Fortunate Life of the Rural Beauty-Chapter 76 - 75 Coming and Going

Chapter 76: Chapter 75: Coming and Going

Chapter 76 -75: Coming and Going

About fifteen minutes later, Dabao returned with two little girls in tow. One was Xiao Qing. The other one, who appeared to be about six years old, was wearing a little satin vest and bore a striking resemblance to Luo Mingcheng.

Teardrops glistened on Xiao Qing’s cheeks as she stamped her foot at Luo Mingcheng and said, “One blink and you were gone, you scared me to death!”

With an air of grandeur, Luo Mingcheng retorted, “You can’t control me. I like to come and play with Dabao.” He didn’t have the nerve to admit that he had a sweet tooth and wanted to come to Dabao’s to eat sweet dates.

Dabao then introduced the other little girl to Chen Afu. She was Luo Mingcheng’s older sister, Luo Mei.

Luo Mei seemed much more sensible than Luo Mingcheng. With a beaming smile, she greeted Chen Afu and chastised her little brother, saying that his absence had worried their grandmother and her to death.

As Dabao had mentioned before, Miss Luo Mei was quite a bright and capable little girl who had been in the constant service of Yan during her visit to Tang Garden. Rumors also had it that once Luo Mei turned seven next year, she would begin to serve Yan.

At only seven, an age when kids in her previous life would only be in the first grade, one would already be expected to serve others. This was indeed tough.

Chen Afu let the children play while she busied herself in the kitchen. Later, Shitou and Si Xizi also arrived, and the children played even more happily in the New Courtyard.

She finished making the red dates and filled two big bowls, one of which she gave to the children to eat right away. She saved a small bowl for Dabao and Alu, and sent a bowl’s worth to the Luo Family.

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Chen Afu also invited the children to stay for lunch. The household had readily available meat, so she made the golden slippery pork that the children had loved yesterday, along with a few home-cooked dishes. Even Shitou and Si Xizi had their meals at Afu’s place.

Luo Mingcheng, who was always pampered at home, ate most of the golden slippery pork, as he found it both good looking and delicious.

After lunch, Xiao Qing left with the two children and a large bowl of sticky rice dates, returning to Tang Garden.

In the late afternoon, Mrs. Chen arrived, and she looked unwell.

Chen Ming asked, “What’s wrong, mother?”

Mrs. Chen cursed through gritted teeth, “Today, I found out that wretched Hu, what a woman! She made away with the two yards of satin meant for your eldest brother! She made clothes out of one, and a skirt out of another for Hu Cuicui. Alas, after all the toil your eldest brother suffered, the satin that was finally in hand is gone!” After scolding Mrs. Hu for a while, she continued, “Your eldest brother is a good man in almost every aspect, it’s just that he spoils his wife and that house-wrecking devil too much.”

Mrs. Wang sighed, “We didn’t think much of it at the time. Otherwise, I would have cut the satin for your uncle, in which case Mrs. Hu wouldn’t have been able to give it away.”

Chen Ming glanced at Chen Afu, who pretended not to notice. It was Chen Ming’s own idea to give it away. The blame rested with him alone. Mrs. Chen was right. Chen Ming spoiled Mrs. Hu and Aju too much. As long as they asked for it, he would give it to them.

Chen Ming offered mooncakes and apples to Mrs. Chen, his face burning red as he explained why he hadn’t dared to send any to the main house earlier.

Mrs. Chen said, “You did the right thing. You must be wary of Mrs. Hu in the future. That wasteful woman is too shameful, she’s shameless, pretending to be good in front of my eldest son while doing so many disgraceful deeds behind his back. Ah, my poor third son, my heart aches for him…”

Whenever she mentioned Chen Shi, Mrs. Chen became so angry with Mrs. Hu that her liver hurt.

In the evening, Chen Ming invited Mrs. Chen to stay for dinner. As there was hardly any lean meat left, Chen Afu prepared a large bowl of stir-fried pork with scallions, the fattened, juicy thick slices of meat satisfying Mrs. Chen to the fullest.

Mrs. Chen wanted to mention that her eldest son loved eating such fatty meat slices, but on second

thought, mentioning her eldest son would only invite the brazen Mrs. Hu to tag along, so she held her peace.

The next morning, Xiao Qing returned to the Chens with Luo Mei and Luo Mingcheng. It seemed that all the adults of the Luo family, except for Madam Luo, had gone to the capital city. As Madam Luo was ill and unable to attend to them, and Cheng was hankering to visit this place, they were allowed to come here. Of course, the Chen family treated them to a good meal and only let them go after lunch.

After that, Luo Mingcheng and Luo Mei would come to play at the Chens’ every two or three days under Xiao Qing’s supervision. They usually came late in the morning and left after lunch. The Luo family was glad that their children had playmates, and since all the adults and children of Chen’s family were sensible and did not have any bad habits unlike the villagers, they treated the two children very well, and hence allowed their friendship to continue. Every time they visited, the Luo family would also gift the Chens with some fish, meat, candied fruit, and other food, or headscarves, ribbons, and other little knickknacks.

In the evening, Chen Afu drew a set of clothes on a piece of paper. She wanted to make a set each for Luo Mei and Yang Qian. However, as she didn’t know how to cut the clothes according to the drawing, she brought out the satin and asked Mrs. Wang to do it, while she learnt by observing her.

Actually, Chen Afu wanted to make clothes for Chu Hanyan, the child so beautiful that it hurt, but considering that the Chu’s must have their own sewing room and might not appreciate her work, she gave up the idea.

On the fifteenth day of the Mid-Autumn Festival, Chen Ming and Mrs. Wang went to the main house in the afternoon with two pounds of mooncakes, a few apples, a bag of candied begonia in oil paper, and four ribbons for Chen Daya.

Mrs. Hu exclaimed when she saw the mooncakes, “Oh, these are from Gui Mingyuan in the county town, so expensive! Your Uncle’s family must be doing well now, being able to afford mooncakes from there.”

Chen Ming said, “We didn’t buy these, they were given by the young master of Xile Restaurant, as were the apples. The candied fruit and the ribbons were gifts from Manager Luo.”

On hearing that the second house had connections with these families, Chen Ye was delighted, “Well done, Second Brother. Despite your poor health, you’ve managed to associate with the gentry. That’s the benefit of being a child student.” He went on to advise, “You must maintain a good relationship with these important people. It will benefit not only your family but also our main house, and the third house.”

Honest Chen Ming replied, “I scarcely step out of the house, let alone associate with them. It’s Dabao. He’s clever and all the children who play with him enjoy his company.”

Mrs. Hu added, “Since the children get along so well, they must have sent more than just these things, right?”

Chen Ye glared at her and scolded, “How many times have I told you? You are always looking for trouble. The second house has already given us so much satin, and now they’ve given us mooncakes and apples. Aren’t you satisfied? You reckon they should give away everything they receive?”

Mrs. Hu, seeing that Chen Ye was losing his patience, dared not say another word.

She had already noticed that Chen Ming was not as obliging as Chen Shi. When she asked Chen Shi for things behind Chen Ye’s back, Chen Shi would comply. But if she did the same with Chen Ming, he might not be as forthcoming. Furthermore, he was secretive. Getting anything out of this sick man would have to be done in front of Chen Ye. But having recently displeased Chen Ye, she did not want to provoke him further.

Remembering what Hu Laowu had said, she opened her mouth, but dared not voice her thoughts.

Yesterday, she had specifically broached the subject with Chen Ye, asking if he could give Dahu the two birds from the second house.