Bride Swap Backfire: My Cousin's Rebirth Made Us a Power Couple-Chapter 54 - 41: Betrothal (Part 1)

Just then, Chen Wanqing emerged from the west room, and at the same time, the constables resting in the east room also came out, having straightened their clothes.

The three Chen family elders had already heard that the government officials were coming down from the mountain, so they weren’t too surprised to see them.

However, being poor commoners, they were all wary of dealing with officials. After a nervous greeting, they urged the men to hurry back to their rooms to rest.

Chen Song waved to his colleagues. "You’ve all had a long day. Go on and get some sleep. You have to head up the mountain to relieve the guard after midnight. This is just a small family matter, don’t worry about me."

"Alright, we’re heading to bed then. We won’t come out later to see your uncles off."

"We’re all family here. No need to be so formal."

The constables all returned to the east room and didn’t emerge again.

The sound of thunderous snores from the east room soon filled the air, somewhat breaking the awkward tension in the main hall.

But the reprieve was short-lived. A moment later, Chen Song’s shocked and furious voice erupted from within. "You want my daughter to fill the hole Wanyue dug? I won’t allow it!"

Chen Dalong looked ashamed. "Dasong, it’s not that your uncle wants to make things difficult for you. It’s just that... we’ve offended the Zhao Family this time. I’m afraid life will be hard for the Chen clan in the Zhao Village from now on."

Chen Song clenched his fists. "Even if life gets hard, we’re not using my daughter to fix this mess. This is the disaster my mother created. If someone has to make amends, then have my mother and Third Brother’s family go apologize."

Chen Song looked toward Chen Dachang. Sensing his son’s gaze, Chen Dachang puffed on his long-stemmed pipe and turned his body to face away toward the doorway.

The evasive gesture couldn’t have been more obvious, and for a moment, Chen Song was so furious he felt like he could keel over.

’Why did I even expect my father to do anything?’

’If this father of mine had any backbone, he wouldn’t have let me suffer at the hands of my stepmother, and he certainly wouldn’t have allowed my wife and I to be cast out with nothing to our names.’

’I’d be better off with no father at all!’

Chen Dalong and Chen Dasheng saw the exchange between father and son, and they sighed in frustration. They shouldn’t have brought their older brother along; he was more of a hindrance than a help.

The two men tried again, pleading earnestly, but Chen Song just gritted his teeth and refused to budge.

He actually thought highly of Zhao Jing, and his wife had even considered snatching up this opportunity to form a tie with the Zhao Family. But he only had one daughter. Other people might promise their daughter to two different families for the sake of her prospects, but how could he bear to let his own daughter’s marriage be a reluctant compromise, a sacrifice just to smooth things over between two surnames?

If his daughter were to marry Zhao Jing, it would not be as "compensation" actively offered up by the Chen family. It would have to be the Zhao Family elders coming to his door in person to request the marriage. Only after they had exhausted every flattering word would he even consider parting with his beloved daughter.

Perhaps that would have been achievable before, but now it was a bit more difficult.

After all, the main family branch had been too outrageous. They didn’t just break the engagement; they promised the girl to another family *before* breaking it. What was that, if not a deliberate slap in the face?

Anyone with an ounce of self-respect would want nothing more to do with the Chen family.

To make matters worse, his daughter was, in name, that old woman’s granddaughter, and he was forced to call that same woman "Mother."

Chen Dalong and Chen Dasheng sang Zhao Jing’s praises, adding that Mrs. Zhao was magnanimous and that Zhao Jing’s sister was innocent and kind. They insisted Wanqing would surely have a good life if she married into their family.

They even used the old woman’s argument from earlier that day, saying that once vicious rumors started to spread, there was no telling what they would become. Before long, they feared, people might even be saying that Zhao Jing and Wanqing were already married.

With Wanqing’s reputation ruined, who else could she marry? The best strategy, they argued, was to go along with the rumors and marry Zhao Jing now.

In truth, if his two uncles hadn’t brought up that last point, Chen Song might have subtly hinted that the key to making a match between Wanqing and Zhao Jing wasn’t whether he and his wife agreed. The crucial factor was the Zhao Family’s attitude.

As long as the Zhao Family elders came to his door to formally request the marriage, he would certainly agree.

But now, they had to go and touch a raw nerve. It was enough to make Chen Song’s blood boil.

So he shut his mouth. ’Fine, let them do whatever they want.’

’If the Zhao Family wants to hold a grudge against the Chen clan, then let them!’

’Anyway, I work for the county government. Even if the Zhao Family and the Chen family have a complete falling out, they won’t dare to do the same with me.’

’Besides, in a year or so, my family and I will be moving to the county seat anyway.’

’When that time comes, who gives a damn about the Zhaos or the Chens? They could beat each other to a bloody pulp, and I wouldn’t even bother to respond to the call!’

Just as Chen Song was dwelling on these dark thoughts, a voice called out from the courtyard. "Is Chen Song home?"

The voice was raspy yet carried an air of authority, sounding deep and powerful. Who else could it be but Mr. Zhao?

Everyone in the room—Chen Song and the Chen family elders included—scrambled to their feet.

Chen Song strode quickly toward the door, calling out a loud reply. "Mr. Zhao, I’m here! Uncle, oh my, and Auntie! Second Uncle, Second Auntie! What brings you all here?"

"Suying! Wanqing! Come over here and help the two Aunties. The courtyard is wet and slippery; don’t let them trip and hurt themselves."