The Farmer’s Wife has a Magical Spiritual Spring
The Farmer’s Wife has a Magical Spiritual Spring Chapter 126

Chapter 126: Shen Zhu Meets Zhao Xiaohua

After leaving Zhao Dazhu’s house, Zhao Daliang brought Zhao Xiaohua to visit the Shen family. Despite knowing Zhao Daliang’s family background and reputation, the Shens maintained a polite demeanor, acknowledging his competence in the village.

Similar in age, Zhao Xiaohua and Shen Zhu gravitated towards each other while Zhao Daliang conversed with the Shen family. Unhesitant, Zhao Xiaohua insisted on visiting Shen Zhu’s room, and Shen Zhu willingly led her there.

Shen Zhu occupied a room alone, considered the main chamber. She kept it impeccably clean and organized with a wooden bed adorned with a light green canopy embroidered with flowers. The bedding was light blue, matching the bedspread and pillows, all intricately embroidered. This simple bed set-up distinguished Shen Zhu from typical rural girls, who often shared larger beds.

A table stood in one corner, displaying a brass mirror, a vanity box, and a red cloth covering the mirror. The vanity box was meticulously clean, adorned with carvings, alongside a chair nearby. On the other side, a large chest stored her clothing.

The room, though not spacious, was sophisticatedly arranged and emitted a subtle fragrance.

Upon entering, Zhao Xiaohua scanned the room, feeling a twinge of jealousy. She, too, lived alone in a similar setup, but it was evident that her room lacked the refined elegance of Shen Zhu’s.

“Xiaohua, please have a seat,” Shen Zhu gestured towards the chair, indicating for Zhao Xiaohua to sit. She preferred guests not sitting on her bed, especially Zhao Xiaohua, despite her clean attire. Their relationship was not particularly close, merely exchanging greetings when they met. Shen Zhu had no intention of letting Zhao Xiaohua sit on her bed.

Unaware of any discomfort, Zhao Xiaohua settled onto the chair, feeling a chill soon after. She remarked, “Shen Zhu, why don’t you have a heated brick bed (kang) in your room? It’s so warm. Also, why not use cushions on your chairs? Sitting on them wouldn’t feel cold. I noticed that your brother’s house has cushions on their chairs, making them quite comfortable.”

Recalling the cushions Su Zhi made during her previous visit during the house-warming, Zhao Xiaohua marveled at the effort required to create them. This further solidified her impression of Shen Zi’an’s family as affluent, on par with wealthy landlords who likely adorned their chairs with cushions, elevating the occupants’ status.

Shen Zhu, hearing Zhao Xiaohua’s nitpicking, subtly furrowed her brow. As Xiaohua continued praising Shen Zi’an’s household, Shen Zhu’s displeasure grew.

“I prefer beds over heated brick beds like kang; they appear more elegant to me. Sleeping on a kang seems too rustic. As for cushions, I’m often busy with embroidery and don’t have time to make them. Since I mostly sit alone, I don’t mind the cold. Xiaohua, from what you’re saying, do you have a kang in your room and cushions on your chairs?” Shen Zhu responded, expressing her views on the matter.

Feeling irked after hearing Shen Zhu’s comments about sleeping on a kang being rustic, Zhao Xiaohua retorted, “No, I don’t have a kang in my room. If I want to sleep on one, I’ll share a room with my mother. I usually sleep on my bed. As for cushions, I did make some, and they’re embroidered with flowers.”

In reality, Zhao Xiaohua had already moved into a room with a kang, neglecting the bed-equipped room she initially planned to use for storage. Upon realizing this, she decided to claim both rooms for herself. Regarding the cushions, she resolved to have Liu Siniang make one immediately, insisting on embroidering the finest red peony design, even if Shen Zhu never saw it.

Shen Zhu, regardless of the truth in Zhao Xiaohua’s words, held her in contempt and didn’t care about what she said. She casually played with a silk handkerchief, her favorite one embroidered with red plum blossoms, deliberately showcasing it to Zhao Xiaohua to evoke envy.

Seeing the handkerchief, Zhao Xiaohua indeed felt envious. Her elder brother hadn’t brought her a handkerchief this time, only some rouge and powder. Although she applied them, she couldn’t help but notice that her complexion didn’t compare to Shen Zhu’s fairness. Consequently, she refrained from showing off in front of Shen Zhu.

For Shen Zhu and Zhao Xiaohua, there was a stark communication barrier. Shen Zhu perceived them as belonging to different social strata. She was literate, being Shen Ziju’s sister, potentially a future top scholar’s sister, even a high-ranking official’s sister, promised a life of luxury. On the other hand, Zhao Xiaohua, an illiterate village girl, seemed uncultured and ignorant. Shen Zhu couldn’t see any common ground for conversation with her.

After their chat, Zhao Xiaohua inquired about Shen Ziju, curious about his whereabouts.

“Shen Zhu, what is Brother Ziju doing? I have something to ask him,” she inquired.

Zhao Xiaohua felt bored in Shen Zhu’s company and wanted to meet Shen Ziju. Her primary reason for visiting the Shen family was to see Shen Ziju, the charming young man she had been thinking about. However, she had heard that being an official was challenging and that many officials were not as well-off as landlords, which dampened her interest. Nevertheless, since she was already at the Shen family’s residence, she naturally wanted to catch a glimpse of him.

“What’s the matter? Tell me, and I’ll pass it on to him. He’s busy studying now, getting ready for the upcoming exams in the spring; his time is precious,” Shen Zhu replied. She held a disdainful view of Zhao Xiaohua, not just for her ignorance and uncouth demeanor but also for what she perceived as Zhao Xiaohua’s flirtatious tendencies, especially towards good-looking men. Shen Zhu had noticed Zhao Xiaohua’s behavior towards her other brothers, making her feel uncomfortable. Was the Shen family a place for Zhao Xiaohua to seek romantic pursuits? Shen Zhu was wary of Zhao Xiaohua meeting her younger brother, fearing she might try to seduce him.

With a dismissive tone, Zhao Xiaohua retorted, “I had a dream and wanted Brother Ziju to interpret it for me. It’s a significant matter. What do you know about that?”

“You should consult a fortune-teller for that. Why would you bother my younger brother? He studies the Four Books and Five Classics, not divination. Don’t treat my brother as a fortune-teller; that’s a lowly profession!” Shen Zhu cautioned.

Shen Zhu maintained a stern expression, adamant about not involving her brother in fortune-telling or dream interpretation. Despite the common perception of fortune-telling as a viable profession in rural areas, she viewed it as ignoble, knowing that educated individuals rarely engaged in such practices. Even for acquaintances, she wouldn’t allow it, emphasizing the importance of Shen Ziju’s future reputation, which was intertwined with her own.

Unfamiliar with these distinctions, Zhao Xiaohua failed to see why fortune-telling was considered demeaning. She saw no harm in seeking such guidance, especially since she wasn’t asking him to set up a street stall. Was it necessary to maintain such a false sense of moral superiority?

As Zhao Xiaohua stood up to leave, determined to go on her own, she opened the door and found Sun Shi standing outside.

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