When Chen Afu returned to the Rose Courtyard, he heard a servant come to report that Manager Zeng of the Fuyunlai Trading Company had arrived.
Chen Afu asked Aunt Zeng to go back to his home yesterday, and asked Guard Wang to deliver Chen Ming, Chen Ye, and the gifts that Chen Afu brought to Chen Shi's home.
In fact, Chen Ahfu really wanted to go to Fuyunlai Trading Company, but she didn't ask Jiang for help because she knew Jiang wouldn't agree. After the Seventh Prince's incident, not only Jiang was scared, but even Chen Ahfu herself was scared. Chen Ahfu asked Xia Yue to bring Zeng Jiang in.
Zeng Jiang reported the business situation to Chen Afu, and the two discussed the next arrangements. At noon, Chen Afu asked Xia Yue to accompany him for lunch.
In the afternoon, Nanny Jiang came to the Rose Courtyard and told Chen Afu the rules and precautions for attending a banquet hosted by a wealthy family, and also taught her some etiquette.
Looking at the sky, it was time to go to the main courtyard for dinner. The Chen family’s rule was that on holidays and every tenth night, the whole family would go to Hengshou Courtyard to have dinner with the old lady. On ordinary nights, the children and Chen Shiying and Jiang had dinner in the main courtyard.
When Chen Afu arrived, Chen Yuqing, Chen Yulan and Chen Yuxia were already there, but Chen Yuhui was nowhere to be seen, and Jiang's face looked unhappy too.
The siblings chatted with Jiang until dark, but Chen Shiying still didn't come. The servant came to report that the master stayed at Hengshouyuan for dinner and asked them to eat by themselves.
Jiang said to Chen Afu and the others, "You guys eat first. I'll go to Hengshouyuan to take a look."
Chen Yuqing and her brother both stood up and said they wanted to go together, but Jiang shook her head and went on her own.
After dinner, Chen Afu did not stay in the main courtyard waiting for Jiang like his siblings, but returned to the Rose Courtyard first.
Chen Afu guessed that it was probably Chen Yuhui who instigated the old lady to make trouble again. With such an old mother and daughter, Chen Shiying should slowly appease them. Chen Yuhui was really not smart. The old lady was already inconvenient to move, and Aunt Tang died. Now the backyard of the Chen family was the world of the Jiang family. The old and the young could not make any trouble at all. The only thing she could rely on was Chen Shiying's fatherly love and the guilt of killing her biological mother. If all these were gone, she would have nothing.
She didn't feel a sense of belonging in this family, and she wouldn't get involved unless she was provoked. She just wanted to attend the birthday banquet tomorrow and return to Fuyuan the day after tomorrow. She missed Dabao, Wang, Alu, and Chen Ming.
Chen Ahfu had a dreamless night. Xia Yue and Qing Feng woke him up early. He took a bath first. There were scented dew and flower petals in the water. Ancient people also knew how to beautify themselves.
After breakfast, Chen Ahfu started to dress up. She had already decided that she should dress modestly, not too conspicuous, but certainly not too shabby.
The clothes were made in Fuyuan. She wore a rain-stained blue satin half-sleeve with yellow-stamen white plum blossoms embroidered on it, a lavender cloud satin undershirt and a light gauze jacquard long skirt of the same color, and the gold-inlaid jade headpiece that Jiang had given her. She put on some light makeup in front of the mirror.
"The young lady is so pretty." Several maids praised sincerely again.
Her clothes were not too eye-catching, but she was naturally beautiful, and with the outstanding temperament she had cultivated in her previous life, she became stunningly beautiful after a little dressing up.
Chen Afu went to the main courtyard, and Chen Yuqing and her sister were already there. Chen Shiying did not go to the government office either, as he was the future in-law of the Chu family and had to attend the banquet today.
Chen Yuqing was very considerate and wore the clothes that Chen Afu had given her before, instead of the clothes that Jiang gave her yesterday.
The red brocade short coat with a stand-up collar and wide sleeves, the same color pleated long skirt, and the five large phoenix-tail buttons in light blue and apricot yellow were the finishing touch. Because the dress was tailored to fit her body, Chen Yuqing looked even more slender and graceful.
I haven’t mentioned Chen Yuqing from her husband’s family yet. She should be the most prominent person among the three sisters of the Chen family today.
Chen Yuqing was very happy at first, this dress was really beautiful and suitable for her. But when she saw Chen Afu, she felt ashamed. Having such a beautiful sister made her look even more ordinary.
Chen Afu saw the inferiority and loneliness in Chen Yuqing's eyes, and then looked at her makeup. The makeup did not cover up the flaws on her face, nor did it highlight her strengths.
No matter what Jiang's purpose was in showing kindness to Chen Afu, Chen Afu accepted her kindness.
Chen Ahfu smiled and said, "Third sister, do you believe me? If you do, let me put on your makeup again."
Chen Yuqing smiled and said, "Of course I believe you, big sister."
Then he went to Jiang's bedroom and sat in front of the glass mirror.
The maid brought water to clean her face, and then Chen Ahfu began to put makeup on her. While putting makeup on, he said, "My sister's eyes are the most beautiful, curved like a crescent moon, with a kind of joy and charm. So you should highlight the curve, and don't draw the eyeliner upwards like others... My sister's lips are a little plump, you can't use bright red, the color should be more rose red or Yang Fei, and add some moist balm to make it look soft, bright and moist... Blush should be applied like this... The hairstyle should also be changed..."
Chen Yuqing looked more like Jiang, with average facial features and a slightly tough look. But there was one good thing about her, which was that she not only had a pair of smiling eyes, but also liked to smile.
Chen Afu reminded her again to continue to develop her virtue of liking to laugh.
More than two quarters of an hour later, when Chen Yuqing appeared in the hall again, not only did the servants give her rave reviews, but even Jiang was so surprised that her mouth couldn't close. It turned out that her daughter could be so beautiful!
Jiang had seen enough of her daughter and nodded to Chen Afu to express her gratitude. Qing'er was already fourteen years old. Some people had mentioned marriage before, but for one reason or another, neither she nor Chen Shiying was interested. She hoped that a good family would take a liking to her daughter today...
Chen Shiying also nodded with satisfaction. In fact, he had always wondered why his daughters did not inherit his good qualities. Fortunately, he later saw that Chen Afu was very similar to him, and the regret in his heart was reduced.
Chen Shiying rode in a carriage alone, while Jiang rode in a carriage with three girls.
After more than two quarters of an hour, they arrived at the Chu Mansion.
The women were led directly to the inner courtyard hall. The one who led the Chen family women was Yu Zhuo, who had served Chen Afu before. Chu Lingxuan had specially sent her here to wait for Chen Afu and serve her.
On the way, Yuzhuo said that since there was no adult hostess in the Chu Mansion in Dingzhou, the oldest Madam Chu Er was the elder of the Chu family, and Chu Lingxuan's sister Chu Hua and cousin-in-law Luo Si were in charge of receiving the female relatives in the inner courtyard...
When they arrived at the entrance of the flower hall, the maid loudly reported, "Mrs. Chen, Miss Chen Da, Miss Chen San, and Miss Chen Si are here."
Logically, the Chen family was the future in-laws of the Chu family, and Mrs. Chu should have stood up to greet them. But when they entered the flower hall, they saw the middle-aged woman sitting steadily on the main seat, chatting and laughing with the guests on both sides.
Jiang's face suddenly turned red.
They were feeling a little embarrassed when they saw Grandma Luo Si and a beautiful young woman in her early twenties coming towards them with smiles.
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