Chapter 27: Going Out

Chen Feng, thinking of Grandma Chen’s grievances for A’Lu, hugged him and said, “A’Lu, I’m sorry. Sister and Dabao took away an acre of your land.”

A’Lu pouted and said, “I don’t like what sister said. You are my sister, and Dabao is my nephew. I should take care of you both. Don’t worry, as soon as I become successful, I’ll earn money to support you and even build a big house for you.”

He was such a good child.

Chen Feng was deeply moved, squeezing his arm and saying, “Okay, sister will wait for the day when little brother becomes successful.”

Mrs Wang returned and made a bowl of winter melon meatball soup for Chen Ming and Grandma Chen. Grandma Chen didn’t eat, saying she would leave the meatball soup for Chen Ming to have at night.

The next day, the rain finally stopped, and the sun shone brightly. The boundless sky was adorned with a few strands of white clouds, serene and distant.

Mrs Wang went to the county town to buy medicine for Chen Ming. After the two children had read for an hour, Dabao wanted to go out and show off his new clothes, and he wanted to take his little uncle with him. But Lu didn’t want to go, Chen Ming had also prepared a few small baskets, and he wanted to help tidy up the exposed grass and help Chen Ming.

Dabao felt torn between feeling that he should work at home and wanting to go out to show off.

Chen Feng smiled and said, “Mom wants to go to the vegetable garden to weed and pick some vegetables to bring back. Dabao, will you take Mom there, okay?”

Dabao’s eyes lit up, and he immediately said, “Dabao isn’t going out to play, but to work in the vegetable garden with Mom.” He then reached for some dirt from the stove and seemed like he wanted to smudge his mother’s face.

Chen Feng shook her head and smiled, “Mom’s better now, there’s no need to smudge my face anymore.”

She had inquired about the village’s situation and found that the local customs were relatively simple, and the vast majority of villagers were law-abiding citizens. Although there were a few troublemakers, they didn’t dare to do anything bad even in broad daylight.

Moreover, her legs were now quite agile. Quarreling, running away, and even fighting were no problem for her.

Chen Ming was still a bit worried, but Chen Feng reassured him, saying, “Now that I’m better, I have to face life on my own. If I don’t even dare to leave the house, how will I establish my own household in the future?”

Chen Ming thought this reasoning made sense and didn’t stop her anymore.

Chen Feng wore a dark green summer shirt, a blue skirt, and a neat “meatball” hairstyle. She had a clean and fresh look on her face, with a hint of a smile. She carried a vegetable basket on her arm, with a small iron shovel inside. This small iron shovel could be used for weeding and also as a weapon.

The mother and son walked eastward. People greeted Dabao and praised his new clothes, but their eyes couldn’t help but sneak glances at Chen Feng, filled with curiosity and inquiry.

At this moment, Chen Feng looked neat and tidy, no longer with a floral face or a vacant expression in her eyes. Her lips held a smile, and she exuded a unique charm. There couldn’t be a prettier young lady for miles around. What was more, she had a distinctive grace, unlike the local women. Although everyone knew Chen Feng had recovered from her illness, they were still quite surprised to see such a lovely and fresh-looking young lady.

People who greeted Chen Feng would be politely addressed by her, and those who didn’t would receive a friendly smile. This was her first time revealing her true self, wanting to leave a good impression on others as she intended to stay here for the long term.

Under the old locust tree at the village entrance, a few older women were chatting. They too were taken aback upon seeing Chen Feng.

Their eyes blatantly stared at Chen Feng, but their conversation was directed towards Dabao, “Dabao, taking your mother out to play?”

Knowing that these women were gossips, Dabao politely greeted them, “Yes, my mother has recovered, I’m taking her to our vegetable garden to weed and pick some vegetables.” He then pulled Chen Feng towards the village outskirts.

The women then began to chatter amongst themselves.

“Wow, I didn’t expect silly A’Feng to grow up to be so beautiful.”

“She is beautiful, but her eyes are a bit vacant, and her voice isn’t pleasant, too rough, like a man’s.”

“It is a bit rough, but it’s slow and easy-going, which indicates a good temperament.”

“Even if she’s not slow anymore, her reactions can’t possibly be as quick as a normal person’s. Can she really change?”

…

Chen Dabao pouted, looking displeased, “Mom, those people are so annoying.”

Chen Feng understood, everyone gossiped behind others’ backs, especially these talkative village women. She smiled and comforted Dabao, “Those are elderly village women, we shouldn’t bother with them.”

Just as they left the village entrance, they saw a graceful woman in her twenties walking towards them with a basin. She had just finished washing clothes in the stream outside the village.

“Aunt Wu.” Chen Dabao called out from a distance with familiarity. This woman was Aunt Wu, the wife of Changgen and the mother of Shitou, who was Dabao’s good friend. She occasionally visited Mrs Wang to seek advice on embroidery. She also had another identity – she was the sister of Chen Jue’s admirer, Wu Chanshen.

“Wow, Dabao, you’re wearing new clothes today, looking really handsome.” Wu smiled and then turned to Chen Feng, “Chen Feng, going out for a walk?”

She was one of the most friendly people to speak to, aside from her family and Chen Gui. Although there was curiosity in her eyes, there was no malice. Chen Feng had a good impression of her and replied, “Yes, I’m going to the vegetable garden with Dabao.”

Wu smiled again, “Dabao and Shitou play together well. Chen Feng, feel free to come to my house for a visit when you’re free.”

“Okay.” Chen Feng nodded and smiled.

Their vegetable plot was not far from the village entrance, covering about two acres, enclosed by a fence and planted with various vegetables such as Chinese cabbage, cucumbers, leeks, winter melons, and eggplants.

Adjacent to their vegetable plot were several plots belonging to other families, each separated by fences. In many households, if the backyard was large, they would cultivate vegetables there. However, since the Chen family’s courtyard was too small, they had to plant outside.

Standing in the vegetable garden and looking around, Chen Feng could see the village’s east end not far to the south and could also see their own courtyard. To the north, west, and east were vast fields, mostly dry land to the north and west, and paddy fields to the east, where the rice seedlings had grown to nearly half a meter in height.

Looking to the east, a large mansion nestled amid the green trees, its long white walls and blue tiles were particularly eye-catching.

Chen Feng pointed to that place and asked, “What’s that place?”

Chen Dabao said, “I heard that’s the house of a high-ranking official, and occasionally important people stay there. Mom, don’t go there, if you offend important people, you’ll get in trouble.” He still had lingering fears after his mother was mistreated by wicked people in the county town.