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When Shen Zi’an and the others saw Li Zheng approaching, they paused, anticipating a discussion with him, unsure of the topic.
Approaching them, Li Zheng glanced at Aunt Li, hesitating to speak in her presence, and suggested, “Zi’an, let’s go to your place to talk.”
Aunt Li interjected immediately, “Li Zheng, why can’t I hear about this matter too?”
Li Zheng paused, realizing he could keep Shen Zi’an’s family matters private by excluding Aunt Li but decided against it. Considering it was a village affair bound to become public knowledge, he saw no harm in letting Aunt Li hear as well.
“It’s like this: spring has arrived, and after Qingming festival, in about half a month, it will be Guyu. On that day, we hold a ceremony to worship the Rain Goddess. Every year, all the villages around here come together for this ritual, making it quite lively. This year, I thought of having the three children from your family, Zi’an, serve as the Young Boys and Girls. I wonder if you would be willing.”
After Li Zheng finished speaking, he looked at Shen Zi’an and Su Zhi, awaiting their response.
Upon hearing the term “Young Boys and Girls,” Su Zhi was initially startled. It wasn’t surprising, given her exposure to myths, especially the Journey to the West, where such a title often signaled trouble, involving feeding demons. So when she heard about letting Xiaori and the others serve as Young Boys and Girls, her first thought was of potential danger. She resolved not to send her children to a possible perilous situation.
However, this was only a fleeting thought. Upon further reflection, she realized it was unlikely. As the day approached, families with children in the village would surely be anxious if such a tradition existed. Yet, she hadn’t observed any signs of concern among those families. Furthermore, Li Zheng didn’t seem to be discussing anything sinister; it actually sounded quite positive!
Upon hearing Li Zheng’s words, Aunt Li’s cloudy eyes lit up, exclaiming, “Li Zheng, this is a great opportunity! Let’s include our Tiedan in this. Look at how well he looks; he’d be a perfect Young Boy. The Rain Goddess will surely be pleased!”
Li Zheng waved his hand and explained, “No, the Young Boys and Girls shouldn’t be too young or too old. It’s best for them to be between three to five years old. Tiedan is past that age. Don’t be upset; I haven’t asked Shuanzi from my family to participate either. Moreover, each group of Young Boys and Girls needs nine members. With over ten villages participating in the Rain Festival, each village wants their children to be chosen. Even if we have candidates from our village, they would still need to be selected from among all the options. Considering Tiedan’s age, it’s better not to involve him. Let’s spare him the trouble!”
Aunt Li felt deflated, glancing at Xiaori, Xinger, and Yueyue. She envied the Shen family’s good fortune—just as they had brought the children back, such a great opportunity had arisen. Reflecting on potentially further upsetting them, she decided to say a few kind words now to mend their relationship.
“Li Zheng is right. Looking around our village, only the three children from Zi’an’s family stand out. They look pure and delicate, a perfect match for such roles. They will surely outshine the children from other villages. With our village boasting three Young Boys and Girls, it will be quite impressive.”
Aunt Li squinted at the three children, smiling. She wanted to pat Yueyue’s head, but Yueyue dodged and hid behind Su Zhi, peeking at Aunt Li while blinking innocently. Aunt Li’s mouth twitched, internally cursing the little rascal but refraining from saying it aloud.
Li Zheng inquired, “Zi’an, Zi’an’s wife, what do you think? These three children seem healthy and suitable for the roles of Young Boys and Girls.”
Shen Zi’an glanced at Su Zhi. Having observed Aunt Li’s eagerness for Tiedan to participate and considering Li Zheng’s proposal, Su Zhi sensed it wasn’t a bad idea. She suggested to Shen Zi’an that if he agreed, they should ask the children if they were willing. Shen Zi’an then asked the three children if they wanted to be Young Boys and Girls, explaining they just needed to wear new clothes and accompany the Rain Goddess.
Xinger said, “If my brother and sister go, then I will go too.”
After glancing at Su Zhi and Shen Zi’an, Xiaori, not fully understanding the situation but sensing it was positive, decided to agree since his parents didn’t object.
“Little sister, do you want to be a Young Girl?”
Yueyue blinked and responded, “If it makes Mom and Dad happy, then I’ll go.”
Su Zhi felt warmed by her daughter’s words, appreciating Yueyue’s thoughtful response at such a young age. She thought to herself what a caring child she was, truly a considerate little one. She lifted Yueyue, gave her a kiss, and Yueyue giggled joyfully.
Xiaori told Li Zheng, “Grandpa Li Zheng, we’ll go.”
Li Zheng, pleased, stroked his beard and said, “Great! Tomorrow, I’ll take you for the selection. With your looks and intelligence, you’ll surely be chosen! If you three from our Riverside Village get selected, it will still be quite a proud moment!”
