The next day, they prepared breakfast and ate.
Lu Ling figured that family members would inevitably come over to visit, asking this and that, so he didn’t want to go to the martial arts hall. He circled around the stove, deliberately dragging out the time.
Seeing him like this, Shu Rui couldn’t help scolding him.
Skipping work was unacceptable no matter how one looked at it. Taking half a day off yesterday afternoon because something came up was one thing, but missing work again today was another. Especially since there were already coworkers at the martial arts hall who didn’t get along with him—people who would love nothing more than to seize on his faults and use them as gossip. That would be foolish.
“An ugly daughter-in-law has to meet her parents-in-law sooner or later,” Shu Rui said. “Besides, we haven’t even told them about us yet. What are you in such a rush for? If they come to take a look, it’s out of concern for you. They have no reason to make things difficult for me, an outsider.”
He continued, “In the future, we may very well live under the same roof. You might manage the first day, or the fifteenth, but can you avoid them every single day? You can’t always stay by my side.”
“Yesterday, seeing your younger brother, he was courteous and well-mannered. Since your parents raised him, they probably won’t be bad people either.”
Shu Rui felt that he often treated Lu Ling like a restless child, yet Lu Ling likewise treated him as a fragile ge’er who could easily be bullied.
Though he spoke sternly and reasoned with him, his heart was, in truth, at ease.
“Don’t worry,” Shu Rui said gently. “I’m not a fool. If something really makes me uncomfortable, I won’t bottle it up. I’ll tell you everything, all right?”
Lu Ling heard Shu Rui say all that and felt he really couldn’t keep stubbornly insisting on staying at the inn instead of going to work.
He only gave a few more instructions, telling Shu Rui that if anything came up, he should have someone pass a message to the martial arts hall to find him.
Shu Rui agreed to everything one by one, and only then did Lu Ling leave.
No sooner had he stepped out than Yang Chunhua poked her head out and asked about what had happened yesterday.
Shu Rui merely smiled and said things were all right for now, that they would just take it one step at a time.
Yang Chunhua finally felt a bit more at ease. “Parents all want what’s best for their children. Marriage is a matter for a lifetime—of course they’ll be cautious. Since there wasn’t a big scene this time, that’s already good. Given enough time, they’ll naturally come to understand your good points.”
“Lu Ling is a good young man. Good things—whether positions, livelihoods, or opportunities—none of them fall into your lap. You have to fight for them, grab them. Good men and good ge’er are the same.
“Anyone who goes around telling people not to compete or strive is full of nonsense. If you listen to that, all you’re doing is making way for the people preaching it.”
Shu Rui laughed. “You really do see things clearly.”
They chatted a bit more. Then Carpenter Tong arrived, pulling a load of lumber. Yang Chunhua stopped talking, patted Shu Rui on the shoulder, said nothing more, and went back into her shop.
Shu Rui also tidied up and went back to making ding-sheng cakes. He wasn’t actually sitting there with his heart entirely focused on waiting for someone from the Lu family to come over.
If Lu Ling, with that mouth of his that couldn’t keep secrets, had really spilled everything about the two of them, Shu Rui might honestly be feeling a bit on edge right now. But since he hadn’t said anything, Shu Rui wasn’t about to act guilty either—he carried on exactly as usual.
The taxes had already been paid, and business couldn’t afford to slack off anymore. Just yesterday, he’d shelled out over two hundred coins. It didn’t sound like much, but altogether he hadn’t earned more than a few strings of cash to begin with.
Merchants privately complained nonstop about the heavy taxes, racking their brains to find a xiucai or juren to lean on, lowering themselves and fawning in every way, all to shave off a bit of tax. In the past, Shu Rui hadn’t thought much of it. Now that he was in the thick of it himself, he finally understood—farmers had their hardships, and merchants had theirs too.
Just as the cakes were about done steaming and the small courtyard was filled with the fragrance of rice, Shu Rui heard a knock at the door.
He craned his neck to look and saw an unfamiliar woman standing outside. She wore fine lake-blue silk, her hair arranged neatly and properly. She looked close to forty, yet traces of her youthful grace still lingered in her features.
The woman seemed a little apologetic. “Are you busy right now?”
Shu Rui more or less guessed who she was, but still asked, “May I ask who you are, madam? Have you come with some business?”
“I’ve just moved in across the way,” she replied. “Yesterday my second son said the cakes made here were excellent. With the prefectural exam coming up, he’s been studying hard at home, so I thought I’d come buy some more.”
