Chapter 440 A Sudden Turn
Wang saw that Jiang was much thinner and more haggard than before, and advised, "Sister-in-law, I heard from Ah Fu that Brother Ying will be fine. Brother Ying will be valued by the emperor because of his good farming in Dingzhou. Don't worry..."
Jiang's tears welled up and she sighed, "I know, but I can't help it. This heart, it feels like boiling in a pot of boiling water every day..."
Chen Yuqing, Chen Yulan, and Chen Yuxia all came, but Chen Yuhui didn't come. She was sick. It was past the date for her to marry into the He family, but the He family didn't say anything.
Before, she went to the main courtyard to cry and make a scene every day, wanting Jiang to go to the He family to reason. Jiang refused to go, saying that she would talk about it after Chen Shiying came back. After she made a scene for a few days, she was confined to her house. She made a scene in her own courtyard every day, and she also refused to eat, which made her sick.
Chen Yuqing quietly told Chen Ah Fu about Chen Yuhui, and her eyes became deeper. The original smiling eyes were now filled with sorrow.
Eyes are the most beautiful part of Chen Yuqing. When this part is dimmed, her face looks long and ordinary.
Chen Afu felt very distressed when he saw Chen Yuqing like this. He knew that she was not only worried about Chen Shiying, but also worried about her own future. She is already sixteen years old this year. Even if Chen Shiying did not get demoted, his marriage would not be smooth. After all, the matter of Chen's mother was exposed and spread so badly. Her grandmother was like this, and many good families would not be willing to marry into the Chen family. Perhaps because Jiang was frightened by old lady Chen, she was unwilling to let Chen Yuqing marry into a poor family.
No wonder Chen Shiying had been covering up the matter of old lady Chen before. Not only was he foolishly filial, he was also afraid of delaying his children's marriage.
For Chen Yuqing, Chen Afu also hoped that Chen Yuhui would not make trouble again. After all, her grandmother was like this. If her sister was unbearable again, her marriage would be more difficult.
Jiang was quite picky before, always hoping to find a young man with a good family background and personality for her daughter, but she didn't expect that she would delay her daughter.
Chen Afu whispered, "Look at mother, she also had a hard time finding a husband at that time. She was delayed until she was seventeen years old. God had a good eye and let her meet Daddy..."
Chen Yuqing blushed with shame, and there seemed to be water in her eyes. She said softly, "I know. Those things can't be rushed. We can only talk about it after Daddy returns home intact."
Chen Afu said, "Third sister, believe me, Daddy will return home intact."
She and Chu Lingxuan analyzed that there are many factors that are favorable to Chen Shiying now, and he will not have a big problem. It is definitely impossible to get promoted, but there is still hope to keep the position of prefect. At the very least, he will be demoted by two levels, but the demotion will not be too much, and the result will be much better than expected before.
Chen Yuqing has always believed in her elder sister. Hearing her elder sister speak so confidently, she smiled rarely.
Chen Afu said to her, "Look, Sister Lan is calling you, go play with the girls."
Qin Lan and Chen Yuxia were waving to Chen Yuqing under the rose trellis. Chen Yuqing saw them and walked towards them, her steps a little lighter than before.
Chen Afu came to the side of Grandma Fu and other women. Grandma Fu smiled and said, "Just now we said that Miss Chen San is dignified and virtuous. If any young man misses her because of Old Lady Chen, it would be a big loss."
Chen Afu smiled modestly and said, "Yes, I'm not bragging, my third sister has the temperament of my mother and the talent of my father. Any young man who marries her will be blessed."
Chen Afu's words were heard by Jiang. Jiang held Wang's hand tighter and said, "Sister, you have taken good care of the master and taught Fu'er well."
Wang shook her head and smiled, "That can't be said. Brother Ying and Fu'er are kind and smart."
The next day, Chen Afu invited Wang and Liu to play at home for a day because they would return to Luyuan tomorrow. Wang went back to take care of Chen Ming, and Liu and her son went to play for a while. Chen Alu had to live in the General's Mansion again.
In fact, Chen Afu, Chen Dabao, Chu Hanyan, Alu, and Li Xuan all wanted to go back and live for a while, but because Chen Afu was worried about Chen Shiying's affairs, he wanted to wait until his affairs were settled before going back.
Wang Cheng's affairs must have to wait for some time, after all, it involves a lot of people, and some officials may have to be tried by the three courts. But Chen Shiying's affairs have been delayed for so long, it should be soon.
In addition, Chen Afu's life has been over for six days, and her milk supply has obviously decreased. She is also more sleepy. I don't know if she is pregnant again. At this time, she dare not sit in a carriage or sedan chair for a long time.
Chen Afu was in a much better mood, and he was able to care about his business and fields.
Because he was not in Dingzhou Prefecture during the New Year, and there was a disaster, he had to deal with one thing after another after he came back, so he put many things aside.
On the third day, several farm managers were called in. They reported on the winter wheat and rapeseed that were about to be harvested, and talked about the planting of "Dingzhou melons" and the preparations for the early planting of other crops.
This time, the snow disaster and the sudden warming of the climate in the central and northern parts of Dashun directly caused the Liaozhou plague. There was no plague in other places, but there was a big insect plague. Except for the jurisdiction of Dingzhou Prefecture, winter wheat in almost all places was poor. The Dingzhou jurisdiction began to plant "Dingzhou wheat" on a large scale last year. This kind of wheat is not only high-yielding, but also resistant to insect pests. Although this year's harvest is not as good as in previous years, it is much better than other areas.
Therefore, the winter wheat harvest of the farm is still good, but the rapeseed harvest is half less than in previous years. This is a natural disaster, and the farm head and tenants cannot be blamed. Chen Ahfu expressed satisfaction and rewarded the village heads with 20 taels of silver each. This was last year's year-end bonus, which was only given to them now.
The shopkeepers and some of the big managers of the business and branches have been rewarded, and their rewards are much higher. The shopkeeper Zeng received 200 taels of silver, the branch shopkeeper received 100 taels of silver, and the managers received 50 taels and 20 taels respectively.
In such a bad climate, the winter wheat in Dingzhou can still have a good harvest. This is a great achievement of Chen Shiying that cannot be erased by others, and it will also be an important factor that the emperor and the elders have to consider when they decide his fate.
This snowstorm and insect plague is a great disaster that has not happened in the Dashun Dynasty for a hundred years. If it goes wrong, it will make Chen Shiying have a magical turn in his unknown future.
On the fourth day, Chen Afu wanted to go to Fuyunlai Business again.
Nanny Li stopped her and said, "Grandma is at a critical time, don't work too hard."
Chen Afu said, "It's okay, I'll take a sedan chair back and forth."
She led Hong Fei, Nanny Li and several other servants to Fuyunlai Business. The current Fuyunlai Business is not only the first two-story shop, but also bought two three-story shops next to each other last year. Three small buildings and a courtyard connected together form a business empire integrating office, grain trading, seed trading, and foreign goods trading.
After listening to Zeng Shuang and several managers' summary of past work and the company's next development plan, Chen Afu was very satisfied.