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In the Serene Courtyard, Dabao and Chu Hanyan stood anxiously at the veranda, resembling a blue and a red balloon with eyes like grapes and faces like red apples.
Seeing them, Chen Feng’s heart swelled with sweetness, dispelling all the lingering frustration. The contrast between moments was like a real-life version of devil and angel, with a stark difference.
How fortunate she was to have loved ones and her beloved little treasures.
Stopping a few meters away, she crouched down, extended her hand, and smiled, “My two little darlings, come here.”
Dabao and Chu Hanyan exchanged glances and then sweetly walked towards Chen Feng. Dabao could have dashed over in a gust, but he waited for Chu Hanyan, matching her pace.
Finally reaching Chen Feng, they both leaped into her warm embrace.
Chen Feng hugged them both, kissed each of them, and said, “My two little darlings, having you is wonderful.”
Dabao chuckled as he kissed Chen Feng’s left cheek, and Chu Hanyan smiled as she kissed her right cheek.
Overjoyed, Dabao, in his excitement, lunged forward to kiss Chen Feng again, with a bit too much force, causing her to end up sitting on the ground. Still holding onto the children, she inadvertently pulled them down with her. The three of them ended up in a tangle, laughing heartily, with Chu Hanyan’s giggles standing out.
Chen Feng looked at Chu Hanyan with delight and said, “Oh my, your laughter, my dear, is so melodious, like the sound of nature.”
Dabao also chimed in excitedly, “Yes, yes, sister Hanyan’s laughter is so lovely.”
Chu Hanyan, upon hearing this, giggled a few more times and said, “Like… Auntie, Dabao, and also… Daddy.”
Dabao, feeling a bit self-important, added, “I like Mommy, little sister Hanyan, and also Uncle Chu.”
Upon hearing this, Chu Hanyan’s smile grew even sweeter, her eyes crescent-shaped, with a row of tiny, milky teeth showing, and her dimples deepening at the corners of her mouth, utterly endearing.
Seeing Chu Hanyan’s delight, Mrs. Luo wiped away a tear with her sleeve. Among them, she alone understood the suffering her young miss had endured in the past. She never expected her young miss to be in such a good state now. Even if she wasn’t exceptionally clever, she was at least normal, and could have a future, becoming a wife and a mother.
Mrs. Wei and Mama Song were also exceptionally pleased, they hadn’t anticipated the rapid improvement of young miss Chu.
Mrs. Wei held some unspoken grievances. Yesterday, she had been scolded by Steward Luo for helping Chen Feng find a suitable match, a young man who was a distant relative of hers. His family were honest folk with a small business, but due to many siblings, they lived modestly. The youngest sibling was good-natured, clean, diligent, and fairly presentable. He had heard about the bride’s beauty and her family’s wealth, and was willing to propose.
During dinner last night, Mrs. Wei had joyfully mentioned this matter, never expecting her father-in-law, Steward Luo to scold her and criticize her for overstepping her bounds, accusing her of losing the humility befitting a servant. She felt unjustly accused—she was only trying to help. Chen Feng was just like her, both servants at Tangyuan, so how could it be considered a loss of humility?
Now, seeing the close bond between Chen Feng and the young miss, and witnessing the increasingly healthy state of the young miss, as well as Chen Feng’s radiant beauty, she suddenly began to understand her father-in-law’s intentions.
Could it be that the master had taken an interest in Chen Feng?
Not to mention that Chen Feng was a village girl at the moment, even if Magistrate Chen recognized her as his daughter, her status was not enough to become the master’s wife.
However, Mrs. Wei believed she understood Chen Feng quite well. Despite being a village girl, she was strong-willed, prideful, and had her own ideas. Even if she never married, she would never be subservient to anyone.
If the master did have such intentions, it was a suspenseful situation!
After enough play, Chen Feng and the children stood up from the ground. Clapping her hands, Chen Feng called out, “Come on, children, line up. Let’s begin… martial… arts.”
After practicing martial arts with the children and pets, snowflakes began to drift down from the sky. Once inside the warm room, Chen Feng let the children build with blocks while she sat lost in thought.
After a day’s work, when Chen Feng arrived in the outer courtyard, she encountered Steward Luo. He greeted her, “I heard Madam Chen came to your house?”
Chen Feng nodded, “Yes, I scolded her.”
Steward Luo hesitated for a moment and added, “If she causes trouble again, you shouldn’t defy her. Instead, have someone find me, and I will have her chased away. I won’t be lenient with her in the future.”
Chen Feng had initially wanted to say that she had no relation to the old lady and therefore couldn’t defy her. But considering the ancient mindset, she decided not to explain further and simply smiled, “Alright, thank you, Uncle Luo.”
In the following days, Chen Feng continued her regular work routine, guiding the children in martial arts, telling stories, and playing with building blocks. Life in the second branch of the Chen family remained as harmonious and joyful as before, and the topics of a biological father and daughter were never mentioned again. Even when Chen Lu was curious and asked Mrs. Wang, he was scolded.
Mrs. Wang said, “Nonsense. Your sister is indeed your real sister and your father’s real daughter.”
That day when Madam Chen had visited, Chen Lu had overheard some dubious conversations in the east wing. After hearing Mrs. Wang’s explanation, he believed it. He was certain that his sister was indeed his father’s real daughter and his real sister.
In the blink of an eye, it was the 28th of the twelfth month, and Chen Ye and grandma Chen were looking forward to the return of the third branch of Chen. They had already informed Chen Ming that on this day, they wanted the entire family to come to the main house for dinner.
In the evening, after finishing work at Tangyuan, Chen Feng and her son returned to Luyuan, accompanied only by Zhui Feng, leaving Qiqi and Gray to continue playing with Chu Hanyan at Tangyuan.
In the main house, it was a rural custom to not pay much attention to animals, so they were usually fed leftovers. Zhui Feng was more forgiving, and Wangcai had already become accustomed to it. However, Qiqi and Gray, who were treated as pampered pets, would not be pleased and might even be vocal about it. Neglecting them would certainly lead to scoldings.
At Luyuan, the entire family was waiting for them. Upon their return, they, along with Zhui Feng, Wangcai, and Chu Xiaoniu, headed to the village. Chu Xiaoniu even carried a basket with two pieces of cured meat and a whole rack of lamb inside.
By now, the night had fallen, and the biting cold wind carried swirling snowflakes. As they walked back to the village, everyone’s spirits were high, and laughter filled the air. Chen Ming, in particular, was eager to see Chen Shi after such a long time.
Upon arrival at the main house, before even entering, they heard the sound of laughter from inside. As they knocked on the door, Chen Aman rushed out, greeted Chen Ming and Mrs. Wang, and then turned to Chen Feng, saying, “Sister Feng, I’ve missed you so much.”
Chen Feng smiled and replied, “I’ve missed you too.”