Chapter 7: The Prophecy Comes True

Looking at Zhang Da Niang’s patched-up coarse clothes, it was clear that two chickens were of considerable value to the impoverished villagers.

Xiao Ranshu felt quite uncomfortable and frowned slightly, saying, “There’s no need to go to such expense.”

“No expense at all!” Zhang Da Niang’s voice was loud and filled with excitement. “Chickens are cheap, they’re raised at home, and the mushrooms were picked from the mountains! We have plenty of silver at home, no expense at all!”

Seeing the Fairy frown, she grew anxious and even started flaunting her wealth in her explanation.

Xiao Ranshu: “Uh… okay.”

With permission granted, Zhang Da Niang continued her work with great enthusiasm, lighting the fire with one hand and slaughtering the chicken with the other, managing both tasks effortlessly.

Xiao Ranshu had never done any manual labor, let alone cooked, and felt quite awkward standing by. She could only retreat to the stone table and sit down, quietly keeping company.

However, what she perceived as awkwardness was seen quite differently by others.

Lao Zhao entered the courtyard with a basket full of mushrooms and radishes. As soon as he stepped in, he saw Xiao Ranshu sitting gracefully by the stone table.

She was dressed in pristine white, exuding an ethereal aura. Her casual yet aloof posture, with one hand supporting her chin and her gaze cold and distant, carried a hint of serenity amidst her solemn expression.

Lao Zhao nearly knelt down on the spot!

Fortunately, Zhang Da Niang was too busy with her tasks and shouted over her shoulder, “Come and lend a hand!”

Lao Zhao hurried over, “Coming, coming.”

After the couple had worked for a while, the aroma of the cooking began to fill the air.

Xiao Ranshu stared at the pot, her heart filled with anticipation!

When Lao Zhao looked up and met her eyes, he saw a faint smile on the Fairy’s face.

To him, it clearly conveyed satisfaction, contentment, and benevolence…

He thought to himself, truly, the Fairy is the Fairy!

Zhang Da Niang, seemingly struck by a thought, asked, “Fairy, do you eat rice?”

Xiao Ranshu: “…”

Thinking that the Fairy might not know what rice was, Zhang Da Niang began to gesture animatedly, “It’s white, grain by grain, rice, food!”

Xiao Ranshu’s mouth twitched as she replied, “I eat rice.”

Finally, she felt the need to explain. For someone with social anxiety, the first step out of their comfort zone is to speak more.

So she added, “I am human.”

Then she saw both Zhang Da Niang and Lao Zhao visibly relax.

Xiao Ranshu: “…”

What exactly had this couple misunderstood?

Zhang Da Niang grew even more excited and exclaimed, “That’s great! I love rice too!”

Lao Zhao nearly fainted from exasperation and tugged hard at his wife’s sleeve.

Zhang Da Niang, feeling a bit embarrassed, couldn’t help but chatter on, “Fairy, enjoy the chicken soup. Tomorrow, I’ll go up the mountain to tidy up for you. Tiezhu is plowing the fields today, so he’ll come up to pay his respects tomorrow.”

Lao Zhao chimed in, “Yes, we’ll have Tiezhu bring a sack of rice up.”

Xiao Ranshu was deeply moved inside, but her social anxiety kept her expression neutral. She felt that her lack of words was impolite, but she couldn’t bring herself to be more enthusiastic.

Social anxiety—talking to people triggers fear!

So she carefully chose her words and solemnly blessed them, “May your fields this year be free of pests in spring and yield a bountiful harvest in autumn.”

To her, this was the best blessing she could offer to such a simple and honest family.

The couple beamed with joy and bowed in gratitude before leaving.

The small courtyard returned to its serene and elegant state, with only the bubbling clay pot adding a touch of homely warmth.

By the simple outdoor stove lay the basket Lao Zhao had carried, its bottom stained with fresh, damp mud. Inside were the remaining mushrooms and radishes from the chicken soup.

This basket of vegetables would last her three days.

More food!

She carried a large pot of chicken soup to the stone table, her heart blooming with joy. Every bite of chicken was flavorful, every mouthful of side dish rich with the taste of chicken, and the radishes were crisp and sweet.

If only there were rice, she could have eaten three bowls!

She hadn’t expected the culinary skills of this era to be so advanced. Truly, the Chinese people’s love for food is ingrained in their bones.

Xiao Ranshu devoured the entire clay pot of food in one go, then sat comfortably on the stone stool, patting her belly in a daze.

For a lazy person like her, post-meal walks or standing were out of the question. After eating, one should sit, lie down, or sprawl, savoring the lingering happiness brought by the food.

Her thoughts wandered, circling back to the most fundamental question.

What exactly did the Original Owner do?

Why does it feel so mysterious?

At that moment.

Boom!

A spring thunderclap rang out.

Startled by the thunder, Xiao Ranshu snapped back to reality and quickly stood up. Grabbing the clay pot with her left hand and the basket of radishes and mushrooms with her right, she dashed back to the main house.

Shortly after she entered, a dark cloud drifted over the courtyard, and a steady rain began to fall.

It was raining again.

…

The path down the mountain was still difficult, but the couple was as excited and cheerful as they had been the day before, undeterred by the rain.

Especially Lao Zhao, who kept sighing, “When I saw the Fairy sitting there today, I felt like something was missing.”

Zhang Da Niang, immediately attentive when it came to the Fairy, asked, “What’s missing? I’ll get it for her later!”

Lao Zhao scratched his head for a long time before finally blurting out, “A tea set. I’ve seen the wealthy families in the city drinking tea in their leisure time.”

Zhang Da Niang thought this made sense and instructed, “In a couple of days, go to the city and buy one for the Fairy.”

Lao Zhao nodded and began discussing with his wife which style to buy.

As they walked down the mountain, their conversation expanded from tea sets to brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones, then to music, chess, calligraphy, and painting. By the time they reached the bottom, their list of items had nearly exceeded a hundred.

Lao Zhao suddenly realized, “Wife, we can’t afford all this with our savings!”

Zhang Da Niang, the decision-maker of the household, waved her hand, “Let’s list them out first and get them one by one. In the future, we must provide everything for the Fairy!”

Lao Zhao obediently nodded, “I’ll figure it out. If necessary, I’ll sell our pig.”

As they talked, they unknowingly arrived home.

Pushing the door open, they saw Zhao Tiezhu inside.

Lao Zhao casually remarked, “Tiezhu, are there many pests in the fields? I haven’t had time to go down these past few days. You’re the pillar of the family now, so don’t slack off.”

Zhao Tiezhu beamed, “Dad! No need to work. There’s not a single pest in our fields. It’s amazing!”

The couple exchanged wide-eyed glances, the same image and the exact same ten words flashing in their minds.

‘No pests in spring, a bountiful harvest in autumn.’

Xiao Ranshu’s distinct, cool voice seemed to echo in their ears.

At the mountain-top courtyard, with the Four Waters Returning to the Hall, the white-clad Fairy’s auspicious words had come true!

Zhang Da Niang’s eyes reddened, and she abruptly turned to open the main door.

Lao Zhao rushed out right behind her.

Zhao Tiezhu was startled and quickly ran outside, only to see his parents kneeling in the rain as if they had gone mad.

The couple didn’t care how heavy the rain was; they were devoutly bowing towards the mountaintop!