Chapter 123

Chapter 123

The next morning, the sun shone brightly.

The adults had all gotten up early, but the children were still sleeping in.

Today, everyone had changed into simple and elegant clothes, preparing to go to the mountain to pay their respects to the old patriarch.

In this era, burning paper money wasn't a common practice. After all, paper was a rare commodity, and there wasn't enough for the living, let alone for the dead. They only brought incense sticks, candles, some pastries, and a braised chicken.

"Stone, wake up. It's time to go see Grandpa," Hu Chunrong patted her son, and Stone immediately sat up, rubbing his eyes.

Next to them, Little Peach also got up. "Mom, who is Grandpa?"

"He is your father's father."

"Where is Grandpa?"

"He's on the mountain... you'll see him in a little while."

Little Dandan and Little Yinzi were also woken up. Not a single one of the grandchildren was left behind today; they all went together to the mountain to kowtow to the patriarch.

Once they were ready, everyone carried their things and headed towards the mountain. Since the mountain road was difficult to traverse, they didn't take a carriage.

Along the way, they encountered many villagers working. Everyone put down their tools and watched this group of people, feeling a sense of admiration in their hearts. "Lu Guangsheng didn't live in vain. His descendants are all capable and thriving."

The higher they climbed, the harder it became. The path was filled with bushes, and thorns grew within, scratching anyone who wasn't careful, causing pain and itchiness. There were also insects and snakes, making it quite dangerous.

Zhao Beichuan and Ge Changbao wore leather boots and led the way with sickles, while Lu Lin and Wang Youtian sprinkled snake-repelling powder on both sides. The women, husbands, and children followed behind. After half an hour, they finally reached the Lu family's ancestral graveyard.

It was evident that the second uncle's family had taken good care of the graves over the years, adding soil annually. Otherwise, the earthen graves on the hillside would have been washed away by a few rainstorms.

Lu Lin first cut the grass on his father's and elder brother's graves. He also tidied up the graves of his grandfather, grandmother, and ancestors nearby.

Then, they began to shovel soil onto the graves. Once all the graves were filled, they placed the offerings and lit the incense sticks and candles. Everyone knelt and kowtowed.

Standing to the side, Lu's mother looked at the graves of her husband and eldest son and said, "Rest easy. The children are all doing well, and so am I. I only wish for our family to be safe and sound."

After the incense burned down, everyone stood up. Unlike the previous visits, this time there was less sadness and more reminiscence.

Looking at the mound of yellow earth, Lu Yao could vaguely see the old man's smiling face in front of him, asking how his business was going and if his life was smooth. He reminded him to let go of his worries, take care of his health, and not overwork himself.

With blurred vision, Lu Yao silently said to him in his heart, "Dad, I'm doing well. You don't need to worry about me anymore."

When they descended the mountain, Grandma Lu, with her poor legs, was carried by Zhao Beichuan.

The sons-in-law all had strong physiques, especially Da Chuan, whose great strength made carrying the petite old lady effortless.

By the time they returned home, it was almost noon, and they began preparing for the meal.

*

The next day, Zhao Beichuan wanted to return to Wan'gou Village to fill his parents' graves and visit Grandma Zhao. He had always wanted to return to his hometown in Qing Prefecture to relocate his parents' graves there.

The last time he returned, he had to give up relocating the graves due to Zhao Guang's corvée labor. This time, with Ge Changbao around, he didn't need to worry about anything and could bring people along.

At the large elm tree at the village entrance, many people sat cooling off. With the recent end of spring plowing, there wasn't much farm work, so everyone liked to come out and chat idly.

Seeing the large carriage from afar, people stood up and looked over.

"Whose guests have arrived, arriving in such a grand carriage..."

Tian Er's wife muttered, "Could it be Da Chuan and the others returning?"

"Is it them from so far away?"

Soon, the carriage drew near, and to everyone's surprise, it was indeed Zhao Beichuan driving!

Excitedly, the crowd gathered around. "Da Chuan, you're back! Are Lu Yao and the children back too?"

Lu Yao opened the carriage door and said, "We're back."

"Oh my!" The villagers scrutinized the three people in the carriage. Lu Yao wore a dark blue silk robe with bamboo leaves embroidered on the cuffs and hem, making him appear as upright and handsome as a bamboo tree.

Xiaonian wore a brown-yellow ruqun, which made her face look even more lovely. The person next to her, Xiaochun, was unfamiliar to some, and they mistook him for Xiaodou.

"Second Sister-in-law," Xiaonian called out in a clear voice.

Tian Er's wife then realized, "Xiaonian has grown into a big girl! She's become even more beautiful!"

The Qin family's husband asked, "How come you had time to return?"

"Grandma was feeling nostalgic. After so many years away, she wanted to come back for a visit."

