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Shen Zi’an and Su Zhi sat in a rundown yet clean thatched hut, gazing at each other in silence. The moment felt serene, with only the distant chirping of birds audible, creating a somewhat apprehensive atmosphere, especially for Shen Zi’an. He walked over and took Su Zhi’s hand.
“Wife, I’m sorry for all the trouble today,” he said.
Su Zhi, whose heart had been unsettled, suddenly calmed down and asked, “The Taoist called me a jinx, and everyone believes it. You know I’ve been told since childhood that I have bad luck, which led me to spend many years in the convent. If my luck remains poor, aren’t you afraid?”
Shen Zi’an embraced Su Zhi, resting his chin on her head, and reassured her, “I’m not afraid. We’ve been together for so long, and nothing has happened, right? Even if something does, it’s my fate, not your fault. Besides, they say I caused my mother’s death. Aren’t you afraid of me?”
Being held in a warm embrace made Su Zhi feel comforted deep inside. While Shen Zi’an didn’t deny the superstition about her being a jinx, his fearlessness and assurance that he wouldn’t blame her even if things went wrong touched her more than disbelief. In ancient times, belief in spirits was common, and whether someone brought fortune or misfortune was often acknowledged. Shen Zi’an accepting her as a jinx yet refusing to abandon her was truly precious. In that moment, she felt he could be the pillar of support she needed in her life.
Seeing his wife willingly embrace him, wrapping her arms around his waist, filled Shen Zi’an with joy. Even though they had shared a bed lately, with Su Zhi sometimes seeking warmth in his arms at night, they had never been this close during the day. Her embrace was comforting, and he wished he could hold her like this forever.
Su Zhi’s stomach growled twice, breaking the warm atmosphere.
Shen Zi’an chuckled and released Su Zhi, pulling out a bundle of buns from his bag, which had cooled during the commotion.
“Wife, have some warm buns. They’re filled with meat and smell delicious,” he said.
Accepting the bun, Su Zhi felt moved, realizing that meat buns were likely expensive. In novels, meat buns were always described as a mouth-watering delicacy.
Shen Zi’an always brought back tasty treats for her, though never in excess, just enough for her. Lately, she had been fortunate to have some meat, hunted by Shen Zi’an. Despite being divided among over twenty family members, getting even two small pieces was considered lucky. Surprisingly, she, a person accustomed to having meat in every meal in modern times, was now craving it.
“I’ve made some porridge earlier. Lets Heat it up, as well as the buns, and we’ll eat together,” Su Zhi said.
As Su Zhi prepared to warm the buns, Shen Zi’an insisted she sit and rest while he took care of it. Although Su Zhi was now capable of working, he still limited her tasks.
Quickly heating the buns, they sat together to eat.
“Wife, your cooking is delicious,” Shen Zi’an complimented.
“In that case, I’ll cook for you every day. Just let me know if you ever get tired of it,” Su Zhi replied.
“I never get tired of your porridge every day,” Shen Zi’an happily replied. He wondered if Su Zhi’s willingness to continue cooking for him meant she wanted to settle down with him. He remembered when she first arrived, sitting like a wooden doll and shying away when he touched her. Back then, he had asked if she didn’t want to be with him. If she truly didn’t, he would have sent her back without hesitation. At that time, his feelings towards her were not special; it was a matter of duty after they had become a couple. He believed that her illness, wasn’t a reason for separation. No one said an unwell girl couldn’t marry, especially when their engagement had been arranged long before. If he divorced her due to her illness, it would have been his mistake. Unless she chose to leave on her own, he wouldn’t divorce her, as she hadn’t committed any serious wrongdoing.
After just a month of marriage, Su Zhi had suddenly fallen seriously ill with a high fever. Shen Zi’an had feared for her life, but she had not only survived but also recovered her strength, transforming into the gentle, conversational, and industrious wife she was now.
