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Chu Lingxuan’s suggestion was for Chen Ming to keep the two thousand taels of silver to invest in some property for himself. He felt that everyone in the vicinity knew that Chen Feng was not Chen Ming’s biological daughter. Allowing others to think that the daughter he raised was marrying into a wealthy family, while her foster father was arranging such an elaborate dowry, could lead to gossip about both the Chu family and Chen Feng.
Initially, Chen Feng had considered leaving another two thousand taels with Chen Ming before her marriage to improve their circumstances.
Most of the money she gave to Chen Ming was in private, mainly to prevent Chen Ye and Mrs. Hu from coveting it. Outsiders only knew that the hundred acres of land in Luyuan and the Lao Huai Village in Zhongning County were gifts from Chen Feng. The rest, including the shares from the restaurant and the money used for Chen Ming’s dowry, remained unknown. Chen Ye’s family would never disclose this information to outsiders, even to the extent of not revealing that the shares from the Restaurant were acquired through Chen Feng’s assistance, let alone the shares obtained for free.
Not only was Mrs. Hu watching Chen Ming’s purse closely, but all the villagers nearby also closely observed Chen Feng’s actions, wanting to see if she would “repay kindness with gratitude.”
A family in dire poverty unexpectedly finding a “golden phoenix,” when this “golden phoenix” is about to fly into someone else’s home, what will it leave behind for the family that took her in…
Regardless of how much she gave Chen Ming, as long as it remained unknown to others, they would undervalue Chen Ming. This was a common mentality. While she didn’t care for others’ opinions, the local young man, Chu Lingxuan, couldn’t afford to overlook his wife’s reputation.
However, Chen Ming was adamant about not keeping the two thousand taels of silver as the bride price. He wanted to set an example for everyone in the Chen family, including Lu, that things one shouldn’t take, one shouldn’t take under any circumstance.
Ultimately, Chen Ming proposed, “Let’s keep things straightforward. I won’t keep a penny of the bride price from the Chu family, but A”Feng can bring out an equivalent sum to buy more land for me. Let everyone know that before her marriage, A’Feng generously gifted me so much land—a gesture of her filial piety and gratitude.”
Upon hearing this, Chen Feng felt it was an even better arrangement—foster father and foster daughter, one full of love and the other of duty.
Around noon, Chen Feng, her son, and Chu Hanyan would have lunch at Luyuan. After delivering the bride price, Chu Lingxuan returned to Dingzhou Prefecture to prepare for matters in the capital.
When Dabao arrived at Luyuan, he paid no attention to the betrothal gifts. He didn’t inquire about them, not even sparing a glance. During the meal, he enthusiastically shared what he learned in the morning with Chen Lu. Everyone could see he was smiling, but his eyes were red—he was putting on a brave face.
Midway through the meal, he excused himself to use the outhouse. Upon his return, his eyes were even redder.
Seeing him like this, Chen Feng, Mrs. Wang, and Chen Ming felt deeply troubled.
Mrs. Wang gently stroked his head and said, “Dabao, after your mother get married, not only will your mother continue to love and care for you just like before, but your grandfather, uncle, and I will also love you just the same. Your days won’t be any different.”
Chen Lu added, “The only difference is that you’ll have a father, and I’ll have a brother-in-law, which is even better.”
Chu Hanyan chimed in, “And another difference is that you’ll have a sister, and Uncle will have a niece.”
These two children—one simple-minded, the other too clever—made everyone smile.
Dabao also laughed. He thought to himself, it’s not just these few differences, it’s all different. After the laughter, he set down his chopsticks and said, “Mother, I’m feeling unwell, I don’t want to eat anymore.”
Chen Feng sighed, “If that’s the case, then don’t force yourself to eat. Rest at home. Don’t go to your classes this afternoon, I’ll arrange for you to take a break.”
Dabao got off the heated brick bed and said, “Okay, I’ll go back to my room for now. Take your time with the meal.”
With that, he lowered his head and walked away.
Chu Hanyan wanted to follow him but was stopped by Chen Feng. Perhaps Dabao wanted some time alone to think things over, so it was best to let him be.
Chu Xiaoniu and Summer, knowing that their young master was upset today, kept their distance, quietly staying near him.
Dabao returned to his room, closed the door, and lay down on the bed, covering his head with a blanket, sobbing quietly.
He had heard the commotion during his lessons, knowing that Chu Lingxuan had gone to Luyuan for the betrothal ceremony.
In the past few days, his mother had talked to him a lot, assuring him that even after she got married, she would still love him, and his future days would be happier.
His mother was going to the capital to marry. She couldn’t take him or his sister along, instructing him to take good care of his sister and wait for them at home…
Dabao knew that the day he feared was fast approaching, whether he liked it or not. His mother was getting married, and she would no longer be just his mother but also Hanyan’s mother, General Chu’s wife, the daughter-in-law of Abbess Liao Chen, and the granddaughter-in-law of old Marquis Chu…
In the future, their home wouldn’t just be him and his mother, it would be a large family. His mother’s closest person would no longer be him but General Chu.
Did he not know? He knew more than anyone, perhaps even more than his little sister Yan.
A husband and wife were two people who should never be separated. Even though Grandma Chen and Grandpa Ye lived in the same Courtyard, they wouldn’t sleep in the same room. Grandpa Ye’s wife, Mrs. Hu, would share a room with him. It wasn’t Mrs. Hu, who shared a room with Gui, but his wife, Mrs. Gao.
Thinking about the drawing he had made for his mother made him even sadder. Afraid of crying too loudly, he quickly covered his mouth with the blanket.
He and his mother wouldn’t hold hands forever, there would come a day when they would have to let go. And the one who would always be holding his mother’s hand would be her future father, General Chu.
He knew his mother’s love for him wouldn’t change, and he knew his future Dad was a good person. But he couldn’t help feeling unhappy about another man coming between him and his mother.
However, he wasn’t his mother’s biological son, he was just an orphan his grandmother found in the small grove! He had no right to oppose anything, not even if he felt displeased.
His mother had been incredibly kind to him, which was already very, very rare. He had heard stories about a fierce stepmother in Shangshui Village who broke her stepson’s legs, and his grandmother’s stepmother who sold her little brother for five taels of silver. These wicked women were so cruel to sons who weren’t their own, yet his mother was so kind, showering him with a thousand and ten thousand kindnesses.
He couldn’t be ungrateful, nor could he find fault with his mother. And in the future, he definitely couldn’t find fault with General Chu…
Chen Feng led Chu Hanyan back to Fengyuan and saw Summer standing by the window in the east wing bedroom, listening to the sounds inside.
Summer saw Chen Feng return and quietly approached her, whispering, “Miss, the young master was crying under the covers for quite some time, but now it’s quiet, he must have fallen asleep.”
Hearing this, Chen Feng felt a pang of sadness. She instructed Qiao to take Chu Hanyan to rest in the main room and then went to the east wing living room.