Fortunate Life of the Rural Beauty
Chapter 464 - 455 Jingtang Nunnery

Chapter 464: Chapter 455 Jingtang Nunnery

Chen Afu chuckled, "In the future, if someone offends us, we can devise ways to match their sons up with fighting capable, yet wicked-hearted girls to torment them."

Ambushed by the humor, Chu Lingxuan replied, "Hmm, that’s a fantastic plan."

At once, Rong Zhao’s face flashed across his mind. That woman was fierce, cold, and wielded formidable forces that eventually tore his family apart...

Seeing Chu Lingxuan’s countenance darken, Chen Afu could guess he was thinking about Rong Zhao. Regret instantly consumed her. While laughing at others’ misfortune, she had entirely overlooked the tragedy in their own family run by such a wicked woman. Hurriedly, she consoled him, "The sky is always fair, and retribution always follows. Hasn’t she already got her karma? Once all your plans are settled, it’s about time she paid for everything she’s done..."

The next day, Mrs. Jiang sent Hong Feng to invite Chen Afu’s family to a luncheon at the Chens, where they hosted Chen Yuhui and He Linsheng. This meal confirmed the engagement between their daughter and son-in-law.

Chen Afu declined on account of health issues, sending Hong Feng to the Chens’ residence with the locally grown special produce instead - mainly the crisp gherkins.

Three days after, the Hes family left. Chu Lingxuan also bade them farewell, offering the couple a formal gift of 100 taels of silver. Despite their frustration with Chu Lingxuan, the Hes did not dare to disgrace him outright.

During this period, Chu Lingxuan quietly began constructing the small nunnery for Liao Chen on Huajing Mountain, ten miles away from Dingzhou city.

The picturesque Huajing Mountain served as a renowned scenic location. It was close to Dingzhou city and no more than a stone’s throw away from Chu Lingxuan’s military camp. riddled with well over ten temples, nunneries, and Taoist Monasteries. Although these sites did not hold as much reverence as the Lingyin Temple atop the Honglin Mountain, they remained bustling with activity.

The nunnery in the lower belly of the mountain’s northern slope involved merely a half-mile uphill climb. The location initially offered a small, decrepit temple, and further expansion on both sides accommodated roughly eight acres. With some renovation, the main three chambers could be revived, the rear courtyard torn down, and replaced with two small Zen courtyards - one for Liao Chen and the other for the guests. Since Liao Chen had a penchant for begonias, Chu Lingxuan planned to plant many Autumn Begonias, and thus, they named the place, Jingtang nunnery.

In a bid to ensure Liao Chen’s safety, Chu Lingxuan planned to carve out a hidden compartment within Liao Chen’s Zen room in the nunnery.

When Chen Afu discovered Chu Lingxuan’s added precaution, she couldn’t help but worry.

As a consolation, Chu Lingxuan replied, "This place falls within our domain. The Second Prince’s faction shouldn’t reach us here. The secret room is merely a precaution to ensure my mother’s safety."

Chen Afu then inquired, "Isn’t Granny Zhao currently living in the small yard at the foothills of Huajing Mountain?" Now that Mrs. Zhao was no longer part of the Chens, they could no longer call her Granny Chen, but rather Granny Zhao.

Though Chu Lingxuan also loathed the wicked old woman, he felt uncomfortable hearing Chen Afu referring to his grandmother as "old hag". He gently pinched her nose, saying, "Use that term only in private. If overheard, it wouldn’t do good for your reputation." Then he added, "Indeed, Granny Zhao now resides in Jitou Village at the foot of Huajing mountain. I had previously purchased 500 acres of land nearby, where I’ve built a small manor. Though small and plain, it is in need of expansion and redecoration. While Jingtang Nunnery is under construction, she should stay there. Uncle Luo and his team will reside there as well, ensuring her care and maintaining contact with us."

Chen Afu regretted that her poor health prevented her from visiting the picturesque area and annoying the old hag. She had always wondered how the woman in her fifties managed to survive despite her poor health and numerous adversities.

Reading her thoughts like an open book, Chu Lingxuan laughed, "Once you’re up and about, feel free to take the children along and visit mother more often. The place is close by and has an excellent view."

Chu Lingxuan has many hired hands who tirelessly work day and night, so the construction of Jingtang Nunnery, which is a larger project, is likely to be completed in October. Meanwhile, the Luos’ residence at the foot of the mountain must be completed within two months, around early September.

This is because mid-September is Chu Hanyan’s birthday, and the two little brothers will be a year old in early October. The Chus and The Luos will certainly send people over for these occasions. At that time, they could arrange for Liao Chen to stay at the Luos’ residence. Once Jingtang Nunnery is completed, she could go there for further cultivation. Normally, it is not easy to persuade Liao Chen to leave Yingxue Nunnery, but if Mer family members were to advice her then, she should heed their call.

By the end of July, Jin Yanzi soon entered the spatial rift again, and arranged to take Qi Qi and Hui Hui to play on Honglin Mountain for a couple of days. Chen Afu suggested they go to Huajing Mountain, but Jin Yanzi thought that it was not as open and expansive as Honglin Mountain, and there were fewer birds there.

Chen Afu advised, "Huajing Mountain is closer, I suggest taking Zhui Feng’s family there for a little workout. They’ve been restless at home for some time now. Besides, Chang Chang and Duan Duan are growing up and should start learning some skills."

Zhui Feng and Sasa, both raised in the mountains, are familiar with Honglin Mountain, but not Huajing Mountain. If Jin Yanzi took them there once, they could head to the mountains and play on their own when they got bored at home.

On the morning of July 28th, except for Jin’er, all the animals in the house went out to play with Jin Yanzi, including the kingfisher birds.

They returned on August 2nd. Zhui Feng’s family came back covered in mud, extremely excited.

Jin Yanzi spent the remaining days faithfully playing with the kids at home, and he even slept in either Yu or Ming’s small bed. The little brothers are very clever, so Jin Yanzi dared not let them play in the spatial rift anymore.

In a flash, it was September 4th, and the little brothers were already eleven months old. They had not fallen sick since birth, and were growing up to be tall, strong, beautiful and lively children.

One late afternoon with the autumn sun setting in the west, the little brothers were chasing Chang Chang and Duan Duan around the yard with their "learning to walk" carts. The main court was filled with laughter and sounds of dogs barking. This simple "learn-to-walk" cart was of course Chen Afu’s ingenious creation, designed based on a model she remembered from her previous life.

Although it was already quite cool, the little brothers’ chubby faces were as red as apples from running around. Their two moms would occasionally wipe their little cheeks and change their damp woolen clothing to dry ones.

As they were having fun, Dabao, Chu Lingzhi, Alu, and Li Xuan, who had just returned from school, walked in. Surprisingly, Chu Lingxuan, who had not been home for several days, was with them.

Last month, five-year-old Li Xuan also started going to school. This was the wish of Prince Rui. Prince and Princess Rui had spent two weeks at Dingzhou for Li Xuan’s birthday in a low-key manner.

Li Xuan was still young and not particularly intelligent. He could not possibly study with Dabao, so they hired a private tutor for him.

The sight of their old brothers made the little brothers overjoyed. Turning around, they ran toward them, babbling gibberish all the while.

Seeing this scene made Chu Lingxuan happy even though he was tired. He picked up one child in each arm and returned Chu Hanyan’s polite courtesies with a smile.

Then, lifting his sight towards his wife, he saw her being helped up from her chair by a girl. She slowly walked towards him, one hand on her belly and the other supporting her back.