Before Old Scholar Zhou passed away, he had summoned the entire family to his bedside and forced everyone to swear before him not to evict or bully Zhou Yingmei and her daughter after his departure, to never drive them towards death but instead to protect them, or else be struck by lightning.
Such oaths were not taken lightly, which was why mother and daughter were still living well.
But now it had been three years since the father-in-law had died, and gradually, they had begun to forget.
All of a sudden, Madam Lu felt a chill as the sky darkened. She looked up to see a massive expanse of ominous clouds overhead, as if brewing a severe storm.
Shivering, she thought better of it. After all, Dajun's marriage proposal hadn't been formalized yet; the ones to worry should be her mother-in-law and younger brother-in-law.
If the marriage arrangement for her younger brother-in-law fell through, her mother-in-law would surely be upset. She already disliked that mother and daughter. If they were the cause of the failed arrangement, even if it meant breaking the oath, what of it?
The mother-in-law was getting old and who knew how many good years she had left? Madam Lu, however, was still in the prime of her life. If her husband were to successfully pass the imperial examinations, the best days would still be ahead!
With these thoughts, Madam Lu gracefully returned to her room.
Old Lady Zhou, her lips already creased with wrinkles, stared at a corner of the room where a table was set up with a statue of Goddess of Mercy Guanyin and a spirit tablet, the memorial for her late husband.
"Even in death, you have to protect her," Old Lady Zhou approached the tablet and said with a resentful tone, "If the marital arrangement for Xueli is indeed ruined because of them, I don't care if I'm struck by lightning, I will make them pay. You had better ensure Xueli's affairs go smoothly."
Lighting three sticks of incense and placing them in the incense burner, Old Lady Zhou sat on the bed lost in thought, wondering about who knows what.
...
As for this minor episode within the Zhou family, Mother and daughter Wufu naturally had no clue. They were currently at the Silk Shop in town delivering goods.
Madam Zhou's embroidery work was commendable, which is why she consistently received commissions from this opulent Silk Shop to embroider items like handkerchiefs and small screens, providing for their livelihood.
The shop manager was a woman in her thirties who, perhaps knowing Madam Zhou's circumstances, complimented Wufu on her growth into a young lady and offered her a plate of lotus seed pastries.
After expressing her gratitude, Wufu handed the plate first to Madam Zhou who said, "You eat. I still have to check the inventory with Manager Rong and my hands are dirty; it wouldn't do to soil the fabrics."
Upon hearing this, Wufu glanced at the pile of embroidery work and took a seat at a nearby table, nibbling on a piece of lotus seed pastry with small bites.
Yes, it wasn't comparable to some of the top-grade pastries she had tasted in a past life, but it was the best her current body's memory had to offer.
As Wufu ate, she looked around with a face full of wonder.
Watching her, Manager Rong said to Madam Zhou, "Wufu seems much more sensible now, even considering you first!" Previously, the girl would complain that a plate of sweets wasn't enough and wouldn't think to offer Madam Zhou a taste first.
Turning to glance at her daughter, Madam Zhou smiled warmly and replied, "She hit her head a while back and was unconscious for a few days. When she came to, she was indeed much more sensible."
"Oh? That happened? Is she all right now?"
"She's fine now," Madam Zhou said with a smile.
"It seems she's had a great realization. You'll have less to worry about in the future!" Manager Rong said cheerfully.
"Hopefully," Madam Zhou sighed softly, "She's fourteen and soon to be of marriageable age. It's better that she's sensible now than how she was before."
Manager Rong glanced at her, seeming to withhold further comment, and they resumed tallying the inventory.
Let it be, everyone has their own troubles. Why stir the pot needlessly?