Bride Swap Backfire: My Cousin's Rebirth Made Us a Power Couple-Chapter 61 - 44: Betrothal (4)

So much had happened that day, it was mentally and physically draining.

Chen Wanqing was utterly spent, both in body and mind. Her eyelids were heavy, yet her mind was stubbornly clear, refusing to rest.

Her mother was fast asleep beside her, her breathing long since even and steady, but Chen Wanqing still couldn’t find sleep.

The air, cold and damp after the rain, was filled with the occasional, desolate cries of birds and insects.

The sky was moonless and the room was pitch-dark. The sheer emptiness of the world around her was unnerving.

Drifting in a daze, she suddenly heard soft, furtive sounds from outside. The government officials staying at their house were awake.

The big, burly men, stepping out from their warm beds into the cold, stark courtyard, couldn’t help but start cursing under their breath.

Chen Wanqing also heard her father stir. He went to the kitchen to fill the men’s waterskins with the hot water he’d kept warm in the pot before seeing them off.

About ten minutes after that group had gone, another one arrived.

Everyone did their best to keep their voices down, but Xu Su Ying was a light sleeper and was disturbed nonetheless.

She mumbled, "What time is it?"

"It’s still early. The second watch just ended. Go back to sleep, Mom."

Hearing this, Xu Su Ying’s muddled thoughts cleared, and she became much more awake.

"Qing’er, you haven’t been to sleep at all?"

"I just can’t seem to fall asleep, Mom."

"Oh, you silly girl. It’s not such a big deal, but you’ve taken it to heart. Alright now, stop thinking. Go to sleep. We can talk about it in the morning."

As she spoke, she gently stroked her daughter’s hair.

Chen Wanqing breathed in her mother’s faint, comforting scent as the small courtyard fell silent once more. Her own breathing gradually fell into sync with the rhythm of the night, and she finally drifted off to sleep.

The next morning, Chen Wanqing was woken by her mother’s call.

It had rained the day before, making today even colder. A delicate layer of frost decorated the windowpanes, and the moment Chen Wanqing sat up, she shivered from the chill.

Any lingering sleepiness in Chen Wanqing’s eyes vanished instantly.

The room was bright with daylight, but the courtyard was silent. Chen Wanqing took the warm little jacket her mother offered her and asked, "Have Dad and the others already gone to Xiaoao Mountain? Mom, it’s so late. Why did you only just wake me?"

"Well, who was it that went to bed so late last night? It’s fine. There’s nothing urgent, so think of the extra sleep as you recovering your strength."

She said it was nothing urgent, but just as Chen Wanqing finished breakfast and was about to clear the dishes, Xu Su Ying spoke again. "Jing is waiting for you in Mrs. Zhao’s backyard. The two of you should have a proper talk. Whatever concerns you have, make them clear to him. I hope this marriage works out, and so do the Chen and Zhao families, but ultimately, the decision is yours. Qing’er, just go see him. Even if it’s just for show, consider it a way of giving everyone an answer. What do you say?"

Feeling as though she were being forced into a corner, Chen Wanqing buried her face in her hands. For a moment, she didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.

After a long moment, her mind in a jumble, she finally managed a reply. "Alright."

As Chen Wanqing headed out, Chen De’an trailed right behind her, sticking to her like glue.

"Don’t you have studies to attend to? Why are you following me?"

"Well, I can’t study all the time! I have to take a break, or my brain will turn to mush..."

"You won’t get dizzy from that. But after missing so many days of lessons, when you go back to the academy, your teacher will probably lecture you until your head spins."

The siblings were still chatting as they arrived at Mrs. Zhao’s house.

Only Mrs. Zhao was home, sweeping the courtyard. As for the rest of her family, Mr. Zhao had gone to his private plot, and she had sent her two sons off with their own families early that morning to visit their in-laws.

Mrs. Zhao looked overjoyed to see the two siblings at her door.

While calling De’an over to help her get down some dried chili peppers hanging from a roof beam, she said to Chen Wanqing, "Qing’er, dear, I’ve harvested the white radishes in my backyard. Go pick a few to take home in a basket. You can stew them with meat, add some glass noodles, cabbage, and red chilis—it’s a truly wonderful dish that’ll have you asking for more rice."

De’an did not approve of Mrs. Zhao’s cooking style at all. Her family put chili in everything, and just looking at it made his mouth burn.

’How could anyone eat that without getting a sore throat?’

That’s what he thought, but he didn’t dare say it aloud, afraid Mrs. Zhao would start nagging him.

While those two chattered away animatedly, Chen Wanqing followed Mrs. Zhao’s gaze and headed toward the backyard.

Mr. Zhao’s house had nearly the same layout as Chen Wanqing’s. It featured three main south-facing rooms, with a kitchen to the east and a wing room to the west.