As if remembering something, Mrs. Zhu suddenly started complaining to Chen Wanqing. "Wanqing, that wasn’t very honest of you. To think I even asked you about it before, asking if the Chen family in that ’one girl, two fiancés’ scandal was your own family. You just brushed me off, saying there are plenty of Chens in the world and who knows which family it was. But it turns out, that Chen family *was* your family!"

Chen Wanqing wasn’t the least bit surprised that Mrs. Zhu knew the news.

After all, common folk had so little entertainment that even the slightest bit of news would spread like wildfire until everyone in town knew.

Besides, the "one girl, two fiancés" affair had already captured the public’s imagination, so now that there was a follow-up, who wouldn’t want to know the details?

She was already prepared to be dragged into it. ’But every cloud has a silver lining,’ she thought. ’Who knows? Maybe becoming famous will help me make a fortune.’

’It wasn’t that she was obsessed with money, thinking only of Silver. It was just that since things had already come to this, and she couldn’t stop it, she might as well try to turn a bad situation to her advantage. That was the only way she’d feel better about it.’

Chen Wanqing focused on arranging her fragrances, ignoring Mrs. Zhu.

But Mrs. Zhu didn’t need a response. She was a leading lady who could carry a one-woman show all by herself.

Mrs. Zhu continued to ramble on. "I was stunned when I heard about it. It’s just my luck that I haven’t been feeling well these past two days, either lying at home or lazing about in the shop. I didn’t even go out to attract customers. By the time I found out, the whole spectacle in front of the county government office was already over. It made me so mad I ate an extra large bowl of rice for lunch."

"And that brings me to you, Wanqing. We’ve been neighbors for a long time, after all. I won’t hold it against you for keeping the scandal a secret. But keeping good news from me? Now that’s just too much."

Chen Wanqing replied distractedly, "What good news did I keep from you? How was I being too much?"

"Hey! Your husband passed the exam and came out on top! If other people hadn’t shouted Zhao Jing’s name, I still wouldn’t have connected him to your husband! See? You hit the jackpot, marrying such a fine man. And that other one, the one who pined for you but couldn’t have you... his name is Li Cun, right? That boy is still single, isn’t he? Why don’t you introduce my daughter to him?"

Chen Wanqing laughed in exasperation. "Did you not hear the whole story, or did you only hear what you wanted to? What kind of relationship do I have with Li Cun? How could I possibly introduce your daughter to him? He’s engaged to my cousin, and they still haven’t broken it off! Other people are trying their best to avoid any association, yet you want to dive right in. Aunty, have you lost your mind?"

Mrs. Zhu just started muttering again, "Li Cun’s mother is the muddled one, not me. Li Cun is a promising young man, a perfect match for my daughter. Then I’ll have a promising son-in-law, too."

She then added, "More importantly, this son-in-law is famous. He can help promote our family’s umbrellas, and then we won’t have to worry about sales anymore."

The clacking of her mental abacus was so loud it was practically hitting Chen Wanqing in the face.

For a moment, Chen Wanqing found herself looking at Mrs. Zhu in a whole new light.

’In the past, she always seemed so scatterbrained. Her mother used to say Mrs. Zhu was "impractical" and "not very sharp." But would someone who wasn’t sharp think of the "celebrity effect"?’

’She herself had the exact same idea. If she called Mrs. Zhu crazy, wouldn’t that make her crazy too?’

Chen Wanqing said with utter sincerity, "Aunty, you’re a classic case of great wisdom hiding behind a mask of folly. I truly never saw it before."

"Well now, Wanqing, you’ve finally said something true! Your aunty here really isn’t your average person."

"In that case, Aunty, why don’t you put that clever mind of yours to work and think a bit more about taking on apprentices? Isn’t just forbidding them from teaching others in private a bit too simplistic? What if other people ’learn by watching’ while they work? That wouldn’t be the apprentices’ fault, and you couldn’t really make a fuss about it then, could you?"

"Oh my heavens, that really is a big deal! I have to go back and discuss this with my Mr. Zhu right away. Wanqing, thank you so much for the reminder. I’ll bring you some steamed flower buns later to thank you."

"There’s no need for thanks. Just don’t tell anyone I was the one who reminded you."

"I won’t, I promise I won’t say a word."

As soon as Mrs. Zhu left, customers arrived.

Two scholars entered together. When they saw that the shop was run by a beautiful woman their own age, her hair styled in a married woman’s bun, their faces instantly turned red.

"Are you Mr. Zhao’s wife?"

Without batting an eye, Chen Wanqing replied, "I am."

The two of them grew even more excited. "Was the incense Mr. Zhao used during the exam Moonlight Fragrance?"

Chen Wanqing gave a graceful nod and proceeded to explain the effects of Moonlight Fragrance to the two of them.