When Liu shi leaned forward and saw that it was a ge’er—dark-skinned, but neatly put together and looking rather young—she assumed he was just someone working at the shop.
She asked, “Is your shopkeeper here?”
In truth, she’d wanted to come over and have a look yesterday already. But her second son had advised her not to barge in rashly, asking questions left and right—his elder brother might not appreciate the family meddling like that.
She’d held back for a night. Early this morning, her husband had gone off to the prefectural office to attend to his post. Before leaving, he’d also told her to come by and take a look. She’d asked her second son more detailed questions about this place, and only after the sun had risen a bit higher did she come over, using the excuse of buying cakes.
Hearing her words, Shu Rui knew his suspicions were confirmed. He courteously invited her inside.
He said directly, “You must be Lu Ling’s mother, madam. Yesterday he mentioned that his family had arrived in Chaoxi Prefecture and were staying just across the way. Lu Erlang was also at the inn yesterday, and we happened to meet.”
“So you’re the shopkeeper here?” Liu shi asked, surprised, as she looked Shu Rui over again.
“Are your parents also here, running the business together with you?”
When Liu shi asked about his parents, Shu Rui paused slightly.
If he told a lie now to placate her, and the truth came out later, it would only leave a bad impression no matter how he tried to smooth things over.
These were Lu Ling’s parents, after all—his elders. Shu Rui still held them in great respect.
Since that was the case, he decided to be honest. “My elders have already passed away. All that was left was this old shop. I repaired it and plan to make a living from it.”
Liu shi was a little startled. “You repaired this place all by yourself? Do you have any brothers or sisters to help you?”
Shu Rui shook his head lightly. “It’s the fate of a solitary ge’er. I have no brothers or sisters, no such close kin.”
Liu shi looked at Shu Rui—he didn’t seem to have even reached the age of twenty, younger than her own Ling’er. Yet he’d already lost his parents, and as a lone ge’er, still had to run a business and make a living on his own.
She remembered what her second son had said—that the shop was still under renovation, that the inn hadn’t officially opened yet, and that the shopkeeper was selling drinks and snacks just to make ends meet. It hadn’t even been going on for long, and just yesterday he’d already been harassed by tax officials.
Even for a whole household, renovating an old shop and reopening it wasn’t easy—yet here it was, all handled by a single ge’er.
Liu shi found it both hard to believe and impossible not to feel pity for him. She said, “When I was your age, I was still at home doing needlework, knowing nothing at all. If I’d encountered such misfortune, I don’t know how I’d have survived. Yet at such a young age, you already manage things so capably.”
Seeing how moved Liu shi was, Shu Rui noticed her sympathy and the complete absence of any officious airs. She wasn’t like those people who, having once been poor, looked down on common folk the moment they rose to power.
He found himself developing a bit of goodwill toward her. “Life has to go on. When things are hard long enough, they eventually get better. I’ve also been fortunate—Lu Ling didn’t mind that my inn was rundown. Staying here, he’s helped me quite a lot.”
At the mention of Lu Ling, Liu shi finally pulled herself out of the sadness stirred by Shu Rui’s background.
She gently took Shu Rui’s hand, speaking in a low, almost pleading voice. “My eldest son left home when he was very young. In the blink of an eye, he grew into an adult. We haven’t been close these many years, so it’s only natural that there’s some distance now.
“He’s grown up, and he can’t bring himself to talk to his parents about his own affairs. When we ask, he doesn’t say much. As parents, we just want to know a bit more about our child. That’s why I came to trouble you today—please don’t take offense.”
Seeing Liu shi like this stirred a faint ache in Shu Rui’s heart, reminding him of his own mother.
When she’d been gravely ill, barely able to speak a few words herself, she’d still planned and worried endlessly about his future, instructing him on how to conduct himself and live his life…
He steadied himself and said, “Leaving aside the fact that we’ll be neighbors from now on, madam is always welcome to come by and visit. There’s no such thing as trouble.
“And it’s truly admirable how much you care for Lu Ling—such a mother’s devotion is something I can only envy. If you have questions, I’ll tell you everything I know.”
He poured her a cup of tea and set out a small plate of freshly steamed cakes for her to eat.
“To be honest, madam, Lu Ling’s head ailment was quite serious at first. When it was bad, he couldn’t remember anything at all.
