For the rest of the first month, Su Shuiche and Lin Siyao cozily stayed at home and didn't go anywhere else.
Apart from a few children who had come to visit their home for the New Year, and from time to time, they would follow Tian Dabao to eat, drink, and play. In addition, Aunt Tian would bring Xi Cui, Aunt Tian, Da Niu, and a few other women and sisters-in-law to come and chat. Most of the time, the courtyard was quiet and comfortable.
Speaking of Tian Niu, Su Shuiche had just learned from Aunt Tian that her marriage hadn't been called off.
That day, Tian Dafu went to Qingtian Town and didn't find any news.
However, Lai Youming came early in the morning on the second day of the first month with a pig's leg to visit the Tian Family.
The Tian Family invited him to stay for lunch. During the meal, they chatted about the only widow in Qing Tian Town. Lai Youming's expression remained calm, without the slightest bit of guilty conscience. He calmly said that the widow was a cousin of his concubine's husband's family. Although she had nothing to do with his family, she was, after all, from Jin City's Liu Liu Town to Qing Tian Town. Last year, she lost her husband, so she only had a three and a half year old son and a sixty year old mother-in-law. Usually, she would have to be taken care of.
Hearing this, Tian Niu believed eighty percent of it.
She decided to believe him this time and not call off the engagement.
If she married him and found out that he was deceiving her, and that he was sick of the widow, then she, Tian Niu, was unlucky. She would accept it.
Afterwards, Aunt Tian was relieved and accepted Lai Youming's New Year's gift. She also gave him a lot of dried fruits and rice cakes for him to take back.
After ten days, it happened to be the fifteenth day of the first month. Qingtian Town invited another opera troupe. The villagers who knew about it also brought their stools, melon seeds and peanuts in their pockets, chatting and laughing as they went to Qingtian Town to watch the show.
Su Shuiche and Lin Siyao were also dragged along by Tian Dabao, Tian Niu, and Xi Cui.
The group of people chatted as they walked. Halfway through, they hitched a ride on the village head's bullock cart and finally made it to the last scene.
After the curtain call, Su Shuiche and Lin Siyao were about to look for Tian Niu, who had disappeared the moment she entered the theater. However, they saw Tian Niu return with red eyes.
"Liu Xiaofang is simply a bastard!" She angrily threw out this sentence.
It turned out that Liu Xiaofang had been secretly in love with him for a long time.
Seeing that it was already too late, he was just about to persuade his family to send a matchmaker to the Lai family to discuss the marriage when he heard that the Lai family had already spoken to the Tian family.
Liu Xiaofang felt indignant when she found out.
She felt that Tian Niu had stolen her husband.
Only then did he think of a way to break them up.
It wasn't easy for her to find a reason to fabricate a lie. She hoped that Tian Niu would withdraw from the Lai Family so that she could take advantage of the situation.
Unexpectedly, Tian Niu still decided to marry Lai You Ming.
Liu Xiaofang was flustered and exasperated as she shouted out her inner thoughts. Lai You Ming, who had secretly come to look at Tian Niu, heard it.
Now, not only was there no possibility of marrying Lai You Ming, the good relationship between him and Tian Niu's childhood sweetheart could be considered to have completely collapsed.
Since the truth of the matter had already come to light, Tian Niu also openly explained what had happened. She blushed and said to him, "I'm sorry."
Lai You Ming wasn't as emotional as Tian Niu.
Firstly, he didn't like that Liu Xiaofang. After meeting her a few times, he always felt that she was too scheming.
Secondly, there was nothing between him and the Wang family's widow. Since it was a misunderstanding, it was fine to clear it up.
However, from this matter, he saw Tian Niu's nature: simple, straightforward, and reasonable.
Because of this, his fondness for Tian Niu increased a bit.
Tian Niu could be considered to have "profited from a disaster": she saw through the nature of the so-called childhood sweetheart and obtained the attention of her future husband.
After Su Shuiche learned of the cause and effect of this matter, she couldn't help but sigh.
Why were there always so many women, such as Lu Wan'er and Liu Xiaofang. Didn't they know that in this world, there were always some things, especially marriage, that were predestined and couldn't be forced?!
…
These days, after Lin Siyao finished his work, he would accompany Su Shuiche in the study to draw embroidery patterns. In his hands, he flipped through books on agriculture.
It should be attributed to the old abbot who had adopted him for nine years that allowed him to recognize many words.
After that, he went to Black Tortoise Mountain to learn martial arts for three years. Because he had to memorize a lot of martial arts mantras, he took the opportunity to recognize many complicated and obscure words.
