Bride Swap Backfire: My Cousin's Rebirth Made Us a Power Couple-Chapter 18 - 15: Delivering the Incense

Zhao Jing became the center of everyone’s conversation the moment he boarded the ox cart.

First, Dashan told him that with the weather turning cold, walking to and from the county town would be too miserable. He insisted that Zhao Jing take his ox cart from now on.

He added that while his father had found his own release by leaving, it had made life difficult for Zhao Jing. Not only did he have to support his mother and sister, but he also had to pursue his studies.

A mountain of responsibility had fallen on his shoulders, yet he hadn’t buckled. He’d even found work copying books for a bookshop to support his family. Many men well over fifty, Dashan said, couldn’t compare to his capability.

Dashan recited this same speech whenever he saw Zhao Jing. Anyone who regularly rode his ox cart was guaranteed to hear it, so no one was surprised anymore.

As soon as Dashan finally finished his spiel, Xiulan chimed in, "Jing, I heard the old madam from the Chen family went to your house yesterday. What’s this about? Are things getting serious between you and the young lady from the third branch of the Chen family?"

As she spoke, she glanced at Xu Suying and Chen Wanqing. "Don’t let her age fool you—your family’s old madam sure has a lot of energy. She went to Jing’s house yesterday morning, then walked all the way to the county town in the afternoon. I don’t think even we have that kind of stamina."

Xu Suying thought, ’That’s because you don’t know she ran over to our house first thing yesterday morning. If you knew that, you’d be even more impressed by her incredible stamina.’

Lianhua added, "It would be good for Jing to marry soon. Once he’s married and has some help at home, he’ll be able to breathe a little easier. And once there are children, your mother will have something to look forward to. Her health is bound to improve then. Oh, Jing, put that basket you’re holding onto the cart. It must be heavy to carry."

Zhao Jing finally had a chance to speak. "It’s fine. It’s just a few books, not heavy at all."

"Put it on the cart anyway. It’s not crowded today, so there’s plenty of room."

Dashan urged him as well, so Zhao Jing had no choice but to pass the small basket behind him. "Miss Chen, would you mind holding this for me?"

Chen Wanqing smiled, her lips curving. "Don’t worry, I won’t let anything spill."

Xu Suying secretly tugged her daughter’s sleeve. ’What a fine young man Jing is,’ she thought. ’Sitting next to my Qing’er, they couldn’t possibly be a better match.’

It was unclear what time Zhao Jing had left his home, but he had come on foot, and a light mist clung to his brow and lashes. He looked as if he were shrouded in the misty rains of a Jiangnan spring—so elegant and striking, like an ink wash painting that even the finest brush and paper could not capture, compelling one to look at him again and again.

The people on the cart continued to chat, some asking about Mrs. Zhao’s health, some about a potential wedding date, and others about when Zhao Jing’s period of mourning would end.

Zhao Jing answered what he could and deftly changed the subject when he couldn’t.

His replies were polite and measured, his every word and action elegant and proper. Needless to say, both Xiulan and Lianhua were lamenting that this young man was not their own son or grandson.

Comparing Zhao Jing to her own De’an, Xu Suying couldn’t help but think that comparisons were truly odious.

Zhao Jing had often visited their home in the past, and she had interacted with him many times. Even back then, she had found the young man to be a rare find. In looks, temperament, and character, he stood out as one of the finest people she had ever met.

Looking at him now, she felt that on top of his steadiness and diligence, he now also possessed astuteness, sincerity, humility, and generosity.

’If such a fine young man doesn’t become my son-in-law,’ she mused, ’it will be the greatest regret of my life.’

The ox cart groaned and creaked on its way to the county town, arriving at the gates in about ten minutes.

Dashan had a standing rule: he always headed home before noon. Anyone wanting a ride back would have to be waiting at the cart’s spot before then.

Since time wasn’t too tight, Xu Suying and her daughter weren’t in a rush.

And since the county town had only one main road where most of the shops were located, the group would be walking together for a little while longer.

Zhao Jing, however, was headed for a bookshop in a quiet corner near the county school, so he bid farewell to the others and departed first, his basket on his back.

Not long after Zhao Jing left, Xiulan and Mrs. Hehua arrived at the fabric shop they usually frequented.

