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Standing at the door was a man in his twenties, of medium height, with a slightly tanned complexion and well-defined features, exuding vitality. He wore a slightly worn but clean outfit and held pheasant a wild chicken with a fluffy tail. Without allowing any refusal, he handed it to Shen Zi’an upon seeing the door open.
“Brother Zi’an, I returned quite late last night and only found out this morning that you had moved out on your own. So, I caught this wild chicken, consider it a congratulatory gift for your new home. Don’t mind the modesty of the gift,” he expressed warmly.
“Brother Shitou. Please, come in and have a seat,” Shen Zi’an welcomed him in, indicating their close relationship.
“Wife, this is Brother Shitou. He has always taken care of me. You can also call him Brother Shitou,” Shen Zi’an introduced. Su Zhi politely greeted him as “Brother Shitou,” surprising him slightly. Rumors about Shen’s new bride had spread outside, painting her in a negative light. Brother Shitou had even sympathized with Shen Zi’an, considering advising him to divorce his wife due to her illness that was hidden from him, which could be valid reasons for divorce. However, seeing them together now, it seemed Shen Zi’an’s decision not to divorce was sensible. Despite Su Zhi’s illness, she appeared to have a good temperament and seemed compatible with Shen Zi’an.
“Don’t be too formal, even though Shen Zi’an and I aren’t blood brothers, we grew up together. I had been away on a journey shortly after your wedding, only returning late last night, unaware of your move. Nevertheless, this works out well. With you living nearby now, our interactions will be more convenient. Feel free to reach out to me for anything, no need to hesitate,” Shitou expressed warmly.
“Thank you, Brother Shitou,” Su Zhi replied, noting Brother Shitou’s straightforward and amiable nature, making her feel comfortable. She wondered how he would react upon learning about her reputation as a jinx.
“Brother Shitou, since we’ve just moved in, we don’t even have chairs, let alone stools. Let’s sit on these stones here,” Shen Zi’an suggested, pointing to a few stones in the courtyard. Su Zhi had wanted to keep them for sitting, and now they came in handy.
Unfazed, Brother Shitou sat on the stone and conversed with Shen Zi’an. Su Zhi brought a bowl of hot water, handed it over, then retreated back into the house. Despite covering her face, she was reluctant to stay in front of others due to her unfinished recovery.
After about half an hour, Shen Zi’an returned and informed Su Zhi that Brother Shitou had left. He then shared some details about him.
Brother Shitou’s surname was Li, with just a single character name – “Shi.” In rural areas, people often have nicknames, and since Li Shi was easy to care for, he was affectionately called “Shitou” (Stone). His family consisted of only himself, living not far from their location, by the riverside.
“Brother Shitou seems young. Why is he alone? What about his parents? Has he not married yet? In this era, a woman unmarried by eighteen is considered an old maid, and men usually marry before reaching twenty. Li Shi appears to be in his twenties. Why is he living alone?” Su Zhi inquired. Given that he was a friend Shen Zi’an valued and would frequently interact with, she wanted to understand his situation better.
Shen Zi’an sighed softly and explained, “Brother Shitou has had a tough life, even worse than mine. I lost my mother when I was young, but Brother Shitou never had one from the start. His father also mistreated him due to this. During a year of hardship in the village, Uncle Li’s sold him off, never expecting him to return. When he did come back, he found he had no place in his family. Eventually, he settled by the river in the east. He’s only been back for a year and hasn’t married yet.”
Su Zhi nodded in understanding, recognizing that hardship often tempers a person’s character, even if they have worked in menial roles outside. She realized that even the lowest-ranked servants had undergone trials that shaped them.
“Did you talk to Brother Shitou about me? What did he think?” Su Zhi inquired.
Shen Zi’an held Su Zhi’s hand and replied, “I did mention you to him. He didn’t believe it and mentioned that he, too, had been labeled as someone with a ‘mother-killing’ fate. He felt his own life had already been challenging enough to not care about such labels.”
Su Zhi realized the kinship in adversity between Shen Zi’an and Brother Shitou, noting their similar outlook. She saw the value in forming connections during difficult times, especially in this era when such friendships were precious.
As they conversed, noon approached, and both felt hungry. Seeing Su Zhi’s delicate frame, Shen Zi’an felt it was time to nourish his wife after their separation. Planning to hunt for wild game in the afternoon, Brother Shitou’s gift of a wild chicken spurred him to prepare a meal promptly to replenish Su Zhi’s strength. However, lacking oil and only having salt for seasoning, Shen Zi’an faced a dilemma – to roast the chicken, which would be greasy, or steam it, resulting in a milder flavor. He wondered if Su Zhi would enjoy the meal with just salt for seasoning.
Su Zhi, when asked by Shen Zi’an whether she preferred the chicken steamed or roasted, had a sudden inspiration. She requested him to pick some large, fresh lotus leaves by the river, hinting at a delicious surprise she had in mind for him.
Eager to taste his wife’s cooking, Shen Zi’an joyfully agreed and set off to fetch the lotus leaves as requested.
Su Zhi went to the back of the house, where she had earlier found some wild onions and dried wood ear mushrooms. After watering them with spring water, she harvested and prepared them, along with discovering a solitary chili pepper plant near the edge of the yard. Despite yielding only two small peppers, she decided to use them, along with the gathered ingredients, to create a flavorful dish.
As time passed and Shen Zi’an didn’t return, Su Zhi grew concerned. Despite multiple trips to check for his return, she couldn’t spot him. Worried about his safety near the river, she furrowed her brow, covered her face, locked the courtyard gate, and ventured out to find him.
Walking along the path towards the river, Su Zhi passed by several households, some clustered together and others standing alone, all seemingly spacious.
At this time, smoke billowed from every home as families prepared their meals. Children played at the doorways, glancing curiously at Su Zhi. Some adults noticed her presence but remained cautious, their gaze tinged with wariness. It was evident that her reputation as a jinx had already spread. However, Su Zhi felt content that at least people weren’t driving her away or scolding her. The fact that villagers didn’t shut their doors upon seeing her and even dared to look at her gave her confidence that their perception of her was slowly changing.
“Why did you come out?” Shen Zi’an suddenly appeared ahead, rushing to Su Zhi with a few large lotus leaves in hand.
“You were taking so long to return, and I grew worried, so I came out to check on you,” Su Zhi explained.
“I encountered Uncle Liu on the west side of the river while he was returning from the fields and had sprained his ankle. I helped him back home, which caused the delay. I’m sorry for making you worry. Let’s head back now,” Shen Zi’an explained to Su Zhi.
Shen Zi’an observed Su Zhi’s unwavering concern for him, even venturing out despite others seeing her in her current state. He felt grateful to have a wife who cared for him so deeply, willing to step out just because he was a bit late. Holding Su Zhi’s hand, he guided her back home, cherishing her like a precious gem. Their slow and harmonious walk together created a beautiful scene in the tranquil countryside, evoking envy from those who witnessed it.