At the time, let alone Chen Song who was swamped with work, even Zhao Jing and Chen De’an were in the middle of tense exam preparations. Who would have had time to move?

Besides, Xu Su Ying wanted her daughter and son-in-law to move in early to get accustomed to their new home. Once they felt settled, they wouldn’t be so anxious. That was why this whole business had to be sorted out before the year’s end.

By the twenty-eighth, the house would be nearly empty. A thief could easily sneak in then. If she left her things behind, would they really remain?

It was much safer to take them to Zhao Jing’s house. 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝒆𝔀𝒆𝙗𝓷𝒐𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝓶

Chen De’an and Chen Yaoan listened as their sister laid out her many reasons. They felt she made perfect sense, but watching her belongings disappear from their home piece by piece was utterly depressing.

Zhao Jing, in contrast, was full of vigor, a delighted smile never leaving his face.

Chen De’an was certain that if Jing weren’t afraid of angering the two of them—and getting kicked out of their sister’s room—he would have been roaring with laughter.

’Phony!’

’Sly devil!’

’Jing is just so good at putting on an act!’

The midday meal was soon ready, with ten hearty dishes covering the table.

At the table, Chen Song was in high spirits. He opened the Tiger Bone Wine that Zhao Jing had brought and had De’an and Zhao Jing join him for a cup.

Yao’an’s eyes widened with desire, and he insisted on trying some. Chen Song dipped a chopstick in the wine and gave him a drop. The fiery taste made him pant and stick out his tongue like a little puppy, sending the whole table into fits of laughter.

Zhao Jing was the type who flushed easily when he drank, mainly because his skin was so fair. With just one cup, his ears and neck turned red.

Seeing this, Chen Song remarked, "You can’t hold your liquor. Once you become a Scholar, you’ll have countless social functions to attend. With a tolerance like this, you’ll be drunk under the table in no time."

He then told Xu Su Ying not to forget to give Zhao Jing a couple of jars of her homemade wine to take with him.

Xu Su Ying agreed but also admonished Zhao Jing, "Wait until after the county exam to drink it. Don’t overindulge right now. It’s bad for your health and will affect your studies."

Zhao Jing, of course, readily agreed.

After the meal, the family sat and made small talk for a while before they began loading things onto the ox cart.

Chen Wanqing had numerous incense-making tools and many fragrant materials. There were also shelves and cabinets that had been dismantled and would have to be put back together at Zhao Jing’s house.

It was a lot of work. If they didn’t hurry, they wouldn’t be finished by nightfall.

Everyone was so busy that Xu Su Ying couldn’t find an opportunity to keep probing her daughter about the consummation of her marriage.

But she wasn’t in a hurry.

’My daughter can avoid me for a day, but she can’t avoid me forever. I’ll find out what I want to know eventually.’

Chen Wanqing went along with the ox cart on its first trip to Zhao Jing’s house.

She planned to set up her incense-making equipment in the two rooms on the south side of the house, which had formerly served as a private study.

Those rooms were spacious and bright. One contained the books left behind by Mr. Zhao, and Zhao Jing often studied there. The other room was vacant, so Chen Wanqing planned to move all her paraphernalia into it.

She had already discussed the matter with Zhao Jing, her mother-in-law, and Xiang’er, and of course, none of them had objected.

She was now returning with the cart to figure out exactly how she wanted to arrange everything.

Trip after trip they went, and after three full loads, everything had finally been moved over.

By the time everything was settled in its proper place, the sky had grown completely dark.

Mrs. Zhao and Xiang’er had dinner ready early and insisted that Chen De’an and Yao’an stay to eat.

Besides, Chen De’an was already used to eating at the Zhao’s. Now that their two families were joined, why stand on ceremony?

He and Yao’an stayed. At the dinner table, he and Zhao Jing traded playful barbs, and the atmosphere grew lively.

After dinner, the two brothers departed. Zhao Jing made a point of seeing them out, which prompted Chen De’an to tease him. "A married man is really different. You’ve become so proper."

Zhao Jing replied cheekily, "I wouldn’t bother for just anyone, but who told you to be my brothers-in-law? If I don’t make sure you get home safely, your sister will give me an earful, and I’ll have no defense."

Chen De’an sputtered with laughter and pointed at him from afar. "Since when were you this irritating? Zhao Jing, oh, Zhao Jing, from now on, you should change your name to Zhao the Irritating."

Back home and lying in bed, Zhao Jing feigned injury as he complained to Chen Wanqing.

"De’an told me to change my name to Zhao the Irritating. Wanqing, you have to get revenge for me."

Chen Wanqing couldn’t help but smile. "But he’s my very own brother. How could I scold him?"

"But I’m your lawfully wedded husband. Shouldn’t you be on my side?"

Chen Wanqing couldn’t resist giving him another light slap. "Watch your words. Who was lawfully wedded to whom, exactly? Did I marry you, or did you marry me?"

"The result is the same, isn’t it? In the end, you’re my wife now."

Hearing him call her "wife" made Chen Wanqing flustered all over again. She turned away from him, muttered, "It’s late, go to sleep," and closed her eyes, her heart in a flutter as she pretended to be asleep.