Chapter 4: Foster Son

After finishing their meal, Chen Feng felt the noodle soup trickle down her chin. Before she could even lift her arm, Chen Dabao came over, took a handkerchief from her bosom, and wiped her mouth.

Chen Feng chuckled, “My son is so capable.”

Chen Dabao beamed and said, “Mom, you’re so clever, praising your son like that.”

An elderly woman nearby exclaimed, “Heavens, this young lady looks like she’s only fourteen or fifteen, still wearing double buns, and she already has a son, and such a grown-up one at that?”

Mrs. Wang hurriedly explained, “My daughter’s situation is special. This is her foster son.”

So, Dabao was her foster son. She was still so young.

Chen Dabao didn’t like hearing this. With teary eyes, he threw himself into Chen Feng’s arms and said, “Mom is Dabao’s real mom, and Dabao is Mom’s real son.”

Feeling Chen Dabao’s slight trembling, Chen Feng hugged him tightly.

Chen Lu quickly reassured Dabao, “We all treat Dabao as our sister’s real son, my real nephew, and my parents’ real grandson.”

Chen Dabao blinked expectantly at Mrs. Wang.

Mrs. Wang, realizing she had hurt Dabao’s feelings by defending her daughter, hastily said, “Grandma misspoke. Dabao is your mother’s real son and my real grandson.”

As they reached the town gate, they found the village’s ox cart, already occupied by six people. Mrs. Wang helped Chen Afeng onto the cart, and with great effort, Chen Lu lifted Dabao onto it. Then, they took their seats, one on each side of Chen Feng, while Dabao nestled in her lap.

A sense of happiness welled up within Chen Feng. These relatives were truly kind, not looking down on her because of her intellectual disability.

After waiting for over an hour, two more people squeezed onto the cart, and only then did the driver urge the ox cart forward.

Both Mrs. Wang and Chen Lu were reserved individuals, hardly speaking after exchanging initial greetings upon boarding. Chen Dabao, on the other hand, was quite the chatterbox, sweetly addressing everyone. The people on the cart took a liking to him, with two elderly women occasionally reaching out to pinch his cute little face.

The little guy proudly introduced that his mom was feeling better, and she even knew to help him with the noodles and praised his capabilities. However, despite Chen Lu’s efforts to confirm, people on the cart still clearly didn’t believe. This hurt the little rascal, and he became quiet, eventually closing his mouth.

It wasn’t that Chen Feng didn’t cooperate with him; it was just that her physical coordination wasn’t good. The original owner most likely had cerebral palsy, with a body that had never been agile since childhood, lacking exercise, resulting in the current stiff and inflexible condition.

She exerted herself and pinched Dabao, gently knocking his head with her chin.

Chen Dabao seemed to feel his mom’s comfort and, lifting his head, looked at Chen Feng, softly calling out, “Mom.”

Now, it was early spring, with lush grass, singing birds, and fragrant flowers. The wheat fields were a vibrant green, and many farmers were busy in the fields. The fresh air, gentle spring breeze, and bright sunshine made for a delightful spring scene.

Chen Feng admired the beautiful rural scenery, holding the frail little body close, feeling tender and determined within. She silently vowed to find a way to live a good life for her loved ones. It would be best not to marry, to stay with her family and foster son, becoming a wealthy landlady. If she had to marry, she must stay away from rich and handsome men, finding a match from a similar background. She didn’t want to repeat the mistakes of her past life, being deceived by a rich and handsome man, losing not only her dignity but also her life.

At the same time, she listened carefully to the conversations on the cart, trying to understand as much as possible about the situation here.

After about half an hour, Chen Dabao pointed to a village ahead and said, “Mom, we’re almost home.”

Looking into the distance, at the end of the wheat fields, a village nestled among green trees and bamboo.

Feeling a mix of emotions as they approached the village, Chen Feng was somewhat excited and nervous.

As the ox cart arrived at the village entrance, the four of them got off. Their home was at the northeast corner of the village. They walked north for over a hundred meters and came upon a run-down small courtyard. Beyond the fence, the whole yard was visible. It was small, with only three adobe and thatch houses and a jujube tree.

Looking at the other courtyards, it seemed theirs was one of the households in extreme poverty.

At that moment, a thin man in his thirties was sitting under the eaves weaving a straw mat. This man was her father in this life. From their conversation, it seemed her father had contracted a serious lung disease and needed good food and regular medication without overexerting himself.

Entering the courtyard, Chen Dabao loudly announced the good news, “Grandpa, my mom is better.”

Chen Ming knew that although Dabao was young, he wasn’t someone who spoke without thinking. However, this news was so shocking that he looked at Mrs. Wang and Chen Lu with disbelief.

Mrs. Wang smiled, “Indeed, she’s much better, she earlier calls me ‘mom’ and her little brother and Dabao. But her movements are still awkward; let’s try a few more doses of medicine.”

Back home, the shy Lu became a bit more lively, tugging at Chen Ming’s clothes, saying, “Sister even knows to be considerate, serving me, Mom, and Dabao the noodles.”

Chen Ming looked at Chen Feng with joy and said, “That’s good, there’s hope.”

Mrs. Wang chuckled, “That monk from back then was truly wise, he said Feng was blessed and that her condition would be cured. It’s really coming true.”

Seeing this man, thin but kind-eyed, with a handsome and clean appearance, not quite like a typical farmer, Chen Feng felt a fondness for him. She smiled at him, opened her mouth, and uttered a single syllable, “Dad.”

Chen Ming was even more delighted and quickly replied, “Ah, good child.”

The group entered the house joyfully.

As they entered, they found themselves in the kitchen, with two stoves, used not only for cooking but also for warming the kang bed during winter, the walls and ceiling blackened by smoke. There were cutting boards, cupboards, and two large barrels. Despite being worn, everything was clean.

Mrs. Wang set down her loads, took a basin, and scooped out some water from the barrel to wash Chen Feng’s face and hands. Then Chen Lu and Dabao washed themselves, and finally, Mrs. Wang washed up.

Moving into the room, there was a large kang bed by the window, a row of old kang cabinets at the end, two heavy old boxes on the floor, a rickety table, two chairs, and two stools.

Chen Ming and Mrs. Wang sat on the kang bed, while Chen Feng, Chen Lu, and Dabao sat along the edge.

From her bag, Mrs. Wang took out several packets of medicine and a few oil-paper-wrapped items, a piece of pig liver, and said, “The embroidery sold for a total of three hundred and ten wen. I spent one hundred and twenty wen on your herbal medicine, eighty wen on Afeng’s medicine, also bought some white fungus, lily bulbs, rock sugar, a piece of pig liver, and we had a bowl of noodles, leaving us with only one wen.” After tallying up, her face flushed with distress, and she sighed, “Money just doesn’t go far; I’ve been busy for over half a month, and it’s all gone.”

^[1]A Kang bed is a traditional type of heated bed used in China, Kang cabinets refer to storage or furniture pieces often built into the sides or ends of the Kang bed or set nearby.