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Chen Feng led Autumn and Summer to the kitchen to work, leaving only the Chu family and Dabao in the room.
Seeing Chu Lingxuan’s excited demeanor, old Marquis Chu already had an inkling. Once they were alone, he asked in a low voice, “Is it…?”
Chu Lingxuan nodded, sat down, and whispered to him, “He can stand up.”
Old Marquis’s eyes welled up, murmuring, “Standing up means walking is not far off. After all these years, I never imagined… truly never imagined…”
“Indeed.” Chu Lingxuan agreed, then turned to Dabao, who was staring blankly at another table, and said, “Today, Grandfather and Father are happy. Dabao is becoming a young man and should join us for some drinks to celebrate.”
Dabao was thrilled to be able to drink like a man and gestured excitedly, then reminded his father, “Father, you’ve been ignoring Sister. She’s been trying to get your attention for so long, and you haven’t responded.”
Chu Hanyan, with tears in her eyes, looked at Chu Lingxuan. Hearing Dabao’s words made her even more upset, and she burst into tears, feeling neglected.
Quickly, Chu Lingxuan got up to pick up his daughter, saying with a smile, “Father was so happy today, he got caught up talking to Grandfather. He neglected his daughter, so Father apologizes.”
Chu Lingzhi, feeling anxious, exclaimed, “If Dabao is a young man who can drink, then what about me?”
Old Marquis Chu laughed heartily and replied, “Of course, you’re also a young man who can drink.”
However, when Chu Lingxuan asked Chu Huai to fetch rice wine from the kitchen, Chu Lingzhi’s mouth twisted in disappointment. After a while, it turned out to be rice wine!
Meanwhile, Chen Feng worked diligently in the kitchen, speculating that it might be related to the Ninth Prince. Since the venerable Master Wuzhi took the Green Swallow’s Nest in March, seven months had passed, and the Ninth Prince’s condition should have improved.
She later discovered why Master Wuzhi wanted to have a swallow nest, it turns out that it is for the Ninth Prince.
She was also pleased. If the Ninth Prince’s leg healed, the Chu family could plan for the future without waiting for Dabao to grow up and without him being on the front lines.
She fried, stewed, and cooked up eight dishes. Combined with the previous eight dishes, totaling sixteen, it symbolized harmony and auspiciousness.
Chen Feng untied her apron, placed the final dish, “Good Luck Ahead,” on a tray, and personally carried it to the dining room.
Dabao exclaimed loudly, “Mother, Father said I’m a young man now and let me drink.” He proudly lifted the half-bowl of rice wine in his hand.
Chen Feng nodded with a smile and explained that the dish, named “Good Luck Ahead” was similar to lion’s head meatballs, but with a spicier sauce due to the added chili peppers for a redder color, symbolizing good fortune. To ensure the children weren’t overwhelmed by the spice, she only allowed them to eat the center of the large meatballs. She wished she had red bell peppers – they would add color without the heat.
Chu Lingxuan encouraged Chen Feng to drink rice wine for enjoyment. Although Chen Feng longed for the blue wine they were drinking, reminiscent of her past tolerance for strong liquor, she knew it wasn’t suitable for women in this era.
Old Marquis Chu and Chu Lingxuan spent nearly an hour drinking, finishing a jug of wine. Chu Lingxuan supported the shaky old Marquis Chu, and the nanny led Chu Hanyan back to Tangyuan.
Under a bare willow tree, Chu Lingxuan paused, waved goodbye to Chen Feng and Dabao standing at the entrance of Fengyuan, then, urged by old Marquis Chu to walk and they turned towards Tangyuan.
Having not seen Chu Lingxuan for several days, Chen Feng hadn’t caught a glimpse of him by the end of winter. Occasionally, she would receive a letter expressing his longing.
During this time, Chen Feng received a letter from Chen Shi, informing her that Yang Mingyuan had personally proposed to the Chen family in Dingzhou, and the marriage was agreed upon, set for the following August. Additionally, Yang Mingyuan had sent a letter to Chen Feng, expressing his intention to marry her cousin, Chen Aman.
Delighted with the news, Chen Feng congratulated them through messengers. Chen Shi also sent letters to the main branch and Chen Ming, sharing the good news.
However, Mrs. Hu felt a sense of injustice, and even Chen Ye was sour. The daughters from the second and third households had found matches from prestigious families – one with a high-ranking official and the other with a wealthy merchant. But Chen Jue from their family had yet to find a match.
While others were interested in their family, they were unimpressed. And those they took an interest in didn’t reciprocate.
Chen Jue had set her sights on Hu Wui, the son of Hu Laowu, finding him handsome, wealthy, and currently working as a minor official in the county yamen.
Chen Ye and Mrs. Hu both felt that marrying within a familiar circle was excellent. Previously, they wouldn’t have had the confidence to propose a match with Hu Laowu as in-laws. However, the circumstances had changed – their family had wealth, and Hu Laowu sought to establish connections with Chen Ming and Tangyuan through them.
To their surprise, Hu Laowu found an excuse to decline…
It was the 29th of the Winter month, and a pig was being slaughtered at Luyuan. This specific day was chosen since Chen Lu and Dabao were off duty.
Early in the morning, not only did Dabao act as the host at Luyuan, but even Chu Lingzhi, old Marquis Chu, and the pets went to Luyuan to witness the event.
This marked Chen Ming’s first time slaughtering a pig for the New Year, and he was immensely excited. His reputation was prominent in the vicinity, with many villagers seeking his assistance for pig slaughter. Therefore, his family invited numerous guests, not just from Xiangluo Village but also from Shangshui Village and Guqiao Village. Fortunately, their house was large enough to accommodate everyone.
Hu Laowu and several landlords and village heads hurried over, not only to befriend Chen Ming but also knowing that old Marquis Chu and Steward Luo would likely dine at Luyuan.
Although Chen Feng wanted to join the festivities at Luyuan, Chu Hanyan was apprehensive about the crowds, so they both stayed back. Autumn was sent to call Chen Daya and Wu Xiaoqing (Shitou’s little sister) from the other side, along with Luo Mei, and the girls played in the West Wing.
Chen Feng tightly closed the doors and windows of the West Wing as the backyard of Luyuan was too noisy, with the distressing sounds of pigs and the excited shouts of men, fearing the commotion might frighten the girls.
At noon, Summer arrived from Luyuan carrying a food container filled with a large pot of pork dishes. Mrs. Zeng had prepared rice and a few side dishes. Chen Feng led the children to enjoy the meal with the pork dishes.
Summer chuckled, “Both pigs weighed over two hundred pounds each. The butcher said they were the fattest pigs around here.”
After trying a piece of blood sausage, Chu Hanyan wrinkled her nose and curiously remarked, “Auntie, Brother said the pork dishes are delicious and the best-tasting delicacy. Why don’t I feel the same?”
This was the first time Chu Hanyan questioned Chen Dabao’s words.
Chen Daya had already consumed several pieces of meat and, upon hearing Chu Hanyan’s comment, wiped her mouth and said, “The pork dishes are incredibly delicious.”
Wu Xiaoqing also agreed, “Yes, the pork dishes are delicious. My brother loves them the most. The day my grandfather slaughtered a pig, my brother was supposed to go to school but he doesn’t want, and he cried.”
Chen Feng prepared a dipping plate in the kitchen, allowing the girls to dip the meat and vegetables from the pork dishes, satisfying their tastes.