Fortunate Life of the Rural Beauty
Chapter 335 - 334: Mother and Daughter

Chapter 335: Chapter 334: Mother and Daughter

Madam Luo, who had accompanied them, coaxed Mrs. Wang, "Dear lady, Heaven has been merciful, ensuring the safe return of your good brother-in-law. Although injured, at least you siblings are reunited, which is truly a blessing...".

Chen Ming also said, "Mrs. Jane, please let your son come home. There are things to be discussed at home. And your younger siblings, and nephews and nieces, they have also suffered from the long journey.".

Upon hearing this, Mrs. Wang loosened her hold on Wang Cheng and asked, "Where’s my younger sister, my nephews, and nieces?" Upon hearing her questions, Mrs. Wu at the back approached with Wang Xiaodi and Wang Xiaomei. Wiping her tears, she said, "Sister, Cheng has missed you every day. Today, he finally sees you...".

Wang Xiaodi and Wang Xiaomei knelt down and bowed to Mrs. Wang, calling out, "Aunt.".

Mrs. Wang then pulled the two siblings back up and cried with them.

Wang Cheng guessed that the man accompanying his sister must be brother-in-law Chen Ming. He bowed to him and said, "Brother-in-law.".

Chen Ming smiled, "Your sister has been in tears every day, but finally, she was able to hope for your return.".

Alu also came forward to bow to Wang Cheng.

After the family members had all met, Wang Cheng and Mrs. Wang led the way towards Lu Garden, with Alu guiding Wang Xiaodi and Wang Xiaomei this time.

At last, Chu Lingxuan’s daughter noticed him and, to his satisfaction, he embraced her. However, his daughter only gave him a small smile and wasn’t as excited as when she saw Afu earlier.

Meanwhile, Chen Dabao was in the arms of Chen Afu, his small hands tightly wrapped around her neck, his face pressed against her jaw, calling out, "Mommy, mommy, mommy...".

Li Xuan, on the other hand, was so shocked by the dramatic scene that he forgot to demand Chen Afu’s attention. Instead, he was tightly clinging to Mrs. Wei’s neck.

Manager Luo, who had stayed in Tang Garden, approached them, whispering to Chu Lingxuan as they walked. He reported that the dowry for Mrs. Chen from the Chens had also arrived at Tang Garden from Lu Garden on the morning of the tenth day. The furniture had already been placed in the master room, and the dowry was stored in the storeroom. Even though the young master and his wife were not there, the Tang Garden still hosted several guests, and the list of their gifts was waiting to be reviewed by them...

As Dabao didn’t want to leave Mrs. Wang and the others, he stayed in Lu Garden. However, his courtyard was now ready, and he could move in today. The room for Master Xuan had also been prepared...

As everyone reached the gate of Tang Garden, Mrs. Wang’s family continued to lead Wang Cheng’s family to Lu Garden without stopping. Chen Ming spoke to Chu Lingxuan and Chen Afu, saying, "Son-in-law and Afu, join us for dinner at Lu Garden tonight." He was too shy to invite Marquis Chu, as this was considered the first dinner invitation since his daughter and son-in-law’s wedding.

Chen Afu nodded in agreement.

They had to return to their home in Tang Garden before they could go to Afu’s maiden home.

Chen Afu stared at Fu Garden a hundred meters away. After her return, it would be just her second house and children’s playground. From now on, she would only go there when she took the children out to play.

She remembered the other two members of her family and asked Dabao, who was in her arms, "Where are Zhui Feng and Sasa? How many puppies did Sasa have?"

A smile finally appeared on Dabao’s face. He said, "Sasa has become a mother and has given birth to two cute puppies. They are both very small, and Zhui Feng and Sasa could hardly bear to leave them. My sister and I have named the two puppies. I called the elder brother Chang Chang, and my sister named the younger sister Duan Duan.".

"What strange names are those?" Chen Afu asked.

Dabao laughed, "Because Chang Chang has a longer nose, and Duan Duan has a shorter one.".

Chen Afu chuckled, planting a few kisses on his tiny face.

