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When Shen Youfu and Shen Zhang shi saw Shen Zi’an and Su Zhi coming in, neither of them were fools. They immediately understood Shen Ziju’s intentions, and hope rose anew in their eyes.
Shen Zhang shi quickly reached out and grabbed Su Zhi’s hand, tears flowing as she spoke.
“Daughter-in-law, look at me. I almost forgot about you. You have great abilities. Can you cure your sister Zhu? Look at her, how pitiful she is. Someone must be trying to harm her. You must find a way to cure her. Our Shen family can’t be so unlucky.”
Su Zhi winced as Shen Zhang shi gripped her hand tightly. She knew Shen Zhang shi had always been steady, but this time, she seemed genuinely anxious. Thinking about Shen Zi’an’s dislike for this stepmother, she felt a small sense of satisfaction amidst her own discomfort. “You sly fox, finally feeling anxious, huh?” She thought. “I really don’t want to cure Shen Zhu now.”
“Mother, please let go of my hand first. It’s hurting a bit,” Su Zhi flashed a reassuring smile, but the pain was evident in her expression.
Shen Zi’an hurried over upon hearing this, freeing Su Zhi’s hand from Shen Zhang shi’s grasp. As he saw the red marks on her fair skin, he felt a twinge of displeasure. Though he had always sensed Shen Zhang shi’s shrewdness, he had never caught her in any wrongdoing. Now, seeing that Shen Zhang shi was only concerned about Shen Zhu and had inadvertently hurt Su Zhi, he couldn’t bring himself to be angry.
“Mother, if my wife can cure Zhu, she naturally will. You don’t need to exert yourself like this,” he said calmly.
Upon hearing this, Shen Zhang shi immediately took out a handkerchief to wipe away her tears, saying, “Zi’an, daughter-in-law, I was just too anxious. Please don’t take it to heart.”
“Fourth Son, what are you saying? Have you ever spoken to your mother like this? Even if she’s not your biological mother, she’s the one who raised you since childhood. She hasn’t owed you anything all these years. You shouldn’t wear a grim face every day as if she owes you something. Don’t forget, when your mother passed away, she asked you to call her ‘Mother’ and wanted you to be filial to her, treating her like your own mother. Is this how you treat your real mother? You ungrateful wretch.”
Shen Youfu’s temper flared up. He couldn’t stand to see Shen Zhang shi in tears. She was the one he had chosen to marry and had been with him for so many years, raising children together. Even though he was getting older, Shen Zhang shi still had her charm, and he cherished her even more. He couldn’t bear to see Shen Zi’an upsetting her.
In Shen Youfu’s heart, Shen Zhang shi was a virtuous Wife, showing too much love to Shen Zi’an, who wasn’t even her own flesh and blood. Otherwise, how could Shen Zi’an’s biological mother have entrusted him to her before she died, even asking Shen Zi’an to call her ‘Mother’? This made him feel that Shen Zhang shi was truly an exceptional and virtuous woman.
Shen Zi’an’s attitude toward Shen Zhang shi was something Shen Youfu would not tolerate.
Su Zhi’s eyes twitched in frustration. “This father-in-law is really something,” she thought. “Shen Zi’an didn’t even say much, so why is he scolding him like this? People say that where there is a stepmother, there is a stepfather. This stepmother can at least put on an act, but this biological father really acts like a stepfather. Besides, there are outsiders present; what’s the point of shouting about these things?”
Shen Zi’an clenched his fists, his face stern. Shen Youfu’s words hit a sore spot. Before his mother passed away, she had indeed told many people that he should treat Shen Zhang shi as his own mother and begged Shen Zhang shi to take care of him. When he was young, he didn’t quite understand, but as he grew older, he gradually realized it was his mother’s way of protecting him, fearing that Shen Zhang shi might treat him poorly. Over the years, regardless of how Shen Zhang shi acted in private, she treated him as well as her own sons in public, earning a reputation for virtue in the village. In accordance with his mother’s last wish, he called Shen Zhang shi “Mother,” but in his heart, he never truly regarded her as such.
Su Zhi held Shen Zi’an’s hand, feeling sympathy for him.
Shen Zhang shi and Shen Ziju also came over to pull Shen Youfu back, urging him not to shout anymore, as now was not the time for arguing.
Shen Youfu snorted and said, “I’ll let it go this time, but don’t treat your mother like this again, Zi’an. Daughter-in-law, hurry up and check on Zhu, and cure her quickly.”
Su Zhi thought to herself, “You think I can cure her just because you tell me to? Do you take me for some divine healer?” Of course, she wasn’t a divine healer, but she did possess the miraculous spring water and lotus flower that could cure various difficult and complicated diseases. However, she didn’t want to act like a miracle worker here.
Shen Zhang shi said to Su Zhi, “Daughter-in-law, just do your best. I believe you will try your hardest. Zhu’s becoming the Rain Goddess brought glory to our Shen family. You did your best then, too. Now seeing her harmed like this, you must feel bad as well. Please, I’m begging you.”
Shen Ziju supported Shen Zhang shi and said, “Mother, Fourth Sister-in-law will definitely do her best.”