“He heard that there was a Doctor Yu at Dexin Hall who was especially skilled with acupuncture and best at treating this kind of condition. But when Lu Ling rushed over for a consultation, Doctor Yu happened to be away traveling to purchase medicine. His apprentice said it would take two or three months before he returned, so there was nothing to do but wait.”
“While waiting for Doctor Yu to come back, Lu Ling stayed at my place. Because of the head ailment, he couldn’t remember anything and had no way to write home. That’s how he lost contact with his family for a time.”
Hearing this, Liu shi’s eyes immediately reddened. She cried out to the heavens.
“He did say he had a head ailment and was receiving treatment here, but when I asked whether it hurt often, he wouldn’t say. We truly thought too lightly of it—who would have known he’d even lost his memory!”
Shu Rui said, “This condition is indeed rare. Because of it, even though he has martial skills, he didn’t dare seek work elsewhere lightly. So he just stayed with me, selling food together at the docks, academies, and street markets.”
“Lu Ling isn’t very talkative, but he’s an excellent person—cold on the outside, warm at heart, and very hardworking. The neighbors all speak well of him. These past months in Chaoxi Prefecture have been fairly smooth for him.”
“Later, Doctor Yu returned, and Lu Ling went for treatment. Once his condition eased, he immediately wrote home. It was likely because he still needed follow-up visits at the clinic that he didn’t rush back to the countryside. During that time, he went to the courier station several times to check for replies.”
Hearing that her son had been doing all right in Chaoxi Prefecture, that he still thought of home, Liu shi felt heartache mixed with relief.
“Every time there’s a temple fair, I go burn incense and pray, asking the Bodhisattva to keep him safe wherever he is. When he lost his memory, if someone with bad intentions had tricked him, hardship would be the least of it. With his martial skills, if he’d been deceived into doing something illegal and lost his life, what then!
“Thankfully, he met someone like you—a decent, kind person—who gave him a place to stay and looked after him. I truly don’t know how to thank you.”
As she spoke, she couldn’t help but wipe away tears again.
Shu Rui comforted her gently. “Even if Lu Ling had unfortunately been deceived by bad people, his nature is good. I don’t believe he would have done anything that broke the law.
“And now it’s all in the past. Madam, please don’t grieve anymore. If he didn’t tell you these things, it was probably because he didn’t want you to worry.”
“Our family failed him. If, back when he was learning martial arts outside, we’d persuaded him to come home, he wouldn’t have had to endure so much hardship. He was gone for so many years—when he left, he was still a little child. Out there, when he was cold or sick, what did he eat, what did he wear? As his mother, I knew none of it.
“And now, when we meet again, he’s already grown into an adult. Just looking at him makes my heart ache…”
Seeing that Liu shi was having trouble controlling her emotions, Shu Rui frowned slightly, feeling unsettled himself.
After a moment of silence, he gently coaxed her and led her on a short walk around the inn.
“Take a look at those old tables and stools in the hall. They’d all rotted away into a heap from age. I was planning to chop them up for firewood, but Lu Ling patiently took apart the usable boards and legs and reassembled them. A pile of rotten wood, and he really managed to fix up a few decent pieces.”
“There wasn’t money to commission new furniture for the shop, so we made do with these old ones to seat guests who come for drinks and snacks. No one’s ever complained that the tables or chairs are bad.”
Liu shi dabbed her eyes with her handkerchief. “He knows carpentry too?”
“Yes. He can do repairs like that—not just carpentry, he can also…” Shu Rui almost blurted out that Lu Ling could sew as well, but fortunately caught himself in time. “He can also build. Some of the roof tiles were re-laid by him.”
Shu Rui then led Liu shi to see which room Lu Ling stayed in, telling her what kinds of dishes and soups he liked, and pointing out the elm tree on the roof where Lu Ling had loved to daydream when he had lost his memory.
As Liu shi looked around the shop and listened to Shu Rui’s explanations, realizing how peaceful and settled her son’s life in Chaoxi Prefecture had been, her heart gradually calmed. For a while, it felt as though she had been part of her son’s daily life.
She kept looking at Shu Rui and grew more and more impressed. He wasn’t just patient and kind; he was also sensible and capable. No wonder Lu Ling had stayed there so long.
After troubling Shu Rui for the whole morning, seeing that there were now customers coming in to buy food and cakes, Liu shi wisely took her leave.
“If I stay out too long and don’t return, I might have to come looking for you,” she said.
