Previous
Fiction Page
Next
Font Size:
Shen Zhang shi thought about Su Zhi’s delicate behavior while cracking sunflower seeds without littering, her composed posture, and refined manners during meals. She furrowed her brow slightly, reminiscing about some unpleasant memories, then lightly shook her head, thinking she may have been overthinking.
“Perhaps we should treat her a bit better in the future. This woman is not easy to win over, and with Zi’an listening to her, if things go awry, it could strain our relationship with him.”
Shen Youfu nodded, his brow furrowing tighter as he pondered the day’s events. While he should have been happy about his least favored son and daughter-in-law’s success, his joy waned as he realized he had lost control over them. Now, he could only focus on repairing their relationship and wait for his most cherished youngest son to pass the imperial exams and attain a high-ranking position. He was confident that once his youngest son achieved success, the other couple would seek his favor, allowing him to regain control over them.
That night, the Shen family engaged in extensive discussions and contemplation, with much of the conversation revolving around Shen Zi’an and Su Zhi, leading to a shift in their perceptions of the couple.
However, Shen Zi’an and Su Zhi remained unfazed by these discussions, continuing to focus on their own lives.
Soon, the New Year arrived. In this time and place, there weren’t elaborate New Year customs or the tradition of eating Laba porridge[1]Laba porridge, also known as “Laba congee” or “Laba rice porridge,” is a traditional Chinese dish eaten on the eighth day of the twelfth lunar month, which is called Laba … Continue reading. Nonetheless, the process remained similar, involving house cleaning, food preparation, a reunion dinner on the thirtieth day, visiting relatives on the first day, women returning to their maternal homes on the second day, and the remaining days spent visiting relatives and exchanging gifts. The festivities continued until the fifteenth day, known as the Lantern Festival.
The Lantern Festival, now known as the Yuanxiao Festival[2]The Yuanxiao Festival, also known as the Lantern Festival, is a traditional Chinese holiday celebrated on the 15th day of the first month in the lunar calendar. It marks the end of the Chinese New … Continue reading, is livelier than the New Year celebrations, with lantern displays in both the town and county. Many people gather to witness the colorful lanterns, creating a bustling and crowded atmosphere.
Listening to Shen Zi’an talk about the Lantern Festival lanterns, Su Zhi felt a deep yearning. She had never experienced a lantern festival at night before. Scenes she had seen on television dramas depicted crowded streets beneath vibrant, multicolored lanterns, creating a visually stunning spectacle.
In dramas and novels Su Zhi had watched or read, lantern festivals were portrayed as places where one might easily encounter a significant other, leading to either a destined or fateful relationship.
Although Su Zhi already had Shen Zi’an, whom she loved wholeheartedly, she couldn’t help but feel intrigued by the vibrant and magnificent atmosphere of the festival. She wondered if walking with Shen Zi’an amidst such a scene would evoke a romantic feeling. Reflecting on this, she was certain it would be a truly romantic experience.
“Wife, I’ll take you there. I’ll buy you a lantern. What kind do you like?”
Shen Zi’an looked at Su Zhi’s smiling face and realized how much she anticipated to see the Lantern Festival. He decided that he must take her there. Initially, he had no interest in going, but now that he had a wife, he wanted to make her happy. Hearing that the festival would be crowded, he resolved to protect his wife diligently.
After some thought, Su Zhi said, “I want a lotus flower lantern.”
Shen Zi’an nodded with a smile and replied, “Alright, a lotus flower it is. Sometimes, there is a faint scent of lotus on you. It’s fitting to carry a lotus flower lantern.”
In recent days, Su Zhi had used lotus flower powder less frequently. Yet, there were times when a subtle scent of lotus emanated from her, especially when one drew close. This delicate fragrance, though light, was endearing. When Shen Zi’an embraced her at night, he often enjoyed this scent, which sometimes led to intimate moments between them before drifting off to sleep, creating a dream-like atmosphere. As Shen Zi’an appreciated this scent, Su Zhi continued using it, albeit sparingly.
On the thirtieth day of the lunar year, Shen Zi’an took Su Zhi out. They planned to have lunch at the ancestral home and return home together in the evening to welcome the New Year.
Little Black insisted on joining them, so Su Zhi brought it along. Little White naturally stuck close by, while Big Black had taken a liking to the black dog at Li Qing’s house and often visited there. The two dogs stuck together, with Big White initially trying to manage them before eventually giving up.
Su Zhi found it amusing because the black dog at Li Qing’s house was also a female dog, yet Big White was so possessive that it even guarded her. She realized that not only was Big White jealous but also vigilant even toward the opposite sex, which she found endearing despite his slightly diminished dignity.
When the black dog reached Li Qing’s doorstep, it barked a few times, receiving a response from inside. The door opened, and Li Qing greeted them with a smile, saying, “I knew you were outside. My Blackie wags his tail as soon as he hears your voice. Are you heading to the ancestral home? Are you leaving the Sacred Beast family here or staying for a while?”
Su Zhi watched as Big Black and Blackie stood affectionately together, realizing that Little Black and Little White were undoubtedly going with her. If she left Big Black behind, White Wolf would stay too, disrupting Li Qing’s family’s New Year celebrations. Therefore, she couldn’t leave White Wolf there.
