During the Dragon Boat Festival, the couple had revealed their intentions, asking about the Xie family and the business at that shop—how busy it was, how many customers came each day. They also complained about their own business, saying it was barely making ends meet.
Wang Fengnian remembered that when he used to borrow money or rice from his own family, he’d say much the same: praise his mother’s family, then lament his own hardships. At the time, it had caught him off guard.
Sure enough, Old Man Chen brought up business, expressing a desire to sell tofu at the Xie family’s shop. The neighbors recognized the “food for sale” sign and knew Lu Yang. If the tofu were delivered there, it would surely sell well.
They hesitated, neither agreeing nor refusing outright. After sending the man away, they couldn’t sleep for several nights, mulling over the matter.
They had never raised Lu Yang, yet he had helped their family so much. Chen’s family owed a debt of gratitude to Lu Yang, so logically, Lu Yang should feel closer to Chen’s family. Why then did Chen’s family go out of their way to have these two fathers—who barely knew Lu Yang—intervene?
No matter how they reasoned, the only conclusion they could reach was that Lu Yang hadn’t fared well with the Chen family.
Because he hadn’t, he kept his distance after marrying. Knowing he had suffered made Wang Fengnian and Lu Erbao feel uneasy and stifled.
They hadn’t yet figured out what to say, but when they met, they knew they had to mention Old Man Chen, so he wouldn’t cause trouble at the shop and put Lu Yang in an awkward position.
Silence filled the room. Lu Yang waited quietly.
After a long while, Wang Fengnian said, “We didn’t raise you, so you don’t need to be filial to us. We owe you.”
Lu Yang didn’t respond immediately.
He had longed for family, even fantasized about it. After marrying, he’d thought over these relationships—mostly concerning his ties to the Chen family.
It was a tangled mess. He hadn’t dared confront it directly. The debt of nurture was immense. He could only set clear boundaries, refusing to allow Chen’s family to take from him.
Later, after experiencing more of life and returning once more to the prefecture, he carefully planned his future. The Chen family was all in the past; he didn’t give them a thought.
Old Man Chen could no longer intimidate him. He still had Xie Yan for support. The fear in his heart dissipated. This family—ordinary, plain—was the kind he’d seen plenty of in life. They bullied the weak and feared the strong. You just had to size them up properly.
As for his two fathers in the Lu family, because they treated him well, he would reciprocate.
At some point, his longing for family had faded. His concern for the Chen side had diminished, and in his dealings, he acted more out of responsibility than sentiment. If he went home, it was to handle family matters—not because he missed home.
He already had a family of his own.
With matters laid bare, Lu Yang’s emotions were complex. He felt little nostalgia and said frankly, “I have no resentment toward you.”
For a family this poor, these two aged and weary men, with their silent and honest ways, there was no reason to hold a grudge.
Wang Fengnian wept at those words.
Lu Yang sat close and said, “You don’t need to worry so much. We live far apart, and I’m busy. I won’t come home often. My bond with Liu-ge’er is strong. It’s best if the household remains harmonious. Xie family relatives aren’t reliable. I don’t want our family line to die out, so I take care of some Lu relatives. Filial or not—that’s not so important. You didn’t pressure me for food, drink, or silver. That’s just ordinary interaction.”
Lu Yang didn’t linger. At the door, he added, “Suffer through hardship, and you become a person above others. Not a step of mine has been wasted.”
Wang Fengnian called after him, wanting to give him the silver for the house repairs. Lu Yang raised an eyebrow: “You don’t intend to adopt me?”
That, of course, was impossible.
Wang Fengnian said, “We still have some silver. You work hard in business, and your health isn’t fully recovered…”
Lu Yang waved it off. He wouldn’t take the money.
“My brother and I paid together. If you take from him, you must take from me too.”
He said no more and pushed the door open.
With that conversation done, he could return to the county.
