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The woman, with her head down, struggled to rise. Although her face was obscured, Su Zhi noticed her hair neatly styled, indicating a married woman. She wore a faded blue coarse cloth dress with visible patches, skillfully sewn, and appeared tidy—an efficient individual.
“Are you okay? Did you twist your ankle? If so, try not to move. It’ll only worsen the pain and harm your foot,” Su Zhi advised. Observing the woman’s attempt to stand and subsequent fall, Su Zhi assumed she might have twisted her foot. Despite the seemingly flat path, it was bumpy and prone to causing such injuries.
Startled by Su Zhi’s sudden appearance, the woman hesitated. Su Zhi’s covered face in broad daylight was odd, yet her gentle voice and clear, bright eyes dispelled any suspicions of ill intent.
“Are you the new Fourth Daughter-in-law of the Shen family?” the woman softly inquired. Su Zhi’s arrival and the rumors surrounding her disfigured face were no secret in Riverside Village, especially after the recent commotion. Now, she was a topic of discussion, known as a harbinger of bad luck, banished to live by the river’s east bank. The woman, seeing Su Zhi’s veiled face, could easily infer her identity.
Su Zhi nodded and introduced herself as Su Zhi. Aware of her notorious reputation, she offered to leave if the woman preferred not to accept her help.
Although Su Zhi aimed to dispel her reputation as a harbinger of bad luck, she wasn’t one to force others to believe in her. She wouldn’t disregard others’ feelings to compel them to accept her or try to prove herself at their expense. She wasn’t one to provoke dislike. Some things couldn’t be rushed; they required gradual steps. By showing goodwill and making friends one by one, people would naturally draw closer when they saw there were no issues.
Observing the woman, who seemed under twenty with a sallow complexion, Su Zhi noticed her delicate features and submissive demeanor, indicating someone accustomed to being directed in household tasks—an inherently kind-hearted individual. Su Zhi believed initiating a connection with this woman might be a step forward in her social interactions.
Upon seeing Su Zhi nod, the woman’s face brightened with a smile tinged with surprise. Upon hearing Su Zhi’s words, she shook her head hurriedly.
“No, I’ve heard about you, but it doesn’t bother me!”
Su Zhi raised an eyebrow, surprised by the woman’s lack of fear. Initially, Su Zhi had only hoped that the woman wouldn’t recoil from her, focusing on displaying her friendliness. She aimed to demonstrate her amiable nature, even if the woman harbored some apprehension. It turned out not everyone believed in the superstition surrounding her, even someone who appeared somewhat timid. It seemed not everyone was swayed by the idea of her being a harbinger of bad luck!
“That’s great. Let me have a look at your foot. While I’m not a trained healer, I can still tend to minor injuries and illnesses,” Su Zhi offered. She wasn’t merely making empty promises. As a highly competent homemaker in the past, she had learned and practiced various home remedies and medicinal concoctions. If the woman had a dislocation or fracture, Su Zhi could realign the bones and fashion a splint with ease. Concerns about being sought out for medical assistance later could be addressed in the future. If push came to shove and they couldn’t reach a doctor, she still had the spiritual spring. This could be a way to win people’s hearts. In times of medical scarcity, some impoverished individuals couldn’t afford healthcare. If she could heal them, would the villagers still view her as a harbinger of bad luck?
Hearing Su Zhi’s words, the woman’s face lit up with surprise. Each step she took caused pain in her foot, indicating a sprain. Without Su Zhi’s assistance, making it back home would have been challenging. She had initially hoped Su Zhi might escort her home or arrange for someone to help, but the prospect of receiving treatment was unexpected.
“Thank you so much,” the woman expressed her gratitude.
“No need to thank me. It’s just a sprain. Bear with it,” Su Zhi reassured. Squatting down, she examined the woman’s ankle. With a gentle touch, she discerned it was a dislocation rather than a fracture. Assuring her that it was a minor injury and would heal quickly, Su Zhi gently manipulated the foot back into place.
“Ouch!” The woman yelped in surprise as Su Zhi swiftly corrected her foot without warning. The sudden movement caught her off guard, causing a sharp pain that made her break into a sweat.
“Try moving it now. Does it feel better?” Su Zhi inquired.
Momentarily stunned, the woman cautiously tested her foot, feeling a lingering ache but noticing improved mobility. As the pain gradually subsided, she smiled with relief.
“I can move it! You’re amazing. Thank you so much!” the woman expressed her gratitude.
In the woman’s eyes, Su Zhi’s capabilities suddenly soared. Seeing a doctor would have cost money, and not seeking medical help would have hindered her work. Su Zhi’s quick resolution of her foot issue rivaled the work of a physician.
Assisting her to her feet, Su Zhi chuckled, “No need for thanks. We’re all neighbors, helping each other is only natural. After all this talking, I still don’t know your name.”
“I’m not from a distinguished family. My maiden name is Liu, and I’m the fourth daughter, so everyone calls me Liu Siniang,” she explained. Hearing Su Zhi’s polite inquiry about her name, Liu Siniang felt a bit embarrassed. Her initially pallid face now displayed a hint of color. Recalling their childhood, she added, “We used to play together when we were young. My family is from Willow Village. You were sent away when you were young, so you probably don’t remember me. When you got married and came here, I wanted to go but my mother-in-law wouldn’t allow me to visit.”
Lowering her head, Liu Siniang’s obedient demeanor suggested she was accustomed to being under her mother-in-law’s control. Given her submissive nature, it wouldn’t be surprising if people believed she was mistreated. The truth was that ever since the Fourth Daughter-in-law of the Shen family arrived, known for her illness and disfigured face, many families were wary. Liu Siniang’s mother-in-law was one of those cautious individuals.
Su Zhi was taken aback. It was truly a coincidence that Liu Siniang turned out to be her childhood companion from the Zhao family. They had grown up together, which made their reunion even more special. Despite Su Zhi leaving home early, it had made things easier for Liu Siniang. Encountering such a gentle childhood friend in this situation was indeed fortunate. It would make it easier for Su Zhi to integrate into this era.
“Oh, you’re Liu Siniang. No wonder I didn’t recognize you. We’ve all grown up. If I weren’t in this state now, you probably wouldn’t recognize me either, would you?” Su Zhi chuckled. “The villagers now call me a harbinger of bad luck. Yet, you’re not afraid of me. It must be because of our childhood bond. You’re truly kind-hearted.”
Liu Siniang lowered her head and softly replied, “Our lives are given by fate. If it’s my time to go, even if you can’t influence it, I’ll still meet my end.”
Su Zhi was speechless. Liu Siniang seemed resigned to fate, a characteristic fitting for mistreated women in ancient times. Although Su Zhi disagreed with her views, she didn’t want to challenge her. Having someone who wasn’t afraid of her was a relief to Su Zhi; she didn’t want to risk alienating anyone.
After attempting to stand and taking a few steps, Liu Siniang felt some lingering pain. However, it wasn’t as intense as before, and she expressed even more gratitude towards Su Zhi.