Fortunate Life of the Rural Beauty
Chapter 468 - 459: It’s Here

Chapter 468: Chapter 459: It’s Here

Chen Afu, being pregnant, couldn’t tire herself out. It was primarily Granny Chu of the Song family who was helping with entertaining guests.

Because Inspector Luo had helped Chen Shiying, Mrs. Jiang specially came to express her gratitude to Granny Luo and invited them to visit the Chens’ Mansion when they were free.

Chen Afu also introduced Luo Ying to Chen Yuqing, and the two young ladies quickly became good friends.

Today’s guests weren’t many, apart from Chu Hua and a few others, they were relatives and friends from Dingzhou. As the first birthday feast for the two little brothers would be in half a month, many of Chu Lingxuan’s friends from other places would come to congratulate them then.

After the meal, after watching the hall meeting, the guests left one after another. The families of Chu Hua and Granny Luo would spend the night in the mansion and return to the Luo’s mansion tomorrow to accompany Liao Chen. Because Luo Ying needed to make clothes, she would stay in the mansion for a few more days.

Chen Yuqing also liked the set of clothes worn by Chu Hanyan, and Chen Afu told her to go to the Nirvana Embroidery Workshop with Luo Ying tomorrow to choose materials and measure their sizes. She planned to give them each a set of clothes.

This kind of clothing was quietly becoming popular in Dingzhou and then it spread further and further, reaching Capital City and even further north, and also reaching Jiangnan and even further south. Of course, that’s a story for another time.

Chu Lingxuan and Chen Afu started to get busy again. Chu Lingxuan was busy with official duties and he hardly got a chance to stay at home overnight. Chen Afu was busy with the birthday banquet on the first day of October, as well as taking care of the children.

Busy times always seemed to fly by quickly, and before they knew it, it was the end of September.

Inspector Luo secretly arrived at the Luo’s mansion in the late afternoon of the 28th. Apart from the Old Marquis, Chu Lingzhi, and Li Xuan, the whole Chu Lingxuan family went to Luo’s mansion to receive him. Chen Shiying, who knew about the news, also went. Inspector Luo was the top local administrative official in Jibei Province. If he had dared to tell others about his visit today, Luo’s mansion would not have been quiet.

Chu Lingxuan, Chen Shiying, Mr. Luo, and Dabao were all waiting to receive the guests at the entrance of the courtyard, while Chen Afu, Granny Luo, and a few of the women and children were waiting at the second gate, along with Liao Chen.

Knowing that her elder brother was coming today, Liao Chen had been restless from the morning, too excited to sit down.

Just around late afternoon, the noise from the front courtyard grew loud, and the corners of Liao Chen’s eyes began to redden. She had the best relationship with her elder brother. When their family had encountered difficulties, her brother was serving as an official at the Ministry of Revenue. But because of her, her brother had left in frustration to become an Inspection Official in Jibei Province. Not only because he was angry and no longer wanted to stay in the Capital City, but also to better take care of his younger sister.

Chen Shiying paid his respects to Inspector Luo outside the main gate, expressed his gratitude, and then didn’t follow them into the second gate. Now, not only was his daughter’s family in the inner courtyard, but also the women from both the Luo’s and Chu’s families. He would wait in the front courtyard until nightfall before going to Granny Zhao’s place to stay the night.

Inspector Luo was wearing a navy blue robe embroidered with auspicious clouds, and he was about fifty, an imposing figure with jade-like features and a long beard.

As soon as he passed through the second gate, Liao Chen rushed forward, grabbing onto his sleeve and crying.

Seeing his sister, who was wearing a white robe and a nun’s hat, Inspector Luo also felt extremely sad. He choked back tears as he said, "Dear sister, your brother is useless; I’ve let you suffer. Mother also misses you, you must take good care of your health, so you can visit her in the future."

Upon the mention of their mother, Liao Chen cried even harder, sobbing, "I’m unfilial... I caused mother to fall gravely ill..."

