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When the firecrackers were set off, Su Zhi’s ears were covered by Shen Zi’an. She felt his presence behind her, the sounds in her ears muffled, creating a sense of warmth and safety. With a smile on her face, she watched as the firecrackers finished, admiring the festive red paper scraps scattered all around.
Just as the firecrackers here ceased, nearby, Zhao Dazhu’s family also started setting off firecrackers.
“Oh, little sister is here! Look at you, dressed so beautifully today, like a bride. Brother Zi’an really knows how to spoil someone.”
Before the firecrackers finished, Dazhu’s wife walked over, took Su Zhi’s hand, and began praising her. Her face lit up with a smile that seemed as sweet as honey, with a touch of flattery in her demeanor.
Su Zhi thought this person had quite the nerve; not long ago, they offended her and Shen Zi’an, then the Shen family, and now, with just a turn, they could hold her hand and chat as if nothing had happened. Did they think everyone was foolish? She didn’t want much to do with such individuals. Of course, she wouldn’t offend them either. As the saying goes, it’s better to offend a gentleman than a villain. Just keeping a distance was enough. If she wanted to deal with them, she could find an opportunity discreetly. Maintaining a calm facade on the surface was crucial.
Before Su Zhi could say anything, Wang Shi emerged from the door, seemingly to welcome Su Zhi, smoothly taking her hand from Dazhu’s wife and leading her away.
“Fourth Sister, come inside quickly. There’s something I want to discuss with you.”
Su Zhi nodded with a smile and was led inside by Wang Shi, leaving Dazhu’s wife standing there.
The men from the Shen family glanced at the Zhao family members but remained silent, turning and heading into the courtyard. They had no intention of engaging with the Zhao family.
After finishing setting off the firecrackers, Zhao Dazhu walked over to his wife. In a hushed tone, he said, “The Shen family seems genuinely upset with us. These past few days, they’ve been ignoring my greetings, even during the New Year. Tiedan’s mother, what should we do? We can’t let things stay like this, can we?”
Dazhu’s wife had just been thinking of using Su Zhi to ease the tension between the two families when Wang Shi intervened, leaving her feeling abandoned and frustrated. Upon hearing her husband’s words, her frustration grew. She glared at him and replied, “What’s there to fear? We see each other every day. Just engage them in conversation a bit more. I don’t believe they’ll keep avoiding us forever! That whole family cares about their reputation. Sooner or later, they’ll have to speak with us.”
Zhao Dazhu immediately agreed, acknowledging that in their household, the wife held sway, and whatever she said was law.
Seeing her husband’s reaction, Dazhu’s wife became even more annoyed. She couldn’t help but feel frustrated, wondering how Shen Zi’an’s wife had transformed from her previous state to her current fortunate position. Here she was, a capable and clever woman, yet she had to endure such poverty. It seemed so unfair. As she grumbled to herself, she noticed her son, Tiedan, hiding behind the door. Instantly alarmed, she hurried over, scolding him with a mix of worry and frustration.
“You troublesome child! I told you not to come out. Do you want to fall sick again? Go back and lie down!”
Tiedan had recovered since being rescued from the icy hole, but his health had weakened. Despite receiving a new lease on life, he had fallen ill twice recently. The herbalist advised careful nursing and to prevent any further frights. Therefore, they restricted his outings, even during setting off the firecrackers, to avoid alarming him. Unexpectedly, he had snuck out again. Dazhu’s wife promptly sent him back inside.
Watching his wife storm into the courtyard, Zhao Dazhu muttered to himself, contemplating how he ended up with such a fierce wife. He envied Shen Zi’an, who had married an initially sickly and unattractive woman but had transformed her into a beautiful and wealthy lady. He wondered when his own wife would change.
“You stubborn ghost! Get back in here! Don’t you want to eat?!”
The loud scolding echoed from the courtyard as Zhao Dazhu promptly grabbed a bamboo pole and went inside, grumbling discontentedly, “It’s the New Year; don’t say inauspicious words. Let’s talk about being well-fed. If you want to scold, wait until after the New Year. Then you can scold to your heart’s content…”
Zhao Dazhu found his wife increasingly ferocious.
Shen Zi’an and his group had just entered the Shen family’s courtyard and naturally heard the commotion next door. They chuckled and discussed how the couple had been ignored by them despite their attempts of making conversation. They decided it was best not to engage with such troublesome individuals. Shen Zi’an and Su Zhi nodded in agreement, opting to avoid unnecessary trouble by keeping their distance.
The Shen family’s courtyard was tidier than usual that day, with festive couplets already hung up. These couplets were not the modern, delicately printed ones but rather simple red paper with auspicious phrases written in brush strokes. The Shen family didn’t need to buy or ask for couplets elsewhere because they had Shen Ziju, a talented individual praised by all, who crafted all their couplets.
