Chapter 5, The Poisonous Widow of the Cursed Husband (Part 2)
On the morning of the second day, just as dawn was breaking, Tang Que vaguely heard the sounds of someone getting up next door. Glancing at the dimly lit square sky outside the small black window, Tang Que let out a long sigh before turning over and getting out of bed
Four years later, a woman who suddenly felt a stir in her heart announced that she would seek a husband publicly. This news caused quite a commotion within a hundred miles. Ultimately, a poor bachelor, as sturdy as an ox, was chosen. Observing his muscular physique, many thought he might withstand the challenges ahead. However, just three days before the wedding, the strong man was killed by a falling rock while traveling to the county town. In this area, where the mountains are high and the forests dense, such incidents of rocks falling from the sky occur only once in a hundred years. Yet, this rare event befell the man chosen by the woman. Following this incident, the woman earned the nickname "Black Widow," which spread as tales of the different deaths of her four husbands circulated. Eventually, nearly everyone in the Yunchi area knew of this beautiful woman, rumored to bring misfortune to men. The story grew increasingly sinister, leading to the belief that any unmarried man who approached the Black Widow would meet his demise. Families with unmarried sons would avoid her at all costs, fearing the ill fortune she might bring.
Thanks to the blessings of the lady, everything is going smoothly. The Tang family member smiled as she spoke, yet her eyes were filled with a sense of vigilance. As she spoke, she subtly shifted her body to block the woman's line of sight, asking, "It is quite late; may I ask what brings you here, madam?"
Li entered the door this time, but unfortunately, just as she stepped in, the old wealthy man from the countryside suddenly collapsed at the banquet table, causing quite a scare among the guests. After enduring for two months, the old man finally succumbed and met his end. Strangely, he had only three daughters during his lifetime and no sons, and since his wife's family had powerful relatives working in the county office, they unexpectedly inherited the wealth he had accumulated over his lifetime.
This woman is indeed strong-willed; not only has she successfully managed the estate left by her late husband, thriving in her endeavors, but she has also transformed from her previous self-pity into someone who is exceptionally vibrant and meticulous in her appearance. The more men hesitate to approach her, the more she seizes opportunities to provoke them. Moreover, the more that woman speaks ill of her behind her back, the more she feels compelled to entice that woman's man. Because of this, the village has witnessed countless quarrels throughout the year. Additionally, since Mrs. Tang Zhang is not one to spread rumors, this woman has been particularly restrained tonight, merely casting a fleeting glance at Tang Que.
It is truly rare to encounter such a well-dressed and elegant woman in this small mountain village. After Tang Que and the Tang Zhang family closed the door, they finally withdrew their gaze. "Mother, although the daily wage of fifty wen is an average rate, other places do not provide meals. If we account for two meals, it actually amounts to a daily wage of sixty-six or seventy wen, which is indeed considerable. Why didn't you agree?"
Seeing Tang Que's puzzled expression, the Tang Zhang family was concerned that their son might not understand the gravity of the situation, so they deliberately reiterated the woman's background in detail.
From then on, whenever the matchmaker mentioned the Li family on Old West Street, the families in Yunxi City would shake their heads repeatedly, regardless of how much dowry was promised. Four years passed in the blink of an eye, and just as the woman had completely given up on the idea of remarrying, a local wealthy man, who had recently lost his wife, refused to accept this fate. Infatuated with the woman's beauty, he sent someone to propose marriage. At this time, the Li family no longer cared about anything and immediately agreed.
It turns out that this woman, whose surname is Li, was well-known for her beauty in the surrounding area. However, more than her appearance, she was infamous for her reputation of being a "husband-killer." Originally from the old West Street in Yunxi City, she was engaged at the age of fifteen for the first time, but before she could marry, her fiancé passed away from illness. Consequently, people began to say that she was a husband-killer. Her family, worried that this matter would spread too widely, did not hesitate to arrange another match for her in Lin County while she was still in mourning. However, less than two months after the engagement, the young man tragically drowned when he fell off a boat while accompanying his uncle on a business trip. Thus, her reputation as a husband-killer was firmly established.
