Fortunate Life of the Rural Beauty-Chapter 54 - 53 Pretty Sister

Chapter 54: Chapter 53 Pretty Sister

Chapter 54 -53 Pretty Sister

After the ruckus on the road, Chen Afu’s mood had taken a turn for the worse, and even her cooking had suffered. She had initially intended to retire to her room for a rest, but she was worried Mrs. Wang’s pearl meatballs wouldn’t hit the spot, potentially souring Jin Yanzi’s mood. Thus, she had no choice but to muster her energy and continue cooking.

At the age of 33, quite a charming age and quite akin to her previous life, her repulsion towards Liu Erniu was not due to the age difference. It was more about the stark contrast between them – his poor background and unattractive looks were tolerable, but his reeking body odor, yellow teeth, and his clothes that were so dirty they shimmered, were unbearable. Yet despite his unappealing visage, he dared to impose his presence onto her. It was simply maddening.

Upon hearing Mrs. Wang softly recount the incident, Chen Ming and Alu were also fuming. Alu said resentfully, “Once I’ve studied enough and passed the examinations, I’ll stand up for my sister and won’t let those detestable men bother her.”

Mrs. Wang sighed and retorted, “By the time you pass your examinations, your sister would’ve long aged. It’s infuriating. My Afu, such an attractive maiden, and to think she’s preyed upon by those unsightly men. How dare they.”

Upon hearing this happening, Dabao returned home, his lips were a pout and his eyebrows furrowed into a formidable frown.

The pearl meatballs were steamed and divided into two large plates. Even though it seemed like a lot, it was truly not much. They gave three meatballs each to their canine companions and the rest of their family, and Dabao took more than half of the meatballs to the main house, leaving very little.

Jin Yanzi, Qi Qi, and Hui Hui, gathered around the large porcelain bowl, munching and humming in delight.

Whenever Jin Yanzi was at home, Zhui Feng would keep his distance. He would station himself half inside and half outside the house, unsure whether to come in or stay out, acting like a bullied young bride.

Resigned, Chen Afu had no option but to carry the bowl containing the pearl meatballs near the door and soothingly pat the back of his neck, urging him not to be scared. She then complained to Jin Yanzi, “Look at him, scared out of his wits. What have you done, turned him into a bodyguard or a bullied wife?”

The Chens had now recognized that Jin Bao had human-like understanding and pleaded for leniency on behalf of Zhui Feng. Jin Yanzi, busy enjoying her pearl meatballs, ignored them.

Seeing Jin Yanzi busily distracted, Zhui Feng nervously started eating. He didn’t dare to fully relax, ready to bolt at a moment’s notice.

Witnessing the extent to which the pets were fed, Chen Afu thought she ought to increase their food budget. It couldn’t be helped – these creatures were Jin Bao’s treasures. It was only because Chen Ming and Mrs. Wang were kind-hearted that they allowed her to indulge the animals this way. If it were any other less-prosperous household, they certainly wouldn’t have been as willing.

Upon disclosing her thoughts, Mrs. Wang, with a smile, shook her head and said, “There’s no need for you to pay more. The excessive amount you’ve already given us has covered several months of their food expenses.”

Afterwards, Chen Afu led Dabao and the pets back to the New Courtyard. Chen Ming spoke to Mrs. Wang, “We need to buy some more cotton cloth from the town, to also make clothes for mother and elder brother. We can’t have everyone in the family clad in fresh new cotton while mother and elder brother are still wearing their old clothes.”

Mrs. Wang nodded in agreement.

On the fifth of August, the final day Jin Yanzi would stay outside for the year, she became anxious and awkward, not leaving the house, and sticking to Chen Dabao’s bosom like a spoiled child. Now, she no longer called him ‘Stinky Dabao’, she seemed like she would rather miss him.

Seeing her like this, Dabao too had lost his focus to study.

Chen Afu said to Dabao, “Don’t worry about studying today, take Jin Bao, Qi Qi, Hui Hui, and Zhui Feng outside to play. After Jin Bao leaves for the Southern Region, I don’t want you to bring the birds out, for fear that bad people might target Qi Qi and Hui Hui.”