Shen Ziju not only wrote couplets for his own family but also for anyone who requested them. He didn’t accept payment, seeking only a good reputation. However, the villagers, being simple and generous, would always bring something to thank him. They might offer two eggs, a cabbage, or a few potatoes. People from several hundred households in the village would come seeking couplets, starting from two months before the New Year. By then, the house would be overflowing with vegetables, and there would be baskets full of eggs.
During this period, the Shen family experienced their most prosperous days. Shen Youfu and Shen Zhang shi’s faces beamed with radiance as they listened to people praising Shen Ziju’s well-crafted couplets, lauding his clever and insightful words. They believed he was destined for great success, which filled the Shen family with a sense of pride and satisfaction, as if Shen Ziju’s triumph was imminent.
Shen Zi’an’s family also received couplets written by Shen Ziju. Su Zhi was struck by the quality of Shen Ziju’s calligraphy, recognizing his talent. She pondered on his potential literary prowess, imagining that he might indeed rise to an official position in the future. Considering his thoughtful nature, she speculated that with the right connections, he could climb the ranks smoothly.
“Fourth Brother, Fourth Sister-in-law, you’ve arrived.”
Shen Ziju stepped out from the main hall, seeing Su Zhi admiring the couplets by the door. He felt pleased, recalling Su Zhi’s genuine praise when he had delivered the couplets. He sensed her sincerity and recognized her literacy. Observing the quality of her embroidery on the screen, he appreciated her artistic sensibilities. A woman capable of such embroidery surely possessed a keen eye for aesthetics and could discern the quality of his calligraphy.
Shen Ziju now felt that Su Zhi marrying his fourth brother was a disservice to her. He believed that a talented, artistic, and clever woman like her deserved a more suitable match, someone who could appreciate her qualities fully.
Observing Shen Ziju today in his dark blue robe, his head wrapped in a cloth, with a refined and gentle demeanor, Su Zhi thought that the Shen family members were all good-looking. Shen Zhu and Shen Ziju, being twins of Shen Zhang shi, exuded a noticeable charm. If dressed in fine clothing, they could easily pass as young masters and ladies from a prominent family. Born into such a household, they seemed like rare treasures in a field of grass, yet they were not overlooked but rather discovered by others.
“Fifth brother, we wish you a prosperous New Year.”
Shen Zi’an greeted Shen Ziju. During the New Year festivities, even among family members, the first words exchanged were usually New Year greetings, as long as they were auspicious words that people enjoyed hearing.
Su Zhi also smiled and added, “Fifth brother, we wish you a prosperous New Year.”
Shen Ziju quickly wished them a prosperous New Year and urged everyone to enter the house. As Su Zhi passed by him, he seemed to catch a faint fragrance, causing a flutter in his heart. Watching Su Zhi’s figure, he noticed Shen Zifu lightly holding her hand. He lowered his eyes slightly and followed them inside.
Inside the main hall, Shen Zi’an and Su Zhi paid their respects to Shen Youfu and Shen Zhang shi for the New Year before taking their seats. By this time, the the men had brought in the items they had brought along. The food was taken to the kitchen, while the sugar and fabrics were put away.
Shen Zhang shi asked Su Zhi to come and chat with her, while Shen Zi’an took out five taels of silver and handed them to Shen Youfu. Initially, it was agreed upon during the division of assets that only one tael of silver would be given per year. However, with their improved circumstances, giving only a tael would not only displease some in the Shen family but also raise eyebrows in the village. While they were technically in the right, it was sometimes necessary to consider the circumstances.
The suggestion to give five taels of silver came from Su Zhi. It was their first year after splitting from the main family, and having recently built a house and purchased land, it was widely known that they had come into wealth. Giving just one tael of silver to their parents would have seemed modest, considering they were no longer living in poverty.
Another reason was that Su Zhi anticipated that Shen Ziju would soon be taking the Imperial Exam after the spring began. It was likely that the Shen family would discuss financial matters again in relation to this event. The elderly couple in the Shen family, despite having wealth, would likely request contributions from their sons. Instead of waiting for this, it made more sense for Su Zhi and Shen Zi’an to proactively offer the additional silver, leaving a positive impression on Shen Ziju.
Su Zhi believed that Shen Ziju had a good chance of passing the exam. Moreover, his shrewd nature meant that maintaining a good relationship with him would be more beneficial than being on bad terms.
Giving five taels of silver not only garnered praise from the villagers but also pleased the Shen family. It was a worthwhile gesture that would benefit them in the long run.
As Shen Zi’an presented the silver, mentioning Shen Ziju’s upcoming Imperial Exam preparations, Shen Youfu and Shen Zhang shi were delighted. Shen Ziju, standing beside them, expressed his gratitude with a bow.
Five taels of silver was no small amount, especially for rural folks who didn’t earn much silver in a year. Accumulating ten taels of silver would be considered quite well-off.
Su Zhi then took out a small cloth bundle from a hidden basket and handed it to Shen Ziju, smiling warmly as she said, “Fifth Brother, this is a New Year gift for you. I hope you like it.”