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Upon hearing Wang Shi’s words, Su Zhi’s interest was piqued. Women always enjoyed gossip, and although Su Zhi’s interest in gossip had been moderate in the past, it had grown since she arrived in ancient times. With little entertainment available, listening to the gossip and secrets of different households made life more interesting. So, when Wang Shi mentioned something about someone else, particularly a secret related to the Rain Goddess, Su Zhi’s eyes immediately lit up.
“Xianhua? What a lovely name! She must be a beautiful young lady, right?” Su Zhi chuckled inwardly at the name, finding it amusing how rural women in ancient times often named their daughters after flowers and plants. Shen Zhu’s name, being more elegant, stood out among them. Hearing about Xianhua, Su Zhi found it intriguing, wondering if the girl truly matched the beauty her name suggested.
Wang Shi could only reply, “I haven’t seen her myself, but the florist mentioned that she’s quite pretty. Being a candidate for the Rain Goddess and from a landlord’s family, it’s expected that she’s attractive.”
Su Zhi nodded and remarked, “In that case, she stands a good chance of being chosen as the Rain Goddess. Even if Master Zhang helps her, it shouldn’t raise any eyebrows.”
Su Zhi explained that in similar circumstances, those with influential connections often gain an advantage – this concept embodied the idea of “right time, right place, right people.” It could be considered a display of power as well.
Li Shi and Wang Shi noticed that Su Zhi seemed nonchalant and not overly concerned about Shen Zhu, which left them feeling uneasy. They wondered whether Fourth Brother and his wife truly didn’t care about Shen Zhu’s fate or if they were just adept at hiding their emotions. Hoping for Shen Zhu’s success, they had sought Su Zhi’s advice, and now they couldn’t help but worry.
Wang Shi added, “This Xianhua seems to be the sister of a concubine of Master Zhang’s son. It seems like they’re supporting her to become the Rain Goddess! The Zhang family is wealthy and well-connected with prominent figures in town. With just a word, Xianhua might secure the Rain Goddess position. Fourth Sister-in-law, think about it – wouldn’t this be unfair to the other women? If Zhu’er is clearly the best candidate but gets overshadowed by someone like Xianhua, it would be truly unjust.”
Upon hearing the surname of Xianhua, Su Zhi couldn’t help but burst into laughter. She found it amusing that there were individuals with such names – truly intriguing!
Chunxiang, chuckling, remarked, “Aunt Four seems to find the name Niu Xianhua quite amusing, doesn’t she? It is indeed a bit funny.”
Chunlan playfully patted Chunxiang on the shoulder, also suppressing a smile.
Chunyue, Weaving Knots, commented, “It’s a good thing our family name is Shen, and our names are all quite ordinary. Imagine if we had names like that – it would surely make people burst into laughter.”
Chunyun clapped her hands, exclaiming, “Funny, Verry Funny!”
This light-hearted banter not only eased the worries of Li Shi and Wang Shi but also brought a smile to their faces. They appreciated how Fourth Brother and his wife remained calm even during serious discussions, finding joy amidst the conversation.
Wang Shi playfully scolded her two daughters, saying, “Stop laughing. If that girl can become the Rain Goddess, she must be of good quality. Even if she was named ‘Cow Dung,’ there would still be suitors from respectable families willing to marry her.”
Chuncao chimed in, “No way! No one would want to marry Cow Dung; it smells too bad.”
Yueyue added, “Yeah, stinky stinky.”
Su Zhi chuckled again, then composed herself, realizing it was time to steer the conversation back on track. If the banter continued, the two sisters-in-law would likely become more worried. She reiterated the main points discussed in the main room to the two sisters-in-law, assuring them that while they wouldn’t openly support Shen Zhu, they would ensure she maintained respect in the eyes of Qian Dahu and his associates.
Li Shi breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing this, but Wang Shi remained apprehensive. She glanced at Li Shi before turning to Su Zhi, saying, “Fourth Sister-in-law, there’s a difference between speaking up and staying silent. We aren’t asking you to approach Qian Dahu but to have a word with Master Zhang.”
Raising an eyebrow, Su Zhi inquired, “Speak with Master Zhang? Big Sister-in-law, how do you suggest I approach him? I don’t know Master Zhang personally, so how can I ask him not to support the family of his son’s concubine? This information is only hearsay; approaching him directly might not be well-received, right?”
Wang Shi remarked, “Fourth Sister-in-law, you might not know Master Zhang personally, but you do business with his family. I know you provided recipes for their restaurant. Thanks to your recipes, their business thrived; I saw the long queues in town. Don’t deny it; I’ve heard people are now enjoying dumplings, all because of your initiative. Your culinary skills are renowned, and only you can create those new dishes at the Inn.”