Jin Yanzi’s absence would make a lot of things inconvenient. Even though Zhui Feng had joined her family, he was still small and it was uncertain how well he would fare in a fight.

She then said to Jin Yanzi, “Jin Bao’er, I’ll make pearl meatballs for you today, remember to come back home to eat.”

Chen Dabao picked up Jin Yanzi and, with Qi Qi and Hui Hui, dashed out of the house.

Seeing Zhui Feng wanting but afraid to join them, Chen Afu encouraged him, “Go on, Jin Bao will be flying in the sky, she can’t hit you. Besides, there’s Dabao right? He won’t let Jin Bao bully you.”

Heeding her words, Zhui Feng ran out. Chen Afu didn’t know what the future held for Zhui Feng, but his sprinting speed was definitely rapid, equivalent to the wind.

The sunshine was unusually radiant that day, adorning the vast and clear blue sky.

Chen Dabao took his pets to the western end of the village, their combination of tweets and howls creating an uproarious and joyous atmosphere. Suddenly, Jin Yanzi veered toward the east, followed soon after by Qi Qi and Hui Hui.

Chasing after them, Chen Dabao shouted, “Don’t go that way, they’re harvesting rice over there!”

No matter how hard Chen Dabao called, Jin Yanzi didn’t listen. He reluctantly followed her, escorted by Zhui Feng.

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A farmer in the field looked up and laughed, “And they say Dabao from The Chens’ second house is smart. Where’s the cleverness? He’s just like his simple-minded mother, even trying to talk to birds.”

Jin Yanzi led Qi Qi and Hui Hui straight to Tang Garden and flew inside.

When Chen Dabao reached the doorstep of Tang Garden and saw the closed vermilion gate, he hesitated to knock, nearly breaking into tears. He had heard that the garden’s master was a pompous man unbelievably difficult to deal with, and that bothering him could lead to a beating. Zhui Feng stood close to his master, his pace and whining growing steadily more desperate.

After about fifteen minutes, just as he was contemplating whether to pluck up the courage to knock, Jin Yanzi flew out from the garden, followed by Qi Qi and Hui Hui.

Dabao called out in joy, “Jin Bao, Qi Qi, Hui Hui, where have you been running off to? Come here, we should head home now.”

The three birds descended. Jin Yanzi clung to Dabao’s costume while Qi Qi and Hui Hui perched on his shoulder.

Just as Chen Dabao was about to turn around and head home, the vermilion gate, which had been tightly shut before, slowly opened. A few people walked out from it, amongst them, a little girl and a nun carrying a duster were the most eye-catching.

The little girl was dressed in a shallow cherry blossom patterned brocade dress. She had her hair done up in small buns, with two red silk ribbons tied to them. Her pretty face held no expression, her eyes vacant. On closer inspection, one could detect a barely visible send of urgency in her eyes, one that was typically absent.

It was the same pretty little girl Dabao had met on Honglin Mountain.

Hanyan timidly stepped out of the gate, her gaze fixed on Jin Yanzi. She stuttered, “`Bird… don’t fly, bird… don’t fly…`” Her voice was soft, calm, incredibly slow, she seemed to be speaking to Jin Yanzi, but also, as if she were talking to herself.

Seeing this lovely little girl, Chen Dabao rooted himself to the spot, unable to move. It wasn’t just her beauty that captivated him, but also the clarity in her eyes, which reminded him greatly of his mother. People would say that this was foolishness in her gaze but Dabao stubbornly regarded it as innocence. This was because he could discern that this expression was distinctly different from the ignorance displayed by other fools.

In his mind, he thought that those with such a look in their eyes were good people, beautiful people, and they would grow up to be immeasurably intelligent, just like his mother.

There he stood, transfixed, staring at her.

Hanyan’s heart and eyes were focused solely on Jin Yanzi, fervently staring at it, gently inching forward, her stubby fingers entwining nervously, still mumbling “Bird… don’t fly, bird… don’t fly…”