He also mentioned that he was going to the county town tomorrow and would probably be taking Dashong’s carriage. Not knowing what time it would leave, he had come over early to wait.

Hearing this, Xu Su Ying immediately told him the departure time. "Our whole family is going to the county town tomorrow as well," she added. "Perfect, we can all go together."

Xu Su Ying had originally wanted to invite Zhao Jing to stay the night. They would be leaving early tomorrow, and she was worried he would get cold traveling from his house. 𝚏𝕣𝐞𝗲𝐰𝕖𝐛𝐧𝕠𝕧𝚎𝚕.𝐜𝚘𝗺

But on second thought, she swallowed her words.

Zhao Jing was engaged to Qing’er. People would inevitably get the wrong idea, and it wasn’t worth tarnishing the two youngsters’ reputations.

Besides, the Zhao Family’s home wasn’t that far from theirs; it was just a short walk away.

After Zhao Jing left, the Chen family began to eat dinner.

At the dinner table, Chen De’an was sighing, a melancholic look on his face.

His mother shot him a glare, telling him to stop making such a fuss.

De’an said, "Jing’s success in the Scholar exam is practically a sure thing. I’m nowhere near his level. I have no idea how I’ll do next year."

Xu Su Ying had known for a long time that Zhao Jing was a better student than De’an.

Firstly, Zhao Jing was highly talented. Secondly, Mr. Zhao was a Scholar, after all. He had personally started his son’s education, supervised his progress relentlessly for ten years, and offered a great deal of guidance.

If it weren’t for Mr. Zhao’s poor health, which delayed Zhao Jing’s participation in the imperial examinations, Zhao Jing would have become a Scholar three years ago.

Xu Su Ying said, "You’re comparing yourself upward to Jing’s academic ability instead of downward to those less capable than you. I’m very pleased about that; it shows you have ambition. But listen, son, everyone has their strengths and weaknesses. People in this world are all different. Some are naturally gifted at studying, so naturally, some are less so. But if you look at all the people who have ever passed the exams and earned a title, are they all geniuses? I don’t think so. The majority are likely ordinary people who studied diligently and practiced relentlessly."

"If you can’t match Jing’s talent, then you’ll just have to put in a hundred, a thousand times more effort. ’With enough persistence, an iron rod can be ground into a needle.’ You can do it, son. I believe in you. I’m sure you can come back as a Scholar next year, too."

Chen De’an sniffled. "Mom, you make it sound so good, you almost had me convinced. But then again, where did you learn to be so smooth with your words? It’s like you have a whole routine down. Mom... about your past... you really don’t remember any of it?"

Xu Su Ying’s expression changed in an instant. "Me, sweet-talking you? So you think my heartfelt words are a bunch of crap? Pah! What a waste of my good intentions. My origins are none of your damn business! All you need to remember is that your surname is Chen. Who gives a damn which son of a bitch my family is!"

’Son of a bitch...’

Chen De’an, Chen Yaoan, and their sister Chen Wanqing all fell silent.

’It seems our maternal grandparents’ family must have really pissed her off.’

’Could it be that Mom cut ties with her family, and with nowhere else to go, she threw herself into the river? Then Dad rescued her, and she married him?’

’It’s possible.’

’But not very likely.’

After all, their mother wasn’t the type to take a loss lying down. If someone provoked her, she’d risk her own life to make sure they didn’t get off easy. Rather than believing their mom threw herself into the river out of desperation, they were more inclined to believe someone else had thrown her in.

’But that doesn’t quite add up either. If Mom was the victim of a plot, how could she not have gotten her revenge?’

Not wanting the family to keep dwelling on her past, Xu Su Ying turned to Chen Wanqing. "I saw you making a purse today. It looked like it had osmanthus flowers on it. Was it for Jing?"

Everyone at the table looked over. Chen Wanqing’s cheeks grew hot for no reason, but she feigned composure and said, "It’s for Jing. The purse he carries has been worn for many years; it’s getting old."

"I understand, I understand. You don’t have to explain. Good girl. Now, eat up. After dinner, you can go back to your room and keep working on the purse."

After dinner, everyone went to their rooms to rest.

But Chen Wanqing didn’t rest. She was... making the purse.

The courtyard was quiet, with only the occasional sound of the wind and the RUSTLE of leaves being blown across the ground.

Suddenly, Chen Wanqing heard whispers from the room next door.

Xu Su Ying was complaining to Chen Song. "They’re all as sharp as monkeys. Sooner or later, they’re going to dig up every last secret I have."

"Let them dig. They’re our own children. What’s the harm if they find out?"

"Chen Song, listen to yourself. I bet it’s not the children who want to know, it’s you, isn’t it? Pah! I’m not telling you. You can just keep on wondering."

Chen Song sheepishly rubbed his nose, threw out the basin of foot-washing water, and went to bed.

’Who in the world has it as tough as me?’

’We’ve been married for over a decade, and our children are almost old enough to marry, but I don’t even know my wife’s real name or where the Yue Family is.’

’Then again, my wife is no ordinary person. After all, when I pulled her out of the water, the Jade Pendant on her waist was shattered, but she still had another one hidden at her breast.’

It was a piece of the finest mutton-fat jade, carved in the pattern of a ruyi cloud, with a red cord attached to it.

The white jade was warm and translucent. The ruyi clouds were layered and unfurling, their lines as graceful as flowing clouds. The entire Jade Pendant exuded a vibrant and refined elegance.

With just one glance, Chen Song could tell that this was absolutely not something an ordinary person could afford.