"Which year does the wind come from? Which year does the rain come from?"
"The wind is this year's wind! The rain is next year's rain!"
"The Shu family has a daughter who has grown up, there is wind, there is rain! There is rice, and there is meat!"
A group of young children sang nursery rhymes and skipped past the alley. The apricot blossoms on a tree swayed down, there was a gentle breeze and drizzle, and the spring scenery was empty.
Shuhua came slowly holding a silver-red oil-paper umbrella and watched with a smile.
She is nineteen years old this year and is the only daughter of a rich peasant couple from Guo State.
It is said that Mr. and Mrs. Shu had been married for twenty years, and she was only born when she was nearly forty years old. When she was born, it suddenly rained in the southern plain of Guo State, which was originally experiencing severe drought.
The rain was neither too heavy nor too light, and the amount of water was just right, which directly alleviated the drought and saved many people.
At first, no one connected this incident with her. They just felt that the little girl was born at the right time.
Mr. and Mrs. Shu specially wrapped a thick red envelope and asked the most famous gentleman in the village to name their daughter.
The gentleman looked up at the sky and happened to see lush vegetation, blooming flowers on the branches, and a halo around the sun, so he said: "Hua, prosperous, beautiful, and radiant, let's call it Shuhua. It is the only one in the world."
The Shu family was wealthy, but they did not let their daughter suffer much. They only taught her about the four seasons and grains and the solar terms of farming.
The idea is that in the future, my daughter will inherit the family land, recruit a son-in-law, make her own decisions, and live happily.
When Shuhua was five or six years old, he went to the private school in the village alone to eavesdrop on his teacher's lectures, and then started to make noises about going to school.
The Shu family thought it would be good for their daughter to be able to read and write, so as not to be deceived by stinky men and slanderous scholars, so they also sent her to school.
When Shuhua was seven or eight years old, the content taught in the private school in the village could no longer keep up with her learning speed. The Shu family had no choice but to invite a down-and-out scholar to come to their home for private tutoring.
In a blink of an eye, Shuhua grew to fourteen years old. Her beauty was unparalleled and her talent was famous. Many families nearby came to ask for her hand in marriage.
The Shu family had only one idea: to recruit a son-in-law so that their daughter could make her own decisions.
One day, the family was invited to visit relatives in a neighboring county. On the way, they encountered farmers complaining that it had not rained for too long and the seedlings in the fields were about to die of drought.
The Shu family couple just sighed in sympathy, but turned around and found that Shuhua was gone.
After a while, I saw it raining.
The farmers were so excited that they cried and knelt to the sky and worshiped the earth.
Shuhua came laughing in the rain, and asked her why she was laughing, but she didn't say anything.
When I returned from my visit and passed by, I was stopped by a group of farmers. They said that someone saw Shuhua successfully praying for rain that day and thought she was the rain god descending to earth.
Of course, the Shu family would not admit it. It would not be a good thing for their daughter's family to get involved with something.
Not long after the family returned to the village, rumors spread to their doorstep.
From time to time, people from other places come to visit us, some asking for rain after a long drought, and some asking for closure due to too much rain and wind.
Then, everyone in the village remembered that on the day this girl was born, a miracle happened when the long drought in the southern plain of Guo State gave way to rain.
Moreover, in recent years, there have been more or less natural disasters in surrounding counties and villages, but only this county has had good weather.
In particular, this village is blessed with both wind and rain, and its harvest is 30% higher than that of other places, so that it has become a well-known wealthy village.
It turns out that it is all the blessings brought by Shuhua.
The more things spread, the more outrageous they became, and the more they spread, the farther they spread.
The old couple of the Shu family were very scared, always feeling that they would lose their precious daughter, so they chose to move away quietly with their family late at night.
Unexpectedly, they were stopped by the government before they could go far.
The county governor took the imperial edict and said that there was a severe drought in the northern part of Guo State, and he wanted to summon Shuhua to pray for rain.
The common people did not have the ability to fight against the monarch, so Shuhua and his family were sent to the north.
She lived up to expectations and successfully prayed for rain, solving the drought in the north.
This was so outrageous that Shu's family was sent directly to the capital, and Shuhua was recognized as auspicious.
Guo State is a farming country that relies on the sky for its livelihood. With such a living treasure, of course it must be provided for.
The old emperor of the Guo Kingdom bestowed a mansion with countless slaves and gold and silver. He specially set up the position of "Wind and Rain Order" for Shuhua, who was of the same rank and had a generous salary.
The only requirement is that she go up to Gan Terrace during the annual Harvest Festival celebrations to pray for good weather and abundant harvests in the coming year in the Guo Kingdom.
Shuhua performed the blessing ceremony for four years. From the age of fourteen to eighteen, the Guo country had good weather and good weather every year, the grain was abundant, and the people were prosperous and the country was strong.
The old emperor was very happy and asked her what reward she wanted.
She said that she had been locked up in the palace in Beijing for too long and wanted to go out for a walk in her free time, visit famous people, and learn poetry and songs.
The old emperor agreed to her request and asked her what kind of husband she wanted.
After Shuhua thought for a long time, he said: "At least he must be an elegant scholar who is proficient in arts and sciences and treats me sincerely."
The old emperor ordered that her son-in-law should be selected from among literati.
But for some reason, no one wanted to marry her.
Father Shu ran out to inquire about it and came back and said depressedly: "It's said that I can't bear it."
Mrs. Shu put her hands on her hips and scolded: "You idiot with no vision and courage, you are not worthy of my daughter in the first place!"
Shuhua smiled and nodded, she felt the same way.
The matter of choosing a son-in-law had been hotly debated for half a year, but there was a turn for the better.
The old emperor had seven sons, but he did not establish a prince.
The sons have all grown up, one is more shrewd than the other, and one is more ambitious than the other.
These seven princes, ranging in age from forty to eighteen or nineteen, from married to unmarried, regardless of their beauty or ugliness, all showed their attentiveness to Shuhua.
There are even rumors outside that the one who wins the goddess will get the throne.
This is very dangerous.
Shuhua quickly entered the palace and told the old emperor that she did not want to marry into the royal family. If the old man was worried, she could remain unmarried for life.
The old emperor was half-lying in bed recuperating from his illness. He comforted her kindly not to be afraid. She would be with him in everything. He also encouraged her to make friends through literature and get to know more young talents.
Not long after the old emperor spoke, many poems and songs were sent to Shuhua, some praising her, and some purely describing the landscape, past and present, and the world's conditions in the border areas, asking her to comment.
One of them was called "Cong Xin Zhe". His poems and songs were very elegant and fresh, and his calligraphy was also very good. He was worthy of being praised by everyone.
Shuhua liked his poems, songs and calligraphy very much.
She tried to write him a letter and attached a little poem she had written, asking for his advice.
She was worried. Although she liked literature, she was actually limited by the conditions and the teacher she followed was not very good.
After that, he was locked up and not allowed to go out, and he had no chance to continue his studies.
Normally he looks okay, but in front of real celebrities, he can't help but show timidity.
The follower quickly replied to her letter, using a gentle and humble tone to point out her shortcomings.
Shuhua soon wrote him a second, third, and fourth letter.
He was shy and reserved, but she really liked being comfortable.
She decided to meet him, and the place was under the apricot tree at the entrance of Tiaoshui Lane.
(End of chapter)
