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Wang Cheng chuckled, “Old Lada Chen and Brother Chen are thoughtful.” He added, “Let Shanzi lead me to town, I want to buy some gifts for Brother Chen.”
Mrs. Wang suggested, “Just take the tea, snacks, and candies you brought for us. Give that ginseng to your wife to nourish her health.”
Blushing, Wang Cheng replied, “That won’t do.”
Mrs. Wang joyfully remarked, “Sister’s family is doing well now. We have land, shops, and even shares in a restaurant. Feng also frequently shows filial piety.”
In her mind, she thought about her brother’s unfortunate early life and disability, as well as her sister-in-law’s poor health. She planned to give them some money when they moved…
Upon returning to Tangyuan, Chen Feng didn’t see Li Xuan.
Xiaomo explained, “Mama Wei took Young Master Xuan to Fengyuan to play this morning. Steward Luo then had Ming Cheng accompany them. Golden Treasure, Qiqi, and Gray went along too… Young Master Xuan had a great time playing and threw a tantrum when they returned. After finally coaxing him to have lunch and rest, he started causing a fuss again.”
Chen Feng was delighted to have a children’s playground at home and several young friends, which eased her worries.
After resting for a while, she went to visit Dabao’s courtyard. Autumn came to assist her, which Chen Feng found rather unnecessary. She felt embarrassed being helped every step of the way, especially when not pregnant.
She instructed Xiaozi in the backyard to attend to Dabao. After Xiaozi respectfully bowed to Chen Feng, she went inside to tidy up.
Despite her young age, Xiaozi was clever, steady, and had a meticulous mind. While in the Marquis Mansion, Chen Feng intentionally promoted all the maids brought from Dingzhou Prefecture except her, wanting to observe her behavior. Xiaozi, unaffected by the decision, continued to perform her duties diligently.
Exiting the back door of Yanxiang Pavilion, there was a small stream flowing through Tangyuan, lined with weeping willows and crabapple trees on both sides.
Crossing a small wooden bridge, the courtyard where Chu Hanyan resided, called Serene Courtyard, was to the right. To the left was the energetic courtyard where Dabao would stay, previously inhabited by Chu Lingzhi. The two courtyards were separated only by a wall.
Entering the energetic courtyard, Chen Feng found Suumer sewing in the corridor. Summer quickly set aside her needlework and welcomed Chen Feng.
The courtyard was modest, with a total of six rooms – three in the front for the hall, bedroom, and study, and three in the back for the washroom, servants’ quarters, and storage room.
Both the front and back yards were adorned with clusters of emerald bamboo and artificial rock formations. The wall shared with Energetic Courtyard was covered in climbing roses. Below the roses, a small wooden house, which was Zhui Feng’s new home, had been added.
According to Xiaomo, initially, Zhui Feng and the others were reluctant to move, but upon hearing that Dabao would be living there and Hanyan next door, they happily settled in. Currently, they were basking in the sun near the small house. When Chen Feng arrived, Zhui Feng attempted to pounce on her but was stopped by Autumn.
Energetic Courtyard had also been reduced in size, now matching the size of Serene Courtyard. The former rear shed had been converted into Chen Feng’s small kitchen, allowing her to cook without needing to use the main kitchen.
Not far from the house, there was a well where Chen Feng discreetly tossed a piece of Agarwood bark into the water. According to Golden Swallow, the effectiveness of Agarwood placed in water would diminish after about five years.
Inside the house, the hall and study were beautifully decorated, with antique shelves displaying ornaments and books. The bookcase was filled with books and a few ancient scrolls. The bedding and pillows on the bed were made by Chen Feng and Autumn during their time in Fengyuan. Opening the wardrobe, all her clothes were neatly hung inside…
Chen Feng had a maid place a small screen she had brought from the capital for Dabao in the hall and placed two small ornaments on the antique shelf.
For a child living in their own courtyard, it was essential to have an experienced woman to care for them. Finding a trustworthy person to look after Dabao was crucial. After discussing with Chu Lingxuan, they both agreed that Mrs. Wei was the most suitable candidate. Being the daughter-in-law of Steward Luo, Dabao liked her, and she was efficient and competent. Taking care of Dabao would not only benefit him but also bring blessings to their family in the future.
Additionally, they needed to find a young servant. Initially favoring Luo Ming Cheng, Chen Feng was advised by Chu Lingxuan that he was too young to take on such a responsibility and should look for an older boy in the General’s Mansion.
Chen Feng accepted the tea handed to her by Autumn, sat on the bed, and asked to summon Luo, the steward.
Compared to the Yongning Marquis’s Mansion or General’s Mansion, Tangyuan was much smaller, taking less than half an incense stick’s time to walk from the inner courtyard to the front yard.
When Steward Luo arrived at Energetic Yuan, Chen Feng informed him of the decision to appoint Mrs. Wei as Dabao’s caretaker.
Steward Luo was Chu Lingxuan’s trusted confidant, often handling confidential matters for the master. He had already surmised Dabao’s probable background. When asked to have his daughter-in-law serve as Dabao’s caretaker, he was pleasantly surprised and knelt down to express his dedication. This decision brought him joy not only because of the promising future for his daughter-in-law in caring for Dabao but also due to the master’s trust.
Observing Steward Luo’s excitement, Chen Feng sensed that he likely knew about Dabao’s heritage. This realization reassured her that Mrs. Wei would be diligent in her role.
Shortly after, Mrs. Wei was summoned and, upon hearing the news, she too knelt before Chen Feng.
The shift in status and hierarchy was something Chen Feng was still adjusting to. Previously, her family was the weakest in the village, constantly striving to please the influential Luo family for self-preservation. Now, she found herself in a position of authority, where even their gestures and words were filled with respect and deference.
The Luo family, on the other hand, transitioned naturally, treating her not as the village girl who once sought their help but as their esteemed mistress.
They were not just intelligent but also loyal servants.
In contrast, Chen Ye still struggled to accept the reality that the second and third branch were wealthier than the main household. He constantly compared himself to his younger brothers, feeling inadequate rather than focusing on strengthening their fraternal bond for the family’s benefit.
Despite this, Chen Feng brought numerous gifts to the main household, partly in gratitude for Chen Ye’s past care for Chen Ming and the significant help he provided. Chen Ye was not a bad person, with a moral compass, yet his narrow-mindedness and limited perspective hindered his potential for greater success, especially as he lacked talent.
Based on their past relationship, Chen Feng hoped that Chen Ye could maintain a good relationship with Chen Ming and Chen Shi.
Returning to Yanxiang Pavilion through the back door, Chen Feng took out the small pillow she made for Li Xuan, filled with Agarwood leaves given by the Golden Swallow. This was a personal creation, as Chen Feng preferred to handle such tasks herself. Once completed, she placed it in the east wing on Li Xuan’s bed.