Bride Swap Backfire: My Cousin's Rebirth Made Us a Power Couple-Chapter 82 - 50: Eating Wontons

Recalling how Zhao Jing had acted nonchalant while repeatedly glancing over at Chen Wanqing, then suddenly got up to pay the bill, Mr. Wang was thoroughly amused. He couldn’t help but point at Zhao Jing and say, "So you have your eager days too. Jing, tell me the truth. You’ve had your eye on Miss Chen for a long time, haven’t you...?"

Zhao Jing said, "Mr. Wang, in the time before my wedding, if anyone needs calligraphy work done—formal invitations, congratulatory messages, gift lists—please accept the jobs on my behalf. I’ll come to the county town every three days from now on so the clients won’t have to wait long."

Mr. Wang forgot what he was about to say. He just lowered his voice even more and asked Zhao Jing, "First the marriage proposal, then the engagement—that must have emptied your wallet, right? Are you trying to quickly earn some money for the betrothal gifts?"

In truth, the Chen family had never intended to ask for betrothal gifts. Xu Su Ying had even mentioned to Mrs. Zhao and his aunt that the engagement gifts were more than generous and could serve as the betrothal gifts themselves.

The main reason was their consideration for the Zhao family’s situation: Mrs. Zhao’s medical expenses, Zhao Jing’s examination studies, and their not-insignificant daily costs.

The Chen family wasn’t selling their daughter; they had no need to wring silver out of their future son-in-law.

That being said, Zhao Jing couldn’t just offer nothing at all.

Not only did he have to provide the gifts, but he wanted to give more.

’She is going to marry me. I can’t bear for her to feel slighted in any way.’

With his current means, the betrothal gifts he could offer couldn’t possibly compare to those from the wealthy families in town. But within his power, Zhao Jing wanted to give Chen Wanqing the absolute best.

"I’m not picky. I’ll take whatever work I can get. Until my wedding, I’ll be counting on you."

Mr. Wang clicked his tongue. ’So he’s the hopelessly devoted type, is he?’

"But," he asked, "why only before the wedding? Are you not going to take any jobs after you’re married?"

"I’m afraid I won’t be able to."

’Once she marries and moves in, she’ll surely keep a close watch on me. Besides, it will be getting close to next year’s county examination, and I can’t afford to be complacent. So, I’ll have to devote all my time to studying and practicing.’

Mr. Wang understood his reasoning. He shook his head, then sighed. While eating his wontons, he couldn’t help but mutter meaningfully, "So this is the kind of man you are, Zhao Jing..."

After Chen Wanqing and Yuzhu finished their wontons, they went to pay. As Chen Wanqing was taking out her copper coins, the proprietor told her that the young man in the green robe had already settled their bill.

The proprietress smiled at the stunned Chen Wanqing and said good-naturedly, "Aren’t you two engaged? He’s your fiancé, so what’s wrong with him paying for your meal? Young lady, don’t even think about paying him back. If you really feel indebted, embroider him a pouch or make him a pair of shoes later. Receiving something like that from you will make him happier than finding a gold ingot."

Despite what the woman said, Chen Wanqing walked over to Zhao Jing’s side.

Zhao Jing had already finished eating and was just wiping his mouth with a handkerchief.

Noticing her approach, Zhao Jing quickly stood up.

"A-jie, what is it?"

Chen Wanqing didn’t ask him about paying the bill. Instead, she asked, "When will you be finished with your business here?"

Mr. Wang chuckled, put down his spoon, and began to slowly walk out. "I’m finished. I’ll just go for a little stroll outside. Jing, come find me later."

That was his intention, but with a steady stream of new customers entering the eatery, their curious gazes were unavoidable. Feeling awkward, Chen Wanqing and Zhao Jing turned and headed outside as well.

"I’m flexible. I don’t have anything urgent, so I can leave anytime. A-jie, did you need something?"

"Then come find me at Qingxiang House around three o’clock. I need to buy some spices today, and they’ll be a little heavy. You can help me carry them back."

Out of Zhao Jing’s sight, Yuzhu hid behind her older cousin and snickered.

’Too heavy to carry? It’s just one basket of spices. How could it possibly weigh dozens of pounds?’

’Her cousin has done manual labor since she was little. A few years back, she used to carry a large case of fragrances on her back to sell outside the private academy, and she’d stay there all day. She’s plenty strong. Carrying one basket of spices back to the Zhao Village would be no problem for her whatsoever.’

’But Yuzhu wasn’t about to call her cousin out.’

’She knew her cousin was just being shy.’

’Hehehe, her shy and awkward cousin was just too cute.’

After a moment of stunned silence, Zhao Jing suppressed the tremor in his heart and gave a slight nod. "Alright, I’ll meet you then, A-jie... When you go to buy the spices, would you like me to accompany you?"

"I don’t need you to. Mr. Wang is still waiting for you. Go on and take care of your business. I’ll take Yuzhu with me."

Yuzhu popped out from behind her, raising a hand as if taking an oath. "Don’t worry, brother-in-law! I’ll stick right by my cousin’s side and make sure she doesn’t get lost. Hehehe, and if I do a good job, you can buy me some candied hawthorns next time you come to town!"

Zhao Jing naturally agreed. "Alright."

And so, the four of them parted ways, heading in two different directions.

Chen Wanqing took Yuzhu to a spice shop, while Zhao Jing and Mr. Wang headed toward Moxiang Pavilion.

After they had walked some distance, Mr. Wang let out a long sigh. "Ah, Jing, I know you’re a young man experiencing the first flush of love. But at the rate you’re walking, it’ll be dark before we even reach Moxiang Pavilion..."