Bride Swap Backfire: My Cousin's Rebirth Made Us a Power Couple-Chapter 26 - 23: Hocus-Pocus

Just as the old madam entered the kitchen, Chen Lin was raising a hand as large as a cattail fan, about to bring it down on Chen Wanyue’s face.

’This will not do!’

Mr. Li might be coming to meet Wanyue any day now. If she showed up with a bruised and swollen face, it wouldn’t just be her own disgrace; they, the elders, would lose face as well.

They had come so far; this was the final step. If her looks were ruined, earning Mr. Li’s disapproval and wrecking the marriage, this girl was capable of flying into a rage and grabbing a knife to attack someone.

The old madam shouted until her voice cracked, her heart leaping into her throat with anxiety.

"Stop him! Mrs. Li, you have to stop him!"

Even without the old madam’s cry, Mrs. Li had already turned and pulled Chen Wanyue’s head into her arms.

The hand came whistling down. With a pained "AH!", Mrs. Li’s neatly coiled bun was struck apart, and the lotus-carved wooden hairpin in it went flying out of sight.

Her head swam, and for a moment, she saw stars.

The kitchen descended into chaos. The old madam tried to break up the fight while Mrs. Li, fighting through her own discomfort, pulled at Chen Wanyue to keep her out of the fray. Chen Lin, meanwhile, acted like a tyrant in his tiny kingdom, furiously punching and kicking to assert his authority.

While it was bedlam inside, Chen Dachang, who had been puffing away on his long-stemmed pipe outside, finally spoke in a raspy voice. "Stop the fighting. You’re going to attract the neighbors."

His simple words had a surprisingly potent effect, and the kitchen fell quiet.

But dinner was completely off the table for tonight.

Bowls and chopsticks were scattered across the floor, and everyone’s clothes and shoes were a mess.

The old madam, muttering curses, was the first to leave the kitchen.

The entire family went to change their clothes, taking the opportunity to cool down.

A short time later, summoned by the old madam, they all gathered in her and Chen Dachang’s room.

The room was dim. A single kerosene lamp cast a feeble glow, making the expressions on everyone’s faces flicker in the uncertain light.

The old madam glanced around, taking in everyone’s expressions, then cleared her throat and began to put a spin on Chen Wanyue’s behavior.

She didn’t mention Chen Wanyue’s strange premonition, instead claiming that she herself was the one who had the dream.

Her decision was based on three considerations.

First, it would reduce the risk of exposing Wanyue.

Second, it would prevent her third son and his wife, who would cast aside all principle for profit, from trying to win Wanyue over to their side.

Third, she was getting old, and her authority in the family was waning. Her status as matriarch was no longer enough to keep her ambitious third son in line. With this "prophetic dream from a bodhisattva," no matter how much he resented her for controlling the family’s Silver, he would have to hold his tongue and accept it.

The old madam recounted her story in detail, starting from how the family of "Big Buckteeth" was gored by a wild boar. She then explained how a bodhisattva had informed her that Wanyue’s future husband would repeatedly fail his examinations. In contrast, Li Cun, who had studied at the Zhao Family’s estate years ago, would become the first scholar in their Qingshui County.

After hearing this, Chen Lin and his wife looked utterly scornful.

They clearly didn’t believe a word of it. After all, it sounded ridiculous.

"A dream from a bodhisattva, really? Did this bodhisattva happen to tell you about Wo Laicai murdering that merchant and hiding the body in his basement wall?"

The old madam shot her son a sideways glare, showing the whites of her eyes. "What the hell does Wo Laicai have to do with our family? The bodhisattva only tells me things that concern us. Even if the bodhisattva mentioned things that don’t, I wouldn’t be bothered to listen..."

Chen Lin gave a cynical smirk, crossing his legs as he faced his mother. "The incident with Big Buckteeth’s family happened a month ago. Now you’re telling me the bodhisattva told you about it way back then, you just didn’t take it seriously? What am I supposed to think? I’m going to think you’re messing with me, treating me like a three-year-old. So how about this, Mother: if you really want me to believe you’ve caught a bodhisattva’s eye, have them send you another dream about something that hasn’t happened yet. It had better be about treasure, too. Your son here doesn’t have any grand ambitions in life. I just want to get rich overnight so I can stop selling flatbread on the street for a living."

