Shu Rui went out to buy a slab of lamb and also picked up a few crabs that had just been hauled onto the dock and brought into the market.
That evening, he prepared a dish of grilled lamb and marinated the washed crabs. He cooked a little extra—not only to serve Lu Ling at home, but also because he had received his monthly pay today. Bringing home a couple of good dishes for the family was hardly unusual.
But Lu Ling would not have it that way. He ate an early meal at the shop with Shu Rui, only half-full, then packed up the dishes Shu Rui had set aside in a food container to take home, where he ate again.
Lu Ling’s father returned late that day. Since Lu Ling had only recently taken up his post, he had been working diligently, putting in extra hours to familiarize himself with his duties.
A few days earlier, Lu Ling had told him to keep an eye on a certain Wei Zuan Dian. When he first started at the office, he had found this man polite and mild-mannered, not at all like some petty clerks who were rude and sharp-tongued.
Lu Ling rarely spoke at length, but he had singled this person out. Though he didn’t explain why he should watch him, he had taken the advice seriously and kept a careful eye on the man.
As it turned out, some of the documents delivered a few days ago contained errors. Fortunately, Lu Ling’s caution and careful verification caught the mistakes in time, and he corrected them. Had he acted on the flawed documents, he might have already faced reprimand from his superiors in just a few days on the job.
He remained silent, not showing anger, and quietly questioned a clerk. After a few questions, he traced the problem back to Wei Zuan Dian. Fortunately, the man was obedient and respectful in Lu Ling’s presence; without Lu Ling’s earlier warning, he might have fallen into the trap.
Though Lu Ling had avoided a serious problem, it had cost him considerable effort. By the time he returned home, he was famished. He changed out of his official uniform, washed up, and called for dinner.
“This lamb is so tender, roasted to perfection—it can’t be your mother’s cooking!”
At the table, Lu Ling’s father noticed two additional raw vegetables and reached for them again.
“You flatter the cook. Praise the meat and not me.”
Lady Liu chided lightly, but placed a piece of lamb into Lu Ling’s father’s bowl.
“It was bought by the eldest son outside today. He just got his wages.”
Hearing this, Lu Ling’s father smiled. He wanted to say that although it cost a little extra, the cook’s skills were indeed far superior to what they could manage at home—worth tasting. But, having developed the habit in the office of thinking before speaking, he decided against it and simply uttered a general word of praise.
Everyone at the table felt pleased by his words, their spirits lifted, and even Lu Yu, who had barely eaten these days while preparing for exams, ate more than usual.
Lu Ling also showed a noticeably brighter expression.
After the meal, as night fell and darkness settled outside, Lu Ling told his father and Lady Liu he was going to sleep and returned to his room.
Inside, he found a tray on the counter neatly stacked with a set of newly made clothes. The fabric was silk, with fine stitching and pine-and-flower patterns—clearly his mother’s handiwork.
Originally, he had planned to return and sneak back later, washing up afterward. But today he decided to change that: he would bathe first and wear the new clothes to show Shu Rui.
A well-made garment, skillfully tailored, enhanced his posture and appearance. Lu Ling didn’t need a mirror; a glance at his reflection in the water bucket made him satisfied.
He hadn’t worn clothes stitched by his mother in years. She had strained her eyes in earlier times, and when he left home, his own eyes were no longer strong; in windy weather, he would tear up.
When his father passed the exams, Lu Ling often sent money home as a supplement, and his mother had stopped sewing for income. Now, after many days of effort, she had strained her eyes once more to take up the needle.
A complex mix of emotions stirred in Lu Ling’s heart. He quietly opened the door, wanting to share this feeling with Shu Rui.
As he moved in the shadows, ready to climb the wall, he noticed a figure in the corridor slightly hunched, one hand pressed against the door, walking with difficulty.
The rooms of the Lu Ling and Lu Yu brothers were closest to each other, in one courtyard; Lu Ling’s father and Lady Liu’s room was in another courtyard.
This small courtyard contained only the two brothers’ rooms, so the figure must be Lu Yu.
“What’s wrong?” Lu Ling stepped quickly forward, taking Lu Yu’s hand. The person, who had been fine at dinner, now had cold sweat on his forehead and a pale face.
Seeing this, Lu Ling furrowed his brow. “I’ll get a doctor!”
Lu Yu clutched Lu Ling tightly. “I’m fine. My stomach just feels upset. Don’t alarm Father and Mother. Their eyes aren’t good, and if they see me like this, it’ll make things worse. Father’s been busy with office work and already exhausted. This is just an old ailment—some warm water and rest will fix it.”
Though Lu Ling saw how weak he was, he respected his wishes but felt both anger and worry. In the end, he complied: without alarming anyone else, he hoisted Lu Yu onto his back and carried him to the clinic—avoiding the trouble of waiting and having him suffer.
