Please remember the domain name of this site:
163: The Boy, Girl and Lady Rain
Chapter 163: The Boy, Girl and Lady Rain
When Shen Zian and his companions saw the head of the village coming, they had no choice but to stop. They thought that the head of the village had something to discuss, but they didn't know what it was.
The village head came over and looked at Old Lady Li. He was a little reluctant to talk to her in front of her, so he said, "Zi'an, let's go back to your house and talk."
Mrs. Li immediately said, "Village head, is there anything you can't let me hear?"
The head of the village had no choice but to stop. He could have said that it was Shen Zian's family's private matter and prevented the old woman from hearing it, but he was too lazy to say that. He thought that it was the village's business anyway and everyone in the village would have to hear it, so it would be okay to let the old woman hear it.
"It's like this. Spring is here. Half a month after Qingming, it will be Grain Rain. Here we have to hold a ceremony to worship the Rain Goddess on Grain Rain. Every year, all the villages in our area hold this ceremony together, and it is very lively. This year, I want to let the three little kids in your family, Zi'an, be the boy and girl. I wonder if you are willing."
After the head of the village finished speaking, he looked at Shen Zian and Su Zhi, waiting for their responses.
When Su Zhi heard the word "virgin boy and girl", she was shocked at first. It was not her fault. She had read too many mythological stories in the past, especially Journey to the West. Whenever virgin boys and girls were mentioned, it was definitely not a good thing and they would all be fed to the monsters. So when she heard that Xiao Ri and the other three were going to be virgin boys and girls, she thought to herself that if there was really such a stupid thing, she would definitely not send her children away to die.
But this was just a fleeting thought. Ji Ziqing thought it was unlikely. If this really happened, the families with children in the village would have been anxious when the day approached. She would definitely have heard the news, but she had never seen the families with children in her village anxious. Looking at the head of the village, it didn't seem like he was saying anything bad, but rather something good!
Sure enough, when Mrs. Li heard what the head of the village said, her cloudy old eyes lit up and she said, "Head of the village, this is a good thing. It's also a part of Tiedan's life. Look at how good Tiedan looks. He must be suitable to be a virgin boy. Lady Yu will definitely like him!"
The village head waved his hands and said, "No, we can't accept boys and girls who are too young or too old. Three to five years old is best, your Tiedan is too old. Don't worry, I didn't let my Shuanzi go either. Besides, we need nine boys and girls each. There are more than ten villages and towns holding the Rain Worship Festival, and every village wants to let its own children be boys and girls. Even if our village has the candidates, your Tiedan will definitely come down when the time comes, so don't bother your Tiedan!"
Old Lady Li was discouraged after hearing this, and glanced at Xiao Rixing'er and Yueyue. She was jealous of the Shen family's good luck, as they had just brought the children home and such a good thing had come to them. But thinking that she had just made them unhappy, she decided to say a few nice words to restore the relationship.
"What the village head said is true. I think in our village, only the three children of Zi'an's family are worthy of attention. Look at how fair and tender they are. At first glance, they are a perfect match. They will definitely be better than the children of other villages. If our village suddenly produces three boys and girls, it will be very impressive."
Old lady Li squinted her old eyes and watched the three children smile. She wanted to touch Yueyue's head, but Yueyue dodged her. She hid behind Su Zhi and watched Old lady Li blinking. Old lady Li's mouth twitched, and she cursed the little bastard in her heart, but she didn't dare to say it out loud.
The village head asked, "Zi'an, Zi'an's wife, what do you think? I think these three children are in good health and can be virgins."
Shen Zian looked at Su Zhi. When Su Zhi heard what the head of the village said and saw how eager Mrs. Li was to let Tiedan go, she knew it was not a bad thing, so she told Shen Zian that if he agreed, she should ask the children if they were willing. Shen Zian then asked the three children if they were willing to be virgins, saying that they only needed to wear new clothes and stay with Lady Yu.
Xing'er said, "Brother and little sister go, I will go too."
Xiao Ri glanced at Su Zhi and Shen Zian. Although he didn't quite understand what this was about, it sounded like a good thing. Since his father and mother didn't object, then he wouldn't object either.
"Little sister, do you want to be a virgin?"
Yueyue blinked and said, "If it can make Daddy and Mommy happy, I will go."
Su Zhi felt warm in her heart, thinking that this child was really good at talking. She knew how to love her parents at such a young age. It was not in vain that she was raised. She was such a caring little kid. She picked up Yueyue and kissed her, making Yueyue giggle with joy.
Xiao Ri said to the village head, "Grandpa, let's go."
When the village head heard this, he stroked his beard happily and said, "Okay, okay, then I will take you to run for election tomorrow. With your looks and intelligence, you will definitely be elected! By then, even if only three of you are elected for Hebian Village, it will be a great honor!"