Everyone chimed in with questions about Prefecture City, and Lu Yao smiled and answered them one by one. After chatting for a while, they had to go and fill the graves on the mountain, so they didn't delay further.

Lu Yao took down several boxes of pastries and candies from the carriage and distributed them to the crowd. "It's a long journey, and we didn't bring much back. These are local specialties from Prefecture City. Please try them."

The group of women and husbands didn't hesitate, grabbing a few handfuls and tucking them into their clothes to save for their children at home.

Coincidentally, Tian Er's wife was also heading in the same direction, so Lu Yao invited her to join them in the carriage.

It was her first time sitting in such a grand carriage, and she nervously shrank her hands and feet, looking around. "This is magnificent. A carriage this big must have cost a lot of silver!"

"It's alright. It's used to transport guests to and from the restaurant."

There were inevitably rainy days, and sometimes guests couldn't catch a carriage when they arrived. Lu Yao would have the driver send the guests back.

"It's wonderful. Lu Yao, how have you both become so capable? It's been just a few years, and you both seem like different people. Especially Xiaonian, I almost didn't recognize her!"

Xiaonian smiled and said, "Second Sister-in-law, do you think I've changed a lot?"

"You still look the same, as if you were carved from the same mold as your parents. But the aura around you now is like that of a noble lady!" Back in the day, Tian Er's wife had considered asking her son to marry Zhao Xiaonian, but now, seeing her own foolish son, she realized he was nowhere near a match for her.

Lu Yao and Xiaonian couldn't help but laugh.

"Did Xiaodou not come back with you?"

"No, he stayed in Prefecture City to prepare for the autumn exams. If he passes, he'll become a Juren."

Tian Er's wife widened her eyes, "That means he'll be an official! Oh my, how impressive! I knew he had promise since he was a child!"

After a short while, the carriage stopped at Tian's door. Tian Er's wife got off the carriage, "I'll go home and start a fire to cook. Don't leave! You must stay for lunch at noon!"

Lu Yao, unable to refuse, could only nod in agreement.

Zhao Beichuan drove the carriage further up the mountain. The graves of Zhao's parents were at the old plot of land, so the road was not difficult to navigate, and they soon reached the top.

It took some time to find the graves. After years of neglect, the graves were almost washed flat by the rain.

Once found, Zhao Beichuan and Xiaochun quickly began to tidy up, while Lu Yao and Xiaonian, unable to help, crouched nearby pulling weeds.

It took more than an hour to pile the graves back up, place stone doors, and then the four knelt to kowtow, burning incense before heading back down the mountain.

Returning to the village, Lu Yao realized that the site of his old home had been rebuilt by someone else, with new fences and a new gate, no longer resembling its former self.

Xiaonian looked somewhat downcast, but Lu Yao patted her back, "Don't think too much. Our household registrations have already been moved. This place doesn't belong to us anymore."

Across the way, Old Madam Zhao's house remained unchanged, still a low straw hut with the door closed. Zhao Beichuan walked up and was able to open the door from the outside.

"Old Madam Zhao, are you home?"

Hearing the voice from inside, the low, hoarse voice asked, "Who is it?"

"It's me, Da Chuan."

Hearing this, the old lady quickly got up, opened the door, and saw the tall figure of the man standing there.

Old Madam Zhao grabbed his arm and looked him up and down, her cloudy eyes glistening with tears, "Da Chuan, Da Chuan is back!"

Zhao Beichuan was startled by how much Old Madam Zhao had aged. Her once gray hair was now completely white, her face full of wrinkles, and she had grown thin, her body frail.

"Where's Uncle Zhao?"

Old Madam Zhao choked up, taking a long time to reply, "He's dead."

"Dead? How did he die?"

"Last winter, the village had a wedding, and he went to help. On the way back, he fell into a ditch and froze to death after drinking."

Lu Yao and Xiaonian, standing behind, couldn't help but sigh. A good man gone just like that.

Now, only Old Madam Zhao was left alone, malnourished and aged beyond her years, looking seventy or eighty though she was only in her fifties.

"Come in quickly," Old Madam Zhao, bent over, led Zhao Beichuan inside.

Lu Yao, Xiaonian, and Xiaochun followed. As soon as they entered, they were hit by the strong smell of rancid food. The house was dark and damp, part of the roof having caved in from leaks. Unable to repair it, Old Madam Zhao had propped a wooden board and stick underneath to barely cover the hole.

Seeing the conditions, Zhao Beichuan felt a pang of sadness, regretting not bringing her with him last time.

Old Madam Zhao bent down and rummaged through a chest for a long time before pulling out a piece of brown sugar, still covered in straw and hair, intending to make them sugary water.

Lu Yao quickly stopped her, "Don't bother. We'll be leaving soon."

