Chapter 47: Visiting

Time flew by, reaching the twenty-third of July. Chen Lu had been in the capital for half a month, and he should be returning soon. As noon approached, Chen Ming sat under the tree weaving baskets, occasionally gazing towards the east. Even during the midday break, he’d only nap indoors briefly before returning outside to continue his watch. It wasn’t until the sun began to set in the west, signaling their absence, that he disappointedly returned indoors.

Chen Feng’s heart also grew anxious. She also would intermittently glance towards the east. Even Chen Dabao, who usually spent his afternoons birdwatching and gathering firewood at the west end of the village, would take Qiqi and Grey for a stroll towards the east before heading home.

On the twenty-fourth, as the day approached noon, Chen Feng was making a mattress on the kang while Chen Dabao practiced writing. Suddenly, they heard Chen Ming, who was sitting under the eaves, asking, “Who are you looking for?”

A stranger’s voice loudly inquired, “Excuse me, where is Chen Dabao’s house?”

Chen Feng glanced out the window to see a carriage parked at the gate, with Yang Chao poking his head out of the window.

She thought to herself, “Goodness, Yang’s son is quite bold. We don’t have much acquaintance with them, why would he send his son here?”

But a visitor is a visitor, especially one tied to business relations. She got off the kang and said to Dabao, “Son, hurry, Yang Chao is here.”

Upon hearing this, Chen Dabao quickly put down his brush and ran outside, loudly calling, “Brother Yang Chao!”

Yang Chao stepped out of the carriage, grinning widely. “Dabao, I missed your Grey so much.”

Chen Ming was still bewildered, unsure how their grandson knew the young master from the affluent family. Chen Feng also came out, smiling. “Our esteemed guest has arrived. Please come in.” She then told Chen Ming that this young man was the heir to the Xile Restaurant.

Chen Ming quickly got up to welcome them.

Accompanying Yang Chao were a teenage servant, Lidong, and Old Yang, the carriage driver. They carried two pieces of meat, four pig trotters, two bags of candies, and a large bag of grapes in their hands.

It seemed they intended to have lunch at their place.

Chen Dabao asked. “Why didn’t we see Qian, sister?”

Yang Chao: “Dad was worried about her, so he only let me come.” He added earnestly, “If I behave well this time, I can bring her next time.”

Chen Feng asked Dabao to accompany them to the new courtyard to play. Qiqi and Grey were bored waiting for the young master, hopping around on the frame. The Golden Swallow was not at home, he had gone to the mountains.

Chen Feng prepared hawthorn soup for them and took the washed grapes over before starting to cook. Chen Ming helped with the fire.

Yang Chao was delighted to see Grey and Qiqi, especially noticing the sparkle in Qiqi’s eyes. He said, “Qiqi is indeed so pretty, just as beautiful as my sister.”

He wiped Qiqi’s fur and added, “I asked my dad to buy two parrots, but even after teaching them for so long, they still can’t speak as well as Grey and Qiqi.”

Chen Dabao was even prouder, saying, “Qiqi, carry ‘Dukang.'”

Qiqi shook her head and said, “To ease worries, only Dukang.” Her voice sounded just like Chen Ming’s.

Grey, unwilling to be outdone, jumped and barked, “Dabao needs to pee, Dabao needs to pee.” His voice sounded just like Dabao’s.

Dabao blushed, while Yang Chao laughed until his stomach hurt.

As they were playing, Shitou arrived, he came to deliver milk. Their yellow cow had given birth to a calf two days ago. Upon hearing this, Chen Feng went to the Wu family to ask Changgen’s wife if, upon Chen Lu’s return, they could buy some milk daily to nourish him.

Changgen’s wife scolded, “What’s so good about that? Why buy it? No one in our family likes drinking milk, they dislike that odor. From now on, I’ll have Shitou bring some over for you every day. That kid has eaten quite a lot of good things from your home.”

For the past couple of days, every morning, Shitou would come to deliver a small gourd of milk.

Afterward, Chen Dabao took Yang Chao, Shitou, and Lidong and headed to the east of the village to “walk” the birds. Two birds flew in the sky while three people chased on the ground.

At times, they ran through small groves, and at other times, they sprinted along the narrow ridges between the fields. As the ridges were a bit narrow, Lidong would slow down, leading Yang Chao along.

Beneath the blue sky, the two birds alternated between hovering at low altitude and soaring high. When they were nearing Tangyuan, Chen Dabao shouted, “Don’t go there, come back!”

Qiqi and Grey made a turn and flew back.

When the group returned home, they were all drenched in sweat.

Chen Feng had already prepared hot water and helped Yang Chao and Dabao take baths, changing their clothes. She wiped Shitou’s sweat and insisted he stay for lunch.

For lunch, she cooked braised pork, sautéed pork slices, stir-fried Chinese cabbage, marinated eggplant, and pork trotter soup. She also made a dessert, fried fragrant pumpkin cakes.

They set up a table under the trees in the new courtyard, where Chen Feng, Dabao, Yang Chao, and Shitou dined together. Chen Ming accompanied Old Yang and Lidong to eat and drink in the old courtyard.

Yang Chao exclaimed that the food here was even tastier than the dishes at his family’s restaurant. He ate enthusiastically, especially enjoying the pumpkin cakes.

Chen Feng chuckled, “Feel free to come over often, Aunt Chen will cook for you.”

Yang Chao nodded without hesitation, “Great, next time I’ll bring my little sister.” Then he added, “Aunt Chen, my sister loves delicious snacks the most. Could I take some pumpkin cakes home for her to enjoy?”

Chen Feng nodded with a smile, “Sure.”

Meanwhile, Chen Dabao was digging into the braised pork, while Shitou kept nibbling on the pig trotters. These two kids were really indulging in their love for meat.

After finishing the meal, Yang Chao didn’t want to leave just yet; he said he wanted to play a little longer. He was reluctant to part with Dabao, and even more so with Gray and Qiqi.

Old Uncle Yang advised, “Sir, it’s best for the young master to leave after finishing lunch. If he doesn’t listen, it might be hard for him to come again. If he behaves, he can come next time.”

Then, Lidong lifted the crying Yang Chao onto the carriage.

Chen Feng then brought a basket of freshly picked vegetables and a parcel of fragrant pumpkin cakes onto the carriage, saying, “Freshly picked vegetables, have some while they’re fresh.”

As Shitou was leaving, Chen Feng also packed a small bag of candies and a pack of pumpkin cakes for him to take home.

After a morning of commotion, Chen Ming and Dabao were a bit tired, resting on the kang. Chen Feng tidied up the kitchen, salted the remaining piece of meat, and let it cool under the eaves.

As she finished these tasks, she spotted a cart approaching their doorstep. Mrs Wang sat atop it, while Chen Lu lay on it.

Excitedly, Chen Feng shouted, “Dad, mom and A’Lu are back!” and dashed towards the entrance.

She helped Chen Lu down from the cart and took several packages off the cart. Mrs Wang gave the cart driver two hundred wen as fare, then had Dabao bring a bowl of water for the driver before seeing him off.

Chen Lu could already walk with a crutch. Chen Feng cradled his face, observing him—he seemed thinner, his eyes larger, dimples deeper, and his complexion slightly pale, but his spirits seemed fine.

If he were Chen Dabao, Chen Feng would surely give him a couple of kisses. However, considering the boy was ten now, she didn’t want to startle him. Instead, she gently rubbed his cheek and said affectionately, “A’Lu, you’re finally back. I missed you so much these days.”

Chen Lu’s cheeks blushed, and he murmured softly, “Sis, I missed you too, and I missed Dad and Dabao.”