The Predictive Peasant Woman

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In the ten years of Chongzhen, there was a scholar called Yu Changan in Junan County, Henan Province. After studying hard for more than ten years, he failed to obtain half his fame. He was powerless and had no skills, so he lived a very hard life. But fortunately, Chang'an had a wife, Wang Shi, who was born black and rough, but was also a good wife and mother. She had been inseparable from Chang'an for more than ten years, and only told him to study with peace of mind. Don't ask about the tedious things at home.

This year, the Wang family suddenly contracted an emergency, fell asleep all day long, and occasionally sat up, but his eyes were dull, he was babbling, and he didn't get any water for three or five days. Chang'an searched all over the county, but he couldn't see why. They all thought that the Wang family had been stimulated and went crazy, that's all. But Chang'an knew very well that although the couple's life was difficult, and the wife was indeed working hard all day long, the two of them were very loving, and there was absolutely nothing inexplicable. Why did they come to such a field? Chang'an was puzzled, but he was helpless, so he had to stay by Wang's side every day and serve him carefully.

After about ten days, the Wang family still did not get better, but her complexion was ruddy and full of gas, and she snored like thunder when she slept deeply, unlike a sick person at all. Just as Chang'an was anxious, the county elder hinted to him, could the Wang family have encountered something unclean, and when she got on the road, why not invite a Taoist priest to exorcise evil spirits, maybe it will work wonders. Chang'an thought again and again, his wife had never gone out except for farming in the fields, and besides, she was peaceful and kind, and her neighbors had never offended anyone, so how could she offend all gods and ghosts for no reason?

On the morning of the eleventh day, the sky was bright, and Chang'an, who had been guarding Wang's family for the night, fell asleep. Wang's family woke up, went to the kitchen to cook a pot of porridge, and woke Chang'an. Chang'an was surprised and happy to see Wang's standing in front of him, and talked to Wang's about the past ten days. Wang's family didn't know anything, and only remembered that he had gone to work in the fields that day. He happened to meet a young man riding a white mule and took her to a place where the mountains were stacked and crowded, and it was only an hour before and after. How could it have been ten days? Chang'an was surprised when he heard it, but then he thought, maybe it was a dream of Nanke when Wang was in a coma, so he didn't take it to heart.

Since then, Chang'an has continued to study hard day and night, and Wang's family has worked hard. The lives of the two seem to have returned to the past.

One night, Wang shi suddenly said to Chang'an, "Neighbor Auntie He's plowing cow is gone, she will come to you in a while and I will help find it. I saw that the plowing cow fell in the canal in the east of the county and broke its leg. Hurry up and find a few strong laborers to pull the plowing cow up together." Chang'an, who was reading, was puzzled by Wang shi's words, and when she was so surprised, Auntie He really came to the door for help. Chang'an quickly followed Wang shi's words and found the plowing cow with a broken leg in the canal. Chang'an was very surprised, but Wang shi did not take it seriously and fell asleep.

Another day, cousin Chang'an wanted to go to Shandong to visit relatives. Before leaving, he said goodbye to Chang'an and his wife. Wang Shi suddenly said to his cousin, "Brother would rather stay close and far away, delay for a few days, and bypass Dagu Mountain, otherwise there will be disaster." After hearing this, the cousin immediately showed displeasure and thought: I have been here for a year and a half to say goodbye, but this Wang shi touched my bad head and said such dejected words. What is the purpose? So he left very unhappily, and did not listen to Wang Shi's advice. Later, he was indeed attacked by bandits in Dagu Mountain, his money was looted, and his life was lost. When the government found it, only a handful of bones were left to be gnawed by wild animals.

Only these few times, Wang's ability to predict the future has spread like wildfire. There are people looking for things in ten miles and eight townships, and those who ask about marriage and career have come to ask Wang's. Wang's is only a few words, and it is really fulfilled one by one. Outsiders regard her as a "fairy", and even repair a bronze statue of Wang in Junan County to worship. Whenever Chang'an asked Wang where this ability came from, Wang laughed but did not answer, silent.

Since the people who came to ask the question would honor the Wang family with money, but the gold, silver, treasure, and soybean eggs were all based on their heart, the Wang family neither refused nor negotiated the price. After a long time, the lives of the two gradually improved. The better life, the more impatient Chang'an's heart became. Since the money came so easily, why bother biting Wenmo every day?

Wang shi laughed heartily when she heard that, "I do what I ask for in order to accumulate blessings, not for money. If I want some silver taels, do I still need to ask these laymen for it?" Chang'an was also happy and said, "Then you can also show me the way today, where can I go to find some silver taels, so that you and I can have worry-free food and clothing for the rest of our lives and avoid fatigue."

Wang Shi thought for a moment and told Chang'an, "There is an isolated mountain 60 miles east of Junan County, and there is a hole on the top of the mountain. You just need to go in and take some silver at will, which is enough for you and me. Remember, you can only go there alone, and you must not be greedy."

After listening to Chang'an, he went to Lonely Mountain with joy in his heart. He wasted the power of nine bulls and two tigers and went to the top of the mountain. There was really a hole. He went in and saw Chang'an and was taken aback. There were more than a dozen sandalwood boxes neatly placed in the hole.

Everyone shared the treasure and thanked Chang'an and his wife three times and nine times, and left contentedly. Chang'an longed for the glory and wealth of the second half of his life, and was even more overjoyed. Only Wang shi kept shaking his head and sighing, saying: "I told you to go alone, don't be greedy, you just don't listen, your life is a mediocre and ordinary life, so how can you get such a large fortune? I think retribution will come soon, I am afraid that I will also be implicated." Chang'an was very displeased when he heard it, and asked: "Knowing that there is no life of great wealth and wealth in this life, why do you ask me to study every day to get a reputation? If it is not for seeking a position of one official and half officials, what is the use of my study?"

Seeing that Chang'an was obsessive, Wang shi didn't say much and went back to her room to sleep. However, after another ten days of sleep, Wang shi had no memory of what had happened recently when she woke up. If she met the person who came to inquire, she would also hide in a hurry and refuse to see anyone.

After half a year, the flood in Junan County hit, and the county magistrate went around to raise funds for disaster relief, but the landlord and squire tightly covered their pockets and refused to cooperate. The county magistrate was very annoyed and decided to make an example of a hundred people. At this time, some good people said that Chang'an's family was rich and his origin was unknown, so it was more appropriate to use him as a knife. The county magistrate was overjoyed when he heard that, and escorted Chang'an's family to the court to interrogate where his family came from. Chang'an took out the original story. The county magistrate saw that Wang's words were clearly a village woman, but he was willing to believe it.