Meanwhile, Li Feng, who had been chopping wood in the front yard, stopped, laid down the axe, wiped his sweat, and told Lu Liu and Shun-ge’er to play a little longer: “I’m going to the county now. I’ll pick you up later.”
Lu Yang was surprised. “You’re not taking me to the county yourself, are you?”
Li Feng said, “You offended the people of Shangxi Village. To get there, you’d have to pass through. Several families emptied their homes to fetch people to the yamen. If you go alone, who knows what could happen.”
Lu Yang valued his life and didn’t argue.
Although Lu Lin had said these people were terrified, they hurried along the dry road in silence, hardly talking.
After passing the Shangxi Village entrance, Lu Yang finally said, “I won’t come back here often. Keep an eye on things.”
Li Feng nodded. “Understood.”
Lu Yang added, “If Old Man Chen comes looking for you in the stronghold, send him to me directly. I’m not afraid of him.”
Li Feng shook his head: “No worries. If he dares come, I’ll take him up the mountain for a little walk.”
The two of them were unusually cordial. Just the two of them on the road, no need to consider anyone else’s feelings.
Li Feng said bluntly, “You’re good at everything, but you’re too independent and domineering. When I go hunting with a group of brothers, I don’t always make them follow me. If something’s reasonable, I listen. How many people are in the Xie family? You and Liu-ge’er are brothers—I won’t treat you badly. The Chen family is tricky. Xie Yan is just a scholar; reasoning with him gets nowhere. A few months ago, I thought you might not make it. Your mother at home doesn’t help much. Now you’ve one less worry at home—you’re not losing out.”
Lu Yang asked, “You planning to bury him on the mountain?”
Li Feng shook his head. “No need. Find a safe house, lock them in for a few days. A few days is enough. Afterwards, whenever they see you brothers, they’ll avoid you. If you want to claim the debt of nurture, you set the terms. He won’t haggle.”
Lu Yang was still concerned, afraid he might lose control.
What if he killed someone by accident…
Li Feng explained more in detail: “You know Da Qiang, right? His hunting area is full of wild beehives. Even the safe house might have bees sneak in. While we’re inside, we can’t take off shoes or socks. Just lock them in there.”
Lu Yang felt more at ease. Outside, with wild bees around, no one dares wander off.
Staying indoors reduces the risk.
As a give-and-take, Lu Yang suggested, “You can have Da Qiang make a fake hive to lure the bees in. When he takes the fake hive, it’s safer than poking the real hives. If it works, that hunting area will be a treasure. Money will flow like water; you won’t even have room to carry it.”
Li Feng couldn’t help but glance at Lu Yang’s money-making mind.
The two were well-matched: one obsessed with books, the other with earning money.
Unlike him and Liu-ge’er, who only thought about hunting chickens.
They were behind; in the future, they’d have to focus more on serious matters.
Once they reached the city gates, Li Feng returned to Lujiatun to pick up Lu Liu and Shun-ge’er.
Lu Yang headed straight to the shop, spending the afternoon there.
At the shop were Zhao Peilan, Lu Lin, and Zhang Tie—all his relatives.
Coincidentally, the Luo brothers were patrolling the street today and took a detour to see him. Lu Yang chatted with them at the door for a long time, showing them the rouge and lip balm his brother had given him.
“I like it, but I haven’t tried it yet. I’ll test it on the scholar tonight—hee hee.”
Luo Dayong said, “Xie Yan never bought this for you?”
Luo Erwu said, “Not a good man.”
Lu Yang: “…Why pick on him? He’s a bookworm. If he remembered this, I’d still have to deal with him.”
Seeing how protective Lu Yang was of the bookworm made the Luo brothers laugh. “You really treasure your bookworm, don’t you? Won’t even let anyone speak?”
Lu Yang said, “Go ahead, say something. Say something good.”
There was plenty to say.
The street patrols had heard news: the county scholars hadn’t passed the exams, and the neighbors were gossiping that their writing was poor. Children had even made little rhymes mocking them. It was irritating.