At sixteen, Lu Yu was surprisingly light for a boy; Lu Ling thought he was only slightly heavier than Shu Rui.
It had been over ten years since he last saw this boy; he looked slender, and though scholars were often frail, Lu Yu’s pallor was striking.
During dinner, Lu Ling noticed Lu Yu ate little, always claiming the heat made him lose appetite, but in truth, he was preoccupied with exams.
Lu Yu rested against Lu Ling’s shoulder, feeling as though he was a child again. When visiting relatives in the New Year, transport was expensive, and they had to walk. If he got tired, Lu Ling had always carried him home without complaint, no matter how far.
“My stomach’s upset from overeating the grilled lamb at night,” Lu Yu said weakly. “I usually eat little, so it caught me off guard.”
“Nonsense,” Lu Ling replied. “It has nothing to do with the lamb.”
Lu Yu paused, then realized. “Was it… Madam?”
Hearing this, Lu Ling glanced at the boy on his shoulder and scolded gently, “You’re delirious, saying nonsense.”
Though his words were stern, his heart was secretly delighted, barely able to suppress a smile.
“Father and Mother may be unaware, but how can they hide it from me?” Lu Yu said. Seeing Lu Ling’s softened eyes but refusal to admit it, he continued, “Every night you climb over the wall and don’t return before dawn. Don’t think I haven’t noticed.”
Lu Ling’s brow twitched.
“As long as you like her, I accept her as Madam. It doesn’t matter who she is.”
Lu Ling felt warmth in his chest.
Lu Yu’s stomach hurt, yet he smiled. “She’s not much older than me. If you say I don’t understand, then she understands?”
Lu Ling thought: this boy was clever, like Shu Rui—he seemed to know everything without being told.
“Don’t tell Father and Mother.”
“I know. If I blabbed, they’d know already.”
The evening air was cool and the streets quiet. Lu Yu added, “Mother likes her anyway. She just said you two have a brotherly bond, and seemed a bit regretful. I wonder how you two explained it to her to keep it secret.”
Lu Ling saw that Lu Yu understood and had good judgment, so he didn’t argue further. “I didn’t intend to hide it. She just didn’t want to rush.”
“She’s sensible. Mother said her parents are gone, and now she’s left to support herself. Father’s temper can be stubborn. She’s worried. So she wants time, to build feelings gradually. When she does, it’ll be easier for the family to accept her.”
Lu Ling thought: both of them were thoughtful.
“The situation is a little more complicated than that.”
Lu Yu’s brow moved. “There’s more to it?”
Lu Ling considered for a moment. The family would eventually know. Since Lu Yu was on his side, it might be helpful to explain the truth.
He said, “The position Father once held in the county went to the Bai family. Do you know about it?”
“I asked about it for Father. I know a bit.”
Lu Ling continued, “It was supposed to go to Bai Dalang, whose family had donated money for official posts and wealthy merchants’ sons.”
Lu Yu, smart as he was, needed a moment to process this. He was stunned. How could there be so many coincidences in the world?
“…That is indeed surprising.”
Lu Yu didn’t dare imagine what would happen if their father found out. In anger, he would need his elder brother to handle it. As a child, Lu Ling could already make their scholarly father chase him in a fury; now, years later, his skills hadn’t diminished.
“Even if it’s so complicated, you endure it willingly. It shows your rare sincerity. Though things are hard, don’t give up easily. Madam has lost her family and support; now, you’re all she can rely on.”
Seeing Lu Yu say this, Lu Ling was comforted—at least his younger brother hadn’t been dulled by his studies.
“I would never betray him.” He still feared that Lu Yu might blurt out and insist on giving up.
Lu Yu thought to himself that, since things had come to this point, urging someone to abandon their efforts would accomplish nothing. The right course was to find a way to resolve this difficult matter.
“All I can do for you now, Elder Brother, is to give my all in the upcoming exam,” he said. “If I pass in one go, Father will surely be pleased. When he’s in a good mood, you might bring up Madam again—it might make it easier for him to accept her.”
“Your body is already in such a state. Don’t pile more pressure on yourself. Passing would be good, but if not, what then? You’ve taken Father’s high expectations to heart so much that you neglect your own health for the sake of studying.”
Lu Ling didn’t entirely agree with Lu Yu’s way of thinking. “He has already passed the provincial exam. No matter how life is at home now, you should live as comfortably as you can.”
Lu Yu’s nostrils tingled with emotion. Over the years, he had devoted himself wholeheartedly to his studies, unsure whether it was out of love for learning or to meet his father’s expectations.
