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Shen Zi’an returned to the thatched cottage in the backyard and found Su Zhi sitting on the bed, sewing something. Her presence was like a spring breeze, stirring his numb and cold heart affected by Shen Youfu’s actions. With her by his side, he felt the promise of having his own home and no longer feeling like an outsider among a group of people.
“What are you doing? Don’t tire yourself out,” Shen Zi’an asked as he entered, not immediately broaching the topic of the family division but instead inquiring about what Su Zhi was working on. He admired her dexterity; she cooked well, sewed meticulously, and patched clothes seamlessly. As she sewed, her needle moved swiftly, her hands fluttering like butterflies, a sight that pleased him immensely.
Using her teeth to cut the thread, Su Zhi looked up, smiled at him, and said, “When I was dismantling the quilt the other day, I saved some cotton. Since one of your old clothes is unusable, I’m making you a pair of gloves. With the weather getting colder, wearing these will keep your hands warm and prevent them from freezing.”
As the weather turned colder, Su Zhi noticed Shen Zi’an’s constant busyness and thought of making him a pair of gloves to provide some comfort as he worked tirelessly.
Shen Zi’an felt delighted, thinking that Su Zhi must have planned this in advance; otherwise, she wouldn’t have extracted the cotton from the quilt. Having a wife was truly wonderful—attentive to his needs. He resolved to treat her even better.
“You should make a pair for yourself too, to keep warm,” he suggested.
“Okay, I will,” Su Zhi agreed. She had Shen Zi’an try on the completed glove. Despite his hands being a bit rough from work, they were still elegant and suited the gloves well. Su Zhi nodded in approval, suggesting, “It fits nicely. Once I finish the other one and add a strap, you can wear it around your neck for easy access.”
Reluctant to remove the glove, Shen Zi’an admired it, praising, “Wife, you’re truly clever. You made such a fine item. Did you learn this from watching others wear gloves?”
Observing Shen Zi’an’s fascination, Su Zhi blinked and modestly replied, “Making gloves is quite simple. I’m not as smart as you think.”
“Is this called a glove? It fits snugly on the hand. The name is quite fitting. With this, working in winter will be much warmer and more convenient than hand covers,” Shen Zi’an remarked.
Upon hearing the term “hand covers,” Su Zhi pondered its meaning but decided to wait to learn later, assuming it was something for protecting hands in winter.
“Zi’an, have you never seen gloves before?”
Shen Zi’an shook his head and said, “I’ve never seen them. Wife, did you see these during your time at the convent? They must have been used by people from distant places, as I’ve never seen anyone use them, not even in the households of wealthy city dwellers. These gloves are truly comfortable and convenient. They’re more practical than hand covers. With hand covers, it’s hard to work, unlike these gloves. You can work with them and easily hang them around your neck as you suggested.”
Realizing that gloves were unfamiliar in this region, Su Zhi pondered the era they were in. Despite the attire offering no clues, she refrained from asking about the current year. The absence of gloves indicated it wasn’t a particularly advanced era. Unconcerned, she thought there were advantages to simplicity, especially in aiding her ability to earn money and support her family. Perhaps these gloves could be a source of income.
Having found a way to earn money right after the family division, Su Zhi felt pleased. She intended to show everyone, especially the superstitious elder, that being labeled as a jinx could still lead to financial success. She wanted to showcase to others how well she and Shen Zi’an could thrive together.
“Has the family been divided?”
Su Zhi, feeling elated, planned to use the gloves to start earning money immediately after the separation. She believed leaving sooner would be better to avoid inconvenience and maximize earning potential. With winter approaching, she aimed to earn quickly, ensuring she and Shen Zi’an could have a warm winter together.
Shen Zi’an’s smile froze upon hearing her question. He set down the gloves, took Su Zhi’s hand, and apologetically said, “Wife, I’m sorry to put you through this. The family division is complete, and we will move to a different place today. The house there is a bit run-down. However, rest assured, I will work to fix it up and strive to earn money to gradually improve our lives.”
Learning they would be leaving soon, Su Zhi felt happy. She replied, “I’m not worried about a rundown house. As long as we’re together, it will be fine. I’ll earn money with you, and we will live our lives well together.”
Shen Zi’an noticed Su Zhi’s continued smile and her comforting words, which helped him relax and feel more hopeful about the future.
He decided to first move the miscellaneous items in front before transferring the belongings from the thatched cottage. After informing Su Zhi of his plan, he headed to the front yard.
Shen Zigui had been waiting at the door, weaving a basket. Upon Shen Zi’an’s arrival, he stood up, appearing somewhat awkward, and said, “Fourth Brother, Eldest Brother just went out for an urgent matter. Let’s start moving things.”
Glancing at his eldest brother’s door, Shen Zi’an noticed Chunxiang coming out. She lowered her head upon seeing him, her face slightly blushing. After a brief pause, she approached and said, “Fourth Uncle, my father had to leave for something urgent. How about I help you move some things?”
Shen Zi’an, observing Chunxiang’s behavior and Second Brother’s demeanor, felt a bit puzzled by the situation. Aware that it was likely his sister-in-law’s idea, he didn’t mind. Turning to Chunxiang, he said, “There isn’t much to move. We’ll get it done quickly. You, as a young lady, shouldn’t strain yourself with this. If you get tired and drop something, it could be dangerous. It’s better to go back and attend to your own tasks.”
Chunxiang returned with her head bowed, thinking to herself about her mother’s interference. She couldn’t understand why her father was asked not to intervene with Fourth Uncle. Despite marrying Fourth Aunt, Fourth Uncle had always been kind to them. Even the fortune-teller had mentioned that not everyone was affected by Fourth Aunt’s supposed curse. They had been fine all these days. Her Grandmother and other aunts always pretended to be ill; who’s to say there was some connection with Fourth Aunt? Her mother worried too much. It could also be that she still resented Shen Zi’an rejecting the proposed marriage.
With not too many belongings, the Shen family used a flatbed cart to load everything, and it was swiftly taken away in one trip.
The second cart was then filled with the remaining items from the thatched cottage, with Su Zhi also called over to help.
Su Zhi glanced at the thatched cottage, feeling relieved to be leaving. She had no attachment to the place but cherished the few yellow chrysanthemums Shen Zi’an had dug up for her. Finally seeing the front of the Shen family’s property, she noted that while the houses were not new, they weren’t dilapidated either. Enduring the daily meals all for the sake of Shen Ziju, as mentioned by Shen Zi’an, made her realize that if they hadn’t divided, she couldn’t imagine how much longer they would have lived like that. She preferred leaving such a house even if we have to live in a rundown one if it meant dividing the family and being able to build their own new home.
The yard appeared deserted, with everyone seemingly hiding away.
Su Zhi paid no mind and confidently walked out of the gate. With Shen Zi’an’s encouragement, she boarded the flatbed cart, not sparing another glance at the Shen family’s door. With a light heart, she embarked on the journey to their new home.