Chen Afu opened the package brought by Manager Luo, which contained a bag of candy, a bag of snacks, a bag of crabapple preserves, and four books.
Dabao said, "When Abbot Liaochen heard that my uncle and I were going to attend a private school in Sheungshui, he gave us two books and told me and my uncle to study hard. Now that sister Yan'er is going back to the city, she will also go back to the nunnery." He seemed reluctant to let them go.
Chen Ahfu was grateful to Abbot Chen from the bottom of her heart. She was such a kind and considerate woman. She then asked, "Since the master of that family went to the capital on business, why did he send Miss Chu back to the capital?"
Dabao said, "It seems that they said that it's time to see a doctor and get medicine for sister Yan'er. Also, sister Yan'er will be turning four next month, and they said that relatives from the capital and the provincial capital will go to the prefectural capital to celebrate her birthday."
In the evening, we made dumplings stuffed with celery and meat. The people were happy to eat them, and so were the two birds and the dog.
After dinner, the family chatted in the east room, listening to Dabao talking about some things in Tangyuan. A-Lu fiddled with the new book given to him, grinning with joy. It was the first time for him to hold a new book. The few books at home were all Chen Ming's old ones, yellowed, and missing pages.
Suddenly, I heard someone knocking at the door. It turned out to be Manager Luo’s wife, Aunt Luo.
What is she doing coming home so late?
Chen Ahfu was puzzled, but he quickly invited her into the west room. Wang came to accompany her, and Chen Ahfu served tea and brought out peanuts and candies to entertain her.
Aunt Luo was the most powerful and respected woman in the area. Even for Gao Lizheng's family, it was extremely difficult to invite her to be a guest.
She was in her forties, with delicate features, wearing a silk jacket and a jade-inlaid gold hairpin on her head. She was not arrogant at all, and took Wang's hand and said with a smile, "I knew that my eldest sister was an embroiderer and had a skillful hand. I didn't expect that my daughter was even more skillful and thoughtful. The dolls she made were really pretty, and they pleased my master and my sister. Especially my sister, oh my, I've never seen her so happy. My master asked me to come here to thank you, thank you for your thoughtfulness." She added, "My grandson and granddaughter also like the dolls you made for them, thank you."
Wang smiled modestly and said, "It's what we deserve. It's our blessing to be liked by your master and Mrs. Luo."
Aunt Luo opened a package, which contained two sets of brushes, inkstones, and two pieces of paper. She smiled and said, "This is a gift from my master to your two boys. I hope they can study hard." Her expression became serious again, and she lowered her voice and said, "Tell Dabao to keep his mouth shut and not spread rumors about my sister."
Wang said hurriedly, "No, my Dabao is smart and knows what to say and what not to say."
Aunt Luo nodded, took out a purse, and took out four small silver ingots of ten taels from it, and said with a smile, "This is what my master gave you. She said that the dolls made by Ah Fu are very good. She is thoughtful and hardworking. However, these little swallow dolls are what my sister likes to play with. I hope you don't make the same dolls and sell them for money. I hope that the little swallow will smile. Only my sister has such a kind heart."
Chen Ahfu thought, after all, they were afraid of spreading her young master's illness. Even if she had the courage of heaven, she would not dare to do such a thing.
Wang kept saying she was sorry, but Aunt Luo still stuffed the silver into her hand.
Aunt Luo opened another small package, and inside it was a small box with six very beautiful flowers. There was also a small jar, and as soon as the lid was opened, a sweet smell filled the air. She smiled and said, "I bought this head of flowers in the capital, and I gave it to Ah Fu Dai. I made this jar of crabapple jam myself, and it tastes especially good when dipped in steamed buns and cornbread. This is a gift from us, so don't despise it."
Chen Afu and Wang expressed their gratitude again.
Afterwards, she looked at Chen Ah-fu with even more enthusiasm, and said with a smile, "Ah-fu is really a very clever person. No one would have thought that a doll could do that."
Then he seemed to want to say something but hesitated, as if he wanted to say something to Wang alone. Chen Afu then tactfully left.
It turned out that Aunt Luo was asking what medicine Wang had given Chen Ahfu and where she had been treated. She also said, "She is a distant relative of mine. She is not feeling well. I want to ask about her."
When it comes to this topic, Wang thought of the bitterness and running around she had experienced in the past. Her eyes became red and she talked more.
She told about the clinics where she took her daughter to see doctors and get medicine, how many folk prescriptions she tried, how many cold words she received, and how people said that her daughter could not be cured, but she just didn't believe that her daughter would continue to be stupid. She also told about how many Bodhisattvas she worshipped, and the fate that the monks of Lingyin Temple had given Chen Ahfu. She even told about the time when she took Ahfu to Yingxue Temple to find Abbot Lechen for treatment.
He also said, "Until now, I still remember the pitying look that Abbot Chen gave my son Ah Fu. She didn't treat Ah Fu as a poor man, she didn't look down on us, she even gave Ah Fu some vegetarian food..."
After hearing this, Aunt Luo's eyes seemed to turn red. She said, "Abbot Liaochen is so kind. I won't hide it from you. My master is Abbot Liaochen. He became a monk due to some unavoidable reasons. It's good for you to know this, but don't tell anyone. Your Dabao is very likable, and my sister seems to be able to play with him only. In the future, when my sister comes to visit my master in the manor, she should let Dabao come to play with her. If Jinbao really comes to your house next year, bring him to Tangyuan to play with my sister..."
After learning from Wang about Chen Ahfu's medical treatment process, Aunt Luo left the Chen family with satisfaction. She also said to Dabao who came out to see her off, "When my sister comes to Tangyuan again, I will invite Dabao to play with her."
Dabao said obediently, "Okay, I also look forward to sister Yan'er coming to the countryside to play again."
After sending Aunt Luo away, Wang handed the purse of silver to Chen Ahfu and said, "Those dolls were all your idea. Take all the silver."
Chen Ahfu took the purse with a smile, took out two silver ingots from it and handed them to Wang, saying with a smile, "Mom also made them, these two are for you."
Wang said, "You were the one who came up with that doll. You can take three and mother only needs one."
Chen Ahfu stuffed two silver ingots into Wang's hands and said, "They gave us this silver for another reason, which is that they don't want us to tell anyone about the making of these swallow dolls, that is, don't tell anyone about his sister's illness." He then said to Ah Lu and Da Bao, "Remember? Don't tell anyone about the Chu family's little girl."
Dabao and Alu nodded quickly.
When Aunt Luo returned to Tang Garden, steward Luo was standing at the door. Seeing her coming, he helped her into the gate and closed it. He asked in a low voice, "Mother, have you found out everything?"
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