Although the decision to move the grave had been made, it was currently the first lunar month. According to folk customs, the first lunar month was the "month of double funerals" and it was inauspicious to break ground.
Fu Zhen had no choice but to be patient and wait until the first lunar month was over.
After the third day of the Lunar New Year, more and more people came to pay New Year greetings.
The Chen family's relatives were not very close. It was only during the Chinese New Year that there were more interactions. Fu Zhen was taken by Lady Bai to meet a bunch of aunts. She was so dizzy from trying to remember them all.
Since it was the time for New Year greetings, there were inevitably younger generations. They were about the same age as Fu Zhen, and they would occasionally exchange a few words. But since they rarely saw each other, their conversations were just polite greetings. Any attempt to go deeper would feel a bit awkward.
Fu Zhen chatted with a polite smile for a couple of sentences. When she noticed that the other person had nothing more to say, she tactfully walked away.
Only when she reached a corner did she heave a sigh of relief.
Suddenly, a voice came from behind: "Cousin."
She was startled. Turning around, she glared at Chen Tingfeng, who had approached silently: "Don't talk behind me in the future!"
Chen Tingfeng smiled: "Cousin is so domineering."
Fu Zhen gave a soft snort and led him two steps further into the corner. Coincidentally, there was an arched gateway in front to block them from view.
She rubbed her face and complained: "My face is about to freeze from smiling."
At this moment, she realized the advantage of Chen Tingfeng always keeping a cold face. At least during festivals, he didn't have to smile politely. People were used to his cold face and even praised his imposing manner as the heir of the Marquis Mansion.
Chen Tingfeng reached out to help her rub her face. He kneaded it gently like kneading dough, looking quite pleased: "You don't have to be so polite. They're not important people anyway. If you don't want to smile, then don't. No one dares to say anything to you."
She had been favored in the Marquis Mansion for quite a while. Now everyone knew that the Marquis Mansion treated this cousin girl like their own daughter, and they were all envious.
The collateral relatives who came to the Marquis Mansion to pay New Year greetings were all good at reading the situation. Seeing how favored she was, even if they had objections, they could only keep them to themselves.
Fu Zhen got annoyed by his kneading and opened her mouth to bite him. Who would have thought that Chen Tingfeng didn't move at all. He even stopped his hand there, as if he was just waiting to be bitten. Fu Zhen stopped. He raised his eyebrows, as if wondering why she didn't bite.
Fu Zhen rolled her eyes at him and poked his chest with a fake smile: "Cousin, have some self - respect."
Chen Tingfeng bent down and pressed his face against hers, chuckling: "Alright, I've got my face back."
Fu Zhen glared at him angrily. Was he saying she was thick - skinned?!
He let out a couple of muffled laughs and reached out to pull her into his arms. The two embraced gently in this quiet place, enjoying a moment of leisure.
But they didn't know that someone in the front courtyard was actually talking about them. To be more precise, they were talking about Fu Zhen.
That lady used to be very close to Chen Huanyun's family. It was only after Chen Huanyun's scandal broke out that they gradually drifted apart.
Today, she came with the intention of just getting her daughter and son familiar with the Marquis Mansion. If they could make some connections, that would be even better, as her son's official career was just around the corner.
However, after chatting there for a long time, she didn't see Chen Tingfeng.
Even that orphan girl, Fu Zhen, who used to follow Lady Bai, was nowhere to be seen.
She wondered in her heart. Could it be that the two of them were together?
But then she thought it was impossible.
She was just an orphan. Even if she was favored by Chen Xuan and Bai Ruochu, it was not certain that she could catch Chen Tingfeng's eye. After all, Chen Tingfeng was even more difficult to deal with than Chen Xuan.
Thinking like this, she still felt a bit uncomfortable in her heart. Seeing that there was an opening beside Bai Ruochu, she rolled her eyes and moved closer: "Sister - in - law."
Lady Bai turned to look at her. It was the short - sighted main wife of the fifth branch. Considering that her husband was still a sensible person, she responded with a cold face, which could be regarded as giving her a good look.
Zheng Yi, the fifth - branch lady, smiled at her. Her tone seemed very familiar: "Why don't I see the heir? Does he have something important to do today?"
Thinking of her son, Lady Bai's expression softened a bit. She replied politely: "What important things could there be in the first lunar month? He tends to be lazy in winter. Maybe he's hiding in a corner to find some peace."
She guessed right, but only half right.
He wasn't alone in his peace.
Moreover, even if the surroundings were peaceful, his heart might not be.
Zheng Yi didn't really want to know this. She smiled and flattered: "The heir is young. Maybe he doesn't like to be with us women. It's normal."
"Just why don't I see Zhenzhen? She was here just now."
Hearing this, Lady Bai also looked around the courtyard. Seeing that she was really gone, she immediately seemed to be deep in thought.
It was okay that her son was missing. After all, he was always mysterious. But that Zhenzhen was also missing... She must have been lured away by her naughty son!
Her expression changed. Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed Zheng Yi's smiling but somewhat strange expression. She gradually became vigilant in her heart.
Don't let this be another mother like Chen Huanyun's.
"I saw that she was a bit tired just now, so I sent her to rest. Do you need something from her, sister - in - law?" she asked indifferently, looking at her meaningfully.
Zheng Yi showed an understanding look: "Girls are inevitably a bit delicate. It's understandable... She's been in the Marquis Mansion for about a year, right?"
"... Sister - in - law, what do you want to ask?" Lady Bai said with a half - smile.
Zheng Yi was taken aback and showed a guilty look: "Sister - in - law misunderstood. I don't have any dirty thoughts. It's just that I think Zhenzhen is of marriageable age. My girls are all looking for husbands. Sister - in - law loves her so much. Why haven't you found a good husband for her earlier?"
"Zhenzhen had a hard life in the first half of her life. We should choose a husband for her more carefully." She pouted, as if she really thought so.
Lady Bai turned her head, her eyes flashing.
Why would she need this woman to worry about it? Her son had already claimed the girl. If she really showed any sign of finding a husband for Fu Zhen, the Marquis Mansion would be turned upside down by that rascal the next day.
She smiled faintly: "It's precisely because Zhenzhen had a hard time before that I don't want her to get married too early. I want to keep her for a few more years. After all, once a girl gets married, she becomes someone else's daughter - in - law. It's not as free as being at home."
These words left Zheng Yi speechless. Since Lady Bai said it was for Fu Zhen's own good, what else could she say?
She pondered for a moment and then suddenly said: "Sister - in - law is so intelligent and thoughtful. You've considered things more comprehensively than I have. I'm really ashamed. But a daughter gets married off. It's normal for sister - in - law not to want that. But the heir is going to marry. He'll bring someone else's daughter into the family. Haven't you ever thought about that, sister - in - law?"
She had thought about it. Two years ago, she had planned to arrange a marriage for Chen Tingfeng, but he didn't want it. He either said he wouldn't marry until he had achievements in his career or that there was no one in the capital that he fancied. That's why it had been delayed until now.
But now it was all good. Lady Bai showed a bit of a smile. Her daughter and son were together, which directly solved two marriage matters and saved her a lot of trouble!