Fortunate Life of the Rural Beauty
Chapter 359 - 358: Changing Faces

Chapter 359: Chapter 358: Changing Faces

Chu Lingxuan knew that the tricolor ball was being sought for the Ninth Prince. Originally, the Ninth Prince’s leg was shattered, and he was also hit there. After the treatment of the imperial physician, it wasn’t that he was completely incapable of intimate relations, but his strength was failing and he could only favor women a mere ten times a year. Therefore, although the Ninth Prince had one wife and two concubines, he had not fathered any children.

But the news that "The Chu family faces a disaster" was huge, Chu Lingxuan’s mood pushed to the brink.

Seeing worry filling Afu’s eyes, he didn’t want her to be too anxious. He comforted, "Don’t worry, Jin Yanzi is so powerful, she will definitely find the tricolor ball."

Despite saying this, worry filled his heart. Could the fate of his entire family really hinge on a bird?

Chu Lingxuan continued, "I will discuss this with my grandfather. If it doesn’t work out, we will quietly bring my father back. We won’t let the Chus be in any danger." He gently touched Afu’s stomach and affirmed, "We won’t let anything happen to our child."

After a few steps, he returned, whispering into her ear, "I have another piece of good news to share with you. The Ninth Prince’s leg is fully recovered. Master Wu Zhi said that the divine medicine, which was supposedly impossible to obtain, has unexpectedly emerged. This is the destiny of the Ninth Prince, and also his blessing. For so many years, we thought we would have to wait until the Eleventh Prince became an adult...but Providence never blocks all exits. Rest assured, there is always a solution..."

Noises echoed in the yard as Li Xuan returned from Fu Garden with the animals.

Chu Lingxuan gave Afu’s hand another squeeze before he left.

Li Xuan ran in, embracing Afu and crying. He choked out, "Auntie, I miss you. Xuanxuan misses you, and misses big brother and big sister as well."

This was the longest sentence Li Xuan had ever uttered. Afu suppressed her worries and, cupping his small face, smiled and said, "Oh, little Xuanxuan is so clever, able to speak so many words now. Auntie, big brother and big sister also miss Xuanxuan. We have brought back many gifts for Xuanxuan."

As she spoke, she had Hong Fei bring him the little straw toys and bunny that had been bought outside the nunnery. As soon as Li Xuan was bribed, he forgot his sadness and began to play with his new toys.

She also gave the birds the pine nuts they had bought for them, and the meat buns purchased for Zhui Feng and his family.

Hui Hui hopped around and asked, "Where’s Jin Bao?"

Afu shook her head indicating she didn’t know either.

Qi Qi complained indignantly, "That little thing, always cares about his own fun, never thinking about us."

Then, the two birds, with the wallets of pine nuts, flew back to Yiran Courtyard to find Ms. Chu, and Zhui Feng, with the basket of buns in his mouth, led his family back to Jin Courtyard to find Chen Dabao.

Yanxiang Pavilion immediately fell silent.

At midday, the elders of the Chu family had some important things to discuss, so the family didn’t eat lunch together at the Haitang Hall. Dabao, Yan’er and the animal family came to Yanxiang Pavilion. The three of them ate at the table while the animals ate on the small bed.

After the meal, they were all sent to rest.

Afu was a bit tired and slept for a long time. When she woke up in the late afternoon, Ms. Chu, Li Xuan, and the animal family had already gone to the Fu Garden to play.

Hong Fei helped Afu go to Lu Garden, while Xiao Mo carried the local products they had bought outside the temple and the nunnery.

When Mrs. Wang saw her daughter, she quickly came out of the room with a smile and helped her into the main room.

Afu laughed, "Where is Papa?"

Mrs. Wang replied with a smile, "He has gone to the county town grain shop again, he said he would return tomorrow."

The Chen Er Grain Shop was now selling "Dingzhou wheat" and "Dingzhou sweet melons" on the side, business was booming.

When they were settled on the bed, Mrs. Wang said with a smile, "Agui’s wife gave birth to a baby boy last night who weighed seven jin (ancient weight-measure unit, equal to about 1.1 pounds). He was named Chen Dalong. The baby is white and handsome, the old woman and your uncle are overjoyed. There will be a baby full moon party tomorrow, you have been invited. Your old woman said that you should hold Dalong in your arms as a blessing for your baby boy’s birth at the end of the year."

Chen Ye’s eagerness for his son’s success was indeed urgent. Even his name contained the character "Long" for dragon.

Afu too wanted to see this big, fat baby who weighed seven jin. Besides, Agui and Mrs. Gao were quite good people. So she laughed and said, "I will go and see the baby and sister-in-law, but I won’t eat there - too many people." She added, "My grandmother sure knows how to make an impression. When it comes to non-financial matters, my grandmother is always generous in showing warmth. But when money is involved, she changes her tune."

With Chen Ming not at home, Afu was a bit more casual in her words. She was still somewhat upset with Granny Chen because she had bought Wang Cheng a house and Granny Chen had taken it out on Mrs. Wang.

Last time when Mrs. Wang and Chen Ming took Wang Cheng to visit his home in Dingzhou, Granny Chen also went along. When she saw that Wang Cheng’s house was actually newer and bigger than her third son, Chen Shi’s house, and the furniture inside was also better, she became so angry that her chest hurt. She felt that despite all the help their family had given to Afu, Afu had never mentioned buying such a good house for their family. And Wang Cheng, who hadn’t helped at all, received so much from Afu. It seemed that in Afu’s heart, the Chen family was not as important as the Wang family. At the time, she had publicly scolded Mrs. Wang and made her lose face, so much so that Mrs. Wang was brought to tears.

Chen Shi, who was also visiting Wang Cheng’s home, quickly apologized to Mrs. Wang and Wang Cheng on behalf of his mother. When he returned home, he spoke up good words about the old woman, saying that the good life of the Chen family, including his second brother Chen Ming, were all from Afu. It was also because of Afu and the Chu family that his sister, Aman was able to marry such a good son-in-law, Yang Mingyuan. Otherwise, a wealthy man like Boss Yang would never have noticed his family.

He also asked the old woman, "What do you mean by saying Afu was raised by you? Did you give her a needle, a bowl of porridge, or ever help her wash a diaper? Never at all! Let alone Afu, even second brother was raised by the second sister-in-law through her embroidery work."

Granny Chen could not rebut this. She snorted coldly, "We gave Afu a status and sheltered her. If Mrs. Wang had married into another family, Afu might have been abandoned as soon as she was born. Where would she be now? Besides, Afu was very capable of making trouble after she recovered. It’s me, elder son and Agui who helped her."

Chen Shi said, "Giving Afu a status was a condition you agreed upon with second sister-in-law. Second sister-in-law made money to support second brother and paid for his medical treatment, as long as we recognize Afu as a member of the Chen family. Second sister-in-law has never sought credit for how much money she earned or for curing the second brother’s disease. Yet you always bring up the issue of raising Afu. You helped her in a fight, but is that enough for her to be indebted forever? Afu has no blood relation with our Chen family and there is no favor of raising her. What can make her remember us is the sentiment we once had, and the sentiment of the second brother. If you continue this way and ruin these feelings, see if she will still take care of us..."

Granny Chen wasn’t foolish and realized that she let her jealousy get the better of her during the day. Reflecting upon it now, she came to understand the matter. If she really annoyed Afu, they’d end up being the ones at a loss. She queried, "Then what should we do? Nothing will happen to Mrs. Wang, second son will manage her, but just be sure that she doesn’t tell Afu..."

Granny Chen wasn’t afraid of Mrs. Wang, but she was afraid of Afu.