After we had finished harvesting the crops with my mother, we both headed for the market in a cart pulled by an old mule.
It had been about two hours, or an hour and a half. I am not so good at field work, but I did my best to make sure that the difference between Lin Mei and me was not too noticeable.
In the process I learned some important facts about this girl's life.
The father of the family passed away because of a bad blow to the head he suffered when he tripped off the roof of the house. Since then it has been just me and my mother. We do various things to keep food in our home such as silk cloth making and pottery making.
Neither of those two things is something I have done before, so it might be quite an experience to try.
Because I am a woman, I don't have priority treatment to go to school or to be chosen for the army. The task of women is to study how to become a worthy wife throughout their lives until a consort decides to marry them.
Of course that is nonsense... but there is no way I can prove my worth to this society. It would be very difficult for them to listen to my words if they have such values ingrained in their culture.
My complaints would fall on deaf ears.
"Lin Mei, we will first take the rice to the mill and then sell it to the supply shop keeper."
That makes me a little curious...
"Didn't we keep any for ourselves this time? It's coarse grain rice, it will sell at a very high price even for half this amount."
The amount of rice we have was enough to fill three baskets. And mother is saying that it would be best if we sell it all.
"I want to use the money for tomorrow, daughter. We must go and pay our respects at the temple."
"Oh? For the anniversary of my father's death?"
"Don't you remember, child? Tomorrow is your sixteenth birthday! My little Meimei will be old enough to marry."
"...! Uh, that's right... I didn't remember."
"You know? I was thinking about your options for marriage and there's good husband material in this village. The blacksmith's son for instance..."
"Mom. I'm sorry, but I don't want to get married..."
Having finished saying that, my mother fell silent. I wanted to sound honest, stopping talking to her formally and simply talking to her as a daughter would talk to her mother.
I guess she must not have been expecting that answer from me as she suddenly fell silent.
"Mei... well... if that's what you want, I'm not going to force you."
"!"
My eyes widened like saucers, directing my gaze towards my mother.
"Is it really okay?"
"Your father would reprimand me if I don't heed your will. You've always been a free spirit, Lin Mei. And I understand if it's not in your plans to marry. I would just like to ask you for something."
"What is it?"
Mother smiles slightly at me, and releasing the rein from one of her hands, she moves to place that same hand on my head, mussing my hair.
...
This warmth...
It's not something I've ever felt in my previous life. It's... new...
My real mother never treated me this way... to her I was probably just a kind of hindrance.
Before I knew it, tears were streaming down my face.
My chest feels so warm...
"Don't ever think you owe me anything, Mei. Your life is yours alone. And your achievements you're going to earn on your own. I raised you to be able to become the person you want, my dear."
"I'm sorry if... I failed to live up to any of your expectations..."
"You were going to if you agreed to let me decide your fate. As the old saying of this village goes:「Let the stream* decide your walk.」This is the right time for you to apply that saying."
(*Stream = Low flow river.)
...
A stream is full of detours, but this one does its best to reach the ocean. No matter how many rocks or obstructions are in its way, the stream will take it easy and continue on its course.
I didn't expect to have to take a route so soon, I guess this is going to be the first of them all?
Mother has no idea of the hidden meaning in those words. For she is not someone with the mentality of an immortal.
So, to reach the Immortal World again, that's the first step, but before that... I have to go to the temple tomorrow on my birthday.
Maybe the door of my opportunities will be in that temple tomorrow.