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Upon hearing Shen Zhu’s suggestion, the Shen family members turned their gaze towards Su Zhi with hopeful expressions, anticipating that since Shen Ziju spoke highly of her, she must have encountered a knowledgeable individual. They believed that if Shen Ziju could learn a thing or two from Su Zhi, it would greatly benefit his future. Therefore, they eagerly awaited Su Zhi to disclose the names of the literary works from which she had gained knowledge.
Su Zhi smiled and replied, “I have only learned to read characters. I acquired this knowledge from an elderly woman who preferred to remain anonymous. There are no written books involved; it was all verbal teachings that I memorized.”
Shen Ziju felt a tinge of disappointment upon hearing this response. However, he reasoned that if these profound sayings were not something commonly found in books and had never been mentioned by his teachers, then there must be a unique source of knowledge. He decided not to dwell on it further, planning to engage in more discussions with his Fourth Sister-in-law after passing the scholar exam, hoping to gain insights beyond what traditional studies could offer, thus benefiting his future prospects.
Shen Youfu and the others shared a sense of disappointment, their expressions revealing their silent disappointment as they chose not to speak further.
Su Zhi maintained a smile on her face, inwardly acknowledging the Shen family’s persistent nature, always wanting more, even going as far as urging her to reveal profound literary works based on a few knowledgeable words she had shared. She was surprised to realize that some of the phrases she used were unique to this time and place, not appearing elsewhere. She had assumed that such books existed, given the similarities with traditional characters and the imperial examination system. Su Zhi contemplated purchasing books in the future to explore further, recognizing the value of expanding her knowledge despite not initially considering selling books for profit.
Shen Zhu suggested to Su Zhi, “Fourth Sister-in-law, if you remember any eloquent phrases or sentences, write them down for my younger brother to peruse. It would benefit his scholarly pursuits. Once he succeeds in the exams, it will bring honor to our Shen family, benefiting both you and my brother.”
Su Zhi responded, “That is a good suggestion, if I remember some good phrases, I will write them for my younger brother. However, a few months ago, I fell ill with a fever in the cottage, affecting my memory. I struggled to recall some details. In all honesty, I recently had difficulty recognizing my own mother and sister. Even my memories of the elderly woman who taught me are hazy. I’ll try to recollect and hopefully remember more in the future.”
Upon hearing Su Zhi mention her days in the cottage, Shen Youfu and the others felt a sense of awkwardness. They remembered the time when they had isolated Su Zhi, not treating her kindly. Now, sitting together in harmony, her recounting of those days brought a level of discomfort among them.
Shen Ziju said, “Fourth Sister-in-law, if you can’t remember, don’t dwell on it. Take care of yourself.”
Su Zhi smiled and replied, “Thank you for your concern, Fifth Brother.”
Shen Ziju felt a flutter in his heart as Su Zhi smiled and thanked him. He briefly averted his eyes, responding with a simple “You’re welcome,” before turning back to chat with Shen Zi’an.
Shen Zi’an, already preoccupied with thoughts of the past, became even more subdued upon his wife mentioning those days. He responded to others’ remarks but lacked his usual engagement.
Meanwhile, Wang Shi and Li Shi, efficient individuals, swiftly prepared two tables of food—one in the main hall and the other placed on the kang in the inner room.
Normally, the elderly couple of the Shen family, along with Shen Zhu and a few sons, would sit at one table, while the other table was reserved for the daughters-in-law and grandchildren. However, with the Third Branch’s couple being punished and not allowed to eat, Shen Zi’an and his wife naturally sat at the table in the inner room.
Meals in the Shen household were usually frugal, consisting of simple winter dishes like cabbage, radishes, potatoes, and tofu, with meat being a rarity. Even having an egg was considered a luxury, typically only found on the inner room’s table. The eggs on the other table were often broken and mixed into the dishes, losing their form and becoming difficult to eat, more for flavor than substance.
Today’s meal was notably more abundant, featuring a pot of cabbage with preserved meat, chicken and potato stew, radish pork stew, braised tofu, and a fragrant egg-drop soup with green onions. The main staple was steaming hot cornmeal and white flour mantou, exuding appetizing aromas.
Observing the spread, Shen Zi’an realized the meal was almost like a festive feast in the Shen household. He had been concerned that his wife might end up eating only cornmeal pancakes, as he had been the one cooking these days. He had grown accustomed to ensuring she had good meals and couldn’t bear the thought of her having to eat leftovers. It wasn’t that he lacked careand trust for his family, but he simply didn’t want Su Zhi to endure any hardships alongside him.
