The next day was the bridal homecoming visit. Chen Wanqing was in high spirits from the moment she woke up.

When Zhao Jing saw this, he didn’t look displeased, but inwardly he felt sullen.

Mrs. Zhao saw her son’s demeanor and couldn’t help but chuckle softly.

’He’s my son, after all. Even if I can’t guess everything he’s thinking, I can get the general idea.’

’Oh, Jing... He’s completely fallen for Qing’er.’

The weather was uncooperative that day, with gusts of cold wind.

Originally, Zhao Jing had planned to borrow his uncle’s ox-cart again to take his new wife to her family’s home. It would have been fine if it were just the two of them, but they had many homecoming gifts to bring along.

Among the homecoming gifts was a jar of Tiger Bone Wine brewed some time ago by Mr. Zhao. It was said to strengthen the body and relieve rheumatism. Zhao Jing had no need for it, but Chen Song had worked hard for years, braving the elements, and it had taken a toll on his health. Therefore, the wine was intended for the Chen family, specifically for Chen Song.

Unexpectedly, just as Zhao Jing stepped out the door, he saw De’an driving an ox-cart right up to their gate to pick them up.

"My timing is perfect, isn’t it? Hmph, I’ve been watching your house for a while now, just waiting for you to leave. But you took so long, my parents are getting anxious waiting at home."

Zhao Jing couldn’t be bothered to ask De’an why he was back again when he should have been at the private school.

’It didn’t take a genius to figure out that De’an must have taken leave again. And since the New Year holiday started tomorrow, he wouldn’t be going back to school until the new year.’

’Great. Looks like De’an will be coming over a lot for the next few days.’

"Jing, why haven’t you left yet? I heard you talking to someone. It sounded like De’an."

Mrs. Zhao came out, and when she saw Chen De’an at the gate with the ox-cart, she couldn’t help but smile. "It’s such a short distance, and your mother still sent you to come get them?"

Chen De’an scratched his head and called out, "Auntie." Then he said, "It’s only been a day since she’s seen my sister, but my mother is missing her terribly. She can’t sit still at home. If it wouldn’t attract so much attention, my mom would’ve come to get her herself."

Mrs. Zhao couldn’t help but laugh. "That sounds just like your mother."

As she spoke, she called into the courtyard, "Qing’er, come on out! De’an’s here to pick you up."

Chen De’an also saw his sister coming down the steps.

They had only been apart for a day, but suddenly he felt his sister had grown up so much.

It was mainly because her hair was styled in a married woman’s bun, which made her look a little unfamiliar.

But his sister was dressed in a red jacket and skirt, with a gold hairpin in her hair and a heavy gold bracelet on her wrist. She was wearing makeup, too, which made her face as lovely as a peach blossom, her lips rosy and her teeth like pearls. She looked radiant, and her smile was utterly captivating.

But for some reason, seeing his sister like this made Chen De’an’s heart ache.

He called out, "Sis," but his voice caught in his throat, and he felt the urge to cry.

Chen Wanqing quickened her pace, walked right up to him, and gave him a gentle poke. "Didn’t you cry enough on my wedding day? Or are you planning to cry every time you see me from now on? That’s enough, De’an. You’re not a child anymore; you can’t keep crying all the time."

Zhao Jing teased, "He’s certainly not a child anymore, but compared to us, De’an is still the younger generation. By the way, De’an, what did you call me just now? You called me Jing, right? Is that what you should be calling me? Shouldn’t you be calling me brother-in-law now?"

Chen De’an cracked his knuckles, CRACK-CRACK. All he wanted now was for Zhao Jing to drop dead. As for all those bittersweet feelings, they could go to hell.

The two of them bickered the entire way and didn’t stop even after they arrived at the Chen residence.

Fortunately, they remembered their purpose. Zhao Jing bowed and formally greeted his parents-in-law, finally ceasing his banter with De’an.

While the men were talking, Xu Su Ying whisked her daughter away.

Chen Wanqing sat on a stool in the kitchen, helping her mother tend the fire, while her mother interrogated her about the last couple of days as if she were a criminal.

When Xu Su Ying heard that Wanyue had not only shown up at Zhao Jing’s home on the wedding night but had also been spreading rumors to Mrs. Zhao the day before the wedding, claiming Chen Wanqing was infertile, she practically exploded on the spot.

She rolled up her sleeves, fuming and ready to storm over to the old family residence.

Chen Wanqing quickly grabbed her mother, holding her back while trying to coax her. "I’m not even bothered by it, so why are you getting so worked up? She’s just a kid who acts on impulse. Don’t stoop to her level."

"If I don’t stoop to her level, she’ll ruin your life! That Chen Wanyue... to have such gall! She dares to make your life difficult? I will absolutely not let her get away with it! You just wait. You’ll see how I deal with her."