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After the completion of Su Zhi’s house and courtyard walls by the end of November, the weather had turned quite cold. Fortunately, although winter had arrived, it hadn’t settled in too early in this region. The sunny days with occasional winds were favorable for the newly built house, aiding in quick drying. Su Zhi, not wanting to dwell in a damp and cold house, diligently burned the ‘kang’ daily and had Shen Zi’an bring charcoal to dry the sleeping quarters before the coldest days arrived.
Su Zhi’s efforts proved beneficial as the house dried swiftly. Initially, some criticized her actions as extravagant, but upon hearing her reasoning, they found her logic sound, leading to a greater appreciation of her knowledge and foresight.
With the house and courtyard walls completed, Shen Zi’an settled the workers’ wages and announced plans to host a house-warming gathering for the villagers in a few days, marking a moment of tranquility in their home.
Walking hand in hand through their home, Su Zhi and Shen Zi’an remained silent, smiling as they gazed at everything before them. The house was designed like a traditional courtyard dwelling, with added corridors in the front to prevent wet feet when moving between rooms during rain or snow. Several spots in the courtyard were designated for planting flowers and trees, while the rest was paved with stone bricks. All the pillars were painted, and even the front door received a fresh coat of paint.
The furniture had been arranged inside the house, giving it a cozy feel. The stylish furniture made the interior resemble more than just a rural household, almost like a well-appointed urban dwelling. If a few calligraphy and paintings were hung on the walls, the transformation would be complete.
“Tomorrow is market day again. Let’s buy some kitchenware and tea sets. We need to ensure we have refreshments for our guests. I’ll also purchase some fabric to make curtains, both for the doors and windows, as well as covers for the ‘kang’ bedding. Chair cushions are essential too, to keep us warm during winter. There’s so much to do; we might have to invite a few sisters-in-law to help. Otherwise, we might have to delay the house-warming gathering for a couple more months. We can buy the meat and wine for entertaining next time or simply buy a pig in the village for better value… Zi’an, what do you think I should do?”
Su Zhi carefully considered her shopping list. Realizing there was still much to prepare, she felt content thinking about how to manage everything efficiently and economically. After talking for a while without hearing Shen Zi’an’s response, she looked up to find him smiling at her, realizing she might have been talking too much and feeling a bit embarrassed.
“Wife, please continue. I enjoy listening to you,” Shen Zi’an encouraged her.
Seeing his wife fall silent, Shen Zi’an quickly added, “I think you have great ideas for our home. Please continue with your thoughts; your ideas are wonderful.”
Su Zhi felt a pang of sweetness in her heart, appreciating the simple joys of their life together.
“Zi’an, let’s live happily together, forever.”
Su Zhi reached out, embracing Shen Zi’an. She had always known he was a good man, one who had touched her heart. Considering the man he was, she felt content with him and felt no need for anything more. She thought about spending her life with him. Although she couldn’t deny her growing affection for him, the era still felt somewhat unfamiliar. It wasn’t until this moment that she felt truly integrated into this time and place. She was willing to adapt and stay here forever, even if it meant just being a simple farmer’s wife by his side.
“Yes, let’s live our days well,” Shen Zi’an responded, a bit flustered by Su Zhi’s embrace but soon composed himself. He gently held her, realizing that she was the family he had longed for, the person he was ready to love for a lifetime.
The couple strolled intimately through their courtyard, which could more fittingly be called a garden, given its vast expanse of over sixty acres.
Su Zhi had a vision for her home, instructing workers to pave a pathway between the house and the main gate using bluestone bricks, a substantial expense that left onlookers in awe. Unfazed by the cost, she already planned to transform the sunken area in the courtyard into a pond next year, followed by a meticulous garden design. She envisioned adding more paths and constructing additional structures like pavilions. She saw her home as a place where even the simplest wildflowers, grass, and trees would flourish under her care, aiming to turn it into a beautiful garden reminiscent of the Suzhou style in the future.
Currently, the garden remained untamed, with weeds sprouting everywhere, providing a pastoral charm that suited the grazing cow, freely roaming and enjoying the greenery.
The following day, Shen Zi’an took Su Zhi to the market in a cart, returning with a plethora of purchases that made their fellow villagers envious.
“Little sister Zhao, you sure didn’t hold back on spending money!” Dazhu’s wife said.
As Su Zhi emerged from the fabric shop with Shen Zi’an, carrying bundles of cloth, even the shopkeeper came out to bid them farewell, leaving others feeling envious.
“Look at these bowls, porcelain ones at two coins each, right? Why buy so many earthenware jars, for pickling vegetables? It’s a bit late for that now! And all this fabric… Didn’t you purchase a lot last time? How many clothes do you plan to make? You can’t possibly cover yourselves with that much quilt material! My, you’re really well-off!”