The children of the Shen family came over to greet Shen Zi’an and Su Zhi. Since they hadn’t had the chance to visit after the incident with the Zhao family, they now seized the opportunity to enter the main room. The children from the First and Second Branch, who had good relations with the Fourth Branch, came to exchange pleasantries. Even the children from the Third Branch joined in, following their parents’ instructions given earlier in the room.
Shen Ziping and Sun Shi were astute individuals, understanding that the elders were trying to reconcile with the Fourth Branch. They realized they couldn’t afford to be left behind. Despite their strained past relations, they knew they couldn’t hold grudges forever. For now, they aimed to mend the surface-level tensions, with plans to address deeper issues gradually. They were determined not to let their branch be the sole opposition to the Fourth Branch.
The third grandson was reluctant to compromise and received a scolding from Sun Shi.
“You fool! You claim that your Fourth Uncle and Aunt gained their fortune from you, so you should reclaim it. If you can’t do it openly, then do it covertly. You say you can’t do it openly now because the whole village is almost under their influence, and you alone can’t handle your Fourth Uncle. So, you need to do it in secret! Once you establish a good relationship with them, when they least expect it, take back what they took from you. That should suffice!”
Shen Ziping remarked, “Look at how the First and Second Branches have benefited from their good relations with the Fourth Branch. We need to change our approach too. Starting today, when you interact with your Fourth Uncle and Aunt, be more affectionate. Son, if you can’t manage that, stay away and keep quiet like a mute!”
After some thought, both Sons nodded in agreement. Chunhua was especially delighted; she had long envied her older cousins’ close relationship with the Fourth Uncle and Aunt and didn’t want to keep arguing with them. However, she still worried about whether the Fourth Aunt still held a grudge against her for past conflicts.
Following behind her cousins, Chunhua timidly called out “Uncle and Aunt,” stealing a glance at Shen Zi’an’s neutral expression, feeling half relieved since he rarely showed emotions. She then looked at the Fourth Aunt and noticed her smiling, which eased the rest of her concerns.
Chunhua admired the transformation in the Fourth Aunt’s appearance; previously intimidating, she now radiated a beauty reminiscent of wild pear blossoms found on the mountainside in spring—snow-white and glistening. She hoped that one day she could transform into such a graceful figure, ideally finding a loving husband like the Fourth Uncle who adored the Fourth Aunt.
Chunhua’s face flushed as she entertained these thoughts.
After exchanging greetings, the Third, Fourth, and Fifth grandsons departed. In this village, conflicts could be resolved quickly, with disagreements from one day fading into forgotten history the next, especially within family where respect for elders often superseded past grievances.
Everyone enjoyed the meal, including Su Zhi, who though not as satisfying as her own cooking, appreciated the authentic rustic dishes prepared by Wang Shi and Li Shi. The Shen family’s traditional cuisine held a unique charm, despite their penchant for taking advantage. Su Zhi saw no harm in sharing a meal with them, especially since they were keen on benefiting from it.
As dinner concluded and darkness descended, Shen Zi’an and Su Zhi bid their farewells. Shen Zhu and Shen Ziju watched their departure before turning back. Shen Zhu felt a tinge of jealousy toward Su Zhi’s cloak, admiring how well it suited her. She resolved to acquire a similar cloak, believing that wearing it during the Lantern Festival would elevate her status and perhaps lead to a fortunate encounter, especially with her appealing looks.
Shen Ziju pondered how to extract more profound phrases from Su Zhi, unaware of the extent of her knowledge. Yet, he believed that even engaging in conversation with her, given her confident and composed demeanor, could enhance his own understanding. Despite being a village woman, he saw Su Zhi as someone extraordinary, far from ordinary.
Shen Youfu and Shen Zhang shi listened as their children informed them that Shen Zi’an and Su Zhi had departed, exchanged a few words, and then suggested they rest and return later.
“HUsband, what do you think of Zi’an’s wife?” Shen Zhang shi inquired. After conversing with Su Zhi for a while, she perceived her as either naturally gracious or deeply thoughtful. Initially leaning towards the former, if Su Zhi turned out to be the latter – a complex individual – Shen Zhang shi frowned. She disliked dealing with such intricate personalities, especially considering Su Zhi was not only the wife of Shen Zi’an, whom she didn’t favor, but also their daughter-in-law.
Shen Youfu lit his tobacco pipe and expressed, “She’s good in many ways, but unfortunately, it’s not the right time or place. If she had shown her goodness before the family division, that would have been preferable. If she had been kind to our ancestral home, ensuring Shen Zi’an and us weren’t at odds, that would have been ideal. As it stands, she’s a good person, but her priorities are too focused on her and Zi’an’s small household, neglecting the larger Shen family and preventing us from gaining advantages. That’s not what makes a good daughter-in-law.”