Annual Ceremony

Chapter 42: End of Heat (Part )

Zhenyi, who doesn't really believe in gods, seldom sets foot in places where people worship Buddha or gods, but this is her only chance to go out alone with her elder sister recently.

The night before, Zhenyi tried to talk to her grandmother about her elder sister.

Old Mrs. Dong was not surprised at all, she just sighed as expected.

From what Zhenyi said, she wanted to follow Qian Yuling's suggestion and try to persuade Shuyi. Old Mrs. Dong nodded in agreement, but the old woman did not hold much hope in her eyes.

After leaving Qixia Temple and sitting in the mule cart on the return journey, the hope in Zhenyi's eyes gradually disappeared while talking with her elder sister.

When Shuyi first heard her second sister suggest that she try to manage the Jiang family business, her first reaction was shock.

Although her mother-in-law had taught her to read accounts, it was mostly about family affairs. As for business matters, she was not cut out for it… Moreover, she had not been able to continue the Jiang family’s lineage, so what qualifications did she have to get involved in business? If she revealed such an intention, what kind of person would she be in the eyes of outsiders? If people suspected that her mother’s family had instigated her to do this, what would happen to the Wang family’s reputation? Wouldn’t it affect the reputation of her father and brother?

Shuyi has too many worries, so many that she can’t count them, and she dares not count them because that would only make her feel scared.

"Second sister..." Shuyi shook her head and whispered, "I know you are thinking about me, and Jiuying also wants to help me. But sister, you have to know that Jiuying is different from us. She is very lucky, and we may not be able to do what she can do."

Zhenyi was a little anxious: "But how can we know if we don't try it..."

"Silly sister." Shuyi interrupted Zhenyi softly, "Stop talking nonsense..."

There was no blame or hesitation in Shuyi's eyes, only gentle helplessness and correction. She simply regarded all this as her sister's naive and willful thoughts.

But Zhenyi said, "Big sister, have you ever thought that the root cause of the so-called difficulty in getting pregnant may not be you at all, otherwise, with his style, why don't those women outside--"

"Zhenyi!" Shuyi was really frightened this time, and even interrupted her sister with a little anger. She was shocked, embarrassed, and panicked: "Zhen'er...how old are you! How could you think of such things...If someone hears it, will your reputation still be there?"

Zhenyi did not retreat: "This is medical knowledge, there is nothing wrong with discussing it, what does it have to do with reputation? If elder sister continues to use those folk remedies, I am afraid that it will ruin her body..."

"Stop talking nonsense! How can a little girl like you know more about these things than the doctors..." This was the first time Shuyi showed such a serious look to her sister, and it was also the first time she scolded her sister: "If you keep talking nonsense like this, I will really get angry!"

Such were the most scolding and threats that such a docile person could utter.

The car was silent for a moment. After Shuyi calmed down, she whispered, "Do you still remember Madam Yuanji?"

She said, "Second sister, my fate is already very good."

"If I refuse to be content, then I am too greedy... How can I still have the face to ask for the Buddha's blessing?"

Shuyi lowered her head slightly, revealing a slightly slender neck. She clearly looked the most fragile, yet it seemed as if she had already been prepared to endure all the hardships.

In the face of all suffering, attempting to change seems to be shameful, greedy, and heretical, but one should just endure and leave everything to "fate". Only this is the virtue that women should follow.

Looking at this gentle yet surprisingly stubborn elder sister, Silent Zhenyi couldn't help but feel confused again -

Who determines the so-called "fate"? Why are there such big differences between men and women, nobles and commoners? Where do all these rules come from? Why do they exist? Why does everyone take it for granted? Does no one think of questioning whether it is reasonable?

Although Orange is a cat, he can understand Zhenyi's confusion and struggle at this moment.

As a cat from the 21st century, Orange naturally has the conviction to despise and reject the imperial feudal society. He is naturally aware that everything at the moment is totally wrong.

But Zhenyi is different. She was born and raised here. The books she read, such as the Book of Women's Commandments and the books of sages, are all products allowed to exist in this era. These constitute Zhenyi's entire cognition. When she begins to think and question these cognitions, she is destined to be extremely lonely and helpless, and even self-doubting.

Seeking the true truth of the world is Zhenyi's pursuit and passion, and perhaps the only way she can fight against the confusion in her heart.

