Tong Qisheng reached out to help her up, then took the basket from her hands, tossed the few locust blossoms he had just picked into the basket, clapped his hands, and said, "I have never looked at any other girl. You are just overthinking it."
Zhenshu chuckled and said, "But I've never had my feet bound. I've heard that men nowadays love women with bound feet."
As she spoke, she lifted her naturally grown feet to show Tong Qisheng and asked, "Isn't this beautiful?"
Tong Qisheng looked down at her bright, sparkling eyes and full, firm lips, his gaze involuntarily drifting to her ample chest. He felt a little parched and restless, scratching his head as he said, "I've never seen what a woman with bound feet looks like, so what's there to like or dislike?"
Zhenshu gestured with her hands in front of her chest and said, "That's it, break all the knuckles and press them under your feet, then tie them tightly straight."
Hearing her description of cruelty, Tong Qisheng shook his head and said, "What's so interesting about that? Stop talking, it's giving me the creeps."
Zhen Shu raised her head, ran a few steps, and asked Tong Qisheng, "Where does the idiom 'hair-scared' come from?"
Tong Qisheng shook his head and said, "It first appeared in Chapter 79 of 'The Romance of the Eastern Zhou Kingdoms'..."
Zhenshu quickly shook his head to stop him, saying, "Can you please stop shaking your head every time you recite a text, just like that old scholar? It's really unsightly."
Tong Qisheng said, "Good! Good!"
Seeing a patch of lush green grass, Zhenshu hopped over and sat down, gesturing for Tong Qisheng to sit as well. She rested her chin on her hands and said, “These days I’ve been reading a book called *Qingping Shantang Huaben*. There’s a story called ‘The Monk with the Letter,’ about a monk who encountered a man named Huangfu Song whose wife was exceptionally beautiful. He pretended to give her a letter, but Huangfu Song didn’t believe her and, in a fit of rage, divorced her. His wife, Yang, had nowhere to go and fell into the monk’s trap. Although the truth eventually came to light, the monk was punished, and Huangfu Song and Yang were reunited, Huangfu Song had been deeply in love with his wife for ten years, and he divorced her based solely on a nameless letter, putting Yang in danger. And not a single member of the Huangfu or Yang clan spoke up for Yang. For Yang, this is incredibly unfair. If it were me, even if I remarried or returned to my parents’ home, I would never again be husband and wife with Huangfu Song.”
Tong Qisheng said, “Those are all idle books you read, the kind of books that unsuccessful scholars use to cheat people out of money. But since Yang is so beautiful, she should be careful about her behavior and not let those wicked monks and Taoists see her true face. Since she herself is of improper character, how can she blame her husband for divorcing her?”
Upon hearing Tong Qisheng's words, Zhenshu glared angrily and shouted, "So, according to you, we women should really tie our feet and stay at home. Once we go out, who can control the eyes of passersby? Blame that wicked monk and Huangfu Song for not loving and trusting his wife enough."
Having finally managed to sneak out of the house, Tong Qisheng didn't want to argue with Zhenshu any longer. He put his arm around her shoulder and said, "Alright, alright, it's their fault. But as a girl, reputation is more important than anything else. To protect yourself, you should behave properly and not go astray."
Zhenshu, hearing his argument, realized it was exactly like her scholar grandfather's—stubborn, pedantic, and incorrigible. She stopped arguing with him, got up, picked up the basket, and said, "If that's the case, then I've already violated my reputation by showing myself in the wild today. I'd better go home."
☆, Chapter 3 Letter
Tong Qisheng hadn't had enough time with her, so he quickly pulled her aside and said, "What's the point of talking about reputation when we're together? I've come all this way to see you, let's sit a little longer."
Zhenshu said, "No, there are monks in the temples on the mountain, and nowadays there are many wandering Taoist priests. If they see us, wouldn't that be my fault?"
Tong Qisheng pulled Zhenshu into his arms and whispered, "After I pass the imperial examination, I will return to my hometown to marry you. Okay?"
He had said this countless times, and Zhenshu was naturally willing. She smiled and replied, "Who knows if you'll still remember me after you pass the imperial examination?"
Tong Qisheng said, "If you let me have a good whiff of incense today, I will remember you."
Zhenshu pried open his hands that were gripping her shoulders, broke free from his embrace, and stood a few steps away before laughing, "Men and women shouldn't touch each other, has the student Tong really forgotten that?"
Tong Qisheng was about to run after her when Zhenshu had already run away laughing.
Although her relationship with Tong Qisheng was not yet finalized, both the Tong and Song families knew about it. Only to avoid interfering with his studies did Tong Qisheng often prevent Zhenshu from meeting him. Zhenshu returned home carrying a basket of locust tree tassels, and upon entering, she saw Madam Su sitting in the main hall of the front courtyard.