Shen Zi’an had been captivated by Su Zhi’s newfound warmth and charm, dispelling any thoughts of her leaving. He wished for her to stay, imagining a life together. However, these desires were his own; he was uncertain of Su Zhi’s feelings. As Su Zhi sewed clothes, unraveled quilts, and cooked for him, Shen Zi’an’s affection for her deepened. Sometimes, he even wondered if they would continue like this if her illness get better. Yet, he felt a sense of shame, realizing the suffering Su Zhi endured due to her illness. How could he let her continue like this? He decided it was best for her to recover swiftly, even if she eventually chose to leave.
Now that Su Zhi mentioned cooking for him in the future, Shen Zi’an started to worry. How long would she continue cooking for him?
“Zi’an, what are you thinking about?” Su Zhi noticed Shen Zi’an’s distracted demeanor as he sipped his porridge, no longer showing the same enthusiasm he had before.
“Wife, do you remember when you first came here, I told you that if you wanted to leave, all you had to do was tell me, and I would let you go. Do you remember?” Shen Zi’an looked into Su Zhi’s eyes and said, “I don’t want you to leave now.”
Su Zhi blinked, remembering how Zhao Xiaomei, as she was known before, had initially been unwilling to marry Shen Zi’an. However, she was now Su Zhi, and as long as she was willing, that was all that mattered. Seeing Shen Zi’an looking nervous, she decided to tease him and put on a serious expression.
“No, I must leave this place!” she declared.
“Su Zhi!” Shen Zi’an pushed his bowl aside, took Su Zhi’s hand, and said, “I will treat you well. Please don’t leave. Let’s live happily together. Isn’t that a good idea?”
“What’s so good about it?” Su Zhi pursed her lips, noticing the pain in Shen Zi’an’s eyes. Seeing his distress, she felt a twinge of guilt. She realized she shouldn’t joke too much and decided to lighten the mood. With a smile, she continued, “What’s good about this thatched hut? We’re stuck in here every day, with no freedom at all. I do want to leave this place. However, I’ll take you with me, or you can take me with you. We’ll live well together. Someday, we’ll live in a house hundreds or thousands of times better than this one. What do you say?”
Shen Zi’an was momentarily stunned, but seeing the smile on Su Zhi’s face, he realized he had misunderstood or been teased. Not upset in the least, he smiled back, appreciating his wife’s playful banter.
“Of course, we are planning to separate, aren’t we? We’ll be leaving soon, but we won’t take much with us. It might be inconvenient for you,” Shen Zi’an said.
“It will surely be better than now, right?” Su Zhi replied casually. “As long as we have our hands and work diligently, we can always live a good life.”
“You’re right, wife. I will make sure you have a good life,” Shen Zi’an assured her.
Having finally opened up to each other, they agreed not to part ways and felt relieved. They enjoyed a sweet meal together. In the afternoon, Shen Zi’an was summoned to the main house, while Su Zhi was not invited. With her illness and the stigma of being considered a jinx, no one would think to include her.
Shen Zhang shi and Sun Shi, wary of uncertainty, were eager to finalize the division the very same day. After a hasty meal, they urged Shen Youfu to proceed with the separation. Shen Youfu promptly invited the Village head and two cousins to oversee the process.
The spectators present were there merely to observe. If the individuals involved were dissatisfied with the outcome, then these onlookers would intervene. Therefore, the three main figures took their seats.
The Village head began, “Today, the Shen family will divide, a necessary step. Remember, even separated, you are still family. Let there be no ill feelings. Support each other moving forward. Let us commence the division now.”
Shen Zi’an remained silent, understanding that he wouldn’t receive much from the division. He only desired what was essential, and without Su Zhi, he would have wanted nothing to avoid future entanglements.
Sun Shi brought Shen Ziping along to ensure Shen Zi’an didn’t take too much in the division.
Shen Youfu’s two cousins offered a few words before the division officially began.