Fortunate Life of the Rural Beauty
Chapter 341 - 340

Chapter 341: 340

Dabao had finished school. Instead of leaving through the Jiao Gate of Tang Garden with Alu as usual, he was heading towards the inner courtyard. This would be his future home.

Even though he preferred Fu Garden and Lu Garden a bit more, he still liked it here. His mother and his sister lived here. He went straight to Yanxiang Pavilion.

His mother and sister were waiting for him outside the entrance of Yanxiang Pavilion.

Dabao rushed excitedly toward Chen Afu only to be intercepted by Xia Yue who had been ready for him.

Xia Yue laughed, "Get a grip, young master. You can’t charge at people like that, madam is not in the best state of health.

Dabao tugged at Chen Afu’s skirt worryingly, asking, "Mother, are you ill?"

Chen Afu took a handkerchief and wiped his little face while laughing, "No dear, I’m just a bit tired, that’s all."

Xia Yue helped Chen Afu into the courtyard, exchanging glances with Chu Hanyan. They gave Dabao a little wooden man they had bought at Yingxue Nunnery. The two children then followed behind their mother, hand in hand. Arriving at the main building, they didn’t enter but went to the backyard.

Dabao knew they were heading towards Jin Courtyard. He stopped in his tracks and said timidly, "Mother, I don’t want to go to Jin Courtyard. I would like to stay at Yanxiang Pavilion where it is closer to you." He knew that his request might be turned down, but he still had to try his best.

Chen Afu turned her head and responded, "Yesterday, you promised your father and me that you would only stay at Yanxiang Pavilion for one day and then move to Jin Courtyard. Didn’t you?"

Dabao looked down, silent.

Chu Hanyan rushed to say to Chen Afu in a flattering tone, "Mother, I promised you and Father yesterday that I would move back to Yiran Courtyard today."

Chen Afu smiled and said, "Good girl, Hanyan. You know how to keep your promises. Dabao is also such a trustworthy boy. Moreover, the family of Zhui Feng moved to Jin Courtyard because they didn’t want to be far from you. Qi Qi and Hui Hui have even moved to your sister’s place."

Dabao glanced at Chen Afu and his sister. He couldn’t do anything that made him look inferior to his sister. He’d visited Jin Courtyard before and found that it was just separated by a wall from his sister’s courtyard. If his sister spoke there, he could hear her from his side. Plus there were Zhui Feng’s family, Qi Qi, and Hui Hui...

While he was still considering, Chu Hanyan added, "Brother, don’t you want to be neighbors with your sister anymore? You said that day that you liked being my neighbor." Having said that, her eyes turned red and started to swell as she gazed at Dabao.

Dabao couldn’t bear to see his sister upset. So, he hastily said, "No, Brother enjoys being his sister’s neighbor..." He glanced at Chen Afu, then added, "And being his mother’s neighbor."

Chen Afu laughed and said, "We are already neighbors. If you walk out of the main gate of Jin Courtyard and go left, you will reach your sister’s place. If you go straight and cross the small bridge, you will reach your mother’s place."

Dabao groped for understanding, then agreed with Chen Afu’s logic.

In addition, he had spent more than a month away from Chen Afu previously and had gotten used to living without his mother. Even though he was very unwilling to do so, he had to accept he would have to live apart from Chen Afu.

However, he laid out an additional condition, "Sometimes my sister and I will still go and sleep next to mother."

This resolution wasn’t too bad. Chen Afu nodded in agreement.

Chen Afu pretended not to notice Dabao’s reddened eyes and led him directly to Jin Courtyard. Mrs. Wei, who was now addressed as Mrs. Luo, along with Qiu Yue and Xiao Zi, were already waiting for them at the entrance.

Upon entering the courtyard, Dabao first greeted Zhui Feng’s family before heading into the main building. Mrs. Luo and Xiao Zi came forward to give their respects to the new master of the house, while Qiu Yue handed them two wallets filled with silver ingots.

Chu Hanyan received twenty taels as her monthly allowance, so, in future, Dabao would also receive twenty taels. Chen Afu handed him the forty taels of this year’s two months’ wages and an additional fifty taels of silver. Along with the red envelopes he received from the Lunar New Year, it added up to a considerable sum of money.

It was understood that the account book would be kept by Qiu Yue and the money managed by Mrs. Luo.

Since Mrs. Luo’s house was here, she would return to her house to rest at night. Qiu Yue and Xiao Zi would take turns on night duty.

Once everything was arranged, they all headed to Haitang Hall. Next to the second entrance of the garden, Haitang Hall served as the banquet hall of Tang Garden. It consisted of three large rooms, encircled by over a dozen drooping begonia trees. The current dining hall was also located there, where the Chu family had their lunch and dinner.

Before they even entered the hall, they heard the crying of Li Xuan. Apparently, he still wanted to continue playing in Fu Garden, but Mrs. Wei had insisted that he return to Yanxiang Residence, had a bath, and changed his clothes. Jin Yanzi, Qi Qi, and Hui Hui had accompanied him all day and were already annoyed. They took Wang Cai and went to play in the woods.

Grandfather was already seated in the hall. Chen Afu and the two children paid their respects to Grandfather. Chen Afu then tried to hold Li Xuan, but Mrs. Li hurriedly stopped her.

Mrs. Wei, a shrewd woman, quickly smiled and said, "There’s no need for Madam to bother herself. I’ll hold him."

Mrs. Luo and Mrs. Song had already seen through what was happening. They wouldn’t say it outright, but they kept a close eye on their young masters to prevent them from causing trouble to the new madam.

Chen Afu, with her cheeks slightly blushed, smiled at Li Xuan, who was in Mrs. Wei’s arms, asking, "What’s bothering you, Xuan’er?"

Li Xuan’s lips puckered as he wept, "Fu Garden, ladder, hole, want to play."

The expression of a four-year-old child wasn’t very clear. But this was probably the most expressive Li Xuan had been. Other than saying he was hungry, he had never clearly expressed any desire before, and he rarely spoke so many words.

Mrs. Wei cheered, "Good job, my boy. Let’s go play on the ladder and explore the holes tomorrow."

Once the people in Tang Garden understood, they realized the boy was slow. Perhaps his grandmother had brought him here for treatment.

Chen Afu wiped his tears and laughed, "Yes, let’s go tomorrow. Auntie and sister will play with Xuan’er."

In the evening, Chen Afu noticed that Mrs. Li had sent the girls to rest and had something to say. Chen Afu said directly, "Mrs. Li, don’t play dumb anymore. Tell me what you want."

Mrs. Li then whispered, "Madam, have you thought about who will serve the master in the future?"

Chen Afu was slightly stunned, then asked, "What do you mean?"

Mrs. Li hinted, "Madam, since you’re pregnant, you won’t be able to serve the master. And who should serve the master in your absence? I think it would be best to choose somebody suitable to avoid future troubles. Just like Aunt Tang, it was good that she’s dead. When she was alive, she often instigated the old lady and other ladies against each other. Many tears were shed..."

Chen Afu finally understood that she was asking who should be Chu Lingxuan’s concubine or maid. Most women in ancient times lost their minds thinking that once a woman got pregnant, men should find a mistress. With this in mind, her good mood vaporized almost instantly as she said coldly, "Indeed, it’s a matter of great concern. I will discuss it with the master when he comes back."

She reassured herself that Chu Lingxuan had promised not to have a concubine. Moreover, she believed that Chu Lingxuan was not interested in women, otherwise, there would be women between Mrs. Ma and herself.