"Then I'll boil some eggs for you."

"No need, no need. We've already eaten."

Only then did Old Madam Zhao stop her efforts and sat on the edge of the kang, holding Xiaonian's hand, "Xiaonian has grown so much. Have you found a match yet?"

"Yes, it's settled. The wedding will be next year or the year after."

"Wonderful. And Xiaodou?"

"He stayed in Prefecture City to study. He didn't come back with us this time," Lu Yao didn't mention the imperial exams; even if he had, the old lady wouldn't understand.

"This is Xiaochun, right?" The old lady's memory was quite good, remembering him from the one time he had visited.

"You still remember me."

After chatting for a while, Lu Yao suddenly said, "Old Madam Zhao, why don't you come back to Prefecture City with us?"

Old Madam Zhao was taken aback, "Why would I go to Prefecture City? I'm an old woman, my legs don't work well anymore. I'll just be a bother."

Zhao Beichuan took her hand, "I'm thinking of going back to Qing Prefecture, but I don't know the way. Do you still remember the path back to our hometown?"

Old Madam Zhao's eyes filled with tears at these words, "Back to Qing Prefecture? When? I know the way, even in my dreams I know that path!"

She had thought about it her whole life, dreamt about it her whole life, never expecting there to be a chance to return. The thought made her weep with excitement.

Zhao Beichuan's eyes also welled up, "I remember when Father died, he kept muttering the name of our hometown. I want to go back and see if I can find any relatives and move my parents' graves back there."

"Good, good child. When the time comes, please help move your uncle's grave back as well."

Zhao Beichuan nodded, "Of course."

Old Madam Zhao then brought up the five taels of silver Zhao Beichuan had left her.

"That money, I kept in the chest and never spent it, but somehow it disappeared..." The old lady had been so upset she fell ill for half a month.

"It was just gone, I don't know which thief took it, that rotten scoundrel!"

Lu Yao choked back his emotions, thinking to himself that outsiders wouldn't know she hid silver at home. It was quite possible that Zhao Guang had secretly taken it to buy alcohol at the time.

After a short while, Tian Er's wife came over to call them for dinner. Zhao Beichuan said, "We'll be leaving in about ten more days. Please prepare in advance, and I'll come to fetch you when we leave."

"Ah, alright, alright!" Old Madam Zhao said happily, tears beginning to fall again.

Tian Er's wife watched from the side, her heart filled with envy. It was fortunate for Old Madam Zhao that she had no children of her own, yet she was still being taken to Prefecture City for her old age by Da Chuan.

Lu Yao didn't go to the Tian family empty-handed. He took two pieces of fine cloth and a box of pastries from the cart to give to her.

"This, how can I accept it..." Tian Er's wife said, though her hands deftly accepted the gifts, her eyes gleaming with joy.

Having been neighbors for many years, Lu Yao knew her temperament well. She liked to take a little advantage, and these things were specifically brought back for her.

"Thank you for your generosity. Da Zhuang, go and buy another pot of wine!"

"Yes," Tian Dazhuang walked out of the house. The young man had hardly changed from his childhood, still a bit dull-witted, though he hadn't grown much taller, only a bit taller than his wife, looking even shorter than Xiaonian.

"No need to trouble yourselves. We'll be leaving after a quick meal," Lu Yao said.

Tian Dazhuang immediately noticed Xiaonian, his eyes widening in surprise, only to lower his head in embarrassment and hurry outside.

"Stay a little longer. It's rare for you to come back," they urged.

The Tian family's home hadn't changed much, except for a new storage shed built next to it to store household items.

Tian Er's eyesight had worsened, almost completely blind, but his hearing was still sharp. As soon as they entered the house, he said, "It's the Da Chuan family who has returned, isn't it?"

"Brother Tian Er," Zhao Beichuan greeted.

"Ah, Brother Da Chuan!"

Tian Er's wife had butchered a chicken, boiled four eggs, cooked a pot of vegetable porridge, and prepared a plate of sautéed leaves. The room was too dark, so they moved the table outside to eat.

"Please sit, there's not much good food at home, just make do," she said.

"This is great," Lu Yao said, looking at the dishes, reminiscing about past days. To be honest, he missed these sautéed leaves; he couldn't get them in Prefecture City.

Lu Yao asked, "Who built the house next door?"

"The Ding family. The year after you last returned, they built a new house next door."

Mentioning the Ding family reminded Lu Yao of Lu Miao's marriage. If it weren't for the Ding family's inappropriate behavior, he wouldn't have found such a good match.

Tian Er's wife also knew about this, "Is your fifth son married?"

"Yes, he found a husband in Prefecture City, and they already have a two-year-old child."

Tian Er's wife clapped her hands, "That's good. It was right not to marry into the Ding family."

"Why do you say that?"

