Fortunate Life of the Rural Beauty
Chapter 418 - 413: Wet Nurse

Chapter 418: Chapter 413: Wet Nurse

Mrs. Chu chuckled, "No wonder it’s so good, I’ll send her another jar of wine, wishing her a long life of a hundred years." She added, "Xuan’er had previously mentioned to me that I should find a good nanny for Yan. I happen to have one here, Mrs. Huang. She has always served me in the palace, but she is a little old, already forty-three this year. If it won’t work, I can ask the imperial grandmother in the palace for a younger one."

The suggestion to find a mentor for Chu Hanyan was actually proposed by Chen Afu to Chu Lingxuan. The little girl was already six years old, and being too kind and simple, even if she tried hard to teach her, she wouldn’t become very savvy when she grew up. In addition, she didn’t understand the intricacies of the inner court, so she couldn’t teach her these things.

Girls living in large houses could remain illiterate, but they must understand the ways of survival within the household. Especially for a good natured girl like her, she needs a savvy, loyal nanny who is well-versed in the ways of the inner court to instruct and serve her.

Mrs. Huang was standing next to Mrs. Chu, bowing her head as if she hadn’t heard her mistress’s words. She was one of Mrs. Chu’s two most capable nannies, and she would indeed be a good choice. Although she was older, she could still work for a decade or so. The first ten years were the most important growing period for the girl, so Mrs. Huang could educate her about the intricacies of households. After the girl was married and served for a few more years, clearing the evil influences from her husband’s side, she could then train a successor and retire honorably.

Chen Afu glanced at Mrs. Huang, hugged Mrs. Chu’s arm and laughed, "Mrs. Huang is your favorite person, efficient and capable. Can you bear to part with her?"

Mrs. Chu laughed, "Mrs. Huang has served me for over twenty years, she’s faithful and easy to work with, and I do feel somewhat reluctant to let her go. However, Yan has suffered a lot in the past, and she is kind-hearted, I feel sorry for her from the bottom of my heart, and I want her to have a better life in the future."

She then said to Mrs. Huang, "The eldest daughter is young and kind-hearted. If you instruct her well, she will provide for your old age, and you will have days of enjoyment."

Mrs. Huang quickly came over to bow to Mrs. Chu and said, "Thank you for your concern, Madam. I will serve the eldest daughter well."

After getting up, she bowed to Chen Afu and said, "Thank you, Madam."

As a former palace lady, Mrs. Huang held an official rank and did not need to bow to Chen Afu.

Chen Afu chatted with her for a while, and Xia Yue handed over a purse.

In no time, Chu Hua brought Heng over.

Seeing two twins, she was overwhelmed with joy. She laughed, "Oh, I have to look at them more and hope to give birth to such a handsome little brother."

Heng disdainfully said, "Boys should look tough."

Because Heng resembled his father, being darker and sturdier, Chu Hua often teased him about not being handsome. Whenever she did, his father, Xie Ling, would say this to shut her up. Over time, even young Heng had learned it.

Mrs. Chu laughed heartily, "Little one, you can’t even speak clearly yet, but you’re trying to act tough."

Chen Afu and Chu Hua had lunch and dinner here. They lamented Chen Shiying’s misfortune for a while. Mrs. Chu had previously found a young man for Chen Yuqing but had to give up because of the incident.

For dinner, Mr. Chu didn’t go back to Anrong Hall but stayed in the Outer Court, drinking with his father and other male members of the household.

The welcome banquet was supposed to be held in the Anrong Hall, with the whole family, men, women, old and young, dining together. But because of the incident at the farewell banquet at the beginning of the year, the old master was displeased and did not let the family gather for a meal. This actually aligned with the preferences of Chen Afu and Mrs. Chu, who didn’t want to see the second lady.

The next day, Chen Afu claimed to be sick and didn’t leave her courtyard. Mrs. Chu, missing her and the children, came to visit them at the Bamboo Pavilion. Rong Zhao is Chen Afu’s nominal mother-in-law and the nominal grandmother of the two brothers. They had to visit her and Marquis Chu in accordance with etiquette when they entered Beijing.

Anyone could imagine how envious Rong Zhao would be of this mother and her two children. If they went to the Princess mansion, who knows how they would be tormented. Chen Afu wasn’t too worried, but she couldn’t take any chances with the two children, so she had to pretend to be sick and had the gifts delivered to the Princess mansion.

Announcing this to the outside was mainly to prevent Mrs. Li, the second lady, from telling on them. In the master bedroom of the Bamboo Pavilion, Chen Afu and her children carried on as usual.

During this period, Granny Chu, Mrs. Shen, and Chu Zhen came to the Bamboo Pavilion in a group to visit Chen Afu.

Hearing the announcement from the maid, the two young brothers who were playing on Chen Afu’s bed were quickly taken by their mothers to the bed in the east room.

Mrs. Li didn’t invite these people into the bedroom, but let them sit at the door of the east room, on the grounds that the second lady’s son was young, the third lady was a new bride, and the second Miss was young and delicate, and should not be exposed to disease.

Chen Afu reclined on her bed and spoke a few words to them in a weak voice.

Mrs. Shen was more outgoing and better at conversation, leaving a good first impression, not knowing what her true nature was going to be like. She was also enamored with Yu and Ming, and she teased them for a while, then laughed, "They say that the two brothers only drink their elder sister’s milk. Now that the elder sister is sick, how are they going to be fed? It’s pitiful, they mustn’t starve."

Mrs. Li sighed, "The two brothers won’t starve, it’s just that our Mistress should be pitied. Every day, she has to milk herself, and the servants have to heat it up and feed the brothers."

On the morning of the 20th, Mr. Chu and Mrs. Chu personally came to the Bamboo Pavilion.

When they came, Chen Afu couldn’t pretend to be sick and received them in the living room.

Mr. Chu reassured Chen Afu that Chen Shiying’s current situation was not bad, and the gifts for him could be transferred through Mr. Chu. But as a woman, Chen Afu couldn’t go to see him alone. Moreover, Chen Afu was pretending to be sick. It would have to wait until Chu Lingxuan returned, and they could go together.

Then, Chen Afu brought out a few large bundles and a wallet. Inside the bundles were the items sent by Mrs. Jiang, along with cotton robes, food, and soaking wine sent by Chen Afu. But there couldn’t be any letters, all the items had to be checked by the guards. The purse contained a silver note for 200 taels of silver, which was for the Imperial Forestry Army guarding Chen Shiying.

In the late afternoon of the same day, Chen Aman and Ayu came to the Bamboo Pavilion again, bringing Yang Chao and Yang Qian.

The two children had grown taller and got along well with Aman, calling her "Mother" sweetly. They were disappointed to hear that Dabao and Chu Hanyan did not come. However, when Yang Chao saw Sasa and her children, and Yang Qian saw the two little brothers, their disappointment disappeared.

Looking at Chen Aman’s sweet smile, it seemed that she must be leading a good life.

Chen Afu kept them for dinner and promised to visit the Yangs another day.

That night, a gale blew up. The howling of the wind and the yelps of Sasa and her children woke Chen Afu, whose restless heart became even more uneasy. She drowsily counted hundreds of sheep before she fell asleep.