every day. Even if you go, you won’t necessarily meet Six-Finger Wang. I do have a comrade in the Left Army Camp. I can send someone to the camp to inquire about his situation. We should have clear information by tomorrow at the latest. If that person is like your uncle, I will accompany you."

That was the only option.

Chu Lingxuan called a soldier who was dining in the hall and gave him a few orders before he promptly left.