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Chen Ming smiled and continued, “Although I don’t know anything, I can learn. A’Feng is right, as long as I’m willing to learn, there’s nothing I can’t master. In the future, I want to learn how to manage the fields. Even though our fields are leased to others for cultivation, I won’t fear being deceived once I’ve learned. I also want to learn how to do business, it’s more profitable than farming, and once we have more money, I’ll invest some in business…” As he spoke, his eyes lit up, displaying an ambitious and resolute look.
Even though he spoke in a somewhat subdued manner, his lofty aspirations still influenced Mrs. Wang and Chen Feng, both of whom smiled, filled with confidence about the future.
Chen Feng praised, “Dad, after all, you are a scholar, always thinking ahead. With your planning, in the future, we won’t just be landlords, we’ll also become wealthy landowners.”
This remark elicited laughter from the group.
After the discussion, Chen Feng returned to her own courtyard, tidied up her house, and then went outside to call back a chicken that had been foraging. She locked it up in the backyard and fed it some coarse rice along with the birds in the cage.
She changed her clothes and sat on the kang to rest. Listening to the chirping of the two chatterers outside the window and looking at the simple furnishings around her, she glanced out the window and saw the faint silhouette of the Honglin Mountain, with the setting sun sliding down to the mountain peak, she felt that her own home was still the best.
Before long, Dabao came in with a pout on his face.
Seeing his serious expression, Chen Feng asked, “What’s wrong, did Mrs. Hu or Chen Jue give you a hard time?”
Dabao shook his head and said gloomily, “No, I went directly to Grandpa Ye in the field.”
Chen Feng asked, “Then why are you not happy?”
Dabao climbed onto Chen Feng’s lap, buried his head in her chest, and with a pout, said, “Mom, Grandpa Ye told me that Chen Shiying has become a magistrate, a high-ranking official, even higher than the county magistrate. Our village’s Gao Lizheng, all of us, will be under his jurisdiction.”
Finally, the news has arrived.
Chen Feng said, “Regardless of whether Mr. Chen has become a magistrate or even a prime minister, it has nothing to do with us common folk. Let’s live our lives and not worry about all that.”
Dabao’s eyebrows furrowed, twisting his chubby little finger, “Some people even asked me if Grandma cried, regretted, if Grandpa was angry, or if he hit Grandma… How could they say Grandma was driven out because she was not virtuous? They are so annoying.”
What did it mean to be driven out for lack of virtue in the Chen family? Chen Dabao didn’t quite understand, and Chen Feng didn’t know the specifics of the situation.
She sighed and said, “Rumors spread like wildfire, we can’t stop them, nor can we explain everything. The more we try to explain, the more others will talk. Let’s not pay attention to them. Hopefully, with time, things will settle down.”
After hearing a quiet “Hmm” from Dabao, Chen Feng added softly, “Remember, don’t say these things in front of Grandma and Grandpa.”
“Oh, I’m not that silly.” Dabao replied. Then he asked, “With such a high-ranking official, will he put Grandma in jail? If that happens, I’ll ask Uncle Chu for help.”
Chen Feng frowned, “Of course not. Grandma hasn’t done anything wrong, and she is not lacking in virtue. Don’t listen to those people’s nonsense.”
However, in a rural community with no entertainment, gossip could be quite formidable.
Since the news about Chen Shiying had spread throughout the village and had become so scandalous, Chen Ming must have known about it. But he didn’t show any change, remaining as gentle towards Mrs. Wang and Chen Feng as before. He expressed his determination to uplift the family and ensure a good life for his wife and children. Whether he could achieve this or not, his mindset had earned Chen Feng’s deep respect.
This man is truly admirable, much better compared to that pseudo-gentleman, Mr. Chen.
However, it would be better if Chen Ming discussed this matter with Mrs. Wang. After all, it would be distressing and embarrassing to bring up the old wound. Chen Ming’s gentle nature and his kindness towards Mrs. Wang would help console her.
However, the distance between Xiangluo Village and Zhaojia Village was less than six miles. If someone from the village had seen Chen Shiying, their lineage might be suspected.
Despite these suspicions, they could simply deny any association, as she and Mrs. Wang did not recognize the Chen family. The Chen family most likely wouldn’t acknowledge her either. Rural people in ancient times feared officials, and even if they had suspicions, they wouldn’t dare to make baseless claims that could tarnish the reputation of a high-ranking official, unless they were foolish.
The Mother and son chatted for a while before the old courtyard became lively with the arrival of Old Lady Chen, Chen Ye, Mrs. Hu, Chen Gui, and Chen Dahua.
Chen Feng and her son went to the old courtyard, allowing Dabao and Chen Dahua to play with Zhui Feng inside. Chen Feng went to the kitchen to help Mrs. Wang.
As previously agreed, since the travelers had a tiring journey, they decided not to make anything elaborate. They took out the small pot of side dishes that Chen Shi had sent, keeping half for the main house and using the other half to prepare a dish of egg noodles with leek and chicken gravy.
In the kitchen, Chen Feng noticed that both Grandma Chen and Mrs. Hu were conversing with Mrs. Wang, and their expressions seemed rather strained.
Mrs. Hu’s eyes betrayed her curiosity. She glanced at Old Lady Chen, opened her mouth to say something, but then hesitated. She thought to herself, “A second-hand woman, even if she’s gentle and capable, it doesn’t matter. People gossip about her and have given Chen Ming a cuckold’s name.”
Grandma Chen’s expression darkened as she looked at Mrs. Wang and then at Chen Feng. She was both angry at the recent gossip about Mrs. Wang in the village, which indirectly implicated her son, and also somewhat wary of Chen Feng, after all, she was the daughter of a high-ranking official.
If this girl knew about her wealthy father, would she run off to Mr. Chen’s family to reclaim her ancestry? After raising her with such difficulty and seeing her so capable, if she were to leave, her son would suffer a great loss. She must make it clear to her son that she should not be made aware of her lineage, and she also needed to give Mrs. Wang a piece of her mind…
Mrs. Wang sensed that these two seemed to have some issue with her and her daughter, but she had no idea why. Puzzled, she could only work with a doubtful expression.
Chen Feng suspected that they were reacting this way because of Chen Shiying’s situation, and she was extremely displeased. Chen Shiying’s appointment as a magistrate in Dingzhou had been decided by the emperor. It had nothing to do with Mrs. Wang or herself. Besides, Mrs. Wang had never deceived anyone. She had served as a child bride for Chen Shiying. This was well-known not only to the Chen family but also to the villagers.
Why were they making this kind of face?
Chen Feng didn’t want to confront the Old Lady but had no qualms about being straightforward with Mrs. Hu. She was no longer afraid that Hu Laowu would plot against Dabao. Therefore, she no longer needed to be wary of Mrs. Hu as she had been before.
She said to Grandma Chen, “Grandma, my mother has already conveyed to my Third Uncle that you and uncle Ye want him and his family to come back and stay for a while during the New Year. But my Third Uncle…” She deliberately glanced at Mrs. Hu, forced a laugh, and then swallowed the rest of her words.