Chapter 2: Marrying Into the Zhou Family

On the day of the Spring Festival, both daughters of the Du family were married off. One carried a small bundle and was quietly led away by the matchmaker, while the other was grandly escorted in an eight-carriage bridal sedan.

Everyone congratulated the Du family, praising them for securing such a prestigious marriage.

However, they had no idea how this marriage with the Li family truly came about.

A month prior, Magistrate Li was returning from the governor’s residence when he encountered a wandering fortune-teller on the road.

The fortune-teller told him, “In Xiangtan Village, there is a foolish girl who is the reincarnation of a blessed maiden. If your son marries her, your family’s fortune will flourish, bringing eternal prosperity and wealth.”

Magistrate Li scoffed. “Ridiculous! Absolute nonsense! Since ancient times, marriages have always followed the principle of social equality. How could I, a county magistrate, let my son marry a fool?”

The fortune-teller merely smiled and replied, “That girl became foolish because she lost a part of her soul. Once her soul returns, she will no longer be dim-witted.”

Magistrate Li still dismissed the claim as utter nonsense.

Seeing his skepticism, the fortune-teller continued to smile. “Lord Li, it is better to believe than not to believe.”

Magistrate Li tossed him a copper coin and walked away, shaking his sleeves.

Yet, after returning home, he couldn’t shake off the thought. The more he pondered, the more uneasy he became. Eventually, he decided to take the fortune-teller’s words seriously and instructed his wife to seek out the so-called “foolish girl.”

However, Madam Li wouldn’t hear of her son marrying a fool. So, she secretly conspired with Liu Shi and, without informing Magistrate Li, arranged for their second daughter, Liu Lanzhi, to marry into the Li family instead.

That day, Magistrate Li had been in such a rush that he failed to catch an important detail:

“The blessed maiden, once regaining her soul, will be under the protection of celestial parents. She carries both fortune and misfortune. If you treat her well, she will bring endless prosperity. But if you treat her poorly, you will suffer relentless misfortune.”

Of course, such mystical words were hard for anyone to believe.

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The journey from Xiangtan Village to Changliu Village took about half an hour on foot. Fortunately, the Zhou family had sent an ox cart to pick up the bride. With the matchmaker accompanying her, Du Wanchun arrived at the village entrance in less than fifteen minutes.

Dark clouds had originally shrouded the sky over Changliu Village. Yet, the moment Du Wanchun arrived, the thick clouds suddenly parted, and golden rays of sunlight streamed down like fine grains of sand sifting through the sky.

Bathed in that brilliant sunlight, Du Wanchun stepped toward the Zhou family’s doorstep.

The Zhou family’s house was a small earthen home enclosed by a wooden fence. It wasn’t large—at most, it had only two or three rooms.

The matchmaker took in the sight before her and let out a long sigh. Turning to Du Wanchun, she grasped her hand and said, “Chun’er, your father is truly heartless. He refused to let you marry into the county magistrate’s household and instead forced you into this impoverished place. You’re bound to suffer in the days ahead.”

Although Du Wanchun had once been considered foolish, she had always been an adorable girl. Her round face and big, bright eyes made her especially endearing.

The matchmaker, surnamed Liu, felt a deep sense of pity for this young girl.

Du Wanchun looked up at her and smiled. “Thank you for your concern, Auntie. Since I have chosen to marry into the Zhou family, I will not resent their poverty.”

Madam Liu shook her head at her words. “You really are foolish.”

Du Wanchun didn’t argue, merely maintaining her gentle smile.

At that moment, the Zhou family’s door opened, and a faint floral fragrance drifted out.

A woman dressed in a simple gray linen robe stepped out. Her black hair, dark as ink, was neatly tied with a brown headscarf. Her complexion was slightly sallow, and a few fine lines graced the corners of her eyes, but they did not diminish her delicate features and flawless bone structure.

“Oh my, I was just about to head to the village entrance to meet you. You’ve arrived so early!” Madam Zhou wiped her hands on her apron as she strode forward, her face beaming with joy.

Her eyes crinkled into crescent moons as she smiled, as if stars had settled within them. Though she deliberately carried herself with a rough, unrefined demeanor, Du Wanchun still noticed the undeniable grace that set her apart from the humble surroundings of this worn-down courtyard.

It was an innate elegance, something she could never truly erase, no matter how much she tried.

“Madam Zhou,” Du Wanchun greeted softly.

Madam Zhou’s gaze fell upon her, and the clarity in Du Wanchun’s eyes made her pause in surprise. She quickly stepped forward, grasping the girl’s thin hands in her own. Feeling the frailness of her wrists, Madam Zhou’s voice turned hoarse. “This child… how did she become so thin? She’s nothing but skin and bones.”

Madam Liu, the matchmaker, sighed. “This child has suffered greatly. That stepmother of hers is heartless. The wedding was originally set for noon, but she was so eager to get rid of her that she made me bring her over at the crack of dawn.”

Madam Zhou lifted her head and sincerely thanked the matchmaker. “Thank you, Aunt Liu.”

Madam Liu chuckled. “Alright, it’s a joyous day—let’s get her inside quickly!”

Madam Zhou nodded. “Yes, yes. Come in, come in.”

She pulled Du Wanchun into the house, her heart brimming with happiness.

The Zhou family was so poor that they barely had enough to survive, let alone afford a bride. Their marriage arrangement with the Du family had been nothing short of a stroke of luck.

Originally, Liu Shi had sought out a matchmaker to arrange a marriage for Du Wanchun, and that matchmaker had found a suitor—a widower in his forties from Changliu Village. How could they marry off a teenage girl to such a man? It was disgraceful!

When Madam Zhou learned of this, she felt deeply sorry for the girl. She immediately sought out Matchmaker Liu, asking if the Du family would be willing to marry their daughter into the Zhou family instead.

But the Zhou family was poor and could not afford a dowry.

Liu Shi, eager to get rid of Du Wanchun, agreed without hesitation.

Upon hearing the news, Madam Zhou gathered the last of their money to buy two new cotton quilts and placed them in her eldest son’s room.

Even though it was a humble wedding, she still bought a little red paper and carefully pasted a large “Double Happiness” character on the wall.

When Du Wanchun stepped into the house, the first thing she noticed was that bright red symbol.

Strangely, the dim, worn-down house suddenly felt full of life.

Madam Zhou quickly turned toward the house and called out, “Feng’er! Zhao’er! Come and meet your sister-in-law!”