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Chen Ming “Hmm”ed and continued, “However, that child has a lot on his mind, and he’s quite sensitive. He’s afraid we might listen to things from Eldest Sister-in-law and… not want him.” He hesitated to mention his mother, then continued, “Keep what was said just now to ourselves for the time being. Otherwise, he’ll get anxious again. Also, tell those two children not to mention A’Feng’s condition improving for now. If A’Feng’s condition really improves thoroughly, that’s fine, but if it doesn’t, it might cause unnecessary trouble.”
“Got it,” Mrs. Wang replied.
Chen Feng was deeply moved – her parents in this life were truly kind. Even in modern times, some parents wouldn’t be this good to their disabled children. There were even heartless parents who would abandon or even drown their disabled children. Yet, her parents not only dedicated themselves to planning for their daughter, but also spent money on her treatment.
Moreover, in this world, even women who don’t marry can establish their own households.
Struggling to turn over, Chen Feng thought she should start rehabilitative exercises, quickly getting her body in better condition, so she could repay this family’s love for the original owner. Even if she recovered, she still wanted Dabao to remain as her son. That child was too lovable. She was already over thirty in her previous life, and although she hadn’t married or been a mother, maternal love had already overflowed within her. When she saw adorable children, she couldn’t help but love them.
However, to keep Dabao as her son, she would need to have a say and suppress that annoying Uncle Chen Ye’s Wife.
With great effort, Chen Feng sat up, then shuffled to the kang cabinet, opened it, and took out a few sets of her clothes and Dabao’s, as well as several handkerchiefs.
It took at least two quarters of an hour to put on the jacket and skirt. Realizing that she couldn’t control her saliva, she stuffed a handkerchief into her bosom. However, it was difficult to retrieve it from her bosom, so she hung the handkerchief on the loop fastener. Although childish, it was better than having someone else wipe her saliva for her.
After getting off the kang, she struggled to put on her shoes. Seeing a palm-sized bronze mirror on the table, she picked it up and was startled. Her face was really beautiful, with a small melon seed face, fair skin, large almond-shaped eyes, a small, straight nose, and rosy lips. My goodness, she was even more beautiful than in her previous life; she felt ecstatic.
However, with her vacant gaze, she looked like a naïve beauty. Her hair was also disheveled, like a bird’s nest. Given her current situation, modern hair styling was impossible.
Putting down the mirror, she silently encouraged herself: “Chen Feng, come on, get your body in shape soon.”
She walked around the room, twisting her neck, waist, and doing some stretches. Feeling slightly sweaty, she opened the door and walked out of the eastern room.
Mrs. Wang was cooking, and Chen Ming was helping to tend the fire. They were both amazed to see Chen Feng walk out so neatly.
“The clothes that A’Feng wore herself?” both asked in unison.
Chen Feng nodded, stuttering, “Y-yes, I wore them myself. In the future, I’ll dress myself.” Her cracked voice didn’t match her beautiful appearance.
Mrs. Wang joyfully set down the knife and began to pray with her hands together.
Chen Ming, pinching his sparse beard, couldn’t stop smiling, “Good, good, my daughter is becoming more capable.”
Chen Feng smiled, her gaze shifting to the half-cut pork liver on the cutting board. Stir-fried pork liver and spicy pork liver were both good; they managed to suppress that fishy smell. Unconsciously, her mouth began to water again.
Mrs. Wang noticed and wiped her hands on a cloth, taking out a handkerchief to help her daughter. Before she could come over, she saw her daughter had already used the handkerchief to wipe away the saliva.
Mrs. Wang comfortingly said, “A’Feng is really clever, knowing to hang the handkerchief on the button for easy access.”
Chen Feng blushed and headed for the door. When she reached the doorway, Mrs. Wang approached and said, “A’Feng, are you going outside?” Seeing Chen Feng nod, she added, “Then stand outside for a bit. A’Feng, you’re good-looking. Don’t let bad people notice you…” Pausing for a moment, she continued, “The doorstep is a bit high. Let me help you.”
Chen Feng shook her head and said, “I can do it myself.” Then, she held onto the doorframe, lifted her leg over the threshold, and carefully descended two stone steps to stand outside.
By now, it was dusk, with smoke rising from the rooftops of every house. As the sun set in the west, the evening glow tinged half the sky red, painting the distant mountain peaks a rosy hue.
Chen Feng pointed to those peaks and said, “There…”
Inside, Chen Ming said, “That’s Honglin Mountain, about twenty miles from here. It has picturesque scenery and a Lingyin Temple. When you’re better, I’ll have your mother take you, Dabao, and A’Lu to play on the mountain.”
Mrs. Wang added, “The monk who said A’Feng was blessed is from Lingyin Temple. When A’Feng gets better, we’ll go to the temple to pay our respects to the Bodhisattva, thanking the Bodhisattva for blessings, and acknowledging the accuracy of the high monk’s prediction.”
Just then, Dabao and Lu rushed in through the gate with a few chickens. Lu carried a small bundle of firewood on his back, while Dabao carried a basket of wild vegetables.
After calling out to someone, Lu herded the chickens into the backyard coop and then voluntarily chopped and mixed the wild vegetables with bran to feed the chickens.
Little Dabao ran into the kitchen, first feeling the stove, then running back to make Chen Feng bend over while he wiped her face a few times.
“What are you doing?” Chen Feng exclaimed in surprise.
The little boy helplessly replied, “Mom, don’t you remember? Whenever you go outside or walk around the yard, you always have to wipe your face.” He sighed and shook his head, “Oh, what can we do? Mom is just too beautiful.”
Indeed, this body was a rare beauty. In the countryside, someone with such looks, especially a naive person, would surely attract ill-intentioned men.
However, this child was too thoughtful.
After smudging Chen Feng’s face, Dabao went to pull Chen Ming up, then sat in front of the stove to tend the fire.
Poor children are precocious; both of them are well-mannered.
Dinner was served on the table by the kang bed in the western room. There was brown rice and sweet potato, a pot of pork liver and cabbage soup, with more cabbage and less pork liver, and a plate of pickled radish.
Seeing the dark soup and the cabbage leaves, Chen Feng’s stomach, which had become picky along with Liu Xudong in her previous life, wailed inside. She said, “Mom, you can stir-fry the pork liver, add some pickles, garlic sprouts, and preferably some chili peppers. That’s the only way it’ll taste good. If you must make soup, use less cabbage and more ginger.”
Desire can unleash one’s potential. Despite her untamed tongue, she managed to say such a long sentence without drooling.
The room fell silent for a few seconds as everyone looked at her in astonishment.
Dabao was the first to react and exclaimed excitedly, “My mom is really capable, even more so than Dabao, to say such a long sentence.” As he continued, his voice even carried a hint of tears, and his gaze at Chen Feng was filled with admiration.
Chen Lu added, “Sister, you said so much without drooling.”
Truly, a sincere child.
Mrs. Wang resumed her chanting, and Chen Ming chuckled cheerfully.
The meal was enjoyed with great joy. Despite the unappealing appearance of the pork liver, it tasted good, perhaps due to the organic nature of the pork. Mrs. Wang served Chen Ming the most, followed by Chen Feng, then the two little ones; she ate the least.