Fortunate Life of the Rural Beauty
Chapter 470 - 461: Snatch Zhou

Chapter 470: Chapter 461: Snatch Zhou

Chu Lingxuan sent Chen Afu and his men back to the main court, and then returned to the outer study. He did not rest in his bedroom until the latter half of the night. He, Marquis Chu, and Inspector Luo discussed matters in the outer study till late into the night, and later invited Chen Shiying to join them.

Chen Afu, who had not slept well, heard him come back and asked, "Is it raining heavily outside?"

It started to drizzle in the middle of the night. Chen Afu was a little worried. The autumn rain was not only cold, but also lingering. If it did not stop the day after tomorrow, it would greatly diminish the festive atmosphere of his younger brothers’ birthday banquet.

Chu Lingxuan replied, "It’s not heavy, but it’s very cold. You and the children should wear more clothes tomorrow."

Chu Lingxuan and Chen Afu had both risen early in the day, as they had to return to Dingzhou. They had woken up hardly two hours after daylight.

As Chen Afu helped Chu Lingxuan with his outer garment, he quietly asked, "And what about your father? Will he go home?"

Chu Lingxuan softly said, "Tonight he will see his grandpa and then leave." He added with a smile, "According to my uncle, mother has agreed to stay at Jingtang Nunnery, and she’ll return to Yingxue Nunnery when things calm down. As long as she can settle down, we won’t let her think of returning to Yingxue Nunnery."

Chen Afu smiled and said, "That’s good. At ease now." He added mischievously, "Did your uncle scold your father?"

Chu Lingxuan thought of his uncle’s fury when he saw his father yesterday. It was more than just scolding his father. Had he not held him back, he would have hit his father.

As it wasn’t appropriate to share this with his wife, he gently tousled Chen Afu’s hair, chiding softly, "What are you saying, as a daughter-in-law!"

Seeing the smile on his lips, Chen Afu muttered, "He must have scolded him. If my sister had been wronged like this, I would not only scold, I would hit."

By early morning, the whole family had departed in the rain from the Luo’s manor. The little brothers were still dreaming, held by their mother on the carriage draped in blankets. It was still early, so they didn’t say goodbye to their elders.

Upon reaching the capital, Chu Lingxuan went straight to the Yamen while Chen Afu returned home.

Back home, he learned that Prince Rui had actually visited the night before, thankfully accompanied by the old Marquis and Li Xuan.

Chen Afu could not exert himself too much, so he only made suggestions, while Mrs. Song, the second grandmother, took charge.

Early on the first day of October, the Chu’s Deputy General Mansion was adorned with lights and decorations, bubbling with joy.

After breakfast, Chu Lingxuan swiftly led Alu, Dabao, and Chu Lingzhi to the Outer Court.

With Chen Afu ready, and hearing a report that Mrs. Song had arrived and was busy in Hua Hall, she set her worries aside.

As the hour approached 9 am., Chen Afu, leading Miss Chu, went to the east wing. The little brothers were already up, and their mother was feeding them.

Their breakfast consisted of half a bowl of sheep’s milk and steamed egg custard, a small bowl of fish and vegetable porridge. After they finished eating, they put on dark red knee-length, buttoned shirts with intricate patterns. Over that, they wore a gold embroidered brocade top in jujube-red with flower patterns, red trousers, and red boots. They then wore red caps lined with gold at the top.

The little brothers were exceptionally handsome; Chen Afu couldn’t help but kiss them several times.

Seeing this, Ms. Chu also leaned in to kiss them, exclaiming, "No brother could ever be more handsome than my brothers."

Her self-important manner was much like Chen Dabao.

Once everything was ready, and it was late morning, Chen Afu led Ms. Chu and the two mothers who were carrying the birthday stars to Hua Hall.

Heaven was very helpful that day, as the rain stopped the night before. The sky was now high and clear, with brilliant autumn sunshine. The moist air was extremely comforting. The fallen leaves and puddles on Qingshi Road had been cleaned by the staff. Colorful silks and red lanterns were hung under the corridors and on the trees.

Chu Hua and her son, Granny Luo and her daughter, Mrs. Jiang and her daughter, Mrs. Chen, Mrs. Zhang, Mrs. Wu, and Wang Xiaomei and other relatives had arrived. Mrs. Wang couldn’t come, but she and Chen Ming had come to give the little brothers their birthday gifts yesterday.

As the guest continued to arrive, the inside and outside of Hua Hall grew lively. There were even guests from the Capital City, the Provincial City, and other places.

The delightful little brothers were naturally flooded with compliments from the guests.

By early noon, the highlight of the day – the first birthday grab event – arrived, and the Hua Hall filled with more than a dozen men. As Hua Hall was usually occupied by women, most men were not allowed in. Only men from the Chu family and male relatives were allowed, along with Chu Lingxuan’s close friends and the high-ranking Prince Rui and Commander Fu.

In the center of the hall, a large round table made of rosewood carved with jade was arranged, and many objects were placed on it. There were seals, scriptures, pens, small bows and arrows, an abacus, gold nuggets, accounting books, chanting beads, rouge, food, and toys. Since two children participated in the event, every item was provided in double.

Amidst the laughter, the two little brothers were lifted onto the large round table.

Before going to bed the previous night, Chu Lingxuan had coached the toddlers. He had shown them the seal, small bow and arrows, pen, and scripture multiple times, repeatedly instructing Yu to grab the seal or small bow and arrows and Ming to grab the seal, pen, or scripture. The gold nuggets and food were also acceptable to grab, but not the rest.

He also instructed them that every item was in duplicate, so they must not fight for them. If they did, then he would spank them.

After his instruction, he demonstrated with a spanking motion.

Chu Lingxuan was very proud – other children who had just turned one were still oblivious, but his children were precocious and understood quite a lot.

The two toddlers sat in the center of the round table, their wide eyes looking all around. Without waiting for the adults to say "grab," they started grabbing objects within their reach. They were used to competing for objects since they began reaching for things.

Due to their vigorous efforts, the little brothers stuck out their bottoms to grab objects slightly out of reach, exposing their chubby little buttocks through their split pants, prompting a chorus of laughter from the crowd.

In no time at all, all the items on the table had been swept before them. Yu, moving faster, had grabbed more items.

Ming, seeing that the pen and the official seal that his father said he must grab were taken by his brother, wasn’t happy and reached out to snatch his brother’s things. Yu, feeling uneasy about his colorful items being taken by his younger brother, also reached out to snatch them back.

While one hand was busy grabbing, the other hand was protecting their things, which eventually started to swipe towards the other’s face. However, their swiping hands hadn’t stopped grabbing.

The behavior of the brothers left the crowd astounded, not thinking to break up the fight, but only anticipated who would win.

Chu Lingxuan and Chen Afu were both amused and frustrated, but did not intervene. Only older sister Chu Hanyan couldn’t bear to let her younger brothers fight and tried to break up the fight, but was stopped by the old Marquis.

After all this, the items were grabbed messily, with Ming looking a bit disadvantaged.