“Big Black, do you want to stay here? Not coming with us?” Su Zhi asked, knowing Big Black could understand. She had come to realize that the White Wolf family, regardless of whether they understood human speech before, were now able to comprehend it. Although surprised, she accepted this newfound ability, finding it convenient for communication.
After glancing at Su Zhi and exchanging a few nudges with the black dog, Big Black eventually ran over to her side.
White Wolf cast a brief glance at Su Zhi, who couldn’t help but feel as though his gaze held admiration for her. Could it be because she separated his wife from the black dog? She found the situation quite amusing.
The family bid farewell to Li Qing and leisurely strolled through the streets. Su Zhi, amidst these rural roads, sometimes felt like she was in a movie set, but when she saw Shen Zi’an beside her, she felt grounded in reality, finding comfort in his presence.
Following a recent light snowfall, diligent households had cleared a thin layer of snow from their doorsteps, making the streets less slippery. The areas left uncleared retained a cold, desolate look with patches of white snow.
Su Zhi wore a cloak and gloves, feeling comfortable despite the chill. She leisurely admired the scenery, exchanging greetings with the people they encountered on the road. Observing Shen Zi’an conversing with them, she chimed in with a few words, playing the role of a gentle young wife with a smile on her face. She felt a sense of authority walking with the Sacred Beast family, noticing others keeping a respectful distance, which put her at ease as she preferred not to have people too close to her.
Upon arriving at the Shen household, Su Zhi and Shen Zi’an saw the eldest and second grandsons standing at the front gate, preparing to set off firecrackers. The long string of red firecrackers added a festive atmosphere to the scene.
Excited to see Su Zhi and Shen Zi’an, the young children eagerly approached. Shen Zi’an handed them gifts, including a chicken, a three-pound piece of cured meat, a basket of eggs, a bag of sugar, and a few pieces of fabric. As for the silver coins, he planned to personally give them to the elderly members of the family later.
The fourth and fifth grandsons’ eyes widened at the sight of the gifts, eagerly exclaiming for meat. “I want that meat.”
The second grandson glared at them, saying, “Didn’t we have meat yesterday? Why are you still so gluttonous? Thank goodness we’re family; if it were someone else, they would laugh at you. You’re embarrassing the Shen family. Go inside the house and stop making a scene at the gate.”
Startled by his words, the fourth and fifth grandsons quickly ran into the courtyard.
However, the third grandson retorted, “Why are you scolding my brother? He just said he wanted some meat. What’s it to you? Are we not allowed to eat meat anymore?”
The second grandson’s eyes widened even further as he replied, “It’s fine to want meat, but there’s a time and place for everything. Shouting like this at the front gate is embarrassing. Have you forgotten what I’ve said? Despite dressing in new clothes, behaving this way is still shameful!”
The third grandson retorted, “When I make a fortune, let’s see if you’ll still talk to me like this!”
“Even if you strike it rich, I’ll still speak to you the same way!”
As the third grandson ran into the courtyard, the second grandson stood there, addressing Shen Zi’an and Su Zhi. Feeling a bit embarrassed, he scratched his head and explained, “Aunt, I scolded them not because they wanted meat. I also wanted meat. It’s just that yesterday, fourth snatched Chunyun’s portion, making her cry. That’s why I scolded them.”
Su Zhi said, “I know that the second grandson isn’t a bad child. In the future, it’s important to communicate with your younger brothers sensibly. Otherwise, your bond as brothers might suffer. They are still young and may not understand right from wrong. If you don’t explain it to them, they won’t know any better and might even think poorly of you. Moreover, if you don’t clarify things to others, they might perceive you as a bad older brother who bullies his siblings, and that’s not good.”
The eldest grandson patted his brother on the back and said, “Aunt Su Zhi is right. Let’s not do this again in the future.”
The second son found Su Zhi’s words reasonable, and her gentle way of explaining made him feel she was much better than his own mother. He decided to turn to Aunt Jinhua whenever he had uncertainties in the future.
Su Zhi didn’t expect that her simple words would make her nephews to admire her even more.
At that moment, Shen Zifu, Shen Zigui, and Shen Ziping came out to greet them upon hearing that Shen Zi’an had arrived.
The eldest and second sons took the gifts inside, while Shen Zigui used a bamboo stick to light the firecrackers and then set them off. The loud sound of the firecrackers echoed, illuminating the sky with flashes of light and wisps of smoke.
During this time, firecrackers were quite expensive, and it was considered auspicious for a family to set off even just one string. They were used for their symbolic significance, unlike nowadays when people set them off late into the night. After the firecrackers were set off, seeing the red paper scraps at the entrance was deemed sufficient.
References
↑1 | Laba porridge, also known as “Laba congee” or “Laba rice porridge,” is a traditional Chinese dish eaten on the eighth day of the twelfth lunar month, which is called Laba Festival (or Laba Rice Porridge Festival). This festival usually falls in January, approximately one week before the Chinese New Year.
Laba porridge is made from a variety of ingredients, including glutinous rice, mixed grains, beans, nuts, dried fruits, and sometimes meat. The exact ingredients and preparation method can vary based on regional customs and family traditions. It’s often cooked with sugar or sweeteners to give it a slightly sweet flavor. |
---|---|
↑2 | The Yuanxiao Festival, also known as the Lantern Festival, is a traditional Chinese holiday celebrated on the 15th day of the first month in the lunar calendar. It marks the end of the Chinese New Year celebrations and typically falls in February or early March. |
Previous
Fiction Page
Next