After listening to what the Zhang family of Tang had to say, Tang Que finally understood the reason for her earlier firm refusal. Naturally, he did not believe in the notion of a woman bringing misfortune to her husband. While he felt that the world was filled with too many coincidences, he also found the woman to be pitiable. However, Tang Que did not voice these thoughts. After a brief idle chat on this topic, the three of them returned to their respective rooms to sleep.
The woman, having seen such actions from Mrs. Tang Zhang many times, did not take it to heart. She lightly waved her hand and said, "Sister Tang, may I have a word with you?" As soon as Mrs. Tang Zhang moved, she revealed Tang Que, who was standing behind her.
Oh! If Sister Tang truly cannot part with it, then so be it. Due to the presence of Mrs. Tang Zhang blocking the view, Tang Que could not see the woman's expression while she spoke, but he could hear the strands of unmasked loneliness in her voice.
Because he had never seen such finely crafted water play mandarin ducks in half-moon shoes, Tang Que couldn't help but stare at them for a while and was captivated by their beauty.
The woman was a well-known poison widow in the nearby dozens of miles. Having been accustomed to being the center of attention due to her alluring beauty, she felt a slight flush on her face when being closely watched by a young boy like Tang Que. Especially since this young boy was one of the few handsome lads in the village. "Has A Cheng's illness recovered?" As she shrank her foot under her skirt, her slender, phoenix-like eyes flickered and cast a glance at Tang Que.
After the woman finished speaking, she turned and gracefully carried a paper lantern away. However, the usually warm-hearted Tang Zhang did not accompany her, nor did he ask Tang Que to help with the lantern or see the woman off on her night journey
Providing two meals a day costs at least fifteen or sixteen wen, which means the daily wage amounts to around sixty-five or sixty-six wen. This is indeed not a small sum. The Tang family was going through a difficult time; what could the Tang Zhang family possibly refuse? However, to Tang Que's surprise, the Tang Zhang family unhesitatingly rejected the woman, citing, of course, that their son had just recovered from a serious illness and needed someone to take care of him.
Bathed in the moonlight and the dim glow of lanterns, one can faintly see a woman with her hair styled in the most fashionable Yeyou bun from the Gaozu dynasty. Adorning the bun is a plum blossom-shaped golden hairpin, the tassel of which sways gently in the night breeze, occasionally producing a soft tinkling sound. Beneath the Yeyou bun, her eyebrows are shaped in a crescent style, and her forehead is not adorned with yellow powder; instead, a bright red diamond-shaped flower is delicately placed at the center of her forehead. Her cheeks are lightly dusted with powder, which further accentuates the striking allure of her bright red lips. Such attire and makeup endow the woman standing under the gentle moonlight with an innate charm that is captivating. However, what draws the most attention is the pair of crescent-shaped shoes that reveal themselves as she moves. At her age, choosing bright red satin for the shoe upper is already eye-catching, not to mention that the upper is embroidered with a pair of mandarin ducks with green necks and red feathers, playfully swimming together.
The house I live in is quite old, and recently I have been considering building a new one. I came here to ask you, Sister Tang, for your help. Your cooking skills are excellent, and it would be perfect for you to be the head cook. You would prepare two meals a day, plus a wage of fifty wen. As the woman spoke, she slightly tilted her head, and her gaze met Tang Que's. Noticing that when she retracted her foot, Tang Que's eyes also narrowed, the woman stood up straight again, her lips curling into a faint smile. "What do you think? If Sister Tang agrees, we can start work tomorrow morning."
"It's still not for you!" Tang Zhangshi glanced at Tang Que again and said, "Alright, my dear, I can tell you that in the future, when you encounter her, you should keep your distance."