38: Chapter 38: Heaven Has the Virtue of Goodness
38 -38: Heaven Has the Virtue of Goodness
Wufu walked to the door, only to be grabbed by Madam Zhou, who slapped her arms twice.
âYou girl, how can you be so bold, so inconsiderate of your motherâs feelings, have you gone mad?
How dare you justâŠâ Madam Zhou rattled on like a machine gun, the shock was too much for her to handle.
âMother, he was burning up with fever, if we let him stay in his wet clothes, he would have died,â Wufu helplessly interjected.
Die!
Madam Zhouâs voice came to a abrupt halt, and she instinctively glanced inside, then quickly averted her eyes.
âHow important is a womanâs reputation, if others find out about this, how will you ever get married?â Madam Zhouâs voice had become quieter, as though afraid that someone might overhear.
Silly girl, does she not realize that by having seen a manâs body, if it really came to that, sheâd have no choice but to marry him?
And a stranger from who knows where, who would dare to give their daughter away like this?
âMother, you too worship Buddha, people always say that saving a life is more meritorious than building a seven-story pagoda, we canât just watch him die, can we?â Wufu said with a faint smile, âI only helped him out of his shirt, itâs fine.â
Madam Zhou frowned, asking, âYouâre not thinking of keeping him at our home to recuperate, are you?â
Wufu hesitated.
âNo, absolutely not,â Madam Zhouâs heart chilled seeing her hesitation, adding, âItâs just the two of us women living here, if you keep him, the gossip will drown us both.
Have you forgotten what your grandmother said yesterday?â
Wufu let out a sigh and said, âMother, letâs not talk about this for now, could you go and make another bowl of ginger soup for him?
Iâll go invite Doctor Cheng!â
Inviting Doctor Cheng, wouldnât that be telling the whole Wozi Village that there was a man in their house?
âDoctor Cheng, thatâs not possible,â Madam Zhou clutched tightly at her sleeve, âWufu, our reputation, it canât withstand any more scandals.
If people find out, we wonât be able to continue living here, we wonât be able to stay in this place.â
For years, how had their mother and daughter been maligned?
It had been enough, if people found out a man came to their house, what would they say about them?
A reputation already tarnished would probably get even worse!
âMother, reputation aside, if we are upright, we shouldnât fear a crooked shadow; weâre merely saving a person.
On the other hand, if we let him die without helping, you would feel guilty for the rest of your life, how would you then continue to worship Buddha?â Wufu spoke with a mix of speechlessness and irritation.
This damn place that obsesses over reputation!
Madam Zhou fell silent, and after a long while, she said, âMother only wants you to have a good life, didnât you always value it before?â When someone called her a bastard or illegitimate in the past, sheâd always get angry and care about her reputation, so why had she changed now?
âMother, Iâve died once before, and from now on, I just want to live freely, not caring about pleasing others, thatâs too exhausting.
I also hope that you can live freely and at ease, Mother, we donât owe anyone anything,â Wufu said.
Madam Zhou was startled.
âAs long as we live and act in a way thatâs true to the heavens, the earth, and our own conscience, isnât that enough?â Wufu gently patted her arm and said, âLiving a whole life confined by rules and doctrines, how tiring must that be?
Life is just that short.â
Madam Zhouâs eyes reddened as she was touched by these words, and while stroking Wufuâs hair she said, âSilly girl, youâre still young and donât understand, a woman with a good reputation will be blessed for her whole life!â
âBut I prefer to live a more carefree life.â
Madam Zhou pursed her lips and let out a slight sigh, âGo invite Doctor Cheng then, he has watched over me as I grew up, heâs a good man and wonât talk nonsense!â
Wufu smiled, and with the rain stopped, she hurriedly ran towards the village.