Fortunate Life of the Rural Beauty
Chapter 326 - 325: The Wangs

Chapter 326: Chapter 325: The Wangs

The next day, after Wang Cheng had breakfast in the Outer Court, he went to the Bamboo Pavilion.

Chu Lingxuan told him that Mr. Chu would send people to investigate the matter, but it would be carried out secretly. He would speak to Commander Lin and ordered him to his own camp; he also instructed him not to talk about the matter to anyone.

Commander Lin was Princess Rui’s father, and informing him about a groom transfer seemed like overkill. Maybe Chu Lingxuan just wanted to leave a good impression of Wang Cheng to Commander Lin for future purposes.

Wang Cheng stood up, agreed and laughed heartily. Being in General Chu’s camp would bring him closer to his sister’s house. Still, he was afraid of Chu Lingxuan. Whenever the higher-ups asked him something, he would automatically stand up straight and answer.

Chu Lingxuan invited him to sit down again and informed him that he would only be a soldier in his camp, and he could not promote him without cause. But, Wang Cheng had to stay in the camp until Yang Qing’s crime of false impersonation was confirmed, so he could make a plea for him. He then asked him what kind of light work he wanted to do in the future.

Wang Cheng said, "I still want to feed horses. I’ve been doing this work for so many years, and I’m used to it."

As Chu Lingxuan was busy, he could not accompany Chen Afu to the Wang’s house. Chen Afu, along with a few guards, some servants, and an old doctor from Hui Chun Tang, rode in the same cart as Wang Cheng towards the north gate of the city.

An hour and a half later, the carriage arrived at Jiuli Village.

The carriage stopped in front of a courtyard, and Chen Afu got off.

It was a small courtyard surrounded by a fence wall. Inside were three straw houses, and Wang Xiaodi was feeding the chickens.

Chen Afu was taken aback; this courtyard looked just like her old house in Xiangluo Village and the one feeding the chickens was just like Alu.

Seeing so many people coming to his house, Wang Xiaodi became scared and stood up straight, saying, "Dad, they..."

Wang Cheng laughed, "Xiaodi, are you scared? Hurry, call your cousin."

Chen Afu and others had already entered the yard. Though somewhat confused, Wang Xiaodi still bowed to Chen Afu and blushed as he said, "Cousin."

Chen Afu laughed and ruffled his hair. The child looked more and more like Alu back when she first time travelled. He was not only similar in looks but also thin and shy.

Xia Yue quickly gave Wang Xiaodi a wallet with two silver ingots in it. Wang Xiaodi glanced at his dad, and seeing him nod with a smile, he reached out to receive it.

At this moment, a young woman in her twenties and a little girl walked out of the straw house, looking at this large group of people in magnificent clothes, and at the horses and carriage, in surprise.

Wang Cheng laughed loudly, "Xiaodi’s mother, I found my sister! This is my niece, Afu." He then said to Wang Xiaodi, "Come invite the guests for tea."

Gradually getting his bearings, Wang Xiaodi quickly agreed and ran out of the small courtyard, with a few skillful servants following him.

Mrs. Wu, who had collected herself, cried, "It’s great, we finally found my sister. Afu, please come in." She then said to her daughter, "Xiaomei, hurry up and call your cousin."

Wang Xiaomei, scared, ran over and clung to Wang Cheng’s legs, staring at Chen Afu with wide eyes, too scared to say anything.

Wang Cheng smiled at Chen Afu, "She’s just a country girl; she’s never seen such a scene."

Chen Afu smiled. They all went into the house.

The first room was the kitchen, furnished similarly to her old house in Xiangluo Village. They turned right into the east room; Mrs. Wu had difficulty moving and walked very slowly.

Once inside, Mrs. Wu held Chen Afu’s hand and cried, "Finally, I found you; otherwise, I wouldn’t have been able to rest in peace. My husband spent all our silver for your wedding, I feel so guilty..."

Wang Cheng laughed, "What are you talking about? Today we’re happy, let’s not mention unhappy things."

Mrs. Wu wiped away her tears and said, "Okay, okay, I won’t talk about it." She wanted to prepare tea and sugar water, and also asked Wang Cheng to buy some meat.

Chen Afu stopped her; Xia Yue and others came over to make tea and put some candies and fruits on the table. Two old women were already busy in the kitchen cooking, as they had brought meat, vegetables, and eggs with them.

Chen Afu pulled Wang Xiaomei to her side, gently pinched her pale and skinny little face, and handed her a few pieces of candy. She laughed, "You’re called Xiaomei, aren’t you?"

Wang Xiaomei nodded, "Hmm."

Xia Yue handed another wallet to Wang Xiaomei.

Holding the wallet, Wang Xiaomei happily went to Mrs. Wu and whispered, "Mom, this wallet is so beautiful, we can sell it to pay grandma’s debt."

Mrs. Wu blushed and scolded, "Nonsense, this is a gift from your cousin, how can we sell it!"

Wang Cheng rubbed his hands awkwardly and said, "We’re poor, I’m afraid Afu finds it funny."

Chen Afu laughed, "Our family also had hard times in the past. It’s only these last two years that our situation has improved."

After speaking, she asked the old doctor to examine Mrs. Wu.

Wang Xiaodi had borrowed tables and chairs from their neighbors and set them up in the yard. In addition to Mrs. Li, Xia Yue, Yu Zhuo, and two old women cooking, the others guards and servants sat in the yard having tea.

When villagers heard that the Wang’s had distinguished guests, they all came over to watch, crowding the fence yard.

Mrs. Li asked the servants to distribute candies to them.

As they were talking, a shrill voice rang out from the courtyard, "Oh my, the son-in-law’s house has distinguished guests..."

Chen Afu looked out the window to see a woman in her forties licking her face and flirting with Yu Zhuo. She thought Yu Zhuo was Wang Cheng’s relative.

Mrs. Wu laughed, "Miss, you must be my son-in-law’s niece, right? Oh, you look like a fairy descended from the heavens, what a beauty! I’m my son-in-law’s mother-in-law. My old man has sent me to invite you to our house." And to Wang Xiaodi pouring tea, "Quick, tell your dad, why are you entertaining such distinguished guests in this shabby house? Come, let’s go to grandma’s house. Your uncle has gone to buy a large piece of meat."

Wang Xiaodi was most afraid of his grandmother. He looked red-eyed at his grandma, then at the people in the yard; he didn’t want his cousin and these people to go to his grandmother’s house, but he dared not say it.

Knowing that her uncle’s family had always bullied him, Yu Zhuo wouldn’t give Mrs. Wu any face. She sternly said, "You’ve called the wrong person; I’m just our lady’s maid. Our lady came to visit her uncle’s house; she won’t be visiting unrelated people."

Upon hearing that this richly dressed person was only a maid, Mrs. Wu realized how rich her son-in-law’s relatives must be. She returned with an even broader smile, "Well, then, I have to go meet this distinguished guest. Inviting the guest to our house for a meal is much better than here, which is so poor and can’t provide good meals."

Yu Zhuo went over to stop her and said, "Do you think you can see our lady whenever you want? If you disturb our lady, be careful of being caned."

The guards initially thought this old woman was the uncle’s relative, so they didn’t stop her. But seeing Yu Zhuo’s attitude, they knew the lady didn’t want to see her.

They all stood up and said, "What are you trying to do? Can you just see our lady whenever you want? Go, go, go, get out!"