And Shuyi...

Orange wanted to hate her, just like he hated this feudal era, but... he just felt sorry for Shuyi. Orange wanted poor Shuyi to escape from here.

But if we escape from “here”, where can we go?
Shuyi is so timid and her feet are so small.

Although this world is vast, it seems to be full of chains.

Juzi subconsciously looked at Zhenyi's feet.

Zhenyi was lucky enough not to have her feet bound, but...

The orange suddenly thought that it had never heard of the word "scientist" here. This was a world without scientists, or in other words, a world that did not recognize the identity of a scientist... Zhenyi, who was called a scientist by later generations, as a woman, could she really live a good life?
At this moment, Orange suddenly realized that his previous thoughts were too beautiful and naive.

Orange felt that he had become more mature and wise, but also more worried and anxious.

Shuyi didn't want to talk about her own topic anymore. She took out a box and handed it to Zhenyi: "I can't go back to Tianchang with you... There must be a lot of expenses on the way back home. These are my tokens of my gratitude. You can serve and honor my mother on my behalf..."

Zhenyi opened the box and saw a lot of silver coins and some gold and silver jewelry. She raised her head and met her elder sister's gentle and amiable smile: "If you can't use it all, you can keep it for yourself. Now you are a big girl and you also keep a huge cat slave. You should have some private money..."

These slightly joking words made Zhenyi's eyes suddenly red.

Zhenyi refused to accept it. Shuyi held her sister's hand and said softly, "I have always been a useless person... Zhen'er, you just want to make your elder sister a little useful, okay?"

Such soft whispers were like a long, soft needle that pierced Zhenyi's heart. The needle melted into water, leaving behind a little stinging warmth.

Zhenyi held the box in her hands, suppressed her tears, and said, "Big sister, if I accept it, can you consider Sister Jiuying's proposal carefully?"

"You, when did you learn to be so demanding?" Shuyi pulled her sister's cheek lovingly: "Okay, don't cry anymore, save your tears, big sister will promise you..."

However, even Orange could tell that this promise was just to coax his sister.

The wind outside the car became stronger, causing the bumpy windows to creak. After a moment, dense raindrops hit the roof of the car, jumping and splashing.

Shuyi looked at the rain through the car window, as if in a trance. She chanted a poem written by a poet from the Song Dynasty: "The strong wind drives the heavy rain, and the remaining heat sweeps away the sky. Because I know the nature of heat and cold, they all come in an instant..."

Zhenyi looked at her elder sister's profile, wondering what she was thinking.

Shuyi still looked out of the car and asked absentmindedly, "Second sister, I remember this poem about the beginning of summer, which was taught to us by our grandfather... What are the last two lines? Do you still remember them?"

Zhenyi sang softly: "The paper window has gaps, and the silk fan is useless. My son reads the poem about autumn sound, which reminds me of the drunkard."

"Yes..." Shuyi repeated: "My son's reading of the Autumn Sound reminds me of the drunkard..."

——Now when I read this poem about the autumn sound, how can I not remember my old man?
Shuyi's eyes were red without her realizing it, and she said in a hoarse voice, "It's the Ghost Festival... Grandfather has accumulated virtues and done good deeds throughout his life, so he will surely be able to obtain supreme salvation and ascend to heaven soon."

Zhenyi originally wanted to say, "But my father never believed in the Buddhist theory of reincarnation," but when she saw her elder sister's pious expression, she swallowed her words back.

The rain outside the car continued to fall, suppressing the remaining heat in the air.

A spring rain brings warmth; an autumn rain brings cold.

Chushu means "out of heat", which means the summer heat is leaving.

From the Beginning of Autumn to the End of Heat, there are many ancestor worship activities among the people, such as placing tributes everywhere, reciting scriptures, releasing river lanterns, burning paper ingots, worshiping the dead ancestors, or offering sacrifices to the earth god.

With paper money scattered all over the sky, Zhenyi followed beside Old Lady Dong, and together with the Wang family members, they escorted Wang Zhefu's coffin out of Jinling and headed all the way to their hometown in Tianchang, Anhui.

　Addendum: Ahhhhh I still haven't written a whole chapter, please don't wait, sorry, sorry, I will never make random promises about update times again, the result of setting random flags is that I can't write it wuwuwu
　
(End of this chapter)