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Mrs. Wei smiled awkwardly and said, “The old marquis heard that the hot pot you make is delicious and wanted to have it for lunch today. But since it’s the second day of the Lunar New Year, it’s not appropriate to visit someone’s home. Could you please come to Tangyuan and make it there?”
She was hesitant to say that their Master had expressed a preference for the food Chen Feng made over what was made in their own kitchen and that both he and Chu Hanyan wanted to come to Luyuan for a meal, a suggestion that was discouraged by the old marquis. Today, they wanted to come again but were once more advised against it. The old marquis said there was no reason to visit someone else’s home on the first and second days of the Lunar New Year.
Chen Feng smiled and said, “It’s a bit late now. If the soup for the hot pot isn’t simmered properly, the fragrance won’t come out. How about I make a few dishes for your old marquis to enjoy at lunchtime, and then I’ll prepare the hot pot later when there’s more time?”
Mrs. Wei smiled back, “That would be even better. We servants are not very good at serving the master, and it’s causing you trouble.”
Chen Feng humbly said a few words and then went to the kitchen to get a large bunch of garlic chives and a small jar of “fine bran” before leaving with Mrs. Wei and the two housekeepers who had come with her.
As they walked a few steps, an old man appeared from behind a tree, blocking their way.
The old man’s eyes were cloudy. He looked at Chen Feng and asked, “You’re Feng, right?”
Chen Feng stared at him. The old man was probably in his fifties, wearing a Gray cotton robe and a hat with earflaps. The robe and hat were shiny and looked like they had been worn for many days. His face was wrinkled and bore a look of deep bitterness, bearing some resemblance to Mrs. Wang. She guessed who he was.
Chen Feng coldly asked, “Who are you? What are you doing outside my house?”
The old man grinned and said, “A’Feng, I’m your maternal grandfather. Since today is the second day of the Lunar New Year, I’ve come to take your mother and your family to my house for a meal.” His tone was particularly humble, indicating a man who couldn’t stand up for himself.
“Grandfather?” Chen Feng sneered and said, “I’ve never heard my mother mention my grandfather. I always thought he had already passed away. If he’s still alive, how could he allow my mother to be sold twice by her stepmother? How could he allow my little uncle to be sold when he was only six?”
The old man seemed to feel sorry, and tears welled up in his cloudy eyes. He wiped away his tears with his sleeve and said, “I couldn’t do anything. I… I can’t afford to offend that wretched woman, Ding. Besides, after your mother married your father, didn’t life get better and better? Even such a large courtyard was built. Maybe, when your little uncle left our poor family, his life would also get better…”
Chen Feng had no desire to continue the conversation and directly interrupted him, saying, “You don’t need to look for my mother. She and we won’t go to your house.” After a moment’s pause, she asked, “Where was my little uncle sold to?”
The old man stammered, “I don’t know. I asked Ding, but she didn’t tell me. She only said he was sold to the city to live a comfortable life.”
Overwhelmed with grief and indignation, Chen Feng raised her voice, “It was your son who was sold, not a pig or a chicken from your home. You have no concern about where he was sold? No intention to inquire or find out?”
Seeing the bewildered look on the old man’s face, Chen Feng shook her head and said, “Leave. I don’t want to talk to you because you’re not worthy. You’re also not allowed to disturb my mother, because you’re even more unsuitable.”
As her words fell, the two “bodyguards” glared at the old man, who was startled and quickly scurried away from them.
What kind of man and father was he? No wonder Mrs. Wang’s mother entrusted her young son to her seven-year-old daughter rather than leave him with this husband, even on her deathbed.
Thinking about the grandmother she never met, Chen Feng felt a tinge of sadness. To have raised Mrs. Wang to be so kind, capable, and intelligent, she must have been a smart and capable woman herself. How could she have married such a clueless, incompetent, and spineless man?
In ancient times, most couples would meet for the first time in the bridal chamber. Regardless of the husband’s character, what could a vulnerable woman do? She could only accept her fate.
As she watched the figure disappear into the fields, Chen Feng let out a sigh and said, “Let’s go.” Then, she headed towards Tangyuan.
Seeing the confusion in Mrs. Wei’s eyes, she continued, “Some people may think my actions are unfilial. But I cannot have even a shred of respect for that person because he is unworthy. He falsely assumes the role of a father.”
Mrs. Wei quickly said, “No, I understand you…”
Upon entering Tangyuan, they proceeded directly to the Serene Courtyard where Chu Hanyan resided. Mrs. Wei mentioned that the two masters had been spending their time here with the little girl, only sleeping at night. Today, they were also preparing the meal in the small kitchen at Serene Courtyard.
Even before entering, they could hear the hearty laughter of old marquis and the exuberant shouts of Qiqi and Gray.
Chen Feng looked perplexed. When had these two little ones come to their house?
As they stepped through the gate, they saw the three generations standing in the courtyard, watching Qiqi and Gray playing around.
Upon seeing Chen Feng, Chu Hanyan ran towards her like a joyful little swallow, calling out, “Auntie, Auntie, Hanyan miss…”
Qiqi and Gray didn’t move, but they also called out, “Auntie, Auntie.”
Chen Feng smiled and crouched down. She couldn’t hold the little girl because she had something in her hands, so she extended her arms and waited for Chu Hanyan to leap into her embrace. She said, “Auntie also misses little Yan very much.”
As the little girl’s face brushed against hers, Chen Feng stood up. The little girl held onto her skirt and exclaimed admiringly, “Auntie, so pretty.”
Chen Feng was wearing a peach-red rabbit fur-lined jacket with scattered flower patterns and a bright red pleated skirt embroidered with a phoenix tail flower pattern. Although she wasn’t wearing makeup, the red clothes highlighted her face, making her look as fresh and rosy as a peach blossom in March.
In response to the little girl’s words, Chen Feng smiled and said, “When is Auntie not pretty?”
It was meant as a joke, but the little girl didn’t know that. Her aunt had just posed another question to her. She thought about it very seriously but couldn’t come up with an answer. Pouting, she said, “Yeah, when… when is it? Hanyan… doesn’t know…”
The old marquis chuckled heartily and said, “Young lady, you’ve posed a tricky question there.” He then turned to Chu Hanyan and said, “Great-granddaughter, if you can’t remember, there’s no need to think about it. It just means that Ms. Chen is always pretty… well, good-looking.”
The old marquis’s words brought laughter to everyone in the courtyard, even Chu Lingxuan. He was somewhat perplexed. This girl had a thick skin, even if she was joking, she was publicly praising her own beauty. She appeared straightforward and genuine, without a hint of affectation or pretense.
However, he couldn’t deny that she was indeed very beautiful, with clear, bright eyes, snow-like skin, and an overall air of understated freshness…