Bride Swap Backfire: My Cousin's Rebirth Made Us a Power Couple-Chapter 55 - 42: Betrothal (Part 2)

Xu Suying and Chen Wanqing hurried out from the west room.

When they reached them, one supported the short, kindly Mrs. Zhao, while the other held the arm of the other Mrs. Zhao, a woman who walked with a vigorous stride.

As fate would have it, the foundation of Mr. Zhao’s family’s previous home had been washed away by the river, forcing them to find a new place to build. After careful consideration, they chose a plot of land right next to Chen Song’s family.

Over the years, the two families had gotten along exceptionally well.

This was especially true after Chen Wanqing was born. Since she was their first child, Chen Song and Xu Suying had no experience. Whenever the baby broke out in a rash, wouldn’t stop wailing, or threw up after eating, the anxious couple didn’t know what to do and always turned to the other Mrs. Zhao for help.

Back then, Xu Suying didn’t know how to make shoes. Every year she would go to the other Mrs. Zhao for lessons, but she could never seem to get it right, which infuriated the woman. She would scold her, "You’re such a bright girl, but your hands are as clumsy as your feet! I don’t care if you two go barefoot, but our little Wanqing? For her to have no shoes to wear—now that would be a real tragedy."

Scolding all the while, she would quietly make shoes for their entire family.

Xu Suying was grateful for the woman’s tough exterior and warm heart, and she grew even closer to her. To put it plainly, Xu Suying treated the other Mrs. Zhao almost like her own mother-in-law.

"It’s so late, why have you come over at this hour? If you needed something, you could have just sent word. I would have been happy to come to you."

The other Mrs. Zhao replied, "Our houses are right next to each other. It’s just a few steps away. I’m in good health; it’s no trouble at all. Oh, and you make sure you support Mrs. Zhao properly. Her old bones ache in this damp, rainy weather. We can’t have her taking a fall."

She then took Chen Wanqing’s hand, rubbing it again and again in her own palm, her eyes curving into joyful crescents.

"Our dear Wanqing... The more I look at you, the more I adore you. I used to think it was such a shame we weren’t fated to be family. But now I believe some things are just meant to be. When fate comes knocking, there’s no stopping it."

After uttering these cryptic words, the other Mrs. Zhao pulled Chen Wanqing up the steps.

Once at the top of the steps, the other Mrs. Zhao saw clearly who the three men inside were. She lowered her gaze and let out a soft, deliberate snort.

Mrs. Zhao, however, knew this wasn’t the time for a confrontation. She simply raised an eyebrow in greeting. "Oh, everyone’s here?"

Chen Dalong and his two cousins all looked rather sheepish.

When you knew you were in the wrong, you couldn’t help but feel small in front of others.

They offered a quick greeting, then said, "You all go ahead and talk. We’ve been out for a while, so we should be getting back."

"Why are you leaving?" the other Mrs. Zhao said. "You’re taking off the moment we arrive. It makes it look like we’re chasing you away."

Mrs. Zhao tugged on her arm. "That’s enough out of you."

The other Mrs. Zhao muttered, "It’s a good thing I wasn’t here this afternoon. If I had been, I’d have slapped their faces swollen for the stunt they pulled!"

At a sharp glance from Mrs. Zhao, the other woman finally fell silent, though she was still fuming inwardly.

’The whole Chen clan is full of fools, except for Chen Song’s family!’

In the end, Chen Dachang and the other two men left.

Only the four Zhao elders and Chen Song’s family of four remained in the room.

Chen Wanqing and Chen De’an were sent out to boil water for tea. Once only the adults were left in the room, Mr. Zhao gave a slight cough and looked toward Mrs. Zhao. 𝐟𝚛𝕖𝚎𝕨𝗲𝐛𝚗𝐨𝐯𝐞𝕝.𝐜𝗼𝗺

’Proposing a marriage is a woman’s job,’ he thought. ’It just doesn’t feel right for a man like me to bring it up.’

Catching her husband’s cue, Mrs. Zhao cleared her throat.

Just then, the candle in the main room flared. With a sharp CRACKLE, it briefly lit up the space.

The atmosphere in the room had been quiet, but the sudden noise broke the somewhat tense silence.

Mrs. Zhao got straight to the point. "Dasong, Suying, the reason we’ve come visiting so late is... we’re here to propose a marriage."

"A proposal?"

"A proposal?"

Even though Chen Song and Xu Suying had their suspicions the moment the four elders arrived together, actually hearing them say the words still felt unreal.

The old matriarch had just humiliated the Zhao family that very day. After she’d done something so foolish, it would have been difficult to expect them not to hold a grudge.

But not only had the Zhao family not come to resent the Chen family or cut off all ties with them, they had actually sent the four highest-ranking elders of their clan to propose marriage that very night?

Was this really happening?

It felt like a dream!

Just a moment ago, Chen Song had been thinking that after the old matriarch’s terrible actions, making Zhao Jing his son-in-law would be difficult. But looking at things now, what difficulty was there?

They had raised their daughter well; of course someone who recognized her value would come asking for her hand.