’But how could it have nothing to do with him?’

’Someone was clearly pulling the strings, scheming against him. Her father wasn’t a pushover; how could he possibly remain indifferent after learning of these dark plots?’

’His current calm was just a facade. After three years as a constable, her father had learned to control his temper and no longer wore his heart on his sleeve.’

’But who knew what monstrous waves were brewing beneath that placid surface.’

Because of the Chen Lin incident, the atmosphere at dinner was rather somber.

Chen Song couldn’t bear to see his wife and daughter so alarmed, so he said jokingly, "Look at the two of you, frightened over such a small matter, like a pair of startled birds. How will that do? You’re to be the mother and wife of a Scholar one day. If you don’t develop an unshakeable mountain-like presence, how will you intimidate all the people who come trying to curry favor?"

Xu Su Ying scoffed at him. "What’s so great about being a Scholar’s mother? What’s there for anyone to curry favor over? You’re a constable for the county government—not a high official, but still a public servant—and I haven’t seen anyone trying to get on my good side. At the end of the day, it just means you’re not trying hard enough."

Finding the tables unexpectedly turned on him, Chen Song fell silent.

After dinner, the couple returned to their room, all lovey-dovey. Chen Wanqing finished cleaning up and went back to her own room as well.

She lit a candle, and the room instantly brightened.

Chen Wanqing glanced at the rack of spices, medicinal herbs, and dried flowers in the outer part of her room, then at the sewing basket sitting on her bed in the inner chamber.

She was quite skilled at needlework and did it often enough, though she didn’t particularly enjoy it. Needlework took up too much of her time, interfering with her incense blending.

She started toward the sewing basket in the inner chamber but paused. Her eyes fell on the ingredients for the Compound Incense Elixirs, which she had only half-processed the day before. After a moment of hesitation, she turned back toward the spices.

She remembered her promise to make a special incense for Jing, but that would require inspiration; it wasn’t something she could force.

As for making a sachet for Zhao Jing, that was partly for her own sake, and partly because he had played the victim so pitifully.

’But that’s not urgent,’ she decided. ’I’ll wait until I’ve made another batch of Compound Incense Elixirs.’

Soon, night enveloped the land.

The moon rose, only to disappear behind the clouds.

Chen Wanqing listened to the whistling wind and the intermittent chirping of insects. Rubbing her sleepy eyes, she tidied up and went to bed.

Late to bed, early to rise.

While having breakfast, Chen Wanqing said to her mother, "There’s too much work; I can’t possibly do it all myself. Mother, after you finish eating, could you go find Second Aunt-in-law for me?"

"Alright, as long as you’re sure. Have your second aunt-in-law bring her two daughters-in-law to help. We’ll pay them based on how much work they do."

"That’s what I was thinking, too."

"Then you should get the ingredients that need processing ready. I’ll go have a word with your second aunt-in-law first."

"There’s no need to rush, Mother. Finish your breakfast first."

"I’m done. I’ve eaten plenty. All I do these days is eat and rest, then rest and eat. I feel like my waist has gotten thicker."

"But we still have to go to the county seat today. You’re in for a long day."

"A little exhaustion is just what I need. I’ll consider it exercise."

Chen Wanqing was speechless.

Xu Su Ying went out and returned a short while later.

By then, Chen Wanqing had already washed the pots and bowls and had gathered the herbs that needed to be processed by others. 𝒻𝑟𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝑛𝘰𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝘤𝘰𝘮

The moment she walked in the door, Xu Su Ying began to recount her conversation. Apparently, Second Aunt-in-law had said they would all be one family soon, so she was happy to help. Why would she take any money?

"So I told her there’s a lot of work, and it won’t be just for a day or two. If the incense pills sell well, we’ll need to rely on them for the long term. And if they wouldn’t accept payment, I’d have to find someone else."

After she said that, of course, Second Aunt-in-law had no choice but to agree.

In truth, Xu Su Ying had been reluctant to ask Second Aunt-in-law’s family in the first place.

Chen Wanqing would be marrying Zhao Jing soon, and this business was hers; she would surely take it with her as part of her dowry.

Second Aunt-in-law’s family was wonderful, but she worried that over time, financial matters would lead to conflict and make their relationship awkward.

If Qing’er weren’t marrying Zhao Jing, it would be one thing. But once they married, they would become family. A falling out would be terribly embarrassing for everyone involved.

But not asking Second Aunt-in-law was also not an option.

After all, here in the Zhao Village, their family was closest with Second Aunt-in-law’s family.

If they passed over Second Aunt-in-law’s family and gave this money-making opportunity to someone else, even if Second Aunt-in-law herself understood their hesitation, her two daughters-in-law would surely harbor resentment.

Xu Su Ying sighed. "Let’s just leave it at this for now. Later, after Zhao Jing passes the exam to become a Scholar, you can just buy a couple of servants to help you."

’Best not to buy anyone right now,’ she thought. ’We’re just poor folk, still eating watery porridge. If we bought two people to work, others wouldn’t think of them as simple laborers. They’d assume we were putting on airs, hiring people to wait on our family hand and foot.’