Xu Suying and her daughter were the only ones left. They walked a little farther until, on a less bustling street, they saw a small shop with a black plaque hanging over the door.

The plaque bore the two words "Qingxiang House." Upon closer inspection, the large, gilt characters were rendered with sharp, powerful strokes, flowing like clouds and water, giving the sign an air of refined character.

This was the very plaque Xu Suying had received from Zhao Jing in exchange for a pair of shoes she had insisted he take.

The gold-flecked characters glittered in the sunlight, looking more and more pleasing with every glance.

As for the name, it was inspired by a line of poetry: "The warm fragrance from the censer permeates all..." The name was easy on the tongue and carried a lovely meaning—one that Chen Wanqing had spent several months carefully pondering before settling on. 𝑓𝘳𝘦𝑒𝑤𝑒𝘣𝘯ℴ𝘷𝘦𝓁.𝑐𝑜𝑚

The mother-daughter pair unlocked the shop and went inside to get busy.

Having not been to the shop in several days, they found the counters inside covered in a fine layer of dust.

One grabbed a damp cloth and began wiping everything down, while the other reopened the display cases to carefully inspect the incense for any damage.

They had just finished these chores when a shadow fell across the doorway. Chen Wanqing glanced up to see the regular customer who had placed a large order for Dream Spirit Fragrance.

Xu Suying naturally went to greet the customer. She then confirmed the quantity and quality of the incense before collecting the payment.

And just like that, the transaction was quickly completed.

There was still a box of Moonlight Fragrance, also set aside for a regular. Coincidentally, the customer who had ordered it was none other than the person who employed Zhao Jing to copy books—the shopkeeper of Moxiang Pavilion, a bookstore near the county school.

The shopkeeper would buy the Moonlight Fragrance, keeping some for his family to use and reselling the rest to students from the nearby county school at a small markup.

The agreed-upon pickup time had already passed, but the customer had yet to arrive. After discussing it with her mother, Chen Wanqing decided to deliver it herself.

The two of them closed up the shop again and headed toward Moxiang Pavilion together.

Due to their striking beauty, the mother and daughter always wore veiled hats when they went out. While this didn’t entirely prevent curious glances from strangers, those stares were merely inquisitive, not leering or overtly astonished, which made them bearable.

Chen Wanqing had been to Moxiang Pavilion several times before, so she found her way there with ease.

Peeking inside, she saw that the bookstore was quiet, with only Jing and the shopkeeper talking. "There’s no one else inside," Chen Wanqing told her mother. "I can go in by myself. Mom, why don’t you go see Yao’an?"

Yao’an’s private school was just nearby. The boy hadn’t been home in half a month, and while his mother feigned annoyance when talking about him, she actually missed him dearly.

Chen Wanqing watched her mother head toward the school, carrying newly purchased soy-sauce duck, osmanthus cakes, and winter melon pastries. Only then did she step into Moxiang Pavilion.

At the sound of movement from the entrance, both the shopkeeper and Zhao Jing looked over.

Upon seeing the visitor in the familiar veiled hat, the shopkeeper first smiled, then seemed to recall something and slapped his forehead in frustration.

"Is it the sixteenth of the tenth month today? Oh, dear, look at me, I’ve lost all track of time. The big market was yesterday, so of course it’s the sixteenth today! And I completely forgot about our arrangement for pickup. Miss Chen, I’m so sorry to have you run all the way over here to deliver the incense. Thank you so much for the trouble."

As Chen Wanqing approached, Zhao Jing turned slightly to face her.

Just as she was about to shrug the basket off her shoulder, he reached out and steadied it with both hands.

"Careful, Miss Chen. Let me."

"There’s no need to trouble you, Jing. It’s a small thing, I can manage."

"Let me. This basket is quite heavy... Miss Chen, had I known you were also delivering to Mr. Wang, I would have simply brought the fragrances over for you."

"Well, I didn’t expect the esteemed Mr. Wang to be so busy, and to be held up by you, no less..."

"So, you’re saying this is my fault, then."

"Exactly."

Zhao Jing smiled. "Then let my punishment be to make the delivery for you next time, Miss Chen."