Su Zhi was tired of their combined tactics of coaxing and coercion. She walked over to Shen Zhu and examined her. Having recently learned how to check pulses from Doctor Huang, she looked quite the part, appearing like a genuine physician. The Shen family watched her with hopeful eyes, all waiting for her to turn around and announce that she could cure Shen Zhu. Even Shen Zhu, half her face hidden behind a sleeve, stared nervously at Su Zhi.
“I’m sorry, but I can’t cure this,” Su Zhi said, turning her head. After the earlier commotion, she was even more certain that she didn’t want to cure Shen Zhu. Although this meant Shen Zhu wouldn’t become the Rain Goddess and the Shen family daughters wouldn’t benefit from the glory, it wasn’t a major issue. As long as they themselves were good, with their parents’ good reputation and solid family background, they wouldn’t have trouble finding good marriages in the future. Moreover, she believed that Shen Ziju had a high chance of becoming an official in the future. A niece of an official would be even more desirable for marriage.
So, whether Shen Zhu became the Rain Goddess was no longer important. Su Zhi never particularly liked Shen Zhu. She had only helped her become the Rain Goddess because her sisters-in-law had begged her, and after much deliberation, she decided to assist. Now that Shen Zhu was in trouble, it had nothing to do with her, and she wouldn’t intervene again. If she did, it would cost her greatly. She was certain that if she cured Shen Zhu instantly, the family would exploit her medical skills for their benefit without hesitation. She wasn’t foolish enough to let that happen.
Shen Zhu froze upon hearing Su Zhi’s words, then burst into tears.
Shen Youfu’s eyes bulged with anger. He shouted furiously, “Zi’an’s wife, you cured yourself, and even removed such a big scar from Ziju! How can you say you can’t cure Zhu? You just don’t want to! You see that Zhu became the Rain Goddess, and you don’t want her to have a good reputation. You heartless, wicked woman, you’d better cure her right now!”
“Father, I’m still calling you father. If you keep talking like this, then don’t consider me your daughter-in-law anymore. After all, I’m just a ‘wicked woman,'” Su Zhi retorted, anger rising. She knew Shen Youfu had a bad temper and a foul mouth, but his irrational insults were beyond her tolerance. It was like dealing with a mad dog, completely unreasonable.
Shen Zi’an was equally furious. Though he couldn’t confront his father physically, he was seething inside. He kicked a chair nearby, smashing it to pieces, and grabbed Su Zhi’s hand, pulling her to leave.
Shen Zhang shi, who hadn’t yet had time to process her sadness and despair, was stunned by the sudden outburst. She quickly started to pull Shen Youfu back, urging him to stop, while calling Shen Ziju to restrain Shen Zi’an and Su Zhi. Although she was angry and felt that Su Zhi was not willing to try her best, she knew she couldn’t show it. Her priority was to keep Su Zhi there, hoping to find a way to persuade her.
Shen Ziju quickly blocked Shen Zi’an and Su Zhi, continuously bowing his head in apology.
“Fourth Brother, Fourth Brother, please don’t be angry with Father. You know what his temper is like; he’s just anxious. Fourth Sister-in-law, I apologize on behalf of our family. Please don’t be upset.”
Su Zhi ignored him, standing beside Shen Zi’an and turning her face away.
Shen Zi’an said, “Fifth Brother, your Fourth Sister-in-law only knows some remedies; she can’t cure every illness. Little Sister’s condition is too strange. As you said, she might have been harmed by someone. If that’s the case, it’s not an illness that your Fourth Sister-in-law can treat. Forcing her to try and then blaming her if she can’t is intolerable. He’s our father, and we can’t fight with him, but we can leave. Step aside. If you keep blocking us, don’t blame me for using force.”
At this moment, they were all standing near the screen divider. Their conversation inside was naturally audible to those outside, who realized that someone had been called to treat Shen Zhu, and it was the woman who had just come in. Everyone was curious. Hearing that the woman said she couldn’t cure the illness, they all thought it was quite normal. Upon hearing Shen Youfu’s scolding, they felt that the father of the Rain Goddess was somewhat unreasonable. After all, if even the doctor said it couldn’t be treated, how could he force a rural woman to do it?
In their eyes, Su Zhi, young and a village woman, being able to treat illnesses was already impressive. At most, she would know some basic remedies; how could she be expected to surpass a professional doctor?
Seeing the situation, several people came over to help persuade Shen Youfu to calm down.
Shen Zhu kept crying, wanting to come closer but afraid of outsiders seeing her face. She could only stand there, continuously begging Su Zhi to save her. Shen Zhu had pinned all her hopes on Su Zhi, like a drowning person clinging to a straw.
Su Zhi continued to insist that she couldn’t treat the illness. In truth, she had realized that the rash on Shen Zhu’s body might be temporary and would likely clear up on its own soon, without her intervention. If it didn’t improve, she could still help later. For now, she was resolute in her refusal.
Seeing the situation, one of the onlookers remarked, “Looks like the Rain Goddess will need to be replaced.”
Shen Zhang shi became anxious upon hearing this and said, “Sir, isn’t it inauspicious to change the Rain Goddess? We should think of another way.”
The steward frowned and replied, “It’s about to start; what other way is there? Changing the Rain Goddess is better than having someone unfit take the role. If we proceed like this, the Rain Goddess will be displeased. Have you forgotten that there was a previous incident where a problem with the Rain Goddess caused a flood disaster here? It’s better to change her now before it begins.”