Chapter 26: Low Standards Men

Chen Feng concealed her needle and thread while chatting with two young boys and reading a book. Soon after, Grandma Chen arrived, looking visibly upset. She had intended to scold Mrs Wang but, not finding her, she took her son to the western room.

In a low voice, she told Chen Ming, “I’m feeling unwell, I didn’t sleep well last night.”

Chen Ming, surprised, asked, “What’s wrong, Mom? Who made you angry?”

Grandma Chen fumed, “It’s that silly girl.”

“How did A’Feng provoke you?” Chen Ming asked in shock.

Grandma Chen said, “A’Feng has recovered from her illness, and she’s such a good looking person. If she hadn’t become a woman with her own household, she could have married into a wealthy family, and you would have received a good dowry. But she did become a woman with her own household, and anyone who wants to marry her now is poor, unable to pay. You’ve raised her for fifteen years, paid for her medical treatment, and even helped her have a son, spending a considerable amount. But as she grew up, she not only failed to show gratitude as a daughter but also took away A’Lu’s one-acre field to establish her own household. Oh, my A’Lu, with his lame leg, has also lost his land. What a loss.”

Chen Ming quickly reassured her, “Mom, A’Feng and Dabao are both good-hearted children, they won’t forget the Chen family’s kindness. Besides, everyone knows A’Feng used to be mentally disabled. Which respectable family would be willing to pay so much to marry her?”

“It’s not certain. According to Hu, a wealthy family from town inquired about A’Feng, but when they found out she had established her own household, they changed their minds,” Grandma Chen said angrily.

It turned out that Hu had a hand in this, no wonder Grandma Chen was so upset.

Chen Ming didn’t have a good impression of Hu, but she was his sister-in-law, so he couldn’t speak openly. However, if she instigated Grandma Chen to scold A’Feng, he would have to speak up.

He said, “Mom, you’ve been with your daughter-in-law for so many years. Can you trust everything she says? If there really were such a good family, wealthy and from town, wanting to marry A’Feng, not only would she not tell you, but she would also find ways to interfere, secretly helping A’Jue argue her case.”

Chen Ming’s words weren’t malicious, this was indeed something Hu would do.

Grandma Chen thought about it and realized that Hu was that kind of person. She had fallen into her trap when she got agitated. Still, she stubbornly said, “I know Hu’s intentions aren’t good, but you and A’Lu have suffered. You raised that girl for over ten years, and A’Lu lost an acre of land because of her.”

Chen Ming smiled and got up, bringing a beautifully made needlework basket from the eastern room, and asked, “Mom, do you like this needlework basket?”

It was a square needlework basket with a delicate, pale white fabric inside, adorned with colorful little flowers and green grass.

Grandma Chen exclaimed, “Is this a needlework basket? Oh, dear, I’ve lived for so many years, and it’s the first time I’ve seen such an exquisite and beautiful needlework basket.”

Chen Ming chuckled, “This needlework basket was made by A’Feng after she recovered from her illness. She said she will make more to sell at Lingyin Temple to save money for A’Lu’s leg treatment.”

Hearing this, Grandma Chen felt relieved. She had heard from Chen Shi, the third son, that there was a prestigious bone clinic in the capital city, but the consultation fees were too high for ordinary people to afford. It catered to wealthy families, even attracting many affluent individuals from the capital city.

If A’Lu’s lame leg could be healed, one of her greatest worry in life would be resolved.

“She does have a conscience,” Grandma Chen said, then returned the needlework basket to Chen Ming and said, “Quickly hide this away, don’t let anyone see it, especially Hu. I’ll also help make more to sell and raise money for A’Lu’s treatment.”

Chen Ming smiled and said, “Mom, you don’t need to help. It’s slow for me to weave the basket, A’Feng can sew the fabric herself.” He didn’t dare to say it was embroidered by Wang, or his mother would scold her.

Grandma Chen asked again, “Once A’Feng is well, they won’t continue to burden your family, will they?”

Chen Ming nodded, “If A’Feng’s illness is completely cured, they definitely won’t burden us anymore. She also said that once she earns money, she will make sure we live well, and she’ll respect us like her parents. She even said she knows you and the eldest brother have been good to her and Dabao and wants to respect you both. Mom, get ready to enjoy life, once A’Feng is well, she’ll be very capable.”

Grandma Chen felt even happier upon hearing this.

As Grandma Chen and Chen Ming chatted, they were unaware that a third party was eavesdropping outside.

Chen Dabao went back to the eastern room and told Chen Feng and Chen Lu what he had overheard. Chen Feng felt a moment of fear, but thankfully, she had established her own household first, so others couldn’t control her marriage.

Chen Feng had already planned out her life in this lifetime.

If she could meet a man who genuinely treated her well, she would marry—no, she should say, she would allow him to marry her. After all, it wasn’t easy for a woman to live with a child in ancient times, especially if she was too outstanding in appearance, surely, there would be men with ill intentions. Furthermore, she had felt lonely in her past life, always wanting to have more children, especially a daughter. That wish was never fulfilled in her past life, and she hoped it would be in this one.

If she couldn’t find a good man, she wouldn’t marry for the rest of her life. No matter how difficult it would be, she wouldn’t marry. After all, she already had a son and kind parents and a kind-hearted younger brother.

In this lifetime, Chen Feng was much more practical than in her previous one. Her ideal man in her mind was far from being a tall, rich, and handsome figure.

In summary, she had four criteria, which she called the “Four Goods” for men in ancient times.

First, he should be reasonably good-looking, with regular features and a complete body, preferably over 1.7 meters tall. If not, over 1.65 meters would do. The height requirement wasn’t for aesthetic reasons but for considering physical labor and combat capabilities, as she and Dabao were weak and small.

Second, he should be caring towards his wife and children, with a mild temperament, treat her and Dabao well, allow her to care for her maternal family, and not be the kind to resort to violence against women and children or be overly obedient to his own parents.

Third, he should have decent character, abide by the law, have no bad habits, be self-reliant, and not be lazy or plan to live off others for life.

Fourth, he should be clean, brushing his teeth, washing his face and feet daily, and bathing at least every few days. She couldn’t tolerate a man with plaque-covered teeth or body odor, no matter how good he was.

She later learned that in this countryside world, these minimal “Four Goods” made a man a rare and outstanding catch, something she couldn’t easily find as a woman waiting to be married. Of course, that’s a story for another time.

Thinking that Grandma Chen couldn’t control her marriage, Chen Feng felt secretly delighted. From then on, whether she would marry or not, she would see if she could find a man who met the minimum “Four Goods” standards.