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The women went to the side room and had just settled down when Chu Hanyan, holding hands with Dabao, rushed in energetically. Normally slow in her movements, speech, walking, and even eating compared to others, it was the first time Chu Hanyan’s guardians saw her running, her cheeks flushed with urgency.
Running up to Chen Feng, Chu Hanyan pouted and said, “Aunt, I miss you and Dabao so much.” Afterward, she snuggled into Chen Feng’s lap.
Dabao said, “Mother, I told my little sister that both of us miss her so much that we couldn’t eat, and she was moved to tears.” There were indeed a few occasions when Dabao thought that Chu Hanyan and his mother missed each other so much that they couldn’t eat, back when Chen Feng was still in Dingzhou Prefecture.
Chen Feng smiled, lifted the little girl onto her lap, and helped her adjust her hair, saying, “Yes, Aunt misses her little Yan dearly. Now that you’re back at Tangyuan, we can be together every day again.”
The little girl hummed and cooed playfully, holding onto Chen Feng’s neck.
Madam Lou exaggeratedly chuckled, “Oh, such a good relationship, even biological mother and daughter may not be as close.”
Abbess Liao Chen nodded in agreement, saying, “Yes, Yanyan is happy and healthy thanks to Ms. Feng. In my case, I can’t take care of her, and Xuan is busy every day, leaving Yanyan in a pitiful state… Maybe the Buddha bless her by meeting Ms. Feng.” She recalled the past and wiped away tears with a handkerchief.
Chu Hua quickly embraced her, comforting, “Mother, things are better now. Yanyan’s illness has improved, and Big Sister-in-law is about to enter the family. Our family will continue to prosper and thrive.”
Abbess Liao Chen clasped her hands together, saying, “May it be so.”
Madam Lou smiled and said, “Sister-in-law, it’s not ‘may it be so,’ it’s ‘it is so.’ Look at old Marquis Chu, he’s in better health, Xuan’s smiling more, and Yanyan is even more exceptional, intelligent, polite, healthy, and happy. Many young girls can’t compare.” She then playfully nudged her daughter Lou Ying and teased, “Are you being outshone by your cousin?”
Madam Lou indeed knew how to speak, making Abbess Liao Chen chuckle heartily, and Chen Feng witnessed her laughing so freely for the first time.
Abbess Liao Chen also expressed her gratitude to Mrs. Wang for raising such a good daughter.
The men dined in the main hall, while the women and children dined in the side room. With Abbess Liao Chen presiding, they enjoyed a vegetarian feast, and the men refrained from alcohol.
After the meal, Lou Ying tugged at Madam Lou’s sleeve, pleading, “Mother, I heard from Fifth Uncle that the Joy Garden (playground) in Fengyuan is very fun. I want to go and see.”
Madam Lou said, “It’s almost dark now, let’s wait until tomorrow.”
Lou Ying pouted, feeling reluctant, and went to find Master Lou in the main hall.
Old Marquis Chu, who was nearby, overheard and said, “Fengyuan is right next door. If the children want to play, let them. We have nothing urgent, so let’s all go and have a look.”
As soon as the old Marquis spoke, several boys dashed forward. Chu Hanyan, eager to go to Fengyuan, burst into tears upon seeing the boys running ahead. She cried out, “Big Brother Dabao, Fifth Uncle, wait for me!”
Chu Lingzhi and Chen Lu stopped, and Dabao, in good spirits, took a few steps back, holding Chu Hanyan’s hand, leading the way.
Feeling a bit dejected, Lou Ying whispered to Madam Lou, “Mother, all my younger siblings like me, but why doesn’t Yanyan like me? Whenever I try to hold her hand, she refuses.”
Madam Lou explained, “Hanyan isn’t very familiar with you yet. Once she gets to know you better, things will improve.”
Shaking her head, Lou Ying said, “Even little Heng isn’t that familiar with me, but he lets me hug him.”
Chen Feng chuckled and said, “Little Yan not wanting you to hold her hand isn’t about not liking you, she’s just shy and fearful. As you spend more time together, and she sees you’re a caring older sister, she’ll let you get closer to her.”
The group headed to Fengyuan, first visiting the “Teaching Building” in the West Wing, admiring the different classrooms and study rooms, offering praise. Little Heng then insisted on visiting the outhouse.
Next, they explored the backyard, where the children’s playground immediately captivated them, especially little Heng, who tried out all the facilities. Even after it grew dark, he didn’t want to leave. When they mentioned leaving, he cried and managed to utter, “Want to play.”
After lighting a few lanterns, little Heng went down the slide a few more times before the nursemaid had to carry him away.
The next day, as Chen Feng got up, she was greeted by the young guest, little Heng, being carried by the nursemaid. Chu Hua, blushing, explained, “Sorry, as soon as he woke up, he started shouting ‘want to play,’ so I had to bring him here.”
Chen Feng chuckled, “If he wants to play, let him play. I’ll have him sleep in the small bed in the West Wing at noon and play all day.”
Extra breakfast was prepared, and Chu Hua and her son were asked to stay and dine here.
Chu Hua exclaimed, “I’ve heard my grandfather and brother say that Sister-in-law excels in cooking, and it truly smells delightful.” She added, “This place is wonderful, and I really don’t want to leave. Unfortunately, my second brother has to rush back for duty, so we’ll be leaving tomorrow.”
Today was Luyuan’s turn to host guests. Chen Feng suggested that Chu Hua and her son continue playing in Fengyuan while she went to help at Luyuan.
Luyuan bustled with activity. Due to Chen Feng often bringing Mrs. Zeng and Auntie Mu to provide vegetarian meals to the venerable Master Wuzhi and Abbess Liao Chen, the vegetarian dishes at Luyuan received praise. Xie Ling and Lou Zhiyuan even remarked that they were comparable to the vegetarian feasts at Lingyin Temple.
After lunch, the men returned to Tangyuan to rest, while Chu Hua and Madam Lou accompanied the children to Fengyuan. The boys enjoyed the children’s playground, while Lou Ying and Chu Hanyan preferred playing with building blocks and reading picture books in the West Wing. Initially, Lou Ying didn’t quite understand, but Chu Hanyan proudly acted as her guide, and gradually, the two girls enjoyed playing together.
Despite Chu Lingxuan’s invitation, Chen Feng’s family didn’t go to Tangyuan for dinner. Since these guests were departing the next day, it was crucial for them to have some quality time together.
As October advanced, winter wheat had been planted. Chen Feng provided special seeds for Tangyuan’s 100 acres, the main branch’s ten acres, and Wanshan Village’s 100 acres. Chen Ming also purchased an additional fifty acres, planting the same special seeds.
Currently, Chen Feng had only modified seeds for rice, wheat, corn, watermelon, and cucumbers. She decided not to “improve” any other seeds, as too many alterations could have adverse effects. If the genetic makeup of the first three seeds underwent significant enhancements, it would indeed benefit the common people of this era.
With the nights darkening early, by the time of the Rooster hour (5-7:00 PM), the sky was pitch black. It was the 17th of October when Chen Feng and the children were about to sit down for dinner, and suddenly, Chu Lingxuan rushed back. Dusty and disheveled, he hadn’t freshened up at Tangyuan but instead carried a jug of wine in his hand.
Appearing quite excited, he didn’t initially acknowledge his two children, placing the wine on old Marquis Chu’s table, and boldly declared, “Grandfather, today I’ll drink a few more cups with you, until I’m drunk.”
Turning to Chen Feng, he said, “Feng, prepare a few more dishes, let’s celebrate today.”