Lu Yang shook his head. “No, they’re going to the prefecture city as well.”
Lu Lin paused, puzzled, then hesitated before asking, “What about Second Uncle and his family?”
Lu Yang lowered his gaze. After a moment, he said, “I’ve made some arrangements. I still need to discuss with my brother, and also see if the elders are willing.”
Lu Lin said, “It’s just the two of them at home. It’s quiet, lonely. Whatever you plan, they won’t disagree.”
As far as he knew, Second Uncle and his wife felt they owed something; anything Lu Yang arranged, they never objected to.
Lu Yang smiled. “They’re getting older and stubborn. We’ll have to persuade them gently.”
Lu Lin suggested, “I can ask my father to help convince them—they see each other often and can talk things through.”
Lu Yang agreed.
With nothing more to do at the shop, he noticed the evening approaching. He took some vegetables from the shop and headed home.
At home, it was just the two of them and the dog. A simple meal of two dishes and a soup was prepared, eaten in the kitchen while mother and son talked, mainly about relocating the ancestral tomb.
Zhao Peilan had already begun considering the matter once she learned the tomb had to be moved.
The tomb relocation was inevitable, but where to move it—and whether it would need moving again in the future—remained a concern.
As the year drew to a close, Lu Yang had become busy, and she had reached clarity.
She said to Lu Yang, “We’ll just relocate it this year and won’t trouble ourselves again. I’ve been thinking a lot recently and remembered what Father Yan said: changing one’s family foundation isn’t just a simple phrase—it takes generations to build. He wanted to gather some family assets, buy farmland as ancestral holdings, and purchase shops as clan property, so that family members who fail elsewhere can still return home to food and shelter. Any child with scholarly talent shouldn’t worry about money—the family can support them. He wanted to return to his roots and felt life in the county would be calmer. So we’ll establish roots here in Sanshui County.”
Now that they had no wider clan, this branch was relocating independently, establishing its own household.
Lu Yang listened, nodding repeatedly. Great families aren’t built in a day; they would slowly accumulate assets, using Sanshui County as their foundation.
The ancestral tomb’s location needed a feng shui master’s guidance.
Since the tomb temporarily held only Xie Yan’s father, Zhao Peilan decided to accompany him.
In mid-to-late October, mother and son were busy handling the matter.
They purchased good farmland near an appropriate area for the ancestral tomb, not far from Lu Jia Tun or the stronghold.
The plot was large, and traveling by carriage took five to six days before they finally selected a suitable site. They then had the pawnbroker confirm whether the land could be sold, pay for it, and exchange the deed.
The 25-acre plot lay between Lu Jia Tun and Shangxi Village, about a li from Lu Jia Tun.
Lu Yang thought it was a decent location. Zhao Peilan hesitated: “It’s too close to Shangxi Village…”
She worried about clan members desecrating the tomb.
Lu Yang reassured her: “I chose a location near Lu Jia Tun or the stronghold to prevent exactly that. Closer to Lu Jia Tun is best. I have some influence among the Lu clan. This year, I’ve grown close with them—they’ll help me.
“Once the land is purchased, I’ll build a mill, which will benefit the clan. The wheat bran can feed livestock and make fertilizer; flour can be eaten or sold. Their wheat can also be processed.
“We’ll keep breeding pigs and eventually raise more chickens. They can earn money through me, which will ensure my affairs are managed well. I ask for nothing—just that the tomb is tended. The Xie family is a small branch in Shangxi Village, fewer households than the Lu or Li clans. Our connections with Li Village are strong—they wouldn’t dare cause trouble.”
Zhao Peilan considered it. As long as it remained in Sanshui County, any troublemakers could be handled, and being closer to relatives was advantageous.
She then asked about tenant households. Lu Yang wanted to select two.
Tenant households shouldn’t be relatives—it’s a messy matter.
