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Chen Ye was initially happy, but when Mrs. Hu once again began openly asking for things, he blushed and scolded her, “You, woman, I told you not to come, but you insisted on following. You’re embarrassing me. If you keep it up, I’ll give you a good beating.”
Chen Ming, with a red face, hurriedly explained, “Sister-in-law, it’s not our household that’s buying servants, it’s A’Feng’s household. We don’t have any plans to buy servants at the moment.”
Looking at Chen Ye and grandma Chen, Chen Feng said, “Grandma, Uncle, I’m designing clothes and accessories for the embroidery shop run by the Chu family. Sometimes, I need skilled help. So, how about this? If I design something, I’ll have cousin’s wife come over to work at my place and I’ll pay her. But on one condition, whatever she makes can’t be shared with others or used for herself. It must remain confidential.”
Having money now, she couldn’t refuse to help the first household, especially since they had helped her family at crucial times, especially Chen Ming. However, Chen Feng didn’t want to “give,” and she certainly didn’t want to be forced by Mrs. Hu. If she gave in now, it might become a habit, and it could cause problems for Chen Ming in the future.
She thought of a way to let the first household earn their own money. Mrs. Wang would handle the complicated work and high-skilled tasks, while Mrs. Gao would handle simpler tasks. Originally, she wanted to involve Chen Lan, but considering she was about to get married, she was probably busy with her own preparations, so she didn’t ask her.
After getting to know Mrs. Gao, Chen Feng felt more at ease. She was steady and didn’t have any ulterior motives. Although Chen Gui was not very talkative, he was a sensible person.
Grandma Chen and Chen Ye were delighted to hear this. Mrs. Gao used to work at an embroidery shop in the county, and her earnings each month supported a large family. If Mrs. Gao worked at the city’s embroidery shop, she could earn even more. They assured Chen Feng that Gao was skilled and trustworthy.
Although Hu was dissatisfied, seeing her husband and mother-in-law happy, she dared not say another word.
Chen Ye then said to Mrs. Hu, “In the future, while daughter-in-law earns money, and A’Lan is about to get married, you let A’Jue to help with more household chores.”
At noon, the three of them also ate at the second branch house, and Chen Ye and Chen Ming had a few drinks.
Before they finished their meal, Luo Xiao hurriedly arrived at Chen’s house. He arrived panting and sweating, and said to Chen Feng, “Ms. Feng, quickly go and see young miss. Today, when she didn’t see you at Tangyuan, she cried and kept calling out for her ‘auntie’. Mama Song thought she could be comforted, but who knew she cried all morning and didn’t even eat lunch.”
Chen Feng was shocked, “She still hasn’t had lunch?”
“She hasn’t. Not only has she not had lunch, but she hasn’t even taken a sip of water.” Luo Yuan said, feeling distressed.
Having heard this, Chen Feng quickly set down her chopsticks and followed Luo Xiao to Tangyuan. Dabao wanted to come, but Chen Feng didn’t allow it. The little girl had become inseparable from her, and she couldn’t risk further separating her from Dabao.
Upon arriving at the Serene Courtyard, the little girl was still sobbing in Mama Song’s arms, her eyes red and swollen, looking utterly pitiful.
Seeing her like this, Chen Feng’s eyes welled up too as she took her in her arms, comforting her, “What’s wrong, my dear?”
The little girl choked out, “Auntie… Dabao… down south… looking for Golden Treasure.”
After not seeing her and Dabao for a day, the little girl’s cleverness had been triggered, and she had guessed that they had gone down south to find Golden Treasure.
Chen Feng reassured her, “Auntie and Dabao haven’t gone down south. We wouldn’t leave you, we wouldn’t go anywhere.” After comforting her for a while and seeing her mood improve, she gave her some sweet water made with fruit dew before having the meal brought in.
Chu Hanyan sat on Chen Feng’s lap, and Mama Song fed her the meal.
Normally, after dinner, the little girl would play with her large swallow doll and then sleep with Mama Song. However, today she clung to Chen Feng, afraid that she would leave again.
Chen Feng had no choice but to carry her to the bedroom and said, “Sweetie, lie down and listen to Auntie sing ‘Little Swallow’s song.'”
Chu Hanyan listened and relaxed her hands, which were holding onto Chen Feng’s neck.
Chen Feng laid her down and placed the large swallow doll in her arms, then began to sing. This time, she sang the cheerful children’s song slowly, using it as a lullaby.
When any song is slowed down, it sounds mellower, and when sung in her slightly lower voice, it becomes even more melodious, lingering in the air.
“Little swallow, dressed in floral attire, every spring, you come here. I ask the swallow why it comes, the swallow says, “The spring here is the most beautiful.” Little swallow, let me tell you, now it’s even more beautiful here, little Yan has grown taller,she thinks of you every day, welcome to stay here for a long time.”
Chen Feng sang it repeatedly, and when she reached “Little Yan,” she smiled and lightly tapped the little girl’s upturned nose with her index finger. This made the little girl uncontrollably happy, and she began to hum along with Chen Feng, albeit mostly off-key, but occasionally hitting the right notes.
She sang the song so many times that even Chen Feng lost count. Gradually, Chu Hanyan’s voice grew weaker and weaker, until it was replaced by the sound of her gentle breathing.
Seeing the little girl asleep, Chen Feng carefully covered her with the quilt, then tiptoed out of the bedroom.
As she stepped out, she unexpectedly found Chu Lingxuan and Steward Luo standing in the hall, peering into the bedroom.
Chu Lingxuan hadn’t expected to hear such a unique and pleasant melody, with such simple and popular lyrics, along with the slightly low but incredibly beautiful voice… He could sense that the lyrics of this song contained endless love and tenderness for Little Yan.
He had been immersed in the beautiful and melodious song and hadn’t expected Chen Feng to suddenly come out. He felt a little awkward, lowered his head, and coughed lightly into his fist.
Chen Feng paused, then nodded at him and whispered, “Lord Chu, you’re back.”
Chu Lingxuan nodded and whispered back, “I’ve heard from Uncle Luo about how you’ve been guiding little Yan these past few days. You’re doing a great job, and I appreciate your hard work.” He added with a smile, “Yes, the song you sang just now was very pleasant. I never expected little Yan to listen and even hum along.”
Chen Feng smiled and replied, “I’ve always felt that young miss is a bright child. It’s just that she seems to have been confined to her own world for so long, which makes her unaccustomed, or even unwilling, to step out of her world or interact with others. That’s why she seems different from others. Perhaps she believes her world is better, or it’s a form of self-protection.”
Chu Lingxuan felt a pang of sadness and sighed, “I’ve let little Yan down. I’ve rarely been by her side.” Then he asked, “Do you think little Yan is a clever child?”
Chen Feng earnestly replied, “Certainly, at least much smarter than I used to be.” She didn’t shy away from acknowledging the previous owner’s shortcomings, as she had seen that side of her as well.