Su and Song Anrong had been separated for many years, one living in the inner courtyard and the other in the outer courtyard. Although they lived just a few steps apart, they rarely had any closeness. However, Su was illiterate, and the only time they met was when Rong Anrong read a letter to Su, and Su would come to the outer courtyard to sit for a while.
Seeing the two of them sitting there idly, Zhenshu handed the basket to the kitchen, then brewed two cups of hot tea and brought them to the front yard. She entered the house and asked Su Shi with a smile, "Mother, is there another letter today?"
Madam Su smiled and accepted the tea, saying, "Great news! A letter has arrived from the capital, asking me to bring you and your sisters back to the capital together."
Zhenshu said, "Didn't we originally say we didn't need to bring everything?"
Madam Su said, "I don't know how your grandmother planned it, but now that she says she wants to go to all of them, you should start making preparations."
When Zhenshu saw that Madam Su's eyes were scanning the hem of her skirt, she took two steps back and shook her head, saying, "Mother, I will not bind my feet. I would rather not go to the capital than bind my feet."
Madam Su tossed her handkerchief aside and said, "Who told you to bind your feet? Besides, those girls are going to marry and move to the capital. You and I are going to stay at Caijia Temple to take care of us in our old age and see us off when we die. If you bind your feet like a crab without legs, how will you take care of us in our old age and see us off when we die?"
Song Anrong folded the letter and interjected, "Children and grandchildren have their own blessings. The people of Caijiasi are simple, honest, peaceful, and prosperous. If it were up to me, I would only wish that my daughters could all find husbands in Huixian County, rather than marrying far away to the capital, which would make me worry."
Madam Su glared at Song Anrong and said, "What a joke! Have you ever cared about them for a single penny? You had so many old acquaintances in the capital back then, but you never wrote a letter to pay your respects, so that we would have a place to visit when we came to the capital, and so that we could take our daughter around to meet people and have more connections and marriage opportunities."
Madam Su had given birth to four daughters in a row. Now the eldest was of marriageable age, and the youngest was also growing up. Her biggest worry was her daughters' marriages. Firstly, her family's dowry was meager; secondly, Huixian was a remote and small county; and thirdly, her daughters were all beautiful, and she feared she wouldn't be able to find them wealthy families.
Seeing that Song Anrong remained silent, she snorted coldly and said, "Back then, you went to the Western Regions to find medicine to cure Li Xucheng's illness, which was a favor to Consort Rong. Consort Rong must have some promising young men from noble families. I asked you to write her more letters and ask her to keep an eye out for us, but you always refused. Every time you wrote a letter, I wrote a whole bunch of words, while you only wrote a thin page. I'm afraid you didn't say a word about asking her to keep an eye out for our daughters' prospects."
Song Anrong said, "She has lived in the deep palace for a long time, and now she is older than me. I'm afraid she doesn't want to get involved in these trivial matters. If I say it once and she ignores it, I can't say it a second time."
Su Shi flung her handkerchief high and said, "Who said that? Women can't be the same as men. Women are naturally nosy. Even if it's none of their business, they'll still take a second look at any unmarried man or woman, wishing they could immediately set them up. Besides, her son has a fiefdom outside, and she's been favored by the emperor for many years. Which of those princes, nobles, and high-ranking officials wouldn't want to visit her? She's been lonely in the palace for many years. Last time I went there, I heard she's the best at matchmaking..."
Song Anrong sighed and said, "Alright, alright, it's all up to you."
After saying that, he picked up his teacup and went to his study.
Seeing that he was like a block of wood, Madam Su became even more angry and didn't know what to do. She sighed and said, "Fine, I'll figure out a way for you sisters to get married."
Upon arriving at the backyard, the three beautiful girls were all doing embroidery in Zhenyi's room. Hearing from Madam Su that the sisters were all going to the capital, Zhenyuan's face lit up with joy, and she said with a smile, "That's exactly right. How unfair it would be to leave Zhenshu alone at home!"
Zhenxiu snorted coldly, "Her rough skin and dark appearance will give those young ladies in the capital plenty of laughs for days."
Among the sisters, Zhen Xiurong was the most ordinary-looking and the fattest. Fortunately, she had fair skin and small feet, and her embroidery skills were better than others. However, she was naturally narrow-minded and had a sharp tongue.
Zhen Shu brought in the chilled locust blossoms for them. Upon hearing Zhen Xiu's words, she immediately took a pair of chopsticks and said, "So what if my face is dark? I serve you tea and water all day long, I even empty the spittoon and heat the kang (heated brick bed) for you. What's so funny? Without me, you'd all be crying and wailing. If you don't like my dark skin, then don't eat my food."
