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All eyes were fixed on Li Shi, Liu Siniang, and Li Shi’s father and his family. These individuals were the center of attention, with everyone eager not to miss any intriguing moments. Li Shi’s father, feeling dizzy after Li Shi’s words, stood there holding his head as Li Shi and Liu Siniang turned to leave. Just as the scene seemed to be winding down, a sudden cry caught everyone’s attention, sparking a renewed sense of alertness as they all turned to look toward the grave.
The person shouting claimed there was something on top of the grave. What could it be?
This sudden revelation startled everyone, as moments before, they had all seen that there was nothing on the grave, not even a blade of grass! The shrill, terrified tone of the caller’s voice jolted them, leading some to wonder if Li Shi’s mother was truly manifesting her presence!
The onlookers’ gaze fixated on the grave, echoing the excitement and terror of the initial caller as they began to exclaim themselves, their voices a mix of fear and exhilaration.
“It’s blooming! It’s blooming!”
“Am I seeing things? Pinch me! Ouch! That was a real pinch! But what I’m seeing is real, isn’t it?!”
“So, there are really such things! So, ghosts do exist in this world! Oh my, I didn’t burn enough money during Qingming. I need to quickly make up for it! Otherwise, I might be in trouble!”
“Yes, yes, it seems Li Shitou’s mother is still looking out for her son. Seeing him getting married, she must be happy. She must be pleased with this daughter-in-law!”
“Definitely pleased! Liu Siniang is such a capable and virtuous woman. It’s only the shallow-minded Zhao family who can’t appreciate her. Li Shitou’s mother is kind-hearted, just like Liu Siniang, so naturally, she approves!”
“Yes, yes, it seems they’ve made the right match. We should say less about others in the future; it’s not good to offend the dead.”
The crowd at the front buzzed with discussions, a mix of opinions filling the air. Those at the back grew anxious, unable to see what was happening and unable to push their way through. They could only hear snippets about flowers and ghosts, their curiosity piqued like a cat scratching at their hearts. Unable to squeeze through, they began to question those in front.
Someone from the front explained that flowers had bloomed in front of the grave. In the blink of an eye, the flowers had appeared from nothing, and there were many of them, in various colors. Those at the back found it hard to believe, but with so many people confirming it, their curiosity intensified. They pushed forward with determination and finally caught sight of the flowers in front of the grave.
The grave remained as it was, barren and covered in yellow soil, appearing dry due to the lack of rain since the beginning of spring. However, on the small platform in front of the grave, a cluster of vibrant flowers had bloomed, with delicate green leaves and tender petals in red, yellow, white, and purple. They stood out vividly against the backdrop of the yellow earth mound.
“Su Zhi, are these flowers blooming?”
Liu Siniang stared at the flowers in a daze, having witnessed the spot where they now bloomed was previously barren. How did these flowers appear in the blink of an eye?
Su Zhi observed the reactions of the crowd, thinking that the effect seemed to be quite sensational. Judging from the villagers’ earlier comments, it appeared that no one would gossip about Li Shi and Liu Siniang’s marriage anymore. If anything, they would now be seen as a match made in heaven, which was exactly what she had hoped for. Her plan had not been in vain.
In fact, Su Zhi was inspired by Yueyue’s innocent words to come up with this idea. She thought, if Zhang Qingniang could devise such a poor excuse to justify her relationship with Zhao Daliang and restore their reputation, why couldn’t Liu Siniang and Li Shi do the same? Although Su Zhi considered Zhang Qingniang’s method to be flawed, it did serve some purpose. Su Zhi, however, aimed to find a more effective solution. Her mind was agile, and she decided to use the ancestors as a starting point, following the precedent set by the Zhao family.
Su Zhi knew that people of this time were still mindful of spirits or deceased ghosts, which led her to devise this plan. In advance, she had taken the opportunity to plant flower seeds at Li Shi’s mother’s grave. Knowing that people would pour libations on the small platform during visits, she deliberately buried the seeds there, choosing tiny ones that were almost invisible to the naked eye.
Su Zhi had originally planned for Li Shi to bring Liu Siniang to pay respects at the grave, with a few villagers present as witnesses to the flowers suddenly sprouting. However, Li Shi’s father’s intrusion and the gathering crowd provided the perfect audience for her performance.
The small jar of wine was mostly filled with spiritual spring water, with only a small portion being actual wine.
Su Zhi had tested her method, which could make flowers grow and bloom rapidly from seeds buried in the ground. This would lead others to believe that Li Shi’s mother had approved of her son’s marriage and accepted Liu Siniang as her daughter-in-law. It would be a powerful deterrent against any further gossip, as few people would dare to show disrespect to the dead, especially after witnessing such an occurrence, fearing the wrath of a potentially vengeful spirit.