Since they wouldn’t be home long-term, farmland, the mill, and shops needed to remain under their control. A tenant with a deed is easier to manage than a relative. No matter how the land is farmed, control would remain firm.
The pawnbroker recommended tenants. Lu Yang met them, then asked Brother Luo to check their backgrounds and reputation with previous masters, after which the decision was nearly final.
Lu Yang had matters to discuss with Zhao Peilan, and it was dinner time, so he waited until after the meal.
“Mother, once we purchase the land, I want to invite my father to be a small overseer. He’ll check if tenants farm diligently, manage plots for chickens and pigs, tidy up Father-in-law’s tomb during festivals, and burn paper offerings. Once the mill is operating, they can help with the donkeys…”
Zhao Peilan stopped him mid-sentence, eyes wide.
She was gentle, indecisive, and this was the first time she interrupted Lu Yang.
“How can that work? You can’t have your in-laws doing all this. It’s inappropriate. Ar-Yan wouldn’t agree either.”
Lu Yang sat beside her, explaining patiently: “Mother, you know I grew up in the Chen household. They never expected me to pay respects. But could I really be unfilial? If I give them money, they won’t take it. If I find them small tasks, like tending chickens and pigs, they’ll be occupied but not overworked. They’ve labored all their lives—I want them to rest.
“Think of it as helping—they’ll tend the land, care for the livestock, and the mill will eventually have staff. I’ll also train some relatives. Calling it ‘management’—they’re honest people; they can’t handle much anyway. Just let them age peacefully.
“This is a family enterprise you haven’t enjoyed yet. Bringing my father here myself isn’t right. I’m just consulting with you. You know them—they’re sincere. We’ll overlook other matters. The tomb cannot be mishandled. My father is trustworthy—you understand?”
Zhao Peilan couldn’t argue, so she remained silent. She would wait for Xie Yan to return for the final decision.
Lu Yang continued: “We have few family members. In the early stages, we have no household to rely on, leaving room for outsiders to take advantage. Operate for two generations, expand, and the family will flourish.”
Zhao Peilan remarked, “You’re not an outsider yourself.” Then added, “With so few family, having two more isn’t much. Why not invite your father to live here?”
Lu Yang, warmed by her concern, shook his head with a smile: “They won’t come, and I won’t bring them. Filial respect is in the heart. Seeing them daily is another matter.”
He gave her prior notice and would discuss details with his brother at the stronghold.
In October, Lu Yang also inspected shops and workshops. Shops with warehouses were few; if unavailable, they would check separately.
Shops needed street frontage, ideally with backyards for residence. Workshops should be larger, with space for storage and living quarters.
The workshop could serve as a distribution point; courtyards could be renovated for a small drying area. When stock accumulated, it could be sun-dried periodically.
Brother Luo Da-Yong accompanied him, and Lu Yang gave him detailed instructions.
With farmland, a mill, and livestock, vegetables, flour, and eggs would always be available. This would lower costs for buns and steamed bread, increasing profits.
With more pigs, the farm could process pork. Bun costs would drop further. Surplus would increase from 50–60 taels to over 70.
One shop couldn’t hold so much stock. Since his brother wouldn’t run a shop in the county, Lu Yang planned to select a shop farther away to avoid competing, with potential for vegetable sales. Selling vegetables promised great returns.
To sell vegetables, Lu Yang needed to confirm whether his two brothers would join him.
“If you follow me, I’ll choose a shop in the East City district, so we won’t compete. If not, I’ll look south. Eventually, all three of us can sell vegetables.”
Luo Da-Yong said, “Let’s look south first. We intend to go, but not immediately.”
Lu Yang understood. “Next year, I’ll have Ar-Yan invite you. Once he passes the county exam, it’ll be easier to request assistance from officials.”
Luo Da-Yong laughed: “You’re as stubborn as when you were a child. You never listen to advice.”
Lu Yang was just like that: if he wanted something, he would obtain it.
“I’m much better than before—less sharp and hasty than I used to be.”
