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At the Jade Qilin Jewelry Store, Chen Shiying’s gifted headdress set should be valued between three hundred to five hundred taels of silver. But that was the buying price, if sold, it certainly wouldn’t fetch that amount, and might need to be reduced to a hundred and eighty taels.
This added up to more than a thousand taels. Adding the six hundred taels she had previously given to Zeng Shuang, and the six hundred taels from Tangyuan, would total to over two thousand taels of silver. After setting aside around two hundred taels for liquidity, the remaining silver would be enough to buy a shop and cover renovation costs.
The next day, Chen Feng discussed the trip to Dingzhou with Steward Luo. She planned to take Dabao, as she was worried about him being away from her. Dingzhou was about fifty miles away, and within a hundred miles, it should be relatively safe to take Dabao, although she would need to limit his public appearances.
But what about Chu Hanyan?
Steward Luo mentioned that their master would return to Dingzhou in a few days, and he would take Chu Hanyan along, giving them a few days to spend together.
After discussing, they planned their departure from the next day. Four days later, on the fifteenth of April, they would leave for Dingzhou, aiming to return before the twentieth of April, as Dabao couldn’t be absent for too long.
Upon hearing this, Mrs. Wang felt concerned about Chen Feng and wanted to accompany her. However, she was worried about leaving Chen Ming and Chen Lu at home. Chen Feng reassured her, “Mother, there’s no need to worry about me. In Dingzhou, we have Third Uncle’s family, as well as Chu Mansion and Steward Luo. We’ll be fine.”
On the morning of April 14th, Yang siblings were about to leave, and they were crying uncontrollably. Chen Feng assured them repeatedly, promising to reunite with them in the near future. Moreover, they had been away for a long time, and she was sure their grandmother must be feeling very lonely. Reluctantly, the children wiped away their tears and were helped onto the carriage. They also took back a lot of food and the two sets of clothes made for them under Chen Feng’s supervision.
That evening, Chen Feng took the two children, Zhui Feng, Qiqi, and Gray to Luyuan for dinner. The Golden Swallow was still grieving in the space.
Chen Ming also invited the main branch, Steward Luo’s family, and Hu Laowu.
Everyone from the main branch, except for Mrs. Hu, attended. This was the first time Chen Feng had seen Chen Ye since they returned from Dingzhou. Chen Ye had lost weight and claimed that his health was not a major issue, but he found it difficult to do strenuous activities.
Chen Jue had also become more obedient, even helping out in the kitchen. However, she still looked at Chen Feng with an air of resentment, probably because she felt that the silly girl she had once looked down upon and often bullied had surpassed her in life. Chen Feng pretended not to notice, there was no need to argue with an immature young girl.
The head of the main branch brought two packets of sweets from the county, along with a silk robe made for Chen Shi.
Currently, Chen Ye and Mrs. Hu were in poor health, so Chen Gui and Mrs. Gao were taking charge. They had prepared some decent gifts.
Chen Ming and Mrs. Wang also sent some snacks and sweets for the third branch, along with two pieces of silk. Chen Feng had prepared several pieces of silk and a few sets of study materials.
The next day, at dawn, Chen Feng and a few others, including Mrs. Zeng, Autumn, Summer, and Xue Dagui, boarded the carriage with Zhui Feng, Qiqi, and Gray.
The journey was fast, and if they didn’t encounter any unforeseen events on the road, they should reach Dingzhou Prefecture by the early afternoon. After arriving in Dingzhou, Chu Hanyan and the others would return to Chu Mansion, and Chen Feng, Dabao, Autumn, and Chu Dagui would stay at Chen Shi’s house. Mrs. Zeng and her daughter, Summer would stay at their own home at night, and visit Chen Shi’s house during the day.
Before boarding the carriage, Steward Luo advised Chen Feng, “Miss Chen, when you get to Dingzhou, just stay at Chu Mansion. There are several empty courtyards in the mansion, which will make it convenient for young miss to look after you and your son.”
Chen Feng didn’t agree. Chu Mansion had only one male master and one young miss, so it wasn’t appropriate for a single young lady to stay there.
She would be quite busy during her stay in Dingzhou and wouldn’t be able to visit Chu Mansion often. Once she was done with her affairs, they would all return home together.
A few days earlier, she had already explained to Chu Hanyan that the time would pass quickly, and besides, she would have Luo Mei during the day and her father at night. She had also made many promises, such as cooking delicious food for her, making her new clothes, and creating two swallow-themed dolls for her to play with. Only after making these promises did the little girl reluctantly agree.
Chen Feng, accompanied by the two children and Mama Song, boarded a carriage. Zhui Feng was also present. Qiqi and Gray alternated between playing in the carriage and flying in the sky.
There was constant laughter in the carriage, and the journey was relatively smooth. By early afternoon, they arrived at the gates of Dingzhou Prefecture. However, there was a long queue outside the gates.
After surveying the area near the gates, Luo Xiao returned, saying that it seemed there was some important figure in Dingzhou these days, and everyone entering and leaving the city was being inspected. He added that he knew the officers in charge of the inspections, and they could proceed directly to the gates.
Several carriages and a dozen or so horses bypassed the long queue and arrived at the city gates, where the guards symbolically lifted the curtain to have a look and then let them through.
After entering the city gates and traveling a short distance, Chen Feng comforted Chu Hanyan and ignored the tears in her eyes. She then disembarked from the carriage with Dabao, Zhui Feng, Qiqi, and Gray to transfer to another carriage. At this point, they would be going their separate ways, one heading east and the other north.
Chen Shi had already moved to a new house. Following the address, the carriage traveled for about forty-five minutes before arriving. This seemed to be a middle-class place, with green-brick houses, some with two courtyards, and others with just one.
Chen Shi had been informed of their arrival today, and Mrs. Zhang and Chen Aman had been waiting at home. Delighted to see them, they welcomed them into the courtyard.
It was a one-courtyard house, the rooms were new and fairly spacious, and there was a jujube tree in the yard, along with some bougainvillea and orchids, which looked quite beautiful.
Chen Feng and her son stayed in the north room of the west wing, which was tidy and newly cleaned, with fresh bedding and a faint scent of incense. Autumn stayed in the north ear room, and Xue Dagui in the south ear room.
Chen Feng smiled and said, “Uncle and Aunt are so thoughtful.”
Mrs. Zhang smiled and said, “It’s all thanks to you. Auntie has always remembered your kindness…”
It turned out that because Chen Yu had gone to the capital, and Chen Shi was busy with the restaurant, he no longer had time to continue the business of making braised skewers. So, he exchanged the recipe and the name “Chen San Braised Skewers” for a hundred taels of silver and sold a thirty percent share. He also added fifty taels of silver to purchase this quadrangle courtyard.
He truly was a shrewd person. Chen Feng couldn’t help but smile.
Mrs. Zhang had already prepared the meal, knowing that the Chu Mansion would send a carriage and guards to escort Chen Feng, and had also prepared meals for those accompanying her.
The meals for Chen Feng and her son were placed in the west wing hall, and a small table was set for Mrs. Zeng, her daughter, and Autumn. Another bowl of food was placed on the ground for Zhui Feng, Qiqi, and Gray. Xue Dagui and the four men from Chu Mansion had their table set in the east wing hall, and wine was also prepared for them.
Chen Shi and Mrs. Zhang had indeed made preparations, and everything was well arranged.