Chu Hua came over to support Liao Chen, comforting her, "Mother, Uncle has just come off a long journey. Please sit down and then you can talk."

Everyone exchanged greetings before entering the main room. Inspector Luo and Liao Chen sat on the guest of honor seat. Chen Afu, with Chu Hanyan and the twin sons, came in front of Inspector Luo. It was their first time meeting this uncle (granny’s brother), and they needed to kneel and bow to him.

Dabao also consciously lined up with them, ready to bow his head in greeting. He had already given Inspector Luo his courtesy at their meeting, and Chu Lingxuan hadn’t asked him to pay his respects again, but who knew he would be so self-aware. In this way, those who didn’t know the situation thought he should behave this way, yet those who were aware didn’t utter many objections.

Inspector Luo was already aware of Dabao’s unique background, so it was uncomfortable for Dabao to bow to him, and he hunched a little.

He took another few glances at Chen Afu, this niece who is not only beautiful but also had plump forehead and chubby earlobes, indeed bearing a blessed appearance. Look again at Yan and the two little brothers. Yan’s bright eyes and white teeth showed no trace of dullness. The two little brothers were smart and robust; they learned to bow on their own before their first birthday. Although the pose wasn’t standard and they almost crawled on the ground, it was indeed not easy.

And there’s the noble Shiyi, intelligent and clear-eyed, who was taught very well. It was said that Prince Rui’s heir was also sent for her to raise, which is really extraordinary.

Inspector Luo nodded approvingly at Chu Lingxuan and said satisfactorily, "Hmm, your daughter-in-law is good, knowledgeable and intelligent." He then gave each of them a greeting gift.

Chu Lingxuan nodded with a smile.

Inspector Luo’s praise felt as if he was complimenting a school child, making Chen Afu quite embarrassed.

The vegan feast was set in the main room of the main court. After dinner, Inspector Luo and Liao Chen had a private talk in the side room, and the others didn’t bother them, chatting and laughing in the main room.

Yu and Ming just learned to walk themselves and were having great fun turning circles in the middle of the main room. Though they swayed and fell from time to time, they didn’t let their mothers lead them, nor allow others to help. Instead, they got up by themselves, using all fours to continue walking. Thankfully, the floor was covered with a plush carpet and they were wearing doubled clothes, so falling wasn’t painful.

In fact, Chen Afu did not want them to walk too early as it could potentially have implications on their legs and eyesight. This was something she heard from young mothers in her previous life. But these two youngsters were very determined, crying if not allowed to walk. And perhaps due to staying in the space for too long, they seemed stronger, smarter, and more developed than their peers of the same age.

Their walking, and swaying, falling, and crawling had successfully attracted everyone’s attention. The people even forgot to talk, just watching the two little brothers with curiosity.

The two little brothers were different, though. Yu fell once for every three times Ming fell, showing that Ming’s coordinating ability was clearly not as good as Yu. But Ming could already speak four single syllables: "Mom", "Dad", "Milk", and "Eat", while Yu could only speak one syllable: "Hit".

While enjoying the scene, Manager Luo quietly entered the room and whispered a few words to Chu Lingxuan. Chu Lingxuan nodded and got up to leave with him for the front yard.

After a while, Chu Lingxuan returned to the main room and whispered to Mr Luo and his wife and Chu Hua, "A friend of mine from the army has come to the front yard and wants to meet Afu and the children."

Mr Luo quickly replied, "Please, go ahead."

Chu Lingxuan bent down and picked up the little brothers, one in each hand. Hong Fei came to assist Chen Afu, and Dabao, very aware, held Chu Hanyan’s hand as they all went out the door together.

The two mothers of the little brothers didn’t move. Seeing Dabao’s initiative, Chu Lingxuan’s mouth briefly twitched imperceptibly. Initially, Chu Lingxuan didn’t want to bring Dabao. But he’s a thoughtful child, and if he wasn’t allowed to come, Chu Lingxuan feared he would be upset.

Upon reaching the yard, Chu Lingxuan whispered in Chen Afu’s ear, "It’s my father who has arrived."