Wei smiled awkwardly and said, "The old marquis heard that the hot pot you made was delicious, and he wanted to eat it at noon today. But today is the second day of the Chinese New Year, so it's not convenient to visit, so can you ask Ah Fu to move to Tangyuan to make it?"
She was too embarrassed to say that yesterday, the old man said that the dishes cooked in his kitchen were not as delicious as those cooked by Chen Ahfu. She and her sister wanted to come to Luyuan for dinner, but were persuaded by the old man. Today, they wanted to come again, but were stopped by the old man again. The old man said, how can you go to someone else's house for dinner on the first and second day of the New Year...
Chen Ahfu smiled and said, "Oh, it's a little late now. If the soup is not thick enough when making hot pot, the aroma will not come out. How about this, I will go and cook some side dishes for your old man to have for lunch. There is enough time in the afternoon, I will prepare the hot pot again?"
Wei smiled and said, "That's even better. We servants are stupid and can't serve our master well, so Ah Fu has to suffer."
Chen Afu said a few humble words, went to the kitchen to cut a handful of garlic sprouts, took a small jar of "fine bran", and went out with Wei and the two guards Wei brought with him.
Just a few steps out of the door, an old man came from the other side of a tree and blocked their way.
The old man looked at Chen Ah Fu with his cloudy eyes and asked, "Are you Ah Fu?"
Chen Ahfu looked closely. The old man was probably in his fifties, wearing a long grey cotton gown and a hat with ears. The gown and hat were greasy, and he had been wearing them for who knows how many days. His face was full of deep wrinkles, and he looked bitter and resentful, and he looked a bit like Wang. He guessed who he was.
Chen Ahfu asked coldly, "Who are you? What are you doing standing outside my house?"
Old man Wang grinned and said, "Afu, I am your biological grandfather. Today is the second day of the Chinese New Year, and I have come here specially to pick up your mother and your family to have a meal at my home." His attitude was very humble, and at first glance he looked like a weak man who couldn't even stand up straight.
"Grandfather?" Chen Ahfu sneered twice and said, "I have never heard my mother mention my grandpa. I always thought he was no longer alive. If he was still alive, how could he let my mother be sold twice by the stepmother? How could he let my little uncle be sold by the stepmother when he was only six years old?"
After hearing this, Old Man Wang seemed to be sad too, tears welled up in his cloudy eyes. He wiped his tears with his sleeves and said, "I can't help it. I, I can't afford to offend that damn woman Ding. Besides, after your mother married your father, her life became better and better, right? She even built a big yard like this. Maybe your uncle will also live a better life after leaving our poor home..."
Chen Afu didn't even want to talk to him anymore. He interrupted him and said, "You don't have to look for my mother. My mother and we won't go to your house." After thinking for a while, he asked, "Where did you sell my uncle to?"
Old Man Wang said with a chuckle, "I don't know either. I asked Mrs. Ding, but she didn't tell me. She just said that she sold it to the city to enjoy a good life."
Chen Ahfu was filled with grief and indignation, and his voice became louder. "The one who was sold was your son, not your pig or chicken. Where was he sold to? Didn't you care at all? Didn't you try to find out?"
Seeing the bewildered look on Old Man Wang's face, Chen Afu shook his head and said, "Go away. I don't want to talk to you because you don't deserve it. You are also not allowed to go to my house and bother my mother because you don't deserve it even more."
As soon as she finished speaking, the two "bodyguards" next to her glared at Old Man Wang. Old Man Wang was so scared that he staggered and quickly trotted away from them.
What kind of man and father is this! No wonder Wang's mother would rather entrust her youngest son to her seven-year-old daughter before she died than trust her husband.
Thinking of the grandmother whom he had never met, Chen Ahfu felt a little sad. To have taught Wang to be so kind, capable, and intelligent, she must have been an intelligent and capable woman, right? How could she marry such a confused, incompetent, and cowardly man?
In ancient times, marriage was abnormal. Most men and women met for the first time only after they entered the bridal chamber. After entering the bridal chamber, no matter how good her husband was, what could a weak woman do? She could only accept her fate.
Watching the figure disappear into the fields, Chen Afu let out a sigh of relief and said, "Let's go." Then he walked towards Tangyuan.
She saw the ambiguity in Wei's eyes and said as she walked, "Some people may think that I am unfilial for doing this. But I just can't have even the slightest respect for that man, because he doesn't deserve it and he is unworthy of being a father."
Wei quickly said, "No, I understand you too..."
After entering Tang Garden, they went directly to Yiran Courtyard where Chu Hanyan lived. Wei said that in the past two days, the grandfather and grandfather had been here to play with their sister during the day except for sleeping at night. They also cooked in the small kitchen of Yiran Courtyard today.
Before entering Yiran Courtyard, one could hear the hearty laughter of old Marquis Chu and the shouts of Qiqi and Huihui.
Chen Afu looked confused. When did these two little ones come here?
After entering the gate, I saw the three generations of grandparents and grandchildren standing in the yard. They were watching Qiqi and Huihui performing funny acts.
When Chu Hanyan saw Chen Afu coming, she trotted towards her like a happy little swallow, shouting, "Auntie, Auntie, I want to..."
Qiqi and Huihui didn't move, but they also shouted, "Auntie, Auntie."
Chen Ahfu smiled and squatted down. She had something in her hands and couldn't hug the little girl. She could only stretch out her arms and wait for little girl Chu to jump into her arms. She smiled and said, "Auntie misses me too, very much."
When the little girl's face touched hers, Chen Ahfu stood up. The little girl pulled her skirt and said in amazement, "Auntie, you are so pretty."
Today, Chen Ahfu was wearing a pink satin jacket with rabbit fur and a bright red pleated skirt with phoenix flowers embroidered on it. Although she was not wearing any makeup, the red clothes made her face look as pink as peach blossoms in March.
After hearing what the little girl said, Chen Ahfu looked down at the little girl and smiled, "When did auntie stop being pretty?"
She was just joking, but the little girl didn't know it. She felt that her aunt had asked her another question. She thought about it seriously, but couldn't remember it. She pouted and said, "Yeah, when... is it? I don't know..."
The old marquis laughed and said, "Little girl, you have given my great-granddaughter a difficult problem." He then said to Miss Chu, "My great-granddaughter, if you can't remember, don't think about it. This shows that Master Chen is always pretty... well, good-looking."
The old marquis' words made everyone in the courtyard laugh, even Chu Lingxuan laughed. He was a little puzzled. This girl was a little thick-skinned. Even if she was joking, she praised herself in public. She was also open and aboveboard, not at all shy or pretentious.
However, he couldn't deny that she was really, really pretty, with bright eyes, white teeth, and skin as white as snow. The key was the elegance and freshness that emanated from her inside out...
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