Without realizing it, Chen Wanyue had spoken her thoughts aloud.

"Can’t enter the examination hall? Who can’t enter? Why not? Is it because of illness, or does someone have to observe a mourning period for a death in the family? Yue’er, what are you talking about?"

Chen Wanyue gripped her mother’s arm again. "You mentioned a mourning period?"

"Yes, mourning. During the mourning period, you can’t go out, and taking the scholar exams is naturally forbidden. Who is this poor soul whose pursuit of a title is being delayed? They’re as unlucky as Zhao Jing."

Chen Wanyue murmured, "That’s right. It’s just his bad luck."

The main gate of the house was pulled open. Chen Dachang drove the ox-cart away, taking the old matriarch and Chen Lin toward the county town.

Wanting to redeem herself, Mrs. Li quickly ran over and, braving the venomous glares from the old matriarch and Chen Lin, squeezed onto the ox-cart.

Once they had all left, Chen Wanyue finally stepped out of her room, intending to head to Zhao Jing’s house.

But just as she reached her own front door, Chen Wanyue retreated.

’The wedding is tomorrow. Today, the bride’s dowry is being displayed, and the Zhao family has to prepare the food. Their house is sure to be swarming with people.’

’As someone who broke off an engagement with Zhao Jing, wouldn’t I just be causing gossip if I go over now?’

’It’s not that I’m afraid of the gossip, but Mrs. Zhao certainly won’t have a moment to spare. I want to see her alone, and that’s practically impossible.’

’I’d better wait.’

’I’ll go over tonight, after everyone has left.’

...

The day felt so long, and yet so short.

It was long enough for Chen Wanyue to nearly step out the door several times, only to retreat with clenched fists, her mind a mess as she waited out the hours.

And yet, the day was also so short that to Chen Wanqing, it felt as if she had just finished breakfast, and in the blink of an eye, it was already time for dinner.

As night fell, the neighbors who had come to help the Chen family all dispersed. Only then did the Chen family of five have a moment to gather in the kitchen for a quiet meal.

The two brothers, Chen De’an and Chen Yaoan, had also returned from the county town.

The timing was unfortunate. Their holiday didn’t start until Little New Year, but their sister was getting married before then.

After much difficulty, the two brothers managed to ask their teacher for leave to come home.

The house was decorated everywhere with red silk, cleaned and adorned to look even more festive and tidy than it did for the New Year holidays.

Only then did it truly sink in for the brothers that their sister was really getting married.

A wave of sadness washed over them, and they lost their appetite.

Xu Suying said, "Wipe those long faces off. Your sister getting married doesn’t mean she’s never coming back. Besides, how far is Zhao Jing’s house from ours? If you want to see your sister, you could run back and forth dozens of times in a day."

"But aren’t we moving on the twenty-eighth of the twelfth lunar month? Once we move, we’ll be far from my sister. It’ll be hard to see her then."

"Hard? What’s so hard about it? You two live at the private academy most of the time and only come home a few days a month anyway. In the future, when you’re on leave, we’ll just have your sister stay with us. How is that any different from before? I really don’t know what you’re crying for. If I hadn’t given birth to you myself and watched you grow up with my own eyes, I’d almost suspect you were a couple of little girls."

Xu Suying’s verbal assault was effective; the brothers Chen De’an and Chen Yaoan couldn’t keep looking glum.

Even Chen Song quickly wiped the sorrowful expression from his face.

’What if my wife attacks me for not being manly... No, I can’t let her think of me that way.’

After dinner, the family sat and talked for a while before Xu Suying shooed everyone away.

Chen Song brought a bathing tub filled with hot water and placed it in his daughter’s room. Xu Suying then left as well, only telling her daughter to wash up first and that she would be back in a little while.

Chen Wanqing washed quickly. Because of the cold weather, the water cooled fast even with a brazier lit in the room. Not wanting to catch a chill, she had to make it quick.

After her bath, she got dressed and sat by the brazier to dry her hair.

Her hair was only half-dry when her father and mother came over again.

Her father carried the bucket away, while her mother took out a booklet hidden in her clothes and beckoned her over. "Qing’er, come, come. Mother is going to give you one last lesson..." 𝑓𝘳𝘦𝑒𝑤𝑒𝘣𝘯ℴ𝘷𝘦𝓁.𝑐𝑜𝑚

Chen Wanqing thought her mother was going to teach her about incense making. It was strange to be taught that the night before her wedding, but her mother had always been different from other people, so she could understand her unconventional behavior.

But one glance at the book made Chen Wanqing feel as if her eyes had been scalded. She squeezed them shut and, with a hint of indignation, stood up and headed for the inner room.

"Mother, what is this! How could you!"

"What’s wrong with me? I’m doing something important. Consummating the marriage is how you continue the family line; that’s a top priority anywhere you go. Qing’er, don’t be shy. Every woman goes through this. Don’t cover your ears, listen carefully to what I have to say. Ai, ai, you need to listen properly! Scholar Zhao has passed away, so there’s no one to teach Jing. If you don’t learn this properly either, you’ll both be fumbling in the dark. How will you two get through your wedding night?"