She went back through the back door. Lu Yutian, not yet fully awake, had risen to study, and when he came to himself amidst his books, he found the house empty. At first, he thought she might have gone over to the inn across the way, as she had mentioned before.
Just as he was about to go look for her, he saw her return. Not only had she come back, but her face glowed with a rosy light, and she seemed in good spirits.
“Mother, did you ask about my brother?” he asked.
“Of course I did,” she replied. “The young man across the way is such a fine person. I told him so much about your eldest brother—it’s probably more than all the letters your brother has sent home over the years.”
Liu shi went on cheerfully, telling Lu Yutian a whole string of things: how his brother now served as an assistant instructor at Master Zhang’s martial hall on Qiugui Street, how many days of rest he had per month, what his wages were…
But suddenly, her voice faltered.
Lu Yutian, listening attentively, noticed her silence and asked, “What is it?”
“It’s not right…” Liu shi slowly recovered from her joy. “How does he know everything about your brother so clearly? Ah! I was so caught up in being happy that I didn’t think carefully—your brother’s room is right next to that young man Shao’s room!”
Lu Yutian asked, “Mother, what do you mean?”
“She praised your brother endlessly, saying he’s diligent, cold in appearance but warm at heart, and generally excellent. Hearing him praised made me happy. But now that I think about it… perhaps he has taken a liking to your brother!”
Lu Yutian’s eyes widened slightly, then he regained his composure. “My brother is handsome and skilled in martial arts. It’s natural for someone to take a liking to him.
“Yesterday, when I first met that shopkeeper, he had just been harassed by the tax officers. Yet this young man faced them alone, unflinching and calm. Privately, he was kind, spoke properly, and seemed educated. When Mother went to see him, she also praised him highly.”
“Such a young man, if he truly likes my brother, isn’t that a good thing?”
Hearing her son speak, Liu shi thought he made a reasonable point.
But…
“The young man himself is fine, but… but he’s so… handsome…”
“Mother, people shouldn’t be judged by appearances alone. If he were stunningly beautiful but mean-spirited and scheming, would you be happy that he liked my brother?”
“True… but you and your father were fortunate to have both had good eyes, so today we see such a fine young man. You don’t know what hardships he endured. Oh well, oh well, I’m just worrying unnecessarily. From the look of him now, he seems good. But a person’s true nature isn’t revealed in a few days—it takes time to know for sure. Even if he really likes my brother, my eldest son may not have the same feelings.
“Besides, your father, now a magistrate with a juren title, had already secretly discussed with your brother before the half-year mark when he said he wanted to return home. He might have disliked certain merchants, thought some people crude, and there were countless matters to consider…”
Lu Yutian cleared his throat. Yesterday, he had already sensed that his brother’s relationship with that shopkeeper was unusual, but he hadn’t dwelled on it. Now, hearing his mother’s words, he understood—if there were indeed feelings involved, it wasn’t one-sided.
Seeing how anxious his brother had been yesterday, refusing to listen to anyone but that young man, Lu Yutian realized it might well be that his brother’s feelings were deeper.
He knew this situation could cause a stir, but he didn’t speak further. He decided to wait until after the prefectural exam to think it over carefully.
“Mother, don’t overthink it, and don’t tell Father anything yet. He just started his new post, and there are many matters that need attention. I also have my exams. It’s not easy for my brother to be reunited with us. It’s best to keep things calm for now.”
Liu shi replied, “Understood. You go study. I’ll go out and buy a few small dishes to make a soup for you, and I’ll also bring some to your brother.”
“Bring it to my brother?” Lu Yutian asked.
“Shao said at noon he would go to the martial hall to sell meals. Previously, he’d brought food to your brother on the way. Today, I can go along and bring him some as well.”
Saying this, Liu shi laughed, thinking how thoughtful Shao had been. She had just arrived in Chaoxi Prefecture and didn’t know anyone; she might have been bored at home and worried about Lu Ling. She asked if she should go with her to the martial hall.
It’s often said that sons and daughters are closest to their parents, but she had no such luck—she had only these two boys. One had run off from home since childhood, making her worry endlessly; the other was entirely absorbed in studying, almost like he wasn’t there. Who could understand her worries? She wished she had a son like Shao.
Lu Yutian watched his mother, cheerful and radiant, completely different from the frustrated, unhappy demeanor she had shown in the past couple of days since arriving in Chaoxi Prefecture. Her words were clear-headed, and he realized he was secretly pleased as well.