The reactions of the people present were exactly what she had hoped for—a spectacular effect.
“Liu Siniang, look, Li Shi’s mother has accepted you. Not only her, but Heaven itself has acknowledged it. How else could so many beautiful flowers bloom? And have so many people witness it? This is a manifestation of her spirit! Let’s see who dares to speak ill of you and Li Shi again. They should consider that if you were truly such people, would Heaven favor you so? It’s here to declare your innocence.”
Su Zhi spoke loudly, ensuring that those around her could hear her clearly, warning them not to spread baseless rumors in the future. She invoked not only the spirits but also the heavens, knowing that deities often instilled greater fear than ghosts.
Indeed, the villagers who had gathered to watch felt that Su Zhi’s words made sense. They reasoned that a deceased spirit wouldn’t have the power to produce so many flowers; even if it did, it would only be with Heaven’s consent. It seemed that Liu Siniang and Li Shi had been wronged. They had always believed that Li Shi was steady and righteous, and Liu Siniang gentle and virtuous. How could they be shameless individuals? Their hasty marriage was clearly a result of the malicious rumors.
Su Zhi inwardly smiled, knowing that her plan had succeeded. Now, everyone believed the story she had spread about Li Shi and Liu Siniang’s rushed marriage being a necessity due to the slander they faced.
Li’s father stared at the flowers in front of the grave, his lips quivering. He remembered how he had treated Li Shi’s mother poorly in his youth and how he had sold Li Shi. The thought that her spirit might be glaring at him now caused him to faint for real, his eyes rolling back. Li Shi’s stepmother shouted and ordered her sons to carry their father away from this haunted place.
Li Shi was somewhat dazed by the events, but he quickly accepted them, given that it was his mother’s grave. Gazing at the beautiful flowers, he knelt and began to kowtow. Liu Siniang followed suit, and after they had finished paying their respects, they stood up together.
The incident spread like wildfire throughout Riverside Village and eventually reached other villages as well. However, few dared to visit the grave to see the flowers, no matter how beautiful they were. After all, it was a grave that had shown signs of a spirit’s presence, and no one but the deceased’s family would willingly face such a ghostly encounter.
The villagers of Riverside Village immediately changed their tune regarding Li Shi and Liu Siniang’s marriage, offering only words of congratulations. In contrast, those who had spread rumors about the couple were now met with disdain, especially the Zhao family. The villagers realized that Zhao Daliang had abandoned his wife and, to avoid criticism for his new marriage, had relentlessly slandered his first wife. They regretted believing those lies and felt a sense of guilt towards Liu Siniang and Li Shi. Eager to make amends, they volunteered to help with the couple’s wedding preparations.
The Zhao family, who had managed to sway the villagers’ opinions with Zhang Qingniang’s performance at the graveyard and their relentless slander against Liu Siniang and Li Shi, found themselves once again the targets of public scorn.
Li Shi, convinced that the flowers blooming at his mother’s grave signified her approval of his marriage, was even more eager to wed Liu Siniang.
Liu Siniang agreed, feeling a sense of excitement over the flowers that had suddenly sprouted and bloomed. Although Li Shi had also mentioned that he was considered to have a hard fate, she had still harbored some worries. Now, witnessing her deceased mother-in-law’s apparent spiritual intervention, she felt hopeful about her future. She longed to start her new life as soon as possible and did not wish to continue imposing on Su Zhi’s hospitality.
Su Zhi believed that there was no time to waste and that an early marriage would bring peace of mind. Shen Zi’an, on the other hand, was thinking about the renovation of Li Shi’s house and how Liu Siniang’s assistance would make the process less arduous.
With everyone in agreement, they decided to expedite the wedding arrangements.
Since Li Shi and Liu Siniang had few close relatives, and those they did have were not particularly close, they decided on their wedding date themselves. They chose the ninth day of the third month, which was only about ten days away. However, with so many people offering their help, the preparations were straightforward.
On the sixth day of the third month, Zhang Qingniang was carried into the Zhao family’s home in a large red sedan chair. Despite the number of villagers who attended due to local ties, the event lacked liveliness. Only those close to the Zhao family engaged in conversation, while most guests simply ate heartily and left early.
On the ninth day of the third month, Liu Siniang was similarly carried into Li Shi’s home in a large red sedan chair. The guests filled Li Shi’s courtyard, their laughter and congratulations echoing loudly. The nearby Zhao family could hear everything clearly, leaving them feeling sullen and resentful.