Chapter 51: Never Parting

After hearing Grandma Chen’s words, everyone refrained from further discussion. It wasn’t that Mr. Jiang’s teaching was inadequate, it was clear that Chen Gui, was not absorbing the material.

Chen Ming chuckled, “One’s diligence and comprehension are crucial in learning. Not every child can excel in their studies. Once A’Lu’s leg fully heals in a few months, he will attend a private school. If he can achieve the title of a scholar, that would be great. If not, at the very least, he should be literate.” Seeing the hopeful look in Dabao’s eyes, Chen Ming added, “But Dabao is still too young, he can go next year.”

Changgen’s wife smiled and added, “That works out perfectly. Our little one, Shitou, will be six next year and should start schooling. They can be companions then.”

The children were delighted, especially Chen Lu, who kept grinning.

Curiously, Grandma Chen asked, “I heard that the master of Tangyuan comes from a prominent family in the capital. How influential is he exactly?”

Changgen’s wife shook her head, “I’m not sure about the specifics, but my father-in-law mentioned that the Chu family is an influential aristocratic family in the capital. Lady Chu’s maiden name is Luo, from a prominent official family in the provincial capital.”

When Changgen’s wife left, Chen Feng gave Xiaoqing a small chicken toy. The chick was a tender yellow, and it amused Xiaoqing greatly. Changgen’s wife praised, “Oh, Feng has such a thoughtful mind, this little chick is truly delightful…”

She also gave a small chicken toy to Grandma Chen for her to take it back home for Chen Gui’s children. Chen Gui and Mrs. Gao’s intentions were understood by Chen Feng, but they couldn’t make it difficult for them, especially for Mrs. Gao, so they kept their distance on the surface.

They know that if they act too friendly to Chen Ming’s family especially to Chen Feng and Dabao, Mrs. Hu will be mad at them.

Chen Ming and his family had dinner on the new side of the courtyard, finishing up the leftovers from lunch. They discussed and decided that in the future, both families would continue to dine together in the old house. Chen Feng also suggested that they pay a monthly contribution of two hundred wen for the meals.

Mrs. Wang disagreed, stating, “It’s unreasonable to charge our daughter for eating at home. Besides, you often spend more on buying meat and vegetables than we do.”

Chen Ming added, “Yes, and you’ve also given so much money to your parents. We’re not short of money.”

Chen Feng shook her head and said with a smile, “Setting the rules straight first will prevent chaos later.”

After much discussion, Chen Ming and Mrs. Wang, seeing their daughter’s determination, reluctantly agreed.

It was pitch black that day, with stars filling the sky. The birds, having sung all day, had finally fallen silent. Chen Ming and his family then made their way back to the old courtyard.

After seeing them off at the old courtyard and closing the small gate, Chen Feng looked around the small courtyard.

Under the starlight, the yard appeared cramped, partially obscured by the dense foliage of big trees, giving it a confined feel. The yellowish earthen walls, thatched roof, and the dim yellow light seeping through the windows.

This was their home. Despite its small size and simplicity, it was their shelter from the elements.

At that moment, Chen Dabao was staring at Chen Feng with wide eyes. His eyes sparkled as the starlight fell into them.

He murmured, “Mother, it’s just the two of us now.”

Chen Feng smiled and lifted him up, planting a kiss on his little face. “Yes,” she said.

Dabao hugged her neck and whispered into her ear, “Mother, from now on, we will always depend on each other, never parting ways.”

“Okay.” Chen Feng agreed.

“Remember, never parting ways, never separating, whether it’s me getting a wife or you marrying.” the little rascal insisted adamantly. His raised voice made Chen Feng’s ear tickle from his breath.

Such premature words, really.

Chen Feng patted his little bottom and said, “Nonsense, I have my own household status now. I won’t marry.”

“Regardless, we will never be apart. I don’t want to be like Grandpa, separated from his mother. Mother, promise me.” he said with a serious expression.

“Alright, I promise,” Chen Feng reassured him.

With his mother’s solemn promise, Chen Dabao smiled as bright as the stars in the sky. He kissed Chen Feng twice and pressed his little face tightly against hers. Expressing his love for his mother had become completely natural for him.

After giving Dabao a bath in the kitchen, she carried him to the heated brick bed. Chen Feng instructed, “Stay on the bed and don’t go out.”

The little boy nodded and said, “If the son goes out, he’ll get pinkeye.”

Chen Feng added warm water to the large wooden basin and happily took a bath. Although it wasn’t the ideal large bathtub, it was the most refreshing bath she had taken since crossing over to this time.

The bed was covered with a new mattress, fluffy and emitting a pleasant cotton scent. Dabao was eagerly sniffing the mattress while raising his little bottom.

Chen Feng joined him on the bed, burying her head in the mattress and inhaling deeply, it smelled so good. Finally, the lingering smell of urine that had been around her nose was gone.

The mattress had been made ready long ago, but Dabao had insisted on not using it until they moved to the new house.

The sensitive and pitiful little boy seemed to have become more assertive and opinionated since his mother became smarter and more powerful.

Chen Feng always believed that boys should have their own opinions and be somewhat assertive. Therefore, as long as Dabao’s ideas were right or something Chen Feng could tolerate, she would listen to him.

As her hair was not yet dry, she leaned against the bed cupboard and told Dabao stories. Fairy tales by Andersen or the Brothers Grimm didn’t interest the little boy. So she racked her brain and recalled stories from “Journey to the West” and “Arabian Nights”, although she didn’t remember everything, it was enough to satisfy the child.

In their new house, sitting on the new mattress, the mother and son were both excited and stayed up talking until late.

Suddenly, in the middle of the night, lightning flashed, thunder roared, and a torrential rain began. Dabao, frightened, burrowed into Chen Feng’s arms. In a daze, Chen Feng’s heart was troubled— Golden Treasure, Qiqi, and Gray hadn’t returned home yet.

In her half-asleep state, Chen Feng felt someone scratching her face. Thinking it was Dabao, she waved her hand and said, “Stop it.”

The Golden Swallow whispered, “It’s me. I’m back, and I’ve brought you a little bodyguard so you don’t have to be alone all the time.”

Chen Feng opened her eyes. The bodyguard the Golden Swallow had brought back was some creature from the woods. She immediately woke up and said, “Don’t bring scary things into my house.”

She got up, lit a small oil lamp, and saw the Golden Swallow dripping wet, with water still trickling from her feathers. Hurriedly, she lifted the Golden Swallow off the bed and asked, “What bodyguard?”

The Golden Swallow explained, “It’s the son of the fiercest wild dog in the woods. Its mother fought with a tiger for a long time before being eaten by the tiger. I snatched it from the tiger’s mouth. Don’t be deceived by its current size, it will grow into a formidable creature.”

So, it was just a little dog, that was more acceptable.

Then, Chen Feng wondered, “Can there really be dogs in the deep mountains?”

Impatiently, the Golden Swallow said, “Who knows? It just looked like a dog, maybe it was a hunter’s lost hunting dog.”

The Golden Swallow flew out of the window and brought in a peach wood fan with his beak, dragging it into the room.