Zhenxiu sneered without saying a word. Taking advantage of Zhenshu's inattention, she snatched a pair of chopsticks, picked up a piece of food, took two bites, spat it into the plate, wiped her mouth, and said, "What a piece of junk, there's sand in it."
Zhenyi also threw down her chopsticks and said, "Mother, look at Third Sister... oh Fourth Sister, she..."
Even someone as good-natured as Zhenyuan couldn't stand it. She put down her chopsticks and said, "Zhenxiu, if you're not going to eat, just put down your chopsticks. What's the point of spitting it into the plate? Where did you learn your manners?"
Zhenxiu said, "What's the point of talking about ladylike manners in this remote and impoverished place? If there were such a thing as ladylike manners, one should be eating bird's nest and drinking white fungus soup. Who would eat these rustic mountain dishes?"
Madam Su herself had been cooped up in her room for half a year, not having seen a single bite of green vegetable. Just as she was about to take a bite, seeing Zhenxiu like this, she reached out and slapped her on the head, saying, "How could I have such a thorn in my side among my daughters? Not only are you ugly, but you also have a bad temper. And your heart is as small as a pinhead; you don't even spare your own sisters."
Zhenxiu ran to the door in a few steps, covering her head and saying, "Where am I ugly? It's just that you are blind. When we get to the capital, I will definitely marry into a good family and let you all see for yourselves. You will regret underestimating me today."
Su was so angry she could hardly contain herself. She sighed, "Oh well, she's just a piece of trash."
She spat into the plate, how could anyone else bear to eat it? Zhenshu put away the plate and said to Su, "I don't want to share a room with Zhenxiu anymore. I have to serve her even her spittoon, and she stays up late at night, poking around in bed, disturbing my sleep every night."
Madam Su nodded and said, "There are only so many rooms. Where am I supposed to find a room for you?"
Zhen Shu said, "She can sleep with Zhen Yi."
Zhenyi rolled her eyes at Zhenshu and said, "I don't want her."
Jung-won chimed in, "I don't want to sleep with her either. Who can stand arguing with her all the time?"
Zhenshu threw down the plate and said, "If none of you are willing, why would I be?"
Zhenyi nestled in Su's arms and giggled, "Serves you right for not binding your feet and not liking to do embroidery."
Zhenshu suppressed her anger and said, "Does my not binding my feet and not liking embroidery have anything to do with my not wanting to sleep with Zhenxiu?"
Seeing that the girls were about to start arguing again, Madam Su loudly stopped them, saying, "Other people's daughters are always laughing and getting along very well, but you girls always have to quarrel whenever you meet."
She pointed at Zhenshu and said, "There are only so many beds in the house. How long can you suffer like this? When you get to the capital, you'd better live up to my expectations. Once your eldest sister has arranged a marriage for you, I'll discuss it with that scholar Tong and we'll marry you off to his family right away. Once you have your own home, you can sleep however you want."
Zhenshu was about to retort when she heard Madam Su say again, "If Zhenxiu continues like this, I won't take her this time. You girls, bring out your proper attire. Although we've been assigned to this remote and impoverished place, you are all daughters of the Song family in the capital. You can't lose your proper etiquette. When you get to the capital, you must make me proud so I can marry you all off."
Hearing this, Zhenyuan frowned, Zhenshu sighed, and Zhenyi nestled in Su's arms, stroking a handkerchief as she said, "When I grow up, I will definitely marry a dashing and heroic prince, or even a marquis, so that I can go to the silk shop every day and buy gold and silver jewelry..."
Zhenshu reminded him, "Anyone who can be granted the title of king or marquis is probably an old man even older than my father."
Zhenyi glared at Zhenshu and said, "Who said that? There must be some sixteen or seventeen-year-old princes..."
When Zhenshu and Zhenyuan saw that she was so young yet had such a foolish dream, they both laughed and shook their heads, no longer paying attention to her.
Back in their room that evening, Zhenxiu, unusually, took the spittoon herself and even made the bed for Zhenshu. She didn't come over to turn off the light when Zhenshu went to bed to read.
"I'm sorry for today," Jung-soo suddenly said.
Zhen Shu was still angry and buried herself in her book, ignoring her.
"Mother pinned her hopes on my eldest sister, expecting her to marry into a wealthy and powerful family, and then marry Zhenyi and me into good families as well. She was being far too naive," Zhenxiu added.
Zhenshu then closed the book and said, "So, it's as you wish?"
Zhenxiu coldly replied, "Marriage is about each other's status, wealth, and dowry. Of course, being good-looking can be an advantage, but it's too little. Nowadays, many men love bound feet; a pair of beautiful feet is better than a pretty face. Besides, my elder sister is gentle and sentimental. Not to mention getting along with people, she doesn't even have the ability to socialize. How can she find a good marriage?"
