Fortunate Life of the Rural Beauty
Chapter 377 - 376 Internal Struggle

Chapter 377: Chapter 376 Internal Struggle

Chen Afu longed for Jin Yanzi even more, it had already been out for ten days, and there was no knowing if it had found the tri-colored orb.

Seeing Chen Afu’s worried expression, Chu Lingxuan comforted him, "Don’t worry, we’ll figure it out. You take care of the baby, leave everything else to us men." He then proceeded to the front yard to discuss plans with the old master.

Chen Afu stopped him and asked him to write a letter urging Mr. Chu to be cautious in all matters.

Chen Afu suppressed his concern and looked at Chu Hanyan and Xiao Lixuan from the Animal House, who were still playing in the corridor. He then sent for Alu.

In a short while, Alu arrived.

Seeing that Alu was fine, Chen Afu was relieved.

Since returning from the Capital City, Chen Afu hadn’t been staying at the Senator’s Mansion. As such, he was quite busy, managing affairs in the mansion and worrying over the Fuyunlai Trading Company’s business.

Mr. Zeng, the steward of Fuyunlai, Chief Steward Yang of the Senator’s Mansion, Mrs. Luo and some other important stewards were summoned in turns to report to the main court.

The Fuyunlai Trading Company was doing quite well with basically no problems, and they had even opened a branch in the Capital City.

The affairs of the Senator’s Mansion, however, were a bit more complex. Although Chu Lingxuan had purged the place a few times, and there were no longer any of Rong Zhao’s and Mrs. Chu’s people left, there were still several factions competing inwardly, each refusing to submit to the others.

This wasn’t surprising. Ever since the mansion was built, there had never been a lady of the house. Chu Lingxuan was often busy with military affairs and scarcely stayed in the mansion. Even when he was present, he didn’t manage many of the mansion’s affairs.

The mansion staff essentially consisted of three factions.

When the mansion was first established, some servants were taken from Capital Marquis Mansion and others were bought. Later, when it was discovered that Rong Zhao and Mrs. Chu’s people had infiltrated the staff from Capital Marquis Mansion, some were expelled, others were sold, and then replacements were brought in from the Provincial City, from the Luo family. This led to the current balance of power with three equally strong factions competing and checking each other.

Especially those servants from the Capital Marquis Mansion and from the Luos, they have strong connections with their respective families.

Upon hearing all this, Chen Afu had a headache. If the mansion was to continue as it had in the past, with the master frequently away, this sort of balance might be ideal. But now, it couldn’t go on like this. The internal strife among the staff would prevent proper care of the master.

Indeed, wherever there are people, there is bickering. Even disputes among the staff can become heated.

The person Chen Afu trusts the most is Manager Luo, whose second son, Luo Fang, is a minor steward in the mansion. But Luo Fang’s words couldn’t be completely trusted, because he represented the influence of the Luo family.

Chief Steward Yang was trustworthy, being an old and trusted aide of the Marquis. But he also headed the group from the Capital Marquis Mansion, so Chen Afu had to use him carefully while ensuring that he understood clearly that things were different now, that forming cliques was not allowed, and that the only task of all the servants was to serve their masters well...

Quite a few people were very professional, knowing that Chen Afu was the lady of the house and greatly favored by the master, they willingly submitted to her. But some people didn’t care, they saw her as nothing more than a country woman with limited exposure. Despite these thoughts, they dared not voice them openly and just hoped that after Chen Afu left, they could continue their leisurely little life while profiting at the same time...

Mrs. Zhang and Mrs. Wu came to invite Chen Afu to their homes for a visit. They suggested that she and her eldest daughter come play during the day, and then let Chu Lingxuan, who would be in court, and Dabao and Alu, who would be in school, join them for dinner.

Chen Afu declined, saying that she would come over for a visit once she had sorted out some things.

In the midst of all the commotion, the day slipped to the 19th of July. During lunch, a servant brought an invitation from General Liu’s family, inviting them over to The Lius for a visit.

Dabao, Chu Hanyan and Li Xuan also received invitations from Liu Wang, eldest son of The Lius, which greatly delighted them. Especially Dabao, who had very few friends since studying at Tang Garden, was finally establishing his social circle. He had developed a great friendship with Liu Wang, Liu Ao, and Qin Jin, who were of similar ages. Although Qin Mu was a bit older and Fu Lushen a bit younger, they all got along quite well, and were overjoyed to receive the invitation.

Looking at Alu who was eating quietly, he asked Chen Afu in confusion, "Mother, the invitation written even includes Qi Qi and Hui Hui, and even Zhui Feng, Sasa, Chang Chang, and Duan Duan are written down, but why isn’t my younger uncle invited?"

Indeed, Alu’s name was not on it.

Chen Afu laughed, "The last time they were guests at our house, your younger uncle wasn’t here. Once they meet your younger uncle, they’ll become friends." She then said to Alu, "Qin Mu is around your age, and he’s quite outgoing. You’ll definitely get along."

Alu replied, "Sister, I do not wish to go to The Lius’ tomorrow. Atang and I have made plans to visit our third uncle’s house."

Chen Afu suggested, "Atang and the others are always around to see, you should go to The Lius’ tomorrow. It would be good for you to broaden your circle of friends."

Normally obedient, Alu was quite resolute this time; he didn’t want to go to The Lius’ but wanted to visit Chen Shi’s home. Even after being persuaded by Dabao and Yan’er, he still shook his head.

Unable to persuade him, Chen Afu complied. She told the servant in the Foreign Affairs Room to prepare a gift when the young master was going out and to arrange a carriage for him. She also told Alu to have a servant fetch the gift before he left and to request the carriage.

The next day, Dabao got up as soon as it was slightly light, taking the Animal House members to the main court.

Chen Afu couldn’t help but laugh, "Even if you come early, you still have to wait for Yan’er and Xuan’er to get up. And who has ever heard of visiting so early?"

By late morning, the Chus left the mansion, with the Animal House in tow.

Alu had already packed. He put a purse containing ten taels of silver, two small silver dimes, and several copper coins into his pocket, then packed up the two sticks of ink and two brushes prepared for Atang and Xiao Di into another purse.

The Senator’s Mansion gave out monthly salaries on the fifteenth, and Chen Afu also gave Alu his month’s silver. His monthly wages were the same as Chu Hanyan’s and Dabao’s, ten taels. Before he arrived, Mrs. Wang had also given him ten taels of silver, a dozen or so silver dimes, and some large coins.

Other than asking Sanquan to go out to the street to buy pastries for him, he seldom spent any money except to reward the servants. There were only two small silver dimes left, and he wanted to go out and change the ten taels of silver.

Lan Cao examined it and said, "Young master, the lady had already asked the Foreign Affairs Room to prepare a gift. If you sneak your own pen and inkstone there as a gift and someone notices later that something is missing, even I would not be able to clear things up."

Alu’s face turned red with embarrassment, he stuttered, "I’ll be frugal with it, others won’t notice. Let’s not go to the Foreign Affairs Room for a gift, in case they say I..."

Lan Cao indignantly said, "Young master, you’re just too upright. The gift was prepared by the lady, and anyone who dares to spread rumors will answer to the lady, and we will shut them up."

PS: A mistake in the previous section has been corrected. The monthly salaries of Dabao and Chu Hanyan have been adjusted to ten taels.