As they parted ways with Aunt Li and Li Zheng, heading home, Su Zhi overheard Shen Zi’an and Li Shi discussing the Rain Festival, finally understanding its significance.
The Rain Festival was a custom in Liang Dynasty. On the day of Guyu, everyone worshipped the Rain Goddess. Farmers prayed for good weather and a bountiful harvest, while others had specific intentions: rulers prayed for peace and prosperity, officials for career advancement, merchants for financial success, and scholars for a bright future. In essence, everyone sought prosperity in their own way.
Riverside Village and the surrounding villages had long-established customs that on the day of Guyu, they would come together to hold the Rain Festival ceremony. This collective celebration increased the grandeur of the event, showcasing unity and harmony among the villages.
Organizing this ceremony naturally required funding. Each year, affluent households contributed funds, albeit not without reason. By participating, they sought blessings for their homes, symbolizing a year of prosperity. While this was a formality, others were eager to receive these blessings, leading many wealthy families to actively contribute funds. This heightened the vibrancy of the ceremony.
On the day of Guyu, a distinguished young woman, previously chosen, would dress as the Rain Goddess. Adorned in a beautifully decorated floral carriage, she would parade through the villages, culminating in a final ceremony at the foot of Daming Mountain before dispersing.
The entire ceremony could sometimes last until the afternoon, given the number of villages involved, making the walking distance quite substantial. Despite the duration, over the years, everyone had grown accustomed to the festivities and willingly enjoyed a full day of celebration. This festival was no less significant than the New Year celebrations.
Su Zhi found the discovery of this festival quite intriguing.
“So, how is the Rain Goddess selected? It can’t be like choosing the Young Boys and Girls, with each village sending a girl and then having everyone vote, right?”
Curious about which girl Riverside Village would select, Su Zhi knew there were plenty of beautiful girls in the village.
Shen Zi’an explained, “The girl chosen to portray the Rain Goddess must be at least fifteen years old, unmarried, and besides appearance, other qualities are also considered to select the best candidate.”
Li Shi added, “Last year’s chosen girl was from the town, a scholar’s daughter who excelled in various skills. I heard that the girl from the year before was from the village of Shen Yumei’s husband, a doctor’s daughter known for her medical abilities.”
Su Zhi realized that this selection process was akin to a talent show. Women chosen to portray the Rain Goddess were indeed exceptional individuals, garnering considerable attention. In today’s society, even rural girls were taught etiquette and manners. Standing out too prominently could lead to gossip and criticism. However, becoming the Rain Goddess was a prestigious and praiseworthy position, a significant highlight in one’s life. The competition must be fierce for such a role.
Suddenly, Su Zhi thought of Shen Zhu and asked Shen Zi’an, “Will Zhu’er participate in the selection?”
Shen Zi’an shook his head, saying, “I’m not sure.”
Su Zhi believed Shen Zhu would likely want to participate. She knew Shen Zhu wasn’t one to shy away from the limelight. With such an opportunity to stand out, she couldn’t imagine Shen Zhu not wanting to be part of it.
Li Shi chimed in, “I bet Zhao Xiaohua will also participate. Didn’t you see how Aunt Li hurried off earlier? Since Tiedan can’t participate as a Young Boy, she’s probably thinking of having her daughter compete for the Rain Goddess role.”
Su Zhi imagined Zhao Xiaohua dressed as the Rain Goddess, picturing her as a dignified and graceful celestial being, akin to Guanyin. She couldn’t help but chuckle at the thought of Xiaohua trying to exude purity.
Seeing his wife’s amusement, Shen Zi’an understood her thoughts and held her hand, joining in her laughter.
Observing the affection between the couple, Li Shi turned away, sighing softly, wishing for someone who understood him as well. His mind drifted to Liu Siniang, then he shook his head, dismissing the thought, deciding to leave things as they were for now.
Su Zhi helped Li Shi design his house, finalizing the architectural plans. With the sketches in hand, Li Shi went to discuss with Shen Shugen. Shen Zi’an invited Li Shi to stay for dinner, but Li Shi declined, leaving in a hurry. Su Zhi didn’t put away her drawing materials and continued working on her sketches, thinking it was time to tidy up the garden with the weather warming up—it couldn’t remain neglected.
Yueyue played on the mat with Little Black and Little White, she almost ended up tumbling up on Big Black, but big White nudged her away. Undeterred, Yueyue happily moved to play elsewhere.
Shen Zi’an and Su Zhi sat on the heated brick bed, discussing garden arrangements while sketching on paper. Xiaori and Xinger watched nearby, trying to understand what was being drawn.
As dusk approached, heavy dark clouds rolled in from the horizon, swiftly moving closer. Rumbling thunder echoed as the first spring rain was about to arrive.