When Elder Brother was still home, perhaps he studied because Father wished it. Later, when Elder Brother left and took on the family’s livelihood, he no longer studied solely for Father’s sake. He also wanted to excel in his studies on his own, hoping that Elder Brother might return and no longer wander in a distant place.
The two brothers spoke openly along the way, a rare instance of heartfelt conversation after many years, stopping only upon reaching the clinic.
De Xin Clinic was still open. Doctor Yu looked at Lu Ling and immediately recognized him, about to ask why he had not returned for a follow-up. But he then noticed the young boy on his back, pale and weak, and ushered them into the inner room.
After taking his pulse and examining him, it was confirmed that Lu Yu’s gastrointestinal issue was indeed acute, though he knew it stemmed from overeating earlier in the evening.
Doctor Yu first gave Lu Yu some pills, which worked quickly. Within a moment, the pain eased, though the boy remained weak, unable to lift his hands or feet. The doctor warned that this wasn’t a new condition; it was an old ailment. Without proper care and nourishment, it could turn into a serious illness.
In these times, many had lost their lives from this condition. Those who ignored recurring pain until it became unbearable often found that even the best physicians could do little.
Hearing this, Lu Ling frowned more deeply as he looked at the boy lying on the couch.
Carrying him home, he had intended to scold him, but wasn’t sure what to say. If Shu Rui were here, he would have explained it better.
——
At the shop, Shu Rui had finished washing up and left a lamp in the courtyard so that Lu Ling could see his way back. His mind was still on the shop, debating whether to save money or borrow it. After stewing all afternoon, he decided he wanted the inn to open this year.
Thinking long-term, he resolved to use Lu Ling’s savings. He considered it carefully: Lu Ling’s 580 guan were kept in the financial office, which safeguarded guests’ deposits. Though it did not charge management fees, it also earned no interest.
In other words, the money was “dead money,” producing nothing. It was safe, but did not serve any business purpose.
If so, Shu Rui could temporarily use it. Since Lu Ling wouldn’t expect interest, and their accounts weren’t yet fully combined, Shu Rui wouldn’t be taking advantage of him.
The money would be treated as Shu Rui’s investment in the inn. When it turned a profit, he would share the earnings with Lu Ling.
Shu Rui calculated carefully. Though the Lu family had prestige and Lu Ling’s father an official position, they weren’t wealthy. Lu Ling had mentioned that back home, there were only a few mud houses, about thirty acres of land, and a small city dwelling purchased with the stipend after passing the provincial exam and remittances Lu Ling sent home.
From passing the provincial exam to the imperial exam was only three years. Lu Ling’s father lived frugally and did not accept bribes. Counting only the stipend and land income, the family had little savings.
Food and clothing were no longer lacking, but after passing the exam and moving to the capital to serve as an official, he had spent nearly a hundred guan on expenses, leaving little saved. If not for this, how would a provincial graduate also take on a workshop clerk position while the family had barely any servants?
A government post requires a clean hand. Otherwise, officials might easily exploit wealth. But an upright, poor family, with little property, is more likely to be ruined by greed.
For Lu Ling’s father to hold his post steadily, the family must have someone capable of managing money. But the family had few people to rely on. Only the sons could be counted on. Lu Yu, with prospects in the civil path, would pursue the imperial exams. Only Lu Ling, trained in martial skills, could take on the responsibility of earning for the family.
That had been the way things went, bringing the Lu family to where they were now. It showed that, with careful management, the family had a promising future.
But Lu Ling’s accident disrupted the balance. Now, though healthy, he only worked as an apprentice at the martial hall—a decent wage for an ordinary family, but insufficient for the Lus.
Shu Rui’s solution was to bring the “dead money” to life, restoring balance and even providing better support.
Still, he had no guarantee. Business carried risk, and he couldn’t promise that using Lu Ling’s money would yield profit.
Shu Rui lay on the couch, thinking: if the money failed to return, how would he repay him? He considered mortgaging himself to cover it, and laughed at the thought, knowing he wasn’t worth that much.
He could sell the shop if necessary; the inn, once renovated, in a reasonably good street, could still be worth three or four hundred guan. Worst-case scenario, that would cover it. Thinking this, Shu Rui felt at ease.
He wanted to share his plan with Lu Ling. Sitting up from the couch, he saw the courtyard lantern still lit; the moon was already nearing the top of the willow trees. Lu Ling had not yet arrived.
He opened the door toward the back, wondering if Lu Ling would skip coming tonight. It didn’t make sense; when he had left the food, he had said he would leave warm water for Shu Rui to wash up.
Or perhaps he had been caught climbing over the wall and was being scolded?
Shu Rui’s mind could not settle. With the shop matters just organized, he had no time to rest and now worried about Lu Ling.