Now, among the books on display in the house, some of them were selected by him.
Shuiche liked to read anecdotes and geographical customs, while he naturally chose practical ones.
For example, agriculture, forestry, and cultivation, or the mutual restraint of ingredients …
Every time he sat at his desk with a book in his hand, with a cup of steaming buckwheat tea by his side, he would have the illusion that his previous twenty-three years had only been a dream, and that the comfortable life he was living now was real and respectable.
Lin Siyao shook his head and couldn't help but laugh at the thoughts that flashed through his mind.
If Louis Stu and the others knew that he was actually living such a comfortable and leisurely life in such a quiet and remote village, what kind of expression would they have?
Lin Siyao couldn't imagine the shocked expression on their usually cold and emotionless faces.
Just like himself, if someone predicted that he would face a calamity a year ago, and the person who saved him just happened to be a weak, delicate, and gentle daughter of a great family, he would scoff at it.
If someone predicted that he would marry this girl and live a contented and comfortable life like a farmer embroiderer, he would be even more disdainful.
But the truth was, it was exactly so, and he was very competent and happy.
During this time, Su Shuiche, in addition to sewing two sets of thin and breathable cotton spring clothes, she had nothing else to do, so she drew a lot of new embroidery patterns: a bunch of wild strawberries with flowers and fruits, a cat playing with an embroidered ball, a little pig with a bulging belly basking in the sun … In short, these embroidery patterns all had the same background: flowers, full of spring.
Xi Cui, who came with Aunt Lao, liked these embroidery patterns as soon as she saw them.
She pestered Su Shuiche to draw two for her: one was a tree full of pear blossoms after the spring rain, and the other was a puppy catching butterflies.
Only then did she happily take the embroidery patterns home to do embroidery.
She said that she wanted to embroider them one by one on the spring clothes in the dowry.
Yes, Xi Cui's good days were coming.
The 18th of March was a good time to get married.
Su Shuiche thought that it was time to prepare a gift for Xi Cui's dowry.
What should she give?
Embroidery?
Xi Cui's craftsmanship was also good.
Silver nude?
Would it be too vulgar?
Su Shuiche frowned and worried …
…
It was soon February.
On the fifth day, Xiaoxue gave birth. There were three wolf pups in the litter. All of their fur was as white as snow, without a trace of other colors.
They were even whiter than Xiaoxue.
It must be because of the wolf king.
After all, white wolves were the best when it came to choosing a wolf king.
Now that the wolf pup with Xiaoxue, who also had white fur, was one of the best candidates for the next wolf king.
After Xiaoxue gave birth, the wolf king secretly came to visit once. Naturally, it was late at night when there was no one around.
It licked its children's fur intimately for a long time before reluctantly leaving.
Lin Siyao understood that when the three wolf pups were independent, they would definitely follow the wolf king.
Therefore, he didn't stop the wolf king from visiting.
He only warned with his eyes: Don't stay for too long, don't wantonly destroy.
The wolf king shook its head and wagged its tail at him as if it understood. Then, it began to lick Xiaoxue and the three wolf pups intimately.
It wasn't until one o 'clock in the morning that it reluctantly left and returned to Dashi Mountain.
…
The 19th of February was rumored to be the birthday of Guanyin.
The only temple outside of Fanluo City — Qingyu Temple, located on the outskirts of Fanluo City and twenty miles away from Fanhua Town — was also flourishing.
The day before, Xi Cui invited Su Shuiche to Qingyu Temple to offer incense with her.
Su Shuiche smiled but didn't say anything. She knew in her heart that she was going there to pray for a happy marriage.
Although she was already married, if she had the opportunity, it would be a good way to pass the time to see the temples here.
After all, in a few days, the family would start sowing seeds for the spring harvest.
Xi Cui glanced at Lin Siyao, who was closely guarding Su Shuiche. She tilted her head and whispered in Su Shuiche's ear, "Sister Shuiche, is Brother Ah Yao coming with us?"
It wasn't that she didn't want Lin Siyao to come with them. In fact, they were going to Qingyu Temple to kneel on the praying mat and worship the Bodhisattva.
Thinking of his stern face and icy aura all day long, even if there was a Bodhisattva in the temple, he would definitely be scared away.
Besides, she still wanted to find time to ask Su Shuiche about the matters of marriage.
Although her parents had already told her everything, there were still some small questions that she needed others to answer for her.
Su Shuiche had just gotten married last year and should be the best person to talk to.
But now that Lin Siyao was here, how could she ask some questions!