With that, Chen Lin kicked out his leg to stand, spat on the floor, and started to walk out.

"Until I can confirm whether you’re telling the truth, you’d better keep that little monster of yours in line. If she dares spout any more nonsense, I’ll beat her half to death."

After Chen Lin left, Mrs. Li glanced at the old madam sitting in the seat of honor and couldn’t help but sigh.

She said nothing, but her eyes spoke volumes. ’You’re at your age, why tell a lie like this? When you can’t make it convincing, won’t that be even more humiliating?’

The sight made the old madam so furious her nose practically went crooked.

When only she and Chen Wanyue were left in the room, she seized her granddaughter’s hand.

"For the sake of your marriage, your grandmother has done something truly absurd. My dear girl, do you remember anything else that’s supposed to happen soon? If you can’t, my lie will fall apart, your parents will never agree, and your marriage to Li Cun will be impossible."

Chen Wanyue’s mind was a complete mess, her head buzzing.

"Let me think, let me think hard... What was it? I can’t... No, I remember!!!"

Chen Wanyue’s eyes flew open. She grabbed the old madam’s hand, her whole body trembling.

"It’s supposed to happen tonight. I remember it clearly. It was right after the big market day. A few of the village kids were playing on the mountain, and they chased a rabbit farther and farther astray. What was his name... Shusheng! That’s right, Mr. Qu’s grandson, Shusheng. He falls into a trap set for wild animals."

Back then, the village chief had mobilized the entire village to look for him. They searched for most of the night before finally finding him in an old, abandoned trap. But from too much blood loss, Shusheng was already gone by the time they got him to the physician’s clinic.

Chen Wanyue suddenly shuddered.

Come to think of it, this incident was connected to her family, because her second younger brother, Taian, had been in that group of children chasing the rabbit.

But those brats couldn’t catch the rabbit, so they all went home together, not even noticing that one of them was missing.

After Shusheng’s tragic death, a feud had started between their families and Mr. Qu’s.

Mrs. Qu had been sick for a month over it. Once she was well enough to leave her house, she would sit in front of their homes day and night, just cursing at them. She had gone half-mad, like a lunatic.

’You can’t really argue with a lunatic, can you?’

Besides, they knew they were in the wrong. Back then, it was a bitter pill for their families to swallow; the resentment was endless.

That was also why, when Zhao Jing’s family came to propose marriage, she had seen it as her chance to escape a sea of suffering and had agreed immediately.

Chen Wanyue haltingly recounted the story. When she finished, the old madam began to tremble so violently she couldn’t control her own limbs.

’This is a human life at stake!’

No matter how much the adults complained that their children were good-for-nothing, they were still their own flesh and blood. For parents to have to bury their own child... if they didn’t raise hell, it was only out of extreme restraint.

The old madam’s voice trembled. "Get your father and mother! Quick, hurry!"

Chen Lin was none too pleased about being called back.

But the sight of his mother, drenched in sweat with a deathly pale face, looking as if she’d been possessed by a demon, gave him a fright.

Before Chen Lin could speak, the old madam cut in. "The bodhisattva just gave me guidance..."

"You just saw the bodhisattva?"

’Doesn’t look like it,’ he thought. ’Bodhisattvas are supposed to be benevolent; they wouldn’t scare you like this. You look more like you’ve seen a demon.’

The old madam paid no mind to what Chen Lin was thinking. In a single rush, she repeated everything Wanyue had just told her.

Finally, she glanced at the sky outside and urged her son and his wife with a trembling hand, "Shou’an isn’t back yet. Go look for him. Check the neighbors’ houses, then search the mountain... See if Shusheng is also missing... Go, quickly! After you confirm this, you’ll know whether your old mother is just playing at being a prophet!"