Lu Yang climbed into the carriage, and Li Feng drove in front; the two rode in silence.
At this moment, Xie Yan arrived in Sanshui County.
He entered the county town, covered in dust, and without any formalities, headed straight for the Wu residence, as there was no place for him to stay in town.
Wu Pingzhi had returned home both to pay respects to the ancestors and to rest for a while. He arrived before Xie Yan and had not yet set out for the provincial city.
When Xie Yan arrived, Wu Pingzhi had been smiling since seeing him.
“You really have some nerve! Empty-handed and all dusty, coming to my house without seeing my father? Didn’t your husband teach you manners?”
Xie Yan replied calmly, “Take me to your courtyard. I’ll wash up, change into clean clothes, bring a gift, and then go pay my respects to Uncle Wu.”
Wu Pingzhi asked, “Which guest goes to the host’s house to wash up and change before meeting them?”
Xie Yan waved him off. “Don’t argue. Why do you look down on me so much? Is there someone in your room?”
Wu Pingzhi glared at him. “How could there be anyone in my room? What tone is that? We’re just friends; you’re crossing the line!”
Xie Yan smiled. “It’s enough that you know we’re friends. Now, take me to wash up.”
Wu Pingzhi sighed but let him in.
The household had servants; with a single call, hot water was brought for Xie Yan. Wu Pingzhi settled him in, then went to the front hall to greet Wang Meng.
Da Qiang had already taken people back to the mountain stronghold; Xie Yan would visit the stronghold in a few days. Since he planned to pay respects to the chieftain, it was best to notify him early.
Wang Meng and Chen Jiu had moved to the county, so they didn’t need to return to the stronghold and were left to unload goods.
Wu Pingzhi asked Wang Meng, “Did Xie Yan have all these bought?”
Wang Meng, naive, blurted it out: “Brother Yang wrote the list; he went out to buy it himself.”
Wu Pingzhi couldn’t help laughing.
After sending Wang Meng away, he returned to the courtyard and teasingly scolded Xie Yan through the door and window.
Xie Yan just smiled silently. Wang Meng really wasn’t clever!
He didn’t wash his hair, just wiped it with a cloth, tidied himself, and before nightfall, he first went to see Uncle Wu, then took the gift to visit Old Master Lu—Lu Yang’s godfather—after returning to the county.
The Luo brothers lived nearby, so Xie Yan hurried to pay his respects. That afternoon, he was a guest there; the two sisters-in-law prepared a lively meal.
Xie Yan spoke directly. When Old Master Lu knew he would come to the county, the household had been preparing for months. He only mentioned that the house was rented and that they all lived in the same alley, planning to go together once he was done with his errands.
Facing the Luo brothers, Xie Yan was equally straightforward. “Your letters—I’ve shown them all to Jingzhi. He didn’t like them and told me a few times. I promised to bring you to the county town. Tomorrow I’ll speak with Magistrate Zhang and have him release you.”
The Luo brothers were speechless.
They still used their habitual hesitation, unwilling to leave the county town, worried about costs and being a burden.
Xie Yan reassured them. “We rented houses for a year, all in the same alley. Godfather’s family in one, elder brother in one, second brother in another. The houses are ready; don’t worry about the money!”
Having attended many debates, Xie Yan knew some persuasion techniques.
After addressing money concerns and explaining the difficulty of opening the study, he emphasized how indispensable they were. When they wavered slightly, he revealed Lu Yang’s pregnancy.
Wearing a worried expression, Xie Yan said, “You know his nature. He can’t stay idle. With the study opening and a capable friend, he’ll be busy. Being pregnant? He’ll still go out. I can’t control him, nor stop him. Only you two can help. Our family’s situation—you know it. Apart from me, there’s only my mother, whose voice is soft and can’t control him. Please, brothers, come! Next February, I’ll take the provincial exam. If you don’t come, I can’t focus. My future, Jingzhi’s health, our child, all depend on you!”
The Luo brothers were stunned.
Luo Dayong asked, “Brother Yang told you this, right?”
Xie Yan shook his head. “No, I said it myself.”
Luo Erwu insisted, “Then it must be written down, and you memorized it!”
Xie Yan’s eyes widened, almost exclaiming, “How did you know?”
The moment dissolved into laughter. The table turned lively, and the conversation shifted into a question-and-answer mode.
Questions flew: When did Lu Yang get pregnant? How long? Health? Mood? Doctor’s pulse? Appetite? Vomiting? Eating?
Xie Yan answered cheerfully, repeating some questions. Lu Yang felt surrounded by concern and love, which made him happy.
He skillfully steered the conversation back. “Brothers, go! Every word I’ve said is true. I know you fear the cost and trouble of going to the county, but really, we need you. He misses you so much.”
Xie Yan added softly, “He cried all night!”
For Lu Yang, the people who cared for and guided him since childhood, feeding him and protecting him, were the dearest family.
Though far away, he worried silently during pregnancy, afraid to trouble anyone, keeping anxieties hidden.
Old Master Lu helped persuade them: “Go for a year. See how Brother Yang’s business fares. If it fails, you return. With him pregnant, a year is perfect to help. The houses are ready, go.”
Xie Yan interjected, “I’ll have Magistrate Zhang approve your leave. You’ll still return as officials.”
If they refused, once he passed and became an official, they could serve as his aides.
With all options secured, the Luo brothers exchanged a glance, taking time to consider.
Xie Yan, seeing them soften, didn’t press. “I’ll stay in the county for ten days, all at the Wu residence. Decide, then come find me.”
He arrived late; after the meal, he stayed the night.
The Luo brothers shared a courtyard, but as no vacant rooms existed, Xie Yan stayed with the Lu family.
Lu Xiaoshui and her husband tidied the house for him. Old Master Lu chatted in the main hall, recalling the past.
The first time Xie Yan met Lu Yang was the day they moved. Lu Yang stood in the alley holding a water bowl, small face anxious, uneasy, embarrassed, yet curious.
They had moved many things, including accumulated woodblocks.
Lu Yang asked him what craft he practiced, whether it was hard to learn, and compared it to making tofu.
He explained woodblock carving, then Lu Yang visited often. Soon, Lu Yang arranged red paper outside Chen’s tofu shop to spell the character “Chen.”
Old Master Chen scolded him for wasting money. Lu Yang argued he hadn’t spent any. Chen asked if the red paper cost money, if the paste was made from grain, whether grain required silver. Lu Yang was punished again, missing dinner.
Old Master Lu recalled, “Back then, the Luo brothers were small. They gathered, huddled in corners, and ran errands to praise the tofu shop to passersby. Especially those who liked tofu—they’d pretend not to buy, but seeing the sign, they remembered it and bought a piece. Not only praise, but they ensured Old Master Chen earned a few coins. Only then was the task complete. Those two were capable, visiting each house. The neighbors cooperated kindly. Chen earned money, then Yang entered. After hearing from the Luo brothers, he loved coming here, pestering me to teach him skills.”
