Chapter 4

Chapter 4

“How did you know?”

“Is the chief examiner in the prefecture surnamed Xu?”

Ji Songzhu set down his chopsticks. “You even know Instructor Xu?”

I shook my head. “I don’t. Some images just flashed through my mind all of a sudden.”

I told them everything I had seen in detail. My mother-in-law’s expression changed drastically.

Songzhu frowned. “As for talk of ghosts and spirits, the sages have all said-”

My mother-in-law cut him off at once. “You shut your mouth. Better to believe it than not. Jiaojiao has never even left this town, yet she knows all this. This is Heaven helping you.”

“You must be on your guard. You absolutely cannot use anything that Zhou Li gave you again.”

“I’ll prepare your food for you as well. You just stay inside, don’t go out, and don’t see anyone.”

My mother-in-law and I busied ourselves through the night. Amid the rising steam, I asked, “Mother, you believe me?”

“Of course. We’re family. Would you ever harm Songzhu?”

When I was little, images had once flashed through my mind of my younger brother Xiao Bao burning with fever and dying despite all treatment.

I told my mother, but she didn’t believe me.

Later, Xiao Bao really did die of a fever. My mother said I was a jinx, that Xiao Bao had been cursed to death by me.

After that, she wouldn’t let me touch Xiao Hu either, so naturally, I never foresaw anything about him.

At the first gray light of dawn the next day, my mother-in-law and I saw Songzhu off.

Along the way, we ran into many women who had risen early to wash clothes.

They were quick with their tongues. “Oh, off to the prefecture for the exam again? Surely you’ll come back a scholar this time!”

The moment she finished speaking, the whole group burst into laughter.

Auntie Pang from the village head’s family sighed. “Fifth Ji, don’t blame Auntie for saying this, but you’ve got the talent of the Wenqu Star and none of the fate. You’d be better off staying home and farming properly.”

My mother-in-law’s brows shot up, and she gave a cold laugh. “What’s this? My son refused to marry that plump daughter of yours, and you’re still holding a grudge?”

She clasped my hand. “Mostly because your daughter has a fine temper and a rotten nature. Just look at my fresh, pretty daughter-in-law. Who wouldn’t praise her after one look?”

Auntie Pang trembled with anger, all her flesh quivering. “What are you so proud of? Your son farms, and your grandson will farm too! My daughter is already discussing marriage with Scholar Zhang.”

I took a deep breath, looked straight at her, and said firmly, “My husband will pass this time.”

Ji Songzhu turned his head to look at me.

The morning glow dyed the edge of the sky red. I smiled brightly at him. “Husband, you can do it. Mother and I will wait at home for your good news.”

His features eased, and he smiled radiantly, like thousands upon thousands of pear blossoms blooming at once. “All right. Your husband will make you a scholar’s wife.”

For a moment, all the women drew in a breath.

Songzhu took the bundle from my hands and, treading through the rising sun, stepped onto the official road.

One auntie sighed. “That boy from the Ji Family really does have a handsome face.”

Auntie Pang scoffed. “What use is being good-looking? He simply doesn’t have the fate to become a scholar in this life. This time will definitely come to nothing again.”

Another woman chimed in, “If he’d accepted his lot earlier, his children would be old enough to run errands by now.”