Observing Wang Shi and Li Shi’s efforts for their daughters’ future, Su Zhi felt touched by their dedication.
Li Shi, noticing Su Zhi’s silence, hesitantly added, “Fourth Sister-in-law, we’re not pressuring you. We simply believe that since you have a connection with Master Zhang through sharing recipes and being associated with someone from his family, he might lean towards your side. That’s why we’re seeking your help. If you’re unwilling, we won’t force you.”
Chunlan chimed in, “Fourth Aunt, our mother is doing this for us. Please don’t be upset.”
Chunxiang added, “Fourthn Aunt, our mother and Second Aunt aren’t asking you to assist your younger sister-in-law. They just want fairness in the process.”
Chunyue stayed silent, deeply concerned about the situation. Despite her young age, she understood the significance of having a family member become the Rain Goddess. She admired fourth Aunt and didn’t want to see her in a difficult position. Holding her worries inside, she refrained from speaking up.
Seeing their earnestness, Su Zhi’s initial discomfort faded. She realized their intentions were for their daughters’ benefit, and the idea wasn’t unreasonable, causing her unease to dissipate.
“Tomorrow we’re heading to town,” Su Zhi began, “and considering the late hour, I might not make it in time to meet Master Zhang. If I do manage to see him, I’ll convey the message. However, if I’m unable to meet him, please don’t hold it against me.”
Su Zhi thought it over, noticing the hopeful gazes of not just Wang Shi and Li Shi but also the slightly older girls like Chunlan, Chunxiang, and Chunyue. She understood their hopes rested on her. It wasn’t a significant matter in the grand scheme of things, and she decided she wouldn’t persuade Master Zhang to abandon Xianhua for Shen Zhu but instead would ask him not to interfere, ensuring fairness in the selection process for the Rain Goddess candidates.
When Wang Shi heard this, a smile appeared on her plain face and she said, “Fourth Sister-in-law, I will go with you tomorrow.”
Upon hearing Wang Shi’s decision to accompany them, Su Zhi noticed a slight smile on her normally composed face. She thought Wang Shi might be concerned about her commitment, but she didn’t voice her thoughts. Willing to go along, Su Zhi had no intention of deceiving them; she was determined to handle the matter diligently.
With Su Zhi’s agreement, the atmosphere in the room lightened, and their shared joy was evident. Su Zhi gained a deeper understanding of the prestige associated with the Rain Goddess role. It seemed like a significant honor, given the happiness displayed even by the family members in anticipation of the potential benefits.
Leaving the Shen residence, Su Zhi discussed the matter with Shen Zi’an. He grasped her hand, encouraging her to do her best but not to force things if it became too challenging.
Through Shen Zi’an’s explanation, Su Zhi learned about the advantages of becoming the Rain Goddess. It was revealed that once a girl became the Rain Goddess, numerous suitors would seek her hand. Examples were shared of previous Rain Goddesses who had married well, including one who married into a wealthy family and even gave birth to twins shortly after entering her new home. The history showed that past Rain Goddesses had all married prosperously.
“Have they all been living well? And their families?” Su Zhi couldn’t believe that all the good fortune would solely fall upon those young girls.
Shen Zi’an explained, “Even if there are some troubles, they are minor and never attributed to the Rain Goddess. People tend to highlight the positives for someone they favor and focus on the negatives for those they don’t.”
Su Zhi nodded in agreement, recognizing the truth in his words. She reflected on how she had once been labeled as a jinx, blamed for all misfortunes. Now, being seen as a fortunate person, all good things were attributed to her. It was a clear demonstration of human bias.
The next day, bright and early, Shen Zi’an and Su Zhi rose with the sun. While one prepared breakfast, the other tended to the cows and chickens. Once their chores were done, they woke the three children to have breakfast together.
After finishing breakfast, Su Zhi instructed the white wolf family to watch over the house while they were out. Little Black seemed eager to follow but was gently shooed away with a pat on the head.
She then ushered the three children back into the house to change into new clothes. Since their arrival, Su Zhi had made several outfits for each child. Despite living in the countryside where they often played with village children and even a few wolves, they usually wore simple cloth garments. Today, however, they were dressed in silk clothes.
“Mmm, my Xiaori, Xinger and Yueyue are so adorable,” Su Zhi remarked, admiring the three children lined up on the kang. She felt immensely fortunate – having recovered from illness, married a good husband, and now blessed with three lovely children. It felt as if she had achieved perfect harmony in life, akin to a fairy tale.