Chapter 49: Intention

Wu Changgen and Wu Chanshen arrived with the ox cart. The first two trips carried the large furniture, which they helped carry into the house and arranged as per Chen Feng’s instructions.

With the furniture in place, the room felt like a home.

Looking at her new home, Chen Feng smiled with joy. Despite being a simple dwelling, it was her own.

After arranging everything, Chen Feng noticed that the side of the kang table was adorned with carvings. Pointing to the table, she asked, “Brothers Wu, did you make a mistake with the delivery?”

Wu Changgen also thought it might have been a mistake.

Wu Chanshen grinned, showing his white teeth, “No mistake, I deliberately carved these patterns.”

The carvings were of intertwined plum blossoms, adding a charming touch to the entire small table.

Chen Feng was thrilled, “Thank you, brother Chanshen, you put in extra effort. I should pay you for your work.”

Wu Chanshen quickly waved his hand, “Ms. Feng, there’s no need to be formal. It didn’t take much effort for those carvings, no need for payment. As long as you like it… Oh, I mean, Shitou often enjoys the food at your home, so it’s only right for me to carve these designs.”

Wu Changgen also chimed in, “Yes, Ms. Feng, don’t be formal.”

The third trip of the ox cart carried stools, buckets, and other small items, and the carpenter Wu followed along.

Chen Feng handed him the money, one tael and five strings of large coins, and said with a smile, “Thank you, Uncle Wu. These furniture pieces are excellent.”

The carpenter Wu took the money and smiled, “As long as you likes it. If you need more furniture in the future, come to Uncle Wu’s place, and I’ll give you a good deal.”

After exchanging a few words with Chen Ming, they left. Wu Changgen followed him, but Wu Chanshen remained there, motionless.

The carpenter Wu turned back and shouted, “You brat, there’s still so much work to do at home. Why are you lingering here?”

Upon hearing this, Wu Chanshen blushed, quickly agreed, and said to Chen Feng, “If you need anything, just come to my house and let me know, or tell Shitou. Shitou gets along well with Dabao, so, hehe…”

Before Chen Feng could respond, he dashed off.

Chen Feng found it amusing. Was that serious-faced young man interested in her? He was considered the prince charming in the eyes of many girls, coming from a well-off family and having his own skills. He seemed clean, had no bad habits, and appeared to have a good temperament, fitting closely with her “four good” standard for a man.

Considering the local villagers, especially after the attention from those few individuals, Chen Feng genuinely felt that Wu Chanshen was a good choice.

But it seemed his family’s condition was a bit too good.

Chen Feng was self-aware. If she were considering marriage, perhaps she could think about it. However, as the one to be married, with his family’s superior conditions and her lack of say, her family wouldn’t agree. Just looking at the serious expression on Old Man Wu’s face made that clear.

As soon as the Wu father and son entered their home, Old Man Wu tapped Wu Chanshen with his pipe and scolded, “You brat, what are you thinking? Chen Feng is a lively girl, but she already have a son. Do you want to be like Er Bai and live off others? How did I raise such an incompetent person?” He then tapped him a few more times.

Wu Chanshen blushed and muttered, “Feng is not only lively but also diligent, capable, and has a good temperament.”

The carpenter Wu, infuriated, wanted to strike him and shouted, “She has a good temperament? Have you forgotten what happened to Er Bai? Haven’t you seen it?”

“I didn’t see it. If I had, I would have helped her beat that scoundrel. He’s too much of a bully,” Wu Chanshen said resentfully.

On the day when Chen Feng fought with Er Bai, Wu Chanshen had been in a neighboring village delivering furniture. Upon his return, he learned about the incident and felt unsettled, thinking Chen Feng was pitiful—having just recovered from her illness, she was mistreated by a wicked man. If he had been there, he would have surely fought Er Bai.

The carpenter Wu, enraged, shouted, “Regardless, even if Feng is a good girl, I won’t allow you to have thoughts about her.” Seeing Wu Chanshen’s defiant expression, he stooped to pick up a wooden stick from the ground, intending to rush over and strike him.

Wu Changgen quickly intervened and said to Wu Chanshen, “Stop being stubborn. Look how upset you’ve made Dad. Dad’s saying this for your own good. Feng is indeed good-looking and capable, but she already has a son, and it’s not possible. Don’t think about becoming her husband. Our Wu family can’t afford to lose face.”

The argument between the father and son grew intense, attracting the attention of Wu’s wife and Changgen’s wife.

Upon hearing about the matter, Wu’s wife also disagreed, “Chanshen, I usually let you do as you wish, but this matter won’t do. Chen Feng has just recovered from her illness and now she has her own household, and also have a son. Although Dabao is a good kid, you can’t be a father for someone else son’s. My son is so handsome and capable, so where is the rationale for being a son-in-law in someone else’s house, and even helping to raise someone else’s son…” She continued on with a lecture.

Wu Chanshen muttered, “Look at how worked up you all are. Whether Feng likes me or not is still uncertain. Hmph! Anyway, I want to find someone like Chen Feng—lively, capable, dark, rough, lazy, or foolish—I don’t want any of them.”

After speaking, he focused on his work, the small hammer resounding through the air, unaffected by their comments.

The carpenter Wu was so frustrated that he wanted to rush over and strike him several times but was persuaded by Wu Changgen and his wife to retire to the living room to rest.

—

Wu Chanshen’s recent reaction had been witnessed not only by Chen Feng but also by Mrs. Wang and Chen Ming.

Mrs. Wang couldn’t hide the smile in her eyes and, together with Chen Feng, tidied up the new house.

Chen Feng, still influenced by her past habits, disliked the smell of food in the bedroom and avoided conducting all activities there. Her bedroom had to be immaculate, with no trace of dust. Even though they were currently struggling financially, she aimed to manage the space as best as she could. With no restrictions in her own little world, she naturally arranged the house according to her preferences.

As a result, the eastern room was designated as the bedroom, with the kang and cupboard placed in that space, along with a box, two tall stools, a bronze mirror, and items such as fragrant oils, combs, and hairpins placed on the box. She had initially considered bringing over the intricately carved small table but refrained, considering that everyone was accustomed to eating and working at the kang table.

The western room was set up as the living room, with a kang table on the kang and a table on the floor, along with four tall stools. This room served for dining, studying, working, and receiving guests. It also doubled as the bedroom for Golden Treasure, Qiqi, and Gray, with three attractive straw baskets placed at the end of the kang.

Chen Ming and the others expressed their confusion about her arrangement. They felt that the eastern room should serve as both the bedroom and the living room, and the western room should be for guests and as a storeroom. They suggested moving the kang table and the table to the eastern room, which would be more convenient.

Chen Feng shook her head and insisted on her own preference.

Understanding her determination, Chen Ming and the others didn’t press the matter further.

Finally, when Chen Lu was out of range, Mrs. Wang whispered to Chen Feng, “I can see that Chanshen has taken a liking to you. What do you think, A’Feng? He’s a good young man, good-looking, and skilled.”