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With Chen Feng, Dabao, and Lu, along with their pet companions, returning to Luyuan, Chen Ming and Mrs. Wang had already come back.
Mrs. Wang’s eyes were swollen, and the makeup on her face had been washed away, likely from crying and then washing her face. However, she seemed to be in good spirits.
As they sat down, they listened to Chen Ming and Mrs. Wang recount their trip to Xianhu Village.
When Mrs. Wang arrived in such a state at her great-uncle Wang’s house, it shocked everyone. They hadn’t expected that Wang Juan, who had remarried a sickly man, had truly become wealthy!
Despite being over sixty, Old Uncle Wang, the family patriarch, was still robust, and the family warmly welcomed Mrs. Wang and her husband. They were delighted to see the gifts Mrs. Wang had brought and promptly invited a host of relatives for a feast, distributing the gifts in the process.
Mrs. Wang inquired about where Wang Cheng had been sold, and the relatives all chimed in. Initially, when Mrs. Ding was beaten by the Wang family, she was too afraid to divulge where the child had been sold, fearing that these people would force her to return the money she had received for selling her child.
It wasn’t until several years later that there was some information about the child’s whereabouts. Some said he was sold directly to the Fan family’s slave store in the county town, while others claimed he was sold to the mother-in-law of someone named He in the village, with the latter being the most widely circulated story.
He’s mother-in-law lived in a neighboring village and was known to be cunning and unscrupulous, willing to do anything for profit. It was said that when He’s mother-in-law came to the village to see her daughter, Mrs. Ding secretly took little Wang Cheng and sold him to that woman.
More than twenty years had passed, and that woman had long since passed away.
Upon hearing this, Mrs. Wang couldn’t help but cry.
Chen Ming had Xue Dagui take two taels of silver and, together with a young relative of the Wang family, went to He’s house. Upon seeing the silver, He revealed the truth. Indeed, Mrs. Ding had sold Wang Cheng to He’s mother-in-law for four taels and two hundred coins, and the mother-in-law had then sold the child to a distant relative of hers for five taels and two hundred coins, as she had not borne a son.
Following this, He took Xue Dagui to visit his mother-in-law’s home. Although the mother-in-law had passed away, her younger brother was still there. Initially, he claimed not to know, but upon seeing the silver, he revealed the exact address, stating that the child was in a village called Xiaoli in Yian County, nearly a hundred miles from Sanqing County, under the jurisdiction of Jibei Province.
Everyone was surprised at how easily they obtained Wang Cheng’s whereabouts and were very happy. Mrs. Wang thought that since the family had no sons, they would surely treat her brother well. This was much better than being sold to a wealthy family as a servant or being sold to a theater troupe.
However, Mrs. Wang’s father and Mrs. Ding learned about Chen Ming and Mrs. Wang’s return to Xianhu Village and came to see them. Mrs. Ding caused a scene, accusing Mrs. Wang of being unfilial and neglecting to visit her parents’ home after returning to the village, especially considering their advanced age. She argued that now that Mrs. Wang had money, she only gave it to relatives and neglected to care for her parents…
Chen Ming and Mrs. Wang were not good with words, and in their frustration, they couldn’t articulate a response. Mrs. Zeng, who was articulate, along with Old Uncle Wang’s daughter-in-law, criticized Mrs. Ding for her immoral behavior. When the conversation became too infuriating, two senior women from the Wang family couldn’t help but grab their walking sticks and threaten Mrs. Ding, scaring her away.
However, Mrs. Wang’s father, Old Wang, refused to leave and stayed for dinner. He cried and called Mrs. Wang “daughter,” saying that his days were difficult. Mrs. Wang had no choice but to give him two taels of silver…
Upon learning about the information regarding Wang Cheng, Chen Feng was extremely pleased. She then asked Old Zeng, if he knew where Xiaoli Village in Yian County was located.
Old Zeng did indeed know and mentioned that Yian County was located northwest of Sanqing County, and Xiaoli Village was a remote village near the Dayan Mountains. He had been there once when he was young.
Chen Ming and the others were delighted and arranged for Old Zeng to go there the next day with Xue Dagui to inquire about Wang Cheng’s whereabouts, providing him with ten taels of silver.
The next day, Chen Feng went to Steward Luo to borrow a carriage, this time needing it for two to three days.
It was the fifth day of the Lunar New Year, and Hu Laowu was hosting a feast. After seeing off Old Zeng and the others, Chen Ming invited Steward Luo to join him at Hu’s house for dinner.
During the day, Luyuan didn’t have any adult men, so the Chu family’s grandfather and grandson couldn’t come for lunch, but they agreed to come in the evening. Chu Hanyan, however, arrived with Luo Mei in the morning and asked to rest at Luyuan.
Chen Feng led them in martial arts practice, told stories, played games, and then let them play with building blocks in the southern room of the west wing, while she busied herself in the kitchen. She had to prepare both lunch and dinner. Those two masters were getting pickier with their food, especially the old Marquis, who joked that Hanyan had passed on her finicky nature to him, as he found the food at Luyuan more fragrant than at Tangyuan.
Thinking of the old Marquis joking like this, Chen Feng found it quite amusing. The old man was both a senior and a child, resembling an adorable old man, nothing like a high-ranking individual.
After lunch, Chen Feng had Chu Hanyan and Luo Mei rest on the bed, and as she was about to step out to the west wing to do some needlework with Mrs. Wang, when she heard a knock on the door.
Shanzhi opened the door but didn’t invite the person inside, asking in bewilderment, “Sir, whom are you looking for?”
A clear male voice from outside inquired, “May I ask if this is the residence of Wang Juan?”
Which man dared to use Mrs. Wang’s given name? How impolite.
Chen Feng thought to herself and then walked to the door. Upon seeing the tall man standing outside, she was momentarily stunned.
The man was the same incredibly handsome man she had once seen at the Jade Qilin Jewelry Store. He was dressed in a lake-blue embroidered cloud satin robe, tied with a jade belt, and wore a black and gold brocade cloak over it, with a black headscarf. His posture was elegant, his gaze warm, and due to the cold, his cheeks and lips were rosy, making his skin appear radiant.
He was about to speak when he spotted Chen Feng approaching, and with a smile on his face, he called out, “Little Feng.”
The use of this name sent shivers down Chen Feng’s spine, clearing her mind. She approached the door and instructed Shanzhi, “You can go and attend to your tasks.”
Upon hearing this, Shanzhi promptly left.
Chen Feng blocked the doorway and asked, “Who are you, and what brings you to my home?”
Chen Shiying didn’t answer her question. He smiled and looked at Chen Feng up and down several times, his gaze becoming increasingly gentle, and said, “Little Feng, I am Chen Shiying. I’ve come to find you and your mother.”
Chen Feng, with an expressionless face, replied, “I don’t know you or anyone named Chen Shiying. There are only women and children in my home, and it’s not suitable to let a strange man in.” With that, she attempted to close the door.
Chen Shiying extended a hand to keep the door ajar and said, “Little Feng, let me see your mother. I have urgent matters to discuss.”
Chen Feng responded, “My mother is a virtuous woman and won’t see strange men.” As she tried to close the door again, Chen Shiying blocked it and pleaded, “Little Feng, please, let me see…”
Suddenly, he gazed past Chen Feng, his eyes seemingly filled with tears, and softly uttered, “Sister…”