While waiting to separate from Mrs. Li and the head of the village and go home, Su Zhi listened to the conversation between Shen Zian and Li Shi, and only then did she understand what this Rain-Bai Festival was all about.
It turns out that this is a custom in Liang State. On the day of Grain Rain, everyone has to worship the Rain Goddess.
Farmers pray to the Rain Goddess to pray for a good year with good weather and a good harvest. Others also have their own intentions when they pray. Emperors pray to pray for peace and prosperity for the country and the people, officials pray to pray for a promotion, merchants pray to pray for money, and scholars pray to pray for a bright future. In short, they all pray for a good fortune.
Hebian Village and the surrounding villages established a rule a long time ago that they would hold this ceremony together on the day of Grain Rain. This would be more grand and show the unity and harmony among the villages.
It costs money to hold this ceremony. Every year, there are wealthy families who pay for it. Of course, they don't spend it in vain. They want to celebrate. When the time comes, the Rain Goddess will sprinkle blessed water on their homes, which symbolizes that everything will go well for their families this year. This is just a situation, but others are willing to have this blessing, and many wealthy families will actively pay for it. This makes the ceremony even more lively.
On the day of Grain Rain, an outstanding young girl who has been selected long ago will be dressed as the Rain Goddess. She will sit on a gorgeous float decorated with many flowers and go around all the villages. Finally, the final ceremony will be held at the foot of Daqing Mountain, and then the procession will disperse.
After the whole ceremony, sometimes the party lasted until the afternoon, after all, there were so many villages that the walking time was long enough. But after so many years, everyone got used to it and was willing to party all day. This is a festival that is no worse than the Chinese New Year.
Su Zhi thought to herself that it was really interesting that there was such a festival.
"Then how will Lady Rain be chosen? It won't be like choosing boys and girls here, where each village will call a girl and let everyone choose, right?"
Su Zhi was curious about which girl Hebian Village would choose. As far as she knew, there were many pretty girls in Hebian Village.
Shen Zian said, "The girl who plays the Rain Lady must be a girl who is 15 years old and unmarried. In addition to appearance, other factors must be considered, and the best one will be chosen in the end."
Li Shi said: "The girl chosen last year was from the town, the daughter of a scholar, who could write and paint, and was very good at needlework. I heard that the girl chosen two years ago was from the same village as Shen Yu's husband's family, the daughter of a doctor, and was good at treating illnesses."
When Su Zhi heard this, it was just like a beauty pageant. The women who were chosen were all the best, and they would be in the spotlight. Women these days, even country girls, were allowed to show their faces in public and were taught the rules. If they were too prominent, they would be pointed at. Being a Rain Lady was a chance to be in the spotlight and be praised by others. It was simply a huge highlight in one's life, and the competition was expected to be fierce.
Su Zhi suddenly thought of Shen Zhu and asked Shen Zian, "Will Sister Zhu run for election?"
Shen Zian shook his head and said, "I don't know about this.
Su Zhijue knew that Shen Zhu must want to go. Shen Zhu was not a woman who would keep quiet at heart. How could she not go when there was something so glamorous like this?
Li Shi said, "I think Zhao Xiaohua will also run for the election. Didn't you see that old lady Li left in a hurry just now? Tongnan's family's iron egg is not good enough. She probably wants her daughter to run for Rain Queen again."
Su Zhi thought of Zhao Xiaohua dressed up as Lady Rain. Although she didn't know how Lady Rain should dress up, she must be a fairy like Guanyin, and must be dignified and generous. Could Zhao Xiaohua act like that? She couldn't help laughing when she thought of Zhao Xiaohua pretending to be holy and suddenly glaring.
When Shen Zian saw his wife smiling, he could guess what she was laughing at. He took her hand and smiled too.
Li Shi looked at the loving couple, turned his face away, sighed slightly in his heart, and wondered when he would have someone who understood his feelings and stayed by his side. He thought of Liu Si Niang, shook his head to make her shadow disappear, and thought he would just leave it at that for now.
Su Zhi designed a house for Li Shi. Finally, Li Shi decided what the house should look like. He took the drawing Su Zhi drew and went to discuss with Shen Shugen and others. Shen Zian asked Li Shi to stay for dinner, but Li Shi did not stay and left in a hurry. Su Zhi did not put away her brush and ink, and continued to draw. She thought that the weather was getting warmer, and it was time to tidy up the garden. It couldn't be left alone like this.
Yueyue was playing with Xiaohei and Xiaobai on the mat on the ground. She was about to sit on Dahei, but was pushed to one side by the white wolf. Yueyue didn't get angry and went to play on the other side.
Shen Zian and Su Zhi were sitting on the kang, discussing how to tidy up the garden while drawing on paper. Xiaori and Xing'er were watching from the side, not sure if they could understand.
When it was getting dark, a thick layer of dark clouds came from the horizon and soon moved over. Thunder rumbled and the first rain of spring was about to come.