The servants of Tang Garden were all standing at the main entrance, waiting to welcome their master. Marquis Chu, the elder, walked at the head of the contingent. Chu Lingxuan cradled his daughter, holding Chen Afu and his son Chen Dabao followed, and finally, Mrs. Wei who was carrying Li Xuan, passed through the main gate.

They first visited the outer court’s main hall. Manager Luo, leading all the servants, knelt before Chen Afu, now addressing her as "Great Madam". Chen Afu acknowledged their respect and gave a speech expressing her generosity and authority. She then rewarded them with a purse filled with silver ingots.

Lastly, she mentioned to Manager Luo with amused laughter, "Wages for the servants will be doubled this month."

Manager Luo bowed respectfully and said, "Confirmed."

Chen Afu and her party then returned to the inner courtyard.

Yanxiang Pavilion was not large, especially compared with Bamboo Pavilion and the main court of the Senator’s Mansion. The main house consisted of three rooms, each with two adjoining ear rooms. The east and west wings each had three rooms. The courtyard was lined with two blooming begonias. The back yard only housed three rooms and was decorated with verdant bamboo and two banana trees.

The easternmost room in the main house was the bedroom, with the ear room converted into a purification chamber. Li Xuan was temporarily staying in the east wing, intending to move to another part of the residence once his condition improved.

Chu Lingxuan and Chen Afu initially settled on the Luohan bed in the main hall. Chen Afu was then required to accept the salute of Chu Hanyan.

Chu Hanyan, hearing that she could start calling "Mother" upon bowing to her aunt, was overjoyed. Seeing the kneeling cushion already set, she took the initiative without needing to be summoned, knelt and bowed, softly calling out, "Mother."

Upon finish, tears welled up in her eyes. It was a desire she had harbored for a long time, finally fulfilled today.

Witnessing her emotions, Chen Afu too had her eyes teared up, saying, "Good girl, rise, come to your mother."

From that day onwards, they were officially mother and daughter.

Xia Yue, standing behind Chen Afu, handed her a tray carrying a set of clothing and a set of jewelry, which was accepted by Qiao’er.

Chu Hanyan then sprang up and curled up in Chen Afu’s lap, repeatedly calling out, "Mother, Mother..."

Observing this, Chen Dabao too came forward and nestled in his mother’s lap.

Chen Afu, one arm around each child, was coping with the two little troublemakers expressing their longing. At the same time, she was instructing the servants to tidy up their belongings. Chu Lingxuan first went to the bedroom to fetch his clothes and took a bath in the purification chamber.

At this moment, Mrs. Wei arrived carrying a sobbing Li Xuan. Li Xuan had been dazed before but when he woke up and didn’t find Chen Afu, he started crying.

Chen Afu released Dabao and Hanyan, stretched out her arms to take Li Xuan into her embrace, and cooed, "Oh, don’t cry, Xuan Xuan, this is your aunt’s home. From now on, Xuan Xuan will live here with your aunt." She pointed to Dabao and Hanyan, saying, "This is your brother Dabao and your sister, Yan’er. You all can play together every day, and then, Xuan Xuan will not be lonely."

Then to Dabao and Hanyan, she said, "He is Li Xuan, Xuan Xuan, he will be staying with us for a while. He is your younger brother, and you two are elder brother and sister, so you should take care of him and look after him."

Hearing that the little brother could only call their mother "aunt", and not "mother", Chu Hanyan felt a burst of superiority and sympathy, thinking he was as pitiable as she used to be. She said, "Okay, your sister will play with you, Xuan Xuan."

Chen Dabao, at first, felt slightly jealous upon noticing his mother holding Li Xuan. However, upon catching a glimpse of Li Xuan’s eyes, he found them strangely familiar. On closer thought, they resembled his original mother and sister which stirred up a sense of affection. No longer feeling jealous, he generously said, "Younger brother, I am your elder brother, later I will take you to Fu Garden, it is so much fun. There, you can enjoy games and even the bucket there is fun - the experience when you urinate in it is unique. And oh, we also have Qi Qi, Hui Hui, Zhui Feng, Sasa, Chang Chang, Duan Duan, and yes, Jin Bao too..."