Chapter 208: No Chance

After dinner, although Chu Hanyan wanted to stay at Fengyuan and play with Yang Qian, she thought of her father and grandmother leaving the next day and obediently returned to Tangyuan.

This time, in addition to Chen Feng and Dabao, Yang Chao and Yang Qian also accompanied them to see them off.

As they were traveling with Abbess Liao Chen, Chu Lingxuan and Chu Hanyan only glanced back at them, waved, and then turned to accompany Abbess Liao Chen back to Tangyuan.

Chen Feng had Lu lead Dabao and Yang Chao to sleep in the east wing, while Yang Qian slept with her.

It was not yet completely dark, and a few children were playing and frolicking in the yard with the two dogs and two birds.

Mrs. Wang also didn’t return to Luyuan. Chen Feng sat with her under the corridor of the east wing, watching the children play.

In the distance, the Honglin Mountain looked like a series of undulating black silhouettes, setting off the deep red and intense sunset on the mountaintop. Occasionally, birds returning to their nests swooped across the sky and disappeared into the brilliant clouds.

Suddenly, Chen Feng saw many birds flying out of the red haze, densely packed like a squadron of bombers flying towards them. They flew closer and closer, arriving over Fengyuan. They circled around, dropping numerous “bombs” before settling on the trees and rooftops. The children playing in the yard screamed, taking cover under the corridor. Qiqi and Gray, on the other hand, loudly shouted, “Welcome”, as they usually did when guests arrived.

One bird landed on Chen Feng’s lap, and she finally saw that it was Golden Swallow.

The Golden Swallow chirped, “Mommy, wake up and close your mouth. What’s with all the fuss? These are my little brothers and sisters. If they want to hang out with me, I’ll take them home.”

Chen Feng was exasperated and gave it a glare, scolding, “We don’t have enough cages for so many birds in our house. Besides, they defecate everywhere. Just look at what a mess they’ve made of our yard.”

The Golden Swallow turned back and indeed saw a lot of white and black bird droppings in the yard.

It chirped again, “Alright, it was my oversight not to remind them first. Mommy, don’t worry, I’ll make sure they only relieve themselves in the melon patch on the side of the yard. It’ll even save you on fertilizer. I brought back ninety-eight birds this time, but only forty of them need to be housed in cages, the rest can sleep in the trees. Oh, and please prepare some polished rice and minced meat for them. I boasted to them that Mommy would treat them to delicious food.”

Chen Feng was at a loss and had to order Mrs. Zeng and Autumn and Summer to prepare the food. She also said, “You won’t let them stay in my house permanently, will you?”

The Golden Swallow said, “No, the vast majority of these birds are used to the wild, and they don’t like being confined. Only a dozen or so birds will stay with me because they’re really foolish, always getting bullied, and they might accidentally be eaten by eagles or snakes. Besides, they’re exceptionally beautiful, and they sing melodiously. I can’t bear to see them meet a tragic end.”

Once Autumn and Summer scattered the rice and placed several bowls of minced meat on the ground, the birds all flew down to eat. Among them were sparrows and swallows, as well as some unfamiliar birds, in various shades of black, gray, red, and green, a truly splendid sight.

After the birds had eaten their fill, they hopped around, chirping at Chen Feng.

Truly intelligent birds! Seeing their enthusiastic behavior, Chen Feng accepted them from the bottom of her heart. She had Autumn and old lady Huang take care of the children, and she and Summer sorted the birds that needed to rest in cages and prepared many grass baskets, lining them with straw. If the birds didn’t want to sleep in the trees, they could sleep in the baskets.

Once this was done, it was already late. Mrs. Wang returned to Luyuan, and Chen Feng went to rest in her room.

The next morning, before dawn, Chen Feng got up. She prepared a pot of vegetarian dishes, as well as some plum blossom cakes and golden thread cakes.

After finishing, she had the vegetarian dishes and half of the pastries sent to Tangyuan. One portion was for Chu Lingxuan, while the other two were for Abbess Liao Chen and the venerable Master Wuzhi. Although the venerable Master was petty and exasperating, it would be beneficial to maintain a good relationship with him.

After breakfast, Yang Mingyuan accompanied by Luo Xiao bid farewell. He had to return home to spend more time with his mother before rushing back to the capital.

Chen Feng was taken aback when she saw him, not just by his dark panda eyes, but also because he seemed thinner. She wondered if she was mistaken, how could someone slim down overnight? Furthermore, since he was a guest in her home, both her family and the Luo family had treated him well. There was no reason for him to feel aggrieved.

She hesitated but ultimately suppressed her doubts.

Chen Feng wants to help Chen Yu off through the back door. After all, Braised skewers couldn’t compare to high-quality, refined dining, and Chen Yu is handsome and clever, meant to grow and thrive in a broader world. Since the Hongyun hotpot restaurant was set to open branches, it was necessary to cultivate talent. Chen Feng wanted him to gain experience by following Yang Mingyuan, so he could better carry forward the family business in the future.

Yang Mingyuan nodded and said that Chen Yu could come to find him in the capital.

Chen Feng then give Yang Mingyuan the other half of the pastries for his mother.

Yang Mingyuan expressed his gratitude and patted the heads of his children, urging them to play for a couple of days and then return home, as their grandmother would be lonely at home. After pushing back the hint of moisture in his eyes, he bid farewell to Chen Feng and Luo Xiao, and then boarded the carriage.

Initially, Yang Mingyuan had a lot on his mind that he wanted to discuss with Chen Feng. He even contemplated arranging a match between them before he returned to the capital. However, when he saw the actions of Luo Xiao and his wife the day before, and noticed how Chu Lingxuan involuntarily looked at Chen Feng and smiled whenever she was around, he realized he didn’t stand a chance.

Ever since the children’s mother passed away, his mother had been urging him to find a stepmother for the children, but he was reluctant, fearing that a stepmother might not treat the children well.

Upon seeing Chen Feng, he was first surprised by her intelligence, beauty, and unique charm. He then noticed her kindness and genuine love for the children, as well as their affection for her. He felt that he had finally found a girl who pleased his heart and would be good to his children.

When in the capital, he often found himself thinking of Chen Feng. Just the thought of her could dispel any fatigue. He had thought that this trip back home would bring him a lifelong companion, but to his surprise, before that beautiful possibility could even begin, it had already come to an end…

Unaware of Yang Mingyuan’s sense of loss, Chen Feng returned and opened all the bird cages. As she watched the Golden Swallow soar into the sky, all the birds followed suit, circling and chirping in the air.