Tian Er's wife lowered her voice, "You don't know. In recent years, the Ding family has been quite a mess! First, Ding Laosan and Ding Si's wife were having an affair. When they were caught, they simply swapped wives."

"Ah?!"

Lu Yao's eyes widened in shock. Could people really live like that?

Tian Er's wife continued, "Ding Wu later married the Gao family's daughter from the village, Gao Qinglian."

Lu Yao said, "How old was that girl? About the same age as Xiaonian, right?"

"Exactly, and Gao Qinglian's sister-in-law wasn't much of a person either. She disliked having the girl at home and betrothed her to Ding Wu when she was only twelve. The girl was thin and small, got pregnant a year after marriage, and died in childbirth, both lives lost."

"Sss..." Lu Yao inhaled sharply.

Xiaonian, sitting nearby, was also startled. Recalling her childhood friend, her eyes tingled slightly, "She's just gone like that?"

"Yes, after that, Ding Wu couldn't find a wife and is still single, rumored to be...," Tian Er's wife glanced next door, "also having an unclear relationship with his two sisters-in-law."

Well, what a mess this family is!

But now they had no relation to the Ding family, so Lu Yao treated it as a joke, laughing it off.

Soon after, Tian Dazhuang returned with the wine. Lu Yao invited him to join them for dinner. He sat shyly next to Tian Er, "Sister-in-law, Brother Da Chuan."

"Ah, Da Zhuang has grown up," Lu Yao reminisced, remembering how troublesome this child was, often fighting with Xiaonian and Xiaodou.

Tian Er's wife also remembered, "Do you remember when Da Chuan's house collapsed, and you stayed at our place, and you fought with Xiaonian?"

Da Zhuang's face turned red, "That was so many years ago, why bring it up?"

Everyone couldn't help but laugh, and Xiaonian covered her mouth, secretly laughing. She remembered, how fierce she was at fighting in the village back then!

Suddenly, Tian Er spoke, "I wonder if Xiaonian is betrothed. How about our Da Zhuang..."

Tian Er's wife coughed, "Eat, eat!"

Tian Er frowned, not understanding why his wife didn't let him finish.

Tian Er's wife stomped on her husband's foot under the table. This blind fool, didn't he see their current situation? How could they possibly be a match now?

If the Zhao family hadn't moved away, she might have entertained some thoughts, but now that the Zhao family had risen to prosperity, it was enough just to bask in their glory. There was no point in hoping for their sister anymore, it was like a pipe dream.

Lu Yao watched, slightly relieved. They didn't have many relatives and friends in the village, and if things turned sour, they might really not come back again.

It was getting late after dinner, and as they left Tian Er's wife's house, they ran into Lin Daman and his husband returning from the fields.

Lin Daman stood still from afar, his voice trembling after a long while, "Is, is it Lu Yao?"

"Daman ge?"

These years, Lin Daman hadn't changed much, except that he looked even darker than before, wearing a brown rough cloth jacket. He appeared sturdier than a typical burly man.

Lin Daman hurriedly ran forward, a bit of embarrassment and excitement on his face. "I heard a few years ago that you had returned and I was planning to visit you in Lujia Village. But by the time I went, you had already left. How have you been these past years?"

"We've been good. We opened a restaurant in Prefecture City."

"That's good, that's good."

Lu Yao knew that he was still feeling apologetic about the tofu recipe incident. After all these years, he no longer cared about it. "Da Chuan, go get two boxes of pastries from the carriage, and also bring a piece of cloth."

"Yes." Shortly after, Zhao Beichuan brought the items over.

Lu Yao handed them to Lin Daman and said, "The journey back this time was long, and we didn't bring any proper gifts. These pastries are a specialty of Ping Prefecture, try them at home. The cloth is fine quality, make some clothes for the children."

"This, how can I accept..."

Lu Yao stuffed the items into his arms and turned to look at the dark-skinned man next to him.

Lin Daman quickly introduced, "This is my husband, Meng Tao. This is the employer I often mention. If it weren't for their care back then, my two children and I might have frozen to death in the abandoned temple."

Meng Tao, an honest and simple man, couldn't say any fancy words and promptly bowed to give them a respectful greeting.

Zhao Beichuan reached out to help him up. "It's nothing. Daman has also helped us a lot."

Lin Daman wanted to invite them to his home for a visit.

Lu Yao said, "Next time. It's too late today, and we still need to return to Lujia Village."

"Alright, you must come to my home next time!"

After the carriage had gone far away, Meng Tao urged Lin Daman, "Go back. Look, he gave you cloth and food, he definitely doesn't hold any grudge against you."

Lin Daman let out a long sigh and nodded. A knot that had been tied for many years was finally untangled, and his heart felt at ease. Otherwise, he would have felt guilty for the rest of his life.