Su Shuiche saw Xi Cui's small face wrinkled, looking very embarrassed. She glanced at the speechless and innocent Lin Siyao beside her and comforted her softly, "He's waiting for us outside the temple." It was impossible to not let him go.
In Lin Siyao's opinion, that kind of crowded place was the easiest place to have an accident.
How could he let the two women go alone?
Xi Cui could only nod.
After all, they were a loving couple.
Even if it was only for a day, they were unwilling to be separated.
Alas, if the person she married also treated her like this, how good would that be?
However, her parents also said that a man like Lin Siyao, who treated his wife excessively well, shouldn't have extravagant hopes.
Otherwise, it would be purely adding to her heart.
Therefore, today's trip to Qingyu Temple was nothing more than to ask for peace and to make a wish. Of course, the wish was very ordinary and extremely general — a wish for a happy marriage.
… …
The three of them stopped a carriage at the entrance of the village. In less than half an hour, they arrived at the foot of the peak where Qingyu Temple was located.
Su Shuiche even suspected whether the people inside and outside Fanluo had gathered here.
Otherwise, looking at the winding mountain path that was filled with human walls, human walls, and more human walls, she was really scared.
"Let's find a place to rest first.
We won't be able to enter the temple for a while. "Lin Siyao suggested to Xi Cui. Then, he held Su Shuiche and walked to the outside where there were relatively fewer people.
"God!
Why do I suddenly feel like I'm going to faint?
How can there be so many people in Fanluo? "
Xi Cui hurriedly followed behind them and came to the craggy rock with the three words "Qingyu Temple" inscribed on it. Her eyes were full of confusion.
"Presumably, today is a special day." Su Shuiche smiled disapprovingly.
This February 19th was the birthday of Guanyin. Even in Suzhou, the Republic of China, it was extremely lively.
Not to mention the major monasteries and temples, even the merchants on the streets were using this as an excuse to sell everything related to Guanyin.
"But in the past, I also came here with my mother. How can there be so many people?" Xi Cui shook her head, still feeling strange and looking around.
She hoped to find a different reason.
… …
"What's going on today?
So many people!
I think we'd better go back! "
"Yes, I don't know how long we have to wait.
It's better to go home and cook.
I think Guanyin won't blame us. "
"Yes, if we want to blame someone, we should blame those who have booked the place.
I wonder which dignitary has taken over the temple today and won't let us in … "
"Haven't you heard?
It seems to be a noble from the imperial capital, Feng City. "
"Tsk, coming all the way to this remote and small place to offer incense?
It's so funny! "
"It's true … I heard it from Big Head Li who was guarding the city yesterday. Don't doubt it, it was Big Head Li who escorted them into the city with his soldiers."
"Oh, it's none of our business whether you believe it or not. Forget it, I'm going home to cook.
Otherwise, the old man will nag again.
Ah Yu, what about you? "
"I'll go back with you."
"Then I'll go back with you.
There are so many people here. Don't even think about entering the temple today. "
"Then let's go."
"Let's go."
… …
"I see …" Xi Cui had a rough idea of what was going on.
Presumably, the Pure Jade Temple had been reserved by some dignitaries from the imperial capital, Feng City. Therefore, the residents of Fanluo had no choice but to wait outside the temple.
It was no wonder that the hundreds of meters long winding mountain road leading to the Pure Jade Temple were also filled with pilgrims waiting to enter the temple to pray.
So that's why.
Su Shuiche nodded in understanding.
She didn't expect that this remote Fanluo would attract so many pilgrims from afar to pray for blessings.
Now, the Pure Jade Temple's reputation would be even more resounding.
She couldn't help but smile.
"Xi Cui, are we still waiting?" Su Shuiche turned to ask Xi Cui, who was busy looking around. She thought it would be better to go home.
It was almost noon, and she didn't know how long they would have to wait for their turn.
Besides, Guanyin would also be tired.
After that dignitary had booked the temple for nearly half a day, and with so many women and girls kneeling and begging before her, would Guanyin still have the energy to remember their small wishes?!
Su Shuiche couldn't help but make a face in her heart.
"Forget it. Let's wait until there are fewer people tomorrow.
With so many people, I'm scared. "Xi Cui stuck out her tongue and shook her head.
What a joke. With their physiques, even if the noble left, it would be very difficult for them to squeeze through the numbing human wall in front of them to enter the temple.
"Okay, then let's go back.
I'll come with you tomorrow. "
Upon hearing her words, Su Shuiyong nodded and smiled at Lin Siyao. Then, the three of them walked toward the periphery.
(To be continued.
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