Su Zhi chuckled, explaining, “We’re hosting a gathering in a few days and realized we were short on bowls. It wasn’t convenient to borrow, so we bought some. As for the fabric, it won’t go bad, so we decided to stock up. While it may seem like we have money, in reality, we’ve spent nearly all of it on building the house, walls, purchasing land, and furniture. Our funds have been flowing out like water. Even though we feel the pressure, we can’t let our home look impoverished after all the investments. Spending the last of our money on these final touches is crucial for a well-rounded completion. Don’t you agree?”
Su Zhi’s words hinted at the fact that they had depleted their funds, knowing that the village would soon catch wind of any news spread by the talkative woman. This preemptive sharing aimed to prevent misunderstandings about their financial situation and reduce gossip about their wealth, especially in light of recent expensive purchases.
“You’re right, we should be thorough in our actions!” Dazhu’s wife replied with a smile. Despite envying Su Zhi’s shopping spree, deep down, she wished Su Zhi had emptied her pockets entirely. At least she still had some money left, unlike Su Zhi, who seemed to have spent all.
“Sister, wait for me. I’ll head back to the village after buying the fabric. Can you give me a ride?” Taking the opportunity, Dazhu’s wife sought a free ride to save on transportation costs.
Before Su Zhi could respond, Shen Zi’an interjected, “I’m sorry, Sister. The cart is already full. We’ve agreed to meet Brother Shen Shugen’s wife, Li Qing’s wife, and Aunt Jinhua at the town’s entrance to take them back to the village together.”
“What difference would it make if one more person squeezed in? We can manage!”
Dazhu’s wife persisted. A free ride was not to be missed, especially since she could also chat with Aunt Jinhua and others. She had always wanted to establish a closer relationship with Aunt Jinhua, but unfortunately, she was always ignored. This was an opportunity!
Su Zhi thought this person had a thick skin. Despite being rejected, she stubbornly insisted on tagging along. She smiled and said, “There’s really no more space. Sister-in-law, you came with Big Brother, right? You two should return together. This car can’t even squeeze in one more person, let alone two. We can’t let you two separate, let alone one person walking while the other takes the car. You should find another car to ride. Well then, sister-in-law, it’s getting late. We’ll leave first.”
After Su Zhi finished speaking, she climbed onto the car, gesturing for Shen Zi’an to drive away.
No matter how much Dazhu’s wife waved, it was useless. She could only watch helplessly as Su Zhi comfortably rode away on the ox cart. She cursed under her breath, thinking, “Isn’t it just because she’s got money? She’s also a spendthrift woman! Living in a big house but still a peasant! After cursing, she twisted her waist and entered the fabric shop. Looking at the rows of bright fabrics, she started envying Su Zhi again, thinking about how many beautiful fabrics she must have in those fabric bundles!”
Shen Zi’an and Su Zhi arrived at the town’s entrance, where they picked up Li’s wife, Shugen’s wife, and Aunt Jinhua. These three women had heard that Su Zhi and her husband were coming to the market, so they came early to join them, but they parted ways upon arrival.
“Wow, girl, you’ve bought quite a lot of fabric! Are you planning to make quilts or clothes?” Li Qing’s wife asked, seeing the fabric peeking out of Su Zhi’s paper parcels. She then enthusiastically added, “If you have too much to handle, just let me know. I can help you with sewing. Although my stitching skills aren’t that great, I can still manage!”
Shugen’s wife chimed in agreement, saying, “Count me in too. With more people, the work will get done faster.”
Aunt Jinhua smiled and said, “Then I’ll go too. We can have a chat later. The kang in my house hasn’t been set up yet, so I’ve been thinking of warming up at my nephew’s wife’s place first.”
Su Zhi was just thinking about asking for help, but when someone volunteered to come over, she quickly welcomed them, saying, “If the sisters and aunt are willing to help, I couldn’t ask for more. I have plenty of things I want to make, so I might trouble the three of you. But I’ll handle the meals. I’ll cook my specialty dishes for you, guaranteeing that you won’t feel tired. You might even put on some weight! Don’t forget to bring the little ones with you. Let them play in my yard. When they’re done playing, we’ll eat. They won’t go hungry.”
“In that case, we’ll be looking forward to eating your food.” Li Qing’s wife said with a smile. She had tasted Su Zhi’s cooking once and was still thinking about its taste!
Shugen’s wife said, “It’s perfect timing for me to learn cooking from you, sister. Otherwise, my husband might start complaining that my cooking is not tasty. The kids at home all say that your food is delicious, questioning my culinary skills!”
“Exactly!” Aunt Jinhua chuckled. “Little Shuanzi always wants to go over to her place. If I didn’t stop him, my face would have been completely lost!”
Everyone laughed together, enjoying the lively conversation along the way.
Su Zhi listened with a smile as they chatted about their families, her eyes taking in the scenery along the roadside. She thought to herself that such days were also good. At that moment, she saw a figure ahead. She thought, isn’t that Liu Shi?