CHAPTER 36: CHAPTER 36: PROMOTING FAME

The fiercely hot sun began to fade, and a refreshing breeze rolled in.

Under the old Willow Tree at the eastern end of Upper Ling Village, people gathered in twos and threes, chatting about their daily lives.

At the village entrance, a horse-drawn carriage slowly approached. Seeing it, the crowd couldn’t help but click their tongues. "The Li Family has really struck it rich! They’re even using a horse-drawn carriage! No other family in our village can afford one!"

"What kind of people are we, and what kind are they? Their Li Yanyan is a Lucky Star who brings great fortune. Before, they were held down by that jinx, Li Suisui. Now that Li Suisui is dead, aren’t their family’s fortunes bound to soar?"

Chattering amongst themselves, the crowd drifted towards the carriage.

"Oh my, Yanyan’s back!" a woman in her early thirties called out, intercepting the carriage. "Your family has truly prospered, even riding in a horse-drawn carriage!"

The carriage curtain lifted, and Zhao Chunxiang poked her head out, feigning surprise. "Oh dear! We’ve already reached the village entrance! Honestly, didn’t I say to remind me when the carriage was about to enter the village? We should have gotten out and walked. So many of our fellow villagers are still struggling, while our family has started to prosper and is even planning to move to the Capital City. If everyone knew, I wonder how terrible they’d feel!"

The stunned crowd failed to see that Zhao Chunxiang’s surprise was feigned; they only registered her intent to flaunt. Being poor themselves, their envy could only be suppressed in their hearts.

"Yanyan’s mother, don’t say that!" one villager chimed in. "We’re all happy for you that your family is doing well! Besides, Yanyan’s good fortune has brought us luck too; we’ve all benefited. If your family prospers and moves to the Capital City, it gives all of us something to boast about!"

An elderly woman craned her neck, peering into the carriage. "Hehe! Is Yanyan in there?" She, too, hoped to catch some of the Little Lucky Star’s good fortune. Her son, Goudan, wasn’t married yet, and the matchmaker was bringing a potential bride for him to meet tomorrow.

"She’s here, but she fell asleep," Zhao Chunxiang replied. "The child stayed up all night last night watching over her third uncle, and she just closed her eyes for a nap."

Zhao Chunxiang knew exactly why these villagers were here. They hoped to bask in her family’s Little Lucky Star’s good fortune for free? In their dreams!

"Oh! What happened to Yanyan’s third uncle?" someone asked. "Why did our Little Lucky Star have to keep vigil by his bedside?"

Zhao Chunxiang’s eyes flickered; this was a prime opportunity to build her reputation. So she explained, "Oh dear, speaking of which, it was my third brother-in-law who had some bad luck. Yesterday, his Pork Stall opened, and he thought he’d slaughter a live pig in front of the stall for good fortune. Who would have thought the pig went berserk and kicked my third brother-in-law right in the solar plexus! He was in critical condition on the spot.

"You all know, our eldest brother-in-law was jinxed to death by Suisui. My husband is the head shopkeeper in town and is about to go to the Capital City. The fourth brother-in-law is away taking the imperial exams. So, my third brother-in-law was the only adult man left in our household.

"Yanyan’s Grandma couldn’t bear the blow; she fainted on the spot and almost didn’t regain consciousness. As it happened, quite coincidentally, a Taoist Master from the Sancai Temple was passing by. The Taoist Master pinched his fingers in divination—and guess what he found?"

At this point, Zhao Chunxiang deliberately paused.

She definitely wouldn’t miss such an excellent opportunity for publicity. After all, everyone already knew Li Suisui was dead. Besides, she had sent someone to Lower Ling Village to inquire, and it seemed the Ji Family had no intention of making an issue out of Li Suisui. It even appeared the Ji Family intended to conceal the birth characters of that jinx. Now, across the entire land, her Yanyan was renowned as one born under a sign of heavenly blessing! With this reputation, as soon as they entered the Capital City, they would absolutely have the chance to marry their daughter into a family of high officials and dignitaries!

One had to admit, Zhao Chunxiang was scheming effectively.

Little did she know that once, in a place unbeknownst to her, a little girl had remarked that the road to the Capital City was very long; her Second Uncle’s legs might just break from the journey!