Zhenshu wanted to hear something useful from her, so she asked, "So?"
Zhenxiu said, “Mother made many fine silk fabrics for my eldest sister and Zhenyi to make clothes, and also prepared a lot of jewelry. I only have two sets of clothes and a few simple hairpins. She wanted to make a grand entrance for my eldest sister when she went to the capital this time, but she didn’t think about me.”
Zhen Shu said, "Your skin is fair and your face is as round as a full moon. You can only bring out your temperament by wearing plain-colored fabrics. Dressing up like a flowerpot will only make you look worse."
Zhenxiu glanced coldly at Zhenshu and said, "Don't think I'll believe your nonsense. In terms of social skills and eloquence, I'm not much worse than my eldest sister. Besides, I'm at the age where it's easy to find a spouse. If you push me along, I'll help you out when I find someone good..."
Zhenshu interrupted her, saying, "I don't need you to worry about me."
Zhenxiu laughed twice and said, "You think Tong Qisheng is definitely yours? How naive."
Zhenshu asked, "What do you mean by this?"
Zhenxiu said, "He will definitely go to the capital to take the imperial examination next year. Once he gets to the capital and meets some famous ladies, do you think he will still look at you, a rustic and dark-skinned girl from Caijia Temple?"
Zhenshu was rendered speechless by her words. She recalled her unpleasant conversation with Tong Qisheng by the Wei River earlier that day, and wondered what he was thinking. After a while, Zhenxiu continued, "Besides, you read too many idle books and always spout the idea that women are no less capable than men. He was taught by his grandfather from a young age, learning the teachings of Zhu Xi and Cheng Yi. How can he possibly agree with you? He will surely prefer a gentle, virtuous, and obedient woman, but you are not gentle and have read too many idle books, which has spoiled your mind. If you two get married, he will not only not receive your comfort, but will also have to appease your every whim. Can he tolerate you in the long run?"
I must say that Jung-soo's analysis was spot on.
Seeing that Zhenshu had been persuaded by her, Zhenxiu said, "From now on, you should serve me well and stop speaking ill of me to Mother. Once we get to the capital, I will definitely find you a good marriage. I will not forget to help you then."
Zhenshu, hearing her rambling incoherently, suddenly realized what she meant and glared at her, saying, "You little brat, you're two years younger than me, yet you're lecturing me."
Chapter 4 Entering the Capital
On May 17th, Madam Zhong turned 66. Madam Su packed a whole cart of luggage and hired another cart with Zhao He, the only servant in the household, to accompany her. In mid-April, she took her daughters to the capital.
The early spring sun was shining brightly, but with five women crammed into a small carriage, it was naturally difficult to breathe. First, Zhenxiu kept tugging at her collar, complaining of the heat, then Zhenyi cried out that she was going to vomit. Su Shi was busy attending to one woman after another, and she was also struggling to breathe.
Seeing Zhenshu sitting steadily at the front, Zhenxiu kicked her and said, "Go down and follow us, don't try to push us."
Before Zhenshu could reply, Madam Su smiled and said, "Zhenshu, you have big feet, and this carriage is moving slowly. Why don't you get off and walk with the carriage? That way we won't be so crowded, and you'll feel more spacious. Is that alright?"
Zhen Shu slapped her bottom angrily and said, "Why? We're all sisters, they ride in a car while I walk?"
Zhenxiu held out her slender, delicate lotus feet and said, "With my three-inch lotus feet, do you have them?"
Zhenshu smelled the stench of her tiny feet, which were wrapped in thick foot-binding cloth and covered by shoes, as she emerged from them. She covered her nose and said, "You should just stuff that thing back into your nose and smell it yourself. Don't come out and bother people anymore."
Seeing this, Zhenyi also took off her shoes. Zhenyuan, still mindful of her manners, resisted taking off her shoes, but the smell in the carriage was now so foul it could kill someone. Zhenshu stopped the carriage, jumped off her horse, and said, "You can both get rid of your stench."
It's not yet the rainy season, so the official road is very flat and wide. Everywhere you look, there are endless green chestnut seedlings, and the warm spring breeze carries the fragrance of flowers. The scenery outside is more than a hundred times better than inside. Moreover, Zhenshu is used to wearing thick-soled coarse cloth shoes and is used to walking on the road, so he doesn't feel any pain in his feet.
The journey from Huixian County to the capital is about 300 li (approximately 150 kilometers), and it takes three days by car to reach the destination.
Along the way, they saw women following the carriage, but they were all elderly women with unbound feet. Even maids from ordinary families would ride in the carriage. Madam Su was not short of money to hire a carriage; she was simply determined to let everyone in the capital know about her beautiful daughters, so she wanted to save all her money to buy jewelry in the capital.