Allure of a Country Maiden
Chapter 654 - 652

Chapter 654: 652

Early the next day, the snow was thick.

In the village, people from every family were climbing on their roofs to sweep the snow.

By the time Xiao’er’s family stepped outside their house, the snow on their roof had already been thoroughly cleaned.

Xiao’er woke up at dawn, on purpose, and baked some pastries in the kitchen to present to Mrs. Liu’s old friends in the village.

The pastries from Liu Jingshu’s bakery had become the preferred gifts for many businessmen traveling to the Imperial Capital for their families and friends. Branches of her shop have opened in many counties near the capital, and a new one was set to open in Shengping County that year. Even though her bakery had not yet opened branches everywhere in the nation, its pastries were already nationally known. This was the reason why Xiao’er woke up early to bake cakes, so that those who had extended their warmth to her family could taste the nation’s renowned cakes.

These pastries were not cheap, though. Even with a branch opening in Shengping County, the villagers probably wouldn’t be willing to buy them.

After breakfast, Mrs. Liu took out the gifts they had brought back from the Imperial Capital, intending to deliver them to the families who had previously been kind to them. People like Youfu’s wife and Dashi’s wife were people Mrs. Liu was determined to see, as well as the elder’s family who they needed to visit personally. They couldn’t let these people believe that becoming wealthy had caused them to forget about them.

Mrs. Liu brought back a lot of fabric; although it was only fine cotton fabric, its quality was far superior to what was sold in the cloth shop in Shengping County, and the price wasn’t much more expensive. She also brought back some delicate silk flowers and some affordable silver earrings from Pohli Jewelry, along with some preserved foods.

The family chose to visit Shen Renfu, who was Shen Chengyao’s older uncle, first.

As for the old family mansion, no one mentioned visiting it.

Shen Renfu did not approve of Mr. Shen and Mrs. Shen’s ways in the past, so the two families were at odds. Mrs. Shen did not permit them to have much contact with Shen Renfu’s family. Later on, when the families separated and Xiao’er’s family was building a house and opening up wasteland, Shen Jingfu, their older cousin, also came to help. Since then, their families had gradually come together, so it was logical to visit him first.

Walking into the village, Mrs. Liu noticed that quite a few families had built new houses.

"The village has changed a lot, with so many people building new houses." Mrs. Liu commented.

"It’s all thanks to mother’s initiative for them to make toy components." Xiao’er responded with a smile.

"Are you saying it’s your merit, my dear?"

"You saw right through me, mother!"

Everyone laughed at Xiao’er’s words.

The villagers who were sweeping the snow on the roofs couldn’t help but rub their eyes when they saw Mrs. Liu, only truly believing that they weren’t mistaken after she greeted them with a smile.

Country children don’t have many toys. During the summer, they can catch fish in the river, shoot birds with a slingshot, find bird eggs in trees, but when winter comes, they can only play with snowballs and build snowmen.

At that moment on the village road, many children were already playing with snowmen. Many children didn’t remember Xiao’er and her siblings, and they did not recognize some of the children either.

Seeing them, Mrs. Liu gave each of them a few pieces of candy to eat.

Having never eaten candies with such fancy packaging before, the children held onto the candies and rushed home to show their mothers.

Soon after, everyone in the village knew that Mrs. Liu had returned! The prestigious Mrs. Hou, the wife of the county magistrate, was back!

After a leisurely stroll, the family reached the front of Shen Renfu’s house, where Shen Jingfu was clearing the snow off the roof of the kitchen. Seeing him, Jingrui, with sharp eyes, was the first to call out, "Older cousin."

Hearing this familiar voice, Shen Jingfu looked up. Upon seeing the family, he was so delighted he almost fell off the roof.

Yelling loudly, he then said, "Kids, hurry up and open the door, Third Aunt and the children are here!"

As Mrs. Ji went to open the door, she asked, "Which Third Aunt are you talking about?"

Women in the village were usually addressed either by their husband’s name or by their rank in the family, according to their husbands’ seniority. There were quite a few women addressed as Third Aunt in the village.

"What do you mean which Third Aunt, our family has only one third ranking uncle, it’s the Third Aunt from Third Uncle Chengyao’s family! She and Rui’er, they are right outside the door. Hurry up and open the door!" Shen Jingfu exclaimed as he descended the ladder.

After hearing those words, Mrs. Ji hurried to the door.

As soon as the door was opened, Mrs. Liu laughed, "Dear oldest niece."

"Old Elder Sister-in-law." Xiao’er and her siblings also politely greeted.

"Oh my, it really is Third Aunt, and all of you came back! I thought Jingfu was lying to me! Come in and have a seat, it’s cold outside." Mrs. Ji said happily.

The family group walked together towards the main hall.

As they walked, Mrs. Liu asked, "Where are the eldest uncle and eldest aunt? How are they doing?"

"It’s been cold these past days and both of their legs have been hurting. I was worried about them falling, so I told them to lie on the kang bed and not to move around too much. I think they have heard the commotion and should be getting up about now."

Indeed, Shen Renfu and Mrs. Shen Lin had already dressed and came out.

After everyone greeted each other, Shen Renfu asked, "Didn’t Chengyao come back? Why did he let you come back by yourself with the children during such a cold spell?"

These were caring words, that made Mrs. Liu feel warm. She said with a smile, "The children’s father is tied up with official duties, but he is on his way home now. My mother is turning fifty this year, so I came back with the children first."

"You are a good child! It must have been difficult for you to be so filial. It’s such a long journey that even if you didn’t come back, no one would blame you." Upon hearing that Mrs. Liu had come to celebrate her mother-in-law’s birthday, Mrs. Shen Lin praised her.

Mrs. Liu smiled, "I’ve been away for so many years and missed home so much. When I found an excuse to come back, I just dropped everything and came straight back."

"You child!" Mrs. Shen Lin shook her head and laughed. She then turned to look at Xiao’er and her siblings and praised each one.

"These must be Xiao’er and Yun’er. You’ve grown up so beautifully. I believe it should be the time for you to have a coming-of-age ceremony next year. Do you have someone in mind you’d like to marry?"

"Yes, they’re already engaged. Xiao’er is engaged to Young Master Shangguan and Yun’er is engaged to Brother Ri."

Young Master Shangguan? Mrs. Shen Lin thought for a moment, recalling a handsome youth in a purple robe, and nodded her head: "Both are good boys."

At that moment they were unaware of the true identities of Shangguan Xuanyi and Brother Ri. When they found out later, they were so shocked that their jaws dropped.

The family cried out that they never thought the Shen family would have two golden phoenixes! It seemed like their ancestors’ graves were really blowing out green smoke!

Looking at the baby Xiao Jingzhe in Mrs. Liu’s arms, Shen Renfu complimented, "This is Chengyao’s newest addition, this child is so beautiful. I have never seen a baby this adorable in all my years! Come, let granduncle hold you."

Mrs. Liu handed Xiao Jingzhe to Shen Renfu and both elders marveled at the sight of this chubby grandnephew, not blinking an eye.

"Come, it’s chilly outside, have some hot tea first." Mrs. Ji carried in a tray of tea.